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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!

Best episode
S2E5 To Protect & To Serve
9.1849 votes
Worst episode
S1E4 Show Yourself
7.7655 votes
Top season
Season 3
8.3avg
Binge time
3d 11h
109 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons7

All1234567

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    The Closer Season 2 Episode 5 - To Protect & To Serve
    9.1/10(849 votes)

    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(655 votes)

    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(635 votes)

    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(579 votes)

    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(546 votes)

    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 1 Episode 13 - Standards and Practices
    8.8/10(659 votes)

    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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  7. The Closer Season 3 Episode 9 - Blindsided
    8.8/10(623 votes)

    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:Hunt Baldwin, John Coveny

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  8. The Closer Season 4 Episode 3 - Cherry Bomb
    8.8/10(585 votes)

    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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  9. The Closer Season 5 Episode 12 - Waivers of Extradition
    8.8/10(511 votes)

    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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  10. The Closer Season 1 Episode 12 - Fatal Retraction
    8.7/10(673 votes)

    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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  11. The Closer Season 3 Episode 3 - Saving Face
    8.7/10(661 votes)

    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(639 votes)

    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(577 votes)

    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:Hunt Baldwin, John Coveny

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  14. The Closer Season 5 Episode 11 - Maternal Instincts
    8.7/10(495 votes)

    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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  15. The Closer Season 3 Episode 1 - Homewrecker
    8.6/10(651 votes)

    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 4 Episode 5 - Dial M For Provenza
    8.6/10(613 votes)

    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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  17. The Closer Season 3 Episode 8 - Manhunt
    8.6/10(580 votes)

    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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  18. The Closer Season 5 Episode 6 - Tapped Out
    8.6/10(572 votes)

    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 2 Episode 13 - Overkill
    8.6/10(556 votes)

    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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  20. The Closer Season 6 Episode 2 - Help Wanted
    8.6/10(489 votes)

    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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  21. The Closer Season 5 Episode 7 - Strike Three
    8.6/10(478 votes)

    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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  22. The Closer Season 7 Episode 3 - To Serve with Love
    8.6/10(474 votes)

    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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  23. The Closer Season 6 Episode 8 - War Zone
    8.6/10(463 votes)

    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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  24. The Closer Season 7 Episode 19 - Last Rites
    8.6/10(443 votes)

    S7:E19

    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.

    Director:David McWhirter
    Writer:Leo Geter

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  25. The Closer Season 7 Episode 15 - Silent Partner
    8.6/10(434 votes)

    S7:E15

    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
    Writers:Mike Berchem, James Duff

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Best Episodes Summary

"To Protect & To Serve" is the best rated episode of The Closer. It scored 9.1/10 from 849 votes. Directed by Elodie Keene and written by Adam Belanoff, it aired on July 10, 2006.

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