When only four percent of scripted TV shows feature LGBT characters, what’s a gay girl to do? Why, strap on your gay goggles and watch TV along with us, of course! Our handy appraisal scale is better than any old letter grade. Other sites A+. We say, “What about our lezzy-lady feelings?”
Hey, look, finally a dude bites it. And hey, look, finally there is more than one other woman for Det. Jane Timoney to talk with. I call that progress. I also call this episode another fine, cracking case that displays both the pros and cons of Jane relying on her instincts during an investigation. And to make things interesting, they even put a little money on it.
AFTERELLEN BAIT (What enticement did the episode use to reel in gay lady viewers?)
Maria Bello in that crimson suit? Yes, please, thank you, may I have another? Maria Bello taking off her shirt in front of Justified actress Joelle Carter? Yes, please, thank you, may I have another and another and another? Though, really, who wears a black bra with a white shirt?
FEELINGS, FEELINGS, FEELINGS! (Did the episode give you a lot of feelings?)
Finally, the show lets Jane interact with a few more women and it makes for the best episode of the fledgling season so far. Bello has excellent chemistry both with Carter, who plays the widow of the murder victim of the week, and an apparent female friend from the Anti-Crime Unit who is trying to help her quit smoking. I hope they bring back her friend with the hypnotic pen in future episodes. Those two had a nice rapport.
HATITUDE (What made us tip our hats to Det. Timoney this episode?)
This week the show took on the infallibility myth that so many cop shows perpetrate. It’s that myth that the investigator’s “gut feeling” is always right. Well, in this case Jane was wrong — or at least partially wrong. The relationship between Jane and her fellow male detectives is evolving nicely, too. Sure, they still get in their sexist jabs here and there. “Eliot Dress.” “Serpiho.” But they’re developing a begrudging respect for each other, both ways. And four for you, Jane Timoney, for settling the friendly bet fair and square.
THAT GUMSHOE THING (Well, this is a crime drama, so how did the detectives do?)
Prime Suspect is like many other crime shows and then it’s not. And I like that. Some shows give us almost exclusively the character’s office lives or their interpersonal lives. Others are all about the evidence or all about the killers. This one is a mix. Personal, professional, victim, perpetrator. And it also mixes up how much of each we see each episode.
So, is Prime Suspect still growing on you? Did you like seeing Jane finally have more women to talk with? And, come on, how hot was the red suit?
