9.0/10685 votesLoading...#1 - 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?
Director: Elodie Keene
Writer: Adam Belanoff
9.0/10544 votesLoading...#2 - 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. Stay tuned to the next show, Major Crimes, which will pick up from the moment The Closer ends. A large portion of the characters are moving to the new show. to work under the new supervisor of Major Crimes, Captain Sharon Raydor.
Director: Michael M. Robin
Writer: Mike Berchem, James Duff
8.9/10516 votesLoading...#3 - Time Bomb
Season 4 Episode 10 - Aired 9/15/2008
The newly renamed Major Crimes Division investigates the death of a teenager that may be related to a planned massacre; the squad searches for a bomb before it can explode.
Director: Michael M. Robin
Writer: Steven Kane
8.8/10462 votesLoading...#4 - Power of Attorney
Season 4 Episode 13 - Aired 2/9/2009
Brenda goes toe to toe with the tricky attorney of a man suspected of a brutal rape and murder. Going a few rounds to get to the truth, Brenda dukes it out with the lawyer who is just as clever in the ring as she is. Can she hang in there and get to the truth before the final bell?
Director: Rick Wallace
Writer: Michael Alaimo
8.8/10441 votesLoading...#5 - 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.
Director: Nelson McCormick
Writer: Jim Leonard
8.7/10552 votesLoading...#6 - Fatal Retraction
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 8/29/2005
Brenda and her team must find not only a killer, but also identify the killer's victim when a deranged, homicidal madman is set free due to mistaken identity. Trying to make sense of an array of complexities in this unusual case, Brenda comes across what may be another betrayal by a member of the Priority Homicide Division. The case takes an even darker turn when Brenda becomes the center of the psychopathic killer's attention.
Director: Gloria Muzio
Writer: Wendy West, Roger Wolfson
8.7/10579 votesLoading...#7 - 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.
Director: Michael M. Robin
Writer: James Duff
8.7/10530 votesLoading...#8 - 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.
Director: Kevin Bacon
Writer: Hunt Baldwin, John Coveny
8.7/10471 votesLoading...#9 - Cherry Bomb
Season 4 Episode 3 - Aired 7/28/2008
Brenda suspects something more than suicide when a high-school girl is found hanged in her bedroom; the investigation uncovers a ruthless sexual game being played at a private school.
Director: Rick Wallace
Writer: Michael Alaimo
8.7/10415 votesLoading...#10 - 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.
Director: Kevin Bacon
Writer: Adam Belanoff
8.6/10463 votesLoading...#11 - Overkill
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 9/4/2006
Brenda and Fritz have a hard time agreeing who is in charge when an informant's wife and and FBI agent are both murdered. Brenda discovers that she and the PHD must work quickly when the leading witness in the case is scheduled to testify against a powerful mobster. When the killer's identity is uncovered, the PHD finds themselves under attack; an attack that takes someone down.
Director: Michael M. Robin
Writer: Adam Belanoff, James Duff
8.6/10545 votesLoading...#12 - Homewrecker
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 6/18/2007
Brenda and the team investigate the grisly slaying of a family, and the only survivor is the drug-addled teen son. Meanwhile, a financial crisis rocks the LAPD, bringing about budget cuts, numerous changes --- and possibly Provenza’s early retirement. And Fritz hopes to move into a new house with Brenda.
Director: Michael M. Robin
Writer: Mike Berchem, James Duff
8.6/10548 votesLoading...#13 - Saving Face
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 7/2/2007
At a retired cop’s funeral, Lt Provenza and Lt. Flynn discover something quite unexpected along with the corpse.
Director: Michael Pressman
Writer: Adam Belanoff
8.6/10528 votesLoading...#14 - Ruby
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 7/9/2007
A recently released sex offender is accused of kidnapping a child, and with time running out, Det. Gabriel beats a confession out of him. Deputy Chief Johnson must deal with Gabriel and also get the pedophile to re-confess.
Director: Michael M. Robin
Writer: Mike Berchem, Steven Kane
8.6/10460 votesLoading...#15 - Sudden Death
Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 8/25/2008
Det. Julio Sanchez' little brother Oscar is shot and killed, leaving Julio beside himself with grief and seeking his killer any way he can, which threatens the investigation.
Director: Kevin Bacon
Writer: Hunt Baldwin, John Coveny
8.6/10367 votesLoading...#16 - 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.
Director: Arvin Brown
Writer: Mike Berchem, James Duff
8.5/10503 votesLoading...#17 - Dial M For Provenza
Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 8/11/2008
Provenza and Flynn lose the evidence in an attempted murder case when Provenza's car is stolen; Pope is not happy when Brenda is forced to free the suspect and gives her and the squad 48 hours to retrieve the car, the evidence and the suspect.
Director: Arvin Brown
Writer: Adam Belanoff
8.5/10451 votesLoading...#18 - 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.
Director: Adam Arkin
Writer: Adam Belanoff
8.5/10383 votesLoading...#19 - Strike Three
Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 7/20/2009
A high-profile shoot-out has left two policemen and a teenage boy dead leads to numerous mysteries spinning around the case. Enter Force Investigation Division bigwig Sharon Raydor, who upends Brenda's investigation with her merciless snooping.
Director: Nelson McCormick
Writer: Steven Kane
8.5/10393 votesLoading...#20 - Maternal Instincts
Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 8/17/2009
Caught in the crossfire of a shootout, two people end up dead and one remains in critical condition. Now Brenda and the team must figure out the the intended crime and the intended victim in order to determine the perpetrator. Brenda and Fritz disagree as they continue to struggle with Charlie, and Provenza drastically alters his lifestyle.
Director: David McWhirter
Writer: Leo Geter
8.5/10401 votesLoading...#21 - 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.
Director: Nelson McCormick
Writer: Steven Kane
8.5/10376 votesLoading...#22 - War Zone
Season 6 Episode 8 - Aired 8/30/2010
In a case that could carry national security implications, three soldiers are gunned down outside an LA club two days after returning home from duty in Afghanistan. Brenda’s investigation puts her on a collision course with Major Edward Dorset (guest star Gary Cole), a military liaison officer.
Director: Steve Robin
Writer: Michael Alaimo
8.5/10327 votesLoading...#23 - Executive Order
Season 6 Episode 10 - Aired 9/13/2010
The murder of two paramedics leads the LAPD and the FBI on separate investigations on a case that could be the precursor to a major terrorist attack. But Brenda fights to remain a step ahead, even though she's forced to work with the counter-terrorism unit's Chief Tommy Delk, who happens to be one of Brenda's fellow finalists for the job of Chief of Police.
Director: Michael M. Robin
Writer: Adam Belanoff
8.5/10335 votesLoading...#24 - Old Money
Season 6 Episode 11 - Aired 12/6/2010
One of Brenda's detectives is ambushed on the street, and the main clue to figuring out the motive behind the attack is a garbage bag containing more than $37,500. The investigation then turns into a race to clear the detective's name over allegations of witness tampering.
Director: Nelson McCormick
Writer: Hunt Baldwin, John Coveny
8.5/10379 votesLoading...#25 - To Serve with Love
Season 7 Episode 3 - Aired 7/25/2011
Flynn and Provenza get into the usual trouble moonlighting as process servers when a man dies shortly after they serve him.
Director: Michael Pressman
Writer: Adam Belanoff
The Best Episodes of The Closer
Every episode of The Closer ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Closer!
Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson transfers from Atlanta to LA to head up a special unit of the LAPD that handles sensitive, high-profile murder...
Genres:CrimeDramaMystery
Network:TNT
Best Episodes Summary
"To Protect & To Serve" is the best rated episode of "The Closer". It scored 9/10 based on 685 votes. Directed by Elodie Keene and written by Adam Belanoff, it aired on 7/10/2006. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Last Word".