CSI: Las Vegas season 11 thread

Well, I didn't get around to seeing the last two episodes from last season till now! So it was pretty cool to watch the last 2 shows plus the season premiere right after.

It was a well done premiere but a couple of things struck me, is this CSI going over board with Serial Killers? I think it's fun that they do these so they have season long threads. But in reality, I doubt any crime unit would be confronted with so many! I think the resolution of that serial killer was a let down too. You only see him in one episode and Nick blows him away! I realize the main focus though was on the killer they had who was helping and taunting Langston from Langston's introduction episode.

The bomber may not be a serial killer situation. But I don't know.

The new girl who was the bomb specialist could easily have been played by Wendy Simms. Shame they dumped her. Even if the show's focus is shifting to whatever, I don't see why they dump her, she could be seen less. But perhaps they felt that Liz Vassey would not have that, she felt she would have earned more to do.

Just watched the first 3 episodes of this season. If this does turn out to be the last season, I hope it would get a proper sendoff. But not likely, since this is CBS, who has cancelled long-running shows without much notice.

CSI is still a Top 10 show so I don't think it's going anywhere for at least a couple of years.

Some interesting episodes the last 3 weeks, maintaining the usual creepy kinds of murders the show does so well.

 

I assume the killer in the black rubber suit will be back!

 

As for how CSI will be moving forward, not sure I understand what I read in the entertainment stories, but I read that Marg Helgenberger is looking at leaving the series this season. And Katee Sackhoff, who just guest starred is going to replace her. Not sure I liked her as a brunette. 

 

That would be a shame to see Catherine leave. Maybe this affair she is having with the detective is part of her move out. So perhaps Nick will be promoted to the top position. Seems there's no one of the original crew left now! Nick, Sara and Greg are left if Catherine leaves and then Langston becomes the star, even though he's the most junior. I was hoping this season we might also see Grissom come back for a show or 2 or 3.

Marg Helgenberger was on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson last week and while no details were forthcoming it was mentioned that she would be leaving C.S.I.  

 

I'm still reallying enjoying the show, and for my money it still features some of the better writing (at least in the crime genre) on television.   I hope that whenever the show does complete its run that they bring back Grissom for an episode or two.

 

- Walter.

 

And Brass as well.

 

Edit to add: I remember now, in the 1st episode, when Brass was head of CSI, he mentioned Greg's name.

My wife and I thought she was awful. We did know who she was when we watched.

As far as I'm concerned, Von Teese and Swift were Meryl Streep or Laurence Olivier compared to Justin Bieber earilier this season. I don't have any bias towards Bieber (why get mad just because he's another kid in a long line that sells records to teen girls by being pretty and non-threatening?) but to say that he isn't an actor is being extremely kind. I can understand that CSI and CBS want to have some guest stars to keep ratings up and keep some attention on the show but they should be ashamed that Bieber got the role over a person with a shred of acting ability.

Patrick, I wished I didn't see your post! 

 

But I was curious when they'd finally do this. I just saw the episode. I enjoyed the bits with Sara and Mrs Grissom and the last scene more then the case. But they did a good job of weaving the prime suspect into the story.

I just saw the new episode with Justin Bieber returning. Thought for a while that Nick and Catherine might be gonners given how Marg Helgenberger is reported to be leaving the series.

 

That was an okay episode with some twisted up endings! The serial killer's escape surprised me. Didn't seem like a typical CSI episode ending. I am not sure if it was intended to be a continuing story, or if he's just gone now. Perhaps he kills all his new girlfriends now. It just felt more like a CSI: Miami ending.

 

The way the Justin Bieber storyline ended was amusing to me. It wasn't what I expected either. Because it sort of had 2 levels for me. For one, it would be a terrible shock to all his fans to see him blown away like that. On the other, I'm sure there are those who are not into him and perhaps got a visceral kick out of seeing him blown away like that. It is shocking to see a kid killed like that though.

Is it me or is this show just tumbling downhill?  All the plots are now implausibly ludicrous and filled to the brim with red herrings.  Or at least even more so than ever.  A couple of shows back, a teenage girl killer her father and chopped up his body with guitar strings.  Then cleaned up the crime scene spic and span. Come on.

CSI has definitely lost it "most horrific corpse" crown to Bones.  That bone and putrefaction stew in the tanning bad last week was so vivid I could almost smell it.

I am most definitely in that camp. I didn't even bother with the episode itself, and just saw that scene on YouTube. I'm burned out on CSI and when the season began with the announcement that Bieber would be a special guest, that was the final nail in the credibility coffin for me and I have only seen a single episode of this all season, the "Two Mrs. Grissoms" episode.

 

 

Bones always had the upper-hand in the graphic grotesque department. From the time there was a body that was being carried and the flesh/innards started oozing/dripping off all over the ground, to that horrible-yet-amazing shot of the Gravedigger's head exploding by the sniper's bullet, Bones has always topped CSI in the gross-out area.

 

 

 

For the most part, I would agree with the previous posters, BUT...  there was an episode of C.S.I. during Season 4 or 5 where a guy died in a bathtub (at a frat house?) and had turned into soup which was pretty nauseating and rivaled anything I've seen on Bones.

 

I still watch C.S.I. regularly and still enjoy the writing.  Since folks are offering up comparisons to Bones, at least C.S.I. does not do the type of "reboots" that Bones has done, nor has the writing ever been as bad as the way Zach was handled on Bones.  All, just IMHO of course.  (I do like Bones as well, but generally prefer the writing on C.S.I.  For me, Bones is about the characters whereas C.S.I. is more about the plots.)

 

- Walter.

 

While it's extremely unlikely, I can accept a teenage girl cutting up her father but Haskell escaping went way out of the bounds of believability. Unless his freaky harem's plan was to immediately fly to the caves of Afghanistan, they'd be caught before sunrise. If I remember correctly, he killed about two dozen people so his escape would be MASSIVE national news and every resource would be devoted to finding him. That being said, the guy playing Haskell is probably the creepiest maniac this side of Hannibal Lecter.

 

Also, Justin Bieber has either done more work with an acting coach or the writers tried to give him material that he was better at because his acting wasn't terrible this time around.

So I am watching the episode where theybgo to LA in search of Nate Haskell. We are introduced to a LA csi tech...who is Eckley's estranged daughter. They seemed. To be focusing on her a lot. Almost like it was a pilot for a new show. It's not...but, their was a reason they were focusing on her. She will be a regular on csi next year. So I guess she is moving to Las Vegas.

Sorry, but this Haskell thread has been done before. As much as I enjoy the series, it may be time to pull the plug.

What ever happened to "Sqweegel"?:

 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1640839/

 

Maybe when they finish with Nate Haskell they'll go back to Sqweegel next season.

Oh, oh. CBS has been promoting a move to Wednesday for CSI. Could this be a sign that CBS is loosing confidence in the ratings winner and is going to kill the show. I still think it's superior to the spin offs.

I still have to catch up on the recordings of the last few episodes this past season. I heard a spoiler of other changes.

I think a lot will depend on the actor hired to replace Laurence Fishburne. Obviously, the show still has plenty of life left in it, and a new leading man who could jump start the new season might put the show back among the top rated shows on the network (not that it has fallen THAT far, but it's regularly outrated by both NCIS shows and The Mentalist now).

And I just read that Ted Danson has just been signed for that role. So, it WILL be interesting to see how many viewers he will bring to the veteran show.

I really wish the show would not hire any more replacements, but try to make it work with the remaining cast members that they do have. 

 

With TD, I don't doubt that he can handle serious roles, as I thought he was great in Damages.

I was thinking the same thing but, like you said, Danson is really good so I'm hoping for the best. I'm guessing Larry Fishburne's personal problems with his daughter made him want to leave the show but I always find him interesting so I'll miss his work on the show.

I guess William Peterson will continue to produce the series, assuming he stays in that role, rather then return to play Grissom? It was nice to see him doing the Skype thing with Sara.

I'm avoiding any news about the series till I finish watching the last 4 episodes of last season to avoid spoilers, so Fishburne leaving is a surprise.

Yeah, I'm willing to give Danson a shot, and see how he fits in with the team.

 

Also, I don't think hearing about Fishburne's departure would spoil anything from this past season, as it was not known at the time of the season finale. But there may be spoilers would be in the actual news articles, which I made a mistake of reading, as I still have not caught up on the show.