The Closer – Do we really have time for slapstick?

Generally, I’m a fan of the Flynn/Provenza episodes. While The Closer is certainly no Breaking Bad, it can get dark at times, so it’s nice to have episodes that show the, uh, lighter side of murder. However, it’s the last season people. Not only that, but it’s the last season of a cable show, which means that we only get a dozen episodes give or take to wrap up seven seasons. So when we have a stand-alone episode so close to the end, it makes me anxious.

Other than a passing reference to Raydor’s audit and some minor dick measuring between Pope and Taylor, this episode could have basically happened at any point this season or last. To me, this just means that we have one fewer episode to find out how Brenda Leigh Johnson, a dedicated LAPD employee who loves her job more than just about anything else, decides to leave it all behind.

But anyway, back to the episode at hand. Adam Arkin is brilliant, and I love him. I loved him on Life, and I love that he constantly pops up on shows that I enjoy. He’s good at playing the amoral business man, so it was fun to see him both as that and catch a glimpse of him as the goofy actor. Having him play both roles was fun, but come on. Are we really supposed to believe that he just happened to find an out-of-work actor/petty criminal who looks EXACTLY like him? I did like Gabriel’s Ken Lay conspiracy theory though. I could totally see that asshole faking his own death and living the high life on some island somewhere.

One decision that I’m a big fan of is having Fritz become the LAPDs FBI liaison. Yes, it’s contrived, but having him constantly hanging around the murder room adds an interesting dynamic to Brenda’s day. Most people would have trouble separating their personal lives from their professional, but Brenda clearly doesn’t. Granted, she probably kisses Fritz more than she would another FBI liaison, but she certainly doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to lying to him in order to reach her goal. There’s no wifely consideration there – he’s just another obstacle that she needs to get around.

So, Buzz. He’s kind of creepy, right? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that he beat Flynn and Provenza at their own game, but there’s something off about him. I understand that he works at a police station and sees horrible things on a daily basis, but if someone died on my car, I really don’t think I could just drive it around the next day. Wouldn’t it be awesome if the case that makes Brenda leave is the one in which she finds out Buzz is a serial killer? Now that would be an ending.

Clacked by Kona Gallagher
on Jul 26, 2011 @ 21:07 EST5EDT