The best episodes of The Closer
Ranked by viewer rating, highs first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
Carjackers compromise Priority Homicide's successful murder-for-hire sting operation when they make off with Lt. Provenza's car, containing all the compiled evidence.
- 02
The discovery of two bodies, a Japanese woman and her daughter in an apparent murder/suicide, puts the team on the trail of a possible multiple murderer.
- 03
An 8-year-old boy dies and his distraught friend blames himself for his death. As the grieving mother casts blame on the doctors, the detectives look into her as the responsible party.
- 04
Flynn and Provenza fail to detect a robbery-homicide in progress at a cash-for-gold store, leading to a messy and awkward investigation for Major Crimes.
- 05
When Flynn and Provenza put sky box tickets over duty, the repercussions could bring the unit down.
- 06
A seemingly routine murder investigation by the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division is interrupted by the arrival of Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, the new head of the LAPD's Priority Murder Squad. An outsider from Atlanta in her first week of service, Brenda has already begun to face the resistance of long-time high-ranking officers, particularly Capt. Taylor of Robbery Homicide, as well as the questionable confidence of her own squad, who have decided to request transfers en masse. Only her assistant, Sgt. Gabriel, seems willing to try to work with her.Determined to show them what she is capable bringing to the Squad, Brenda embarks on the investigation undeterred. Her victim is a woman killed in the home of technology genius with the secret to a multi-million dollar piece of software, found by his quiet, religious assistant. Drawing on the skills of her officers, particularly Lt. Tao's forensic and technological talents, Brenda soon discovers her victim may be more than meets the eye. But when a former flame, Agent Fritz Howard of the FBI lends a hand, both her investigation and her private life take unexpected turns, leading her to a startling conclusion to the case. In the end she proves to the Squad she is, as billed, a closer.
- 07
Brenda and the team must investigate the murder of high-profile model Heather Kingsley, who dies as a result of nicotine poisoning, applied to her scalp via her hair conditioner. Suspicion quickly falls on her movie-star husband, Dean, whose philandering ways and false claims of a pre-nuptual agreement make him the likely killer. As Brenda investigates, she is drawn into the world of celebrity beauty, where illusion is everything, and the standard high. When she undergoes a make-over to meet the Dean's discarded lovers one-by-one, each of whom appears to have a motive to murder, Brenda realizes there may be more to this case than a man trying to get out of a marriage. At the same time, she is slowly seduced by the superficial glamour, which seems to impress her colleagues, and Fritz. As the real killer emerges, Brenda comes to the realization that she can only be who she is, and that the rest is just an illusion.
- 08
Brenda investigates the death of a high-priced Russian call girl whose client list reveals the name of Danny Booth, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and close friend of Brenda's boss, Pope. Brenda's investigation into the murder also puts her in the FBI's headlights, and in a possible conflict with Fritz.
- 09
Brenda forms an alliance with a man while searching for a sniper, but her trust is put to the test when he manipulates and out-maneuvers her, causing a gang backlash.
- 10
Brenda works to solve the rape and murder of a congresswoman's daughter.
- 11
Brenda is asked to prove a hate crime, but Taylor's interference may finally be enough to ruin the case.
- 12
Brenda's investigation into the rape and murder of a young girl begins to affect her emotions, and in order to close the case she makes an unlikely deal.
- 13
Brenda is asked to help keep a criminal imprisoned when the woman he was convicted of murdering shows up recently dead, and her actions alienate everyone. Meanwhile, Captain Taylor makes a fateful decision about supporting one of his men.
- 14
Captain Taylor makes his move against Brenda, meaning she must juggle concerns of an I.A. investigation with solving the murder of a famous producer.
- 15
When a juror dies during a mob boss trial, Brenda has to finesse her way to questioning the remaining jurors. Meanwhile, an unannounced visit put her plans with Fritz on hold.
- 16
The murder of two USC students in an apparent gang shooting that leaves another in the hospital has Brenda juggling responsibilities for entertaining her mother and solving the case.
- 17
Brenda investigates the apparent suicide of a "stalkerazzo," and Fritz receives a disturbing phone call.
- 18
Brenda finds herself investigating the goings on at a retirement facility when a man confesses to seven murders and refuses to give his name.
- 19
Brenda, while ill and with most of her team forced into WMD training, has to solve a murder with just Provenza.
- 20
A reporter dies while Brenda helps him profile the LAPD, but Pope bars her from participating in the case until the department psychiatrist clears her for duty. At home, she and Fritz await her parents for a visit.
- 21
When an alibi, previously thought fictitious, turns up to derail Prosecutor Garnett's efforts in the Shafer trial, Brenda discovers a second house that provides the motive.
- 22
Brenda, her parents, Fritz, Wesley, Flynn and Provenza begin a cross-country RV trip to return her suspect to LA. Along the way, she administers one of her blackest lies.
- 23
Brenda's investigation into the murder of a psychiatrist and the drug trial he was conducting is disrupted when Pope leaks confidential information that Flynn uses against her.
- 24
Brenda tangles with a meddling deputy D.A. as she investigates the possible murder of a butler made to appear as suicide.
- 25
The investigation of the murder of a Middle Eastern businessman and his bodyguard is complicated by the FBI who believe the case to be related to terrorism.
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He's smart, he's good looking, and he's got a great sense of humor.
