http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/07/17/The-Closer--The-Round-File.aspx 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. en-US Critics Rant info@criticsrant.com Subtext Version 1.9.4.0 http://www.criticsrant.com/images/default_gravatar_bullhorn.png http://www.criticsrant.com/archive/2007/07/17/The-Closer--The-Round-File.aspx 77 60