While having a quick glance at the TV listings the other day I noticed that new cop show The Closer was starting on five. Having just completed watching the whole first series which has just rapped in the States I thought I’d give it a quick review.

Staring Kyra Sedgwick (Born on the Forth of July, Phenomenon) the series follows Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson a CIA-trained, Atlanta detective who has been brought to Los Angeles to head up the Priority Murder Squad, a special unit of the LAPD that handles sensitive, high-profile murder cases.. Though Johnson has an unbeaten record for closing cases (hence the name) her quirky personality and hard-nosed approach to her job manages to piss a lot of people off, not Least of which is Robbery-Homicide Division’s Captain Taylor played by Robert Gossett (right)

Although things are tough for this woman in the predominantly male LAPD, Johnson manages to rise above not only the petty and petulant aggression of Capt. Taylor and his crony Detective Flynn and even criticism from her own squad to get the job done.

Boasting not only Sedgwick’s great performance, The Closer also has a fantastic supporting cast. Brenda’s chief ally and boss Will Pope (left) played by the great J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jamieson in Spider-Man) adds weight to the show and also levity through his conversations with Brenda, whom it is revealed had a messy affair back in Atlanta. Key Players in the Priory Homicide Squad are Det. Lt. Provenza (left) played by G.W. Bailey (most famous as Capt. Harris in Police Academy) and new comer Corey Reynolds who plays Brenda’s right hand man Sgt. Gabriel.

VERDICT
Despite great performances from the cast and from Sedgwick, Simmons and Bailey in particular The Closer just can’t compete with superior shows of the same genre. Lacking the grit and grime of The Shield, another cop show set in L.A., failing to acknowledge the extent of internal police politics can have on major cases, as shown in The Wire. At the moment The Closer is best viewed when no other shows are on, but, all it needs are a few minor tweaks to gain an extra star.