these crimes are major

Were you a fan of TNT’s The Closer? It was a captivating serial drama starring Kyra Sedgwick as a deceptively sweet Southern gal who finds herself running the Priority Homicide Division in the LAPD.

I really enjoyed the hit show, and its spin-off, Major Crimes, has the potential to be just as incredible. And why wouldn’t it? About 80% of the original cast remains, and it’s a cast that performs together magnificently. Even if you’re new to the show, you’ll immediately recognize and appreciate the rapport among the members of the team, and for me, that’s the very best part of the show. The carry-over crew from The Closer (GW Bailey as Lieutenant Provenza, Tony Denison as Lieutenant Andy Flynn, Michael Paul Chan as Lieutenant Mike Tao, and Raymond Cruz as Detective Julio Sanchez) has a fantastic camaraderie that many casting directors must struggle to achieve.

I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of the first episode of the second season, airing June 10th at 9/8c. The case of the week involves the murder of a movie director’s wife, and the suspects range from the husband (of course) to the mistress to the ex-wife. I’ve watched a lot of detective shows over the years and am pretty darn good at quickly spotting the culprit, so I always appreciate when a show outsmarts me or takes a turn in a direction I didn’t expect; Major Crimes consistently does just that.

One new addition to the show is Nadine Velazquez (of My Name is Earl fame!) who plays Deputy D.A. Emma Rios. She’s been assigned to the case involving Phillip Stroh, a bone-chilling and downright disturbing man who featured prominently in The Closer. She immediately comes into conflict with the new head of the team, Captain Raydor (Mary McDonnell), when she questions Raydor’s intentions as the guardian for Rusty, a key witness in the Stroh case. The writers are doing a fantastic job of seamlessly joining the goings-on at the end of The Closer with the happenings on Major Crimes.

Major Crimes isn’t the only enthralling drama on TNT this summer. Rizzoli and Isles is also terrific and particularly satisfying for those of us who like strong female characters. Falling Skies, Perception, and Franklin and Bash are also back. One new show that interests me is King and Maxwell, which just so happens to star The Closer alum Jon Tenney. Which TNT dramas will you watch?

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This sweepstakes runs from 5/31/2013 - 6/25/2013.