 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Closer
- Syndicated, TNT
- Genre: Drama
Common Sense Media says
Riveting crime drama with a strong female lead.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this crime drama's main character is a strong, smart female in a complex role. That said, since the series is about murder investigations, dead bodies, blood, and intensely emotional interrogations are all shown frequently. Crimes sometimes involve drugs and other nefarious activity.
What's the story?
Kyra Sedgwick plays a bold, quirky police detective from Atlanta who heads up a special murder unit of the LAPD in this riveting crime drama. Like the outstanding British crime series Prime Suspect, starring Helen Mirren, THE CLOSER's cases are complicated, the dialogue fast-paced, and the working relationships tense -- all accompanied by a strong, complex female lead showing off her stellar detecting and interrogation skills. Sedgwick's Brenda Johnson is a pleasure to watch; she's full of ticks and traits: her battle with sugar, her indecision over settling down with her FBI beau (Jon Tenney), the Southern charm she turns on and off, and -- most importantly -- her apparent disregard for her coworkers' opinions of her. The show's title refers to Johnson's unfailing ability to extract confessions from difficult subjects and tie up sensitive cases with passion and precision.
Is it any good?
While Johnson's co-workers don't always like her, they can't help but admire her dedication to her work and her unequalled abilities. In one episode, for example, Johnson investigates the murder of a police detective and a notorious criminal. She walks through a sea of uniformed officers who are protesting her delayed removal of the detective's body from the crime scene and stands firm against intense pressure to skip important investigation steps in order to appease the angry crowd. She's clearly a force to be reckoned with, wrapped up in tiny, blond female form.
Johnson's boss/former lover, Assistant Police Chief Will Pope, is played by the crackly J.K. Simmons of Law & Order and Oz, who turns in a quality performance to back up Sedgwick. Johnson's co-workers are a welcome mix of ethnicities, though they're mostly male; other female characters are rare, sadly. Tension between Johnson and the one other female character in the squad, Detective Irene Daniels (Gina Ravera), while hardly different from the guarded relationship between Johnson and the rest of her staff, could tip toward female backbiting with a slight push.
Blood and dead bodies are not uncommon, and semi-graphic descriptions of crime and violence are peppered throughout the action.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the show's main character. What makes Johnson so interesting? How is she different from other characters on crime shows? What does her relationship with the other main female character say about female relationships, especially in the workplace? How does race play out in the drama -- is it even a factor?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
laugh, cry & be puzzled
Loved Kyra on the soap "Another World" &
in movies but this is her place, she does a terrific job. My hubby & I never miss an episode. The Closer has about everything, comedy, drama, mystery, adventure & everyday events that don't necessarily happen to all of us but could, like losing your cell phone, getting lost in a new town, etc.
Hope The Closer, with the same cast, last a long, long, long time. I love everyone on the team, they are great actors & really compliment each other.
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AGE
ok for some older teens
if you let your kids see this make sure they understand not to do any of the things on this movie except for kissing maybe
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AGE
Kyra Sedgwick is definetely The Closer!
This is a great drama. It's different than all the other law dramas out there (which I like too). It has great writing and great acting. The time flies when I watch it and I can't wait until the next episode. It has a great sense of humor too. It's just a greatly written show!
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AGE
Kira Sedgewick mixes crime with comedy
I said it wasn't good for kids my age because most kids aren't like me wit watching t.v.
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AGE
Quality, well-written, well-acted television.
Well written. Well acted. Great characters -- with flaw and foibles, so human and very interesting. Always has great dialogue and along with the inevitable deaths/murder solving -- ther is a good deal of situational humor. A great production worth watching.
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AGE
kyra sedgwick is a really powerful actress. it really shows in this show. the storyline is really interesting. im hooked and so are my parents.
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Kid, 9 years old
September 13, 2011
AGE
great, worth the not too bad advisories
Great show, worth the language, violence and drugs.
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| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Networks: | Syndicated, TNT |
| Cast: | J.K. Simmons, Jon Tenney, Kyra Sedgwick |
| Genre: | Drama |
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