Just like that, season four is in the books. Somehow I had missed that this week was the finale. I’m chalking it up to the goofy TNT practice of moving the previews for next week into the following show. I don’t watch Trust Me (It’s Monday, something had to give), so I managed to miss all the previews for the episode. Once I became aware of the finale, I got a little nervous. We wouldn’t be left hanging at the altar, waiting until June to find out if the wedding went off, would we? Fortunately, the big finale answered that question, with a little help from a gaggle of strippers, and a chaser of season ending cliffhanger that once again puts the team in question.
Ok, first things first, the wedding. As far as season finale weddings go, this was not your typical TV affair. It was very subdued, both in the nature of the wedding, and in the relatively small place it took in the episode. And I thought it was just perfect. This is how Brenda’s wedding should go. It really stood out to me tonight just how well we’ve gotten to know these characters over four seasons. When Fritz said that he had to go to work during rehersals, everyone had to know that Brenda was going to use that to insert herself into the latest Major Crimes case.
We saw it again when Brenda learned that Fritz was going to be working even later than expected. I was ready for her to be back on the case even before she could strap her gun back on. And how about the quick thinking, dropping a little guilt on Fritz to use on a later case? As the wedding moved forward, it played just as you would expect. Willie Rae and Claire butted heads, while Clay fretted about the money. In the end, it was a wedding that fit Brenda and Fritz perfectly. And the finish, with messages for the happy couple from all the other characters, was great. For me, the best of them was Provenza, as he explained that he always thought Brenda and Fritz had a great relationship, but the fact that they are now married raises a red flag.
As to the case, it was solid. Not one that goes down on my list of favorites, but it was fun and meshed nicely with the bigger story of the wedding. We had a couple of clever plays from Brenda, on the client and lawyer, and on both suspects. My favorite bit of the case though, actually came from Provenza, in the way he asserted himself with Brenda away. That, of course, led to the cliffhanger as we now wait for season five to kick off in June. Gabriel and Daniels have now both applied for a transfer. Will one of them be gone when the show returns? If so, who? And will we get to see any of the hijinks that inevitably ensue while Brenda is away? Both in Italy, and back at the office as Provenza takes command.
Good questions that will have to wait. For now, I can say that this was a great end to another very good season. I’m happy that we finally got the payoff of the wedding story, and looking forward to seeing what comes next.
Clacked by Brett Love 
on Feb 24, 2009 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
I’m with you… My favorite part of the episode was easily the way Provenza stepped up and took control Something I don’t necessarily remember him ever doing to this extent.
I’m also glad that Fritz and Brenda got married, as I’d be afraid of them continuing the relationship on otherwise.
I loved how Provenza got after both Daniels and Gabrial. Both of them were acting like children and deserved to be treated as such. I like both characters and it really annoyed me to watch them behave this way.
Considering how little we saw of her this season I would say that Daniels will be the one to go to the new department. We will see her just about as often too.