Air Date: Monday, August 29, 2011, 9/8c on TNT
Brenda always gets her bright ideas in the midst of chaos
What do you do when a snitch in county jail informs you of a murder about to happen? Do you listen to him and follow through, trying to prevent the murder, hence cutting him a deal to lessen his sentence? These are the questions posed to the team in “Death Warrant.” Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) wants to do something but of course, Chief Pope (J.K. Simmons) isn’t as confident in a lying con as she is. I feel Brenda’s frustration in the matter, but maybe Pope has a point. I mean, how truthful can a man be who’s in jail for well… lying?
“This is my schedule for the day. And these are the hours for which you will be billed.” Gavin Q. Baker, III (Mark Pellegrino) is one attorney who’s all about his money. I’d like to think he cares about his clients, specifically Brenda and the team, but he’s always bringing up money and how he’s going to be paid whether he’s busy or not. I can’t get enough of Pellegrino’s portrayal of the cocky, yet seemingly sympathetic, man of the law. It’s the first time I’ve seen him in a comedic role and he brings a smile to my face whenever he walks into the Major Crimes division. You know he’s there to cause some ruckus and he doesn’t disappoint. Kudos to The Closer for always being spot on with their guest stars.
I just can't see Gabriel being a snitch, but you never know
So we know there’s supposedly a “leak” amongst the team, but I have no idea who it is. If I had to guess, I’d guess it was Sgt. Gabriel (Corey Reynolds). I know, he’s such a top notch officer, but you have to wonder. He wasn’t subpoenaed at the same time as the other guys on the squad in “Forgive Us Our Trespasses,” and sometimes feels like the odd man out when Brenda calls on him to be her right hand man. But I’m speculating. And he’d be the last person I would suspect. I like Gabriel, as I do all of the team, and don’t want him to be guilty of betraying his comrades.
Observations:
Don’t you just love a good high speed chase? I know I do. The entire chase sequence during the middle of the episode is edge-of-your-seat suspenseful and ends with Capt. Raydor (Mary McDonnell) popping a drive-by suspect with a bean bag shotgun right between the eyes. I love seeing powerful women on television and she takes the cake. Seeing Raydor handle a shotgun makes me reconsider whether her tough demeanor is just a façade.
Hopping from the car at the end of the big chase scene
Sgt. Sanchez (Raymond Cruz) has to be my favorite member of the team. He can go from one dynamic to the other—hardcore tough guy to sympathetic caretaker—in a matter of seconds. It just shows how much depth there is to his character. You know he must have had a rough life growing up but didn’t let it deter him from making something of himself. He’s definitely a great and much needed addition to the team.
“And you are not going anywhere where bullets can be fired at you, without me.” Fritz (Jon Tenney) isn’t over Brenda’s close call with a shotgun in “Family Affair.” She was almost taken out but Sgt. Gabriel was quick on his feet to get her out of harm’s way. Does Fritz think he’ll take a bullet for Brenda? It’s admirable and darn near romantic, but she won’t be any happier if he ends up injured. I vote they both just wear bullet proof vests. Which brings up a good point: why don’t they?
Overall, I enjoyed “Death Warrant” but felt it was a bit of a transition episode. It clearly displayed Pellegrino’s comedic range while showcasing the smooth bravado he portrayed as Jacob on Lost. I’m looking forward to seeing how Gavin Q. Baker III, attorney at law, helps Brenda out of her jam as well as the rest of the LAPD who have been sucked into the pending wrongful death lawsuit. And Capt. Raydor has definitely gained a few points from me. She can have my back any day.
Tune in to The Closer, Mondays at 9/8c on TNT. For more on the show, visit http://www.tnt.tv/series/closer/.
All pictures ©Karen Neal/TNT Entertainment.
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