Anyone watching Major Crimes, the spin-off from The Closer? Mary McDonnell is great

[Tuesday Afternoon]

I've got to admit I will miss Kyra Sedgwick, but for the past couple of years Mary McDonnell has been honing and refining her character of Captain Sharon Raydor so that we are familiar with her. As Sedgwick left the LAPD, McDonnell was poised to take over.

I do love Captain Raydor, she stays in control no matter what, completely unlike Brenda Lee Johnson who occasionally liked to cowgirl it up and cut a few corners in the pursuit of justice. Cutting a few too many corners is what forced her to leave. Raydor will never cut corners, she's all about the rules.

Like Sedgwick this first season and probably for some time after that McDonnell will be gradually winning over, Tao, Flynn, Sanchez and Provenza,those who hold over from Brenda Lee's crew. Brenda Lee's crew took a long time to warm up to her and even though McDonnell rose from the ranks, the squad views her still as the woman who was investigating their methods from The Closer.

I'm not sure that bringing in Graham Patrick Martin a street kid who was a material witness to a murder left over from the last episode of The Closer is a good fit. Clearly he's brought in for two reasons, to get a younger audience watching the show and to develop a personal life for Captain Raydor. She's got two grown children and I'm sure they'll visit from time to time which will provide plots for future episodes.

I like what Mary McDonnell does with her character of Captain Raydor and I hope the show lasts.

more at link:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1936532/

[dsc]

1. I have been pleasantly surprised

while I do miss Kyra Sedgwick I find the replacement show close to a must see. I had wondered how they would deal with one of the big themes of the show where something in Brenda's personal life would give her the insight to figure out how to get the confession or even figure out the mystery. They seem to have simply abandoned that but still are able to drive the plots.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. yeah, that was an interesting way to drive the plotline. I miss Kyra, too. She was fantastic

and her personal storyline was interesting. I loved her relationships with Jon Tenney (husband), her kitty, her parents, her purse, her candy! she was a fabulous character.

The dialogue is so fast paced. so many twists and turns.

and don't you think the music they are using is spot on?

[ceile]

3. Agree about the kid.

I understand why they're leaving him on, but I find him to be a major distraction and pointless character.
Love the show and I think it's just going to get better.

[davidpdx]

4. I think so far Major Crimes has done pretty good

Rusty's stay on MC gives Cpt Raydor a more soft edge.