What I’m Watching: Major Crimes (Season Premiere)

Major Crimes: Season 2, Episode 1 “Final Cut” (B+)

I wasn’t all that excited about this show’s second season premiere mainly because I had forgotten how clever and entertaining this show is, even without taking its ensemble into consideration. What was strongest about this episode was its focus on the celebrity culture of Los Angeles, utilizing its filmmaker as the ultimate example of someone who literally marries the same woman over and over and then cheats on her when she is pregnant with his child. Provenza chiming in with his thoughts on ex-wives was amusing, and I liked seeing his friendship with Flynn spotlighted by Flynn’s rather ridiculous-looking walking routine. Even Rusty was in good form in the hour, being irritating as always but showing some depth by agreeing to testify in the end with the condition that both Raydor and Provenza not be present. I’m not too impressed with new cast member Nadine Velazquez as Deputy D.A. Emma Rios, since, like Sykes in season one, she doesn’t seem to possess much intelligence and, also like Sykes, contrasts the strong female character of Raydor and Brenda before her by appearing less than capable. All in all, I’m very pleased to have this ensemble back, and while some of the supporting players, like Tau and Sanchez, didn’t get the opportunity to shine in this episode, I think there’s plenty of time for that over the course of this show’s much-expanded second season, which will feature a whopping nineteen episodes, up considerably from the show’s first season total of ten episodes.