I’m starting agree with all of you who have been saying that Pope is the leak. He remained suspiciously quiet in this episode; neither offering Brenda a whole lot of support or actively throwing her under the bus. It makes sense though; he wants this job and is willing to hold onto it with bloody fingertips. There’s no real reason for him to actively want to get rid of Brenda; I’m sure she improves his closure rate way more than anyone else could, but the desire of power often makes people act in irrational ways.
For instance, as interim Chief, Pope could still see Brenda as a threat to his ultimately getting the job. After all, she came a lot closer to getting it the first time around than he did, so he could be afraid that she’s going to swoop in at the last minute and snatch it away from him. Maybe he figures that a big Turrell-shaped mark on her record would be just what he needs to make sure she won’t be seriously considered for “his” job.
Someone wrote on Twitter that Captain Raydor’s transformation from antagonist to protagonist has been really interesting to watch. I couldn’t agree more. Having her help Brenda out in this episode while still keeping her laser-like focus on her own job was fantastic. Obviously the focus in the last several episodes of the season needs to be on Brenda, but we also need more Captain Raydor in our lives.
This episode has also continued the upward trend that the Case of the Week has been on. This one, in fact, was probably the best as it seamlessly melded the two storylines together. Instead of having the case and then Brenda’s problem, everything was just one compelling story. I was just as invested in figuring out who ordered the killing as I was in finding out who the leak is.
So let’s talk about how the two stories came together. I love Brenda’s lawyer, Gavin (Mark Pelligrino). It actually took me until this episode to realize that he was Jacob on Lost, but it just made me love him more. Watching his expression as Brenda told the lawyer to ask Turrell “what she wouldn’t dare do,” was probably the highlight of the episode for me. Even after all of that though, Gavin’s confidence in the fact that he would win the case was higher than ever. I can’t wait to see where this lawsuit goes.
Clacked by Kona Gallagher 
on Aug 30, 2011 @ 07:51 EST5EDT
Great theory Kona, I just can’t believe any of the guys in Major Crimes would ever turn on her. As you pointed out Pope has a motive. I also always felt that Pope was jealous of Brenda and Fritz’s relationship and subconsciously he is glad to put some friction into their life.
I’m just caught up by the timeline of it all. The lawsuit happened when Pope was on his way out, right? With Delk firmly installed as the new Chief of Police. What motivation would he have had at that point?
Or, is the point that the leak happened further along in the timeline, with Pope trying to use that to solidify his position.
Though, why would a significant case brought against a division he started, with a Asst. Chief he recruited, and he has protected from day one NOT reflect poorly on him?
*POST AUTHOR*
I don’t think the lawsuit had anything to do with Pope, but I do think that the leak came recently – after Delks.
As for how it wouldn’t reflect poorly: I kind of feel like LAPD gets sued constantly; to the point if you held anyone but those directly named in the suit responsible, that there would be no one left to run the place.
Very true…
I thought the inference on the end of the episode last night, when Gavin said he welcomed going to court, because he would WIN no matter what, was that the “leak” was a bluff by the defense lawyer.
And yes, Capt. Raydor was awesome with that shotgun last night! LOL! Excellent aim for a bean bag dispenser.
Isn’t Mary McDonnell’s character – Capt. Raydor getting a Closer spin-off? Or was that the TV rumor mill teasing us? I love her character. Last night episode was my favorite. Chicks with big guns and smart mouths with brains to back it up – HOT!
I see that it could be Pope, OR the room / phones are bugged and that’s how the plaintiff’s lawyer is getting information. I’m hoping for a bug, because it would be a bummer for anyone in the group to be the “leak”. I like their closeness and don’t think that should be undermined. Hope the writers agree… :-)
It’s always someone we least suspect. And we suspect Pope the most. Could it be Buzz?
Love the bean bag shot.
Please not buzz, he’s one of my favorites…
To me it could be 1 of 3 people:
Pope – in an attempt to keep his position. Brenda made runner up for chief and pope didn’t. He ordered the continuance of Brenda’s investigation by Capt. Raydor after Raydor had closed it, stating he wanted to keep his position as chief. Also he refused to tell Brenda he ordered it when Raydor asked him too.
Capt. Taylor – even though he had started warming up to her Brenda still talked down to him, made him look like a fool on his tv interview, and yelled at him, in the latest episode. With her gone, he would be a shoo in for her job. Besides, he was in charge before she came.
Det. Gabriel – She punished him for beating a suspect into telling where he’d hidden a little girl’s body (Ruby). And even though Capt. Taylor hid the incident so that it would not be discovered by the public Brenda said she was going to punish Gabriel anyway because the suspect was later killed at the jail (to be kept quiet). This meant no trial for Gabriel. But she herself goes and facilitates several murders of her own. He is close to her, but I could understand it if he were pissed about this.
I can’t believe that it’s Gabriel. It could be Pope or it could be that one of the team is talking to someone at home who’s accidentally sharing information.
Mary McDonell is getting a spin-off and the publicity has said that “some” of the characters will be carried over.
I agree to the theory that it is Pope. Capt Taylor is really too easy an option to consider which is why I don’t think it’s him. As much as I liked Pope… I was trying to think, who would it shock me more if it was them? I think that Pope has a lot to hold against Brenda. She’s the woman that came close to getting the job he wants. She’s the woman he can’t have romantically. She often gets the job done going around Popes authority. Think about it too, he is the one that ushered Brenda into that meeting with the slimy attorney.