The BEST episodes of The Closer
Every episode of The Closer ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Closer!
Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson is a police detective who transfers from Atlanta to Los Angeles to head up a special unit of the LAPD that handles sensitive, high-profile murder cases. Despite a tendency to step on people's toes, Johnson manages to convert even her strongest adversaries with her unique ability to get to the truth.
#1 - The Last Word
Season 7 - Episode 21 - Aired 8/13/2012
In the series finale, we bid a final farewell to Brenda Leigh Johnson. When a young man calls 911 to report seeing someone being buried in Griffith Park, police find not only her remains, but those of several other women who were kills as far back as two years ago. Brenda immediately suspects Philip Stroh and, despite departmental restrictions, sets out to finally tie him to the murders. Meanwhile, the witness who called 911 makes Brenda look at her life and future.
#2 - Silent Partner
Season 7 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/26/2011
Brenda seeks help from a businessman, played by guest star Jason George (Grey's Anatomy), with old ties to the neighborhood where Turell Baylor was murdered.
#3 - To Protect & to Serve
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/10/2006
Brenda finds herself involved in a cover-up of her own when she helps the PHD investigate a non-priority case. Why? Because the deceased woman was found in Provenza's garage. Once again, the team finds themselves racing against the clock before the LAPD brass discovers what they're up to. Will Brenda be able to protect her team and their hard-earned trust?
#4 - Armed Response
Season 7 - Episode 20 - Aired 8/6/2012
Brenda finds a young couple involved to in the investigation by accident after finding two people dead outside in the street Brenda has no idea that the DA is watching her every move Capitan Raydor and Chief Pope find out who the leak is.
#5 - Necessary Evil
Season 7 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/28/2011
The death of a high school principal who had been trying to raise test scores at his school to prevent it from being closed causes Brenda and Fritz to fight over who has control of the case because an already existing FBI investigation causes the cases to overlap.
#6 - Heroic Measures
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/7/2006
When a young boy blames himself for the death of his friend, Brenda must tread lightly to get to the bottom of the case. Complicating matters is the deceased child's mother, who offers up accusations of her own.
#7 - The Life
Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/7/2009
When an adolescent boy is found murdered where members of the Tres Colores gang frequently spend time, the subsequent murders of two more gang members point Brenda and the team to gang warfare. Unfortunately, the evidence trail leads them in a different direction.
#8 - Last Rites
Season 7 - Episode 19 - Aired 7/30/2012
The murder of a priest puts the squad on a collision course with the Catholic Church and drives a wedge between Brenda and Chief Pope. Meanwhile, Brenda’s parents are in town while her father continues his cancer treatments.
#9 - Road Block
Season 7 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/19/2011
The LAPD's Police Commissioner and his wife, Gail, may be in trouble when Brenda becomes determined to uncover a scandal one of them tried to cover up.
#10 - Fresh Pursuit
Season 7 - Episode 10 - Aired 9/12/2011
The squad investigates the death of a deputy sheriff; the judge considers dropping the charges against Brenda.
#11 - Death Warrant
Season 7 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/29/2011
Brenda seeks Capt. Raydor's help in an investigation of possible police brutality; Brenda's attorney starts deposing the squad about the Baylor case.
#12 - Tapped Out
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/13/2009
When an internet matchmaker is murdered, the team finds themselves investigating the matchmaker's early-stage television show. Adding to the craziness is a fake officer, who turns everything upside down. In an effort to school himself on the inner workings of Brenda's group, Pope decides to work as one of the team.
#13 - Standards and Practices
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 9/5/2005
An unnamed source files a grievance against Brenda in the midst of a high-profile investigation of a murdered L.A. filmmaker. With her career on the line, Brenda is skeptical of Chief Pope's intentions when he volunteers to help. In classic Brenda style, she spurns the accusation, refusing to suppress her demeanor in deference to the complaint. In response to the situation, the PHD team comes together to act in unison, sending shock waves through the entire department.
#14 - Relative Matters
Season 7 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/12/2011
Brenda's parents return with surprising news that keeps Brenda's mind from her case.
#15 - Waivers of Extradition
Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 8/24/2009
When a serial killer's spree crosses from Texas to California, Brenda must work with Detective Curt Landry, her Texan equivalent. The two match wits and find themselves going toe to toe as each tries to gain control of the case and the way in which they solve it.
#16 - A Family Affair
Season 7 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/22/2011
The team investigates the puzzling death of a fellow officer's daughter. Elsewhere, Captain Raydor advances in her meticulous audit of Brenda's unit and begins to sharpen focus on Detective Sanchez.
#17 - Next of Kin (1)
Season 3 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/3/2007
Brenda finds an opportunity to visit home when she attempts to track down a witness who disappears to Atlanta. Unfortunately, once she finds the witness, her holidays with family take on a whole new meaning.
#18 - Help Wanted
Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/19/2010
Capt. Raydor (special guest Mary McDonnell) accompanies Brenda on an investigation involving the disappearance of a nanny working for close friends of the mayor. Meanwhile, Raydor’s real purpose in taking part in the investigation could have big career implications for Brenda.
#19 - Identity Theft
Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/3/2009
Brenda must reopen the case of a murdered psychiatrist when the man claiming to have committed the crime gives a statement that doesn't quite match the actual events. Based on evidence of the man's acquaintance with the doctor, Brenda believes there is a cover-up and sets out to unearth the truth. Willie Rae throws a roadblock in her path when she pops in for a visit, which actually appears to be an attempt to dump Brenda's handful of a niece onto the newlyweds during for the duration of summer break.
#20 - Good Housekeeping
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/8/2005
The murder of an adolescent girl from Mexico, found dead in the Los Angeles River, proves difficult and painful for Brenda and her team. At first, a known sex-offender seems the likely candidate, but questions arise about why the girl and her mother were brought to the US, leading the investigation in another direction. Soon, the girl's backpack suggests the girl's uncle or the family for whom the mother worked may have been involved, A search of the house suggests one of the family is the murderer, but which one? An end-run by the family, determined to protect the killer, takes Brenda to Mexico, where she must use all her resources, Fritz and Mexican law to finally bring the killer to justice. The usually cantankerous Dr. Crippen shows his softer side as he briefs Brenda following the autopsy, in a scene representative of the way in which the violent death of a child impacts the police.
#21 - Out of Focus
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/17/2006
Brenda and the team find themselves wading through a long list of suspects when a celebrity photographer takes a fatal fall from his hotel room balcony. Once the cause of death is determined, the motive points to a big time actor with something to hide. In the meantime, Brenda starts to feel like Fritz is behaving strangely, making her realize that superstars may not be the only ones who have secrets to keep.
#22 - Blindsided
Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 8/13/2007
In an effort to get good PR for the department, Deputy Chief Johnson takes a journalist on a ride-along, but when the Crown Vic is targeted and shot at, Brenda is forced to live under 24-hour police protection, while being the key witness in the case she must solve.
#23 - Next of Kin (2)
Season 3 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/3/2007
Returning to L.A. proves to be a challenge when Brenda's witness remains hesitant, causing her to be creative. The fallout left behind in Atlanta leaves Brenda's parents picking up the pieces while Fritz becomes buried underneath all the stress.
#24 - Aftertaste
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/3/2006
Brenda and the PHD investigate a high-profile case when a woman is brutally murdered at L.A.'s trendiest restaurant. On the home front, Brenda tries to keep a low profile as she closes in on her 40th birthday.
#25 - Elysian Fields
Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/27/2009
When a man believed to have murdered two young women is found dead in Elysian Fields, evidence points to his victims' families. Brenda and the team must then wade through the suspects to find the true killer.