Rizzoli & Isles (2010)

Rizzoli & Isles portrays a central, deeply intimate, and co-dependent relationship between its two female leads. While never explicitly labeled as romantic, this bond is depicted with dignity, complexity, and as a primary source of strength and happiness, implicitly affirming non-traditional female partnerships and their worth.

Rizzoli & Isles features a transgender character in the episode "The Greater Good." While initial misgendering occurs, the narrative quickly corrects it, focusing on the character as a victim of a hate crime. The show condemns the prejudice and violence, promoting empathy and respect for transgender identity, ultimately resulting in a net positive portrayal despite the tragic circumstances.

Detective Barry Frost, a character who was canonically white in the original Tess Gerritsen novels, is portrayed by a Black actor in the television series adaptation.

The show frequently depicts the Rizzoli family's cultural Catholicism as a positive force, emphasizing community, tradition, and family values. While individual religious figures may be involved in criminal plots, the narrative consistently frames these as personal failings or specific institutional issues, rather than a condemnation of the faith itself.