CSI: Miami--'Going Ballistic'

Discussion in 'CSI Files News Items' started by CSI Files, May 22, 2008.

  1. CSI Files

    CSI Files Captain

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2003
    Messages:
    4,359
    Likes Received:
    2
    <p><b>Synopsis:</b><p>Shannon Higgins, the ME replacing Alexx, shows up at the CSIs latest crime scene to determine the cause of death for a man found dead outside an abandoned building. Moments later, when she notices the man's chest rattle and calls for fire and rescue, shots are fired, killing her instantly. The shooter escapes, so the team turns to the dead body of the man, Manny Ortega, who apparently plunged to his death after crashing through one of the windows of the building. His brother, Juan, comes to claim his belongings and identify his body. Juan tells Delko his brother would disappear for weeks at a time. In the room Ortega fell from, Ryan and Natalia discover blood on a fallen ladder. The blood leads them to Evan Caldwell, an ATF agent who tells Horatio his criminal record is faked so that he can blend in among the thugs he infiltrates. Manny's death was an inconvenience; Evan was trying to get him to reveal who he was trafficking illegal munitions for, but Manny wouldn't crack. Evan claims he left Manny alive--after punching the ladder in anger. Delko gets Higgins' replacement, Thomas Wellner, to show him the trajectory of the bullets took when they hit Manny's body, allowing Delko and Calleigh to discover the shooter was firing from a nearby parking structure. The CSIs discover several unspent rounds and a broken gun grip, leading them to suspect the gun misfired and their shooter might have powder burns on his body.<p>After scouring area hospitals for people suffering recent powder burns, Horatio has Ron Saris brought in. The man has burns on his neck, which he claimed happened at the firing range. Prints on one of the unspent rounds from the parking garage leads the CSIs to Brad Gower, who tells the CSIs he sells ammunition and does spot checks on bullets, meaning his prints are likely on thousands of rounds. He notes that he has an independent defense contract, but agrees to help Horatio trace the shipment the bullet was in. In the lab, Calleigh examines the bullets, noticing the oxidation on them, but when she gets a call from Tripp, one of the bullets rolls off the lab table and falls to the floor, causing it to shoot up to the ceiling and start a fire in the lab. She's dejected at possibly compromising the case into Delko discovers an undamaged round in the wreckage. Calleigh examines the bullet, determining it's almost forty years old, meaning Gower has illegally been selling old ammunition. Realizing Manny must have known, the CSIs go to Gower's office. He confesses that Manny was trying to sell him prototype ammunition, but when he followed Manny, he saw him talking to a fed. Thinking Manny was going betray him, he followed Manny into the building and gave him a choice: get shot or jump. Manny jumped, but when Brad heard the ME call for fire and rescue, he opened fire, determined to finish Manny off. The CSIs arrest Brad and lead him off, but before they can take him in, he's gunned down by a shooter in a car. Tripp discovers only one entrance wound, but multiple exit wounds, which Calleigh recognizes as being the result of a fused alloy round--a deadly form of ammunition.<p>Calleigh confronts Evan: the ATF agent tells her he knew Brad was selling old ammo, but looked the other way because the rounds were going overseas. He tells her Manny was shopping the fused alloy rounds to buyers, and Calleigh demands the list of his potential buyers. Calleigh shows Horatio the list, and one name pops out: Ron Saris. Saris, who gloatingly tells Horatio that he and Julia Winston, the mother of Horatio's son Kyle, just got married, threatens Horatio, causing the CSI to return the gesture. After finishing with Ron, Horatio confronts Julia and tells her Ron is after her money and he suspects he'll hurt Kyle. He persuades Julia to bring Kyle and meet him at an airfield at 5pm. The CSIs discover the vehicle used in the drive-by shooting of Brad, and though its plates have been removed, they are able to get a cell phone number from the car's blue tooth interface. It leads them to Colin Madison, Brad Gower's associate. He tells the CSIs that a man coerced him into doing so, and agrees to take Calleigh to the man, who turns out to be none other than Juan Ortega, Manny's brother. Juan killed Brad in revenge for his brother's death, but more worrying is the rounds of fused alloy he's been selling. He refuses to tell the CSIs how many rounds he's sold, and threatens Horatio if he's arrested. Horatio laughs and has him taken to jail, where Juan makes a call giving Horatio's name and asking to be told when it's done. Horatio waits at the airfield for Julia but she doesn't show. A gunshot rings out and the CSI falls to the ground. At the station, Ryan Wolfe gets a text message reading, "It's done."<p><b>Analysis:</b><p>There's nothing particularly shocking about <i>CSI: Miami</i>'s season finale until the last few minutes of the episode. Like the <i>CSI</i> season ender, <A class="link" HREF="http://www.csifiles.com/episodes/csi/season8/for_gedda.shtml">"For Gedda"</a>, the episode lulls the audience into a false sense of security with the very familiar. Shady weapons dealers, suspicious government agents, even accidents in the lab--we've seen these things many times before in many different <i>Miami</i> episodes. And yes, both Ron Saris and Juan Ortega are threatening Horatio, but we've seen that happen many times before. People who threaten Horatio usually either end up dead or at the very least jailed. Ron Saris is more than a little creepy, and there was an ominous tone to the episode, but I would have expected Julia to get shot before Horatio.<p>Horatio gets shot just once, in the chest, and I'm willing to bet he's wearing a bulletproof vest. After watching not one but two people get gunned down right before his very eyes, it would be pretty foolish for Horatio to stand in an open airfield without a vest on, especially given that the person he's supposed to meet there is married to the man who threatened his life--and happens to have a supply of those deadly bullets. The expression on Horatio's face reminds me of Speed's in <A class="link" HREF="http://www.csifiles.com/episodes/miami/season1/dispo_day.shtml">"Dispo Day"</a>. Speed took a shot to the chest, but he was wearing a vest and therefore simply had the wind knocked out of him. I imagine the same is true of Horatio, but it certainly is stunning to see the show's too-often infallible leading man lying face down on the pavement. There's no blood--another telltale sign that Horatio is likely wearing a vest--but it's a shocking image to end the season on.<p><HR ALIGN="CENTER" SIZE="1" WIDTH="45%" COLOR="#007BB5"><p>To read the full reviews, please click <A HREF="http://www.csifiles.com/reviews/csi/going_ballistic.shtml">here</A>.<center></center>
     
  2. Ortinbras

    Ortinbras Civilian

    Joined:
    May 22, 2008
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hey! Was just reading your review on "Going Ballistic." It certainly was a shocking end! My husband and I sat down to watch it again, I have to disagree about there not being blood after Horatio gets shot. There was a skyshot again after Ryan received the text message, there was a pile of blood forming at Horatio's right hip.
     
  3. Top41

    Top41 Administrator Administrator Moderator Premium Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2003
    Messages:
    15,237
    Likes Received:
    0
    Really? I'll have to look again, but I did watch the scene twice and didn't see anything. The tarmac he was on was a pretty deep black and fairly shiny, so I could have missed it. But yes, the ending was definitely shocking! :)

    I'm curious as to what people think about Ryan, whether that text was a red herring or whether he's actually involved...
     
  4. CSI_Kat

    CSI_Kat Addicted to Gutterville Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2007
    Messages:
    5,337
    Likes Received:
    0
    I have seen those pics that people say show blood....and I just don't see it. I even lightened them in phostosho and I still don't see it. I have even rewatched that part of the finale several times and I still don't see it. :confused:

    As for Ryan - I don't believe he has gone to the dark side. I believe he is in this somehow with H.
     
  5. ryan_lover

    ryan_lover Rookie

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2006
    Messages:
    215
    Likes Received:
    0
    hey y'all!

    not been on here for over a year!!!!:lol:

    we've not got to S6 here in the UK yet but from what I've read and seen on youtube to me it looks like H and Ryan are working together since I don't see why Ryan should want H dead especially since H helped Ryan get his job back.
    and besides Ryan is not allowd to be bad! he just cant he's too adorable.:(

    hmmm wonder if Ryan had hold of one of the suspects phones at the end and not his own so the txt wasn't for him or maybe it was H texting him cuz H was texting just before he got shot and maybe H being 'shot' was all a setup to catch the bad guys.
    so maybe H isn't actually hurt at all but just pretending-don't know how unless he was wearing fake blood bags or watever they are.

    anywho H won't die since he is the main character!:cool: and Ryan isn't turning against him!!!! He not allowed!!!!:p

    But this is all just my own opinion and I could be completely wrong and therefor Im just gonna have to wait ages till S7!
     
  6. _Hush_

    _Hush_ Winchester Inc.

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2007
    Messages:
    1,460
    Likes Received:
    0
    I capped it and after playing with the contrast and lights a little, I came to this:

    [​IMG]

    It's pretty hard not to notice the blood now. (I know it's a little blurry but it's a really enlarged cap ;))
     
  7. CSI_Kat

    CSI_Kat Addicted to Gutterville Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2007
    Messages:
    5,337
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yep - you are right! I am seeing it there. Thanks for doing that!
     
  8. miamirocks

    miamirocks Lab Technician

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2006
    Messages:
    547
    Likes Received:
    0
    Wow - I think that's the first time I can see the blood clearly - thanks! That makes this a whole new ballgame, doesn't it? (Unless of course it's fake blood, which would be totally cheesey :rolleyes:) Not to sound mean, b/c I LOVE Horatio, but I'm kinda hoping the blood is real, and that this is more like a plan gone wrong.

    It's interesting how they've developed Eric and Cal's relationship over the past year and a half. I think in different seasons different characters have bonded. Speed and Eric come to mind immediately in Seasons 1-2, especially in "Tinder Box," where you see them "hanging out" after hours. I wish TPTB would do more of that. Ryan and Cal were pretty close in Season 3. H and Eric had a strong connection in Season 4-5. And, (obviously), I think Cal and H had a much stronger bond in Seasons 1-4 then they do now (you can't really "bond" when you only have a few scenes over the course of two seasons, can you?) I wonder if the Eric/Cal thing will just "run its course", or if they'll push it to the "Danny/Lindsay" level.

    Personally, I think the team dynamics are not what they used to be, and that's sad. I believe it's mainly b/c H has become so distant from his team - just look at "Down to the Wire". Was he texting someone while Eric was trying to talk to him about how both he and Cal were off the case? H is so removed from everyone - I really hope this scenario brings the team together, and closer to H.

    When it's the same two characters always interacting, it can get kind of boring - I wish TPTB would mix it up a bit. I think they did that pretty well in the finale, but overall I'm disappointed that the characters don't interact more in "groups" like they used to. Remember when they ALL would be at the crime scene, or when three of them would be in a scene at a time. They do that in CSI:V and CSI:NY all the time - why not Miami? I'm really missing the "comaraderie" and the team "gelling" like it used to.

    I also agree that Ryan has been "keeping his head down" this year and has been somewhat of an outcast. I don't think that would push him to turn on H - as a matter of fact, like it was said in the review, it's probably just the opposite.
     
  9. midnight_tiptoes

    midnight_tiptoes Head of the Day Shift

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2004
    Messages:
    15,761
    Likes Received:
    1
    Greetings, Christiana! Great review!

    I couldn't help it. When Horatio was shot I laughed. After that depressing House finale I needed a good pick me up. The look on his face was hilarious. Thanks, Donahue!

    And then Ryan got that text message. Give me a break. Do they really expect us to think he's responsible for it? "It's done." It was probably his mechanic.

    The opening line was 100% grade A genius. "She's... gone." HOW DO THEY DO IT
     
  10. Finch

    Finch Funnier in Enochian Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2005
    Messages:
    16,852
    Likes Received:
    1
    I missed it the first time too. Some of the Miami regs had to show me a cap. :lol: It was kind of hard to see.

    And I laughed like a maniac at Horatio getting shot--sorry H fans. (I'm a fan of him too) It just cracked me up and the look on his face was like "OMG. WHAT? HOW THE HELL DID THAT HAPPEN?"

    Ah, good times. Not the best finale and it didn't shock me at all but it was nice. No screaming hell compared to some of the other finales I've seen this year -- Bones, House, Supernatural, etc.
     
  11. Top41

    Top41 Administrator Administrator Moderator Premium Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2003
    Messages:
    15,237
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'm kind of hoping there wasn't a plan at all, but I doubt that's the case. I'd like to see a situation where Horatio doesn't have everything under control.

    And this is the show's biggest failing, IMO--a problem they didn't have in the earlier seasons. The team doesn't feel cohesive anymore. The only bonds I really see among the characters are between Eric and Calleigh and between Calleigh and Alexx, but Alexx is gone now. I miss the relationship Speed and Delko had, too. I also miss the tension between Ryan and Delko, the love/hate relationship that existed between them.


    :lol: :lol: :lol:
     
  12. CSIMiamiinTampa

    CSIMiamiinTampa Civilian

    Joined:
    May 28, 2008
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Could it be a coincedence that Ryan got a text message and it has nothing at all to do with the shooting of Horatio? His son packing a gun and his ex leaving to "run an errand" right before he gets shot. The writers hit the nail on the head getting all of the die-hard CSI Miami viewers to ponder all summer of "what happend to H?". I am more curious about this than when JR got shot on Dallas.
     
  13. Top41

    Top41 Administrator Administrator Moderator Premium Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2003
    Messages:
    15,237
    Likes Received:
    0
    I doubt the text is a coincidence since Ortega used those exact same words in jail just minutes before. But I bet it's a red herring.
     
  14. LMAO! And I actually thought that I was the only one who had this reaction. I saw House and got so freaking depressed then Horatio made me feel better. At first I was like, "Wow, he actually got shot." Then I started laughing, "Finally." Then his sunnies broke, so I laughed some more.

    Teehee, but he's OCD so it was probably someone making sure that his toothbrush was facing East. (Horatio might get hurt if it's facing the wrong way...wait, he did!)

    Who ever was responsible for that line deserves a raise! No one would've guessed that she was gone until Horatio saved us from the brink of stupidity. You're right..."100% grade A genius." (Even that was an understatement.)

    xoxo
    Elizabeth
     
  15. Tynan

    Tynan Civilian

    Joined:
    May 31, 2008
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    it must be frustrating to have a cell phone that doesn't list a sender for the text message when the message is open.
    [​IMG]
    i personally think it is a plan gone wrong- we have so many unanswered questions! we don't know that someone wasn't on the plane, we just know horatio exited and the door was closed- not that no one was on board. there is the chance someone was. what is julia up to? was ron sniffing the bullets (crazy man...)? how do prisoners get all these phone calls to their buddies on the outside to set up assassinations? what is ryan up to?
    fanfiction writers will be busy this summer!
    horatio obviously isn't dead, but it seems like he might be pretty badly injured. that or this is all a setup. that one article out there seems to indicate pretty clearly that horatio had something up his sleeve. what that was, we will just have to sit tight until september to find out!
     

Share This Page