‘The Closer’: Who Does Brenda End Up With? Look Back at Her Romance History
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for The Closer.]
If you’re looking for your next procedural binge watch, The Closer is ready to seal the deal. The hit TNT series will be available on Netflix starting December 22 (it’s already available on Peacock), and you’ll have seven seasons to immerse yourself in.
The show, which ran from 2005 to 2012, revolves around Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) as she steps into the role of Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Division at the Los Angeles Police Department. She’s a fierce CIA-trained interrogator from Atlanta with a razor-sharp tongue. She’s someone you can always count on to “close” the case.
Brenda’s relationship history on The Closer is quite interesting. She’s a big fan of the workplace and workplace-adjacent romance. So, who does Brenda end up with? What happened between her and Will Pope (J.K. Simmons)? Swooon has your ultimate romance refresh for Brenda Leigh Johnson.
Who does Brenda end up with on The Closer?
Brenda ends up with Fritz Howard (Jon Tenney). Brenda and Fritz meet during their days in Washington, D.C., and reconnect when Brenda takes the Major Crimes Division job in Los Angeles. Turns out, Fritz transferred to Los Angeles as well to be a Senior Special Agent for the FBI.
Karen Neal / TNT / Everett Collection
During their first scene together on The Closer, when Brenda and Fritz have a catch-up session at a hotel bar (and he can deliver some DNA results to her for a case), there’s an immediate chemistry between these friends. Fritz even gets flirty by telling Brenda that she looks “terrific.” They share their first kiss in Episode 5 of Season 1.
Their relationship continues to deepen over the course of Season 1. They move in together in Season 2, and Fritz pops the question in Episode 8 of Season 3.
When do Brenda and Fritz get married?
Brenda and Fritz tie the knot in the Season 4 finale of The Closer. Brenda’s sister, Claire (Amy Sedaris), officiates the ceremony. Their friends send sweet video messages to them in honor of their nuptials. This marks Brenda’s second marriage. She was previously married before the events of The Closer, but her ex-husband is never seen in the series.
TNT / Everett Collection
What happened between Brenda and Pope?
Brenda and Pope had an affair when they first worked together in Washington, D.C. Pope eventually divorced his first wife and married his second, Estelle Pope. Despite his complicated history with Brenda, Pope has a deep respect for her. He’s the one who brings her out to Los Angeles for the Deputy Chief job (he’s the Chief of Police) and shows his loyalty to her when others doubt she has the chops for the gig.
After Pope and Estelle divorce, Pope asks Brenda to serve as a character witness to help him get custody of his kids. Estelle then outs Pope and Brenda’s past affair to their colleagues. It’s awkward at first, but they all manage to move forward and continue to work together.
TNT / Everett Collection
Were Brenda and Fritz on Major Crimes together?
After The Closer ended, the Major Crimes spinoff premiered in 2012. The series followed Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell), who took over as head of the Major Crimes Division after Brenda left.
Brenda never appeared in Major Crimes, but Fritz certainly did. He only recurred in the first two seasons, but he was a series regular for Seasons 3, 4, 5, and 6. Even though Brenda never shows up, all is well between Brenda and Fritz. They’re still happily married, and Fritz offers updates on her throughout the show.
The Closer, All Seasons, Streaming Now, Peacock and Netflix (December 22)
