Moment of Goodness: Maura Connects with a New Guy, Rizzoli & Isles “The Best Laid Plans” 

There’s so much to talk about regarding the most recent Rizzoli & Isles episode. So before I get to my Moment of Goodness scene, let’s run down some of the good stuff that happened in “The Best Laid Plans.”

Frost Remembered

I just love how Jane, Korsak and Frankie continue to remember their friend, the late Detective Barry Frost. The whole issue with somebody sitting in his chair and their trying to figure out how to deal with that was really well done. They decided to demystify the chair. They know Frost will always be with them. But they had to acknowledge he was never coming back. Korsak decided to finally sit in the chair:

Korsak: I got to say…I know he’s in my thoughts, he’s in my heart. And some people would say he’s in this room. But Detective Barry Frost isn’t sitting here.
Jane: Yeah, it’s just a chair.
Korsak: A chair.

So they’re dealing with Barry’s death in stages. And I really appreciate the show for going there. Jane teared up. I teared up. It was an emotional, heartbreaking moment but a moment that was necessary.

Angela vs. Jane

The issue of boundaries continues to come up especially with Jane and her mom. The fierce detective is pregnant now. She has to take care of herself, go to her doctor appointments and all that jazz. But she let work get in the middle of that so instead, Angela went to the appointment for her and got information on some things she might have wanted to run by her daughter first. But here’s the thing. Angela was trying to help. She always goes overboard, but Jane realized in the end she was trying to help. But what I thought was amazing was how in one scene they (mostly Angela) talked about their issues. Angela was insightful and provided much character and relationship analysis. And Jane even realized that.

Jane: I’m sorry that I hurt your feelings. And we can talk about my pregnancy…it’s just, will you please just be respectful of my boundaries?
Angela: You think this is about my boundary problems? You don’t have any boundaries, either. You’ve got ten foot walls made of steel. And I know why you built them because you watched me make the mistake of being completely dependent. So to avoid the same fate, you chose never to depend on anyone. But now you have to decide whether those ten foot walls are working for you. Or are they just leftovers from trying so hard not to be me? I’m sorry I went to your doctor’s appointment. I should have asked you first.
Jane: Who are you? And what have you done with my mother?

This was the first real conversation these two have had in I don’t know how long. I loved how Angela nailed it when it comes to knowing how her daughter ticks. And, even better, she actually apologized for crossing boundaries. I just loved this scene so much.

Guest Star Goodness

Enver Gjokaj

Character: Jack Armstrong, professor and amateur AV expert. He and Dr. Maura Isles made a bit of a love connection (more on this in just a bit)
Actor: When Sasha Alexander announced at a recent set visit that Enver Gjokaj was joining the show for a bit as her love interest, I just about died. This guy is awesome. He was one of the best things about the short-lived series, Dollhouse. The show was about Eliza Dushku’s character but Enver was a standout for me. His other TV credits include guest star appearances on Community, Person of Interest and The Walking Dead. He also did several episodes of Vegas, Made in Jersey and Witches of East End. I really would love him to get the lead in his own series but right now I’m enjoying him on Rizzoli & Isles.

Eric Martsolf

Character: Brad Oskoff, the chauffeur to the victim. It turns out he was also her killer. She knew he was her husband’s bastard son and she couldn’t handle it so she never accepted him. But in her will she left him money, I think because she regretted her actions and she was sorry she didn’t make him part of the family. The interrogation scene at the end of the episode was really well done. I felt bad for Brad, because he couldn’t let go and forgive. He let anger and rage rule his life and now he’ll be spending a long time in jail.
Actor: We saw Martsolf’s picture throughout the episode but didn’t actually see him until his confession at the end. I wish we had been able to see more of him. Martsolf’s day job is playing Brady Black on Days of our Lives. For the last eight months or so his character has been off the rails. He’s dealing with his addiction to drugs and alcohol and making bad decision after bad decision. Martsolf has played the you know what out of this storyline and he was rewarded for it. Last month, he won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. He definitely deserved it. Before Days, he was Ethan Crane on the late great soap, Passions. And he also had the chance to play Booster Gold on an episode of Smallville.

Moment of Goodness

Maura and Jack’s meet cute was pretty cute. It was her first day teaching a seminar and she thought he was the AV guy because he helped hook her up in that department. They were kind of awkward around each other. However, the chemistry  was there right away and he asked her for coffee. There was just so much cuteness. I loved it.

However, Maura tried to sabotage things by talking herself out of a relationship before one even begins. She feels she always picks the wrong men and can’t find it within her to trust her instincts when it comes to this guy. It’s nice how Jane told her friend that that is exactly what she needed to do. Her instincts are spot on in her professional life she needed to do the same in her personal life. So forget about all the face lickers, dead guys and serial-killing boyfriends. It was time to take a chance on something potentially great.

And seriously how adorable is Enver and Jack Armstrong so far? Jack and Maura had a great conversation in her office:

Maura: I think it’s best to be up front.
Jack: Damn.
Maura: I haven’t finished yet.
Jack: You were going to say you’re not that into me.
Maura: I’m sorry.
Jack: I really thought we had chemistry. It seemed like you thought so too.
Maura: We do. I…I just think that…that’s actually the problem.
Jack: You’re going with ‘it’s not you, it’s me?’
Maura: Oh no, it’s you. Very much you.
Jack: That’s…direct.
Maura: For some reason, the men that I’m attracted to all have serious neurological and biological disorders. And since I’m wildly attracted to you, I strongly suggest that you get a full physical and psychological checkup immediately. And don’t be afraid of a second opinion because a misdiagnosis would cost you valuable time.
Jack: You’re wildly attracted to me?
Maura: I just told you that you might be severely ill and that’s all you heard?
Jack: Are you sure about this, Maura? Do you really want to live alone in fear instead of with somebody who knows what it’s like to be scared?
Maura: No.
Jack: Okay then. So we’re both terrified. But the only thing that scares me more than getting hurt is never falling in love again. It only needs to work out once, right?
Maura: That’s what my best friend’s mother always says.
Jack: Your friend’s mom is a very wise woman.

He went on to ask her to take a chance on him. The best and cutest conversation ever. I like these two. They make me smile which is always good. And I continue to like to see these characters working on their issues and the walls they put up. It’s always nice to be able to see when someone actually breaks through those walls. Sign me up for Maura and Jack (can their super couple name be “Mack” please?).

Rizzoli & Isles airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on TNT.