List of The Closer episodes

The Closer premiered on June 13, 2005 and concluded on August 13, 2012. Each season is organized around a central theme, which drives both the criminal plot and Brenda's personal storyline. The crime story expands on an element of the theme, and often parallels or mirrors events in Brenda's personal life.

The series concluded with its seventh season. That season contained 21 episodes, the final six of which transitioned the show into the continuation spin-off series, Major Crimes, with Mary McDonnell heading the cast as Captain Sharon Raydor.

Season 1 (2005)
Season 1 opens with the LAPD's new Priority Murder Squad (PMS), soon renamed the Priority Homicide Division (PHD), under the direction of Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson investigating the murder of a technological genius. Brenda has recently joined LAPD after a long career in law enforcement, including with the Atlanta and Washington, D.C., Police Departments. It is soon revealed that Brenda is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, was CIA-trained, and was recruited by her former married lover, Assistant Chief Will Pope. Brenda is resented as an outsider by much of the LAPD and seen as an adversary by Robbery-Homicide's Captain Taylor, who initially persuades her squad to request transfers en masse in an unsuccessful effort to force Brenda's resignation. Brenda soon wins over her assistant, Sgt. David Gabriel, and the grudging admiration of the team when she shows them why she is called a closer; but her battle is far from over. As the season progresses, Brenda struggles to establish her authority and earn the respect of her squad, despite the efforts of Taylor and Detective Lt. Andy Flynn to undermine her authority and hamper her investigations. Slowly, one-by-one, Brenda wins over her team; and, by season's end, she has earned the loyalty of them all, even the hard-boiled Det. Flynn, as they stand united against Capt. Taylor's final attempt to remove Brenda from the squad.

Season 2 (2006)
In Season 2, Brenda is now established as leader of Priority Homicide, with her team firmly behind her.

Season 4 (2008–09)
The theme for Season Four is power. Brenda and the Priority Homicide Division deal with the power of the media this season, when a Los Angeles Times reporter shadows them, but with an agenda all his own. The power of the legal system, and those who both use and abuse it are explored throughout the season, as is the power that gun violence exerts on lives. On the personal front, Brenda must confront the power plays that come as she and Fritz begin planning their wedding, with a bit of help from Clay and Willie Rae Johnson.

Unlike the previous three seasons, Season Four ran for 10 summer episodes, concluding September 15, 2008, and returned in January, 2009 with five additional episodes.

Season 5 (2009)
The theme for Season Five is change. Brenda must adapt to the changes that come, both as she begins a new life as a married woman, and when she loses her beloved Kitty, and later, she adopts a male cat named Joel. Also this season, the Priority Homicide Division must adjust to the loss of Det. Irene Daniels, as it settled into its new role as the Major Crimes Division (MCD). There's change in Lt. Provenza's life as well, when he becomes involved with a much-younger woman with some new ideas, much to Lt. Flynn's chagrin. Change isn't all good for Sgt. Gabriel, who pays the price for his role in Daniels' transfer. An officer-involved shooting brings a new figure into the lives of the MCD: the formidable Capt. Sharon Raydor of Force Investigation who is not at all impressed by Chief Johnson's approach to policing. Lt. Provenza's first name is revealed.

Season 6 (2010–11)
The theme for Season Six is attraction.

Season 7 (2011–12)
The theme for Season Seven is love and loss. Throughout the season, events are overshadowed by a lawsuit against Deputy Chief Johnson over the events that transpired with Turrell Baylor at the conclusion of last season's "War Zone" (Season 6, episode 8). This season is also the final season of the series before story moves to the continuation spin-off series, Major Crimes.