In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« The Closer
Episode Recap: "Lover's Leap"
Ooh, this week's episode of The Closer was a good one, if only because it offered an increasingly rare peek into Brenda's past relationship with Pope. It's funny, after all these (three) years it still seems so foreign and uncharted, and every piece to the puzzle seems so exotic.
That was tough for Brenda, hearing Pope recount his affair with the vic. She even points out to him the similarities to how she and he hooked up and she came to L.A. When Pope then describes Maggie to BL, he summed up his former paramour almost to a T.
Pretty good case this week, though the ex-cop's wife was all but outed by Roger Ebert's Law of Economy of Characters. (For any other storytelling purpose, Joe White didn't need a wife, so why give her that odd first scene/reaction?) And the motive was a bit iffy; I always ask myself, "Would that really drive a person to brutal murder?" All over an embezzlement? C'mon.
The eppy also entertained with the FBI guys getting the runaround from the PHD... er, I mean the CTB's Homicide Division. Nice how that season-premiere detail looped back around so perfectly, so many weeks later. These writers know what they are doing. Makes you wish they could farm out their mad planning-ahead skillz to 24.
And... the bullets:
• Look at Kyra rappel down the side of the cliff! You go, girl!
• Brenda to Pope re: his affair: "It all sounds so familiar, and yet I'm surprised." Sniff. Brenda then reacting to Will's apology: "Again? You're really sorry... again." Sigh. She needs a hug.
• "Maybe she saw a tree down there she wanted to hug." Bad, Flynn, bad!
• BL pleading to Fritz: "I can't have chocolate anymore. Do you understand that? Do you?"
• Eyeballing the cartons of accountant files, Provenza grumbling, "Bury the two paragraphs of info you actually want in a pile of bullpuckey."
• Was that General Hospital's "Jake Meyer" as the vic's hubby? Sam Behrens?
• Pope to Gabriel: "Our money problems will go from terminal to merely bad."
But then poor Pope was left alone with his honey's crumpled Prius. I'd like to have seen a bit more reaction from him, but I guess he's a steely guy.
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Aug 27, 2007 10:52 PM
|
Yep, that was Jake, all right! Good catch 
As soon as I saw the wife, like you, I knew she was the killer. Interestingly, though, by the time Brenda figured out the rest and went to confront her, i'd forgotten why it was the character of the wife stood ou.
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 12:20 AM
|
For some strange reason I thought it was the wife when the comments kept flying around about how the pepper spray was used to subdue the victim. I guess I just assumed if it was a man he'd punch her out. While (as usual) everyone was terrific--I enjoyed Provenza's crack (when he was asked if he was going down the cliff to the murder scene) "I don't hike...." 
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 1:39 AM
|
|
Yeah, it was clear from the first shot of the wife, covered up to her neck in that sweltering house, that she was the murderer. But, like in the old Columbo series, it didn't spoil another great episode. The Closer is simply the best written and acted show on tv. Love it.
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 3:36 AM
|
Another good episode. Even if the cases are easy to figure out, it still is enjoyable. I just love the interplay between these characters. Flynn cracks me up every week with one or two un-PC comment. Provenza is also good for some funny lines each week.
The pepper spray was the tell tale sign for me as well. Usually that is a woman's weapon, so it narrowed the suspects fairly quickly. I could see a person cracking under the pressure of a spouse going to prison. Sometimes one thing like that can make a person crack for a split second. Then they had gone too far and would have to carry out the bad deed.
Well, I guess we learned tonight that Pope is a world class cad. Now I wonder how many affairs he had when he was married.
This show has been a great showcase for Kyra Sedwick. I personally think it is her best role ever. I don't recall any of her other roles in the movies that stand out as much as this role. I did like her role in Singles quite a bit though.
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 4:33 AM
|
Place me in the category also of knowing the killer was the wife the minute pepper spray was mentioned because, as speedy mentioned, pepper spray is almost always carried around by women.
No mention of Brenda's surgery, Matt? I had a bowel resection 14 years ago, and Brenda's straining to walk around sometimes reminded me of how I got around, although I needed to use a pillow for support for the first few weeks of recovery. Kyra played it great: you could tell Brenda was in pain when she moved around, and in case the viewer forget, they had a few shots of her holding her belly. Great continuity.
But I wondered where Brenda's parents were, now that she really needed them (due to the surgery). My mother stayed with me during the daytime for 3 weeks after my surgery (and I was in my 30s at the time) until my husband came home from work, just to help me do the everyday stuff like make lunch/dinner and let the dog out. So, I can't believe that Brenda's parents would abandon her at this particular time. Perhaps they were around, just off screen. Or perhaps they were driving Brenda crazy, so she shipped them back home to Georgia! I know I had to tell my mom when enough was enough, even though she meant well.
And that scene where Pope was describing his affair to Brenda was great. If anything, Pope seems to be able to seek out the exact same type of woman every time. I wondered, when he was describing Maggie, if he was really talking about Brenda, the two seemed to be the exact same type of woman. Is Pope a serial cheater? Sure seems like it.
Can't believe the season's almost over. I'm gonna miss this show!
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 8:12 AM
|
|
Loved the episode, as usual. Anyone catch the looks between Sanchez and Daniels....AGAIN?!?! Loved Brenda's indignant "NO THANK YEW!" to Captain Taylor when he tried to help her up.....right before she had to accept his offer; too funny!
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 8:25 AM
|
|
Loved the episode, but did it strike anyone else as odd that the vic had to punch the address of the police dept. into the GPS, when she'd been going there every other month for two years?
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 9:18 AM
|
|
The murdering wife's hubby was played by Robert Rusler. I recognized his voce from when he was "Buzz Ravenel," in one of my favorite movies, Shag.
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 9:50 AM
|
Great episode.
Gabriel shrieking at Brenda as she descends down the hill was too funny.
"I'm responsible for YOU!!!"
Lord that man can get so flustered, but he does have Brenda's back!
I was glad to see Fritz man-up and let Brenda deal with the fact that he has to follow regulations and rules on his job just like everyone else. He is not J Edgar Hoover with total autonomy. I hope she changes her mind about not asking for his help or opinion. Ya gotta let your man feel like a man, girlfriend.
I thought the husband and wife were in on it together. She cracked pretty easily didn't she? 
I was glad Brenda smashed the computer and phone the FBI was looking for to protect Pope and the vic's husband. That was big of her.
Where can I meet Robert Gossett? The man is FINE!!! I am so glad the writers took the edge off of him a bit but its time to see boyfriend in action and not just helping Brenda out of a chair.
Provenza is a riot and I knew for sure he was not climbing down the steep hill. He was going to supervise from the comfort of the car. 
I love this show!! 
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 10:06 AM
|
I guess we all figured the wife, especially with the pepper spray. I just wondered if we given a red herring.
As far as would someone do this just for embezzlement? Without a doubt. People kill for a garden tool. She probably really thought the vic would be reasonable and one thing led to another with escalation to murder the result.
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 10:11 AM
|
Thank goodness someone identified "Jake" for me. It was driving me crazy ... and all the facial hair didn't help.
I agree the pepper spray was a big clue, but by the time Brenda solved the case, I had forgotten about it. I am NOT a detective; I always seems to be amazed by their discoveries.
I have a question. When Pope was describing his affair with Maggie and seemed to be describing his prior affair with Brenda, was Brenda talking about being seduced into coming to LA or was the affair earlier in their lives? I had the feeling their affair had been over for several years. Am I wrong?
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 10:14 AM
|
One of the best things about the episode last night was when Gabriel was about to talk Pope into giving the extra money to his division to save a person and how flustered he got at the car situation, I was laughing hysterically and then my brain caught up when Pope walked over to the car, and I remembered his fairly recent ex just died in relation to that car and nothing to be laughing about.
Then the tape over the door and the reminder that Lt. Flynn is so close to the top of the food chain in the division and how anyone who is pissed dealing with Brenda then realizing the next choice is to deal with Flynn is so funny. Just wait until they might have to be in the position that Lt. Tau is the next one in line after that, while nicer about it, he is just as funny with his attitude. Does anyone else ever get the impression that each member of Priority Homicide (except Gabriel) has comments from their previous divisions like, very intelligent, excellent investigator, attitude problem, too smart for own good, pain of my existence.
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 11:02 AM
|
Loved the episode, but did it strike anyone else as odd that the vic had to punch the address of the police dept. into the GPS, when she'd been going there every other month for two years?
Sorry but I didn't think it was odd. She could have stayed at a different hotel so she would have a different route. I always use the GPS when I am away from home. It announces the streets which helps you familiarize yourself.
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 11:13 AM
|
The victim's husband was not just Jake from "General Hospital" but also played Danny, one of Valeen Ewing's husbands on the late, great night-time soap, "Knot's Landing." He went nutso after they married and turned into a raving stalker but got his when he ended up dead (murdered) in the swimming pool. Ahhh...good times.
I didn't put the pepper spray together with the wife but did think it was odd in her first scene at the house when she all dressed in long sleeves and pants in the heat that was all but debilitating everyone else. I have never run into poison oak, but have had EXTREME reactions to poison ivy where I needed steroids to get rid of the oozing and itchiness...I can really feel for Brenda to have to deal with poison oak on top of still recovering from her surgery,,,,,and she can't even have chocolate to help take the edge off ! How chivalrous of all the men to be so solicitous - helping her out of her chairs and up & down the cliffside.
Good episode!!
|
|
Aug 28, 2007 11:52 AM
|
|
|
