One of The Closer‘s most loathsome creatures will finally appear on TNT’s Major Crimes in the slithery flesh, when Billy Burke reprises his role as Phillip Stroh in a wintertime two-parter, TVLine has learned exclusively.

Burke last portrayed the legal lizard/serial rapist/murderer in The Closer‘s August 2012 series finale, when Brenda risked her career to prove him guilty of murder.

The character has since been mentioned on the spin-off Major Crimes and most notably had his legal fate (seemingly?) sealed by testimony from Captain Sharon Raydor’s ward, former street rat Rusty Beck — though Stroh himself was a no-show at the pre-trial hearing (meaning Burke did not appear on screen).

When Stroh actually resurfaces — in the final two episodes of Season 3, airing Jan. 12 and 19 — he has fired his counsel (sorry, Seven of Nine!) and is now acting as his own attorney. To that end, he wants a new deal, and just may have the leverage to get one.

Burke’s other TV credits include Revolution, Rizzoli & Isles and My Boys.

TNT’s Major Crimes resumes Season 3 on Monday, Nov. 24. How excited are you for Stroh’s long-anticipated encore?