Crime Fiction’s Ten Greatest Bromances

As a genre, mystery is famous for its loners, guys like Jack Reacher, Monk and Lucas Davenport. But mysteries are also rife with bromances, all you have to do is look. What exactly is a bromance? The term is used to describe a non-sexual relationship between two men that are unusually close. In mystery, this can take the form of a traditional sidekick, a work colleague, or even a dog.

Here is my take on the top ten ten mystery bromances, in reverse order:

Number 10: Hercule Poirot and James Japp in the PBS Mystery! Series Poirot

Technically Poirot spends more time with Captain Hastings, but it is the unlikely evolution of his relationship with Scotland Yard’s Inspector Japp that is most impressive. The Brit and the Belgian are as different as two men can be, yet they develop a mutual respect and fondness for one another. Poirot invites Japp to stay at his house, and when Japp gives lectures about his career, he gives all the credit to Poirot. It’s a friendship of international detection perfection.

Man’s best friend bromance.

Number 9: Shaggy and Scooby in the Classic Cartoon: Scooby Doo, Where Are You!

This duo cannot be separated and although one is technically a dog and both are two dimensional. Shaggy and Scooby share interests, such as their intense love of food and running away from just about anything. Shaggy even eats dog treats (the so-called “Scooby snacks”) to be close to his friend, although some attribute this to other things.

Number 8: Shawn and Gus from the USA Network series, Psych

Best friends since childhood, Shawn and Gus have now teamed up to run a psychic detective agency where fun is often prioritized over the psychic crime solving. Although they are polar opposites, their mutual passion for anything from the 80s to quatros quesos dos fritos make them fabulous to watch.

Bromance under the sun

Number 7: Magnum and Higgins (and TC and Rick) from Magnum P.I.

Thomas Magnum and Jonathan Quail Higgins are yet another unlikely pair. One refined and formal focused on garden shows and club dinners, and the other into drinking beer with his buddies. (A bit like The Odd Couple, in fact!) But as many times as they argue, and as many times as Magnum gets on Higgins’ last nerve, their deep sense of right and wrong  binds this friendship together.

Number 6: Detectives Ryan and Esposito from ABC’s Castle

The romantic tension between Beckett and Castle might be the star of the show, but Kevin Ryan and Javier Esposito super sidekick bromance often steals it. This bromance even has its own fan fiction website. The friendship between this comedic duo will be seriously tested this season.

Baseball and bromance.

Number 5: Detectives Flynn and Provenza from The Closer

Flynn and Provenza were already late for the Dodger game when an unexpected dead body showed up in Provenza’s garage. The two decided to head to Dodger Stadium, and call in the murder after the game. Why waste skybox seats when the poor slob was already dead? This episode alone would land them in the top ten, but there’s so much more.

Number 4: Starsky and Hutch from the 70s TV series.

Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchenson, the well-read, deep thinker, and David Michael Starsky, the brash former Brooklynite, are tough guy opposites, but through car chases and crime fighting, they weren’t afraid to show their affection for one another. And then there was Huggy Bear.

Literary tough guy bromance.

Number 3: Elvis Cole and Joe Pike from the books by Robert Crais

Elvis Cole has Disney figurines on his desk and wears Hawaiian shirts, while Joe wears his sunglasses—all the time.  If you haven’t read this series, you’d be well-advised to start at the beginning with The Monkey’s Raincoat. Elvis is the protagonist in most of these books, but, trust me, if you ever get in trouble you want Joe Pike to back you up. The next book in this series is due out in January 2012 and Joe will get his second run as the star of the show when Elvis gets Taken.

Number 2: Spenser and Hawk from the TV show Spenser for Hire and the books by Robert B. Parker

Both the books by Robert B. Parker, and the old TV series Spenser for Hirestarring Robert Urich and Avery Brooks feature Spenser and Hawk as good friends who often draw the line between good and evil in different places. It’s a complicated friendship that often makes the thoughtful Spenser question his own behavior.

Number 1: Sherlock and Watson

 Sherlock and Watson portrayal is different, but this relationship is always a bromance, otherwise why would Watson spend so much chronicling their adventures and why would Sherlock allow him to tag along? They live, fight and detect together. Occasionally, they even allow their affection for one another to show through. It’s the fact that this bromance can last through so many different imaginings—the books, multiple TV series and multiple movies—that make it number one.

So there you have it, my take on the top ten mystery bromances of all time. Who did I miss? What’s your favorite mystery bromance?

This post original appeared on Criminal Element. 

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Major Crimes Returns Tonight

Major Crimes returns to TNT tonight to start a five episode mini-season ending March 14th. In this five series encapsulated story, we'll see a potential gang war exposing a corrupt past. Jason Gedrick joins the cast playing Lt. Tao's estranged police partner, a guy who was fired from the force because he perjured himself. That's about as far away from LT. Tao as you can get. 

This mini-season will also see the return of lawyer Peter Goldman (Curtis Armstrong) who you may remember prosecuted Brenda Leigh Johnson in The Closer when she took a gang member back to his house and he was killed shortly after he arrived. 

During the show hiatus, Ilona Arcari got a great story out of Greg LaVoi, costumer designer for The Closer and Major Crimes. It's all about the dress Kyra Sedgewick is wearing in the photo above. 

Greg LaVoi That red dress! Now there's a story!

Ilona Arcari I remember that this dress made it appearance in season 1. Would you share the red dress story with us Greg?

Greg LaVoi The red dress did make an appearance in Season 1...it was a very expensive dress and Warner Bros. own all the clothes bought for their shows. Having no idea that it would become an iconic dress for an iconic television character, when we wrapped Season 1 it was taken to WB as an asset. James Duff wrote the red dress into a scene ( how many seasons later Stacey K. Black) and since it was an iconic dress I rushed out to WB to find THE RED DRESS...no where to be found! Another show had rented it and not returned it...most likely. So I had to find the exact fabric and have my tailor re-create the dress in less than a week from continuity photos taken on set season 1. The color and white bands weren't exact, but, it's the effort that truly counted. From now on I keep every iconic piece till the show has shot its final episode...and Major Crimes is going strong!

Finally, James Duff will be on the Major Crimes Facebook page tonight at 9ET and 6PT to answer fans questions. 

You can find our past coverage of Major Crimes here. 

Major Crimes Co-Creator, James Duff, and Friends

James Duff, Detective Mike Berchem, Kathy Mazur, Jonathan Del Arco, Domani Johnson, Kendall Sherwood and Adam Belanoff

I had an amazing chance to talk with James Duff, the co-creator and head writer for TNT's Major Crimes (and The Closer) last week. He brought a few friends with him - Jonathan Del Arco (who plays Dr. Morales), Kathe Mazur (who plays DDA Hobbs), Detective Mike Berchem (a former detective who helps the writing team with plots and details), Damani Johnson, (the newest writer to join the Major Crimes team), Kendall Sherwood (who joined the team as an intern at the beginning of The Closer and now writes episodes - this is the only job she's ever had!) and Adam Belanoff (writer of many episodes, including the famous Flynn and Provenza leave a dead body to go to a Dodger game storyline. That episode is brilliant. Brilliant). 

This post is part one. Come back for Part Two on Monday, November 24th so you can more tidbits from James Duff and company, and we can also celebrate the return of the winter season of Major Crimes. 

James and the team was so genuinely excited to talk about the inner-workings of the show and share it with us. We had a pre-panel session with bloggers who loved the show. James had everyone sit in a circle so we could ask questions and get the answers about our favorite show. 

Jonathan Del Arco and Kathe Mazur

Jonathan Del Arco and Kathe Mazur played off one another and seem to be so comfortable. I'm thinking we need to figure out how to get more scenes with Dr. Morales and DDA Hobbs together. 

Jonathan says that the actors rarely go off script when filming because the show is a mystery, you can't mess with much, or you might unravel the puzzle. 

But that doesn't stop Jonathan from making the most of the fan favorite Dr. Morales. At one point James said that Jonathan is so good at doing eye-rolls, you can hear him making an eye roll from down the hall. I asked Jonathan if he can do an eye-roll on cue. He said he can and does. We'll have to get that on video next time...

Jonathan Del Arco and Kathe Mazur

Kathe Mazur's DDA Hobbs is a powerful character on the show in that her character is directly responsible for the shift from closing cases on The Closer to the art of the deal on Major Crimes. Hobbs even saved Brenda Leigh Johnson's job (played by Kyra Sedgwick) by making sure she got another job in her department after she frames Stroh with DNA with the help of Dr. Morales. (Dr. Morales only agrees after DDA Hobbs tells him it is only being used to get a confession and that it won't be used in court.  If you don't know what I am talking about, you need to go watch all of the episodes of The Closer. Start at the beginning. You'll be glad you did.) 

Duff said that the team had struggled to find the perfect actor to play a DDA character because there is so much terminology and you also need character development. Kathe delivers.

In addition to playing our favorite DDA (Duff admitted to us that Kathe was his favorite DDA too). Kathe also narrates audio books. She has narrated multiple mysteries and thrillers, including books from Tess Gerritsen and April Smith. 

Duff was generous with hints and  subtle spoilers, so stop reading if you want everything this season to be a surprise...

Philip Stroh

When we asked about the impending return of super villain Philip Stroh (played by Billy Burke), Duff said that this storyline will be resolved. But he also said that neither Sharon nor Rusty will like the resolution. 

Stroh is a smart man. He tells the police that three people will die and in return he wants immunity and to talk to the material witness - that's Rusty. Apparently according to California law, a person in Philip Stroh's situation has the right to face material witnesses, which means Rusty will have to sit down with Stroh. Of course, he doesn't want to do it, and Sharon isn't happy about it either. 

Sharon & Flynn

"Sharon and Flynn are friends," says James Duff. "Or are they?"

If you want to hear what else Duff said about "Shandy," you'll just have to watch the video below...

Here's a slightly blurry selfie with Damani Johnson and me. Duff said that Damani got the writing job on Major Crimes because he wrote a fabulous pilot script. Of course, I forgot to ask what the pilot was about. Was it the hoped for Jon Tenney (Fritz) spin off, SOB? Or is there something else in the hopper? 

Oh, missed opportunities. 

On Twitter, you can find Kathe Mazur @kathemazur, James Duff @JamesADuff and Jonathan Del Arco @jonathandelarco.

Don't forget that Major Crimes is back next Monday on TNT for nine sure-to-be fabulous episodes. We'll have the next installment of our meeting with the Major Crimes team, this Monday morning to celebrate the show's return, and our regular Major Crimes Facebook chat recap on Monday night.  

Til Death Do Us Part: TV’s Top Crime Fighting Couples

Crime  TV is full of crime fighting super-couples, but no two duos are exactly alike. Here are my all-time faves.

10. Brenda Leigh Johnson and Fritz Howard, The Closer
The only reason Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick) and Fritz (Jon Tenney) are at number ten on this list is because Brenda did most of the crime solving while Special Agent Fritz got her whatever she needed from the FBI—evidence, jurisdiction, the occasionally SWAT team. Now that Fritz is on Major Crimesand Brenda isn’t, we know he is still spending more time helping her do her job than doing his own, and that’s why we love him.

9. Chuck Bartowski and Sarah Walker, Chuck
Chuck (Zachary Levi) meets CIA agent Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) after a super computer is accidentally downloaded into his brain and she helps recruit him to join the CIA. His spy skills are lacking, but the super computer and Sarah’s superior abilities get them through many missions. Their complimentary work life buds into romance, which gets really complicated.

8. Lieutenant Colonel Sarah “Mac” MacKenzie and Lieutenant Harmon “Harm” Rabb, JAG

Both Mac (Catherine Bell) and Harm (David James Elliott) are lawyers in the Judge Advocate General’s office, and they investigate and litigate crimes committed by military personnel. It took ten seasons (between 1995 and 2005) and one broken engagement to get these two together. In the very last episode they agree to get married, but in order to do this, one of them must leave the military life. They decide the issue with a coin toss, and the show ends with the coin frozen in the air leaving us in limbo forever.

7. David Addison and Maddie Hayes, Moonlighting
After fashion model Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) loses all her money to her embezzler accountant, she focuses on the one business she has left—a detective agency run by David Addison (Bruce Willis). Of course David and the staff spend more time doing the limbo in the office than solving cases. Maddie attempts to change all of that and she and David wind up falling love. This late 1980s show lost audience after the pair actually got together and the romantic tension was gone, initiating what was known as the Moonlightingcurse. This is widely credited for the long-term stalling of any romantic involvement of main shows characters in TV today. Curse or no curse, the first four seasons of Moonlighting are worth watching (or re-watching) for the banter alone.

6. Remington Steele and Laura Holt, Remington Steele
It’s the late 1980s and hard-working Laura Holt (Stephanie Zimbalist) wants to start her own detective agency. She hangs out her shingle, but doesn’t get any clients, which she chalks up to her gender. So she invents a mysterious, male boss, Remington Steele (Pierce Brosnan) and all of a sudden clients start calling. But then a con man literally steps into the shoes of her imaginary boss. Over the seasons, they get to know one another and fall in love. The premise is archaic now, and I wonder if Laura had just done a bit more marketing on her own if she could have succeeded anyway, but as a couple they really clicked.

5. Sydney Bristow and Michael Vaughn, Alias
When Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) becomes a double agent for the CIA, Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan) is her handler. They can’t be seen together much less go out on a date. Mission after mission serves as their courtship, but the path to true spy love is never smooth. They survive a few kidnappings, Vaughn’s marriage to another double agent and the Rambaldi prophecy and so does their relationship.

4. Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, Hart to Hart
In this late 1970s/early 1980s TV show created by best-selling authorSidney Sheldon, Jonathan and Jennifer Hart have everything—a fabulous marriage, a fortune, a butler who does everything, and a dog-named Freeway. With all of that who wouldn’t spend their time hunting down murderers?

3. Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, The X-Files
Both FBI agents, Mulder (David Duchovny) believes in the paranormal, while his partner Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) is skeptical and down to earth. As they investigate unsolved cases with potential paranormal explanations, and they start to see the other’s point of view, their platonic relationship morphs into a more romantic one. This relationship continues to feed fan fiction.

2. Temperance “Bones” Brennan and Seeley Booth, Bones
Forensic anthropologist, Temperance Brennan and FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth, like many super crime fighting couples, don’t get along at first. But after six seasons of dating other people but spending most of the waking hours with one another, they are together. But it took a casual sexual encounter, resulting in a daughter, to make the commitment happen.

1.Richard Castle and Kate Beckett, Castle
Best-selling mystery writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) needs a muse for her new book based on a female New York City detective. Enter Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic). The sparks fly and they both resist for five seasons because dealing with death threats, bombs, and serial killers is easier than admitting their feelings for  each other…until this season. I was a little worried that once they got together, the show would be less interesting. That hasn’t proven the case. I still look forward to each and every episode. If you want to get caught up on previous Castle seasons, tune the dial to TNT. They are rerunning them regularly.

Who are your favorite crime fighting super-couples to watch?

This post originally appeared on Criminal Element. 

Major Crimes Summer Finale Chat with James Duff, Jonathan Del Arco and Phillip Keene

For the Major Crimes summer finale, show-creator James Duff held a Facebook chat and the recap is below. This week he was joined by Jonathan Del Arco who plays Dr. Morales and Phillip Keene who plays Buzz. Both actors are fan favorites. Jonathan Del Arco may be remembered by Star Trek fans as the Borg formerly known as Third of Five, who became "Hugh" in The Next Generation. 

Major Crimes will return November 25th to start a run of eight new shows. 

What are the top three things I learned:

1) Jonathan Del Arco (Dr. Morales) thinks he looks like Mickey Mouse in this episode...

2) The biggest challenge in the series is getting the details - medical, legal and technical stuff right.

3) Major Crimes has been renewed for a third season (Ok, maybe we didn't learn that here, we heard that last Friday). 

The chat recap is below. Unlike last week, I was only able to match one question and answer, so the majority below are just the answers. There were more than 100 questions before answers started posting. James Duff does a good job of including the question in his answers so it's understandable... 

Tyler H. Love the show, it's hilarious too! Do you guys ever have to stop to laugh?

James Duff Both Phillip and Jonathan are both stopping and laughing a lot. Especially when the dead bodies talk or start snoring in the morgue

James Duff @Audrey, we make up the gross storylines by asking ourselves what horrifies us and then making it worse.

James Duff Also, reality is worse than anything we do on television.

James Duff @Jonathan del Arco thinks he looks like Micky Mouse in this ep

James Duff @Nettie, the biggest challenge about filming this series is getting all the legal, medical and technical stuff right

James Duff @Jennifer B., and for everyone else asking questions about whether or not Rusty will get to stay with Sharon, I can't say...

James Duff @Brenda C., we don't see Rusty go out and od things like a normal teenager because he's a material witness in a murder trial, and he's had threats against him. He can't go anywhere without a police escort.

James Duff Not all eps will be dark.

James Duff @Kelly. this is a darker ep than we usually do. But we have to keep changing the tone. One of the mysteries we like to tell each week is HOW the story unreels.

James Duff @Shelby, some of the things to look forward to this winter according to Phillip and Jonathan are dead bodies, murder, scary Russian kids, murder in an RV and a great big New Year's celebration.

James Duff One of my favorite lines in the winter series is when Dr. Morales looks out of the morgue at Sharon, Sykes and Emma and asks, "What is this? Charlie's Angels?"

James Duff @Gracie, Phillp says his favorite part of being involved with Rusty, besides having more lines, is getting to show the more sensitives side of Buzz. Plus he loves to work with Graham.

James Duff @Gracie, Jonathan says he's willing to go deeper into the Doctor's personal life. But we will be seeing him in a different state come episode two of our winter series.

James Duff @Cathy, it is kind of creepy seeing the killer as he goes along, but now and then we have to break point of view to show this side of things.

James Duff @Vanessa, the bodies do effect Phillip and Jonathan both. Phillip always leaves thinking about how horrible murder is and Jonathan has nightmares. Also, Phillip sometimes looks around and thinks, "Hey, that's a good place to hide a body."

James Duff @ROJELIA, as to whether Rusty is gay or confused, I will only say he is seventeen. And that seventeen-year-old boys are usually still sorting out who they are.

James Duff @Fred, the piano music is Fur Elise, by Beethoven.

James Duff The actor playing the villain is pretty new to television but his name is Chris Wood. Get used to seeing his face. He's going to be around a while.

James Duff @Carrie, we picked Akron, Ohio for the hometown of the killer because we couldn't clear the name in Dayton.

James Duff @CJ, Phillip believes he thinks much more like a cop than he did before he started doing the show and Jonathan thinks he sometimes can see the killer's pov better than he used to. Doesn't mean he agrees with it!

James Duff @Kelly T, there were a lot of reasons why Rusty broke up with Kris, and I would hate to point to any one as the answer because I don't want to shorten his story either way.

If you want more, see what James Duff had to say in this post for TV Guide. 

Rewatching The Closer Series Finale: “The Last Word”

To mark the end of the second season of Major Crimes tonight, I thought we'd re-run the recap of the last episode of the show that gave Major Crimes it's birth...The Closer. So here is a recap of The Closer finale, "The Last Word." 

Thank yew...

The episode starts with sirens and an aerial view of Griffith Park. Brenda is driven up to the crime scene slowly and we see her squad members looking through the window of the van at her one by one. We know this is the beginning of the end.

The body of a 22-year-old senior at UCLA has been found—the third victim of a serial killer. She was raped, strangled, and buried naked with her purse. Lieutenant Tao determines that she may have been buried last night, but the grave was dug out days ago—there’s standing water in it from rain two nights earlier. The killer is smart.

As the squad searches for evidence amidst the foliage, we see a flash to nighttime where a middle-aged man is about to have sex with a teenage boy. While the two are discussing payment for services about to be performed and the teenage boy is pulling his pants down, they notice a man in black carrying a woman’s body. Not really what you want to see in a deserted park in the middle of the night.

The middle-aged man runs away, but the teenager can’t because his jeans are around his ankles. He falls down and a cell phone rings. He gets his pants on quickly and tries to turn off the cell phone, but the ringing and the light from the phone ensure that the man in black sees him. The man in black goes after the teenager with shovel. He hits him over the head with the shovel and throws him off a cliff, but not before the boy grabs the ski mask off the killer’s face.

The boy survives and still has the cell phone in his hand. He gets back to his car and calls 911. He doesn’t give his name and throws the phone away.

Back in the squad room, the team has recovered security camera footage of the third victim in a department store from earlier the day she was murdered. Although we can’t see the man’s face in the footage, Brenda knows he’s Philip Stroh.

Into the conference room we go with Pope, Raydor, Taylor, Brenda, and DDA Hobbs standing around watching the Stroh video. Pope doesn’t think it’s enough to nail Stroh. He’s worried about getting sued. Raydor says she will sign off on the investigation, which should protect them. Pope is still worried but they can proceed.

Brenda tells him that this is the result of him signing off on the Johnson rule, “We have to worry more about what the suspect will do to us that what we’re going to do to the suspect. You didn’t think of that, did you?”

The cell phone that made the 911 call is traced to the man in the woods, who helps them find the boy.

Fritz tells us that the serial killer now has a fourth victim. The fourth victim’s roommate told the police she was approached by a photographer in a department store who wanted to use her as a model. Just like the UCLA coed. The third victim’s rape kit comes back with no DNA to match. Our rapist killer is careful and smart. Hmmm. Just like Brenda, we know its Stroh, and Flynn agrees. Raydor tells them to go for a warrant even though the MO is different.

Flynn also wants to look at Stroh’s financial records and says no one will know because Gabriel is out of the room. He’s still mad because Gabriel didn’t transfer out. Provenza stands up for Gabriel and then makes a comment about Sanchez not being supportive. Taylor stops the argument, “Gabriel isn’t the suspect.” It’s clear that Gabriel can’t stay with Major Crimes.

Brenda interviews Rusty, the teenage boy. Sixteen years old, the boy was abandoned by his mother at the zoo. He spent his 16th birthday turning tricks. He says he was abused in foster care and will only cooperate if they pretend he is 18. Brenda agrees.

Since the team can’t arrest Stroh, they take a photo of Rusty which Tao doctors to make it look like it was taken the night of the murder. The photo runs with a transcript of the 911 call on the evening news.

We move to Fritzie and Brenda talking about a fifth victim and Fritz’s impending business trip to Washington to gather information on the case. Before he goes, he asks Brenda if she is sure the serial killer/rapist is Stroh. She’s sure. She also feels she has something in common with Rusty—both of them make their living from bad men and neither of their mothers are ever coming back. But Stroh will come back and she will have to deal with him.

Fritz asks Brenda where Stroh will come back to and she replies, “Where the bad men go.”

They set up the boy as a decoy back on the street and, sure enough, Stroh takes the bait shows up in a rental car. He approaches the boy and they arrest him.

Pope is annoyed because Brenda picked up Stroh without evidence, but Raydor is okay with what Brenda did.

Brenda hits the interview room with Stroh and shows him the video and the mask. She has a witness that saw him at the grave with the body. But Stroh is not worried. He knows she would have already arrested him for murder instead of soliciting a minor if she could. Besides he only stopped to talk to Rusty because he recognized him from the news programs and wanted to bring him in to help LAPD.

Brenda has to let him go and they walk him to the elevator. But the title of this episode, the last episode, is “The Last Word” and Stroh thinks he’s going to be the one who has it. He says that since Brenda has been keeping such good tabs on him, he wants to return the favor. As the elevator door opens he says he was sorry to hear about her mother.

That’s too much for Brenda. She jumps into the elevator alone with Stroh just as the doors close and begins to attack him. They get the elevator open and Pope gets to them first and drags Brenda away. Stroh’s face is bloody but his smile tells us he’s happy. Brenda’s hands are covered with blood.

Brenda tells Raydor that she knows she is now suspended pending an investigation. She takes her bloody hands to Medical Examiner Morales and asks him to plant the DNA on the mask. She tells him she’s probably going to be fired. He’s concerned, and rightly so, about planting evidence. DDA Hobbs tells him it’s part of the plan to get Stroh to freak out in the interview room that it won’t be used in court. Morales agrees and DDA Hobbs offers Brenda a new job as chief of the district attorney’s new bureau of investigation. The job is mostly administrative but she can get in the trenches when she wants to. Brenda knows she will need a new job. She asks if she can take someone with her. While she thinks about the job offer, she takes Rusty home with her so he will be safe.

DDA Hobbs calls Stroh and asks him to come in and voluntarily give a cheek swab. They found DNA on the mask. We don’t see Stroh’s response.

At home Rusty won’t cooperate further unless Brenda finds his mom. She doesn’t think there is time to do that right now, but promises she will. Rusty won’t be used by Brenda. He tells her that because he is dealing with bad people so much he feels like they are becoming part of him. We can tell from Brenda’s face that she is beginning to see his point, but she still needs his help to catch this killer.

Rusty reminds her that these women are dead and that she can’t help them anymore. It’s not even her job. She’s been fired.

Upset, she goes into the bathroom. Still talking to Rusty she notices that the window is open and the screen is inside the house. She keeps talking to Rusty even though she knows Stroh is in the house. Her gun is in her purse in the kitchen, so she grabs a curling iron. Stroh is holding a knife to Rusty’s neck. He knows Fritz is in DC and if he kills Rusty he can’t be a witness. Brenda tries to talk him into letting Rusty go, but we all know that’s not going to happen. She tells Rusty to relax and let his body go slack, then he flips away from Stroh and Brenda goes for the gun. Stroh gets her first and the fight begins. Stroh pins her to the ground, but she is able to reach for our absolutely very favorite fashion accessory on TV and shoots him through the bottom of her fabulous black handbag. That’s one way of making an accessory work with an outfit.

How will it end?

Stroh is on the ground and still alive. He wants Brenda to call an ambulance, but Rusty thinks she should kill him. It takes her about thirty seconds to decide against making the Baylor mistake again. She calls 911.

Pope, Taylor, and Captain Sharon Raydor are meeting in Pope’s office discussing the future of Major Crimes, and Brenda. She can be cleared of the shooting charges, but there is still the elevator attack. Taylor says they need to make a change if Major Crimes is to operate without liability issues. We don’t hear them offer the job to Raydor, but we all know what’s going on. Raydor objects and that’s when Pope hands Raydor a letter from Brenda, she starts to read it aloud and then we see Brenda finishing it as she reads it to the squad.

“I thank you all for the honor you bestowed on me that allowed me to run this division as deputy chief for the last seven years. Once I come back from Atlanta, I look forward to working with you all again as chief of the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation. Sincerely, Brenda Leigh Johnson.”

The squad is disappointed, but then Fritz points out this lets her leave the department by taking confessions not giving them. He suggests that they bring out her going away present.

She calls them one by one by their first names, except for Provenza, who she can only call Lieutenant Provenza and says the only gift she needs is their friendship.

The squad jokes that when Brenda leaves it would put Provenza in charge, but he’s not so sure—“I hear rumors.”

Brenda asks them to find Rusty’s mother, and promises they will see one another as we all have at one time or another knowing it won’t be the same. Tao brings out the present. They have replaced her black handbag and filled it full of Ding Dongs. And then we get our very last, “Thank yew. Thank yew so much.”

They ask if it looks okay, and she says, “It looks like love. That’s what it looks like.”

Walking to the elevator she plucks out a Ding Dong. Once in, she peels away the foil and takes a bite. She looks a little wistful before she smiles. Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson finishes the series by not only getting the last word but also the last bite of the Ding Dong. 

Well done Brenda. Well done Kyra. Well done TNT. This is the best series finale I have seen of a show I’ve loved in a long, long time. And now I am ready for the first episode of Major Crimes.

What did you think of this fitting finale?

This post originally appeared on Criminal Element. 

Major Crimes Writing Team Takes Over Facebook Chat

This week on the Major Crimes Facebook chat, show creator James Duff was joined by the writing team including: Adam Belanoff, Michael Alaimo, Jim Leonard, Ralph Gifford, Duppy Demetrius, Carson Moore and retired Detective Mike Berchem. 

Either this chat was a little slower, or I am getting faster because I was able to match quite a few questions with answers this week. 

What did we learn?

1) Next week is the summer finale and the show will come back for eight more episodes in the winter.

2) The writers aren’t ruling out a Sharon/Andy romance even though it would be complicated. Do we call that Flaydor? Or Rynn?

3)  Provenza is not going to retire any time soon.

Here’s the rundown (James Duff answers are preceded by his name. Questioner’s names were shortened so their Facebook IDs wouldn’t appear here.) Previous week's recaps can be found here.)

James Duff Hello all from the Writers Room at Major Crimes! We are also joined Adam Belanoff, who wrote tonight's episode!

DeborahL: How do you decide which ideas to turn into episodes?

James Duff @Deborah L: Carson Moore says we try to find the story that creates the most drama for our characters - one that gives them an emotional journey.

Bev: Excellent! Thank you writers, cast and crew for such a fine program!!! Are we set to know there will be a season 3?

James Duff @Bev: We all hope so! We're as excited about the next season as you are. We have plenty more ideas.

Linda: When will Rusty have to testify? Im looking forward to that show.

James Duff @Linda: Duppy Demetrius says he is a material witness in a murder trial - but there are several different outcomes for someone in his position...

Kelley: I also want to know about Rusty! Will he be alright? Will he still be able to stay with Sharon? When will she find out about the multiple threats? Love this show!

James Duff @Kelly: Michael Alaimo says you'll have to stay tuned to find out what happens with all those letters... He refuses to give it all away!

Meredith: Are you havin fun writing how Rusty is building relationships with the rest of major crimes? I'm so happy he's part of it!!!

James Duff @Meredith: Ralph Gifford says it's nice to have a kid's voice on the show. And his relationship with Sharon is fun to explore.

Jill: You seem to have a never ending supply of great talent! Last week we got to see some Hollywood legends; can we look forward to some more great guest appearances, and can you give some hints as to who might be appearing on Major Crimes?

James Duff @Jill: Jim Leonard says we have a very strong guest star coming in next week. You'll be hearing his name soon.

Michelle: How do the writers come up with the storylines? Are most from real life?

James Duff @Michelle E: Det. Mike Berchem says about 50% of the stories are based somewhat in his experience, although we alter them to relate them to our characters.

Noel: Yeah why do u guys keep switching the DAs?

James Duff @Noel: Duppy says there quite a few Deputy DAs in the DA's office. Not a single one of them could handle all of our cases.

Bonnie: I like how Andy and Sharon went as "friends" to his daughter's wedding. Any chance they will become more than friends in the upcoming season?

James Duff @Bonnie: The writers room says there's always a chance...

Stacey: Det. Berchem ... how did you become associated with the show???

James Duff @Stacey: Mike Berchem started 9 years ago, when our producers went down to the LAPD to ask for some expertise. Mike happened to be the person on hand. Now he writes episodes every season!

Rachel:  I saw the glasses thing coming a mile away. Why isn't he wearing them this week?

James Duff @Rachel: The writers say you have better vision than Provenza! He's not wearing them this week because he's not at the shooting range. And the glasses have been returned to evidence.

Amy Jo:  Provenza is my favorite character. He's not leaving any time soon, right?

James Duff @Amy Jo: Michael Alaimo says he'll be sticking around as long as possible, because when he retires, he has to split his pension with his wife. Also, we can never have enough of G.W. Bailey!

Answers without the questions: 

James Duff @Gracie: Jim Leonard says Rusty's story will be accelerating as Stroh's trial draws nearer.

James Duff @Marla: Carson Moore points out that, with all the threats against him, Rusty's life is pretty unpredictable.

James Duff @Amber G: Duppy says, on average, we've all been here for about 7 years. Some say it's been too long, some say it's flown by!

James Duff Adam Belanoff wants to hand some credit to Sheelin Choksey, who directed this episode! It's one of the best!

James Duff @Donan: Michael Alaimo says it looks like he could be heading that way, but it can be dangerous to mix personal and professional lives.

James Duff @Jan: Next week's episode will be our summer finale. Eight more coming in the winter!

Mystery lovers - don't forget to enter the giveaway below for EXPATS, a great thriller by Chris Pavone. 

Major Crimes Facebook Chat with James Duff and Tony Denison

This week’s Major Crime Facebook chat with creator/writer James Duff featuring Tony Denison. Tony plays one of my favorite Major Crimes/Closer characters, Andy Flynn. (You can read more about Tony and his on-screen off-screen pal, G.W. Bailey riding in the Bacchus parade at Mardi Gras here.) These are all James Duff's answers to questions asked by Facebook fans and because of the volume of comments it's pretty hard to match the questions to the answers. Luckily for us, James puts enough of the question in the answer, so you get the gist.
Of course, our real question is, "Will the Andy Flynn character be paired romantically with the character of Sharon Raydor?"

James Duff - Hey everyone. Here with the one and only Tony Denison! And ready to answer your questions. Hope you're watching it on television with us.

James Duff - @Courtney Gibson, Tony says the dynamic between him and Provenza is very much like what you see between action and cut in the script, with the difference being that he is slightly more funny in real life!

James Duff - Actually, I think Tony dresses better on the show than anyone else, and that Phillip (Buzz) dresses better than anyone else in real life!
James Duff - @Mara R., yes we have some things up our sleeve for Flynn. You're about to hear about one of them tonight!

James Duff - @Darrell M.,we're ready to do a season three. Right after we finish season two!
James Duff - A little sad that we only have eleven episodes this summer, but happy to be in your homes over the holidays, like we use to be.
James Duff - Melissa S@ Sharon not being promoted will again rear its head when the LAPD drops its promotion freeze. She may remind us she is waiting...

James Duff - @Scott K., we will have episodes this winter. Eight, which is three more than we usually do!

James Duff - @Roger B., next week I kind of lived the dream of having special actors. Never did I dream Tim Conway and Marion Ross and Ron Glass and Paul Dooley and Doris Roberts and Paul McCrane, all in one episode!

James Duff - Tony does get picked on. Absolutely. But it's because he loves the attention!
James Duff - Hi, Elizabeth E! We have hopes of bringing in Sharon's children this year, but no promises! Still lots of stories to break.
James Duff - Tony has done hardly anything but laugh tonight! He would fall in love with everyone who read with him.
James Duff - If you're watching, this is what happens when you misbehave in the squad room. You have to do a notification to a kid's parents. If nothing else will teach you to behave...

James Duff - @Stacey M., Tony says he's Sicilian, and that sort of says it all. I hate to agree, but I think I have to.

James Duff - I have been close friends with Tony for over twenty years, and I can tell you, he has a great sense of humor. And it is because people are always making jokes about him.

James Duff - @Julia S, Tony says the best sense of humor on set award would probably go to G.W., but that he deserves it because everyone picks on him!

James Duff - @Emanuel T., thanks so much for complimenting our episodes. I think working hard on them improves the chances they will be good. And we work REALLY REALLY hard. Also, we are extremely collaborative with each other. And Tony points out the actors are pretty good. And he's right!
James Duff - @Misty, Portions of Tony are very much like Flynn. Tony says it's hard to tell where he ends and FLynn begins
James Duff - But usually I like to cast actors. Just actors. Just very, very good actors. Hollywood is chock-a-block full of brilliant actors you've never heard of. Finding them and putting them on screen is a passion.

James Duff - @Linda Y. The actors don't get nervous when we use political events in a story line because we don't take political stands.

James Duff - It's not very often we get to play and write the same characters for such a long time. And Tony always finds amazing things. And it's worth every moment I've spent having to listen about Crime Story.

James Duff - @Gracie A, Tony says his work on The Closer and Major Crimes has taught him how enjoyable it is to spend so much time in one character, and continually explore where he and Flynn converge.

James Duff - @Rita W., Andy knew Sharon from when he was in Robbery/Homicide and her time in Internal Affairs (Professional Standards). Andy's file is very thick. Like Tony's head.
James Duff - @Teresa S., Tony should have a romantic interest. But it should take him by surprise. And while he would probably like nothing better than to audition all the people who want to play opposite him, I will not allow it!

James Duff - I'm about to be locked out for commenting too much, so Tony and I say thank you for jumping in with us and I'll be back next week for our special ep. Look! It's Lori Laughlin, one of my favorite actors on earth!

That's it for this week. You can read other Major Crimes Facebook chat recaps here.