Thank you all so much for the warm welcome. And the screen caps, H_Miami_Fan. They're wonderful!
Enhinti, my screen name is a combination of my first name and middle name. But I like your idea better.
I can't say that I didn't enjoy the beginning of season 4, actually. Horatio was still part of the team, although he was showing signs of pulling away. He might not have processed evidence, but he was still actively checking with each team member about the progress of the case and how their processing was going. I really can't remember the last time I saw Horatio carrying a processing kit. And he has a tendency when he finds a piece of evidence, to stand over it and then yell for Ryan or Eric to pick it up.
I don't know. He just slowly changed into a Horatio that wasn't the same character that I had so respected in the first couple of seasons. So I became somewhat disillusioned.
I realize that characters have to grow, but the basic values of the character have to remain true. And Horatio was the heart, soul and conscience of the show.
The end of season 4 through season 5 is what almost did me in. When the Marisol storyline came along, Horatio, for me anyway, went through some changes to his core values. I think if I had been able to buy into the "great love" storyline they were trying to sell it may have worked for me. But I was never able to "feel" that relationship. When Marisol was killed and Horatio's mourning went on and on, he was really no longer interacting with the team and the answer to every situation was to pull his gun and shoot someone I struggled to stay with the show.
But I hung in there. When I heard in season 6 Horatio would find out he had a teenage son, I thought that sounded interesting - and it was. And I really like the little bits of the old Horatio that I'm seeing in season 7. I'm watching now just to see those moments and I hope they keep coming!
I do like the Horatio/Kyle storyline, although I wish they would make Horatio and Kyle a little closer and wrap up Julia's place in Horatio's life. I do have to say that, although I'm not a huge fan of Elizabeth Berkley, I think she does a good job with Julia.
And I would love to see them bring Suzie and Madison back! I always thought the actress who played Suzie had great chemistry with David. I'd love to see Madison as a teenager and watch her interact with Kyle. There are plenty of CSI type storylines that could fit with their return.
Okay, I'm really rambling now. It's time to hush. Thank you again for your warm welcome. It is so apprecated.