Review by Elizabeth C. Bunce
For the past 6 seasons TNT’s The Closer has consistently been one of the strongest dramas in Prime Time. With its inexplicable mix of graphic violence, quirky and lovable characters, and domestic chaos, the show delivers its own original brand of police procedural whodunnit. Led by Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson, the entertaining ensemble cast keeps viewers tuning in weekly every summer. Now The Closer’s last season has begun, with typical solid writing and performances.
“Unknown Trouble” follows a mass murder in a rap music label-owned LA mansion. Real-life rapper Reason’s music provides the undeniably catchy baseline for the whole episode–both literally and metaphorically. But the real reason we tune in is for the drama of Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson’s personal and professional life. And “Unknown Trouble” delivers here as well. Within the first 20 minutes, the Major Crimes squad is plunged into organizational chaos and a wrongful death lawsuit, both of which had me fairly bubbling over with rampant speculation over what’s to come in the next 20 episodes (10 into fall, 5 winter and 6 next summer)–and beyond.
Because although Season 7 may be The Closer’s and Sedgwick’s last, it was released today that much of the cast has signed on for a Major Crimes spinoff to begin where The Closer finale leaves off. This is happy news indeed, as I have begun to tire of Brenda’s constant angst, but knew I’d miss Flynn, Provenza, Sanchez, Tau, Gabriel and Buzz. What could be better? But 20 episodes is a lot of room to send off the current crew. And lots of questions to answer–Where will Chief Pope (JK Simmons, Spider-man, Law and Order) end up? Will Captain Raydor (Mary McDonnell, Battlestar Galactica) lead the squad? Can Fritz (Jon Tenney, Green Lantern) and Joel continue living with Brenda? Looks like plenty of The Closer entertainment to keep us watching through next year.