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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!

Binge this in 3d 11h•Peaking at 9.1/10

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 cases. Johnson's quirky personality and hard-nosed approach often rubs her

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Closer Season 2 Episode 5 - To Protect & To Serve
    9.1/10(781 votes)

    #1 - To Protect & To Serve

    S2:E5

    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

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  2. The Closer Season 7 Episode 21 - The Last Word
    9.1/10(596 votes)

    #2 - The Last Word

    S7:E21

    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
    Writers:Mike Berchem, James Duff

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  3. The Closer Season 4 Episode 10 - Time Bomb
    9.0/10(579 votes)

    #3 - Time Bomb

    S4:E10

    The newly renamed Major Crimes Division investigates the death of a teenager that may be related to a planned massacre.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writer:Steven Kane

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  4. The Closer Season 4 Episode 13 - Power of Attorney
    8.9/10(521 votes)

    #4 - Power of Attorney

    S4:E13

    Brenda goes toe to toe with the tricky attorney of a man suspected of a brutal rape and murder.

    Director:Rick Wallace
    Writer:Michael Alaimo

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  5. The Closer Season 7 Episode 14 - Road Block
    8.9/10(490 votes)

    #5 - Road Block

    S7:E14

    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

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  6. The Closer Season 3 Episode 9 - Blindsided
    8.8/10(583 votes)

    #6 - Blindsided

    S3:E9

    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
    Writers:John Coveny, Hunt Baldwin

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Closer

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  7. The Closer Season 4 Episode 3 - Cherry Bomb
    8.8/10(526 votes)

    #7 - Cherry Bomb

    S4:E3

    Brenda suspects something more than suicide when a high-school girl is found hanged in her bedroom, and the investigation uncovers a ruthless sexual game being played at a private school.

    Director:Rick Wallace
    Writer:Michael Alaimo

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  8. The Closer Season 5 Episode 12 - Waivers of Extradition
    8.8/10(460 votes)

    #8 - Waivers of Extradition

    S5:E12

    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

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  9. The Closer Season 1 Episode 12 - Fatal Retraction
    8.7/10(623 votes)

    #9 - Fatal Retraction

    S1:E12

    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. While trying to make sense of an array of complexities in this unusual matter, the case takes an even darker turn when Brenda becomes the center of the psychopathic killer's attention.

    Director:Gloria Muzio
    Writers:Roger Wolfson, Wendy West

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  10. The Closer Season 1 Episode 13 - Standards and Practices
    8.7/10(650 votes)

    #10 - Standards and Practices

    S1:E13

    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 and the PHD team comes together to act in unison, sending shock waves through the entire department.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writer:James Duff

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  11. The Closer Season 3 Episode 3 - Saving Face
    8.7/10(615 votes)

    #11 - Saving Face

    S3:E3

    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

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  12. The Closer Season 3 Episode 4 - Ruby
    8.7/10(592 votes)

    #12 - Ruby

    S3:E4

    A recently released sex offender is accused of kidnapping a child, and with time running out, Det. Gabriel makes a startling choice.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writers:Mike Berchem, Steven Kane

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  13. The Closer Season 4 Episode 7 - Sudden Death
    8.7/10(520 votes)

    #13 - Sudden Death

    S4:E7

    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
    Writers:John Coveny, Hunt Baldwin

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  14. The Closer Season 2 Episode 13 - Overkill
    8.6/10(521 votes)

    #14 - Overkill

    S2:E13

    Brenda and Fritz have a hard time agreeing who is in charge when an informant's wife and and FBI agent are both murdered. When the killer's identity is uncovered, the PHD finds themselves under attack.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writers:James Duff, Adam Belanoff

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  15. The Closer Season 3 Episode 1 - Homewrecker
    8.6/10(598 votes)

    #15 - Homewrecker

    S3:E1

    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 and possibly Provenza’s early retirement. Meanwhile, Fritz hopes to move into a new house with Brenda.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writers:Mike Berchem, James Duff

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  16. The Closer Season 3 Episode 8 - Manhunt
    8.6/10(532 votes)

    #16 - Manhunt

    S3:E8

    It looks to be the return of a serial killer when two bodies turn up dead. With the knowledge that he kills in sets of three, Chief Pope charges Brenda and her squad to hunt down the killer before the third victim is taken.

    Director:Rick Wallace
    Writers:Mike Berchem, James Duff

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  17. The Closer Season 4 Episode 5 - Dial M For Provenza
    8.6/10(555 votes)

    #17 - Dial M For Provenza

    S4:E5

    Provenza and Flynn lose the evidence in an attempted murder case when Provenza's car is stolen.

    Director:Arvin Brown
    Writer:Adam Belanoff

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  18. The Closer Season 5 Episode 6 - Tapped Out
    8.6/10(508 votes)

    #18 - Tapped Out

    S5:E6

    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

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  19. The Closer Season 5 Episode 7 - Strike Three
    8.6/10(425 votes)

    #19 - Strike Three

    S5:E7

    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

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  20. The Closer Season 5 Episode 11 - Maternal Instincts
    8.6/10(437 votes)

    #20 - Maternal Instincts

    S5:E11

    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

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  21. The Closer Season 6 Episode 2 - Help Wanted
    8.6/10(438 votes)

    #21 - Help Wanted

    S6:E2

    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

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  22. The Closer Season 6 Episode 8 - War Zone
    8.6/10(411 votes)

    #22 - War Zone

    S6:E8

    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

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  23. The Closer Season 6 Episode 10 - Executive Order
    8.6/10(359 votes)

    #23 - Executive Order

    S6:E10

    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

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  24. The Closer Season 6 Episode 11 - Old Money
    8.6/10(373 votes)

    #24 - Old Money

    S6:E11

    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
    Writers:John Coveny, Hunt Baldwin

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  25. The Closer Season 7 Episode 3 - To Serve with Love
    8.6/10(425 votes)

    #25 - To Serve with Love

    S7:E3

    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

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Best Episodes Summary

"To Protect & To Serve" is the best rated episode of "The Closer". It scored 9.1/10 based on 781 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".