'The Closer': The change is gonna come
I can't believe I didn't figure out Brenda's mystery illness in last week's episode of The Closer. It clicked for me early this week, but still -- how did I miss it? I felt the same way about this week's mystery -- it's obvious, once you look at it clearly, but it still took me a while to catch up. I like to think Brenda would have cracked it immediately too, if she weren't dealing with things that cannot be named for fear of making them real.
I feel spoilers coming on.
This week's crime: Two Latino gang teens, members of the Catorce gang, were shot dead outside a house in their territory. This normally wouldn't involve Priority Homicide, but Pope and Taylor think this is a part of an escalating black-on-brown gang war between the Catorce and the 1-5s. They figure they're going to have to solve this crime, or the city will erupt. Is it just me, or does that imply that without the threatened gang war, the cops could care less about another dead gangbanger? And they wonder why they keep running into folks who aren't fond of the police.
Brenda twigs to several weirdnesses: the victims were shot by someone on foot, not in a drive-by; the gun used was a small-caliber weapon, not standard gang equipment; no one noticed anyone, much less a black gang member, running away from the scene; and all of the "witness" accounts turn out to be based on supposition, not actual witnessing. Maybe they're not dealing with a gang shooting after all.
But who else could have done it? One person jumps to mind: Miguel, cousin to one of the victims, who is rabble-rousing and talking about how the Catorce defend the neighborhood, how anyone could be a victim of the 1-5s, and how he wants to go kick some ass. His father tries to calm him down, and announces loudly to anyone in earshot that his son isn't in a gang, he's a good boy -- he's got a baseball scholarship! He's not one of them! After his third appearance, I finally realized he was protesting too much -- Dad had way to much of his own identity invested in his son not being in a gang. I'm not saying wanting to keep Miguel out of the gang was wrong, I'm just saying he started to sound a little obsessed, like that was the only thing that mattered, He was incapable of seeing his son as anything but Not A Gang Member. It's like he would be fine with Miguel killing puppies or running over nuns, just so long as he wasn't in a gang.
Miguel can't stick to that -- he joins the Catorce, which causes Sanchez almost
physical pain. (Granted, it causes Miguel outright physical pain, but I'm more invested in Sanchez at this point.) Miguel even pulls a gun on dear old dad, and what do you know, it's the murder weapon. Brenda tries to get Miguel to confess, but he's not the real killer -- Dad is. Miguel skipped baseball practice, Dad got suspicious that his nephew was trying to corrupt poor, sweet, innocent Miguel, so he shot him and his drug-dealing friend.
A couple of things really stood out in this episode. One, Miguel was played by Francis Capra, who played Weevil on Veronica Mars. Hi, Weevil! I miss you, and I miss your show! Two, we finally really saw Sanchez shine. He's sort of faded into the background for me, not developing a distinct personality like Flynn (the schmuck), Provenza (the mischievous elder), Tau (the know-it-all), Gabriel (the golden boy) or Daniels (the girl). (And yes, I know "the girl" does not constitute a personality trait, but that's pretty much what I've gotten from her. She's professional, but her defining characteristic is her gender. Sounds like it's time to have a Daniels-centered episode, ok, writers?)
But this week, Sanchez turned into a three-dimensional character for me. I loved how solicitous he was when he saw Brenda sweating through the first interview with Miguel; I loved even more that he didn't let that concern stop him from telling her when he thought she made the wrong call, like when she decided to let the gang initiation go ahead. That cell phone snapshot of Miguel getting the crap kicked out of him was a lot more eloquent than any lecture or plea. And finally, he really nailed his reactions to Miguel, Miguel's dad, and the whole situation. He lives in that neighborhood, he is one of the people affected by this. He avoided getting sucked into a gang, and he wants to keep other people safe from them, but he has no sympathy for Miguel's dad when he went off the deep end. If he was that obsessed with keeping his son out of the Catorce, why the hell didn't he move? The whole case just shook him, hurt him where he lives. Great job by Raymond Cruz, and good job writers, for finally giving him something to do. It's about damn time.
And finally, great job again, some more, as always, from Kyra Sedgwick. When she started sweating though her clothing, I finally figured out that it might be menopause. I didn't catch that before because I thought Brenda was too young. Brenda obviously does too. Kyra nailed Brenda's discomfort, panic, and complete inability to deal with change. I was sort of annoyed at her at first for freaking the staff (and me) out, raising the prospect that she was facing something life-threatening, but the last scene with Fritz really brought home how world-shaking this is for her. The poor thing: now even her body is betraying her, forcing her to change when she desperately wants everything to stay the same. She just can't get a break.
I don't know if it is menopause - the doc did an exam and took blood and ran tests already - it isn't difficult to diagnose. The fact that the doc wants to do more tests make me think it may turn out to be something else.
I first started suspecting menopause when she started not feeling well 2 episodes back. This ep did a good job in confirming my su****ions with the heat flashes/sweating and her going off at her staff the way she did (mood swings). However, when the doc wanted to run more tests, it did make me think that the writers want us to THINK it's menopause when it might be something else (and I think we can rule out pregnancy, thank goodness!). Brenda did turn 40 last season (although I still think that's a little early to be experiencing menopause). I love how the writers are having her solve murders while not feeling up to par. I keep expecting her to p*** out during an interview. Great acting on Kyra's part!
Oh yeah, and TNT needs to stop with the promos that offer "an ending so shocking" that we'll "be talking about it tomorrow." What's with that? Enough already!
I was raised in a gang neighborhood during my youth and I just wanted to chime in to say that I though it was REAL funny that the gang's name was "Catorce" since that is 14 in Spanish ... well most gangs in LA (and south of Frenso for that matter)identify with and are under SUR = Surenos which identify with the number Trece = 13 (ie Florencia 13)
So for Catorce to identify with 14 would mean that they are NOT SURENOS but Nortenos (Spanish Gangsters like the Nuestra Familia and those living North of the line) - who BY THE WAY - do not get along well with the SUR 13.
The funny part to me was how such a tough gang could even exist in a ALL SURENOS TERRITORY LIKE LA!
Oh well its just a show ... Now (to me) THAT is something to talk about!
Going along with what Ice said in the previous post, I think it was interesting that the gangs were given the monikers related to 14 and 15, when the real-life gang MG-13 (or is it MS-13, can't remember) is becoming a real-life threat all over Los Angeles and beyond. So kudos to the writers for being topical without going overboard. Also, I'm very glad the writers are treating Brenda like a real woman and not some superchick...that is, she is obviously either going through the aforementioned menopause, or something is seriously wrong with her (such as cancer or something just as bad). On other shows, the character would've gone in for an operation or had a good cry, roll credits, and the following week, said character would be right back to original form without further mention of the illness/breakdown/hospital stay. Also, a big note of congratulations to the various major and minor characters of Hispanic/Latino descent who imbued their personas with real-life emotions and not some caricature which seems all too prevalent on other shows. Yes, gangbangers cry, too. Finally, is it me, or is Brenda's live-in one of the most exasperating characters on the show? He seems more than a little put out with Brenda every single episode over one thing or other, which is either a bad sign for their relationship, or bad acting on the part of the guy playing him. He rarely seems to move beyond a few choice emotional responses to anything, and he always, always looks just this side of royally ****ed off. Either a change to the character needs to happen, or else I need to go back and watch previous episodes again to see if I might be missing something. In any case, good episode with a decent mystery and good denoument.
Oh, and Linda? Just about every network does that now..."the episode that changes everything..."the episode that will have everyone talking..."the episode that makes you wonder why advertisers can't operate in anything other than superlatives"...it's like honey roasted peanuts to the folks who write teasers. Once you've had one, you just have to have another...and another...
Loved last night's episode and have enjoyed reading most of these posts. I, like everyone else thought it was pregnancy two episodes ago, but at the end of last week began to consider EARLY menopause,as a diagnosis of Brenda's "disease." I love the way Kyra's played this and that it took the character so long to even see a doctor. (And especially that it was S. Epatha Merkson, when she did.) But mostly, I'm glad that she's not pregnant, as I had already decided that I wanted the fine writing staff of this show to make Brenda the first modern female television character to get married first and then have a PLANNED pregnancy. (I'm not judging anyone who does have children out of wedlock, for whatever reason, but T.V. writer's seem not to understand that it often happens the other way too.)Whether it turns out to actually be menopause or not is anybody's guess, but either way, I think they've handled the whole storyline quite nicely so far. (And if she does turn out to be experiencing early menopause, then the writer's have not only added a whole new dimension to the character, but given a voice to to a lot of women who have experienced this, but who's story is not always heard on T.V. (that and they've gracefully sidestepped the whole "pregnancy" issue, which to be honest probably would have felt contrived, planned or not.)
Finnally, I agree totally with everyone's take on Sanchez' character arc and Raymond Cruz' performance.
Beyond that, to Dark Disciple I would say, Yes, Fritz (the live-in) is always angry/concerned/semi-****ed off at Brenda. Usually with good cause. As much as I love Brenda, I think we all have to admit that she just dumps all over that poor guy non-stop and I personally love the actor's choice in that he always gives in with a look that says, "As much as I hate this, it's exactly why I love you." Although I do totally agree that it is ONE NOTE and the writer's could help a lot by composing him another.
To Sarah I would say: I, for the most part agree about Detective Daniels being just the girl. And I think again this is someplace that the writer's haven't yet had the time or chosen for whatever reason not to develop these arcs. But, as a credit to Gina Rivera's performance, in my opinion Det. Daniels has, even from the beginning, been the "keen" one. While some of the detectives have over time, found a way to like her (Flynn, Provenza) respect her (Tau, Sanchez) or admire her (Gabriel) Daniels was was the only one who ever made me feel that they were trying to learn from her. Which is one of the things I find so intriguing about her performance...and in the spirit of your column and these posts, YES!!! it's time to develop that much further.
Another great mystery, and Francis Capra's storyline made me long for Veronica Mars all over again. I miss you, Weevil!
You know, I was going along with the menopause thing there for a while, too... until Fritz turned out sick! Then I thought it was contagious. However, at the end it looks like Fritz is healthy again but Brenda is still not well. Did anyone else pick up on the fact that Brenda has seen TWO doctors? The first one made the house call, and yet it was like it didn't even happen. I didn't know that menopause would make her sweat like that, but the mood swings I definitely go along with. Oh man, I can't wait until next week!
no thanks....I have a life