There was a certain symmetrical poetry in last night’s episode of The Closer: The juxtaposition of silence and incessant chatter, the competing tones of goofy comedy and jarring violence, the sudden and unexpected shifts in power in the ongoing marital debate among Brenda, her parents, and long-suffering Fritz. And of course, for sheer lyrical beauty, nothing could beat the climactic scene of Brenda extending her hand to terrified, terrorized Kelly Rivers (Katherine Boecher), standing in that doorway, literally at the precipice of life and death, and displaying her fresh bruises with the subtlest of gestures. (Paging, Emmy voters: Can an actress score an Outstanding Guest Star nod on the basis of a brief, light-on-dialogue scene?) Heck, even the justice was poetic last night, right down to Pope’s apology to the murder victim’s dirtbag abusive spouse: "On behalf of the entire LAPD, allow me to say how very sorry I am that you lied to us so much, and that you knocked your wife around to such an extent that we considered you a suspect in her murder."
That kind of organic, effortless comedy is one of the things that makes The Closer such a treat, and separates it from the unrelentingly grim procedurals the big networks tend to favor. J.K. Simmons’ understated delivery was even more delicious during an episode featuring some serious scenery chewing by Frances Sternhagen and Barry Corbin as Brenda’s parents. Don’t get me wrong: I chuckled as Fritz conjured up (very quickly) an emergency scenario (airport bomb threat) far less sexy than Brenda’s competing crime (murder on a Hollywood set!) to escape the "when are you kids getting married?" shtick over a hot, homemade breakfast smorgasbord. (Did anyone else notice Fritz didn’t utter a single word during the entire awkward wedding convo?) It’s just that Sternhagen and Corbin scrambled a little too much ham into the eggs to suit my tastes. Then again, Brenda seems to view Ma and Pa Johnson as larger-than-life characters, the only folks she can’t (or won’t) steamroll, so perhaps their exaggerated behavior springs from their daughter’s exaggerated responses to them, and vice-versa.
And anyhow, all’s well that ends well. Brenda’s chin-held-high, lips-held-quavering ultimatum to her parents was as touching as it was amusing, though I have to admit I was totally blindsided by Fritz’s subsequent (and forceful) (and awesome) demand for a wedding date by the end of February. Fritz is fast becoming the ultimate spousal fantasy, a guy who tolerates, perhaps even embraces, Brenda’s flaws and quirks and eccentricities, but also knows when to put his foot down and demand that she be a better/saner person. Jon Tenney may not get a ton of screentime, but he certainly makes the most of it, no?
On the flip side of Fritz’s partner-y perfection were this week’s perp and prime suspect, the former a skeezy, out-of-control control freak, and the latter a slickly handsome abuser whose self-perceived coolness quickly disappeared in the interrogation room with Brenda. I loved the way she literally licked her lip as the skeezeball started describing himself as "passionate" and "sensitive" in an effort to defuse reports describing him as a wife beater. Her scathing assessment after the guy exploded in rage — "Well, I think it’s safe to say that you’re a freshman in anger management." — was the episode’s best one-liner. I was really hoping the episode would end with the victim’s estranged hubby behind bars, but the sudden shift in suspects resulted in a climax so emotionally riveting (see aforementioned doorway exchange between Sedgwick and Boecher), it’s proof the show’s writers truly know best.
What did you think of last night’s show? Is anyone worried the Times’ investigation will really lead to the end of priority homicide? Anyone else worried about Sanchez’s post-traumatic hesitations? Who else LOL’d at Gabriel’s wonderfully lecherous "if you think of anything else, give me a call" to that trollop of a makeup chick? And is it just me, or are you also completely fed up with TNT’s ROARINGLY loud ad breaks?
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Why so late today? Totally loved the ep–especially Pope’s “aplogy.”
I’ve been waiting ALL DAY for a Closer recap, and while it’s certainly welcome to see Slezak tackling it as opposed to whatsherface who doesn’t seem to enjoy the show, when is The Closer going to get a REAL, full-blown regular recap that doesn’t appear in PopWatch? Is that really so much to ask?
Finally, someone who gets the show! And it appears that TPTB at EW have listened to the posters and reassigned the other hack who didn’t get it! Yea!!!!
Yea! Slezak recapping the Closer – a dream come true.
I really don’t understand why they can’t leave Brenda’s mom and dad home alone. What kind of wacky sexual devices are hidden in that house?
Liked the continuity of Daniels giving Gabriel a sidelong glance and Sanchez’s apparent issues.
Slezak – I was so glad to see your name on the recap! I love it when you watch my shows. I totally agree with the Kelly Rivers scene at the end. It was awesomely written and directed. I also am enamored with the touches of humor and continuity of the storylines. Awesome show!
Wow, what a treat! One of my favorite EWers writing the recap for one of my favorite shows!
Now, as for the episode, it did feel like a let down after last week’s awesome Sanchez-centered episode, but it was still quite good. Brenda is human ans complicated relationships with her parents — and don’t we all love her more because of that? And Fritz was great last night. Now I just want him to say “About that baby thing…yes or no?”
Loved the way everyone seemed to be helping Sanchez — Daniels, Provenza and Tao all had communication with him at different points.
I saw the solution to the crime coming a mile away, once we learned that the victim had a roommate, but so what? I still loved the way Brenda handled it and the team got the scumbag.
What I liked most about last night’s ep were the subtle things that showed the awful dynamic of domestic abuse — how even as she was being rescued from almost certain death, Kelly was making excuses for her dirtbag boyfriend/husband (“he didn’t mean to kill her!”). And how after Pope’s “apology,” the victim’s husband whined about how nobody understands what he’s going through. Fantastic writing.
And another thing — thanks, EW, for putting Slezak on the job. And chalk up another vote for a full recap for the next season of “The Closer.”
Loved your recap, Slezak, and love to see you recapping “The Closer”!
This show was great. I loved the continuity of the Sanchez storyline with his hesitation and with everyone else helping him out throughout the episode. The juxtaposition of the domestic abuse storyline with Brenda’s personal storyline was storyline. Her ability to stand up to the bullying in her own life was critical. It was also critical for her to see how her own behavior could be seen as a very mild form of abuse/torture.
The rescue of Kelly Rivers was incredible. So well acted and written! I actually gasped. That’s one of the things I love about this show. It makes me do that at least once a show.
I totally agree with you about the commercials. I mute them if I’m not watching the show in a playback.
Yeah, more Slezak is always a good thing! It was a great episode, and I definitely agree about the commercials – why the heck were they SO MUCH LOUDER than the show?
LURVE this show. Much better re-cap than last week, thank you EW. Sanchez breaks my heart and i want a Fritz-y in MY life. He’s so sweet and patient, yet he gets what he wants out of Brenda too. I LOVE THIS SHOW.
slezak, miss your recaps! i don’t watch this show, but its good reading.
Can I be the 400th (or whatever) to applaud that this week have a reviewer who acutally contemplates this show rather than recapping and comparing it to Saving Grace? EW bosses: please leave The Closer recaps to Michael Slezak.
I loved this episode. Brenda’s parents always bring such humor and allow the other side of the other side of Brenda’s personality to be shown. I thought Sanchez was portrayed perfectly. They showed that he continues to grieve. Fritz was awesome at the end! That was a suprise. My husband and I had a bet on who could name the killer because we feel like we’ve got the show figured out and they totally suprised us when Kelly slightly shifted her robe to show the same marks that were on the victim.
The last scene when they find the roommate and the tension building on if she would take Brenda’s hand was so good! These are the moments that make The Closer one of the best shows on TV.
Best Line belonged to Brenda Leigh when interviewing the husband and he said he was taking anger management classes and her response was “Well, I think it is safe to say you are a freshman in anger management”! Loved it!
It was nice that the “perp” wasn’t ID’d in the first 30 minutes and then gradually broken down. A nice change of pace.
I’m assuming the newspaper article will be providing the upcoming cliffhanger ender for the season. I’m going to try not to think about it, since I’m still excited over Fritzy’s ultimatum to Brenda last night. I love me some Fritz.
And I record this show, so the ad breaks for me get “bleep-blooped” through, but I would gleefully kick the guy/girl in the knee who pioneered those little dancing ads in the bottom corner of the screen. They’re on everything now, and they were especially jarring when Holly Hunter was gyrating around while I was trying to concentrate on The Closer.
Thank you Slezak for the awesome review. OMG I jumped when the girl was pulled like a she was in a vortex from Brenda at the end. I knew Fritz buttering her up at the end was leading to him making his own demands of a wedding date. Awesome, he’s hot…why is Brenda dragging her feet? Her parents and the actors that play them are always larger than life. Funniest part was Pa Johnson giving the look of death to Provenza. Loved it!
Where’s the Prison Break re-cap!!! I’ve been waiting all day!
I was touched by Sanchez’s teammates trying to comfort him and talk him through doing his job. I’m not so sure he should be back at work yet… Love Brenda’s parents. How could a real “character” like Brenda NOT have over the top characters for parents. And Provenza’s so funny and charming around them. I think he really enjoys the company… It was nice to be a little surprised by the killer’s reveal. And I agree that they nailed the abused and abusers’ patterns of behavior (offering to give him a haircut? actually not so unlikely)… The writers are doing a great job of exploring & carrying through the season’s them of CONTROL.
How many others would love to see a spin off of Flynn&Provenza Private Eyes??? Would be wonderful. Think the Sanchez story line superb … talk about a deserved emmy? The split between hard drama and comic relief is so brilliant in this show. Love Sedgewick!!!
You are dead on about the volumn of the ads. If they are trying to make me want to buy something they are having the opposite effect. I watch everything on TNT with my finger on the mute button.
AkZombie is funny and right on! also i just want to say that i totally heart the closer…but tnt is really getting my knickers in a twist with all the promotions of zack morris with long hair! tnt you are not the boss of me and i won’t watch your new show no matter how many annoying commericals and pop-ups you show me! so put that in your pipe and you know the rest.
The Closer is always good. You can watch The Closer other ways without commercials, but I’m not going to say exactly. That reporter guy is a pain. I suspect Brenda will take care of him in time. She has tamed all of the other men in her life. Lol. The whole cast is great!
YAY Michael! How surprising (and appropriate) (and awesome) it is to have you recapping The Closer. (Extra awesome.) Yours are the best 671 words I’ve seen anyone write in this space. Poetry indeed.
OMG, I’m in recapper heaven. EXCELLENT recap–and it wasn’t any longer than the other person’s attempt(s). No offense to her, but she didn’t have the chops.
What does it matter if this appears in Popwatch? (Some are never happy.)
You’re right, Fritzy IS the fantasy guy–tolerant and accommodating without being a full-on wus.
Can’t wait to see how Brenda neutralizes Ramirez. Well done in addressing the various degrees (and forms) of abuse. Best rescue scene ever (in all ways–acting/writing).
Pope’s apology–very Brenda-eque (and entertaining as all get out). If you remember season one when she did that to assorted LAPD whingers–Pope had serious sphincter bunge, and now look at him. Heh.
I hate those friggin’ pop-ups, they’re too loud and too big–Nascar’s are the worst. Thanks to dvr, the cramming of Raise the Bar et. al. is wasted on me.
Now, Michael–we need you for Burn Notice too. (You or the Mad Men recapper.) Work on that, wouldja?
Smoochies for making this recap a real treat.
Yeah for the new recapper..thanks EW for listening. I wish the old recapper nothing but the best and hope she gets to recap a show she acutally enjoys!! Also the only thing good about ‘raising the bar’ is at least I don’t have to watch 40 million comercials for saving grace! I did not watch rtb because I was so sick of hearing about it by the time it came on…TNT needs to learn a lesson from this. I don’t think this tactic worked for ‘Grace’ either!
Yay Slezak! This makes my morning. Great recap, dude.
Slezak to the rescue — yay! Another fav moment was Brenda’s eyerolling look of irritation when her father lays on the guilt about being too busy to spend time with her folks. Oh yesss, I’ve so been there. Love that they’re giving Jon Tenney more juicy lines (and yeah, I thought it was weird that he merely chewed through the whole breakfast scene). But loved the looks on his face when Brenda got the first call and again when Provenza shares TMI about the pre-marital ‘weekend’ with wife #3. How fast Brenda’s face changed from prideful glee to abject terror when Fritz laid down the ultimatum. Great writing (on the show AND the recap)!
No one mentioned the first 30 seconds: we think we’re watching a knife-wielding maniac and… surprise! It’s Brenda’s Momma & Daddy preparing a killer breakfast spread! Great ep & great recap. Loved the one girl’s comment about “that cute Detective Sanchez”. Pope’s “apology” was perfect!
Love this show and appreciate the new reviewer. Best moment for me was in the last scene where it’s between Daniels and Sanchez to come up behind the guy who is holding his girlfriend hostage. With one subtle gesture Daniels lets Sanchez know she’s taking this one. Just another moment that lets you know every last detail of this show is perfect and well thought out. She’s a powerful competent character in her own right and he’s in a mental and emotional spot where he doesn’t need another life and death decision on his hands. Love every character on this show.