The Closer

[kostgard]

I thought Mama was great in last night's episode. I loved how she brought fudge for Brenda's team and was taking pictures all over the police station. And I especially loved how Provenza offered to be her escort and how Mama got to the station in the first place (proposing the alternative of staying at home and putting up really ugly floral print curtains at Brenda's house). Something tells me Brenda got her powers of persuasion from her Mama.

[kafka]

kostgard said:

Something tells me Brenda got her powers of persuasion from her Mama.

Totally!

I loved, loved, loved last night's episode. It truly was one of the funniest things I've watched in a while and I couldn't stop laughing.

The thing I enjoy the most is watching her team's interactions with her. That sort of amused, wry but highly affectionate acceptance of her quirks. Like when the (VERY cute) Gabriel just quirks his head at the BF and says, "I've gotten that look before! It's not a good look......" Or the way all the people in the squad room are trying hard not to grin at seeing their Chief with her "Mama." Or Provenza's smirky references to "Brenda Lee" and how he's trying to be "nice" only to get a sharp "You're NOT nice!" So he reassures her by cockily mentioning that he never dates anyone over 35. "Well, maybe 40 if I'm drunk."

Damn, just writing all that makes me smile and reminds me how much I love this show so much. I couldn't give a hoot about murder of the week; I want more of the personal interaction!

[Deleted]

Okay, what is this show about? Is Kyra's character a lawyer or detective or psychic?

[kafka]

caribou said:

Okay, what is this show about? Is Kyra's character a lawyer or detective or psychic?

If I remember correctly, she was a former trained interrogator for the CIA who ended up working in consultation for the FBI (I think) before being offered a job as Deputy Chief of Police for the LAPD.

Her real skill is in assessing people (kinda like a profiler) and interrogation. However, she can also see things differently than others, so she quickly reaches conclusions (from the smallest of things) that no-one else can. In short, she's like Sherlock Holmes, with a CIA background in interrogation.

[kostgard]

Brenda is a Deputy Chief in the LAPD on the priority murder squad. They call her "the closer" because her specialty is getting confessions out of people (and thereby closing the case).


ETA: And what Kafka said.

[Deleted]

Ahhh okay thanks guys.

The commercials were hard for me to figure out. It was as if they were alluding to some special gift she had. Then, all the great press about how awesome it is. Still, I couldn't tell what it was about. So now I know, it does sound like something I'd like so I'll look for it

[kafka]

Kostgard, I just found out that "Mama"/Frances Sternhagen will be on tonight's show as well. Yay! Clearly, it's going to be a recurring role.

[kostgard]

Yes, Mama was back, and it was a good thing.

Nice balance in this episode - the murder was sad because the kids were so young and the valet guy who was involved in it obviously did what he did out of fear. I'm glad Brenda made sure he got protection.

But there was plenty of other hilarious stuff - Fritz not wanting to announce with Mama standing there how the celebrity died, and just the random stuff with Fritz, like getting his car blocked in. No real purpose to that scene, just to amuse us and to add to Fritz's frustrations. I'm glad he's finally moved in - he's already put up with too much.

But my favorite bit was when Brenda had to borrow Mama's giant reading glasses, and she turned to Tau and he slooooowly lowered his own glasses down and gave her that, "What are you wearing on your face?" look.

My second favorite bit was at the end when Mama totally had Brenda's number about Fritz moving in and got that poor man out of the U-Haul. And I loved the, "Are you gonna tell Daddy about this?" "Oh, Lord, no!" exchange.

[Deleted]

I only saw the end of the season finale. Would anyone be able to fill me in a little on what was going on? The FBI agent unknowingly (or knowingly?) let the mafia guy have a gun from the sniper who then killed his wife and the FBI agent to make it look like a mob killing because the wife had an abortion? Er...

[wallflower]

Fritz must be the least ambitious FBI agent in the world, because he seems to spend all his time babying Brenda and ferrying around her parents, not working.