I debated between a B- and a C+, but finally went with
C+. It's better to be hard on a young show in the hopes that it will eventually improve than to go soft and just hope it gets better.
I understand that network demands were a large part of what caused the show to change. I accept that as a reality, but my beef is that I didn't like
how the show changed. These writers gave us a fantastic first season that really had found its voice by the end of the season. That voice was largely lost this season, as was the team cohesiveness that promised to make this show a standout.
The Bad: (going with this first so I can end on a positive note
)
--Lindsay Monroe. Without a doubt this season's most obvious and major misstep. The character was both poorly cast and poorly executed. She's nothing more than a Mary Sue from bad fanfiction stuck in the middle of what used to be a seamless team.
--The pairing of Danny and Lindsay. Not subtle, not smooth, and not compelling in the least. Anything more than subtle is risky on a CSI show, but these two played out like a junior high soap opera. Let's hope this story line is played out.
--By the numbers stories. I realize the CSI shows follow a formula--all TV shows do. But to trot out the tired two case formula episode after episode even when certain stories had emotional impact for the characters was a mistake. CSI thrives on being inventive and Miami has created a niche for itself too. NY needs to do the same.
--Loss of team togetherness. Last year, we didn't need to see them all in a room together to be reminded that yes, this is a team of people who care about each other. I don't think we ever saw all the characters all together in a scene, and yet I felt like the team was much more cohesive before we started getting scenes with Lindsay eating bugs in front of everyone or the gang toasting Aiden's death. I like the idea of seeing the team altogether, but we need to feel they really are a team first.
--Lackluster stories. With crime dramas glutting the TV waves, the stories need to be tight. Not many of the cases really stand out from this year, and the ones that do tend to be the ones that involved personal character drama (Danny getting stuck in the panic room in "Trapped" or the team investigating Aiden's death). Most of the stories were fine, but every season should have a few way above average stories. This one didn't have enough.
--Undercutting female characters. Last season, I thought CSI: NY had the toughest female characters out of any of the CSI shows. Not so anymore. Aiden got murdered, Lindsay got whiny, and because they couldn't make Stella weak and stay true to her character, they decided to victimize her in possibly the most disgusting episode I've seen on TV in a long time.
--Hawkes. Can the man catch a break, ever? First they move him out of the morgue to get more screen time as a CSI, and then he's quickly pushed out of the newbie limelight by Lindsay. Yet another reason we didn't need the CSI from Montana. Hawkes all but disappeared in the second half of the season. When is Hill Harper--who is excellent when he is on screen--going to get his due?
The Good:
--Even somewhat toned down (I agree with
Jaer who thinks someone put Danny on Prozac :lol: ), Danny Messer is still my favorite Drama Queen on television. Anytime they give him an episode, Carmine Giovinazzo runs with it. He's fantastic--the more of him, the better.
--Melina Kanakaredes is awesome. Not even going through hell in "All Access" could take away from Stella's inner strength. Mac isn't the stoic on the show--Stella is.
--Mac has improved this season. He's loosened up somewhat--a much needed change--and he's more human. I loved how episodes like RSRD, "Heroes" and "Charge of This Post" showed how much he cares about his team and his job. He's not my fav yet by any means, but I'm warming to him.
--Flack. Eddie Cahill's comic timing and delivery are so perfect it's like a gift every time he makes a wisecrack. And yet, RSRD and "All Access" show the depth of his dramatic talent, too.
--A few episodes stood out: "Trapped," "Cool Hunter," "Live or Let Die" and "Run Silent, Run Deep" were very good. But this show can do better than 4/24.