The fifth thrilling season of Major Crimes finds the dedicated team of detectives tackling some of the city's most complicated criminal cases. The division is led by department head Captain Sharon Raydor, portrayed by Oscar nominee Mary McDonnell (Dances with Wolves, Battlestar Galactica). The unit is comprised of Lieutenant Provenza (G.W. Bailey, The Closer, M*A*S*H, Police Academy), Lieutenant Andy Flynn (Tony Denison, The Closer, Crime Story), Lieutenant Mike Tao (Michael Paul Chan, The Closer, Arrested Development), Detective Julio Sanchez (Raymond Cruz, The Closer, Training Day), tech expert and reserve police officer Buzz Watson (Phillip P. Keene, The Closer, The D.A.), Detective Amy Sykes (Kearran Giovanni, One Life to Live), Rusty Beck (Graham Patrick Martin, Two and a Half Men, The Bill Engvall Show), Dr. Morales (Jonathan Del Arco, The Closer, Nip/Tuck), Assistant Chief Russell Taylor (Robert Gossett, The Closer, Arlington Road),and Deputy Chief Fritz Howard (recurring guest star Jon Tenney, The Closer, King & Maxwell).
Major Crimes returns with more mysteries in Season Five, as the squad continues to work some of the most challenging murders in the City of Angels. From searching for a missing teenage girl who vanished while helping the homeless, to hunting down the killer of a potentially dirty cop and following up on a beheading in an isolated corner of Los Angeles, cable's favorite investigators work to arrest and deal out a succession of criminals and killers.
Outside of their work, each member of the team must balance their work and personal lives. Captain Raydor strives to push her adopted son Rusty, (Graham Patrick Martin, The Closer, Two and a Half Men), through college, while figuring out where she wants to go in her ongoing romance with Andy Flynn; Julio Sanchez decides to try to adopt a child himself; Provenza develops sensitivities related to his new marriage to Patrice (Dawnn Lewis); Buzz Watson picks up the 30-year-old murder investigation of his father and uncle; Mike Tao wins an award for his work as a Hollywood consultant; and Amy Sykes confronts the idea of motherhood versus focusing on her career.
Major Crimes is a TNT procedural that features a well rounded and game cast. Mary McDonnell is at the top of her game when portraying the tough but fair Captain. The episodes are fine to binge or watch over a couple weeks to savor. 8/10
Episodes
Present Tense
N.S.F.W.
Foreign Affairs
Skin Deep
Cashed Out
Tourist Trap
Moral Hazard
Off the Wagon
Family Law
Dead Zone
White Lies - Part 1
White Lies - Part 2
White Lies - Part 3
Heart Failure
Cleared History
Quid Pro Quo
Dead Drop
Bad Blood
Intersection
Shockwave - Part 1
Shockwave - Part 2
Major Crimes arrives on DVD with a 480p transfer in the aspect ratio of 1.78:1 - The color palette has a very natural, pleasing appearance. Flesh tones look natural as well. Black levels had some light crushing but overall were solid. The image is clear and fine detail was revealing. The episodes are spread across five discs. 8/10
Audio is provided by a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. - The dialogue is prioritized to the center channel, remaining crystal clear throughout the episodes. Surround channels were used for a good variety of environmental effects. LFE performance adds a good amount of bass to music and more intense moments. 8/10
* Deleted Scenes * Gag Reel