By Brandon Nolta

The best stories are never about what they seem. In the hands of talented actors and writers, even hoary old genres like police procedurals — Sophocles probably cranked out a few between tragedies — can take on new dimensions. That’s where this week’s episode of THE CLOSER goes — stretching beyond the poisoning angle to become an examination of how the elderly are treated in our society. There’s even a stray observation or two about the nature of loyalty, but don’t worry, this ain’t an AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL.
          
Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) gets called away from house-shopping with Fritz (Jon Tenney) on a Sunday to look into a report of an old guy (Orson Bean) pushing a dead guy down Hollywood Boulevard. When Provenza (G.W. Bailey) and Johnson start talking to the guy (the living one; this isn’t MEDIUM), who won’t give his name, he spins a story about friends and fellow residents of a particular residence for the elderly dying off from deliberate poisoning. Chief Johnson isn’t buying it at first, but the more she looks into the man, whose name is Donald Baxter, and his story, the more her spider-sense tingles that something isn’t kosher. Meanwhile, Sgt. Gabriel (Corey Reynolds) has returned from his suspension, but relations with Chief Johnson aren’t quite as unthawed as either of them would like.

Now, many shows like to incorporate relevant issues into their episodes now and then and crank out a “very special episode” (ah, one of the new standard clichés) that makes a point, usually with much sermonizing and enough sanctimony to give Pat Boone a woody. The best TV shows — and THE CLOSER is undoubtedly among this august group — take those issues and graft them organically into the story line. They make the issues real people face every day seem like true events instead of a screenwriter’s contrivance. 
          
So, what could have been a regular “oh, those poor old people” episode takes on extra weight as Provenza, who the department would love to see retire, recognizes the possibility that his future may look a lot like Baxter, a man who’s run out of “friends, money, and time” as another character puts it. The implied question of loyalty between family, exemplified by the ashes of five victims being stored in shoeboxes and coffee cans, is highlighted by the tension between Gabriel and Johnson, who can’t bring herself to look Gabriel in the eye for most of the episode. Finally, the handmaiden to abandonment — loneliness — is given a subtle but thorough outline in a conversation between Johnson and the owner of the house the chief offered to buy; when Brenda withdraws the offer, she gets a much different reaction than expected. (The question of whether or not A.A. attendees should be expected to completely give up drinking is one that viewers will have to answer for themselves.)
       
If we as TV viewers were lucky, this level of intelligence and involvement in the emotional lives of characters would be standard practice. Then again, cranky reviewers would likely have to find something else to whine about for money, so perhaps it’s just as well. In any case, we (I’m using the royal “we” here) can be grateful that the high standard set by the previous episodes continues to be met by Sedgwick, Bailey and the rest of THE CLOSER’s accomplished cast. I’m already looking forward to next week.