The Redemption of Captain Sharon Raydor

[freifraufischer]

So I watch a lot of crime proceedurals, but I've never been much of a fan of The Closer. There are many reasons, mostly having to do with my dislike of Kyra Segwick's character and what I percieved as behavior that wouldn't fly in a department as under the microscope as the LAPD

Comments

[imelda72]

Wow, this makes me really want to watch - I think I will check out McDonnell's spinoff when it comes out, even though I hate procedurals!

Thanks for this awesome post!!

[freifraufischer]

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend watching the current show... but I'm just liking that they're making someone who does the right things the hero for once.

[freifraufischer]

She's totally the "overly officious AI cop out to get you" at first. Except it's Mary McDonnell so she makes that watchable.

[oparu]

She's brilliant fun as an antagonist who turns into supportive voice-of-reason. (and she has a gnome, also a shotgun.)

[freifraufischer]

That Christmas episode is just about the most hilarious thing I've seen in ages. Especially as Sharon Raydor's very bad utterly rediculous day just gets worse and worse.

[pellucid]

Oh, interesting. I had some sense that she had guested on The Closer but have watched perhaps five minutes of that show (not consecutively) ever, so it wasn't anything I'd ever paid attention to. And I had thought it was just a 2-3 ep gig. I'm not sure I care quite enough to want to catch up on The Closer, but I'm very fascinated by a spinoff starring Mary McDonnell. When will that be airing? Like a year from now?

[freifraufischer]

I literaly just watched the episodes she was in. Thanks to itunes, but I doubt you'd need to do that for the new show.

It's supposed to start airing next summer. The Closer airs it's last season in two parts, the first of which is ending soon as a summer show, and than they'll air some episodes in the winter with Major Case staring in the summer probably paired with Rizzoli and Isles.

My guess is they're going to do something a bit like the Practice/Boston Legal, where there wasn't a clean break between the two but you didn't have to watch the practice to get into Boston Legal.

[oparu]

I love Raydor, (the Closer, Brenda Leigh (accent and all)) and I'm really happy to see Sharon celebrated.

The arc where Sharon supported Brenda for chief was especially enjoyable because it was a woman, advancing another woman, and they didn't like each other, but they respected each other. I can't think of another time I've seen that done so well (and to me, realistically) on TV.

[freifraufischer]

I can totally see liking Brenda, I just ... err.. don't.

I think what I like about the Sharon/Brenda Chief arc was that they didn't like each other. And that they didn't feel the need to be best friends in order to be allies.

I kind of love how the recent episodes they have become overt allies and Raydor is totally willing to go along with Brenda's game in order to protect her from Pope.

[oparu]

That's cool. I love Brenda and I'm fond of the whole show. It's possible other people could come in for Mary and feel that way.

I love Raydor being the one who's so good at the politics and seeing what's in front of her that Brenda isn't. It's a very complimentary relationship, even if they aren't friends.

[freifraufischer]

The discussion over the settlement offer I think is one of my favorites. She knows something is fishy, but doesn't know what, and knows Pope shouldn't be trusted in this matter. And is totally willing to say that to his face.

[starbuck92]

I don't really have an opinion on Kyra or her role in The Closer. I honestly started watching it because Mary was (originally) guest starring on it. Now I watch every week because she is a series regular.

I do enjoy the way that Sharon and Brenda have played off of each other. I love the conflict and the respect between the two characters, even if you can tell sometimes they don't like each other much - though I do think that has changed in the last couple of episodes. Not "like"... but something close.

I will most certainly be tuning in when Major Crimes begins airing next summer because a) I'm a Mary fan and I'll watch anything she does at least once and b) because I'm finding the character of Raydor more fascinating as the series progresses.

[freifraufischer]

I think at this point they do "like" each other but enjoy pretending to dislike each other for other's consumption.