Major Crimes - Skin Deep - Review: I Know Karate

When the episode starts with Provenza and Flynn I know I’m going to be chuckling a lot. I’m sure for many fans (me included) the added bonus was the focus on Andy and Sharon thinking about moving in together. I did a lot of bouncing and chuckling in this episode.

Andy drags Buzz and Provenza to gather film of the house he’s fallen in love with so that he can show Sharon and Rusty. During the tour they discover the body of the real estate agent, Heather S. Lutz, floating butt up in the pool. Yes, butt up. The Agent, who by all accounts was an evil bi**h is 10% fake. Boobs. Butt. Teeth. Cheek. Chin. Hair extensions and a few other bits and bobs. Sharon seemed to be having quite a bit of fun watching Andy squirm every time he made a gloriously chauvinistic comment about silicon.

Provenza once again proved to be an awesome best friend. He asks Andy if he really wants the house. When Andy says yes, Provenza sets out to scare away the 7 couples that made offers on the house and, after a rather hysterical television interview about the “doomed dwelling”, scares off all other home buyers in the Southland.

For once my biggest impediment to guessing the killer before all of the clues were presented was the sheer number of potential suspects. Let me see if I can remember her entire list of offences: she stole listings, undersold sellers while representing the buyer, slept with potential buyers, black mailed her black market plastic surgeon into giving her free surgery, was getting child support from two men for the same kid, and when one of those men lost the ability to get her free samples she conned him into believing the kid was not his.
The hardest thing for the Unit was to find their way through that crowd to the actual killer.

The visit to the “plastic surgeon” gave them their best information. Dr. Joon Yu turned out to be a Korean American named Joseph Yu with a marketing degree from a local college. (The marketing degree seems important because he, apparently, used it to “market” himself in to a successful career.) The joy of this sequence was something the show does extremely well; little bits of business that aren’t the main focus of a scene. “Dr.” Yu’s nurse, upon realizing the police are at the door, takes off running.

Provenza, who told us in season two (I think) that he doesn’t run, sends Buzz after her. As the scene focuses on Provenza, Flynn, and Tao in the background, Buzz and the Nurse tussle on the ground. You can hear her yelling for Buzz to stay away from her because she knows karate. Also, How funny were the looks on the surgical nurse and patient’s faces when Yu broke out his Californian accent?

During the first few seasons when they did these toned episodes, they tended to be at Provenza and Flynn’s expense. This episode tickled my funny bone just as hard, but at no character’s expense. Andy maintained his poise and composure as he approaches his hopeful new family about taking the next step. I loved his scene with Rusty. It made prefect sense for Rusty, a kid who was abandoned, to fear that this was the initial salvo in another man’s attempt to remove him as the obstacle between him (Andy) and his mother. Andy’s reassurance was kind and honest.

Speaking of Rusty, I loved him in this episode. No ridiculous superior tirades. His place in this episode was honest and rang true to the character. I also liked the moment when Rusty and Sharon were watching the episode. Sharon masterfully used the moment to give Rusty something to think about in his own life.

Can we have this writer handle Rusty’s subplots from here on out. This writer (Adam Belanoff [James Duff has a created by credit so if I’m reading correctly Belanoff is the sole screenwriter on the ep.]) had a really good feel for Rusty’s character that has been missing for me this season.

Baby Daddy # 2, Donald Irwin, a dentist who was convinced that Heather’s son was his because of the way his baby teeth came in, turns out to be the killer. Heather contacted his wife about selling the house as a blackmail threat to the doctor. Irwin claimed that he tossed the woman into the pool because, in his practice, when patients pass out he throws water in their faces. The pool was just more water than usual. Part of his plea- bargaining was agreeing to provide free dental work at Folsom State Prison.

Baby Daddy #1, turned out to actually be the daddy, a good thing, because he actually loved the kid and was more than willing to commit to raising him. Also the kid’s grandparents like him. Win-Win there.

The Raydor-Flynn family returned to look at the house. Everything was going okay until black mold was mentioned. Sharon couldn’t get out of there fast enough. I was bummed by that fact. It meant that all Provenza’s work was for naught. Also, truth be told, I really wanted to see this new family take the next step.

Buzz’ story took another step forward. Buzz spotted something in the security video of his family’s murders and asked Provenza to tell him if he was on the right track. Provenza noted that the cops in the 80s were overwhelmed with crack related crimes. He thinks these thieves were serial criminals and gathers all the related information the cops on the case should have pulled back in the day. The case is moving forward, but it will probably be a few more episodes before it’s solved.

I feel the need to award another MVP award. This time the award goes to Provenza for his efforts to remove the competition between Andy and the rest of Los Angeles. That “cops don’t like to call a house haunted” speech was brilliant. And every time Heather's phone rang I couldn't help but laugh.

I thoroughly enjoyed the episode. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

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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