'The Closer' recap: A tricky mystery and a return to top form

seattle_girl Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 02:29 PM EST

Ahhh, how I've missed new eps of Closer. LOVE the sly little moments that make me hit rewind - Provenza's glee while driving, Brenda saying that she WAS vibrating before the fall in the hallway, her (barely suppressed) excitement about "wrapping things up by noon". I'm liking the adding view of her relationship with Fritz. Loved Flynn (as usual) and Tao in this one too. Where's the Emmy love for this outstanding supporting cast???

Julie Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 12:49 PM EST

I think that Brenda took out the wine to have a drink at the end of her long day, but then she changed her mind and decided to snuggle up with poor Fritz on the floor instead, not really having anything to do with his alcoholism. I think instead it showed Brenda taking a huge step forward in their relationship, where Fritz complained that they never talk about his past or his addiction issues, Brenda realized she is kind of selfish and dismissive when it comes to letting Fritz be part of her life, a recurring theme in the show. I liked the fact that she did it, it made her seem less harsh. Plus if her having a glass of wine while Fritz was asleep was going to somehow bother him, then having the wine in the house at all would bother him. In answer to the question, she pulled the wine out, then put it back in the same place.

Sarah C. Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 11:56 AM EST

Love Fritz and Brenda. I didn't realize there were people that didn't like them. I think Jon Tenney is fantastic. And to answer your question, she decided not to have a glass of wine after work to be more respectful of Fritz I think. This annoyed me a bit, b/c most recovering alcoholics that have been sober for quite awhile have no issue being around people drinking, esp a cop that no doubt is around people drinking pretty often. (And they certainly don't need alcohol moved out of reach! Give me a break.)

Jackie Thu, Jul 24, 2008 at 09:33 AM EST

Love this show so much. Loved Tao's "walk with me". I laughed every time he said it. Loved seeing Paul Michael Glaser back on tv. He used to be plastered all over my bedroom wall back in the day. Nice to see Brenda not being quite so mean to Fritz (as she is sometimes) but hope the writers don't change her character too much.

pai Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 07:14 PM EST

It was def. better than the premiere. But it was easily figured out. LOVED the old lady catfight though, def. a highlight of the episode.

GeeGee Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 06:28 PM EST

Tao's "Walk with Me" was a little poke at Brenda -- my mom caught it, I didn't so I think it was a joke that fell a little flat. I'm happy with the sexy Brenda and Fritz and back spasm story line. She can be so snitty sometimes you need story lines like that to explain why he loves her so much.

monica Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 06:04 PM EST

yeah, they're trying to make their relationship more believable. i loved the part when Tao made her go on a wild goose chase. As for the mystery, i thought for a second that they were going to do what "Bones" did and find one of their own to be guilty.

Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 05:09 PM EST

This was based on a true story. 2 little old ladies "befriending" homeless men, taking out life insurance on them, then running them over. When confronted and left alone, they turned on each other. Heard the audio tapes of that exchange.. scary, but perversely hilarious.

Darby Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 11:58 AM EST

Loved that Brenda FINALLY called Sgt Gabriel 'David' in one scene; shows they are getting closer. Also, I thought the bit with Tao was perfectly in-character - he always over-explains everything so of course he's going to make her walk around the block instead of just saying 'the car drove around the block'
Also like the Fritz-Brenda stuff - shows how Fritz loves her BECAUSE she's brilliant & strong & crabby & whiny & difficult & INTERESTING instead of some cardboard-cutout-LA chick.

LadyTiger Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 09:42 AM EST

Maybe Tao was just excited to be out of the office, away from his computer, and doing CSI kind of work. Nice catch about Provenza's ex-wives names being on the dummies. Hilarious!

I thought Daniels was pregnant after the last episode, but now I'm not so sure after her comment about not having "anything to go home to." And if you think about it, she did solve the case by investigating the insurance policy angle.

I love Fritz and Brenda, and I think they do a good job of portraying a real relationship. Brenda is getting better at the relationship thing and truly does love Fritz, which I think was made clear when she put the wine away and laid down on the floor next to him.

Sue Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 09:19 AM EST

Seriously? "For the first time this season." We are on episode 2! Perhaps if you don't like the show, you should let one of us who does like it write the recaps. I assumed that Lt. Tao's "Walk with me," was sort of a mocking hommage to Brenda ... she says "with me," all the time.

Teresa Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 03:14 AM EST

I got the idea that Brenda was going to have a drink of wine but decided not to and put the wine bottle back and got a blanket to lay down next to Fritz. I like Brenda b/c she is a flawed person and the show reveals all the dimensions of her character.

Dduellman Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 01:26 AM EST

I love Fritz and Brenda. My husband is a big fan of their relationship too. It's completely functional in its slight dysfunction - just like most committed couples.

JC Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 06:42 PM EST

"For the first time this season?" Urm - this is the second episode.

JANE Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 06:26 PM EST

BEST SHOW ON TV LOVE THIS SHOW.EVERYTHING ABOUT IT WORKS.SO EXCITED THE NEW SEASON IS HERE OF THE CLOSER ONLY WISH THEY MADE MORE EPISODES.

joules Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 05:20 PM EST

When Lt. Tao was so giddy, trotting along, saying "walk with me" over and over, it seemed very out of character for him, and I kept waiting for Brenda to make a sarcastic remark, but she didn't. Weird. Thank you to the person who pointed out that Provenza labeled the dummies with his ex-wives' names - that's a hoot! I think Brenda had a realization about the importance of Fritz's sobriety when she saw the dead guy's 1-year AA token, but the back-spasm storyline was a waste of airtime. I loved Wendy Phillips in Homefront, along with that show's other great cast members. Amy Aquino was great as the dead girls' mother, when she shouted the licence plate number to Brenda. It was fun to see her play someone unhinged for a change. Also love the actress who ran the halfway house (can't remember her name) - she's always good at scene-chewing! maybe it was a bit too easy for Brenda, and when did she gather all that other data on the many other victims who met the same fate?

lovebrendaandgang Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 05:17 PM EST

I agree entirely with raprilc. If you dislike the show, let's get someone else to write it please. The ensemble acting is just wonderful it's a great show

Peggy Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 04:54 PM EST

I think Patty's got it right; Brenda's beginning to understand something about alcoholism and, therefore, something of what Fritz has gone through. (Which he accused her of dismissing.) I don't think it was "sweet" - I think it was a sign of Brenda's growing understanding of Fritz & her respect/love for him.

lilune Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 04:49 PM EST

I completely agree with raprilc. I think the show is great... I love Brenda & Fritz together. Brenda at work is the main focus of the show and it's nice to see another side to her.

Also, the part about the wine. Fritz had mentioned that he's an alcoholic and she never wants to talk about it. I think she pulled out the wine and realized that it shouldn't be in the house and she put it back. I didn't even connect the comments at the halfway house about how easy it is to start drinking again until it was posted in the comments and I'm sure that made her understand Fritz a little more.

Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 03:29 PM EST

To djs: I think Daniels may be pregnant too. They have a lot of shots of her sitting down and that scene when they went to talk to the life insurance policy recipient, she had a folder in her hands that she conviently used to cover her stomach. All classic signs of an actress being pregnant and no way to write it into the script.

DanOregon Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 02:42 PM EST

What makes this show work is that it, like Psych and Monk, and Saving Grace, are the anti-Law and Orders which put character over plot. The Closer might have the best supporting cast on TV, when you think how much depth the characters have. I know more about LOOTENNANT PRO-VENZA than I do about S. Epatha Merkerson's Van Buren on L&O and she now has the record for all time eps on that series.

JoeC Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 01:35 PM EST

I've just started to watch this show this year. Two episodes in, and I don't get it. I'll give it a few more.....

kerri Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 12:59 PM EST

i don't think the perps gave up the info too quickly. they kept reassuring each other everytime Brenda left the room. it wasn't until she outed Simmons for running the latest scam alone that all the truth came out. from there, Simmons knew that talking first would give her the lighter charge/sentence.

also, Kyra is a hot older actress and i think it is fine for TNT to give her some screen time in her undies.

Nanci Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 12:44 PM EST

To VW: Yes, that was Paul Michael Glaser. I had the biggest crush on him when when he played Starsky. ;-)

Nanci Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 12:44 PM EST

To VW: Yes, that was Paul Michael Glaser. I had the biggest crush on him when when he played Starsky. ;-)

Joe Reilly Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 12:25 PM EST

I think Brenda was going to have a quiet drink to celebrate nabbing the case but thought the better of it: do not tempt Fritz and all the better to
lay down beside him.

raprilc Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 12:25 PM EST

Jennifer, it seems like you and I are watching different shows b/c I'm absolutely loving this season so far. Why the lukewarm response? The premiere was fantastic. And last night's ep was great too. I like that we get to see Brenda and Fritz get frisky. She's not just a cop. She's a chick, too. Seeing a little bit of her homelife works for me. Also, I like that in the past two eps, there are hints that Gabriel & Daniels are having romantic problems. Tao was hilarious sashaying down the street. And Provenza of course was classic Provenza. The chemistry between the cast is fantistic, and the writing and acting couldn't be better. At some points I even feel like I'm watching a really good movie. So what's to complain about? If you barely like the show, then please stop writing the recaps. Yours tend to be short already, plus they're mysteriously critical and glaringly omit the best bits (e.g. the hilarious fight at the end).

djs Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 12:15 PM EST

thanks, George! Now that I've looked her up, I realize that I see her on Big Love. and my favorite canceled-before-its-time show, Homefront. (also, with Kyle Chandler). I think she played his mom on that show.

vw Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 12:13 PM EST

Thanks for the info on Patricia Simmons as I kept trying to figure out whare I had seen her before. I actually figured out when Brenda went to see her that she was the killer, never thinking that the other lady was involved. I knew the couple were the red herrings. So I guess I had it 50% right. My question is was that Paul Michael Glasser playing the husband? LOVE Provenza! He makes me laugh and I too loved it when he was driving the car but I also loved it when he was waiting with his crosswords for the others to come back around the block. The look on Brenda's face was priceless.

George N Huftalen Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 11:57 AM EST

For djs: the actress who played Patricia Simmons was, I believe, Wendy Phillips, who played Gerald McRaney's wife on the show "Promised Land" (spinoff of "touched by an angel")

C Moon Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 11:56 AM EST

I think it was a great episode last night! I really had to think about who was involved with the murder. The fight at the end was so funny and I loved it when Provenza ran over the dummy. Did you notice that they had his ex-wives named taped on them? It is such a great show!

C Moon Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 11:56 AM EST

I think it was a great episode last night! I really had to think about who was involved with the murder. The fight at the end was so funny and I loved it when Provenza ran over the dummy. Did you notice that they had his ex-wives named taped on them? It is such a great show!

Shannon Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 11:53 AM EST

OK best interrogation scene ever! (or maybe it's just been so long that I'm fiending for a good Closer interrogation). Loved the "older lady" fight scene, great! Side note though, why if they've been murdering and writing policies on these deadbeats for years, would they just give it up to Brenda like that?!?!?!? Heck, she didn't even work that hard for it! lol. Keep your criminal, murdering mouths shut! But, of course that would be no fun for us, huh?-) Also, I'm like the reviewer not so hot on heating things up btwn Brenda and Fritzy. I could actually care less about their relationship. I would prefer to know more about the relationships of her detectives than theirs. Fritz is hot, but his character's a dud. Sorry for those who love him. I love this show and it was definitely better than the premiere episode. the Closer is officially BACK!

djs Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 11:24 AM EST

Who was the actress how played Patricia Simmons? Where do we know her from?

I agree: last night was The Closer at its finest. Loved Tao, Provenza, and Flynn. Oh! Is Daniels pregnant? She looked like she'd gained weight.

w Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 11:21 AM EST

Okay, maybe it's just me, but there was something that really bothered me....This happened over several days, right? At least two....so...I've been laid up with back problems, but I still needed help getting up and down to go to the bathroom. I can't believe he laid flat for more than a day and never used the bathroom. Plus, he rolled over at the end of the scene, which means he definitely was feeling better and had movement. It just was a glaring inconsistancy to me, and I love this show.

atl Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 11:02 AM EST

There was more to the returning of the wine than Brenda just being sweet. The underlying story here was alcholism and how easy and alcoholic can drink again. The case helped Brenda see that and out of respect and caring for Fritz she put the bottle back.

Patty Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 11:00 AM EST

I think part of it was also that Fritz told her she dismissed addiction as a problem. The perps (!) kept saying alcoholic are so easy to pull back to a drink. Maybe she actually realized that her drinking around Fritz and even having the wine in the house really isn't fair to him.

RustyT Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 10:04 AM EST

Loved the septagenarian fight scene at the end! The interrogation sequence was certainly a nice contrast to the usual efficient way Brenda breaks folks down. And I definitely think they needed to give Brenda & Fritz a little spark, as otherwise why would that hunk of a man stay with a cold, workaholic sourpuss? I also hope they finally leave the Brenda-Pope June-late November relationship thing behind in the dust once and for all, as it was just creepy. I didn't think the season opener was bad, btw. It was fascinating to see the Brenda-Pyro (ice-fire) dynamic in full action, and it served as a catalyst for her thawing a bit.

KateDFW Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 09:42 AM EST

Brenda had offered Fritz some Vicoden for his back. He told her that wasn't a good idea for an alcoholic. When she came home to relax and have a glass of wine and saw him still on the floor, she put the wine away and joined him on the floor. Now we have seen a small glimmer of why Fritz loves Brenda.

krisa Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 09:37 AM EST

brenda grabbed a bottle of wine, a glass and a wine bottle opener to go have a drink alone in the bedroom before bed (presumably sleeping alone in the bedroom), but decided instead to put it all away and bring out her bedding to sleep with fritz on the floor.

Hunter Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 09:33 AM EST

Brenda got the wine out to celebrate while Fritz was asleep on the floor, but instead put the bottle back and laid down beside him... How sweet (gag!)