"The Closer" Review: Still Getting Her Man

Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) is one of the most unique characters TV has ever seen—especially in a procedural. Who else would show up to a crime scene with her giant handbag on her shoulder and a big flowered hat? Or dump a giant box of candy into her desk drawer in the middle of an interview?

But those things are common place for the woman they call “The Closer.” She’s called that because she knows just what to do to make people talk. But in the sixth season premiere, outside forces are interfering with her abilities—namely a brand new state-of-the-art headquarters. There are all kinds of glitches with the technology and one of them actually completely messes up Brenda’s interrogation.

However, Chief Pope (J.K. Simmons) is completely in love with the building—for reasons that become evident by the end of the hour—so he encourages Brenda to adapt. And she does, but in her very own unique style. So to the surprise of no one, Brenda still finds a way to get her man before the episode is over.

Kyra Sedgwick is playing the role of her career here and she’s surrounded by one of the best ensemble casts in TV. And the cases are usually just as engaging as the characters. My biggest problem with the show is that sometimes the endings are just a little too rushed. Yes, I know that Brenda needs to close the cases. It’s not the confessions that bother me. It’s how the team puts it all together so quickly just before Brenda gets the culprit in the box. For example, forty-five minutes into the premiere, the team still has no clue, but in the next five minutes, they tell us every detail of whodunit. Did they know all of that stuff all along and were just holding onto it for suspense, or what?

If you’re willing to look over that, “The Closer” is an entertaining show and a unique spin on the usual procedural. And the cliffhanger ending of the premiere promises a spin in a completely different direction that could give the show an even more different look, which in its sixth season, is pretty amazing.

“The Closer” premieres Monday, July 12th at 9 p.m. on TNT…

Photo Credit: Karen Neal/TNT