Rizzoli and Isles - Fake It 'Til You Make It - Review: The L.A episode

Rizzoli and Isles Episode611 – Fake It ‘Til you make it
Written by Katie Wech
Directed by Mark Haber

Things are certainly heating up in the penultimate episode before the mid-season finale. Jane has received weird and at times perverted phone calls. We have a victim who is not who he appears to be and another with the same name in L.A. Yes they have to go to L.A to investigate. It’s the episode, which I know a lot of people have been talking about ever since Jan Nash released the behind the scenes pictures. We even get a little Thelma and Louise moment but don’t worry they stayed firmly on the road. We also finally meet Angela’s Boyfriend but a double date with Korsak and Kiki reveals they may have crossed paths before……..

In a dark foyer of an apartment building we see a man talking on the telephone. He is talking someone out of going out and appears to be some sort of sponsor for addicts; he even takes a picture to prove he is home. In a chilling turn of events the person he sends the picture to notices someone is behind him and messages you’re not alone. He realises only to late but it’s not enough to save him.

Once again we are in a kitchen but this time its Frankie’s, Jane (Angie Harmon) appears (clearly she hasn't moved yet) she starts criticizing Frankie (Jordan Bridges) and his coffee making skills. I think she is missing Maura and her coffee. Jane gets a phone call telling them they have the wrong number. Jane wonders were Maura is as they are going to be late. Maura (Sasha Alexander) is waiting for her, we hear a voice from the floor. She is laid down trying to relax due to lower back pain.

Janes asking her if she is relaxed now while clearly annoying her made me chuckle. Once again Jane’s phone rings, someone asking for an escort, they ring again and on the third phone call Jane is really going to give them a piece of her mind but Maura’s phone rings as well, she indicates to Jane it’s the B.P.D.

On the way to the crime scene the girls talk about Jane’s phone problems she has requested the B.P.D for a new number. Jane recounts a story of what she was asked to wax but stops when the meet Korsak (Bruce McGill) Maura doesn’t keep quiet when asked and Korsak simply ignores them and talks about the crime. The guy from earlier appears to have been strangled but it’s not a robbery as his wallet and phone is still there. Korsak shows the picture that was sent and the warning thought too late for our victim.

Frankie and Jane go to the BRIC to speak to Nina (Idara Victor) the victim Dan Walsh was living where he worked, the centre for troubled teens. Since he moved to Boston from California they have no work history for him. No next of kin. They suspect he had a troubled past that caught up to him.

Jane goes to visit Maura she confirms he was strangled with something made of cloth with a knot. Korsak comes in, the reason they could not find anything on the victim Dan Walsh is he isn't Dan Walsh…………. A robbery homicide detective from L.A called asking why they were running Dan Walsh through NCIC seems they have Dan Walsh in their morgue. They were found dead within three days of each other this certainly can’t be a coincidence. Maura asks if they know how the L.A victim died, he was found in a shallow grave by construction works, no I.D but dental and fingerprints confirm he is Dan Walsh.

Upstairs Korsak explains what he has learned to Frankie and Jane. The L.A coroner says it looks like the real Dan Walsh has been dead for about two years, which is the length of time their guy known as Dan Walsh has been living in Boston. Did he kill him and steal his identity? They run his prints but nothing comes up. He was obviously running from something. Korsak says all roads lead to Dan Walsh which means Jane has to go to L.A but unfortunately the department can’t pay for two so Frankie can’t go. Jane is not happy about going however she brightens up a bit when Maura enters, it appears the real Dan Walsh was killed the same way but due to backlog they haven’t done the autopsy yet. Yes Rizzoli and Isles are off to L.A. While Frankie sulks and says he can have espresso naked, yes Jane we agree, we really don’t need that image bro!!!

We are in L.A and Jane is trying to get an upgrade on the rental instead of in person it’s a kiosk; the guy via Skype or something helps her out. Maura comes back, seems she is getting some juice as in L.A there is, no surprise, a Juice bar round every corner. Jane’s credit card is declined (ok I smell smoothing and it’s not the strawberry and mango smoothie, weird phone calls and declined card?)
Maura says maybe it is because she did not inform her bank she was travelling, its fraud prevention.
Jane wants to upgrade as the B.P.D rented her a car that looks like ‘A toaster had sex with a clown car’ Maura offers to splurge.

Angela Rizzoli (Lorraine Bracco) comes to visit Vince Korsak with the paper work for renewing the liquor license. She suggest with the girls out of town it would be a good time to have dinner, Her and Ron (we finally get to meet him) and Korsak and Kiki. They agree to have dinner that night.

Maura does indeed get a nice upgrade. An Aston Martin Vanquish, very nice and stylish. Jane is not impressed she isn't insured to drive so Maura gets out her headscarf, because every woman has a headscarf in her bag, knowing they are going to be driving a convertible.

Korsak, Frankie and Nina work out that from a press article in L.A, the killer was there as that’s the only place that mentions discovering the body of Dan Walsh. They look into flights coming into Boston just before the murder from L.A and leaving just after to check the names. All the information they have gathered in Boston on the fake Dan Walsh suggest it’s something connected to his past that got him killed.

Jane enters the L.A.P.D a Detective greets her and introduces himself as Oscar Acedo (Michael Irby)

He shows her the file on the real Dan Walsh, reported missing, as he was a regular at a homeless shelter. They are doing a search for anyone resembling their victim. Maura arrives with another medical examiner Doctor Hart (Marc Evan Jacobson). They discuss the shifting of the hyoid bone indicates whether the victim was left or right handed in the case and like the fake Walsh both were strangled by a left handed assailant. Maura won’t speculate it’s the same person, Jane neither will the other medical examiner.

Jane comments there are more of you?? The search comes back with a match not for missing person but in fact an obituary. The fake Walsh faked his death in L.A two years ago.
Jane calls Korsak telling him their victims name is Roger Parsons seems he committed suicide but the body was never found. They can’t seem to find a connection with Walsh only he stole his identity. Korsak wants Jane to find out.

Jane and Maura are out on Santa Monica pier they meet up with Roger Parson’s sister Kelly. She believed he killed himself by throwing himself off the pier after his girlfriend died of a drug overdose. He liked to live the high life. He worked at a hotel for a guy named Alphonse, It was off the books.

Kiki, Korsak and Angela are waiting for Ron to arrive but when he does, Kiki turns around and we can tell that despite the two trying to play it casual it seems like they may have meet before.

Jane and Maura are at what looks like a nightclub. Guessing it’s the hotel Bar another card of Janes is declined. Now she suspects something, maybe her mail was compromised when her apartment burned down. She calls Nina asking her and Frankie who is also there to check into it. Maura offers to spot Jane, Jane says she is posing as a high roller and needs more. Maura wants to leave but she gets her to put on her shades (I think an accidental poke in eye by Sasha was left in here from tweets read) and looking disinterested while reading medical articles on her phone.

Jane pretends to be a high flier and meets Alphonse, she points to Maura (who is looking very Hollywood diva in those shades and staring at her phone) saying Roger helped her last time score something for her friend. When he agrees but says Roger no longer works here she shows her badge. Seems Roger was a runner between the hotel and a dealer named Lamar.

Back in Boston Vince and Angela have a talk they both comment how awful the night before was and say they need to ask Kiki and Ron directly how they know each other and why they tried to hide it.

In L.A Jane gets background on Lamar, Lamar St John, who is drug dealer to the stars, well connected so basically untouchable. Jane interviews Lamar; he can’t stay long as opening up a new Hookah bar in Westwood. (Second mention of these this season is it a new thing in L.A, smoking blow pipes!!) Lamar he is pleased Roger is dead, seems he thought he was dead anyway so now has less to worry about. He is flippant but not the killer as he seems shocked he was still alive. They need to connect the victim to Dan Walsh

.Nina calls Jane, The news isn’t good Jane has been hacked; all her bank accounts closed and cards however no money was taken. Nina and Frankie are working on tracing who has done this. Jane does not let on to the L.A detective she has problems back home.

Nina and Korsak video chat with Jane and Detective Acedo, Parson faked his death to escape his old life but Walsh turned up dead. So who ever knew Parson was living as Walsh may have killed him. Nina has checked the flights; a passenger called Dustin Shaw flew from L.A to Boston and back within one day of Roger Parson’s death. Only address is a P.O Box in Venice California, Another homeless guy?? Maura arrives and informs them Dustin Shaw died nine months ago, someone is living as him. Is someone killing homeless people and stealing their Id’s. Nina is working with the airline to get security footage. Jane and Detective Acedo go to Venice.

They show the pictures around and get told to go to bar which cashes social security checks for a fee, he lets them use the address.

Talking to the bartender and owner he says some guy was asking about Dustin Shaw and gives them a card (I was instantly suspicious of him).

Going to the address they are about to raid when Nina sends a photo of the suspect, no surprise it is the bartender and they race back to the bar. They just miss him but soon Jane sees him in the crowd and takes him down .people are busy filming it and taking pictures. I agree with Jane it’s not right. It’s L.A!!!!!!!

The Bartender was making more than a little on the side, he had a ton of Id’s all customers at the bar that were too drunk or stoned to notice. However Dan Walsh sobered up and realised what the bartender was doing. We know this due to his hair growth a fact provided to us by Maura and the L.A medical examiner, Dr Hart. Parsons needed a fresh start so the bar tender sold him a new id. However when Walsh’s body was discovered he knew it would lead to Parson’s, which would lead to him, so flew to Boston and took him out.

Detective Acedo “You two are like a regular Cagney and Lacey”
Jane and Maura “Thank you”
Dr Hart: “Well its factual in accurate, Cagney and Lacey were both police officers and Dr Isles is a medical examiner"

My look was like Janes; nothing has to be spot on when making a comparison.

Rizzoli and Isles has often been compared to Cagney and Lacey, The banter off each other and most importantly their friendship and loyalty to one another.

I think Detective Acedo was crushing on Jane, as with Dr Hart on Maura they couldn't have done it without their help.

Korsak and Angela are sat in the Dirty robber with Kiki and Ron. They ask them to come clean. It seems poor Ron had one date with Kiki which was very embarrassing due to bad gastrointestinal issues. Kiki didn't want to embarrass him. The have a laugh and everything is all good.

Jane and Maura are walking on the beach, Jane explains a few things to Maura, Dustin Shaw was as we know not the Bartenders name but in fact Michael something.

Maura “No one is who they say they are “
Jane “Welcome to Los Angeles”

They carry on walking Maura says she is relaxed there and her lower back pain is almost completely gone. A guy walks past walking a monkey (yes that’s not a typo, a monkey)
Jane “really you want to be attacked by a monkey in a bikini, least he is not wearing flip flops”
Maura “I think it’s a Capuchin”

Back in Boston Jane has gifts, California wine for Korsak because after all he doesn’t just own a bar and can get any wine he wants s!! And a juicer for Frankie, let’s hope he doesn’t decide to juice naked!
The fun is cut short however has Nina has traced Janes problem to a file the password was Jane Rizzoli, it opens and it’s a video of someone stood outside Jane’s apartment holding a lighter.

I knew it wasn't an accident, you know this will continue into next week and from what I have heard we are in for an edgy Mid – Season Finale.
With next week’s episode titled 5:26 I knew it would reference to a timed event. I think Jane will need to find the answer before time runs out.

Synopsis from TNT
“When an old watch is found inside a balloon of cocaine in a dead woman’s stomach, figuring out its significance becomes the key to protecting Jane — and the people she loves.”

What do you think of the Episode, was it as fun as you expected?
Who could possibly be after Jane?
Please post in comments below

About the Author - Zandarl

Zandarl a Writer and avid TV and film buff ,once described as a wilful hedonist, has travelled all over and lived in the states for a short time. Now based in the UK she attends cons when able and meets stars from her favourite shows .Her first start in fandom was Xena and since then has admired tv shows that portray strong women. Her current favorites being Rizzoli and Isles and Once Upon a Time as well as anything comic book related. A regular movie goer she watches most genres but never ask her to watch a horror movie.

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