Major Crimes: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings

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7.2

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 56 Ratings

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Major Crimes

Now Playing: Major Crimes

Season Details & Credits

TNT | Season Premiere Date: August 13, 2012

Starring: Raymond Cruz, Raymond Cruz, Mary McDonnell

Summary: Captain Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell) discovers the Major Crimes division is not thrilled with her taking over from Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick).

Creator: James Duff

Genre(s): Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. Long Shot
Air Date: October 15, 2012
tbd
S1:E9. Cheaters Never Prosper
Air Date: October 8, 2012
tbd
S1:E8. Dismissed with Prejudice
Air Date: October 1, 2012

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

Verne Gay

Aug 13, 2012

A sharply written, acted and directed start that will hook fans immediately. Read full review

David Hinckley

Aug 9, 2012

This handoff is clean. Read full review

Robert Lloyd

Aug 13, 2012

As before there is a nice balance between social drama and personal business, the tragic and the comic, exaggeration and authenticity. Read full review

Ken Tucker

Aug 9, 2012

Relying less on instinct and showy interrogations, Raydor commands her unit with a nice brusqueness, gathers clues, and solves cases with airtight logic. The primary problem with Major is its slow pace. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Matt Roush

Aug 13, 2012

With most of The Closer's original crew staying on, it's almost business as usual--though with Sedgwick no longer at the center, replaced by Mary McDonnell's inscrutably smug and unsympathetic Capt. Sharon Raydor, the franchise can't help but be diminished. Read full review

Lesley Smith

Aug 13, 2012

Like The Closer, Major Crimes offers utterly predictable crime-solving. Read full review

Mike Hale

Aug 13, 2012

Pleasant in its details but hollow at its center, Major Crimes could argue in favor of a much-derided TV practice: the traditional network development process. It could have benefited from a year or two spent working on a pilot. Read full review

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User Score

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7.2

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User Reviews

Delaney005

Dec 28, 2014

I watched The Closer sporadically because I felt like it was the same thing over and over again. I didn't feel like there was much insight into the cast as a team but more centered on Brenda and her alone (maybe that was the intent)... but I liked the cast so I watched when I could. II watched The Closer sporadically because I felt like it was the same thing over and over again. I didn't feel like there was much insight into the cast as a team but more centered on Brenda and her alone (maybe that was the intent)... but I liked the cast so I watched when I could. I thought bringing in Captain Raydor really elevated the show and wished she was around more. Now with Major Crimes, I never miss an episode. The cast seems to shine and it doesn't focus solely on one central character but everyone as a team (and there always seems to be a time when one cast member shines and the others are the support). I like that we are seeing real people do their jobs and balance life issues. It feels like the real world.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Ultronprimus575

Jun 10, 2017

Great show,you'll love the crew more and more especially Lieutenant Provenza.They hande cases very well.And overall a very great cast and a very great plot.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

dkeliik

Aug 16, 2012

This show takes what The Closer had going to new heights, Mary McDonnell is incredible and brings new perspective to what was becoming a monotonous tv series, can't wait for

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

Mikeylito

Oct 18, 2012

As this review is written, this series has shown four episodes. In some respects, this first season is a rehash of its progenitor, "The Closer." We have familiarity with most of the cast, including the new protagonist, Capt. Sharon Raydor, portrayed by Mary McDonnell, who has been aAs this review is written, this series has shown four episodes. In some respects, this first season is a rehash of its progenitor, "The Closer." We have familiarity with most of the cast, including the new protagonist, Capt. Sharon Raydor, portrayed by Mary McDonnell, who has been a recurring character for the past three seasons. The creators' job is to somewhat rehabilitate this character and make her more likable. The device they use is the "adoption" of a street kid who is a material witness in a serial murder. They also have her slowly winning over the squad who was intensely loyal to former chief, Brenda Leigh Johnson, who is no longer seen. The transition has been slow and plodding. The cases pursued by the squad have been less than potent compared to the prior series.

However, it's early yet. There are six more episodes to this season to be played out over the fall, and presumably, around the holidays. Will "Major Crimes" attain the popularity of its predecessor? The jury is still out.

UPDATE:

The first season has now concluded and the good news is that the series has gotten much better. The emphasis on making deals in order to close cases has been de-emphasized and the cases have more of the twist and turns that "The Closer" had in its cases.

The device of incorporating the street kid, Rusty Beck, into Sharon Raydor's life has been effective. It shows us another side of a character who, until exposed, has been an anathema to fans of "The Closer." In fact, by season's end, young Mr. Beck has been "adopted" not just by many of the fans and Capt. Raydor, but by the Major Crimes squad itself.

The other new character introduced, Det. Amy Skyes, was also distasteful in introductory episodes. However, by season's end, she also gained her footing and became an integral part of the squad.

There are still problems. It's incongruous when the FBI's Fritz Howard is around that no mention of Chief Johnson is made. Johnson, Gabriel and Pope are unseen and, with the exception of Pope, seldom mentioned.

However, the play's the thing and the quality of the stories have been much more compelling. The characters are even more "familiar" with one another with a simple device of addressing one another by first names.

All in all, "Major Crimes" has developed into a solid series. I'm looking forward to next summer's 13 episodes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

martinex

Aug 31, 2012

Major Crimes basically picks up where The Closer left off. The cast seems to be trying extra hard to cover the hole left by the amazing Kyra Sedgwick. Maybe too hard. In one episode Mary McDonnell dramatically screams at a Lab Technician "don't put me on hold I am the police." The mostMajor Crimes basically picks up where The Closer left off. The cast seems to be trying extra hard to cover the hole left by the amazing Kyra Sedgwick. Maybe too hard. In one episode Mary McDonnell dramatically screams at a Lab Technician "don't put me on hold I am the police." The most interesting character might be the awkward yet strangely talented detective Amy Sykes played by Kearran Giovanni. The writing on the show is still top notch. The cast may want to dial it back a notch.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Needsmorenerds

Sep 3, 2012

Major Crimes, following up The Closer, tries to inherit the cult of fans from its predecessor by keeping its entire cast (except for the main, of course). I tried to go into this show with an open mind and not as much as a sequel. Mary McDonnell, a great actress, gets stuck with the mostMajor Crimes, following up The Closer, tries to inherit the cult of fans from its predecessor by keeping its entire cast (except for the main, of course). I tried to go into this show with an open mind and not as much as a sequel. Mary McDonnell, a great actress, gets stuck with the most boring character possible. She isn't allowed to show any type of emotion at any times and she acts professional 24/7. Most annoying of all, she inserts herself into situations too much. Obviously as the lead character & as Captain of the LAPD's Major Crimes, she's bound to be around a lot to make sure the suspects are locked up and convicted. However, Captain Sharon Raydor is a nuisance and constant bother where she should just let the investigation hold itself. The main characters also have no chemistry or charisma on this TNT installment whatsoever, even less than their final season on "The Closer" where they were closer than ever. Not to mention that adding two more detective is not only excessive, but confusing to the fanbase. Major Crimes forces its viewers to focus on and only on Captain Raydor, who is constantly disrespectful and ignorant to any suggestions or insertions by her Detective Lieutenants. The biggest distraction in the room is the unnecessary addition of Raydor's adoptive son, Rusty Beck. In an backdoor attempt to meet the burden of getting into Raydor's personal life in comparison to Brenda Leigh Johnson's, the showrunners add Beck to show the compassion and care Raydor can have (which fails terribly). All of this is added onto a basic, if not terrible, kindergarten-like Crime Drama script. Even with McDonnell's unfortunately getting stuck with a mediocre character, the rest of the cast is colorful, well played and intelligent.
Unfortunately, "Major Crimes" is nothing as advertised, and has yet to prove how it is starting "a new chapter" in LAPD's Major Crimes Unit. If you look at it with enough of an open mind and without focusing on Raydor too much, It's worth watching if there's nothing better on. Just don't DARE compare it to "The Closer"… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

asimov67

Feb 6, 2014

Could be a great show,but for Mary McDonnell.I find she is so wooden,and shows no facial expressions. She always seems to be reading off a cue card,and badly.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

SEE ALL 21 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

63

Series Overview
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: October 31, 2017
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: June 13, 2016
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: June 8, 2015
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: June 9, 2014
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: June 10, 2013
Season 1

65
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: August 13, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E10. Long Shot
  Air Date: October 15, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E9. Cheaters Never Prosper
  Air Date: October 8, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E8. Dismissed with Prejudice
  Air Date: October 1, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Shame Game
  Air Date: September 24, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E6. Out Of Bounds
  Air Date: September 17, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E5. Citizens Arrest
  Air Date: September 10, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E4. The Ecstasy and the Agony
  Air Date: September 3, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E3. Medical Causes
  Air Date: August 27, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E2. Before and After
  Air Date: August 20, 2012
- tbd
  S1:E1. Reloaded
  Air Date: August 13, 2012