Fri 4 Mar 2022
A TV Episode Review: THE CLOSER “Pilot†(2005).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV mysteries[4] Comments
THE CLOSER. “Pilot.†TNT, 13 June 2005 (Season 1, Episode 1). Kyra Sedgwick (Brenda Leigh Johnson), J. K. Simmons (Will Pope), Corey Reynolds, Robert Gossett, and a large ensemble cast. Guest star: Allison Smith. Written by James Duff. Directed by Michael M. Robin. Currently streaming on HBOMax.
One of the bigger hits on cable non-network TV, The Closer was on for seven summers on TNT before transforming itself into Major Crimes, a spinoff which continued on and lasted for another six years. You can’t tell me why I’m so slow, because I don’t know myself, but when I watched this, the pilot for the first season, it was the first episode I’ve ever seen of either series.
And now I’m kicking myself, as I enjoyed this one immensely. As all good pilots do, it introduces the major players clearly and emphatically, while at the same time telling a good story, one with a bit of a twist at the end. Admittedly we do get to know the lesser members of the ensemble cast only in passing. To all intents and purposes, this is a one-woman show, Kyra Sedgwick as no-nonsense, ass-kicking Brenda Johnson, who is hired from outside to head up LAPD’s Priority Homicide Division.
Her blunt personality wins her no friends on the force. Other than Brenda’s new boss, Will Pope, who hired her, all of the others turn in their resignations about 20 minutes into this first episode. I don’t know how long into the season it will take for her to win all of them over for good, but by the time she’s cracked her first case, it appears that she’s received at a small modicum of respect, at least, grudgingly as it may be.
And as far as the case is concerned, when the mutilated and burned body of a woman is found in the home of a high-tech millionaire, who has disappeared. Strangely, none of his fingerprints are in the house, only the victim’s. Brenda’s trademarked final closing scene is what it takes to induce a confession from the killer, an ending that clearly and forcefully delivered, the first of many to come.
March 4th, 2022 at 3:23 pm
When THE CLOSER was transformed into MAJOR CRIMES, most of her team went along to the new show. One exception was Corey Reynolds as Sgt. Gabriel. He now has a juicy role as the Sheriff in SyFy’s RESIDENT ALIEN.
March 4th, 2022 at 3:38 pm
I never understood why they transitioned into a new series after Kyra Sedgwick left, but I gather that the writers did pave the way for it the season before. It’s strange that the rest of cast was popular enough to handle a new series on their own, but it’s obvious they were. You can’t argue with success.
March 4th, 2022 at 11:43 pm
A rare case where the spin off was almost as good as the original and the change in leads did no harm.
Over its entire run and that of MAJOR CRIMES it remained strong stuff with good writing and well drawn characters.
March 5th, 2022 at 12:02 am
Between the two series, if I’ve counted right, what that means I now have only 108 episodes to go…