The Closer Episode Recap: "Good Faith"
This week as TNT's The Closer resumed its fourth season, Brenda inched closer to the altar, multiple-GSW victim Sanchez's fate was revealed, and the Major Crime Division dove into a suicide that stank of murder. On with the recap!
The Closer returned with a scene not filled with crimson blood, but bridal white, as Brenda Leigh sampled wedding gowns handed down from all manner of kin. Willie Rae, of course, was all smiles, but nothing seemed quite right for the non-blushing bride-to-be. (As she noted at one point, "Who designed this veil - the Taliban?")
We quickly learn that Brenda and Fritz's target wedding date is less than a month away, though they have yet to settle on a where, let alone a dress. And the cake? Pfft. At least that's some research Brenda can sink her teeth into! Or at least recruit Flynn & Co. to help out with. (Though I cannot endorse their "If you can eat it during an autopsy..." litmus test.)
Back at the office.... We are relieved to learn that Sanchez in fact survived that sniper shooting at the mall, though it took five surgeries to mend his body. But is he truly A-OK? Provenza seems a bit elusive when reminded of the doctors' notes/sign-offs needed to put Sanchez back on the streets,
The case at hand involved a suicide that the creepy coroner dude maintains is anything but. He presents his case to the MCD, and upon further investigation it is deduced there is no way this former drug addict/born-again guy could have shot his own head off. The suspects/persons of interest:
1. Pastor Hicks, the clergyman at whose makeshift church the deceased, Jeff, found salvation/new life. Jeff, though, also stole from the coffers.
2. Jeff's brother, the sole beneficiary of his insurance policy. And from whom Jeff repeatedly stole.
3. Beth, the girlfriend/would-be fiancée whose chemo treatments he helped pay for.
4. The nasty ex-wife who, though a big red herring, gave Amy Pietz much scenery to nibble on.
The working of this case was a little vanilla for me (series creator James Duff had said to expect more personal and a bit less procedural in these five episodes), though I enjoyed Tao's precise recreation of the blood spatter and body positioning. It was also fun to see Brenda play the meager secretary-type when the brother was in the interview room. One more funny moment: Flynn and Provenza swiftly pivoting when the pastor points out a sex addicts group meeting across the room.
The vic's girlfriend paints a sad little picture of how Jeff wanted to get married, but she wanted to beat the Big C first. The pastor falls under suspicion when the ends to which he went covering for Jeff seem too good to be true.
In the end, it's the missing engagement ring - one Beth hadn't yet accepted - that led to the killer. Following the money, the MCD realizes that Jeff sold the bauble to pay for Beth's meds, and then went to the doc to complain for stronger stuff. Thing is, the doc's receipts were fakes. Beth was pocketing all the money - Jeff's and other parishioners'! - donated to her cause. (Her cancer went benign long ago.)
Along the way, Brenda's dad, Clay, suffers a heart attack - the first one he has told her about - though he spins it positive that it happened while waiting for her (too long) at the station.
Speaking of docs, Brenda also learns that physically, Sanchez is fine, but psych has yet to greenlight him - and Provenza has covered for him due to him saving his life and all. Appreciating Provenza's position, Brenda makes no fuss.
Similarly, there is a happy ending in sight for Brenda and Fritz: Willie Ray decides on a hotel balcony ceremony, with just the four of them and Fritz's sister (upcoming guest star Amy Sedaris) in attendance. And that suits Brenda Leigh just fine!
Memorable lines and such:
* "Your father and I like to pretend that first marriage never happened."
* Brenda insisting on a "tour of very small chapels - tiny, tiny, tiny."
* Were those new spectacles for Commander Taylor?
* Provenza in the ersatz church: "Roller derby to me always seemed like the perfect preparation for marriage."
