Photo from TNT The season finale of ”The Closer” (TNT) is almost upon us, and “Last Woman Standing” puts Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) standing on the brink of a major promotion. But first, she has to solve the murder of an actress who seemed to have been killed by someone she met via an on line dating service. This episode highlights what the show does best - it seamlessly weaves the personal drama in with the drama of solving a major crime.
It seems that Brenda is the only one really focused on the murder, while her boss Assistant Chief Will Pope (J.K. Simmons) and IA Captain Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell) are more worried about Brenda’s interview with the Mayor for the position of Chief of Police. Brenda seems to be having second thoughts about taking the position, probably because her boss and long time friend Will Pope coveted the job so badly and is now out of the running. Pope tries to convince Brenda that is best for all of them if she goes for the job and gets it. Raydor tries to coach Brenda on what to wear to the interview – and what kind of purse to bring – because she also wants Brenda to make a good showing for women. Raydor also is highly complementary of Brenda which seems to pump Brenda up a bit as she heads over to the Mayor’s office.
But let’s not forget that brutal murder. While all the evidence points to a serial philanderer that the victim met on the Internet, Brenda continues to dig deep until she exposes a man who works at the victim’s apartment building as the real killer.
At the end of the episode, while Brenda stands looking at Los Angeles City Hall from outside the offices of the LAPD – in a flaming red dress that demands to be noticed - she looks ready to jump into her interview with confidence. But, we may have to wait until next week’s summer finale titled “Executive Order” where the episode tease says that Brenda is forced to work with a counter-terrorism official who is also is a final candidate for the police chief post. Hopefully, Brenda – and viewers – will get their answer.
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Thanks for the recap. I love this show!!
ReplyDeleteBut isn't The Closer coming back for a winter run like it usually does? You said Executive Order doesn't run until next summer - how long are they going to drag this out?
Shelly - the summer finale runs next week - not next summer. The show is coming back later in the year - November I think. "Executive Decision" is considered this summer's finale.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. I apparently can't read lol... You said next week's summer finale and my eyes read next YEAR'S summer finale. And I even had my glasses on... sigh...
ReplyDeleteSo what do you think will happen? Obviously Brenda can't become the new chief because that would ruin what the show does best, and that's have her solve crimes. But do you think she'll take it and then walk away, or will she be offered it and turn it down, or not even be offered it?
As much as I love Brenda, I think taking the job (if offered) would be a bad move for her. She's not political in a job that would require her to be so, and while she is better at delegating than she used to be, she still has issues there.
Looking forward to next WEEK'S summer finale... lol...
In the season finale they are bringing in Courtney Vance (from L&O CI) to work with Brenda on a case and he is also competing for the same top job. My guess is that they will either offer him the job or some other candidate that we've never even seen. My thinking is that they are not going to offer her the job...but this show always surprises me so anything is possible!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see Courtney become a regular, or even a semi-regular, on the show. Would love to see him spar with Pope, who has been incredibly disrespectful to Brenda since this chief thing started.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree... just when you think you have the show figured out, they throw a surprise at you that rocks the boat without disrupting the quality of the show.