TVSquad

(S05E12) Kind of like the summer season finale for Burn Notice, it seemed like they saved the best for last with The Closer. There was an interesting case, a colorful new character to go nose to nose with Brenda, and an up tick in the action, including a chase that was top notch. Kudos to Kevin Bacon who directed the episode and brought it all together.

For a time, it looked like Brenda and Major Crimes were on the trail of a ninja. No, not a real ninja, but a guy dressed all in black who kind of looked like a ninja. He used a blade, albeit a knife, and he was a stone cold killer who showed no mercy and seemed to take pleasure in the kill.

Xander Berkeley nearly stole the episode with his performance as El Paso lawman, Detective Curt Landry. Landry was determined to bring the serial killer back to Texas where the death penalty is still in effect. Landry was as dogged an investigator as Brenda, and the sight of his office with the board marked up looked very much like Major Crimes when they're on a case. The way he insinuated himself into the pursuit was also Brenda-like.

The set piece that was really stellar was Sanchez' effort to stop the killer from getting away in a car carrier. There was a helicopter overhead watching the truck hurtling down the road and Sanchez was hanging on the side for dear life before getting into the cab and fighting with the driver. It reminded me of the James Bond movie License to Kill. Sanchez was crazy to do what he did, especially when he was getting pummeled with a club, but he was unrelenting.

Using the knowledge that Jessie, the killer, didn't want to die -- Brenda knew that because he tried to run -- Chief Johnson got him to confess to all 16 murders he'd committed. It was horrific to hear him talk about the pleasure he got from killing, and that was the point.

Landry then played his trump card, if we're to believe he knew how Brenda would react to the photos of the murdered women. Landry claimed, "I played that just right," when Brenda decided to give Jessie to Texas after all. I don't think he knew what she would do, and judging by the looks on the faces of Pope, Tao and Flynn, they weren't buying his line for an instance.

On the domestic front, the situation with Charlie came to a resolution. After the weeks of angst and disharmony, Charlie wanted to stay with Fritz and Brenda. Brenda was sympathetic, but Fritz had issues. For once, Brenda listened to her spouse, and even though it meant disappointing Charlie, she sent her niece back to Atlanta.