I have just finished the second season of Rizzoli and Isles and, after realizing how big is the gap between the so called “Gayzzoli” and “Rizzles” fan fiction and the real plot (including the subtext), I just needed to write my self made opinion.

The Lesbian community has, understandably, waiting for lesbian icons to step in mass media such as TV shows and movies. While it is great to have gay-targeted shows such as The L Word (US) and Lipstick Service (UK) that enable lesbian community to dig in on their own particularities, problems and lifestyles, it is also important and necessary to find lesbian leading roles in mass media that successfully interact with the real, and mainly straight, world. Not only to create icons that they can mirror themselves with, but also to show them to the world. Lesbians deeply want the world to “see” them, they way they see themselves: beautiful, independent, smart, funny, and above all, normal.

“Rizzoli and Isles” is therefore seen by lesbians as a great opportunity to make this dream come true, in a way that only Xena partially achieved in the past. The writers of this TV show are undeniably setting the grounds for such a dream but, will they be willing to go all the way? 

The gayness of Rizzoli (strong, masculine, sportive, bossy, etc) has come across everybody’s minds, even the straightest ones. There has also been a whole chapter (1x06) where lesbianism has been the main issue; and also a chapter (2x03) where R&I pretended in front of Giovanni that they were lovers so as to get rid of him.  

Also the sub-text in the show is evident even for the straightest audience. R&I have a very special friendship, so special that they need to make up a new expression in chapter 2x06 to define it (LLBFF: life-long best friends forever). But how special is it?

You know it is a special friendship when you spend almost all your free time with your best friend, and you’re not sixteen; when she knows you better than you know yourself; when you hate to hate her; when you’d do anything for her (even calling a reddish brown stain, blood; or wearing a triathlon tight outfit where you can read P.U.K.E. on it); when you dislike any of your best friend datings; when your first thought in the morning is her, even after having sex with a guy; and, above all, when you run to support her instead of running to your lover that has just been gun shot. 

But the question is has the straight audience also read this subtext as a gay subtext, as the lesbian community has? That is not so evident. Only LGBT friendly audience is able and/or willing to use the word lesbian to describe that special friendship, and writers know it well. Does this mean writers will not be willing to go further? I don’t think so. You don’t put so much effort in that sub-text if you do not intend to make something out of it, anyway, don’t you?

“I wonder what kind of women we would like if we liked women” Dr. Maura Isles

If I were the writer of this plot, I would know that the grounds of this plot are based on the fun and chemistry of both characters and their love to each other. Apparently (I have not read it) the book on which the show is based does not include any lesbian sub-text in it so, why now? They could have not stepped in the lesbian issue; they could have let them be just friends and make them interact with men as in Sex in the City but, they DID step in the lesbian issue, and in a consistent manner.

So my point is that if the writters want to be consistent, they cannot go backwards, and they will have to play the lesbian card in one way or another. I guess they are on their way but it will take them time. Besides, the slower they go, the more and longer “Gayzzoli” story we will have.

Do not exasperate. Writers are doing a great job here, let them just finnish what they have started.

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop”  Confucius