What I’m Watching: The Closer (Winter Premiere)

The Closer: Season 6, Episode 11 “Old Money” (B+)

This show’s still got it. I never thought otherwise, of course, but I still could have easily missed this episode by accident given the low (close to zero) number of shows I watch on TNT. The fact that the show returns for a few episodes at a time when every other show is plummeting towards hiatus is actually brilliant, and I’m glad to have something so good to watch during the desert that is new television in December. What’s especially awesome about this episode is that it starts off in a way that we haven’t seen before, putting one of the main characters in direct physical jeopardy right after he reveals a deeper, more endearing part of himself. Flynn has never been a sympathetic character, even though he’s always been an entertaining jokester, and therefore seeing him as such a kindly figure at an AA meeting and so willing to talk to a new attendee after hours helps him become instantly more likeable, therefore making his subsequent assault all the more staggering. This show managed to keep him on the case in a believable way without having him take too active (both structurally and physically) a role. I like the continued presence of Captain Raydor and that this season’s new chief plotline has morphed into something new: Brenda in Pope’s job, something which excites Fritz but makes Brenda nervous since she doesn’t want to hurt the friendship any more. This show is sticking around for the next five weeks, and I’m looking forward to seeing where Brenda ends up, in addition to Pope and the rest of her team.