What I’m Watching: The Closer (Season Finale)

The Closer: Season 5, Episode 15 “Dead Man’s Hand” (B+)

What a wonderful holiday treat to get Mary McDonnell back as Captain Raydor for the season finale of this show. It’s only been back on the air for three weeks and now it’s off again until the summer when its sixth season presumably begins, and having McDonnell return for her third appearance this season was a spectacular way to invoke great memories of the show and make it seem like no time has passed at all since the first twelve episodes of this season aired way back in the summer. Seeing Brenda and Raydor butt heads is always fun, especially when an infuriated Chief Pope tries to get involved and yell at both of them about working together much more effectively. They did do an impressive of piecing together the case in the end, though. I love how the music turned deathly serious and dramatic when the duo broke the news to their suspects that they knew that were familiar with each other before the previous night while in the morgue, and the way they revealed that the supposedly abused cop’s husband could not possibly have inflicted her wounds was pretty cool. Their closing discussion where they quite peacefully agreed that they just don’t like each other and that it’s a difficult dynamic to change was really fun, and it’s a great way to leave things since McDonnell can come back in the future and things can be just as tense and hilarious at that point. This episode also had a few other fun moments, including Pope’s attempt to try and take back his words about Fritz’s promotion and Buzz being able to get to the crime scene quicker because he used his GPS. The bonus shot of Buzz’s license plate (BUZZO) was great too. Fritz’s potential promotion surely won’t be realized and take Brenda away from her team, but at least she’ll start to appreciate Fritz and won’t neglect him the same way she has been recently. I already graded this season back when the initial 12 episodes aired in August, and the last three episodes haven’t changed my mind in any way. It’s been a good year for Major Crimes.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Kyra Sedgwick