Parents' Guide to

The Closer

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Riveting crime drama with a strong female lead.

TV Syndicated, TNT Drama 2005
The Closer Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 14+

Based on 5 parent reviews

George714
George714 Adult
October 14, 2020
age 15+

Best crime show

The Closer is the best crime show I have ever seen! It has great character development and interesting chemistry between the characters. There is crime and murder, of course, because that is what the show is about. But there is a great mix of mystery, humor, supense, action and romance. The closer is about the crimes they are investigating and the struggles and challenges of the characters' personal lives, somehow connected with the crime and how they grow personally as a result. The lead role, Brenda Leigh Johnson is one really tough and cunning female cop, yet she is a real basket case in some areas of her personal life. She gets lost in a new city, drives away with her espresso on the roof of her car, steps on her phone. She is a basket case when her boyfriend is moving in with her and her mother makes a surprise visit. But when it comes to solving a murder, she definitely shows the world that a woman can be a lot tougher than any man.
Jared Galczynski
Jared Galczynski Adult
May 12, 2014
age 14+

Closer to an AY MAYRA.

Closer to an AY MAYRA. There are a few bloody murder scenes involved, and one episode features a scene where the victim is shown stabbed, and her blood and gore then splashes into her pool, which will probably keep active watchers of like 11 away from the series forever.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 5 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (7):

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

TV Details

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