Then they were handling one of Corsack's puppies while she was monologuing at him when he was tied up.

I know. I heard and saw that. But no one threatened a dog, no one was five years old and needed to kill a dog to become desensitised to murder--I just thought they were showing you how cute dogs were (since you totally forget) and how horrible it was for a five year old to have done that. Inasmuch as serial killing made sense (and they were kinda playing that angle) it made no sense to kill any dog in that episode. So I didn't think any dogs were in jeopardy.

And there was Rizzoli's nightmare with what's-his-name and her dog being threatened in it. And I could have sworn there was a third scene with dogs in it, but I'm not going to rewatch.

I think it was more the sociopath angle - we're so desensitized (plus we want to hurt you (Corsack), plus I've done it before so puppy-strangling is kinda my thing). I felt sure that there was no way it was actually going to happen, no way R&I is going to go there. But I'm sure they wanted people to think the puppy was in real jeopardy. And I still felt better when they put the puppy down.

Inasmuch as serial killing made sense (and they were kinda playing that angle) it made no sense to kill any dog in that episode.

Which was what the serial killer said, right before they let the puppy go. Looks askance at ita !. From a safe distance.

And there was Rizzoli's nightmare with what's-his-name and her dog being threatened in it

I know this is a big cultural rift, but a dream sequence where a dog is being threatened on a show that wouldn't harm a dog even in a dream sequence is really low tension for me. This show isn't good enough to be scary in pretty much any way.

But I have no extra "keep off the animals!" reflex.

But I have no extra "keep off the animals!" reflex.

I think this is the real issue. I was pretty certain this show would never go there, but I still could barely follow the scene until they put down the puppy.

Part of the problem with R&I for me is Angie Harmon is not a very good actor. When she does not talk, her body language is convincing enough. She would have been perfectly competent though not great during the silent era. But she cannot deliver dialog convincingly, or get emotion properly into her voice IMO.

Maureen is not charismatic, but is quite well played. For all I know, the lack of charisma may be an acting choice by Sasha Alexander, rather than a personal characteristic, since it is highly appropriate for the character she is playing. As ita ! observed some days ago, most of the characters on that show lack charisma.

I think that characters can have an appeal to the viewer without being charismatic in their world--like Dexter, for instance. No one really has that on the show, since the writing doesn't get to that level, so I think we are left with whatever the actors let leak through.

I've only seen Sasha on NCIS, and she was offputting to me there too, so I don't know.

I think this is the real issue. I was pretty certain this show would never go there, but I still could barely follow the scene until they put down the puppy.

This is me. As I have stated, I cannot abide TV or films where animals are (yes, even fictionally) harmed.

I think it was in Movies that I mentioned my embarrassing meltdown over the trailer for Frankenweenie...even a _cartoon dog_ triggers me.

I just can't bear seeing animals in jeopardy. I can't see anything entertaining or edifying in it.

What is entertaining or edifying about people in jeopardy (ones we may or may not know)?

There is a cultural void here, because I can't put myself in the place where it's always much worse than any person. The world is too big for that, to me.