What I’m Watching: The Closer

The Closer: Season 5, Episode 6 “Tapped Out” (B+)

This is a great installment of “The Closer” because it features two distinctly separate plot threads which each have legs and effectively carry the story forward. The first involved a wannabe cop who was delusional and believed he was actually a police officer. Chief Pope, trying some time out with the officers on the street, thought he was an exemplary cop, which was quite humorous, and it’s always nice to see Provenza and Flynn hanging out when they’re not on the job. The wannabe cop, a Dick Tracy, was played by Andrew Daly (the principal from “Eastbound & Down”), was quite hilarious as he asked the detectives for their cards and then pretended to be them throughout the course of his investigation. The episode also contained, as the focus of its title, the character of Impulse and his reality television show. It’s always terrific when Sanchez or another character brings in their personal life and preferences to the office and reveals a hidden side (and deep admiration) for someone or something unexpected. The woman who wouldn’t stop screaming was also quite entertaining, and I very much enjoyed how Provenza was actually wearing earplugs in the interview room. It’s truly good to have Fritz around, especially since, as Pope points out, while Brenda has a deal not to involve him in her cases, Pope has no such deal and therefore they can still contact him. In this case, he doesn’t do much, but he’s a friendly, likeable presence whose sarcastically smiling face brightens up the Major Crimes office. And I must say, the department’s website looks truly abysmal.