TVSquad

(S05E09) Every episode of The Closer is a puzzle of sorts, and this one surely qualified, especially since it began in court with the case already decided. All that remained was the formality of Russell Clark -- guest star Bruce Davison -- elocuting to the judge. Well, not so fast. There were a few hiccups requiring Brenda's immediate attention.

The moment Cynthia Watros showed up as the victim's widow, anxious to reclaim her husband's belongings from the crime scene, suspicions were raised. But first Brenda had to figure out why Russell Clark had confessed to the crime, if he was covering for his schizophrenic son, James -- if James was capable of the murder in the first place, and then there was the question of what to do with Mama. Yes, Willy Ray was there, along with Fritz and Charlene, Brenda's niece.

Willie Ray's visit had a purpose. Turned out that Charlene -- call me Charly -- the daughter of Brenda's brother Bobby, was out of control. She's disrespectful and a typical teenager, complete with cell phone seemingly attached to her hands. Ironically, while Willy Ray was in tears about how to handle Charly, and Brenda was aghast at the idea of letting Charly stay with her and Fritz for the rest of the summer, the family dynamic was the answer. Brenda's bring your niece to work strategy actually was beneficial all around.

Brenda's nothing if not strategic. Taylor -- who was apologizing six ways from Sunday because he had accepted Russell's confession without questioning it -- really appreciated Brenda's strategy, especially at the end. While the D.A. watched Brenda get Dr. Milano to spew and worried about her Miranda rights, Taylor knew that Brenda was getting the widow to confess to the murder without ever asking her a question. It was a technicality, but a damn good one.

Not to be overlooked was Michael Arden as James, the son. He was called a disorganized schizophrenic, a former M.I.T. student who suffered from mental illness. He also suffered from living up to his father's expectations, so much so that he invented yet another confession. That meant halfway through the episode, Brenda had two confessions, but still didn't know how it was done. Although James said he used his sock to choke Dr. Keith, why weren't the clues adding up?

In her own disorganized, schizo way, Brenda figured it all out by going shopping. Mama's purse gave her the tip off. That and the crime scene photos.

There was something very wholesome about the ending. Brenda not only solved the case, but she'd reunited father and son, and managed to get Charly to say "thank you." Of course, Willy Ray's approval and appreciation of her daughter was as strategic as anything Brenda had done, because you just know that Charly's going to be spending more time with Brenda. Isn't that just what Willy Ray intended?