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RSS'The Closer' Finalewatch: Brenda getting married
The Closer gives us a lovely finale to this winter mini-season, and I'm still a little teary-eyed. Not everything is perfect -- there's dissension in the squad, the case is a bit depressing, and Brenda worries that her heart is like that of the pre-epiphany Grinch -- but it all feels authentic to the characters we've come to love. It's finally happening -- Brenda and Fritz are getting hitched. Of course, that's assuming Willie Ray and Claire don't kill each other in the run-up to the ceremony, and that Brenda doesn't get distracted by the police copters and screaming sirens, and that nothing else goes horribly wrong...
Surprisingly, Brenda's not the one who breaks first -- Fritz admits that he's got to sneak out and arrest El Jefe, the drug lord he's been chasing for the past two year. That means Brenda has a free pass to check out the latest in a series of escort-agency robberies. This time, the manager was killed, and one of the escorts was shot.
The team gets a break when Whisper, an escort who fled the scene, comes in, and she's really not very bright. She tells them that 1) she's employed with several agencies, and 2) all the agencies use the same lawyer. She gives Brenda and Sanchez the number for the lawyer, and then asks them to talk to him. This gives Brenda the opportunity to have a fake conversation with the dial tone after the lawyer has hung up. Brenda tells Whisper that the lawyer says she should tell them everything. "So I can tell you guys about the drugs?" Whisper asks. Wow.
Brenda poses as an IRS agent when the lawyer comes in and threatens to audit the heck out of all the agencies he works for if he doesn't turn over the employment records. He caves, and they discover two social security numbers associated with the agencies that have been robbed. One belongs to the lawyer. The other belongs to Kelli -- the woman who got shot. Kelli gives them a sob story about how she's stripping to support Vince, her Iraq-war-vet husband, who can't hold down a job. Coincidentally, the shooter used the sort of gun an Iraq vet would have... They search their (very plushly appointed) apartment and find a whole lot of money walled up behind fresh drywall, along with a gram or two of coke. Vince is the thief, all right, but Brenda can't believe he planned this. It must have been Kelli. But how will they get him to testify against his wife?
A bit of Photoshop trickery that the wedding photographer uses gives Brenda an idea. She has Buzz erase the bodyguard Vince was aiming at when he accidentally shot Kelli, and tells her that Vince was trying to kill her so he could take the money and run. Kelli blows up -- and Brenda arranges to have her disdainful comments broadcast to Vince. He'll certainly testify now. Brenda got her mastermind.
Domestic affairs
Things are not going smoothly in the wedding suite. Willie Ray and Claire have VERY different ideas about how things should be decorated (Willie Ray favors traditional Southern touches, which conflicts with Claire's Feng Shui). Clay agrees to stay behind and referee so Brenda and Fritz can have some alone time. Yeah, about that... they're both working their own cases, so they just don't see each other until the wedding itself.
The squad room is equally chaotic. Gabriel and Daniels are at each other's throats, and Daniels finally slaps Gabriel. Gabriel wants to file a complaint, but Provenza tells them to quit it. When they can't stop sniping, he tells them that Pope wants to promote someone out of the squad, and one of them better apply for the job. He doesn't care who.
Perhaps he should have been more specific -- both Gabriel and Daniels apply, and neither of them tell Brenda. Who will be left standing come the new season?
The wedding
After all the drama, the wedding is actually lovely. Claire officiates (much to Willie Ray's dismay),and she pulls it off. "Brenda: Fritz never gives up on the people he loves," she says. "Fritz, I know I don't need to tell you this, but Brenda never gives upon anything. That why you two -- y'all -- make the perfect match."
The reception is even better -- each squad member films a message that suits them perfectly. Some of the best ones:
Tao and his wife are asked what makes a good marriage. "Patience," Tao says. "Patience and separate bathrooms," his wife adds.
Provenza: "Up until now, you guys have avoided all the big mistakes people make in a relationship: Getting married, buying a house and having kids. I look at this wedding today as a big red flag."
Flynn: "Hey guys, enjoy Italy, you've earned it. And make sure you 'sleep in' a lot the first week out."
Sanchez: "My wife died six years ago, and I've never taken off her ring. Always love each other. Always."
Taylor: "So, just say something nice? OK, lemme think..."
Provenza: "Up until now, you guys have avoided all the big mistakes people make in a relationship: Getting married, buying a house and having kids. I look at this wedding today as a big red flag."
Flynn: "Hey guys, enjoy Italy, you've earned it. And make sure you 'sleep in' a lot the first week out."
Sanchez: "My wife died six years ago, and I've never taken off her ring. Always love each other. Always."
Taylor: "So, just say something nice? OK, lemme think..."
Brenda freaks out a bit at the reception -- "I feel like I know my limitations better and you still don't have any," she tells Fritz. "I love you with all my heart, but sometimes I think my heart is only this big." "Your heart is big enough to carry me and the job and then some. I'm fully aware of who I just married," Fritz says. And then he proves it -- he leaves a Ho-Ho for her in the hotel room. Brenda gazes at herself in her wedding dressing, munching the Ho-Ho, dipping it into wedding-cake icing, and contemplating the future. Mazel tov, Brenda and Fritz!
Highlights, thoughts and odds and ends
- Oh, Gabriel. If you don't know why holding up a stripper cop dress to your ex-girlfriend the cop would be a bad idea, you're just not doing well.
- Later, Brenda confiscates the pictures of the escorts from the guys, and Daniels laughingly puts them in a drawer. Gabriel blows up -- see, she's a total buzz-kill! I gotta say, I'm with Daniels all the way on this one.
- Fritz apologizes for not being there because of his case, and Brenda milks it for all she's worth: "Just remember this the next time you're mad at me because I have to put my work first."
- When Brenda calls in to the squad room, Gabriel asks if she actually got married. She confirms it. Sanchez hands $20 to a smiling Tao.
- Brenda throws the bouquet, and Provenza catches it. He's absolutely horrified. He tosses it back, and this time, Claire catches it. She bounces all over the place -- "A win is a win is a win!" -- and ends up jumping on Flynn.
- Was anyone else worried that Stroh would show up in the hotel suite and kidnap Brenda, kill Fritz or otherwise wreak havoc? I'm so glad they didn't go there!
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Loved the fact that Brenda ran a background check on Claire when Willie Ray asked if Brenda was sure Claire could officiate.
Cl***iest show on television!
Am I correct that at the beginning of the episode where Wilie Rae and Claire were moving each others' flower arrangements, didn't we then catch a quick glance of Claire walking across the room with a power drill? I hope so - just the thought of her doing something like that makes me laugh : )!
What a good episode! Loved how Brenda took the opportunity to get to her own crime scene as soon as Fritzie went after El Jefe - and later in the show how she paused only long enough to feed Kitty on her way out the door when Fritz was still working his case - that was perfectly typical Brenda Leigh!
Random thought that occurred to me: Now that she's married, will she take Fritz's last name or is she still going to be able to introduce herself as "Brenda Leigh Johnson"? That name just flows when said with her Southern drawl that she affects ever-so-slightly more with her suspects.
For some reason, all of the blatant lying to suspects and lawyers really bothered me last night - it was so in your face when she outright lied to Whisper about telling her everything before her lawyer arrived. Once a suspect lawyers up, cops aren't supposed to use anything a suspect may tell them, especially if the info comes because of a lie. Then she lied to the lawyer about being with the IRS, and lied again when showing the doctored tape to Kelli and let her believe that her husband shot directly at her and not the bodyguard. Sorry for the small rant but as I said, it all got to me last night - a lot of lying in such a short episode!
A few more things - I want one of those walls filled with money instead of insulation - man, that was quite a wall to find! Also, Daniels (never knew her name is Irene) packs quite a slap! Again, man, that looked like it hurt! And how sweet was Sanchez saying how he never took off his wedding ring and to always love...made me tear up a wee bit. Lastly, didn't Brenda Leigh look absolutely lovely in all her wedding finery?!? What a beautiful bride!
I'll miss new episodes 'til June...
This was a very enjoyable episode! I'm glad they didn't go with a cliffhanger. The ending was very sweet, but I must have missed something - how do we know Fritz left the Ho-Ho?
I loved how they both couldn't resist their jobs in the midst of the wedding plans, but it does prove one thing - these two should never have children, they wouldn't have time for them! Having cats is perfect.
Beautiful episode - Kyra and Jon Tenney have great chemistry.
Tenney is leading man handsome - he looks like an old time movie star.
I sorta missed the wedding - it was either too short, or too lowdown. Am going with the too short - just remember the scene where Claire "marries" the couple, then the throwing of the bridal bouquet. I'm glad that they've shown Brenda in hr lovely wedding dress during the past 2 or 3 eps - or we wouldn't have been but a glimpse. Lastly - I didn't know this was the Finale - altho' it would make sense, with them getting married and all. Can't wait for another season in June... Kudoos Brenda...!!
I too was bothered by Brenda's lying; in the past, Brenda ***uredly and cleverly zeroed in on her suspects while still "playing fair." The murder mysteries were well plotted and intriguingly solved. This mini season: weak murder stories, too much Brenda's parents and her silly emotional reactions to them, too much squad members personal problems. Get back to good murder stories with clever solutions; Brenda was a little wacky but smart above all. I miss that Brenda.
I laughed again at Provenza's taped comments as I read your recap. The guy kills me. I almost got teary-eyed over Sanchez, too. Can't wait for June!
I cringed the entire episode, just waiting for somebody to either die, get shot and die, get kidnapped and die, have a heart attack and die...you get the picture. I nearly dropped dead myself from relief when the last scene faded out, and there wasn't an increase in the episode's thankfully-low body count.
I think Fritz did leave the Ho-Ho for Brenda. Mainly because I'll bet that cake was lo-fat/lo-cal/lo-taste crap that her now sister-in-law dreamt up (although I do recall a few episodes back that Flynn may have made the actual decision on the cake flavor, so maybe not).
Considering we nearly had to put a cat of mine to sleep yesterday, seeing Kitty up on the table like the queen she thinks she is nearly did me in. My Tarali won't be jumping up on anything for a long time, if ever. Damn cats, making me all weepy.
I don't agree with the overuse of lying in this episode, nor that the others were out of character for their involvement. I do think Brenda Leigh Johnson is one of the craftiest women to ever hit prime-time, and she'll do whatever she can get away with to get a suspect to confess. She's certainly played other roles before to get some doofus to fess up (either as a lower-ranking cop, lawyer, whatever). Crooks get caught all the time because 95% of them are stupid; most of the rest that get away are more lucky than smart. Brenda knows this, and she uses all the tools (including the human ones) in her arsenal to close the case. Could she get away with it in the real LAPD? Probably not everything, but if cops didn't lie to suspects on a regular basis, there would be more crime in Los Angeles than there is now. To quote a cop on another show (I think it was Life On Mars): "The crooks don't play fair, so why should we?"
Also looking forward to June!
I ***ume the first filmed message by Tao and his wife is a takeoff from the ending of "When Harry Met Sally," where you have a whole bunch of couples being interviewed on their marriages. (He must be the only married squad member.)
Provenza chastising Gabriel and Daniels was perfect. Great leadership given the players. I'd prefer to see more of this personal stuff! Or Provenza, doing anything...absolutely anything. ;)
I hadn't thought of it that way, but you're right, Jon Tenney *is* like an old Hollywood leading man. That speech of Brenda's and his response had me melting into the floor. I looked him up on IMDB. He was married to Teri Hatcher (how did she let him get away!) and his mother is a shrink.