Just found Pluto TV? Make ‘The Closer’ your first binge
Just found Pluto TV? Make ‘The Closer’ your first binge
Kyra Sedgwick’s Emmy-winning crime drama mixes twisty cases with great characters.
I love free stuff. And I love free stuff even better when what you’re getting for free is actually quality. Fortunately, that’s the case when you check out the “The Closer” on Pluto TV. Think of Pluto like a giant free buffet. There are tons of options, and most of them are not overly appetizing. But there’s always one or two dishes that make the whole thing worthwhile. With Pluto TV, that’s “The Closer.” It’s sharp, addictive, and one of those rare shows that balances case-of-the-week storytelling with real character depth. And the best part? It’s totally free to stream (with ads) on Pluto TV. Here’s why “The Closer” is the first drama you should check out on the platform.
Top drama TV show to stream first when you sign up for Pluto TV
Why ‘The Closer’ is the must-watch drama on Pluto TV
“The Closer” originally ran on TNT from 2005–2012, racking up seven seasons and 109 episodes. That means once you get into it, you’ve got episodes for months. The show follows Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a CIA-trained interrogator who moves from Atlanta to L.A. to take over the LAPD’s Priority Murder Squad. Kyra Sedgwick plays Brenda, and she’s incredible. She has Southern charm on the outside, but a ruthless edge when it comes to getting confessions. She bends rules, steps on toes, and doesn’t care if it ruffles feathers. Sedgwick’s performance won her a Golden Globe in 2007 and an Emmy in 2010, plus six straight Globe nominations and five straight Emmy nods. Critics loved her, and viewers couldn’t look away.
The show was also a ratings beast, hitting No. 1 on cable by its sixth season. But beyond the numbers, what makes “The Closer” stand out is how it mixes twisty cases with big ethical questions. Every episode dives into a new crime but also takes on L.A.’s culture and the moral gray zones of law enforcement. Brenda’s team, a mix of seasoned vets and rookies, often clashes with her style, which makes the squad room drama just as juicy as the cases. If you like your TV with brains, humor, and plenty of “do the ends justify the means?” moments, this show delivers.
And again, it’s free. All seven seasons are streaming with ads on Pluto TV. The dialogue pops, the cases are clever, and Sedgwick’s work feels iconic even now. It was such a phenomenon that it spun off into “Major Crimes” because fans just weren’t ready to say goodbye. If you’re looking for a great crime procedural drama with plenty of runway, totally for free, you can’t miss with “The Closer.”
What is ‘The Closer’ about?
At its heart, “The Closer” is a character study dressed up as a police procedural. In the pilot, Brenda gets pulled from Atlanta and dropped into L.A. homicide to whip a division into shape that handles the city’s most high-profile murders. She’s a CIA-trained interrogator with a sweet accent who can go stone-cold in a heartbeat. Each episode follows her team as they dig into a murder case, while Brenda works her psychological magic to corner suspects and get the truth. But the show never sticks to just the case. It also digs into the detectives’ personal lives, the politics of policing, and the blurred lines between justice and corruption. It’s mystery, moral dilemma, and workplace drama all rolled together, with Sedgwick tearing through interrogations like she was born to do it… cause she was.
Other must-stream drama shows on Pluto TV
If “The Closer” gets its hooks in you, Pluto TV has plenty more dramas worth your time.
Check out “Rizzoli & Isles” next. This one pairs Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli with chief medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles, and their totally opposite personalities make them an unexpectedly fun team. Jane’s tough and blunt, Maura’s book-smart and precise, and together they solve murders with both brains and heart. The series, based on Tess Gerritsen’s novels, premiered on TNT in 2010 and ran for seven seasons. If you’re into strong female leads and a friendship at the center, this one’s your next stop.
Next up is “Mad Men.” This stylish period drama drops you into the world of 1960s Madison Avenue advertising, where sharp suits, heavy drinking, and high-stakes pitches rule the day. At the center is Don Draper, a brilliant but deeply complicated ad man whose personal and professional lives are always on the edge of collapse. The show doesn’t just focus on Don, though; it pulls you into the lives of his colleagues, wives, and rivals, painting a layered portrait of ambition, identity, and the cost of chasing the American dream. If you want something sophisticated, character-driven, and packed with cultural detail, “Mad Men” is essential viewing.
Finally, check out “The Good Wife.” This legal drama stars Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick, a woman forced to restart her career as a lawyer after her husband, a high-profile state’s attorney, is caught in a messy political scandal. What starts as a story about rebuilding her life quickly grows into a sharp, layered look at law, politics, and personal ambition.
