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The Best Episodes of The Closer Season 1

Every episode of The Closer Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Closer Season 1!

Binge this in 10h 10m•Peaking at 8.7/10

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
    The Closer Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.3/10(862 votes)

    #1 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    A seemingly routine murder investigation by the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division is interrupted by the arrival of Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, the new head of the LAPD’s Priority Murder Squad. An outsider from Atlanta in her first week of service, Brenda has already begun to face the resistance of long-time high-ranking officers and only her assistant, Sgt. Gabriel, seems willing to try to work with her.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writer:James Duff

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  2. The Closer Season 1 Episode 2 - About Face
    8.1/10(669 votes)

    #2 - About Face

    S1:E2

    Brenda and the team must investigate the murder of high-profile model Heather Kingsley, who dies as a result of nicotine poisoning. As Brenda investigates, she is drawn into the world of celebrity beauty, where illusion is everything, and the standard high.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writer:James Duff

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  3. The Closer Season 1 Episode 3 - The Big Picture
    8.3/10(669 votes)

    #3 - The Big Picture

    S1:E3

    Brenda must fight for justice for two Russian prostitutes murdered by the illegitimate son of a Russian mafia figure. As she does, she confronts her own prejudices, and discovers the justice for these women is scarce in a world dominated by men.

    Director:Elodie Keene
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. The Closer Season 1 Episode 4 - Show Yourself
    7.7/10(582 votes)

    #4 - Show Yourself

    S1:E4

    Brenda and the Priority Homicide Team investigate a sniper who is killing gang members in and around MacArthur Park. Offering assistance is an ex-Army colonel who believes the sniper to be his son. As an all-out gang war looms, Brenda tentatively accepts his assistance.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writer:Wendy West

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  5. The Closer Season 1 Episode 5 - Flashpoint
    8.0/10(566 votes)

    #5 - Flashpoint

    S1:E5

    Brenda enters the high-stakes world of pharmaceutical research, when a drug trial for new anti-addiction medication lead to the death of one of the principal investigators. Nothing is quite as it seems as she investigates the high-powered president of the drug company sponsoring the trial, the seemingly easy-going psychiatrist and the teenaged participants in the study.

    Director:Craig Zisk
    Writer:Rick Kellard

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  6. The Closer Season 1 Episode 6 - Fantasy Date
    8.4/10(606 votes)

    #6 - Fantasy Date

    S1:E6

    Brenda finds herself the unexpected victim of violence against women when she investigates the murder of a congresswoman's daughter. At first, it appears the victim was engaged in sexual activity online that included an invitation to violence.

    Director:Greg Yaitanes
    Writer:Roger Wolfson

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  7. The Closer Season 1 Episode 7 - You Are Here
    7.9/10(544 votes)

    #7 - You Are Here

    S1:E7

    A judge is murdered in Griffith Park and Brenda's investigation takes an unexpected twist when her best witness, or perhaps her prime suspect, is his teenage son with autism. Challenged by the boy's behaviors, but convinced he has the clue to unraveling the case, Brenda must try to understand him in order to learn what he knows.

    Director:Gloria Muzio
    Writers:John Coveny, Hunt Baldwin

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  8. The Closer Season 1 Episode 8 - Batter Up
    7.9/10(547 votes)

    #8 - Batter Up

    S1:E8

    When a gay man is murdered, seemingly the latest victim of a string of hate crimes, Brenda must confront prejudices inside and out of the LAPD. Meanwhile, Flynn and Taylor step up their efforts to undermine Brenda once again, but with unexpected effects, as the team begins to rally around Brenda.

    Director:Arvin Brown
    Writer:James Duff

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  9. The Closer Season 1 Episode 9 - Good Housekeeping
    8.5/10(587 votes)

    #9 - Good Housekeeping

    S1:E9

    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.

    Directors:Michael M. Robin, Tawnia McKiernan
    Writer:Wendy West

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  10. The Closer Season 1 Episode 10 - The Butler Did It
    8.0/10(560 votes)

    #10 - The Butler Did It

    S1:E10

    Three wealthy, spoiled and unruly children become the target of Brenda's investigation when their stepmother is murdered and the family butler seemingly commits suicide shortly thereafter. Riding heard on the trio is their family attorney, who cleans up their messes and provides them with alibis.

    Director:Tawnia McKiernan
    Writer:Rick Kellard

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  11. The Closer Season 1 Episode 11 - L.A. Woman
    7.8/10(666 votes)

    #11 - L.A. Woman

    S1:E11

    Brenda finds herself at odds with the FBI in a struggle to gain control of the murder investigation of a well-known businessman. Deciding to work in tandem, Brenda finds herself working directly with Fritz, who was assigned to the case.

    Director:Rick Wallace
    Writers:John Coveny, Hunt Baldwin

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  12. The Closer Season 1 Episode 12 - Fatal Retraction
    8.7/10(606 votes)

    #12 - 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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  13. The Closer Season 1 Episode 13 - Standards and Practices
    8.7/10(635 votes)

    #13 - 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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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "The Closer" season 1. It scored 8.3/10 based on 862 votes. Directed by Michael M. Robin and written by James Duff, it aired on 6/13/2005. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "About Face".