It’s funny, of course, how just last week I was commenting on the fact that the weekly cases had been kind of blah so far this season, and this week we get a really compelling one. Instead of the case serving as a backdrop to Brenda’s ongoing legal drama, this week it was front-and-center.
And what a good case it was. Sure, it’s not the most original storyline in the world. I’m sure we’ve seen every iteration of, “but she wasn’t a drug addict!” at least three times on each Law & Order, but this one still managed to be compelling. As a parent, I can’t imagine my child doing anything that would make me cut off contact from him forever, so to watch a mother who did just that deal with the guilt, the need to find her daughter’s killers and learn who her daughter actually became in the years before her death makes for great television.
It would have been a little more interesting if she hadn’t have turned her life around so much; if she never went back to school; if she had just been an escort in a shitty marriage, because turning herself around allowed her mother to absolve herself of some of her guilt. She figures that she didn’t really ruin her daughter’s life since she was making better decisions and getting her life together before her death. However, I’ve got to think that at the end of the day, if she had had the love and support of her parents, maybe she wouldn’t have ended up dead of a murderous heroin overdose.
In Brenda news, Captain Raydor’s back and her return is more than welcome. Well, for the viewers at least, if not for Brenda. Thing is, Raydor’s finally getting some info from Brenda and her team, and it looks like there may be a leak. The plaintiff’s attorney knows that Gabriel asked Brenda if they should stick around after they dropped Turell off, but she told him to leave. It’s pretty much the crux of the case and now the big question is, who told?
It’s hard to imagine anyone on Brenda’s team being disloyal, least of all Gabriel. Since the beginning, he and Brenda have always had a special relationship and in this episode, he literally threw himself over her to protect her from flying bullets. I remain unconvinced that there’s a leak at all (there has to be another explanation, right?) , and if there is, I can’t believe that Gabriel is behind it. What’s your theory?
Clacked by Kona Gallagher 
on Aug 22, 2011 @ 22:09 EST5EDT
I think it might be Buzz. In the Flynn and Provenza episode we were reminded that Buzz is not a police employee, only a civilian consultant. I can’t see anyone else being the leak and Buzz, while an interesting part of the team is replaceable.
My question, though, for it to be anyone other than Gabriel or Sanchez, the two of them would have had to share the conversation with other people … And I just don’t see them doing that (Nor leaking it to the defense attorney, FWIW).
I think it is Buzz also … They featured him more this year … He’s always on the scene of the crime and monitoring all the interviews … And he was portrayed as an over the top “good guy” , who was often shocked by what he saw and heard.
I think it will turn out to be an unintentional leak. Gabriel or Sanchez confided in someone they believed they could trust and that person leaked it. I think making it Buzz would be too easy. It could very well be that Gabriel sought Taylor’s advice on it and Taylor leaked it.
How many episodes left on this half of the season or are they going straight through?
I agree it was Commander Taylor, but i think it was intentional. Not accidential.
i think it’s Pope
I wouldn’t entirely disagree, but you’ve got to look at the timeline.
It couldn’t be to get or solidify his job … the investigation into Brenda started while Pope was on his way out … he couldn’t have foreseen what would happen to Delk, and by the time the investigation had run its course, he would have been long gone.
My problem still goes back to the fact that there were three people in the car. Brenda and Sanchez obviously didn’t share Gabriel’s question with anyone. Did Gabriel (obviously, he had to have, intentionally or otherwise), and who would have betrayed him if he didn’t betray Brenda?
If there is a snitch, I also think it’s Pope. Brenda tells him everything, and I think he’s the only one she does tell…so he would have been like another passenger in that car. He’s had to cover her __ in almost every case, which has caused him endless aggravation. Plus, he’s watched her bend the rules–all the rules–and still get promoted, while he’s had to slide backwards.
My guess is that the whole thing has made him a little pissy and anxious to set things back in balance.
I’m just glad that Raydor’s finally become an ally.
It’s Pope. He’s covering his ass because he authorized the immunity deal in the first place.
I agree that it’s Pope.
I agree it is Pope. He resented the fact she applied for Chief which was compounded by fact when she made the short list, and he did not. He wanted the case to settle and did not react well when her lawyer rejected it. Also, why would he be allowing her to meet with the lawyer for any reason whatsoever? Fritz has always told Brenda to never trust Pope. Gabriel is too obvious.
My theory: Provenza got drunk (he likes to do it at night he told us in episode) and somehow Taylor overheard it.
Provenza knew it from Gabriel.
My strongest suspicion is Pope. I agree with kathyrn he is covering his ass because he authorized the immunity deal in the first place. He has become SUCH a small person (of character) on this show. His greed for power has turned him into an unlikable character and his desperation is so unattractive. Pope has pushed this investigation on Brenda hard, something Captain Raydor knows and does not like. Gabriel is hard to read because sometimes I really like him and other times his “holier than thou” attitude gets old. I like Provenza and Flynn — usually — but in this week’s episode they both acted so juvenile and goofy (more than usual — usually they are endearing, but this time less so, although I did like Provenza raising the issue at the end). I hope it’s not Commander Taylor because I’ve grown to like him. I think he’s shown himself to be a bigger person than circumstances would expect him to be. As for Pope, it is understandable for him to be mad at Brenda. He brought her in, and then she tries to get his dream job. That has to eat at him, so some of his reaction is totally understandable. He has just become a very unlikable character to me. He does not handle power well AT ALL. And he strikes me as someone who wants to toss responsibility. BUT FOR his overreacting and DEMANDING that immunity agreement, Brenda would not have been put in the position where she did what she did. Part of me wonders if the message Brenda’s lawyer sent at the end (I LOVED that) was secretly a message to Pope. Because if Brenda goes to trial it WILL come out that Pope pushed for immunity. It should at least. He could end up being hurt, too. But in his rush to free himself of ALL responsibility he forces Raydor into continuing the investigation that Delk, in his dying words, indicated he was ended. I really do not like Pope, and I don’t see timeline problems for him. He is always looking to cover his ass and pass the buck and hog the glory, so throwing Brenda under the bus to cover for his bonehead immunity demand is very plausible to me. If Buzz did it, I would be very disappointed. He’s been a team player throughout the show, even through the funny Flynn and Provenza antics. And I love Tao, so surely it’s not him. Sanchez had been acting little sketchy lately, but I’m hoping that’s just the writers trying to confuse the issue. I wish the end episode would be Brenda being made chief and Pope headed to traffic cop land. Although I do like JK Simmons. I just do not like the small person that Pope’s character has become. And if they want to put him in the spin off, they’d better start redeeming him — sooner rather than later — like they have done with Raydor. I hope Provenza is in the spin off because I’ve loved him since his Rizzo days. And I hope he is not the leak — drunk or otherwise.
It’s Pope… he’s jealous!
Is it possible there is no mole among the team but a bug (listening device) in the squad room, planted early on by Goldman? The way he appeared and left without being noticed (as in the time he never left the building when ordered out) says he could have hidden a tiny bug somewhere in the room that sits unnoticed while he can listen in whenever he wants. Does anyone know if this new building is hack-proof from listening devices? Maybe not if the source behind all this is a former CIA colleague of Brenda’s.
Has to be Pope-Buzz is in the new spinoff-so he wouldn’t be contiued he was the leak-Goldman won’t have access to older records if he placeed a bug
Isn’t Pope in the new spinoff as well?
Don’t know if Pope is in the new spinoff-but the actor who plays his character is making LOTs of commercials
How would goldman get a whole box of old case records?Which charracter would have access to all those
Has it occurred to anyone that Provenza may have shared inside information with his much younger girlfriend who then subsequently dumped him? She could have been a mole planted by Goldman.
But how would she have obtained information subsequent to the end of their relationship?
Provenza is the talkative type and probably not the best bet to keep secrets. He would have been the most vulnerable team member for Goldman to target in this way. Was there any information leaked on events after she left or could “harmless” pillow talk have accounted pretty much for whatever Goldman knows?
It is Fritz. He is tired of seeing his wife almost get killed and wants children.
when the episode ended Goldman had a box with case files-would Fritz have access to those? There are three characters not mentioned as to going on in the spinoff-Pope, Taylor, and Fritz. it has to be Taylor or Pope
Is it Sgt/Det David Gabriel. The one time he crossed the line and beat up somebody to try to find a child he was written up and suspended. All the while Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson has been crossing the line to close her cases, and he’s been covering for her. So payback? Maybe?
My theory is the FBI with Buzz.
The FBI hates Brenda. She steals their cases, ruins 2 year undercover stake outs etc. They want her gone. Either someone ratted out Brenda to the FBI or they started figuring things out.
All of a sudden, Buzz comes in and announces that they have $70,000 for surveilance equipment if they spend it fast. So now everything that goes on in the interrogation rooms is being sent back to their computers and possibly an FBI computer too!
We know they had the ability to hide cameras and voice recorders in the cars, so maybe the car was wired when they dropped off Terrell. The FBI wants to build a case of repeat behavior against Brenda.
Why was Fritz so secretive about where the money for Brenda’s lawyer came from? Did he catch wind of something at the FBI and is trying to protect her while saving his career?
The FBI probably had something on the sleeze bag lawyer, Goldberg(?), and cut a deal with him to set Brenda up in the Terrell law suit. But they always intended to use that case as a stepping stone to establish a pattern.
Pope was too obvious of a choice. He may have wanted Brenda gone and may have gone along with the Terrell trial under duress. However, a big federal case would bury his career since he is the one that brought Brenda in.
Gabrielle was too obvious also.
It’s the rapist/lawyer.
As an officer of the court, he has access to all files of cases, and evidence.
My question is, why Goldman so passionate about taking Brenda down, what is connection to that lawyer?
I think the rapist has bugged the car and the office, remember how he outmanuvered Brenda and the LAPD in that rape case, he is her nemesis!
But this whole case is smoke. The LAPD was not required to give Terrall any type of protection. He asked for protection for his mother and sister, and the ARMY agreed, and put them in protective custody. Tarrell snuck into the police station to give his phoney info, until he got immunity.
Brenda offered him protection if he gave up his immunity and he declined,
Someone need to tell the writers that we are watching this show.