Major Crimes 3 Homebase

[congo]

Well hello there! You've reached the

MAJOR CRIMES SEASON 3 HOMEBASE POST!



Welcome back, or welcome newbie, make yourselves comfortable. If you're not sure why you're here because you don't watch the show, go get started immediately. If you're not sure you should, go look at this primer and then get started immediately. Because season three is where we're at right now! A smashing nineteen episodes! YAY YAY YAY! Go forth and flail!

(PSA: I can't actually watch the episodes until Tuesday morning (GMT) but I'll definitely be around after.)

Oh, and stealing from Tash, if you click the on this post, you'll get emails whenever there's a new comment on this post!

SPOILERS IN THE COMMENTS, OBVIOUSLY.

THE SEASON FOUR POST IS RIGHT HERE FOR ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED.

Comments

General Comments

[congo]

Questions, complaints, etc. go here. :)

3x01 Flight Risk

[congo]

"When a father and his two young children go missing, the squad has to work quickly to find them, while uncovering a slew of terrible family secrets along the way. Meanwhile, Raydor does her best to trust Rusty as he begins to take suspicious trips out on his own."

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Re: 3x01 Flight Risk

[quarantedeux]

Awesome start to the season!

This episode had a little bit of everything I love about this franchise, which is a great thing for a premiere.

As far as the case of the week, it was rough in the best possible way. When the guys found the suitcases...their reactions were heartbreaking. I thought Tao was going to cry, in which case I would have totally lost it. Julio coming unhinged, he and Provenza staring down the killer, the plot twist with the cousin, all of it was so well done. And Sharon's reaction to the wife's uninvolvement, knowing that she'd withheld the fact that the kids were dead...yikes. TPTB kicked it right off with an intense one, for sure.

(Sharon and Andy, setting everything else aside, make such an entertaining interrogation tag team. They're like the ultimate bad cop/bad cop scenario. Just relentless.)

Rusty's situation is bound to bring the feels in the coming episodes. I'm already a bit scared of what his mom will do. After ditching him in the middle of LA to fend for himself, she is the ultimate loose cannon. In the previews for next week, it seems like Sharon (*our* Sharon, that is) is taking it pretty well, but I think we all know that isn't really the case? Obviously there are legal issues to take into account, but it's the emotional ties that will get really messy.

And then...then there are Sharon and Andy. First of all, TPTB are still pushing the visual affinity pretty hard (such purple, very matching, much adorable) which I appreciate thoroughly. Secondly, they are adorable and I have no complaints. Provenza, however, is gonna throw so much shade their way ("I agree with the Captain."/"What a shock.") and that's half the fun. Andy's whole "you've been there for me a lot lately" was a) touching b) straightforward in kind of a surprising way c) maybe implies that there have been further developments since the whole Nutcracker thing. It was very generous of him to offer to take the notification, given the circumstances, but I liked that Sharon didn't let him do it. And, of course, "I'll wait, in case you need me." Mhmm. Good times.

That's all of the deep thoughts I have for tonight. All in all, I'd say it was a solid A episode.

Re: 3x01 Flight Risk

[timetobegin]

omg my babiessssssssss

firstly, NOOOOO so sad. When they opened the suitcases i was just like NOPE so much nope. Poor lady.

Provenzaaaaaaa
Sykessssssssss

3x02 Personal Day

[congo]

"Shorty after being released from prison, a man who proclaimed his innocence is found murdered. The victim’s case is reopened and the squad works hard to solve a seventeen-year old murder. To the surprise of Raydor, Rusty confesses the reason behind his recent suspicious activity."

Re: 3x02 Personal Day

[rosabelle]

I loved a lot of things about this episode that I'll probably be back to talk about later, but: "There's got to be something in all of this for you." "There is."

Just. God. I love how much they love each other.

Also: "A shadowy figure that's five-ten could be me." "If you were five-ten."

Re: 3x02 Personal Day

[quarantedeux]

The case wasn't as intense this week, which is probably a good thing, though it wasn't low-key by any means (that appears to be next week). It was interesting that they didn't even have a body until well into the episode.

It's nice to have a Julio-centric episode, since it's been quite a while since the last one. Something's going on with him. It seemed that his emotional state from the last episode set the stage for this week, where the case was so much more personal for him. He does tend to wear his emotions on his sleeve when he's upset, but he doesn't have outbursts often. Now that he's gotten in the face of a suspect two cases in a row, Sharon seems (rightly) to be losing patience with him, in a way I don't think Brenda ever did.

The whole situation with Rusty's mom was about as awkward/feelings-making as I expected it to be based on the previews. It's pretty obvious that Sharon doesn't trust her, even as she's trying to be welcoming, and I liked how she called out straight away that the rehab program was more likely to be court-ordered than voluntary. Our Sharon is playing it even and logical (just as one would expect), encouraging Rusty to reach out while being realistic about his mother's condition. It'll be interesting to see her continue to walk that line when, like Provenza, she clearly doesn't feel good about the situation.

I think what affected me the most this episode was the notion that Rusty has grown up believing that he's this huge burden on everyone. This came across not only in his behavior with Sharon (his apparently repeated insistence that he'd like to pay her back somehow) but also his mother's need to "apologize" to Sharon for having to raise her son (the implication, to me, being that raising him is such a drag that it warrants an apology -- otherwise wouldn't gratitude be sufficient?). He's still a kid! That's all he's ever been, and kids are meant to be a burden! That's how it works!

This is all beyond the fact that a) her apology seemed to be less than genuine and b) she was picked up in LA County (possibly within LA proper, even) and never tried to look for Rusty until she was more-or-less forced into rehab. If she had, I would assume the division would have picked up on that pretty quickly since they'd been looking for her (and even had a want issued for her, I think?). Yeah, not buying her conversion at all.

When Rusty asked Sharon if she knew what enabling meant, her "oh yeah" reaction was pretty telling. As much as I'd like to know the story there, I also kind of don't. It seems like every piece of information we get about her marriage is a little worse than what we knew before.

No big action on the OTP front, but lots of little things that make me go "mhmmm", most notably the way that Andy watched Sharon really carefully after she mentioned Rusty's mom on the phone. Concerned much, Andrew?

3x03 Frozen Assets

[congo]

"The Major Crimes division faces a new challenge as they work to solve the murder of a dog that was left a 20 million dollar estate by his deceased owner. With the help of wannabe detective Jonathan Baird, aka Dick Tracy, the case takes a new turn as the squad begins to suspect foul play in the death of the dog’s owner, a wealthy heiress."

Re: 3x03 Frozen Assets

[rosabelle]

I really really want Flynn and Provenza to take Rusty out more often. Their interactions are comedy gold, and Rusty's reaction to learning Provenza's first name was priceless.

I also really really want Sharon to go undercover again because I about died. The voice! The laugh! THE OUTFIT.

3x04 Letting It Go

[congo]

"The violent murder of an alleged rapist gives the squad the emotional task of questioning possible suspects. Meanwhile, Rusty begins to question his mother’s motives as he catches her in a lie."

Re: 3x04 Letting It Go

[congo]

Super excited for this!! \o/

3x05 Do Not Disturb

[congo]

"When a foreigner is found murdered inside his hotel room, the squad must work quickly to find the killer while avoiding any international repercussions when a U.S. diplomat becomes involved in the case. While everyone is busy with the case, Rusty tries to figure out how to share a big secret with the squad."

Re: 3x05 Do Not Disturb

[rosabelle]

I sort of want Rusty to narrate all the episodes from now on, because he was cracking me up.

Lena's father. JFC. I can't believe Sharon actually had to tell Fritz that if he didn't do something, she would.

I don't like the way Cooper treated Amy at all, and I would like for her to dump him immediately and find someone more appreciative of her.

That last scene. ♥ Rusty found the best family, in the end.

3x06 Jane Doe #38

[congo]

"After finding a young runaway murdered and thrown in a trashcan, the Major Crimes unit is led on a long, puzzling hunt to find the deceased girl’s killer and her identity. Meanwhile Raydor consults her husband about a big proposition she has for Rusty."

Re: 3x06 Jane Doe #38

[congo]

already throws up feelings about this episode

3x07 Two Options

[congo]

I couldn't find a summary for this episode, but I'm sure it'll be great.

Re: 3x07 Two Options

[congo]

I would like to thank my internet provider for fixing my internet just in time for this episode, and to thank uni for letting me start my summer break today. \o/

I AM SO DAMN EXCITED!

3x08 Cutting Loose

[congo]

so sorry for being late

"Lt. Mike Tao of Major Crimes finds himself doing double duty when the star of the cop show on which he moonlights as a consultant becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his biggest fan."

Re: 3x08 Cutting Loose

[congo]

ABOUT TO WATCH THIS AND IT SOUNDS AWESOME. And Roxann Dawson is directing! \o/

3x09 Sweet Revenge

[congo]

"The mysterious murder of a tech-entrepreneur with questionable morals and possible mob connections has the Major Crimes division working overtime. Meanwhile, Rusty struggles to feel accepted when Raydor’s son Ricky comes home to visit and Fritz Howard prepares to assume command of the LAPD’s Special Operations Bureau."

3x10 Zoo Story

[congo]

"The LAPD finds itself in a precarious situation during an investigation into the disappearances of a string of young girls from a popular nightclub, leading to a turf battle between The Major Crimes division and the Special Operations Bureau. Fritz Howard remains on the mend from poor health, while Rusty’s mom continues to struggle with the law and her sobriety."

aaaah sorry i'm late (again), but i had some family business that left me exhausted last night.

Re: 3x10 Zoo Story

[rosabelle]

I'm on my way to work, but briefly:

Sharon Beck is the actual worst. I had to pause in the middle of that scene and walk away to calm down.

We ended on a nice reminder that Sharon Raydor is not someone you want angry at you, and that the most effective way to make Sharon Raydor angry at you is to fuck with one of her children.

3x11 Down the Drain

[congo]

"People are left searching for answers when a surrogate adoption gets complicated and someone is left dead. The unit has to explore LA's underground water system. Sharon wants to make Rusty part of her family, but struggles to tell his birth mother about the adoption plans."

Re: 3x11 Down the Drain

[congo]

WHO WAS CRYING WHEN THE ADOPTION WENT THROUGH? just me? okay then.

i completely forgot we were back already. wheeee!

3x12 Party Foul

[congo]

"A raucous teen party ends with two people been brutally attacked with a pair of scissors. The Major Crime unit soon find that they have their hands full picking out who committed the crime. Provenza meets someone who could change his life."

Re: 3x12 Party Foul

[congo]

I dunno when I'll be able to watch this, but I am so exciiiited! HAVE FUN, GUYS!

3x13 Acting Out

[congo]

"A former child star is found dead on skid row, halting a Hollywood comeback. The director of the movie and the acts manager are the prime suspects as the investigation gets underway. Flynn's daughter visits and highlights the true nature of the relationship between father and daughter."

Re: 3x13 Acting Out

[congo]

The best part about being sick is that I got to watch this episode straight out of bed instead of having to go to work.

And what an episode it was. I guess it's safe to say that our ship is officially canon, no? :D

Not dating, ahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

3x14 Trial by Fire

[congo]

"A gang banger is acquitted of murder and is then released from custody, leads to a murder case with a miscarriage of justice. Jack returns, representing the suspect in the murder. Whilst Rusty takes a chance on the guy he has a crush on."

Re: 3x14 Trial by Fire

[quarantedeux]

I'll have more thoughts later (natch), but what's the over-under on Andy and Jack getting into a fistfight before the season ends?

3x15 Chain Reaction

[congo]

"A Santa flash mob complicates apprehending a criminal Santa bank robber, leading the team to try and work out how the operation went so wrong. Sharon is visited for the holidays by her children, as Buzz begins his training."

Re: 3x15 Chain Reaction

[quarantedeux]

Oh yes, I have feels to catch up on.

JEANS + BOOTS + LEATHER JACKET + RED SHIRT + AWESOME HAIR = GOOD LAWD

I was so touched by Ricky's enthusiasm for Christmas (including the decoration rant that included, "That looks like a guilt cookie," because lmaooo), until he and Emily conceded that it's a show they put on for their mom. Like.....oh. That's a downer. Once again, you have this parallel with parents and children and truthfulness. Honesty between Sharon and Rusty has been a constant, and Rusty's behavior in the episode demonstrated how seriously he takes that, I think.

The part with Emily dancing. I feel bad, but I was sitting there like, "this adds nothing to the story, this is wasting precious story time, yo!" She's a ballerina, we get it. And her subsequent conversation with Rusty fell kind of flat.

It seemed to be kind of dropped in out of nowhere that Jack had been in AA. So that this was The Secret was very out of the blue. Like, yes, one of the first things Sharon said about him was that he has a drinking problem, but that doesn't automatically mean that he was in AA. It could mean "he had, has, and will probably continue to have problems with drinking, without remorse or recognition", which is what I'd actually assumed. I guess I'd also always assumed that his addiction issues (drinking and gambling both) were a big reason why he moved to Vegas, so that he could pursue all of that without Sharon (and possibly the kids, depending on how old they were at the time) knowing just how far in he was getting.

And while I can completely see Sharon throwing down the gauntlet on "stay sober or never see your kids again," doesn't it kind of seem like she already played that option once? After all, when Jack first showed up, it was made clear that he hadn't really been in touch with his kids for years. And I'm not sure how Sharon would have ever been able to monitor Jack's sobriety from a distance, so...IDK.

Also, this just made me feel like TPTB are over-drawing the parallels a little bit, if you know what I mean.

All of that being said, Jack having wine bottles in the trash =/= Jack is definitely drinking again. The kids might be over-reacting (though that would be warranted). I'm not sure that this is going to end up all that cut-and-dry.

When Julio told the first dead Santa's wife that he was dead...I actually teared up a little. It's always rough when Julio gets a sad. Although the wife contributed to that too, when she said that she always filmed the flash mob rehearsals so that her husband could practice at home. ;__;

Sharon waving everyone out of the room when Patrice showed up. >>
Sharon nonchalantly pushing Andy away from the front of the Murder Room. >>>>
Sharon finally dragging Buzz out of room with one hand and Andy with the other. >!>!>!>!>

It seemed to me that it was Ricky scheming with Andy to get the Christmas party set up in the Murder Room. Which is lakdlakjfdaldkf really freaking adorable. And the way that Andy smiled at Sharon... like are you kidding me? She couldn't even form words. They are too cute.

Overall, I was glad this was a lighter episode and more Christmas-centric than last year's. This is probably on par with the Christmas episodes from season 6 of The Closer as my faves (though the one with Brenda, Fritz, Andy, and Provenza going from Atlanta to LA with Brenda's parents and a suspect in a motorhome is pretty high up there too).

3x16 Leap of Faith

[congo]

"Flynn tries to talk a man down who is standing on the ledge of a bridge. But he soon discovers that the man is in fact a sex offender who has a dead body in his car. Rusty prepares a impact statement to try and end his involvement in the Stroh case."

Re: 3x16 Leap of Faith

[congo]

I didn't get into this episode as much as I usually do. :/ But I loved that moment where Dr. Joe called Sharon Rusty's mother to their faces and everyone was okay with it. :DDDD

3x17 Internal Affairs

[congo]

"The caregiver of Sanchez's mother is found murdered. Rusty takes on Jack when he turns up at Sharon's condo acting recklessly."

Re: 3x17 Internal Affairs

[congo]

I N T E R N A L A F F A I R S ♥.♥

3x18/19 Special Master

[congo]

"Phillip Stroh returns and is demanding a new deal from DDA Rios in exchange for his cooperation regarding 'future murders'. In a race against the clock to prevent the deaths of three women, Major Crimes works to save the victims while decoding the source of Stroh's information." | "The Major Crimes division is in overdrive working to stop a serial killer who has been targeting female sex workers. To interpret the facts, Captain Sharon Raydor reaches outside her division to a consultant, Clarissa Fields, to help reverse engineer a decade of horrible murders as Stroh moves closer and closer to achieving his ultimate deal."

Re: 3x18/19 Special Master

[quarantedeux]

I have to say that I'm a little bit nervous about these, given the last couple of episodes.


This, especially, has had me side-eyeing for a while:
To interpret the facts, Captain Sharon Raydor reaches outside her division to a consultant, Clarissa Fields, to help reverse engineer a decade of horrible murders

IDK. Fingers crossed.

Season 4

[congo]

We have moved to this post for season four, in case you hadn't noticed yet. Come join us over there! :)