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Sunday 27 May 2012

The Closer - 6.7: "Jump the Gun" Review


Major Crimes investigates bank robberies this time round and Fritz tells them the bank robbers are part of a gang the FBI is hunting. Fritz breaks the news he's the FBI/LAPD liaison. The short list for the position of Chief is announced.

Major Cases looks into the deaths of two bank robbers killed in a stand-off with police whilst robbing a bank and having killed a security guard in the process.   Hostage negotiator Det Heyward (Tom Verica) attempts to negotiate the release of the hostages, which they do release, but the robbers leave by another exit.   Fritz (Jon Tenney) thinks the gang has three more members since they all belonged to the 'Dear Jane' gang, as he explains to Brenda (Kyra Sedgwick).   They hand over the note to the bank teller asking for money, using the bank teller's name.   They were wearing hoods and one of them is described as 'brown overalls' aka Dennis Bailey, their normal MO is to wear baseball caps.   Gabriel (Corey Reynolds) and Sanchez (Raymund Cruz) find safes at one of the robber's apartments and leave them in Taylor's (Robert Gossett) cubicle.

Brenda along with the others watch the surveillance video, after which they view the footage from the bank.   The two robbers are Dennis and Jason McDonald.   A security guard is also killed.  Tao (Michael Paul Chan) and Buzz (Phillip P Keene) look at footage from the parking lot and Buzz notices the number plate of the getaway car in the reflection of another car.   Tao IDs the plate as belonging to Heyward.   Fritz deems it a suitable time to inform Brenda, Pope and Taylor that he has been appointed the FBI liaison to the LAPD, which is a shock to everyone, especially Brenda, who doesn't even congratulate him until Fritz mentions it.  

Didn't look like she wanted to work with him more than is necessary and you know what they say about working with family, at least Provenza (GW Bailey) will mention it later.   Pope thinks it a significance as she's running for Chief of Police and the shortlist is due to be announced soon.   Also that Fritz being appointed may have something to do with him knowing Brenda.   Fritz replies he knows Pope too, but can't really tell him anything about Pope's personal life when he asks.   Fritz wishes him luck anyway.

Heyward can't explain why his car was there since his wife was driving it to church.   Gabriel interrupts Brenda and Pope, informing he hasn't found Dennis but he has located his brother, Jed.  (Craig Zimmerman)  That was a coincidence everyone being in LA, small world.   When questioning Jed about his brother and his activities, Jed plays dumb or at least tries to and is shocked when he hears Dennis was killed during a bank robbery.   Though he does appear to be genuinely upset.   His neighbour, Gene (Mark Ankeny) asks if he's fine and he looked to be playing the too nosy neighbour.

At Dennis's apartment overalls are found, showing he kept his clothes from previous robberies, as well as money and a baseball cap.   Flynn (Tony Denison) comes across a receipt for a blue rental car with the license plate from Heyward's car.   Following up on this leads them to Boyd at the car rental place and he quietly makes a quick getaway in one of the cars.   Fritz comments, he made a good getaway.  

Tao is told that Heyward's wife reported the front number plate from the car as missing.   Fritz tells Brenda the FBI have Boyd as the driver but she wants him for murder.   He doesn't believe Boyd is the brains behind the robberies.   They argue over the case and one thing to look forward to are the blues between the couple, especially when it's about work.   Fritz thinks she's mad cos the only reason he's been promoted is her running for Chief and not cos he deserved it.   He leaves the room and she whispers, he stole her suspect., which he did but then they've been doing that enough times already anyway.

Heyward's alibi checks and Pope demands to know why he and his wife are still in custody, since his Union rep has been here.  She replies he's helping with their investigation and working overtime.   Gabriel finds a connection between Heyward and the gang: Jed and Heyward attend the same church and Jed and Jason were Frat brothers at college.   Brenda wants to search Boyd's apartment but needs a search warrant.  "Liaising" with Fritz over the phone, she searches for a choc bar in her candy drawer cos of her frustration and cunningly tells Fritz will be named as the witness in the warrant, and asks if he does want to be named as a witness or an informant, unless he answers some questions for her.   One gang member still alludes them and Provenza asks if the Heywards can leave.  He finds a choc bar for her.   She gives him candy for the Heywards.

Having had her question answered they find Gene doing a runner when he sees them, so he was the last member of the gang.  Jed's finances show he spends far more than he earns.   Gene confesses; which proves useful and Brenda needs to place Jed at the bank so out comes another ploy to fool him into confessing.   Jed denies he was there for the robbery but admits he checked the bank out and decided against it as there were too many exits.   Why did a bank have that many exits anyway?   He's arrested as an accomplice to murder as he admits he 'cased' the bank.   There he was trying to be clever again, they always fall for it. So much for being the criminal mastermind of the gang.

Fritz made a deal with Boyd who thinks he'll only be charged with being the getaway driver, but Brenda charges him with murder.  The FBI take Gene and charge him with the bank robberies.   Pope wants Brenda and him to salvage their relationship when this is all over and he receives a call telling him he's not on the shortlist, especially when he told Fritz earlier he worked his whole life for this and it comes as a major blow.   Brenda tries to be sympathetic, saying she doesn't even want the job, but he wants her to leave.   Brenda gets her own call informing her she is on the shortlist.

It's looking more and more like Brenda will be made Chief,. Can't help but think Fritz's appointment may have something to do with this since it seemed a little more than just a coincidence.   Everyone else seems to  think so too.   Pope argues with Brenda over this case and her running and she finally decides to have it out with him once and for all, when Gabriel interrupts their argument  which was a shame, as she clearly had plenty to say.

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