TVSquad

(S04E12) "Believing something to be true and proving it, two different things." - Pope

This is why The Closer is one of the best drama series on TV. When they choose to do a comical episode, which this episode was, they have the ability to hit it out of the park. Without question, this was a home run episode. Funny, clever, wry, involving and memorable. Starting from the moment Brenda said she was using a "personal" day -- as if a workaholic like her could even conceive of such a thing -- to the coup de grace ending when Keith (more on him later) slipped the cuffs and said, "Now you see me, now you don't" -- I rate this one of the best of all.

While Brenda was trying to enjoy the personal time, her parents are still there. Clay's grouchier than ever and fussing about his health and Willie Rae has her own timetable going for getting on the cruise ship to Hawaii. Both character traits, the irascibility and the determination are familiar to viewers because Brenda's a tintype of her folks; even if she would be loathe admitting it.

The case at hand, therefore, was being marshaled by Flynn, Provenza and company. From the moment they found Phil Adams, a dead 300-pound jeweler who'd stolen a few million dollars worth of diamonds, stuffed in the trunk of a Cadillac, you knew dark comedy was in store.

When Brenda asked Flynn the cause of death and the car was slipping off the tow truck, rolling down the street behind Flynn on the phone, I laughed out loud. They then topped the gag by having the trunk slam into an electric pole as Flynn suggests the cause of death might be bizarre traffic accident leading to an electrical accident.

By the time the chop shop guy declared Phil the "soup of the day," I was howling. The suspect was a Latin hottie, a fact that was brilliantly woven into the Sanchez subplot. His reluctance to go to the psychologist, and thus get cleared for active duty following the shooting, was overcome when it was revealed that Senorita Reyes was a Senor. Julio was happy to report to the shrink at that point.

Jeff Licon played Keith Reyes as an illusionist; not a cross-dresser or transvestite. He looked amazing -- no Adam's apple -- and was a very wily adversary. Without any proof that he murdered Phil, there was nothing to charge him with as Pope and Taylor pointed out to Brenda. Basically, if she didn't find the diamonds, she had no case.

Frustrated that she was stymied, I wondered if Fritz gave her the information she needed to help her or because he wanted her undivided attention in the sack? He was quite horny once Mama and Daddy were out the door.

Whatever, the resolution was great, although did it seem to you that Brenda was really physical in this episode -- ripping off the wig, snatching the diamonds from the wrap around dress? Could be comedy brings out the beast in Brenda.