“CSI” is certainly the best that television has to offer today.
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Who says the studios never listen to consumers?
When "CSI"´s first season DVD set was released last March, Paramount came under fire from fans for releasing what is considered its flagship television series on DVD, with barely any extra features, only Dolby Surround 2.0 audio and to add salt to the wound, yucky full screen video. Where were the audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes specials and special-effects documentaries? Together with a less than stellar audio mix and regular full screen video, the first season DVD set seemed like a rush job and one that many "CSI" fans would rather forget.
What a big difference six months make. This time around, Paramount has made amends in all the major departments. Let me tell you, this Season Two DVD set is the definitive edition that the previous season´s set should have been. First of all, let me gush about the awesome anamorphic widescreen video measuring in at 1.85:1 and the dynamic Dolby Digital 5.1 audio soundtrack. Certainly kicks the "CSI" viewing experience up several notches, at least! To top it all off, there are the high quality extra features that are sure to please even the most avid fans of the series.
"CSI" or "Crime Scene Investigation" has consistently topped the Nielsen ratings in recent years, handing CBS a major win in the coveted 18-25 male demographic range. It is during this second season that an episode of "CSI" first reached number one in the ratings. Ironically, that episode, "Ellie", turned out to be one that the show´s two main leads, William Peterson and Marg Helgenberger only made cameo appearances, with the temporary lead going to Gary Dourdan.
The brainchild of Anthony E. Zuiker and action flick guru, Jerry Bruckheimer, "CSI" is atypical of a hit television crime series. After all, the basis for the series falls in the realms of science and technology, a premise that is more suited for the Discovery Channel than for prime time television. However, what "CSI" is NOT is exactly the reason for its popularity. Crime dramas are a dime a dozen on television and unfortunately, most of them do not diverge far from their "whodunit" roots. A crime is committed and the detectives chase down leads that finally lead them to the perpetrators. Crime is solved, case closed. To its credit, "CSI" tries very hard not to go down the same path. It turns our expectations for crime dramas inside out and instead of shoving another generic hour of a "whodunit" down our reluctant throats, it patiently focuses on the "howdunit", a seldom-seen aspect of fighting crime. By concentrating on exposing how the crime is committed and the meticulous process that the principal characters go though to reach their conclusion, "CSI" is able to invite the audience into its world of forensic science and take them on a ride through the eyes and minds of the show´s protagonists. Even though science plays a major part in its storyline, the writers of "CSI" are able to make the show accessible and approachable to the general public through easy-to-understand explanations of the methods and tools used in solving the crimes.
Today´s crime scene investigators or better known as forensic scientists, are the modern equivalent of a group of Sherlock Holmes with cool toys and well-equipped laboratories at their disposal. Using up-to-date scientific methods and tools to collect and interpret evidence left behind at crime scenes, CSIs try to piece together how crimes are committed in order to nab the bad guys. It was the O.J. Simpson trial that first introduced America to the world of forensic science with Dr. Henry Lee, the nation´s leading forensic criminologist, testifying at the trial and giving a large television audience their first taste of forensic science at work. Then came Monica Lewinsky and the infamous stained blue dress. "CSI"´s creator Anthony E. Zuiker, perhaps building upon the public´s exposure to how forensic science helps law enforcement agencies break such high profile cases, has assembled a competent group of consultants that culls their experience as real-life CSIs to help keep the show rooted in real science and believable plots.
Featuring crime scene investigators from the Las Vegas Criminalistics Bureau, "CSI" tells the stories of the graveyard shift team, headed by Gil Grissom (William L. Peterson). Grissom is the quintessential braniac that works on advanced crossword puzzles for fun and gets along better with bugs than people. Nicknamed Gruesome Grissom by his colleagues, his tightly focused intensity in solving crimes through scientific means sometimes border on obsession. Along for the ride is the rest of the CSI team: Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger), Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan), Nick Stokes (George Eads) and Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox).
Grissom acts as a mentor for his young charges, patiently helping them sift through the evidence to arrive at a logical conclusion. Unlike the first season where the personal back-story of the various CSI´s are rarely on display, this second season brings that personal aspect of the show into better focus. As Grissom grapples with his increasingly deteriorating hearing loss caused by a genetic impairment, we are shown a glimpse of Willow´s previously unknown relationship with Sam Braun (Scott Wilson), a Steve Wynn-type casino mogul in the premiere episode of season two. Only later, at the end of the third season, is the nature of their relationship revealed. Paul Millander (Matt O´Toole), the architect of Grissom´s major unsolved case from the previous season, makes an intriguing appearance in a season two episode titled, "Identity Crisis", a very interesting and puzzling case of confused sexual identity that finally solves the Millander mystery. One of my favorite episodes, "Scuba Doobie-Doo" also features a fleeting moment of attraction (or is it more than that?) between Sidle and Grissom that hints of a deeper relationship between the two in the future.
A major highlight in the second season is the episode that introduces the new folks from "CSI: Miami", the just-introduced "CSI" spinoff series, to a primetime audience. Called "Cross-Jurisdictions", Willows and Warrick fly to Miami to join Horatio Caine (David Caruso) and his team in solving the murder of a former police chief and the disappearance of his wife and daughter. In my opinion, this is one of the best episodes in "CSI"´s history, as it not only is able to generate buzz for the new series but is also able to keep the audience on the edge of their seats with its suspenseful story and the great chemistry between Willows and Caine.
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