By LillyKat
PTR Senior Staff Writer
Irony.
That’s the word that keeps coming to mind in describing this week’s episode of The Closer (titled “Split Ends").
Like, when your favorite shows uses its own studio lot exteriors as the backdrop for an episode, which prompts one to recall a visit to said show’s set a few months back, which further prompts one to say (whilst watching the episode): “Hey, I was there. And I walked by that stage door, and those trailers, and that front gate.”
Or, when the opening sequence seems to suggest BJ and Fritzy are being invaded by a knife wielding intruder only to have it turn out to be Mama and Papa Johnson stopping by for a visit as they RV their way to Alaska.
Or, when one of your other fave show’s producers jumps ship for a moment to take a turn behind the camera in LAPD’s Priority Homicide as opposed to the box room in PPD in Philly (read: Cold Case’s Roxann Dawson).
Or, when you think the fact the case is set in Hollyweirdland will have it end up being comical only to have it turn out to be rather serious.
Like we said: irony.
Lots of it.
The Case
The brutal murder of a hair stylist on a hit television show, who had been abused by her own … how should be way … rage-driven, wanna be slug actor partner. She had found a way out of that nightmare, but met her end trying to protect a friend from an equally abusive boyfriend.
I swear, this episode could’ve been funny. We know how good The Closer folks are at making the Hollywood-esque murders silly. They could’ve played up the whole self-absorbed actor thing, the silly guest star thing, the space cadet hairstylist thing.
But instead, it was sobering reminder just how difficult it is for women to escape the grips of abusive boyfriends and husbands.
And how damaged they are in the aftermath.
The Director’s Touch (Redux)
Last week, I raved about KB: Kevin Bacon.
This week, it’s RD: Roxann Dawson.
She has directed some of my favorite Cold Case episodes (“Joseph” and “A Perfect Day”), so I was pleasantly surprised to see her come over to BJ & Co. Now, if only she could take some of The Closer goodness back to CC. Like … oh … I don’t know … cloning of Fritz? Pretty please? With a cherry on top?
The Shot Sequence
Brenda’s questioning of the friend of the murdered hairstylist (the one she was trying to help out of an abusive relationship ) on the porch. As the girl reveals her wounds to Brenda, and Brenda extends her hand to try and get her to leave - escape - was very, very powerful. The close-ups on each woman's face, the silence whilst the decision is pondered ... I once again hand it to Roxann Dawson - she struck an amazingly tender balance with that sequence. You held your breath whilst secretly cheered for the gal to leave with Brenda.
And when boyfriend snatches her at the last minute to force a showdown with the squad ... wowza.
The Personal
So where to begin … daddy wants to see the BJ/Fritzy happily-ever-after moment sooner rather than later. BJ cowers at the thought. Fritz is in the middle (though he does want the marriage ASAP, too). And mom seems to be the peacemaker. How funny was Papa Johnson getting every conceivable wedding chapel pamphlet this side of the Mississippi and placing it in ever nook and cranny location so BJ couldn’t escape the notion?
In our ongoing collection of can’t-love-Fritz enough moments, he does eventually get BJ to stand up to daddy and tell him to back off.
Only to have Fritz lay down the law himself.
Married.
By next February at the latest.
Oops.
I guess that backfired, eh BJ?
The What The ...?
WTF is with that frakingly annoying reporter Ricardo Ramos? I'm getting really annoyed with his out-to-get Priority Homicide routine. Now, he's writing an exposé on what some of you already discussed last week: what murders really qualify as "priority." So much so that next week's preview has Chief Pope shutting the the PH division down?
WTF?!?!
Go away, Ramos.
And we wonder why people do not like the media.
Only two episodes left until the end-of-summer finale. New episodes air Mondays at 9 p.m. on TNT. You can also watch full episodes of the show anytime over on the show’s official Web site.
2 comments:
It was a powerful episode.
But I want to comment on two lesser parts.
I am glad that the show is continuing to address the issue of Priority Homicide as opposed I suppose to non-priority homicides. Do you know if this is actually leading somewhere?
I enjoyed Fritz's turning the tables on Brenda. I wonder if he planned this when he urged Brenda to stand up to her father, or if he just saw an opportunity and took it?
This was definitely a sobering reminder of how dangerous and difficult it is to escape the clutches of an abusive relationship. That moment when the abusive boyfriend reached through the door and grabbed his girlfriend was terrifying.
I'm also curious to see where this reporter's story leads. While I think he's asking a legitimate question, I'm not a fan of his tactics. As you said, no wonder everyone hates the media.
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