Catch Up on ‘The Closer’ Season Five

As previously mentioned, Season Five of The Closer finally resumes with three fresh winter episodes at 9pm ET on Monday, December 7.

But before “The Life,” Wild Card,” and Dead Man’s Hand” air, viewers might need a refresher to remember what happened during the twelve episodes in the earlier part of the season. Continue reading to get just that in both summary and video format. The TNT Report aims to please.

5.01 — Products of Discovery
Team Brenda investigates a quadruple murder involving a family, which turns out to be related to an FBI investigation, and Provenza is uncommonly upbeat. Lee Tergesen (Oz, Wanted) guest stars.
Original Air Date: June 8, 2009

5.02 — Blood Money
Team Brenda investigates the kidnapping of a wealthy financier suspected of defrauding investors, Provenza continues acting strange, and Brenda and Fritz’s cat Kitty is sick.
Original Air Date: June 15, 2009

5.03 — Red Tape
Team Brenda comes to Gabriel’s defense when he shoots a seemingly armed murder suspect who later seems to have been unarmed, prompting the arrival of Brenda’s latest nemesis, Captain Sharon Raydor (Battlestar Galactica‘s Mary McDonnell).
Original Air Date: June 22, 2009

5.04 — Walking Back the Cat
Team Brenda joins the FBI temporarily to investigate missing person case that becomes a homicide involving drug trafficking at gay dance parties. David Hewlett (Stargate Atlantis) guest stars.
Original Air Date: June 29, 2009

5.05 — Half Load
Team Brenda investigates the murder of a former gang banger and learns he might not have been the intended target after they consult with Father Jack and his community of residents who believe the LAPD doesn’t care about rampant crime in their neighborhood.
Original Air Date: July 6, 2009

5.06 — Tapped Out
Team Brenda investigates the murder of a well-known online “hook-up king” who was creating a television pilot for a men’s cable network, and Pope becomes a regular member of Brenda’s squad during a short-term rotation.
Original Air Date: July 13, 2009

5.07 — Strike Three
Team Brenda investigates the killing of two patrol cops and an 18-year-old male, all under the meddling glare of the Force Investigation Division’s Captain Sharon Raydor (returning guest star Mary McDonnell).
Original Air Date: July 20, 2009

5.08 — Elysian Fields
Team Brenda investigates the murder of a man who was the primary suspect in the murder of two girls ten years ago, a case that was worked by a retired detective who shows up determined to assist with the current crime and close his old case. Tom Skerritt (Picket Fences) guest stars.
Original Air Date: July 27, 2009

5.09 — Identity Theft
Team Brenda investigates a confessed murderer who botches his allocution, causing Brenda to reopen the case in order to determine if the man is covering for his schizophrenic son, whose doctor was the victim. Meanwhile, Brenda’s mother (Frances Sternhagen) visits to leave Brenda’s troublesome niece Charlie (Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon’s real-life daughter Sosie Bacon) with Brenda and Fritz for the summer. Bruce Davison (The Practice), Cynthia Watros (Lost), and Michael Arden (Kings) guest star.
Original Air Date: August 3, 2009

5.10 — Smells Like Murder
Team Brenda investigates the murder of a man whose body was stuffed in a box, and Charlie’s rebellious behavior gives Brenda and Fritz much grief at home.
Original Air Date: August 10, 2009

5.11 — Maternal Instincts
Team Brenda investigates a shooting murder in a school parking lot, and after Brenda gets Charlie mixed up in the case, she and Fritz disagree on how to handle her niece.
Original Air Date: August 17, 2009

5.12 — Waivers of Extradition
Team Brenda investigates the stabbing murder of a woman apparently killed by a Ninja, which leads them to a Texas detective who investigated a similar crime there and now arrives in California to track down the killer and have him extradited to Teas for a dealth-penalty conviction. Also, Brenda’s father Clay (Barry Corbin) arrives to accompany Charlie back home to Atlanta. Xander Berkeley (24) guest stars.
Original Air Date: August 24, 2009

The Closer airs Mondays on TNT at 9pm ET.