The American detective series "Rizzoli and Isles", which received the name "Companions" from domestic television people, was created based on a series of literary publications by Tess Gerritsen. The main characters are at the center of the story: the detective of the Boston murder department, the sultry beauty Jane Rizzoli and the pathologist, the intelligent and sweet Mora Isles. The project was launched on the TNT channel in 2010, after seven seasons, in 2016, the channel’s management announced the completion of the show’s filming process. The domestic audience had a happy opportunity to watch the adventures of friends on the TV-3 channel.
Creative team of like-minded people
The creation of seven seasons of the show worked in different periods of the outstanding figures of American TV. Initially, the script worked Tess Gerritsen - author of the literary original - and Janet Tamaro. With impressive experience working on criminal TV projects, Tamaro managed to build the narrative structure in such a way that from the first episodes he acquired an impressive army of fans of the series “Companions”. The crew listened carefully to Tamaro's recommendations, because Janet was directly involved in writing scripts for the television series Lost, Law and Order, Recognize the Enemy, and was also involved in producing the movie Faceless, the television show Bones. , “Recognize the Enemy” and “CSI: Crime Scene New York.” After that, Russ Grant, Ken Haines, Ron McGee and many others joined the creative tandem of scriptwriters at the production stage of individual seasons. "Companions" - a series on which a total of about 40 screenwriters worked.
Initially, the show was entrusted to Mark Aber. However, over seven seasons, due to the fact that most of the series were not interconnected and represented a separate story, 35 visionaries were involved in the production process. Therefore, we can safely say that “Companions” is a series, the director of which changed with almost every new plot twist.
Plot
In the show “Companions”, the actors involved in the work on the project presented to the audience a number of entertaining stories. The place of development of the plot action of the project is the largest metropolis of Massachusetts Boston. Key characters Jane Rizzoli and Mora Isles are highly talented professionals who are truly passionate about their work. Each episode of the show is a new investigation into a crime in Boston. Barry Frost, Frankie Rizzoli, Jr. and Vincent Korsak are helping the girlfriends investigate the murder. The main characters are not only colleagues, they are connected by bonds of strong and faithful friendship. In the series "Companions" the plot is built not only on the professional achievements of the main characters. Unlike similar criminal television shows, considerable attention is given to the non-working (private) life of the main characters - to relationships with each other, in the family, etc.
Characters and actors. Jane Rizzoli
Jane Rizzoli is the youngest of the female police officers in Boston, who received the rank of detective. She comes from a family of Italian immigrants, her parents are ordinary workers, her mother is a housewife (after a cafe employee), her father is a water repairman. The girl brilliantly graduates from the police academy, begins her career in the department for combating drugs, but after that she is transferred to the slaughter department. He loves team power sports. Impulsive, quick-tempered, decisive, courageous, fair, and sometimes cynical and sarcastic. Has a great sense of humor. Profession and family are priorities for Jane, but there is practically no time left for relationships with men and personal life.
The role of Jane Rizzoli was performed by Angie Harmon - actress, television director and model. As a performer, Angie became known after participating in the show "Rescuers Malibu" and "Law and Order", but the project "Companions" brought her worldwide popularity. The actors - Harmon's colleagues in the filming process - were surprised at her enviable hard work and ability to combine a successful career with happy motherhood (the actress has three daughters).
Mora Isles
The second main character - Mora Isles - is presented to the viewer as the best forensic expert pathologist of Boston and an indispensable friend of Jane. Mora was brought up in a foster family of aristocrats. She learns about her biological parents in one of the seasons, in the process of investigating another incident. Over time, the girl, prone to tedium and sociopathy, becomes a real member of the Rizzoli family.
Work in "Companions" for Sasha Alexander did not become a debut. Two years before the filming, the actress played the role of special agent Kathleen Todd in the "Naval Police" and starred in full-length multi-genre projects like "Mission Impossible 3" and "Promise - does not mean to marry." Sasha Alexander is a stage name, the real name of the performer is Suzana S. Drobnyakovich. In real life, the actress, who is the mother of two children, lives in Los Angeles and leads a healthy lifestyle. She willingly shares with fans tips on how, despite all the hardships, to remain strong both inside and out. In the show "Companions" actors who had a chance to interact directly with Sasha, experienced her gift of persuasion.
Vincent Korsak and Barry Frost
The role of Vincent Korsak, one of the elders of the department and the first partner of Rizzoli, went to the experienced performer Bruce Travis McGill. The selected filmography of the actor consists of 45 projects, including television. The character of Korsak in his interpretation is incomparable. Vincent was married three times, but finds a new love; he has a sincere love for animals, especially for dogs. He treats Jane as a daughter, trying in every way to protect her and surround her with guardianship. In recent seasons, he has opened a police bar with Rizzoli Sr. and is walking down the aisle for the fourth time. On the features of these moments of the character’s life, the narrative of the seventh season of the series “Companions” (2016-2017) is built.
For some time Lee Thompson Young took part in the creation of the show, he plays the role of the young police officer Barry Frost, who was recently assigned to the murder department. Frost instantly becomes the object of ridicule for others, because when you see corpses, you can’t restrain nausea. In this case, the hero of Young is well versed in electronics and has the skills of a hacker. In 2013, during the filming of the next episode of the show "Companions", actors, worried about the lack of a performer, contacted the police. The patrol found the actor in his own house. According to law enforcement officials, Lee Young committed suicide by shooting himself with a pistol.
Frankie Rizzoli Jr. and Angela Rizzoli
The image of the younger brother of the main character Frankie Rizzoli Jr. embodied on the screen Jordan Bridges, who became an actor in the third generation. He made his film debut as a small child, and began a full-fledged creative career in the 90s. The role of the younger brother Jane brought the actor worldwide popularity. The character in his performance is quite convincing. Frankie is proud of his sister and tries in every possible way to imitate her, as a result, becomes a detective and takes the place of the retired Korsak. By the way, the main character has another brother who is not always at odds with the law.
The role of Angela Rizzoli, the mother of Frankie and Jane, went to the nominee for an Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy Lorraine Bracco. A breakthrough in the creative career of the actress is considered to be a role in Martin Scorsese’s “Good Guys”. And the role of Jennifer Melfi in the television series "The Soprano Clan" is deservedly considered the singer's greatest creative achievement. In “Companions”, the heroine of Bracco is a housewife who has completely given the best years of her life to her family. It is impossible to hide anything from her. The woman continues to take care of her children, working in the Korsak bar and simultaneously reassembling down the aisle.
Chief Antagonist Charles Hoyt and Assistant Kent Drake
"Companions" - a series in which there are, in addition to positive characters and negative ones. But the main antagonist is the serial killer, nicknamed "Surgeon" by Charles Hoyt. For a maniac, Jane becomes an obsession, an attempt on her life becomes for a villain the meaning of existence. Actor Michael Massey, who performed the role, is known to others as the occasional culprit in the death of Brandon Lee. During the filming of the movie “Raven”, he, according to the idea of the picture, shot the hero Lee, and by absurd chance, an incorrectly charged pistol caused Brandon's death.
The real find of the final season of the series was the image of a true Scotsman with an original sense of humor Kent Drake, the role of which was performed by Adam Sinclair (Stewardesses, Empty Words). The hero takes the post of assistant Mora Isles and soon becomes part of a well-coordinated team.
Reviews
The show is notable for the fact that with the IMDb rating: 7.60 became a champion in the history of cable TV, having received the status of the most watched series. At the same time, the series “Companions” has positive reviews both from movie experts and from ordinary viewers.