‘Rizzoli & Isles’ is free on Pluto TV, and it still rules
‘Rizzoli & Isles’ is free on Pluto TV, and it still rules
Jane and Maura’s cases are solid, but their banter is the real reason this show still works.
There are a ton of dramas sitting on Pluto TV, which is great, but it also means a show like “Rizzoli & Isles” can kind of disappear in the pile. And this was not some tiny show nobody watched. It was a big TNT crime drama that ran for seven seasons, built a real fanbase, and gave viewers one of TV’s best crime-solving friendships in Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles. But because it aired before every solid cable drama got turned into a big streaming rediscovery, it doesn’t always get talked about the way it should. Now that all 105 episodes are streaming free on Pluto TV, it’s a pretty perfect time to jump in. If you want a smart, funny, super easy-to-binge crime drama with great chemistry at the center, here’s why “Rizzoli & Isles” is the best under-the-radar drama on Pluto TV right now.
Best under-the-radar drama TV show on Pluto TV
Why ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ is the most underrated drama series on Pluto TV
“Rizzoli & Isles” works because Jane and Maura are just really fun to watch together. Jane Rizzoli, played by Angie Harmon, is a tough Boston homicide detective with a sharp mouth, great instincts, and basically no patience for anyone wasting her time. Maura Isles, played by Sasha Alexander, is a brilliant medical examiner who’s polished, super logical, and charmingly awkward in the way only a genius can be. They’re total opposites, which is the whole fun of it. Jane follows her gut, where Maura follows the science. Jane throws out a sarcastic comment, and Maura calmly explains the dead body. Tara and I love watching strong, smart female leads kick butt, and this show gives you two of them solving murders without making their friendship feel fake, forced, or overly dramatic.
The other big thing this show has going for it is that it knows how to be a crime drama that people actually want to hang out with. Yes, there are murders. Yes, there are serial killers, autopsies, family secrets, and some pretty dark cases. But the reason you keep watching is the banter, the rhythm, and all the little character moments around the cases. Jane and Maura tease each other, look out for each other, annoy each other, and clearly love each other in that best-friend way where half the affection comes out as sarcasm. That gives the whole show a warmer, lighter feel than a lot of crime dramas, even when the mystery itself is pretty grim. It’s comfort TV with dead bodies — weird phrase, but that’s honestly the lane.
And it’s not like “Rizzoli & Isles” was some random show that nobody cared about. It premiered on TNT in 2010, ran through 2016, and lasted seven seasons and 105 episodes. That’s a real run. And the series is based on Tess Gerritsen’s novels, so you know there’s a ton of thought already put into the storylines and the world. It launched with a huge audience, and stuck around long enough to become one of TNT’s dependable drama hits. Harmon and Alexander also both earned People’s Choice Awards recognition for their work, which tells you a lot about how much fans connected with these characters. The funny thing is, that success almost makes the show easier to overlook now. Because it was a cable hit instead of a prestige-streaming obsession, it never got wrapped in the kind of online hype that keeps a show in the conversation forever.
That’s why Pluto TV is such a great place for it now. You’re not being asked to sign up for another expensive streamer just to see whether an older procedural still works. The whole series is sitting there free, and there’s a lot of layers to enjoy to keep you invested — including Jane’s history with the serial killer Charles Hoyt, Maura’s complicated family background, and the emotional loss of Detective Barry Frost. But it’s also simple enough to get into right away. Some dramas are under-the-radar because they’re too strange or too niche. “Rizzoli & Isles” is under-the-radar because it’s exactly the kind of solid, likable, well-made TV people forget to appreciate until they find it again.
Rizzoli & Isles
Perhaps their strikingly different personalities make the relationship between detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles so effective. Jane, the only female cop in Boston’s homicide division, is tough, relentless and rarely lets her guard down, while the impeccably dressed Maura displays a sometimes icy temperament — she is, after all, more comfortable among the dead than the living. Together, the best friends have forged a quirky and supportive relationship; they drop the protective shield in each other’s company, and combine their expertise to solve Boston’s most complex cases.
What is ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ about?
“Rizzoli & Isles” follows Jane Rizzoli, a tough Boston homicide detective, and Maura Isles, a brilliant medical examiner, as they solve murders and deal with all the life stuff that comes with working around death every day. Jane is blunt, sarcastic, and all instinct. Maura is elegant, precise, and happiest when the evidence gives her something weird to explain. Together, they take on some of Boston’s nastiest crimes, from weekly murder cases to bigger storylines involving Jane’s past, Maura’s hidden family history, and threats that get way too personal. But underneath all the police work, the show is really about two women who trust each other completely, even when they’re driving each other a little nuts.
Other underappreciated drama TV shows on Pluto TV
If you’re into “Rizzoli & Isles” and want more underrated dramas on Pluto TV, there are a few other shows worth adding to your list. “Nashville” is a juicy music-industry drama about fame, family, ambition, and all the messy stuff happening behind the songs. “The Closer” is another great TNT crime drama, with Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson, a brilliant interrogator who knows exactly how to get people to crack. And “Mad Men” is the prestige pick, a slow-burn character drama about advertising, reinvention, ego, and the lies people tell themselves so they can keep going. All are worth a watch if you’re looking for a great drama TV show for free.
