The Closer: Season 1: eps 1-3

Basic premise: Brenda Lee Johnson is a CIA-trained interrogator from Atlanta who is brought to L.A. to head up a unit of the police force specializing in high profile cases. The rest of the L.A.P.D. hates her because her department automatically has priority in all cases. Her department hates her because she has very very bad social skills when it comes to work. She doesn’t care about either.

I’m a bit iffy. Or at least, I’d be a bit iffy if I hadn’t already seen parts of some later episodes. While I like Brenda and her sidekick, Gabriel, most of the rest of her department are glorified extras so far, except for the one who’s aggressively politically incorrect so he can be put in his place. Her boss is a so unlikable that I’m appalled Brenda had a personal relationship with him a few years pre-series. I’m doing my best to write it off as a youthful indiscretion. The captain of regular homicide would be ok, except they tried to make sure we sided against him in the pilot by hinting that he was unethical so we’d root for Brenda in their conflict, and I don’t always respond well to such blatant narrative instructions.

Then there’re the crimes. So far, all three victims have been women, all murdered specifically because of sex, though for different sex-motivated reasons. Two were murdered by women who had been romantically betrayed. If I didn’t remember the resolutions of a few cases we watched at work (and that some of the rest of the cast seemed to have some development) and know that it wasn’t always like that, I might throw in the towel. Also, I’m not sure if it’s the narrative, or because we see it through Brenda’s eyes, but the two female killers have been portrayed very sympathetically (both were betrayed-one intentionally, one not) while the male murderer was portrayed as deserving what he got. I’m still somewhat undecided about that aspect, so far.

All that probably makes my opinion seem more negative than positive, but it really isn’t. Though the cases have been painfully predictable, including motivation, they have been interesting. While Brenda is abrasive on the job, it’s also made clear that she’s mostly amazingly blunt, and the worst only comes out when people are in her way, or not doing their jobs right, or she’s (always rightly, so far) designated them as being scum. Though cliché, they also take the edge off by having her be a slob, get lost easily, and apparently be fighting off an addiction to junk food. They also tend to portray her as cute and charming in spite of the abrasiveness, not because of it. Granted, it probably wouldn’t work with a different actress, but Kyra Sedgewick does it well.

Under the cut are the brief bits I typed up after I finished each ep. There’s some repetition, as I didn’t bother to change anything.

( clever cut text here )

The Closer: Season 1: eps 1-3

Basic premise: Brenda Lee Johnson is a CIA-trained interrogator from Atlanta who is brought to L.A. to head up a unit of the police force specializing in high profile cases. The rest of the L.A.P.D. hates her because her department automatically has priority in all cases. Her department hates her because she has very very bad social skills when it comes to work. She doesn’t care about either.

I’m a bit iffy. Or at least, I’d be a bit iffy if I hadn’t already seen parts of some later episodes. While I like Brenda and her sidekick, Gabriel, most of the rest of her department are glorified extras so far, except for the one who’s aggressively politically incorrect so he can be put in his place. Her boss is a so unlikable that I’m appalled Brenda had a personal relationship with him a few years pre-series. I’m doing my best to write it off as a youthful indiscretion. The captain of regular homicide would be ok, except they tried to make sure we sided against him in the pilot by hinting that he was unethical so we’d root for Brenda in their conflict, and I don’t always respond well to such blatant narrative instructions.

Then there’re the crimes. So far, all three victims have been women, all murdered specifically because of sex, though for different sex-motivated reasons. Two were murdered by women who had been romantically betrayed. If I didn’t remember the resolutions of a few cases we watched at work (and that some of the rest of the cast seemed to have some development) and know that it wasn’t always like that, I might throw in the towel. Also, I’m not sure if it’s the narrative, or because we see it through Brenda’s eyes, but the two female killers have been portrayed very sympathetically (both were betrayed-one intentionally, one not) while the male murderer was portrayed as deserving what he got. I’m still somewhat undecided about that aspect, so far.

All that probably makes my opinion seem more negative than positive, but it really isn’t. Though the cases have been painfully predictable, including motivation, they have been interesting. While Brenda is abrasive on the job, it’s also made clear that she’s mostly amazingly blunt, and the worst only comes out when people are in her way, or not doing their jobs right, or she’s (always rightly, so far) designated them as being scum. Though cliché, they also take the edge off by having her be a slob, get lost easily, and apparently be fighting off an addiction to junk food. They also tend to portray her as cute and charming in spite of the abrasiveness, not because of it. Granted, it probably wouldn’t work with a different actress, but Kyra Sedgewick does it well.

Under the cut are the brief bits I typed up after I finished each ep. There’s some repetition, as I didn’t bother to change anything.

( clever cut text here )

mild spoiler for The Luxe...

...which I am enjoying quite a bit, though I kinda dislike everyone but the sisters so far, and I declare the one Obvious Future Love Interest who has shown up to be unworthy, because he talks about how the goody-goody sister is boring, and is sneaking around with her best friend, who badmouths her behind her back.  He has much to do to prove himself.  Especially as he is kinda bratty.

BUT!!!

THERE IS THIS ISSUE WITH NAMES!!!

( very mild spoiler )

 

mild spoiler for The Luxe...

...which I am enjoying quite a bit, though I kinda dislike everyone but the sisters so far, and I declare the one Obvious Future Love Interest who has shown up to be unworthy, because he talks about how the goody-goody sister is boring, and is sneaking around with her best friend, who badmouths her behind her back.  He has much to do to prove himself.  Especially as he is kinda bratty.

BUT!!!

THERE IS THIS ISSUE WITH NAMES!!!

( very mild spoiler )

 

(no subject)

Today from bookcloseouts.com

Thank you, I have sent the further details to our technician as the
information I can view indicate the adjustment and only the technician can
view the settlement report.
I am sorry for any inconvenience.


Sincerely
Sandra JT
Customer Service Representative

I'm trying very, very hard not to view it as a brush off.  No really, I am. 

Also, Squeaker has decided that my toes are edible,  She only believes this when I am in bed and trying to sleep and some some reason, I tend to stick my toes out from under the covers.  If I take them back after being nipped, she starts burrowing under the covers to try to get them back.


 

(no subject)

Today from bookcloseouts.com

Thank you, I have sent the further details to our technician as the
information I can view indicate the adjustment and only the technician can
view the settlement report.
I am sorry for any inconvenience.


Sincerely
Sandra JT
Customer Service Representative

I'm trying very, very hard not to view it as a brush off.  No really, I am. 

Also, Squeaker has decided that my toes are edible,  She only believes this when I am in bed and trying to sleep and some some reason, I tend to stick my toes out from under the covers.  If I take them back after being nipped, she starts burrowing under the covers to try to get them back.


 

The Luxe by Anna Godberson

On October 4, 1899 all of New York’s high society turned out for the funeral of 18-year-old Elizabeth Holland, who died in a carriage accident only a few days before, her body swept away by the river. Notable things about the day are that it was originally meant to be Elizabeth’s wedding day to Henry Schoonmaker, a New York playboy, and that her younger sister, Diana, was scandalously late to the funeral.

Rewind the clock a few weeks, and Elizabeth is just returning from a year in Europe. Diana has gone from a flighty girl who has her head wrapped up in the adventures in books to a flighty girl who has her head wrapped up in the adventures in books who likes to steal kisses with young gentlemen as an adventure. Her lady’s maid, Lina, became jealous in the year she didn’t actually have to work. Her best friend, Penelope, has developed an even more spiteful, subtle tongue than she had before, and is having a secret affair. And Elizabeth herself is still desperately in love with Will Teller, the stableboy she’s loved since childhood. Elizabeth might have been happier if she’d just stayed in Paris.

Just to make things better, Mrs. Holland reveals that her husband left the family, well, rather broke. Appearances must be maintained, however, which means marrying Elizabeth off to someone rich, and quickly, so his family can rescue theirs. Fortunately for her, William Schoonmaker is thinking of entering politics and has to figure out what to do about his son, Henry. While a drunk, playboy son is a bad thing for a politician to have, a handsome young son married to well thought of young lady with excellent breeding is just perfect. The parents couldn’t be happier. The children couldn’t be more miserable. Not helping things is the fact that Henry is Penelope’s secret lover. Also not helping things is that Henry doesn’t think very much of Elizabeth, but is almost immediately smitten with Diana, and decides to steal a kiss before Diana finds out he’s her future brother-in-law. Diana, incidentally, is far less than pleased when she learns he did that right after proposing. And oh yes, Lina is in love with Will, too.

THE SCANDALS! All this in the first 100~ pages!

(And I am again surprised by the things people can get up to in YA! Clearly, I have been depriving myself all these years I wasn’t paying attention to the genre!)

( more )

The Luxe by Anna Godberson

On October 4, 1899 all of New York’s high society turned out for the funeral of 18-year-old Elizabeth Holland, who died in a carriage accident only a few days before, her body swept away by the river. Notable things about the day are that it was originally meant to be Elizabeth’s wedding day to Henry Schoonmaker, a New York playboy, and that her younger sister, Diana, was scandalously late to the funeral.

Rewind the clock a few weeks, and Elizabeth is just returning from a year in Europe. Diana has gone from a flighty girl who has her head wrapped up in the adventures in books to a flighty girl who has her head wrapped up in the adventures in books who likes to steal kisses with young gentlemen as an adventure. Her lady’s maid, Lina, became jealous in the year she didn’t actually have to work. Her best friend, Penelope, has developed an even more spiteful, subtle tongue than she had before, and is having a secret affair. And Elizabeth herself is still desperately in love with Will Teller, the stableboy she’s loved since childhood. Elizabeth might have been happier if she’d just stayed in Paris.

Just to make things better, Mrs. Holland reveals that her husband left the family, well, rather broke. Appearances must be maintained, however, which means marrying Elizabeth off to someone rich, and quickly, so his family can rescue theirs. Fortunately for her, William Schoonmaker is thinking of entering politics and has to figure out what to do about his son, Henry. While a drunk, playboy son is a bad thing for a politician to have, a handsome young son married to well thought of young lady with excellent breeding is just perfect. The parents couldn’t be happier. The children couldn’t be more miserable. Not helping things is the fact that Henry is Penelope’s secret lover. Also not helping things is that Henry doesn’t think very much of Elizabeth, but is almost immediately smitten with Diana, and decides to steal a kiss before Diana finds out he’s her future brother-in-law. Diana, incidentally, is far less than pleased when she learns he did that right after proposing. And oh yes, Lina is in love with Will, too.

THE SCANDALS! All this in the first 100~ pages!

(And I am again surprised by the things people can get up to in YA! Clearly, I have been depriving myself all these years I wasn’t paying attention to the genre!)

( more )

Angel Sanctuary Vol 3

I'm sorry, I gave up on anything but reactions about 5 pages in.

( spoilers have bizarre sibling complexes )

And I think the next volume should bethe last of what I read before.

(hey, what’s with the “god’s child” and “July X, 1999” namedropping, here?) 

I demand scenes with Kurai and Raziel for the lethal  levels of wee!temperamental!cuteness.  Possibly literally lethal.

And I should find myself Kira and Kurai icons.
 

Angel Sanctuary Vol 3

I'm sorry, I gave up on anything but reactions about 5 pages in.

( spoilers have bizarre sibling complexes )

And I think the next volume should bethe last of what I read before.

(hey, what’s with the “god’s child” and “July X, 1999” namedropping, here?) 

I demand scenes with Kurai and Raziel for the lethal  levels of wee!temperamental!cuteness.  Possibly literally lethal.

And I should find myself Kira and Kurai icons.
 

*stares at book*

 Please, I beg of you, STOP WITH EVERYONE STANDING AROUND AND CHATTING POLITICS!!! MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN!!!

(Seriously, I love politics, but there needs to be something to go with them!)

*stares at book*

 Please, I beg of you, STOP WITH EVERYONE STANDING AROUND AND CHATTING POLITICS!!! MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN!!!

(Seriously, I love politics, but there needs to be something to go with them!)