The Closer: Till Death Do Us Part, Part 1

Just recently I voiced my concern that The Closer was becoming a bit too predictable with its storylines, teetering dangerously on the edge of becoming a full-fledged crime procedural. All those concerns were erased Monday night with the fantastic episode "Til Death Do Us Part," which saw Brenda unable to procure a confession from a suspect for the first time in the history of the series.

The episode began through the lens of Buzz's crime scene video camera. This style was used to great effect in the first episode of the season, "Homewrecker" and has been present in several episodes since. This week, the videotaped footage was used to seamlessly move us from the scene of the crime to the courtroom where the yet-to-be identified defendant was on trial. These types of transitions-- taking me from the courtroom to flashbacks to videotaped interrogations-- were expertly used throughout the episode, never becoming confusing or overdone. In fact, jumping back and forth between present day and the investigation was one of the best elements of "Til Death Do Us Part" because it gave me more to anticipate other than simply "whodunit?" I was glued to the set to see who was actually on trial, why Brenda couldn't get a confession and how she might fair on the witness stand after all the doubt that arose during the investigation.

As for that investigation, it was one of the best of the season, mostly due to the fact that there was never a clear indication that the victim was in fact murdered. After a Hollywood divorce lawyer was found drowned in his pool, Brenda and the squad took their time trying to determine if it was an accident, suicide or something more heinous. After finding a sedative in the victim's system, Brenda was convinced it was murder.

The focus of the investigation was turned to Jonathan Schafer, who was in the middle of divorce proceedings with the vic, and also owned a black BMW like the one witnessed at the crime scene.Brenda was convinced Schafer was the murderer, but the suspect gave a perfect alibi, stating he was on a fishing trip with his friend Topper Barnes the day of the apparent murder. But an exhaustive search for Barnes and his boat came up empty, convincing Brenda the whole alibi was a lie. Soon after, I'm told that hairs found in the suspect's BMW matched the dog hairs of the victim's pet. Adding some great suspense, Brenda was told this evidence, the only clear-cut evidence connecting Schafer to the murder, was inadmissible due to a technicality.

In the courtroom, the knowing defense attorney (played competently by Desperate Housewives' Steven Culp) backed Brenda into a corner and repeatedly attempted to have her admit the police had no evidence tying Schafer to the scene. Brenda refused to say "no" as that would be a lie, which opened the door to having the dog hair evidence admitted to the court. Whether or not this is a realistic scenario is probably debatable, but it provided this episode with a great twist. The case might have been closed at that point if not for another intriguing twist-- the arrival of mystery man Topper Barnes to support Schafer's alibi.

Adding to my enjoyment of the episode were some great ancillary moments provided by the always-superb supporting cast. Tao had a fun scene subtly mocking the far-too-serious Horatio Caine from CSI: Miami. Provenza also provided several chuckles, including his not-so-subtle flirtation with a buxom suspect. With Brenda's illness apparently no longer an issue, a new problem was introduced into her life. It was revealed (by former lover Pope no less) that non-drinking Fritz has lied to Brenda about two DUI's in his past. With a fraudulent alibi still to break, and new personal dramas to contend with while doing so, I'm very excited to see how The Closer will bring season three to a close.