Major Crimes - N.S.F.W. - Review

I enjoyed this week’s episode primarily for the character stories. I am really curious about Buzz’ story. Which is kind of cool given the character started out mostly as a principle extra with few lines.

I suppose that the combination of finding out that his wife took it upon herself to stop taking her seizure medication and hitting off with that killer cop last season was, ultimately, good for Julio. We learned that he’s put himself back in the dating pool. Badly, but he’s there and that’s good.

This week’s victim is a detective named Drew Hudson. It looks as though he was selling drugs. Given this is “Major Crimes”, we all know the story isn’t going to be that simple. The house his body was found in is a film location rental house. I almost lost it when Flynn started scoffing at Tao when he informed everyone that “Badge of Justice” had used the location.

I am beginning to realize that these characters have become like comfortable family to me. My favorite elements of each episode are the way this unit treat each other like a family. The percentage of moments like Sykes congratulating Provenza on his new wife’s sensitivity training, or Provenza’s comment about getting to see how Sanchez dresses for a date has increased over the last few seasons, and I am loving it.

The big question about the murder victim this week is was he a bad cop or not. From Taylor’s perspective, the department needs to know how to handle the media in the wake of his death. Sanchez can verify that he wasn’t stoned the night he died. His impression was that Hudson was on a job. This impression is supported by the case information Sanchez finds in Hudson’s apartment. Hudson was still investigating the case the department had been forced to drop due to lack of evidence.

A smarmy creep, Bo McLaren, found a way to legalize his preference for barely legal women. Five minutes after they turn 18, he has sex with them on film. During the investigation they find that three of the young women he’d “worked with” died of drug overdoses. Raydor wants more information from the Coroner’s Office on these deaths. When they learn that they all died from the same drug cocktail and within a few days of their 18th birthdays. They now have four murders.

Turns out Hudson realized that these girls’ deaths were related to McLaren. He thought this was the opportunity to put McLaren away for drug dealing. He found a young woman, the third dead girl, who would be a CI for him and help put this guy away. This seems to be the one thing Hudson did wrong. He wasn’t a bad cop, just not smart enough to know when to get someone to cover his back.

The killer turns out to be McLaren’s producing partner, Lisa Cornell. She’d helped the girls deal with their “stage fright” by giving them a hit(?) of meth. When Hudson’s CI, Madeline, had a bad reaction to the drugs, she makes some statements that led to Cornell realizing she had talked to the police.

Cornell’s partner in acquiring the drugs was sent to kill Hudson while Cornell established her alibi on security cameras. Raydor, in all her devilish glory, manages to get McLaren to admit that he was aware the girls were on drugs. That’s all she needs to arrest him for rape. Apparently, while under the influence of meth, none of his “co-stars” were able to give informed consent, hence the rape charges.

Buzz is just getting started on his investigation. He’s having trouble getting a security videotape (VHS) to play. Actually the video player keeps spitting it out. Rusty suggests he go to Tao for help. Buzz, again, shows reluctance to ask anyone in the Major Crimes Unit for help.

I think he’s feeling that people think he’s wasting his time pursuing this case, so he’s trying to stay on the DL. But we get another of those moments I was referring to earlier. Buzz finally asks Tao for help. Not only does Tao agree, but Sanchez volunteers to see if he can borrow his mom’s VCR. It’s family. All Buzz had to do was ask.

It was kind of weird to hear Sharon B. refer to Rusty as “our son”. (Weird’s not the right word. I didn’t like it but after a few deep breaths I had to admit it was accurate.) She’s pregnant and too much of a coward to tell Rusty that she’s pregnant. She wants Sharon R. to do the heavy lifting for her. I must confess that my first reaction to this story element was ‘why bother?’

Rusty’s reaction was about as bad as expected. Given Sharon B.’s stellar record as a mother to him, he completely freaks out at the news. I can’t really blame him for not believing that she’s sober for good. There are a couple of red flags in their conversation like her saying he turned out okay, like she had anything to do with it. I cheered when Rusty pointed out how he got to where he is. Rusty suggests she give the baby up for adoption, and, personally, I think it’s good looking out for his baby sibling.

It feels like after the high tension level of the five part episodes that they’re taking a breather. I’m good with that. The murder case was interesting. Ultimately, I was more into the character stories than the who killed Hudson. Right now I’m more interested in how Buzz’ crime story plays out.

What about you guys? What did you think about the case? I’m curious to hear your thoughts on Sharon B.’s prospects as a new mother? Do you think she’ll be able to avoid repeating the mistakes she made with Rusty?

About the Author - Prpleight

Prpleight is a screenwriter and senior software engineer with solid geek cred. When not writing code, screenplays, or watching TV (sometimes she does all three at the same time), she uses her broadsword Bessie to battle evil. She's been a frequent contributor to the SpoilerTV discussion boards for several years now.

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