So ends the first half of Major Crimes season 3. The venerable successor to The Closer has cemented itself as strong off-season fare through its wry wit, precise and thoughtful dialogue, as well as the continued growth of the family-like atmosphere of the Major Crimes division. Let's quickly talk about some character progressions that took place in order to pave the way to this midseason finale.
Rusty Beck, thrown in at the last minute (er, episode) of The Closer's final act, often grated me as a viewer in season 1. But there was a genuine reason that he was so untrusting and uncomfortable in his skin. He had been abandoned, abused, and was living a worst case scenario until he was found by Brenda Leigh in her pursuit of Phillip Stroh (Billy Burke). At the time, I felt he was a tacked-on character that was supposed to humanize Captain Sharon Raydor--Brenda's former antagonist--through the transition phase of the original show to its spin-off. I think I was right in my judgment, but I believe I failed to account for how well the characters could grow together.
By this season, Rusty is all but adopted by Sharon, which is something she is actively pursuing in order to help him into the next phase of his life. He's graduating from high school, he's chummy with Sharon's cohorts in the Major Crimes division, he's coming into his own as a person and a lot of great character moments are tied to Rusty's story this season. We continue to see Sharon's fierce maternal instincts in action as she deflects thinly-veiled accusations from her son Ricky, advances to undermine her authority by her (soon to be ex?) husband, and her tactful way of addressing Rusty's very prominent baggage on a daily basis. She and Rusty have such a mutually respectful relationship at this point, and it's a very nice payoff for all they've worked on since season 1.
Indeed, each character that spends time with Rusty's character is usually presented with opportunities to expand on their on characters' story, as it seems Rusty is a great catalyst for bringing out the best (and in some cases, the worst) in the people that come and go through the LAPD office. One of Major Crimes' strongest points involves the personal side of things for our crew of officers.
As for the police procedural aspect of the show, it can still be hit-or-miss at times. There's usually a handful of standalone episodes that are just fantastic from the title card to the credits, but then there's the rest of the season where finding out "whodunit" doesn't really distinguish itself from any other similar procedural.
There are some exceptions, of course. The addition of the "S.O.B."(Special Operations Bureau, not the other "S.O.B.") in the last 2-3 episodes has spiced things up well, even if their introduction and continued appearances have felt a bit forced. This episode was definitely one of the best of season 3. The S.O.B. came back in this episode in a relatively reduced role (mainly to have McGinnis and Fritz on hand for exposition, exposure for possibly expanded roles later this season?) and we got to meet a really awesome new officer who found herself a victim in the middle of a human trafficking system.
Let's take it from the top: Last week, Agent Fritz calmly approached Lieutenant Tao and plainly stated that he was having a heart attack. In the midst of his impending promotion, Brenda Leigh's new assignment, and the excitement surrounding the S.O.B. lately, he needed Tao to discreetly meet him (mid-heart attack!) at the car, and tell no one.
We started this episode with a sigh of relief with Fritz having a post-surgical check-up, (Colin Ferguson playing as his doctor!) where he's strongly urged to delay his return to work as he is pumped with blood thinners, and has to wear a protective vest just to keep himself from antagonizing his heart again. He, of course, plays it off and goes back to work anyway.
Meanwhile, Captain Raydor and crew find themselves in another predicament when an investigation into a missing woman reveals the victim to be undercover S.O.B. agent Officer Kate Sherman, who was taken from a local nightclub. McGinnis rips through the scene and attempts to take control of the situation, feeling personally responsible for letting Sherman get involved in the first place. However, she's quickly reprimanded by Chief Taylor in order to allow Captain Raydor to continue their investigation. In this difficult situation, the Chief definitely shows more competence and understanding than he did upon his promotion to Chief at the beginning of the series, when he was obviously politically-motivated and incredibly annoying to deal with.
Ann McGinnis is being pushed as a strong female archetype (played by The Walking Dead's Laurie Holden) but at this point her character could use some better material, as she's just too "tragic" and too amped up to root for. However, her S.O.B. Agent Kate Sherman proved herself in her introductory scenes this episode. Kidnapped in the middle of a nightclub to be sent south of the border into a slave trade, she rose to the occasion and not only fought her hardest, but also helped another victim escape (who unfortunately was later killed off-screen). Up until the end, she had some great fight scenes, a few believably vulnerable moments, but nothing too dour or hokey. I can't wait to see more from Ellen Wroe's Agent Sherman.
In the pursuit of the husband-and-wife veteranarian/kidnappers, Detective Sykes took lead and put down the man holding the women as prisoners in their facility, with a quick trigger finger. Sykes has grown a lot as well over the course of this show, from season 1's hotshot rookie to the calculated
The case of the week was riveting, if also conventional as far as a kidnapping procedural episode goes. But, there was another storm brewing this week. That's right, this was the week of Sharon Beck vs. Sharon Raydor. After seemingly having his mother finally out of his life, for some reason (stockholm syndrome? just plain wanting to be there for his mother? convenient writing? teenage stupidity?) Rusty visited his mother after her calling him from a jail cell. She immediately claimed it was a misunderstanding, not even drug related and that their reasons for detaining her were flat out lies to keep her there. Unfortunately for Rusty, he didn't catch the red flags raising up left and right with his mother passing around the blame for her detainment.
She said she needed $500 from him in order to make bail, because he has no idea how bad it is in the big house for his poor sweet mother. When he said he didn't have any money, (as a recent high school graduate with no job, how could he?) she immediately brought up the one thing that a true, loving mother would have left long behind--getting money through prostitution again. This is the same woman who verbally abused and abandoned him for his "condition" (read: his sexuality) and blamed him for all of her problems just a couple episodes before. The disdain I felt for that woman had venom frothing at the back of my throat. Both Graham Patrick Martin and Ever Carradine nail their scenes in this unsettling relationship they share on screen. Carradine is completely infuriating as Sharon Beck, the childish, manipulative, "put-upon mother figure" with absolutely no hold on reality at this point.
Thankfully, Rusty gets another dose of reality from Lieutenant Provenza as it's revealed that she was caught shoplifting and had drugs on her after all. Her story fell apart, and left Rusty in a bit of a bind for trying to help his mother out of her self-inflicted misery, as it became evident to him that she was in no position, (nor did she have any particular will) to change for the better.
But then, Provenza had Sharon watch the footage of Rusty and his mother's visit. Immediately, Sharon made her way to pay the sniveling mother a visit herself. The scene unfolded slowly as they smiled at each other: Sharon Beck's thin smile and Sharon Raydor's knowing tactful facade. They spoke about a "deal" where Captain Raydor slowly and deliberately explained that if she steps one foot out of line, one single infraction, Sharon Beck was going to remain in prison for a maximum sentence. Of course at this point, the pretense was broken and you could see the vulgar addict start to spit accusations and made-up reasons for why Captain Raydor was making a mistake: That she knew what was best for Rusty, she was his mother, and that Sharon would regret this decision.
The good captain smiled sincerely and reminded that woman who was on which side of the glass. She then proceeded to walk out.
It was immensely satisfying, and I'm waiting with bated breath for Major Crimes to return later this year. (This is my first stab at a Major Crimes review, and I will continue to cover the show regularly once it returns!)
What did you think of the midseason finale!?
Sound off in the comments section below!
