Well, it had to happen, I suppose. Brenda fails to get her man. Oh, she got the real killer but in the process was forced to release a sociopath on the streets. But you knew she had to. Her sense of justice, shown so well over the course of the series, wouldn't let her settle for anything less than the truth.
The dark humor was there, such as the couple faced with the problems of having to bury the ex-wife all over again and realizing that, technically, they may not be married with Brenda using that to help her case.
The scenes of Brenda and the killer were nerve-wracking, as befitting the situation. You can tell Brenda was truly fearful in those scenes which is why she's such a great character.
The Flynn plot was a good red herring as, given what we've seen of him, it seemed perfectly logical he would have done this. I loved how, when Brenda said to hold off on the IA investigation, Flynn and Taylor both had the same shocked look.
Taylor is starting to obviously reach the limit with his crusade against Brenda. The one person he coudl count on to think like him was Flynn and he blew that here. What gets me is how Taylor actually seems to not realize Flynn could be so upset over almost having his career wrecked, like he'd just forget what Taylor tried to do. Look at his face when Flynn says he's joining Brenda's team full-time, he actually seems surprised and angry, which will no doubt add fuel to his fire to get rid of Brenda. Of course, this also means he's oblivious to just how Brenda's won the respect of the team and Taylor may be on the way out.
Brenda's unmasking of the killer was cleverly done but of course there's the ramifactions of various cases being reopened. And there's the final scene of Brenda and the released killer where we see Brenda's face and see her thinking that just maybe she should have looked the other way here. But that's not the Brenda we know and that's why this show continues to amaze.moreless
Rated: TV-14-LV
Brenda and her team must find not only a killer, but also identify the killer's victim when a deranged, homicidal madman is set free due to mistaken identity.
Trying to make sense of an array of complexities in this unusual case, Brenda comes across what may be another betrayal by a member of the Priority Homicide Division.
The case takes an even darker turn when Brenda becomes the center of the psychopathic killer's attention.moreless
Brenda and her team must find not only a killer, but also identify the killer's victim when a deranged, homicidal madman is set free due to mistaken identity.
Trying to make sense of an array of complexities in this unusual case, Brenda comes across what may be another betrayal by a member of the Priority Homicide Division.
The case takes an even darker turn when Brenda becomes the center of the psychopathic killer's attention.moreless
 Kyra Sedgwick |
Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson |
 J.K. Simmons |
Assistant Police Chief Will Pope |
 Corey Reynolds |
Sgt. David Gabriel |
 Robert Gossett |
Capt. Russell Taylor |
 G.W. Bailey |
Detective Lt. Louis Provenza |
 Tony Denison |
Detective Lt. Andy Flynn |
 Jason O'Mara |
Bill Croelick |
Guest Star |
 Jefferson Mays |
Dr. Easton |
Guest Star |
 Lorraine Toussaint |
Deputy D.A. Powell |
Guest Star |
 Michael Paul Chan |
Lt. Michael Tao |
Recurring Role |
 James Avery |
Dr. Crippen, Medical Examiner |
Recurring Role |
 Phillip P. Keene |
Buzz Watson |
Recurring Role |
Watch Online
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
-
TRIVIA (1)
ADD TRIVIA-
Croelick confronts Brenda at the end of the episode and taunts her about the real murderer and what he did. Yet, he had only just been arrested and the truth had only just been discovered, so there is no way Croelick could have known what happened in the squadroom just a little while ago.
-
-
QUOTES (17)
ADD QUOTES-
Brenda: How'd you get my address?
Croelick: Why, haven't you heard, I'm a criminal? But don't worry; as it turns out, you're not my type. Although I admit to liking a fiery woman, you're a little on the bossy side. -
(Brenda learns the details from Flynn regarding his questionable promotion circumstances)
Flynn: You're not going to have me investigated?
Brenda: No. -
Brenda: Well, hello William.
Croelick: Oh, it's Bill. It's just plain Bill.
Brenda: Alright, just plain Bill. I'm just plain Brenda, LAPD. -
Taylor: Do us a favor. Send this girl to the crematorium as a Jane Doe. Keep Croelick in prison. Don't damage the reputation of our department to let the killer go free.
Pope: Here is the favor I will do for you: I will forget you said that. -
(Brenda grabs a file from Fritz while they're kissing)
Brenda: Is this my Jane Doe?
Fritz: So much for foreplay. -
Taylor: Well, that one's gonna cost her.
Flynn: You want to gloat to someone you're close to? Grab a mirror, Captain. I'm applying for permanent transfer to her squad. -
Gabriel: You have the right to remain silent! Why don't you use it?!
-
Brenda: All I need form you is an expert to go over these dental records, match them with these teeth, and tell me which missing person she was.
Fritz: Ok. I'll bite. -
Flynn: Oh, man. A thousand bucks says I'm gonna be wearing this bulls**t.
-
Medical Examiner: What do we call this...Jane Doe?
Gabriel: The body formerly known as Lisa Barnes. -
Brenda: I promise this is the absolutely last time that Lisa will die.
-
Brenda: Okay. Maybe this Samantha Jones lifted Bill Croelick's stainless steel lighter - with his fingerprints on it, made a copy of Lisa Barnes' driver's licence, stole a car, pushed it off a cliff, cutting her hands and feet off as she jumped into the falling car and set herself on fire. Maybe she trained for her suicide with Cirque du Soleil.
-
Forensic odontologist: I wasn't asked to confirm the identity of the victim, just to confirm that the body was that of Lisa Barnes.
Lt. Provenza: Oh, so you had an excuse to be sloppy. -
Brenda: (to Sgt. Gabriel on the phone) I found Croelick. He's on my front porch. Be nice if we had some company.
-
(Capt. Taylor and Chief Pope are discussing Brenda's relations with the key members of their case.)
Taylor: The FBI hates her. The DA's hate her. The forensics specialists hate her. Everyone wants Croelick back in jail. But no one's gonna help her get him there. -
(Lisa Barnes' widower is objecting to the news of his wife's more "recent" death just hours earlier)
Mr. Barnes: I have Lisa's death certificate [dated three years earlier]!
Brenda: So do I. Only mine's a litle more recent. -
Brenda: Doctor, do you think you might take another peek inside?
M.E. (glancing at the charred skeletal remains of the Jane Doe in question) Chief Johnson, where exactly do you see an inside?!?
-
-
NOTES (1)
ADD NOTES-
Original International Air Dates:
Czech Republic: March 27, 2007 on Prima
-
-
ALLUSIONS (3)
ADD ALLUSIONS-
Gabriel: OK, they're ready for their close up.
An allusion to the famous line in the 1950 film Sunset Boulevard starring Gloria Swanson. It's her last line as she's finally gone mad: "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close up". -
Title: Fatal Retraction
An obvious allusion to and play on words of the 1987 film Fatal Attraction, starring Glenn Close and Michael Douglas. -
Brenda: Maybe she trained for her suicide with Cirque du Soleil.
Cirque du Soleil is a renowned acrobatic performance troupe whose members are masters at acrobatics.
-
|
|
-
7x21 - "The Last Word"
08/21/126
-
What will become of Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson in the last episode
08/13/1210
-
Question: When did Buzz get a badge (similar to a sworn officer)
08/09/121
-
7x20 - "Armed Response"
08/07/123
-
The Leak - who do you think?
08/06/1242
-
Series Finale: The Last Word
S 7 : Ep 21
Aired 8/13/12
-
Armed Response
S 7 : Ep 20
Aired 8/6/12
-
Last Rites
S 7 : Ep 19
Aired 7/30/12
-
Drug Fiend
S 7 : Ep 18
Aired 7/23/12
Season 1 Episodes
See AllEp 13
Standards and Practices
Ep 12
Fatal Retraction
Ep 11
L.A. Woman
Ep 10
The Butler Did It
Ep 9
Good Housekeeping
Ep 8
Batter Up
Ep 7
You Are Here
Ep 6
Fantasy Date
Ep 5
Flashpoint
Ep 4
Show Yourself
Ep 3
The Big Picture
Ep 2
About Face
Ep 1
Pilot
-
karlmeszaros USER EDITOR
User Score: 2312
-
laurameyer TRUSTED
User Score: 453
-
hsavage
User Score: 4252
-
SrRui
User Score: 239
-
horatiofrog1
User Score: 212
-
neomichel
User Score: 146
-
layle1
User Score: 142
-
kelley0528
User Score: 135
-
w4u
User Score: 114
-
ChargerFin
User Score: 83
More
Less
