The Closer likes to rotate members of its ensemble in and out of the spotlight, and last night was Sanchez’s moment. What a wrenching story line they handed him. Out fixing his motorcycle, he hears shots, races down the street, and finds his kid brother Oscar bleeding all over the sidewalk. And then the African-American ambulance driver won’t pull right up: "Sorry, gotta be careful in this neighborhood." Nice little irony, there.
Incidentally, as Sanchez ran out of his garage, I thought the camera zeroed in briefly on something he dropped. I figured it was his badge and later, when the ambulance approached, I figured they wouldn’t believe he was a cop. But he flashed his cop ID, so I don’t know what it was he dropped.
The episode was all about how we respond, often wrongly, to appearances and perceived threats. Oscar wasn’t who he appeared to be, and neither is anyone else, most notably the murderer, revealed in that spectacularly chilling final twist. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
We’ve seen this plot device a thousand times before, the cop whotakes an overly personal interest in a case and is commanded to stayoff the job — and doesn’t. But it still works, and even after Brendatold Sanchez to take a vacation and find a counselor, didn’t we allknow he’d soon be back, ignoring regulations and pushing the caseforward?
And this case needed all the help it could get, what with unreliablewitness Elena Contreras, her bloodstained sneaker twitching under thetable. Agitated and semi-hysterical, she was clearly lying when shesaid the shooter was black. Was there any doubt about that?
We then had a brief cameo from our favorite journalist, who accusesthe LAPD of prioritizing cases involving the rich, the white, andrelatives of cops.
Brenda: Right back at you, newspaperman.
By the way, big hole in this episode — nobody else from Sanchez’sfamily was ever introduced. Maybe a mom or dad or another sibling orsuch could’ve enhanced the plot and helped us learn some more aboutOscar, about whom I felt curiously…nothing.
But the show hit its stride when Brenda started interviewing the series of vividly drawn witnesses and suspects.
First up, the comically pathetic, possibly brain-damaged Miguel, whotries to explain away his massive bruising: "I slipped and fell. I’m avery clumsy person." And then: "I am here of my own violation."
He gives up Puppet, Elena’s ex, which makes way for the amusinghot-tub/boat scene, in which Provenza has a chance to be Provenza.Loved it when he rolled up his pants to take a little soak.
"Hey old man, get out of our pool."
Provenza doesn’t (of course!) and when he eventually leaves he andhis team have wangled Puppet’s location (of course!) only to findSanchez already there (of course!), having backed the cowering Puppetbehind a futon.
What a prince this Puppet is. "That girl loved to get dated," Puppetsays of Elena. My first response: Too true, if she was willing to dateyou. And get that tooth fixed.
Even worse than Puppet, though, is the ex-con with the lovelyforehead tattoo, whose expressions range from smirk to scowl. He’d makea great Scared Straight poster. I thought it was just a cute littleembellishment to his character that they had his hand-wringing mom andbaby brother trail in after him. And I was sure he was the shooter.
But half-dressed, jittery Elena doesn’t finger him, Sanchez startsfreaking out, everything seems to be falling apart and what’s this? Whyis Elena suddenly shouting and crying?
My skin prickled. It wasn’t the burly scary guy after all, it wasthe skinny clean-cut kid in the collared shirt, spotted by Elena in thewaiting room. I honestly did not see that one coming.
Terrific moment. Terrific drama. Brenda gets Tony in the box, andafter a little manipulation, he confesses, telling a sadly banal storyof boys, guns, and macho posturing.
I’ve said this before, but I think Brenda gets too hammy in theinterrogation room. I cringed when she whipped out the hat to show thekid that it contained "no markins, no numbers, just blood!"
I thought her fiery speech undermined the pathos of the momentrather than heightening it. Anyone else wish Kyra Sedgwick would toneit down now and then?
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You forgot to mention the heart wrenching scene of Sanchez breaking down in Provenza’s arms… once he realized it was his birthday gift of a hat that started the whole thing.
Yet another great episode. I believe Sanchez dropped the gun holster, and I also thought it would play into the plot later, esp when the ambulance rolled up…but nope just a black leather herring, I guess.
This was my favorite episode this season. I was moved to tears in the opening scenes at the hospital. My heart ached for the character. Well done!
What is amazing is that this actor was so great on My Name is Earl-comedy and here he was so fantastic. Telling everyone that he was sorry and incredible. Lt. Tao and his wife. I loved this episode. Provenza, Flynn, Sanchez–such quality characters.
Love,love,love this show!! If I could only watch one hour of tv a week-this would be it. I also did not see at all the plot twist at the end. I never gave the other clean cut looking brother a second thought. I was sure it was the tatoo’d one! I love Provenza!! He is a hoot-with his shaky old man gun thing in the pool..so funny.
Great show, amazing episode, worst review ever
EW: Anyone else wish Kyra Sedgwick would tone it down now and then?
NO! That is her method and that is what makes Brenda Leigh, Brenda Leigh.
What I do wish is that the “reviewers” would actually watch the show, give some insight and not just rehash exactly what I watched last night. How about Sanchez going through all the stages of grief only to break down in Provenza’s arm. Raymond Cruz was outstanding and yet no mention of his performance! This recap is terrible!
brenda’s theatrics in the interrogation room is what makes the show fun to watch—but last night’s most powerful moment was sanchez and privenza at the end.
Finally! A review of The Closer with no mention of Saving Grace!
I thought this was a great episode. I thought Brenda wasn’t even the least bit over the top at the end. She was interrogating the murderer of her employer/friend’s brother and found out the murder was so senseless.
Sanchez dropped the holster of his gun as he was running. I love Brenda when she gets going and I thought it was just right last night – a kid was killed over a hat that had no numbers or orange on it – just blood. I also knew it was the kid brother – as soon as he turned up with the mother, I knew he was the shooter. My heart broke for Sanchez when he finally broke down in Provenza’s arms – Provenza was the perfect person for that role!! Love, Love, Love the Closer!!! Get ready for this weekend’s marathon!
i agree with every body that she doesn’t need to tone it down. more so in this episode. I would’ve probably slapped and shook the kid rather than just yelling. such senseless killing.
Worst. Review. Ever. I was expecting to hear all about the outstanding performance by Raymond Cruz, and all I get is a lot of whining about Brenda’s character again. I don’t get it. This episode was a perfect example of what makes this show great.
And I don’t really understand the comment about the African American EMT. I didn’t even think about it twice. It wasn’t relevant. And he dropped his holster. Not a mystery. Also not relevant. This took up two paragraphs, but no word of the most compelling scene of the episode.
Horrible review.
I liked the ending, but … I kept thinking of Clark Johnson breaking down in Crosetti. You can never top Homicide, and you can never top Crosetti. But that’s definitely a minority opinion (heh, judging by poor Homicide’s ratings woes.) But otherwise, a great episode, I think.
He dropped the gun holdster..What a great episode!! I have a new respect for the actor that plays Sanchez! I hope they use him in more episodes now after last night! WOW!
Agree with all. Terrible review. Heartbreaking episode. Fabulous acting. What makes The Closer such a cut above Saving Grace – Closer ensemble has developed over time, and gives the viewer a sense of different personalities and quirks. Grace supporting cast revolves around Grace – no backstories. Love this show.
Just when I was going to give you a peewee pat on the head for doing a bit better this week, you go and ruin it at the end. Hisssss.
Hell no she wasn’t over the top, I would have slammed that little dirtbag’s head into the concrete walls. And yet another anti-kid jab, and when she was looking so matronly.
My heart broke first in the hospital when Sanchez greeted everyone and stated to tell Brenda his statement–killed me. And naturally the end, yes I was bawling right along with Julio.
I love the commenters here, the SO get The Closer.
Smoochies.
Dear reviewer, you just don’t get it, I surmise you are a Grace fan. You obviously don’t get Brenda!! Actually, it’s really great to see her “fight” for her team, and read the emotion in her eyes. Kyra does a exceptional interpreting Brenda.
Show keeps getting better!! Love Provenza and Tao!!
Fantastic episode..definitely in my top 3 favorites of the entire show. What I loved the most was that when I teared up during the two most compelling scenes, Brenda Leigh did too. She really brought it this episode, as did Raymond Cruz. There is something that happens when Kevin Bacon directs an episode…
Now about this recap. I agree that it was terrible. When TV junkies like me get really invested in a show, we want to prolong that experience by finding someone out there who is just as invested in the show and brings some insight (and for me, humor) to their recap. When we find one that is just reciting the plots or events of the episode, it is a huge letdown. This was by far the best episode this season with brilliant acting, writing and a heartbraking story. Chief Johnson is “the closer” b/c she is “hammy” in the interrogation room. She is playing a role to get her confession. And that is what we love about her.
Please get someone else to review this wonderful show..Ms. Reese…the reviewer, just doesn’t get it. It’s one of the best shows on t.v.
Yes, can we please have another writer prepare these recaps for The Closer? Surely we can obtain a quality review like the ones posted for Lost and House and other comparable shows!
Can we go ahead an nominate Sanchez for something? Anything? The closing scene almost made me blow out a tear duct. I have never seen someone act out grief/macho/pathetic all at the same time. This show certainly creates characters with depth and a story to tell!
I love police dramas, and I never figure out “whodunnit” before the cops do. But this time, I knew the moment I saw the ex-con’s mama & brother that the brother was the shooter. However, I guessed wrong about the motive: I thought the boy was a rival for Elana’s affections, and perhaps a classmate of Oscar’s. I was shocked to learn that he didn’t even know Oscar Sanchez. The moment where she shows him the hat was classic Brenda. Sanchez’s insistence that everyone who came to the hospital should eat some pizza and his breakdown at the end were both heartbreaking moments. And how rare to see the meticulous Lt. Tau breaking the rules for his friend.
There were 3 moments that I found truly disheartening in how they reflect today’s world: The black ambulance driver says to Sanchez, “You’ve got to be careful in this neighborhood.” Puppet tells Brenda, “You know why they shoot people in my neighborhood? Because it’s Tuesday.” The kid looks at Oscar’s hat, and in contrast to Brenda’s emotional outburst at the senselessness of the killing, shrugs and says, “I guess he shoulda shown me his hat.” Makes me want to pack it in and live in a hut in the woods, but then I wouldn’t get to watch The Closer. Brenda wants to believe that most people who do bad things have a tiny speck of decency inside them, and sometimes, they do, but not this time. Also, the reviewer did not mention when Fritz brings in the undercover agent and Brenda mistakes him for a gangbanger. So much of this ep hinged on people’s mistaken assumptions about one another based solely on appearance. Very powerful stuff!
Review sucked ass.
The reviewer doesn’t even mention the heart wrenching closing scene with Sanchez and Provenza. It literally made me cry. It was a great episode. I saw it coming that the clean cut kid was the one who did it. Also, I don’t think the rest of the family was notified yet so there wasn’t a reason to show them. Sanchez only wanted to go after the bad guy not tell his family his little brother was dead.
You can find a much better recap/review at http://blog.zap2it.com/ithappenedlastnight/2008/08/the-closer-homi.html, written by someone who understands the show.
Isn’t Sanchez supposedly married? I wonder if they’re conveniently forgetting about that. I…kind of hope they are because I think Daniels and Sanchez would make a great couple.
SUPERB episode!! I’ve been watching CLOSER since the beginning. Absolutely INCREDIBLE show with characters I really care about. And (just to put a demographic on this! LOL!), I’m a 63 year-old retired Engligh/media/film study teacher. Last night’s episode was especially involving, and I, too, got teary. AMAZING performances all around, and IMO, there’s no way EVER that Brenda can ever be too “over the top”! Just not possible!
you all are wrong i’ve seen the closer and it isn’t that great. the office is more worth watching!
The reviewer needs to recap something with less drama and substance – maybe some crappy reality show?
This episode was FANTASTIC!!! And I in no way thought Brenda overdid it in the end with the hat – she wanted to smack the sh$% out of the kid and all she could settle for was trying to instill in him the effect his actions had on a totally innocent kid and still, nothing from the gang banger monster. I thought she and Cruz were impeccable in this episode. Emmy’s for both, please!
Reviewer – get a new job, please!