In a TV Guide this week’s cover story on Rizzoli & Isles (headline “Girlfriends Forever” — seriously), our favorite LLBFFs Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles discuss The Question.
No, not whether Maura went through with donating her kidney to her long-lost half sister. No, not whether Jane and Casey will ever consummate their on-again, off-again relationship. No, not whether they’ll solve the latest crime of the week. It’s whether their visible-from-space chemistry means they’re more than just friends. You know, The Big Gay Question.
The TV Guide story focuses largely on the killer (their words) chemistry on-screen and off between Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander, in addition to previewing the upcoming fourth season, which premieres in a week. But the section Rizzles shippers and subtext fans will care about the most is only available in the full print edition. It reads:
From the beginning, that lively chemistry — along with the fact that the characters can’t maintain steady relationships — has some fans wondering whether there was more between Rizzoli and Isles than just dusting for fingerprints. BuzzFeed recently dubbed it “the gayest nongay show on television,” and lesbian-themed website AfterEllen counted down the show’s “10 Gayzzoliest Moments.”
Alexander just smiles. “There’s nothing gay about them,” she says. “What’s gay? That Jane has a raspy voice?” Still. Harmon admits they do play up the tension sometimes. A poster for the new season features the women languidly stretched out together on a picnic blanket, for example. “Sometimes we’ll do a take for that demo,” Harmon admits. “I’ll brush by [Maura’s] blouse or maybe linger for a moment. As long as we’re not being accused of being homophobic, which is not in any way true and completely infuriating, I’m OK with it.”
I’ll wait while you all scream, “I knew it!” at the screen. Of course, the ladies play it up a bit. And, of course, they continue to contend the gayest non-gay duo on television is straight. My only demand — if they insist on denying the eye sex and Totally Gratuitous, Totally Gay Touching means anything — is that they release every single take for “that demo.” It’s only fair.
Until then, please enjoy the TV Guide photoshoot video. So much hugging and snuggling. Are we sure these aren’t the “that demo” outtakes after all?
So, thoughts on the admission? Make you more or less excited about Season 4?
