Major Crimes: The Complete Second Season

This spin-off of TNT's police procedural The Closer continues to center on Mary McDonnell's Captain Sharon Raydor and her relationship with troubled street kid Rusty (Graham Patrick Martin), a teenage witness in a serial-killing trial whom Sharon has taken in as a kind of foster child. This season follows the pressure on Rusty as he deals with threats against his life as the court date approaches. Along with the regulars—Lt. Louie Provenza (G.W. Bailey), Lt. Andy Flynn (Tony Denison), Lt. Mike Tao (Michael Paul Chan), Det. Julio Sanchez (Raymond Cruz), and tech-support provider Buzz Watson (Phillip P. Keene)—there's a new member, Det. Amy Sykes (Kearran Giovanni). Guest star Nadine Velazquez plays Emma Rios, a deputy D.A. whose abrasive approach rubs the crew the wrong way, and Tom Berenger is Sharon's ex-husband. As before, the show's formula is defined by crack teamwork and Raydor's soft-spoken leadership. More interesting than The Closer, the series puts greater emphasis on chemistry among the squad and issues in their personal lives, such as Provenza facing impending retirement and Flynn trying to repair family bonds following his divorce. Presenting all 19 episodes from the 2013–14 season, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes and deleted scenes. While not must-see-TV, this is still a strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)