THE CLOSER “To Serve With Love” Review

THE CLOSER “To Serve With Love” Season 7 Episode 3 – Here’s a surprise (well at this stage it shouldn’t be, but it’s something which always impresses me): this ‘hardcore’ police drama doubles as a really solid, quite funny comedy about doofus cops without becoming a caricature-though it does toe that fine line quite often.

This episode certainly filled that quota, bringing on Adam Arkin to play a corrupt criminal wanted by the law. When Provenza is offered $2000 to deliver a subpoena to this criminal in hiding, he, Buzz and Flynn inadvertently bring about the death of an imposter posing as the said criminal.

The episode was actually really funny, and proves that The Closer, despite its reputation, is a show which is actually quite skilled at genre bending, especially when the situations call for Provenza and Johnson to butt heads, which is a dynamic I always enjoy watching. Kyra Sedgewick also surprised me with her versatility, since I’ve never imagined her as a comic actress yet she delivered a few good lines and some even funnier expressions.

Sure, the episode was absolutely ridiculous. Watching Provenza and his cronies pack a wanted felon into a limo to avoid the FBI who were at the front door was particularly eye rolling worthy, but it was all done with just the right tone and cheek that the show managed to get away with it. I particularly liked the scene with the criminal’s family, his fourth wife and his daughter: “I’m not calling you mom, Shannon. You sat behind me in eighth grade French!”

Also, watching cops not take themselves too seriously, accepting bribes and moonlighting without feeling burdened by some sense of “patriotic duty” was a far more realistic approach to attitude of people who are so often portrayed as honourable robots. Of course in the end Provenza and co did the right thing, but we were bludgeoned over the head with their decision.

All in all, I really liked this episode of The Closer, which surprised me since I’m usually drawn to cop shows which are much darker and shadier.

What did you think of this episode? Sound off in the comments below.

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