Some might not remember when CSI first broke onto the scene. At the time sitcoms were the rage on TV. Then this new breed of investigative police procedural broke out and became an enormous hit spawning two spin offs. Those also opened the doors for shows like NCIS that became immensely popular. So when word came out that the series was coming back for a reboot fans were overjoyed. But could they capture lightening in a bottle twice. Thankfully yes.
If you never saw the original it revolved around the Crime Scene Investigative unit in Las Vegas, NV. Cast members came and went and when we last saw Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) and Gil Grissom (William Peterson) they had retired from CSI, married and were off on their own research around the globe. All of that changes with the opening episode of this new series.
Jim Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) was the police officer who worked hand in hand with the original CSI team. Now going blind and living alone, he is attacked and nearly killed before he takes out his killer. This could easily be passed off as an act of revenge from one of the many criminals put away by Brass over the years. But here is something more going on here. And rather than sit back and watch it happens, Brass contacts Sidle to return and help find out who it was that wanted him dead.
From there things continue to spiral downward. Sidle comes back and along with her she brings Gil. But as they arrive to help an old colleague of theirs is accused of doctoring evidence. David Hodges (Wallace Langham) is being charged with committing the crime of evidence tampering and all the physical evidence seems to prove the charges are based in fact.
The new head of the CSI unit is Maxine Roby (Paula Newsome) and she welcomes the assistance of Sara and Gil. Problems pop up with the charges against Hodges though with the thought being that since they worked with him their objectivity might not be the clearest. Helping the crime lab while working out their theories about Hodges on the side, they pursue every angle possible in the hopes of helping him become vindicated.
As the season progresses we discover the real culprit of course. A disgruntled attorney who saw most of his cases destroyed by the factual evidence that was gathered by the CSI unit. Anson Wix (Jamie McShane) also happens to be running for office. Using their own methods against them and placing them in a position where if they investigate him it will look like a political ploy, the team must work diligently and by the book if they are to save Hodges and put Wix behind bars.
A new crime lab and new characters combined with the familiar faces of the past works to great effect here. Originally intended to be a one off the show was so popular that CBS has renewed it for a second season. Sadly the two main old stars will not be returning but another will.
The feel of the old series is on hand here and all that fans loved about it remains intact. Using the various forms of forensics to find the clues needed to put the culprit behind bars is front and center once more. This makes it as much a howdunit as it is a whodunit. That technology keeps the viewer guessing as to what it will turn up and who it will help.
It was fantastic seeing Fox and Peterson together again as these characters. When series end or characters leave there is a feeling of sadness that follows with them. Seeing them return and doing what they do best in a fresh environment brings a feeling of contentment and happiness to fans.
The show was incredibly enjoyable and the choice to make it a combination of day to day crimes surrounded by an ongoing story that runs through all ten episodes was a stroke of genius. I don’t know if I’d follow the same path for season two but here it works perfectly.
Just released on disc you can own this series and put it
right next to the old ones on your shelf. That’s where mine is sitting. In
spite of streaming services I like having a physical copy on hand. You might
get rid of that service, the internet might be down for hours or you might be
on vacation with a disc player or disc capable laptop on hand. When that
happens it will be a joy to pop this in and watch it one more time.
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