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The Worst Episodes of The Closer

Every episode of The Closer ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Closer!

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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 Worst Episode
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    The Closer Season 1 Episode 4 - Show Yourself
    7.7/10(581 votes)

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

    #2 - 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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  3. The Closer Season 3 Episode 7 - Four to Eight
    7.8/10(475 votes)

    #3 - Four to Eight

    S3:E7

    When two Catorce gang members are shot to death, Brenda and her squad must solve the murders before a gang war erupts. Meanwhile, Brenda has her own personal health scare when she finally visits the doctor.

    Director:Arvin Brown
    Writer:Ken Martin

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  4. The Closer Season 3 Episode 10 - Culture Shock
    7.8/10(458 votes)

    #4 - Culture Shock

    S3:E10

    When a Chinese business woman is found dead on the tour bus she and her husband operate, Brenda and the squad must dig deep to investigate her past life.

    Director:Elodie Keene
    Writer:Adam Belanoff

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  5. The Closer Season 4 Episode 11 - Good Faith
    7.8/10(374 votes)

    #5 - Good Faith

    S4:E11

    Brenda and the team investigate an apparent suicide that the medical examiner believes was actually a murder.

    Director:Elodie Keene
    Writer:Adam Belanoff

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  6. The Closer Season 5 Episode 2 - Blood Money
    7.8/10(379 votes)

    #6 - Blood Money

    S5:E2

    Brenda and the team are called in to investigate the questionable disappearance of a shady financial investor. The team is a mess with Daniels now in another division, Gabriel doing double duty, and Provenza with behavior more curious than usual. In the meantime, Brenda and Fritz deal with a sick Kitty.

    Director:Rick Wallace
    Writer:Steven Kane

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  7. The Closer Season 1 Episode 7 - You Are Here
    7.9/10(543 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(546 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 2 Episode 4 - Aftertaste
    7.9/10(493 votes)

    #9 - Aftertaste

    S2:E4

    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.

    Director:Arvin Brown
    Writer:Steven Kane

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  10. The Closer Season 2 Episode 6 - Out of Focus
    7.9/10(479 votes)

    #10 - Out of Focus

    S2:E6

    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. 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.

    Director:Michael M. Robin
    Writers:John Coveny, Hunt Baldwin

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  11. The Closer Season 3 Episode 11 - Lover's Leap
    7.9/10(440 votes)

    #11 - Lover's Leap

    S3:E11

    A car belonging to a Department of Homeland Security employee is found wrecked at the bottom of Mulholland Drive. Priority Homicide is brought in to uncover the details surrounding the driver’s death, but the investigation leads Brenda a lot closer to home then she expected.

    Director:Jesse Bochco
    Writer:Steven Kane

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  12. The Closer Season 4 Episode 4 - Live Wire
    7.9/10(424 votes)

    #12 - Live Wire

    S4:E4

    A man wearing a surveillance wire is shot to death at point blank range in downtown Los Angeles, while interpersonal relationships on the squad force Brenda into a corner.

    Director:Elodie Keene
    Writer:Steven Kane

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  13. The Closer Season 4 Episode 14 - Fate Line
    7.9/10(425 votes)

    #13 - Fate Line

    S4:E14

    Fritz's sister agrees to use her psychic powers to help the Priority Homicide Division resolve one of their cases, and while her abilities appear to help her understand how Brenda works, they don't seem to stop her from offering misguided advice.

    Director:James Duff
    Writer:Steven Kane

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  14. The Closer Season 5 Episode 4 - Walking Back the Cat
    7.9/10(374 votes)

    #14 - Walking Back the Cat

    S5:E4

    Once again working with Fritz and the FBI, the team helps get to the bottom of a murder which occurred amidst a drug ring investigation. Also again, Brenda finds FBI feathers ruffled by her unorthodox methods.

    Director:Steve Robin
    Writer:Leo Geter

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  15. The Closer Season 6 Episode 1 - The Big Bang
    7.9/10(371 votes)

    #15 - The Big Bang

    S6:E1

    After a man is murdered while taking pictures of the stars from his balcony, the squad suspects the crime is somehow connected to the woman with whom he was having an affair. But their investigation is hindered by a missing murder weapon, as well as the difficult adjustment of moving into a new office.

    Director:Rick Wallace
    Writers:Mike Berchem, James Duff

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  16. The Closer Season 7 Episode 12 - You Have the Right to Remain Jolly
    7.9/10(423 votes)

    #16 - You Have the Right to Remain Jolly

    S7:E12

    Fred Willard (Modern Family) guest stars as Santa Jack, the owner of a Christmas village who believes he could be the real Father Christmas.

    Director:Rick Wallace
    Writers:James Duff, Michael Alaimo

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

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

    #18 - 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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  19. The Closer Season 2 Episode 1 - Blue Blood
    8.0/10(515 votes)

    #19 - Blue Blood

    S2:E1

    Brenda and her team race against the clock to get to the truth, as things don't add up when an LA cop turns up dead. Meanwhile tension increases between the Priority Homicide Division and the Robbery-Homicide Division.

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

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  20. The Closer Season 2 Episode 2 - Mom Duty
    8.0/10(509 votes)

    #20 - Mom Duty

    S2:E2

    When a juror in the trial of an infamous mobster is found dead, Brenda and the Priority Homicide Division find that their involvement in solving the case may be affecting the jury's final decision. Complicating her personal life, Brenda faces another new challenge: a surprise visit from her mother.

    Director:Gloria Muzio
    Writer:Wendy West

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  21. The Closer Season 2 Episode 10 - The Other Woman
    8.0/10(483 votes)

    #21 - The Other Woman

    S2:E10

    The PHD must deal with a case of mistaken identity in order to get to the bottom of an investigation. While they're busy with the case, Brenda is involved in a different case: Pope's divorce. After being called to testify, Brenda finds that both her career and reputation are on the line.

    Director:Lesli Linka Glatter
    Writer:Steven Kane

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  22. The Closer Season 2 Episode 11 - Borderline
    8.0/10(469 votes)

    #22 - Borderline

    S2:E11

    Leaving the scene of an accident to get to a multiple homicide scene, Brenda finds herself unable to drive the streets of L.A. which she worked so hard to learn. Once she gets to the crime scene, she and the PHD are faced with another challenge: the murdered bodies are nowhere to be found. In order to solve this case, they must first search for the victims before they can hunt for the killer.

    Director:Rick Wallace
    Writers:John Coveny, Hunt Baldwin

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  23. The Closer Season 3 Episode 14 - Next of Kin (1)
    8.0/10(447 votes)

    #23 - Next of Kin (1)

    S3:E14

    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.

    Directors:Scott Ellis, Roger Young
    Writer:Mike Berchem

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  24. The Closer Season 4 Episode 2 - Speed Bump
    8.0/10(430 votes)

    #24 - Speed Bump

    S4:E2

    Brenda and the team must determine if a murder was revenge or mere coincidence when a recently released murderer turns up dead, the victim of a hit-and-run. As usual, Brenda's personal life isn't much better: she must deal with a recently incapacitated Fritz.

    Director:Arvin Brown
    Writers:John Coveny, Hunt Baldwin

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  25. The Closer Season 4 Episode 8 - Split Ends
    8.0/10(424 votes)

    #25 - Split Ends

    S4:E8

    Brenda and the squad investigate the murder of a hair stylist and Brenda's parents stop in for a visit on their way to Alaska.

    Director:Roxann Dawson
    Writers:Mike Berchem, Ken Martin

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Show Yourself" is the worst rated episode of "The Closer". It scored 7.7/10 based on 581 votes. Directed by Michael M. Robin and written by Wendy West, it aired on 7/4/2005. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "L.A. Woman".