It was the summer of 2012. The Closer had just aired its series finale, leaving a massive, Brenda Leigh Johnson-sized hole in the hearts of TNT viewers. Then, almost immediately, Mary McDonnell walked onto the screen in the pilot of Major Crimes and basically told the audience, "I’m who you get." It was a bold, almost clinical introduction for a character most of us spent three seasons actively rooting against.
Honestly, the transition of Captain Sharon Raydor from a cold, rule-obsessed antagonist to one of the most beloved protagonists in modern procedural history is a masterclass in acting. It wasn't just a spin-off; it was a total reclamation of a character.
The Villain Nobody Wanted to Love
When we first met Raydor in The Closer, she was the "internal affairs" nightmare. She was the person who showed up to tell our favorite characters they were doing their jobs wrong. She was stiff. She was calculated. She was, quite frankly, the "fun police."
But Mary McDonnell didn't play her as a caricature. That’s the key.
She played Raydor with this terrifyingly calm interiority. Most actors would have leaned into the "mean boss" trope, but McDonnell chose to play the integrity behind the rules. Even when we hated her for investigating Brenda, we had to respect that she actually believed in the system. James Duff, the show’s creator, has talked about how they never wanted to "force" the audience to like her. They just wanted to show her work.
Why the Transition Actually Worked
Most spin-offs fail because they try to change the lead to make them "likable." Major Crimes did the opposite. Sharon Raydor stayed exactly who she was—a stickler for protocol and a woman of deep, quiet faith—but the context around her shifted.
- The Rusty Beck Factor: This was the stroke of genius. Bringing in a homeless, traumatized witness like Rusty (played by Graham Patrick Martin) forced Raydor’s maternal side into the light. It wasn't soft or mushy; it was a disciplined, fierce kind of protection.
- The Squad's Resistance: We felt what the squad felt. Provenza’s grumbling wasn't just comic relief; it represented the audience's own hesitation to accept a new leader.
- The "Justice Through Deals" Shift: Moving the show's focus from confessions to "justice through the legal system" perfectly suited Raydor’s analytical mind.
Mary McDonnell and the Art of the "Slow Burn"
McDonnell is a two-time Oscar nominee for a reason. You’ve seen her in Dances with Wolves and Passion Fish, and of course, as the iconic President Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica. She brings a specific weight to her roles.
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In Mary McDonnell Major Crimes interviews, she often mentions that the source of Sharon’s control was "deep listening." If you watch the show closely, she spends more time observing than talking. In a world of loud "cop shows," Raydor was a quiet powerhouse.
She also fought for the character’s humanity. Remember the romance with Andy Flynn? It felt earned. It didn't feel like a "TV couple" thrown together for ratings. It was two middle-aged professionals finding comfort in each other after years of friction. It was grounded. It was real.
That Controversial Series Finale
We have to talk about it. The ending of Major Crimes still generates heated threads on Reddit and Facebook groups even years later. In 2017, the decision to kill off Sharon Raydor with four episodes left in the series felt like a gut-punch.
Fans were furious. Some still are.
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James Duff later explained that they knew the show was being canceled. He and Mary McDonnell made a collaborative choice to give Sharon a "complete story." By having her pass away from a heart condition before the final showdown with Phillip Stroh, they ensured the show couldn't just "fizzle out." They wanted a definitive conclusion.
McDonnell herself wrote a deeply moving piece for Variety in 2018, acknowledging the fans' grief. She saw the reaction as a "confirmation of what Commander Raydor stood for." It’s rare for an actor to be that tuned in to their audience’s emotional state, but that’s just how she operates.
Why People Are Still Watching in 2026
You might think a procedural from a decade ago would be forgotten, but Major Crimes has a massive second life on streaming and syndication. Why?
- The Ensemble Chemistry: From Tao’s tech-talk to Sykes’ ambition, the squad felt like a real family.
- Authentic Aging: Seeing a woman in her 60s lead a major police department with grace, style, and authority is still, sadly, too rare on TV.
- The Stroh Arc: The Phillip Stroh saga is one of the best "long-game" villain arcs in television history.
Honestly, if you’re looking for a show that respects your intelligence, this is it. It doesn't rely on car chases or explosions. It relies on the law.
What to Do if You’re a New (or Returning) Fan
If you're just discovering the brilliance of Mary McDonnell in this role, or if you're planning a rewatch, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the Final Season of The Closer First: If you skip the "FID" era of Sharon Raydor, you miss the starting point of her growth. You need to see her as the "enemy" to appreciate her as the hero.
- Pay Attention to the Wardrobe: It sounds superficial, but Sharon’s clothes were a literal armor. As the series progresses and she becomes more comfortable with the team, you’ll notice subtle shifts in her style.
- Look for the "Easter Eggs": James Duff often hid nods to McDonnell’s past roles (like calling her "President" in subtle ways) throughout the scripts.
- Check out her 2023-2024 work: If you miss her screen presence, her performance in The Fall of the House of Usher shows she hasn't lost an ounce of that commanding "Raydor-esque" intensity.
Sharon Raydor wasn't just a character; she was a testament to the idea that you can be powerful without being loud, and that it’s never too late to change how the world sees you.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
Check your local listings for Start TV or streaming platforms like HBO Max to catch the full run of the series. For those interested in the craft of acting, seeking out Mary McDonnell’s 2018 Variety op-ed provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the emotional toll of playing a character for nearly a decade.