Tag: Major Crimes

Geekscape Interviews: ‘Major Crimes’ James Duff

by Alexandra Gallarza

In the year 2005, TNT picked up a show called The Closer, about a Deputy Chief by the name of Brenda Leigh Johnson, who worked on some of the cruelest cases brought to the LAPD’s front door. Fast forward seven years, the series star Kyra Sedgwick said goodbye to her crew and audiences said hello to Mary McDonnell and Sharon Raydor for Major Crimes. Now, the show is saying goodbye again.

In a span of 13 years, the crew and a majority of the cast stayed together. From the pilot of The Closer, to the finale of Major Crimes, hundreds of hours were spent on creating unique cases, suspects and victim’s stories that were unique, characters that were relatable and memorable, friendships that were unforgettable. At the helm of all of this is James Duff; the visionary behind the characters, the cases, the idea.

We at Geekscape had the privilege to speak to Mr. Duff before the season began, on the heels of it’s cancellation. Since then a lot has happened. Storylines hit close to home for some, the loss of a main character struck a nerve, and the realization that saying goodbye to this show was imminent. Now with the ending of the series upon us, we spoke to him again.

With the show being one of, if not the top-rated show for TNT, it’s a bittersweet farewell. Over the last few years the show went from their usual Monday night time slot, which it held for 10 years, to Wednesday, to ultimately Tuesday nights. Their ratings held. Their audience kept coming back. For good reason.

The show had interesting characters. Cases that rung true to ways of life and provided an insight into the lives of LAPD officers. Characters made the transition from The Closer to Major Crimes with new characters being introduced and settling into our hearts. One of those characters was portrayed by Mary McDonnell, who was nominated for her work on The Closer, as Captain Sharon Raydor.

Fans were forced to say goodbye to Sharon Raydor, when her character died four episodes before the end of the show. In a move that upset a lot of fans, we asked James what caused him to make that move.

“We wanted the audience to let go with us,” Duff remarked. “We knew the audience was going to fight, that the audience was going to struggle and not want us to go.”

It was announced in the summer that Billy Burke, who Duff claimed to be a genius, would be returning to the show as the serial killer Phillip Stroh. With Sharon Raydor gone, the team is left vulnerable in their grief- much like the fans who are reeling with her departure.

“The archetype of the leader, taking her band of heroes to the battle, but can’t be allowed to participate is not new.” Duff said.

When asked if Sharon Raydor was ever going to be involved in this battle with Phillip Stroh, he answered, “No.”

“To me it’s an expression of my heart and soul,” Duff said, in regard to the show and the show ending. “I wanted to grieve and I wanted the audience to grieve with us.”

The final table read was bittersweet. The final days of shooting were bittersweet. Saying goodbye to these characters, difficult and emotional.

“The feeling of loss permeated our company. No one felt it more keenly more than I did,” Duff added. “It’s admitting that the show was over.”

Now that the show is over, screen has gone black, the question is What’s next?

“I have a couple features back to back that I’m writing,” he told us. “We’ll see if they’ll get made. I have a pilot that I’m shopping.”

Being involved in this show for the last thirteen years, he claimed “I haven’t really had an opportunity to think of the future.”

With the show ending, Duff hopes that there can be things in the future that will allow this family that was created to come together once again.

Major Crimes aired on TNT.

Geekscape Interviews: ‘Major Crimes’ Jessica Meraz

by Alexandra Gallarza

Detective Camila Paige, portrayed by the extraordinary Jessica Meraz, is new to the Major Crimes family. Now, with the show ending, the audience wasn’t really granted the opportunity to spend a whole lot of time with the new Detective. We were still given bits and pieces of her character. She had a history with Lieutenant Provenza (GW Bailey), was trained by the newly appointed Chief Leo Mason when she was in Missing Persons, and raised her siblings.

Geekscape talked to Jessica Meraz and asked her about Camila Paige.  She’s bubbly and happy. Yet also very determined and focused when it comes to her job. How it plays out in the rest of the season?

“Cami is always focused on how she can be a better detective and help the case,” she said, adding, “one distraction will be too difficult (attractive) to ignore.”

With a budding relationship and possible romance between Detective Page and Detective Wes Nolan, portrayed by Daniel DiTomasso, one can only wonder, how does Cami balance her home life and work life?

“As far as her home/work balance – Cami could definitely do better at this. Her siblings are all either in or through college so Cami doesn’t have to worry about them so much anymore. She is committed to her work so I think she probably hasn’t had a romantic relationship in a while. Her thoughts on the necessities of balance and relationships will come into question later in the season.”

Her home life revolves or at least revolved around her five siblings, raising them, and making sure they had good heads on their shoulders. Cami is able to balance her home life well. When it comes to work she is able to balance that well. But when it becomes potentially merged?

“As far as her home/work balance – Cami could definitely do better at this. Her siblings are all either in or through college so Cami doesn’t have to worry about them so much anymore. She is committed to her work so I think she probably hasn’t had a romantic relationship in a while. Her thoughts on the necessities of balance and relationships will come into question later in the season.”

The first arc, in which we meet Camila Paige, she is brought in to deal with missing boys, who were last seen leaving a field strip. With her background in Missing Persons, while working the ‘Sanctuary City’ case it is evident that Cami has sympathy for a child’s struggles. Having raised her five siblings, her approach to children is done in a more intimate way.

“Cami is able to relate and interrogate young people in a specialized way that is unique to her background,” Meraz commented on her character’s background. “She gets to the truth while protecting the child’s feelings and best interest. “

The themes of the season, per the show creator James Duff, have been Faith and Reason. Upcoming is Risk.

The Risk that the team has to take is in dealing with alleged serial killer, Phillip Stroh played by Billy Burke, who fans saw at the end of the last episode of the four-episode arc entitled, ‘Conspiracy Theory’. With the heartbreak that revolved around the loss of a major character, his presence was suspect and he looked slightly gleeful about the impending doom of said character.

The arc, “By Any Means” comes after the loss of a dominant player in the hunt for Stroh.

Being new to the show, as a member of the crew, this would be Cami’s first time dealing with the serial killer. We asked Jessica what it was like to be part of the Phillip Stroh story line and what could she tease about the next four episodes, in which he appears.

“I will say that while reading a scene with Stroh, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.” Jessica commented. “He’s such a scary character and he comes back in full force. The fans will not be disappointed. The suspense in palpable.”

There was a possibility that the show would end after this season. It was officially announced in October of 2017, that the 6th season would be it’s last. The announcement came before the show premiered, just as the cast and crew were sitting down for their final table read.

“I am just so thrilled to get to work with these story tellers,” Meraz commented on what it was like approaching the possible last season of the show. “Of course I wish this could go on forever, but I’ll take what I can get. You get an opportunity and you make the most of it. I put my heart and soul into every second of this season.”

Being the new kid on the block can be intimidating. With her first day being cancelled, due to a swarm of bees, the rest of her experience was, “the most fulfilling six months of my life so far.”

“Every day was a new adventure,” Meraz added. “I made some of the best friends of my life and learned all sorts of new things about myself.”

The final four episodes of Major Crimes can be seen on TNT, Tuesday nights at 9/8c.

 

Geekscape Interviews: ‘Major Crimes’ Tony Denison

by Alexandra Gallarza

Sanctuary City, which premieres it’s penultimate episode tonight, is said to be an emotional episode. Tensions are high. As for the rest of the season? Well, Tony Denison, also known as Andy Flynn on the show, gave us a little bit of an insight into an event that fans are anticipating, the relationship between Flynn and Provenza, as well as the end of the show.

Andy Flynn last season was benched due to health problems. He watched the building his fiancée, best friend, and team were inside of blow up after trying and somewhat successfully being the hero. This season we see him back in the field with a few moderations.

“He’s recouping his health. He’s on the mend,” Tony Denison said. “There are some really heroic things that Andy does in the show and like James [Duff] said, not to toot my own horn, but some of the acting I’ve done this season is the best acting I’ve done.”

James Duff commented on the acting of Tony Denison and Mary McDonnell in a previous interview, which can be read here.

Coming on the heels of Mary McDonnell’s character, Sharon Raydor, passing out in the middle of the squad room, there is apprehension. As Duff said in his previous interview, she puts on the breaks.

“He wants to assure her that everything is going to be okay,” Denison said, commenting on the case his character had to make to Sharon. “That I’m going to be fine. She wanted everything to be clean or else she wouldn’t have gone through with the wedding.”

As for the wedding, Denison commented that, “they lit Mary in a way that when she walked down the aisle she looked like an angel.”

The lighter episodes that always seem to be fan favorites are those that involve Denison’s character and G.W. Bailey’s Provenza, a gruff and at times cranky Lieutenant who has years of experience on the force.

While they are not having as much fun as they used to have, Denison commented that, “It’s something GW and I miss. It’s difficult for us to go onto capers that go into mishaps. Maybe if the show had gotten another year, maybe that would have happened.”

Speaking to the end of the show and the possibility that the show may come back Denison remarked, “You never know. The only thing you can be sure about is that you can’t be sure about anything.”

Major Crimes airs on TNT at 9PM EST, 8CST on Tuesday nights.

 

Geekscape Reviews: ‘Major Crimes’ Season 6 Premiere

by Alexandra Gallarza

The sixth and final season of TNT’s Major Crimes kicked off on Tuesday night. While there were no goblins or ghouls lurking around the squad room, there was plenty to be scared of.

The ‘Sanctuary City’ arc starts when three boys go missing from a school field trip. Each of them are considered critically missing for one reason or another. The need to find these boys is magnified when their personal lives begin to be investigated by the Major Crimes Division. It’s a race against the clock and by the end of first part of this story arc, the fate of one of these ‘St. Joseph’s Three’ is revealed.

The theme of this arc is Faith. Faith is tested when the boys, who are missing from a Catholic School, and the team wonders what makes it a Major Crime. A question that is answered week after week. The parents put their faith into the Major Crimes team to find their sons. The team puts their faith in each other to do their jobs and set their personal beliefs aside.

While the ‘Saint Joseph Three’ are the main focus of this first arc, the imminent return of serial killer Phillip Stroh, played by Billy Burke, is set into motion. In this week’s episode, Andrea Hobbs (Kathe Mazur), the Deputy District Attorney tells Sharon (Mary McDonnell) about a new pattern that has come to light. Hobbs proposes precautions that would keep Sharon’s adoptive son Rusty (Graham Patrick Martin), and other potential victim’s safe. Despite being the primary witness in the Stroh case, Rusty is apprehensive about the idea proposed and as Sharon tries to present the facts to him, the moment is interrupted with a break in the case.

Joining the cast and crew is Jessica Meraz, who plays Detective Camila Paige. Detective Page has transferred to Major Crimes after working with Assistant Chief Leo Mason (Leonard Roberts). Roberts is back as Leo Mason, the newly appointed Assistant Chief. While Roberts is not new, his character is new to the job. Roberts does an excellent job at showing the ups and downs that Mason has with the position.

Be sure to check out the next installment of Sanctuary City and to see what unfolds in the case of the ‘Saint Joseph Three.”

Major Crimes airs every Tuesday at 9EST/8CST on TNT. Take a look at the trailer for the season below.

Geekscape Interviews: ‘Major Crimes’ creator James Duff

by Alexandra Gallarza

TNT announced early in the month of October that it’s high-rated television show, Major Crimes would end with its sixth season. The final season premieres on October 31st.

Major Crimes has been a serialized show. Each week there would be a new case with a new victim, or victims, and new suspects. This season, there are 3 new cases, with their own set of victims and suspects that take up the 13-episode order.

James Duff, the creator of Major Crimes, spoke about the themes of the season, which revolve around Faith, Reason, and Risk.

“It gets tested,” Duff said, commenting on Faith, the theme that launches the season in the five-part story arc Sanctuary City.

In Sanctuary City three boys are missing. Time is not on the side of these elite detectives. Each boy missing has a metaphorical stop watch, forcing the detectives to race against time.  The detectives find themselves questioning their faith as the priorities of the justice system change.

The detectives find themselves trying to figure out how to reason through the changes in the justice system and another difficult situation that arises.

“We do a show about conspiracy theory,” he said in regard to what is ahead for the sixth season. Without giving too much away about the actual story line, he added that the four-part arc Conspiracy Theory, “has become very, very, topical.”

It was announced earlier in the year that Billy Burke was coming back to reprise his role as serial killer, Phillip Stroh. Fans of The Closer and Major Crimes know that Phillip Stroh does not work alone. Phillip Stroh and his co-villain, played by William Attenborough will appear in the last four episodes called, “By Any Means.”

It is no secret to fans of the show that there is some animosity between members of the Major Crimes division and Phillip Stroh. Fans will remember that the last they saw of Stroh he had broken out of his handcuffs and fled Los Angeles. Why he is back, when he made is a clean getaway is a question on these detective’s minds.

“The ending of Phillip Stroh is the end of Phillip Stroh,” Duff remarked. Whether Phillip Stroh is put into a body bag or back behind bars is still unknown. But whatever the answer is, his story is done by the end of the run of the show.

Despite being tested by faith, or finding the reason of a situation, and the plans that have changed due to risks taken, there is romance.

Andy Flynn (Tony Denison), he has every intention of marrying Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell). At least that’s what the plan is until Sharon puts on the breaks.

“She does suggest stopping it,” Duff said. “Andy has to make his case. It’s a good case. Tony Denison and Mary McDonnell do some of the finest acting they have ever done in the entire series.”

When asked about the cancellation of the show and the fans, Duff commented, “The interaction between the viewers and the show – we have been able to form a community out of that. I am so sad [to be] leaving that community behind.”

For the end of the show, how he would describe it?

“The ending of the series is defiant,” Duff said. “I have through what I wanted to say. That’s the word I have chosen.”

In conclusion, Duff remarked that the stories of the Major Crimes in the six seasons that it was on the air with TNT, were, “The story of ordinary people.”

‘Major Crimes’ returns to TNT!

by Alexandra Gallarza

It’s back!  TNT’s top rated show, Major Crimes, will be returning late October. October 31st to be exact.

The last time audiences saw the Major Crimes team, their headquarters blew up, courtesy of an angry citizen who wanted revenge on the LAPD. The last season ended with a multi-episode arc, which is a format TNT have taken to. When the show comes back, it will deal with three  multi-episode arcs, each dealing with various complexities . While the team deals with changing times in both their professional and personal lives, hiding in the shadows is the return of Billy Burke’s character, Phillip Stroh, a serial killer, who fans haven’t seen since the end of season 3, when he escaped detainment.

In the trailer below, the Major Crimes deals with a trio of boys who have gone missing, lots of money, and a new Assistant Chief who wants to know what makes the case they are dealing with a Major Crime.

Major Crimes, will air on Tuesday, October 31st, at 9pm Eastern 8pm Central, on TNT.

Take a look at the trailer below and let us know what you think.