Major Crimes (TV)

Major Crimes is an American police procedural that aired on TNT for six seasons. It is a spin off of The Closer. 
== Popular Pairings ==
* Andy Flynn/Sharon Raydor: Canonical het pairing, commonly known by the portmanteau "Shandy"
* Andrea Hobbs/Sharon Raydor: Non-canonical femslash pairing, sometimes known by the portmanteau "Shandrea"
== Controversies ==
=== Role of Rusty Beck ===
* Following the shift away from the Phillip Stroh storyline at the end of season three, some fans felt Rusty was being shoehorned into the show
** Some felt it was largely at Sharon's expense
=== Death of Sharon Raydor ===
For years, many fans had been critical of the relative lack of focus on Sharon. Ahead of season six, series creator James Duff seemingly acknowledged this criticism and promised Sharon would get a major personal storyMunn, Patrick. ‘Major Crimes’ Showrunner James Duff Talks Final Season, Sharon & Andy’s Wedding, Phillip Stroh & More, published 16 October 2017 at TVWise. (Accessed 4 January 2018.):
This personal story turned out to be a health issue that ultimately led to Sharon's death at the end of the season's ninth episode, four episodes before the end of the series. The following day, Duff offered a variety of explanations for this storytelling decision: Mitovich, Matt Webb. Major Crimes Boss: 'Unexpected' Twist Was Metaphor for 'Death of the Show' — Cancelled Series Won't Be Rescued, published 20 December 2017 at TVLine. (Accessed 4 January 2018.)
* Various statements from actors suggest the decision to kill Sharon came before the show's cancellation, further annoying fans
Fan reaction to Sharon's death was largely negative, with many finding it pointless, unnecessary, or even spiteful.ginger ninja (funkasaurusrex). "We're not mad that Sharon Raydor died. We'd mourn but not rage if she died in the line. We rage because her death was pointless. #MajorCrimes". 20 Dec 2017, 4:09 PM . Tweet.Leonarda, Julia (jules_leonarda). "I can't even mourn one of my favourite characters because I'm so incredibly livid over the sheer pointlessness of her demise. Well done. #MajorCrimes". 20 Dec, 5:11 AM. Tweet.Olga (witzseeker). "
Caught up on #MajorCrimes and wow, that was all kinds of stupid, unnecessary and meaningless, no words😑 @MaryMcDonnell10 and Sharon Raydor deserved way better than this. Way to ruin a great character, James Duff. I’m finally done with this show for good." 20 December 2017, 4:29 PM. Tweet.SJwashere (SJwashere). "It’s 7:44am and I’m still mad about that stupid, unnecessary storyline, and the reasoning for it makes no sense, it was vindictive. Not getting your way so you burn the village on your way out vindictive. Well it’s burnt and so are we #majorcrimes". 20 Dec 2017, 3:52 PM. Tweet.F., Avery (averyintheopen). "Laura Roslin got a beautiful, meaningful, well-earned death that fans could be at peace with. What happened on #majorcrimes tonight felt spiteful, pointless, and entirely unnecessary. What a waste, and what a🖕to fans who loved this character." 19 Dec 2017, 11:17 PM. Tweet. There was a sense among many fans that Sharon deserved better, and one Tumblr gifset to that effect amassed nearly 400 notes in two weeks.disturbingclarity. farewell/mobile, sharon raydor, published 20 December 2017 at Tumblr. (Accessed 6 January 2018.)
The negative reaction arose in part from the way the season -- and Sharon's role in it -- had been promoted:
Many fans also took issue with the way Sharon died, finding the actions Sharon took (or failed to take) prior to her death to be out of character:
Some fans even felt her behavior meant her death was equivalent to suicideBagot-Lopez, Barbara (BernalHtsBB). "I agree withers that Sharon basically committed suicide--she left the video, continued to work against doctor's orders, and blew a gasket in the interview--so out of character--she's normally so calm she puts the perp to sleep. Poor writing and plot holes all season long..." 27 Dec 2017, 1:50 AM. Tweet.Blythe, Mae (annamaeblythe). "I made the stupid joke to myself "Huh, reverse 'suicide by cop'" thinking they'd save her. They didn't. The way she took control of it was by effectively committing suicide in a dramatic way because she didn't want to deal with more doctors . . . which is just eeegh..." 22 Dec 2017, 4:48 PM. Tweet.sarken. wt actual f, published 20 December at Dreamwidth. (Accessed 8 January 2018.):
Fanfiction addressing Sharon's death began appearing less than a day after the episode aired. Of the 24 Major Crimes stories published on Fanfiction.Net in the week following the episode, eight portrayed the aftermath of Sharon's death, while eight others served as fix-it fic. In the Archive of Our Own's Sharon Raydor tag, ten works were posted in the same timeframe, with two stories portraying Sharon's death and five serving as fix-its. Some authors also published fic that avoided recent events altogether, choosing instead to "think of Sharon at a happier time in her life."RomanticFollies. Building Confidence, published 21 December 2017 at Fanfiction.Net. (Accessed 16 January 2018.)
Two episodes of Major Crimes aired the week after Sharon's death, and both episodes further contributed to the ire some fans felt. 
The first episode to air that night ("By Any Means: Part 1") began with Sharon's funeral, and some fans expressed displeasure with its brevity,Peterson, Christine (myragtop01). "#MajorCrimes after the HUGE shock of our heroine' s death, may I ask why we had like a 5 minute funeral? NO flashbacks/montages? Just sayin..her 'death' caused tons of emotions n all we got 2 honor how much she meant 2 us was 5 frakkin minutes?.. smh @MaryMcDonnell10" 30 December 2017, 10:39 AM. Tweet.Claudia The #Phoenix (phoenixoftheice). "#MajorCrimes I won't even comment on the fact that her wedding and funeral combined together lasted less than the whole lot about Stroh, but I'll quote you something "When I was pregnant with Ricky Emily told me she didn't want a little brother"." 26 January 2017, 11:53 PM. Tweet.Mowdi, Christi (xtirn05). "So with the 2 minute funeral, metaphor, closure, whatever we are calling it, we can now stop bitching about the 2 minute wedding...got it #MajorCrimes" 26 December 2017, 9:23 PM. Tweet. feeling it was indicative of "where Sharon Raydor really ranked on this show".Whitfield, Renée (ReneeNWhitfield). "#MajorCrimes 5 minute wedding, and 3 minute funeral we know where Sharon Raydor really ranked on this show. Kind of sad, she deserved a better sendoff." 26 December 2017, 9:15 PM. Tweet. Furthering that opinion, the episode also had Sharon contradict previously-established canon regarding her life and that of her children: in a video recorded before her death, she referred to her son Ricky, rather than her daughter Emily, as her firstborn child, prompting already-frustrated fans to express anger, disappointment, and exasperation.Kadi (Jenlynn219). "I’m sorry. But this is a major continuity issue. Ricky is not the oldest. Emily is. See 309 Sweet Revenge. She was 3 when Ricky came along. #MajorCrimes" 26 December 2017, 9:33 PM. Tweet.Amphorae Impetus‏ (AmphoraeImpetus‏). "I thought that when Emily was 3 and Sharon was pregnant with Ricky she didn't want a little brother.... This actually makes me so angry! #MajorCrimes" 26 December 2017, 9:44 PM. Tweet.katee (sakurapuff). "and they called ricky her first born ARE YOU SHITTING ME EMILY IS THE ELDEST YOU MORONS #majorcrimes this writing jesus christ" 26 December 2017, 10:14 PM. Tweet.Cunha, Andreza Maria (Andreza_MNFCF). "Still trying to understand Ricky being the firstborn. Something wrong is not right Mr. @JamesADuff . With each episode, disappointment is turning into unlimited anger. #MajorCrimes" 27 December 2017, 12:46 PM. Tweet.ANNIE (superannielette). "And I can't believe they forgot that Ricky IS NOT the first born. WTF? But I guess I shouldn't be surprised. #MajorCrimes" 27 December 2017, 5:35 PM. Tweet.Jones, J. E. (jezzybees). "I've done some research and guess what? Cardiomyopathy indeed does not change the order in which your children were born. 🙄 #MajorCrimes" 27 December 2017, 8:45 AM. Tweet.
In that night's second episode ("By Any Means: Part 2"), Mary McDonnell's name was removed from the opening credits, which some fans found disrespectful, and which TV critic Maureen Ryan later called "perplexing"Ryan, Maureen. ‘Major Crimes’: Why Was the Star Killed Off a Hit Show? (Column), published 11 January 2018 at Variety. (Accessed 16 January 2018.) and "incomprehensible"Ryan, Mo (moryan). "Even if you don't watch #MajorCrimes, ponder this sequence of events: 1. Lead character killed off 4 eps from end 2. Lead actress' name removed for final 3 eps 3. Lead actress not told credit removal wd happen 15+ years covering TV, I've rarely seen anything that incomprehensible" 15 January 2018, 2:45 PM. Tweet. when considered with the rest of the circumstances around Sharon's death. To protest this removal of McDonnell's name from the credits, some fans on Twitter changed their icons to a screen capture of her name as it appeared in the credits. McDonnell herself joined infavouritewomenintheworld. Untitled, published 28 December 2017 on Tumblr. (Accessed 16 January 2018.), calling it "a great idea"McDonnell, Mary (MaryMcDonnell10). "Ladies it was a great idea . It's full of fun and strength and it's clever 💃🏻" 27 December 2017, 7:12 PM. Tweet. and later writing in a column for Variety that:
== Fannish Links ==
* Major Crimes FanFiction on FanFiction.Net
* Major Crimes (TV) Works on Archive of Our Own
== References ==
Category:Fandoms by Source Text
Category:Live-action Television
Category:The Closer