The Closer - General Discussion

[Meredith Quill]

Editor's Note:  This topic replaces the old The Closer forum which has been vaulted at the location below:  http://forums.previously.tv/forum/1433-the-closer-v/

 

Your Rerun Topic!

[shapeshifter]

The series finale, "The Last Word," and the Pilot reran on the over-the-air MyNetWork TV on Saturday. The finale ended with Brenda saying the team's parting gift of a replacement purse "Looks like love," and then the Pilot began with Brenda looking at the grizzly crime scene and saying, "Looks like love." Next Saturday should be 1.2 and 1.3.

I don't think we need to spoiler tag anything, right?

[MaryMitch]

In "About Face", we see how all the members of the PMS (tee hee) squad start out distrusting Brenda. And Brenda vamping on a car hood. I'd forgotten how skeevy Will Pope was at the beginning. (oh, and CONGRATS to him on the Oscar!)

 

I love how Provenza just settles right into his "job" watching all Dean Kingsley's movies. I did think that the hair clue was a bit stretching it - how many blondes do you suppose are in Los Angeles?

[treeofdreams]

I thought the line at the very end where Brenda is talking to the cat represents the way she works with criminals:

 

"You can trust me...gotcha!"

[shapeshifter]

I thought the line at the very end where Brenda is talking to the cat represents the way she works with criminals:

 

"You can trust me...gotcha!"

Yes.

Other lasting set ups in these first few episodes:

• The triangle of mistrust between Pope and Fritz with Brenda at the apex was not only established, but maintained throughout the series without ever wandering into a shark-jumping soap opera.
• Brenda doesn't hesitate to work at cross purposes to the FBI if she can ultimately give them something of equal or greater value while getting her murderer.
• She plays judge, jury, and executioner when the justice system fails.

I wonder if this last one was always intended to lead to her departure when the series ended. It actually didn't quite do that in the end, but it certainly played a major role in bringing closure to her story.

[anstar]

deleted and moved to correct thread

Edited February 24, 2015 by anstar

[treeofdreams]

And Fritz got  a taste right off the bat what it would be like being with Brenda, both personally and professionally.

 

This show has been so consistent all the way through with character development - all the characters, giving them all their unique individual traits that never wavered.   (I think Flynn was the only one who materially changed as the series progressed, and Brenda won his trust.)  And the way Brenda handled every case was consistent as well.  The writing as a whole has been brilliant.

 

Which is why I can't help thinking that the final episodes of Major Crimes, with the escape of Stroh, must have been written by someone else.  Those two episodes were an unbelievable mess.

[shapeshifter]

Episode 1.5 Tao and Gabriel aren't as irreproachable in their characterizations as they are later, which is more of a retcon than the character development of Flynn and Provenza, who learn to appreciate Brenda. Tao does walk away when Flynn decides to email "dirt" on Brenda to a reporter, but both Tao and Gabriel leer at a minor female in interrogation along with the others, and Gabriel uses slang when talking to persons of interest.

Going back to the end of the series (which finished up a few weeks ago before they started over from the beginning): Did Anne (the leak via Gabriel) do anything actually illegal that would prevent her from passing the bar to become a lawyer?

Edited March 1, 2015 by shapeshifter

[MaryMitch]

Last night I watched "Show Yourself" (season 1, ep 4, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0542963/?ref_=rvi_tt ). I remember when I watched this for the first time, I thought it was intense and exciting, but now seeing it again, all I could think was "how could Brenda screw up so badly?"

 

I was glad to see "Franny" (Amy Hill, the research specialist) again, but sadly this was her last appearance in the series. One of my complaints is that all the women on TV cop shows are young and slender; it's nice to see a competent older woman for a change.

[shapeshifter]

Does anyone know which is the episode in which one regular character explains to a new or guest character that when Brenda says "Thank yew!" she really means "go to hell" (or something like that)?

Every time she says it I find myself analyzing what she really means.

Last night they had the episode in which Kitty has kittens. I loved Corey Reynolds/Gabriel doing physical comedy at the end with the kittens.

[treeofdreams]

I think "thank yew" is just part of her vocabulary and she uses it to mean anything she means at the time.  Sometimes it is a genuine thank yew, as when she assigns tasks to her squad and ends with thank yew.  Sometimes she uses it super-sweet to manipulate people.  I don't remember the "go to hell" comment, but I don't interpret it that way at all.

 

The kittens...adorable...but just to nitpick, those were definitely not newborn kittens!  But if they had used newborns we wouldn't have seen Gabriel wrangling them.  Poor guy, kitten wrangling, designated purseholder...and Brenda wrangler, for that matter.

[shapeshifter]

I think "thank yew" is just part of her vocabulary and she uses it to mean anything she means at the time.  Sometimes it is a genuine thank yew, as when she assigns tasks to her squad and ends with thank yew.  Sometimes she uses it super-sweet to manipulate people.  I don't remember the "go to hell" comment, but I don't interpret it that way at all...

I agree that most of the time it is more or less sincere, but there is a line out there somewhere in which a character who was not fond of her commented on her use of Thank Yew to mean something other than Thank you. It might have been early Flynn. I'm watching 1.11 now and he's still antagonistic towards her. I missed half of 1.10, so hopefully I didn't miss it, 'cause it's driving me nuts!

[treeofdreams]

You didn't miss it, it wasn't in that episode.

 

It might have been Taylor, another one who is not fond of her.  I don't remember the line, though.

 

The episode with the three "children" suspected of the murder, didn't Dennis show up again in a later episode? 

[kassygreene]

You didn't miss it, it wasn't in that episode.

 

It might have been Taylor, another one who is not fond of her.  I don't remember the line, though.

 

The episode with the three "children" suspected of the murder, didn't Dennis show up again in a later episode? 

I believe it was in one of the Provenza & Flynn comedy episodes - the one where they were returning from a business trip, picked up two flight attendants, and while at the women's apartment discovered a dead body, who was a friend or roommate or something of the women.

 

At least one of the flight attendants was Southern, and she was the one who observed that when a Southern woman says "thank you so much" it's usually ironically sarcastic.

[shapeshifter]

I believe it was in one of the Provenza & Flynn comedy episodes - the one where they were returning from a business trip, picked up two flight attendants, and while at the women's apartment discovered a dead body, who was a friend or roommate or something of the women.

At least one of the flight attendants was Southern, and she was the one who observed that when a Southern woman says "thank you so much" it's usually ironically sarcastic.

That was it! Thank you! (rather than Thank Yew! Heh.)

...The episode with the three "children" suspected of the murder, didn't Dennis show up again in a later episode?...

I was wondering about that too when, at the end, he was so absurdly hopeful that she would go out with him and she said something about not doubting that she might see him in the future, but implying it would be as a suspect in the murder of a girlfriend who would not ever be her. I caught that in last night's airing, having missed it previously--which is why this is one of the few shows I enjoy in reruns.

Okay. Found it.

From the latter episode's IMDb page (spoiler tagging because it's from season 2 (episode 4, "Aftertaste") and this is the season 1 thread):

Storyline

The Priority Murder Squad investigate the murder of Karen Bevas who, along with her chef-husband Paul, ran a recently-opened five-star restaurant. She had been stabbed repeatedly and had her throat slit. There is no shortage of suspects in the case. Her husband is something of a hothead who is always flying off the handle and he could have easily killed her in a fit of temper. Brenda then learns that Dennis Dutton with whom she had to deal previously was the restaurant's principal financial backer and he too could have killed her. As she investigates Dutton Brenda finds he has an iron-clad alibi as he was having dinner with well-known restaurant critic Tom Newman at the time of the murder. Convinced that Dutton is guilty, she leans on Newman to see if the alibi he's providing him will stand up.

Edited March 22, 2015 by shapeshifter

[MaryMitch]

Last night I watched "L.A. Woman" (S1, Ep 11) and was amazed at how different Marina Sirtis looked. Even her eyes seemed smaller (apparently, according to IMDB, she wore dark contacts as Troi).

 

Flynn made an interesting observation to Gabriel - something like "I treat her like crap and you take care of everything for her, yet she treats us both exactly the same."

[treeofdreams]

Thanks, shapeshifter, I thought I remembered something like that.

 

Marina Sirtis is a really good actor, and of course this is many years after Star Trek!  And that headscarf can really affect how a woman looks.

 

 

Flynn made an interesting observation to Gabriel - something like "I treat her like crap and you take care of everything for her, yet she treats us both exactly the same."

 

But after he said that, Brenda said something in the interview room about Gabriel being one of the best detectives she had ever worked with.  I don't think she would ever have said that about Flynn!

[starri]

Marina Sirtis is a really good actor, and of course this is many years after Star Trek!  And that headscarf can really affect how a woman looks.

I remember being shocked when I saw her name in the credits in Crash.

[shapeshifter]

1.12 and 1.13 just re-aired (the last 2 episodes of season 1).

 

I'm guessing they were written and filmed when the show was waiting to find out if it was renewed for a second season, but maybe not?

 

In 1.12, Brenda asks Flynn if he planted evidence in an old case that was mis-managed. Flynn says (sincerely), "No," and Brenda, the former CIA interrogator, looks him in the eye and believes him, demonstrating her belief by telling him she will not be starting an internal review of the matter.

Then, in 1.13, Taylor spearheads an "anonymous" complaint against Brenda ("conduct unbecoming and officer").

She tells the team she's not sure if she'll still have a job in the morning, but it's been nice working with them.

They rally behind her, following Provenza's scheme, with each one filing an intent to transfer out if she leaves.

[treeofdreams]

Ahhh, two of my favorite episodes!  Again I appreciate the brilliance of the writing and how well they created Brenda's character - and the other characters as well.

 

Loved the opening scene of the second episode, with Provenza taking on Brenda's accent and directing the team.  And of course the bookends, Brenda throwing away the resignations the way she threw them away in episode one.  Such a transformation arc in her relations with the squad, beautifully developed throughout the season.

 

Just Plain Bill (not going to try to spell his last name) - again, beautiful writing and character creation, and so well portrayed by the actor.  Seriously creepy and mesmerizing.  Did we ever see him again?  I seem to remember them actually calling on him to advise in a later case where fire was involved.

[shapeshifter]

...And of course the bookends, Brenda throwing away the resignations the way she threw them away in episode one.  Such a transformation arc in her relations with the squad, beautifully developed throughout the season....

Good point about the bookends, which was also done in the series finale with the line "Looks like love." In the opening of 1.1 Brenda says in relation to the condition of the dead body and the doer's motivation, "It looks like love," and then at the close of the final episode (aptly titled, "Last Word") she says it in response to whether or not she likes the new big black purse the team bought her as a going-away gift to replace the one still locked up in evidence after she shot Stroh with her gun still inside the purse.

...Loved the opening scene of the second episode, with Provenza taking on Brenda's accent and directing the team....

Another parallel: In the 1.13 season finale, the team seem to break the fourth wall in that the actors are genuinely cracking up over G. W. Bailey/Provenza mimicking Brenda's accent, and then in the series finale, the actors are genuinely tearing up over the end of the show and their relationships to one another under the guise of tearing up over Brenda's leaving.

 

...Just Plain Bill (not going to try to spell his last name) - again, beautiful writing and character creation, and so well portrayed by the actor.  Seriously creepy and mesmerizing.  Did we ever see him again?  I seem to remember them actually calling on him to advise in a later case where fire was involved.

Yes, Jason O'Mara returns as Bill Croelick in 4.1, "Controlled Burn." (IMDb is a great source of information.)

[MaryMitch]

Croelick was sooo creepy - one of my favorite villains on the show!

[treeofdreams]

Brenda has awfully good chemistry with the villains...

 

I also loved the "apology" scene and Pope's reaction to what she said.  Another example of the great writing!

Edited March 29, 2015 by treeofdreams

[shapeshifter]

...I also loved the "apology" scene and Pope's reaction to what she said.  Another example of the great writing!

And it gives a hint that he would one day win an Ocscar.

[shapeshifter]

Yesterday 2.1 and 2.2 aired on My50 Chicago.

Trivia question:

Does anyone know what the song was that played at end of 2.1 "Blue Blood" when Brenda tells Pope (who just learned Estelle is divorcing him for another man) that she (Brenda) cannot have dinner with him because she already has plans--to celebrate--because she and Fritz are moving in together? It sounded like a blues-rock song that I should know--Eric Clapton-ish.

[MaryMitch]

I don't know the song, but I always liked the bluesy music they play at the end of many episodes.

 

In "Blue Blood" (the one where the officer was murdered by his partner when he found out his son was fathered by the partner), I thought it was interesting when Gabriel ran over Brenda when she first started interviewing the father. Gabriel interrupted Brenda to ask Hubbard how was his son doing, and Brenda kinda blinked and realized that she needed to back off a bit. Nice touch showing how comfortable Brenda and David were becoming with each other.

 

In "Mom Duty", the second episode of the night, we get introduced to Brenda's mother. After seeing her die in the last season of the Closer, it was nice to see her chirping and thank-yew-ing. I thought it was sweet how Provenza turned on the charm with her!

[shapeshifter]

...In "Blue Blood" (the one where the officer was murdered by his partner when he found out his son was fathered by the partner), I thought it was interesting when Gabriel ran over Brenda when she first started interviewing the father. Gabriel interrupted Brenda to ask Hubbard how was his son doing, and Brenda kinda blinked and realized that she needed to back off a bit. Nice touch showing how comfortable Brenda and David were becoming with each other....

This is also and example of the overall consistency of the show and its themes, as it points to the late series arc of the "Shootin' Newt'n" murders, in which Gabriel tried to prevent Brenda from driving away from the scene and leaving the killer in certain danger of being harmed by his own gang members.

I think this continuity is the reason I like rewatching--there is always some previously missed prophetic detail (like the one you mentioned) to pick up on.

Breaking Bad is the only other show I can think of that had the vision of a single writer throughout.

One thing that bugs me about the "Blue Blood" episode every time I watch is that by killing the biological father of his son, the de facto father destroyed any chance of him becoming a bone marrow donor for his cancer stricken son. Or was it too late for that by the time he was murdered?

[MaryMitch]

One thing that bugs me about the "Blue Blood" episode every time I watch is that by killing the biological father of his son, the de facto father destroyed any chance of him becoming a bone marrow donor for his cancer stricken son. Or was it too late for that by the time he was murdered?

I think the bio father had already declined to be tested, probably fearing discovery. He must have been a real jerk,

 

But you would think the de facto father would have used the DNA evidence to twist his arm; he could have probably threatened to sue for child support. I often wonder what path a mind takes to end up at "yeah, I should kill him; he deserves to die."

Edited April 6, 2015 by MaryMitch

[MaryMitch]

"Mom Duty" - I really loved Brenda's mother, and in the first episode where we saw her we could see so many traits she and Brenda shared. When she absolutely NAILED Brenda on how she knew Fritz was moving in... Brenda never saw that coming, but it was pure Brenda Leigh Johnson!

 

"Slippin'" - I think this is where we begin to see Taylor develop a grudging respect for Brenda.

 

"To Protect & to Serve" - one of these days I'm going to try to figure out exactly how much money Flynn and Provenza spent to pay the team back for their help in keeping them out of trouble. Also, is this the first time we see Flynn and Provenza as friends doing things together outside of work? 

 

"Out of Focus" - OK, let's all just agree: Dale Dickey can do no wrong.

Edited April 19, 2015 by MaryMitch

[shapeshifter]

..."Slippin'" - I think this is where we begin to see Taylor develop a grudging respect for Brenda...

Yes, I noticed that too last week, but then in the episode following it, "To Protect & to Serve," all that good will is pretty much undone by Flynn and Provenza telling Taylor that it was Brenda who told them to take over the crime scene. And, due to the necessary coverup of Flynn & Provenza failing to call in the dead body in Provenza's garage (because they had Sky Box tickets to the Dodgers game), Taylor never finds out that it was never Brenda's idea.

[MaryMitch]

Just watched "Heroic Measures" (season 2 ep 9). Deirdre Lovejoy played the mother, and she did an amazing job. Every little twitch told us she was cracking.  I don't think I've seen her in anything else, but I checked her IMDB entry and she rightly seems to work quite often.

[shapeshifter]

I watched it too this evening. One thing I caught this time:

Flynn--as the self-proclaimed resident expert in Munchausen's--stated that every case he had seen turned out to be the doctor's blaming a mother who was a "pain in the ass" but not guilty.

In the end, this mother too was a "pain in the ass" in that she was a frequent flyer to emergency rooms, and she was not guilty of Munchausen's either, but, also, if she hadn't taken her son to the ER for the scope, he likely would have been fine once he got over the ITP. Neither my mother nor I as a mother ever rushed a child to the ER because of "a little" blood after vomiting. We both phoned the doctor on call, and he said not to worry unless it got worse.

[treeofdreams]

Smarmy lawyer was a hoot!  Love that cheesy smile.

 

These earlier season have had some powerful moments.  I don't remember if the later ones did as well, but I always thought the earlier episodes were the best.

Edited May 3, 2015 by treeofdreams

[starri]

I know I'm jumping out of order, but speaking of powerful moments...

 

There was an episode in S4 called "Problem Child," which, briefly involves the disappearance of a troubled kid who is just slightly young enough to warrant the LAPD do a major rollout to find the kid.  I'm not going to spoil the episode, but the kid had an accomplice, who was forced to go along with all the awful things the kid did because...reasons.  The actor playing the accomplice (who was the boy from the Spy Kids movies) can't be more than sixteen, only has one scene, but his tearful explanation of how he was forced to cooperate has stuck with me for years.

 

I also can't watch the scene before Brenda puts Kitty to sleep ("I wish I knew what you were thinking...") without crying.

[MaryMitch]

Last night I watched "No Good Deed" (a teen says he witnessed a murder to score points with his crush, but she's being used by a murderer on death row).

 

I was always surprised to see how hostile Brenda was to Catholic clergy. There were several episodes where she was openly antagonistic, and they never explained why, other than they seemed to be in her way in trying to close her case. I just find it odd; it seemed to me to be more than suspicion; it was hostility.

[treeofdreams]

I don't think they ever addressed that specifically.  I think it just fits her pattern of believing that no one should use "privilege" to get in the way of solving a case, be it religious, political, social, financial, or whatever.  She just steamrolls over them, causing poor Pope no end of grief.

 

And just as a side note, I love his reactions to everything she does. 

[shapeshifter]

I don't think they ever addressed that specifically.  I think it just fits her pattern of believing that no one should use "privilege" to get in the way of solving a case, be it religious, political, social, financial, or whatever.  She just steamrolls over them, causing poor Pope no end of grief.

...

I agree that Brenda "steamrolls over" anyone who tries to get in her way.

Maybe not in this episode, but in others, Brenda's antagonism towards clergy is balanced by Gabriel's deference and/or Julio's piety, making it clear that Brenda is not representative of the deparment when it comes to religion.

I think there were a few times when Pope's name was used as a double entendre joke, referring, IIRC, to him as "The Pope." He's the boss and his name is Pope. Maybe one or more of the writers had a Catholic upbringing and liked to poke fun at the Church.

...I love [Pope's] reactions to everything she does.

In the episode that aired before, "Borderline," there was a great Brenda-Pope exchange in which she first asks him if he knows what a favor is, and he replies that it something you do for something without expecting anything in return--which is clearly not what she had in mind, as she was expecting him to do a favor for her in return for her having vouched for him in his paternity suit. Then, later in the episode, their exchange is something like this:

Brenda to Will: I need you to do a favor...

[Will gives her a look]

Brenda: It's not a favor for me, I need you to do a favor for someone else for me.

Will [confused]: You need me to do what for whom...?

 

[starri]

I think there were a few times when Pope's name was used as a double entendre joke, referring, IIRC, to him as "The Pope." He's the boss and his name is Pope. Maybe one or more of the writers had a Catholic upbringing and liked to poke fun at the Church.

I'm pretty sure I remember reading an interview with James Duff saying exactly that.  I seem to remember him saying something about confiding in his priest over his sexual orientation and it not going well.

[MaryMitch]

Last night they reran "Overkill" - the one where the FBI was protecting a witness and his wife, but she and an agent were killed.

 

The last scene was so intense!  Loved Sanchez saying "hey, Marty" and shooting him down. Raymond Cruz is amazing; Julio is such a badass.

 

And I can never get over seeing Michael O'Keefe as an adult actor. I've seen "Caddyshack" too many times.

[shapeshifter]

Last night they reran "Overkill" - the one where the FBI was protecting a witness and his wife, but she and an agent were killed.

 

The last scene was so intense!  Loved Sanchez saying "hey, Marty" and shooting him down...

I've missed parts of that episode every time I've seen it, and there was one thing that wasn't clear to me:

During Agent Hecht's interrogation, Brenda accuses him of feeding Marty information about the mob for Marty to use in his testamony against the mob, and she says that Marty didn't know anything, so Hecht would be "suborning perjury." Is that true? If so, that makes Julio killing Marty not such a big deal for the FBI, because eventually the testamony would have been thrown out, right?

I also missed parts of the next episode that aired last night, "Serving the King: Part 1." Do we know why Julio wasn't also working with Brenda undercover?

[hatchetgirl]

Wow what a show! I miss it so much. Thousands times better than Major Crimes. I'm watching season 7 again right now and I remember watching it originally and I hated Gavin, her attorney. Now I love him to bits and we've only seen him twice. Lol. Now I need to watch from the beginning.

[MaryMitch]

I also missed parts of the next episode that aired last night, "Serving the King: Part 1." Do we know why Julio wasn't also working with Brenda undercover?

I don't think they said anything specific about him; they barely mentioned him in the episode, except to say that Internal Affairs was investigating the shooting. Maybe Cruz was busy with another acting job.

 

I loved the Elaine character ("look what Elaine found!") .  It's unusual for any show to have an older woman character who is in a non-stereotyped job.

[shapeshifter]

Last night 3.1, "Homewrecker" aired. The B plot was Pope urging Brenda to get Provenza to retire because of budget cuts. During the opening scene each of the team speaks into Buzz's camera at a crime scene, identifying themselves for future prosecution of the crime. Flynn gives his name followed by "Ph.D." I guess that's to let both the real and fictional audience know that he is irreplaceable. Do we ever find out what he has a Ph.D. in? Usually they take 7 years to earn after 4 years of college and require writing the equivalent of a book.

Edited May 25, 2015 by shapeshifter

[ErinW]

Last night 3.1, "Homewrecker" aired. The B plot was Pope urging Brenda to get Provenza to retire because of budget cuts. During the opening scene each of the team is speaks into Buzz's camera at a crime scene, identifying themselves for future prosecution of the crime. Flynn gives his name followed by "Ph.D." I guess that's to let both the real and fictional audience know that he is irreplaceable. Do we ever find out what he has a Ph.D. in? Usually they take 7 years to earn after 4 years of college and require writing the equivalent of a book.

I was going to watch the scene again and verify, but apparently The Closer has been removed from Amazon Prime! (WHAT?)

 

Anyway, Flynn does not have a PhD. It makes no sense for him to have one, it is never mentioned again, and if he had an advanced degree he would be more upwardly mobile in the administration (as, for example, Gabriel is). As I recall, Flynn saying "PhD" is a response to someone else (Buzz maybe?) having introduced themselves on camera by listing their credentials and Flynn taking the wind out of their sails.

 

But someone with the DVD will have to verify.

[shapeshifter]

He does say it (very distinctly), but now I'm guessing it is the abbreviation for Priority Homicide Division, and that he says it as "PHD" to make it sound like he does have a PhD.

Edited May 25, 2015 by shapeshifter

[MaryMitch]

Yes, PHD is for Priority Homicide Division. I remember this was brought up in a discussion from the original airing.

 

The 2 young men in this episode did a wonderful acting job.  And Brenda having her fit in the hospital room - trying to get the first son to say he wished he was dead - was kinda terrifying. At times, Brenda was horrible.

[treeofdreams]

Yay, a Flynn and Provenza episode!  I love those two wacky guys!

 

June 8 - just one week from today - new episodes of Major Crimes!

[MaryMitch]

Yay, a Flynn and Provenza episode!  I love those two wacky guys!

Disregarding the fact that the plastic surgeon thought it was a good idea to put a body inside a casket WITH another body, this episode has some great moments:

 

The Bride vs Brenda - I was surprised that Brenda let herself get banged around like that, and that her squad waited so long to help her out - and that the fight was long enough to become viral on youtube

 

The plastic surgeon commenting on Brenda's large mouth - and Daniels' reaction!

 

Brenda calling "yoo hoo!" as she staggered in her heels through the cemetery to stop the burial

 

Next week is the "Ruby" episode, which is a real heartbreaker and a great Gabriel episode.

[treeofdreams]

 

Disregarding the fact that the plastic surgeon thought it was a good idea to put a body inside a casket WITH another body

 

I think it was just a matter of convenience - it can't be easy to dispose of a body, and he had access to the funeral home because he did the cosmetic work on the bodies.

 

 

The Bride vs Brenda - I was surprised that Brenda let herself get banged around like that, and that her squad waited so long to help her out - and that the fight was long enough to become viral on youtube

Brenda didn't fight back because the last thing the department needed was footage of an LAPD police officer beating up a bride!  I suppose the squad was slow to react  because they were taken by surprise - who would have expected the bride to keep hitting Brenda after the first punch.

 

 

The plastic surgeon commenting on Brenda's large mouth - and Daniels' reaction!

 

Brenda calling "yoo hoo!" as she staggered in her heels through the cemetery to stop the burial

 

More good moments!  Also, Provenza asking the caterer for the food, and seeing the squad enjoying the wedding cake.

 

I miss the Flynn and Provenza hijinks, and I doubt we will ever see any again.  They seem to have finally grown up under Sharon's leadership.

Edited June 3, 2015 by treeofdreams

[MaryMitch]

"Ruby" - what a great episode! Corey Reynolds was so wonderful as Gabriel, and Heath Freeman was amazing as the disgusting Roger Stimple.
 
And I tip my hat to Commander Taylor (Robert Gossett) for figuring out how to cover up for Gabriel. That little wink he gave Brenda after Stimple said "let's keep this white" was perfect. He knew exactly how to handle him. This episode showed the beginning of a new relationship between Brenda and Taylor.

I seem to remember the original airing of this episode ran over by about 5 minutes and it had a different ending, where they showed Brenda running into the cell area to see where Roger Stimple had hanged himself.


The next episode - "The Round File" - an average episode. The fun part was I recognized lots of older actors :

Orson Bean - I remember him mostly from game shows in the 60s and 70s, but he also was a recurring character on both "Desperate Housewives" and "Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman". He's almost 87 and still works occasionally.

The homeowner was the wonderful and versatile Nina Foch - in her last role - didn't she look great? She was 83 when she did this.

And of course many fans of "Desperate Housewives" would recognize Kathryn Joosten, who played the nurse. She was also active until she died 3 years ago.

It's amazing how many great actors appeared on this series. And two - TWO - Oscar winners - J.K. Simmons (Will Pope) and Mary McDonnell (Sharon Raydor) as regulars!