I'll try not to get too off-topic on this. Personally, I found the development of Greg and Grissom the most apparent, and, with the evidence pointed out by myfuturecsi, I can definitely see how Nick has developed. Then again, I don't think I really paid as much attention to earlier seasons, and Greg was the character that I've paid the most attention to. Personally, I always thought that Warrick was the most neglected by the series, though I've heard in various places that that had more to do with the actor's personal problems than writing. Who knows...
Anyway, as to the team and whether they're too perfect, I personally love them the way that they are. I'd offer a few explanations for the current, relatively placid dynamic, and why I think the writers and/or other PTB are not messing up with conflict:
-First of all, we had a lot more character drama earlier in the season. I think the rest of the season has focused on balancing that out.
-Second, I think that it has a lot to do with how conflict would evolve with particular characters. Personally, I think that Greg is the least likely to be a cause of conflict. Catherine and Nick, at this point, fall under the same category for me because they're still establishing themselves in leadership roles and trying to set positive examples and watch out for the team. I think the two of them would avoid any conflict at all costs at this point in time. An example, IMO, would be Nick immediately telling Greg and Riley to cut out their kind of silly chatter about BDSM in Leave Out All the Rest, and, in a lighter way, Cath telling Greg and Riley to cut out joking around at the end of the drill scene in No Way Out. I could definitely imagine a Nick or Cath of earlier seasons joking back, but, this time, they're more concerned with professionalism because of the increase in leadership for them.
-The character that I see as more of a maverick (no McCain/Palin references :shifty
, in the way that Warrick was at the beginning of the series, is Riley. However, they can't do very much with having Riley cause conflict, IMO, because fans just haven't warmed enough to her. If they created too much conflict between her and an established fan favorite, or even Ray, who definitely seems to have gotten stronger reception (and just been more developed than Riley), she could end up being disliked even more by many fans, or written off as a MarySue type of character. I've seen a lot of people complaining about her "being shoved in their faces." Personally (as is probably apparent from my icon), I really like her character and don't feel at all that she's been shoved in my face, but I can understand why TPTB would want to avoid much drama surrounding her until people feel differently about her. So, I'd say there will be more conflict once fans have gotten more used to Riley.
-I honestly think that the events of the S8 and S9 have had a big impact. I think Catherine and Nick (and maybe even Greg) could very well contribute to conflict, but I get the feeling that they're still grieving for Warrick, having been the closest to him. The last thing that they want to see is another CSI burn out or get into a dangerous situation. Fostering team friendship is part of the way that they're trying to prevent this. That said, I feel like there still is some degree of team drama/maybe even conflict implied, it's just that it's really below the surface. They're all still struggling with the shadow of Grissom and Warrick's losses. While Cath has become a much better leader, I also think that part of the reason for her change in personality on the show (as in not just natural instincts) is that she's more restrained and protective in the wake of the death of a very close friend who (and I really don't mean to get into a shipper debate) she probably had strong feelings for at one point, based on the fantasy comment in S6, and in the wake of the departure of her best friend. Nick, at the same time, lost a best friend and a paternal figure/mentor. Greg didn't seem as close to Grissom or Warrick, but he's also still trying to cope with his higher place in the pecking order. He went from being the lowest man on the totem pole to being, in a way, the in-between guy between the two experienced CSIs and the newcomers (especially Riley).
Basically, I think that, while there may not be overt conflict, it's still because past conflicts have forced the characters to change, in their general behavior as well as in their attitudes toward team dynamics. Greg, Cath and Nick are probably rather emotionally exhausted by the events of the last 1-1.5 years, and the last thing they need is more conflict, especially when they're the people in positions of most power within the team and are expected to set the example and help resolve team drama should it occur.
That said, I suppose we still have Hodges for conflict. It'll be a cold day in hell when that man doesn't find a way to stick his foot in his mouth. So far, he's proven himself to be one of the only people capable of creating conflict with Ray, who seems like a very calm and not at all volatile person.
Also, I can imagine conflict at some point between Ray and the rest of the team if it's caused by professional conflicts. Because he still seems to look at things from a more personal angle (like with the son in 'Graveyard Shift'), I can definitely see a major disagreement coming up between him and at least one of his fellow CSIs. Still, they probably need to establish or develop his character further before doing that.
Overall, I think of this sense of calm on the team as somewhat of a quiet after the storm. All the conflict has boiled down, and everyone's still pushing through the pain by working through it. No one wants to rock the boat, and I don't think anyone (especially any of the three established CSIs) even has the emotional energy to do so.
EDIT: Wow. I didn't realize how long it took me to write this. By the time I was done, three posts had materialized before it :lol:
Anyway, I agree 100% with what
myfuturecsi and
Dizzney just said. The contrast between Greg's scene with Tara Matthews' husband and general reaction to the events in 'Spark of Life' and his scenes with the father and general poise in this episode, to me, really embodied how far he's come. Then again, as a Greg fan, I think I was bound to look for that stuff.
I'm with you on most of your theories Live4GrissNsara with the exeption of "the nosedive at the end' I thought that was the perfect ending to a perfect 9 years. Grissom's leadership was above reproach, the whole team loved and admired him and his tactics. And he always was there for all of them. I wished I had a boss like him, There doesn't seem to be a strong leader now, they all seem to be floundering like a fish out of water. I'm sure they're all still grieving and devastated by losing their boss, and two key CSI buddies. Hopefully down the line we'll see new fresh leadership like Grissom, well I take that back their is no one like him. It's just a different CSI now, but we've still got some of the old team acting out in the best way they know how too. I did notice a bunch of new writers in the credits, and I have no idea who they are. Are they new, or have they been promoted from a lower lineup, meaning were they assistants of the main original writers, or are they new people?
Wow. I feel like you've been watching a totally different show. Then again, I guess that shows how complex and well-done of a show CSI is, if different viewers can get such totally different perspectives out of it. It's kind of like how, in great novels, every reader notices different details that were carefully put in, because there are so many different themes and ideas at work, and, as a result, different readers end up with totally different interpretations. Anyway, I definitely saw something totally different. Maybe I'll have to rewatch to figure out how exactly the team is floundering.
I think they're all dealing with the grief, but I think only one person has really had it affect his work -- Nick in 'Turn, Turn, Turn.' That said, his trouble, IMO, was a long time coming. He's been put through the ringer a lot over the course of the series. Personally, I think Warrick's death, which occured during Grissom's tenure, was the biggest cause, and that the trouble with Haley Jones was (the English major in me is cringing at the cliché) the straw that broke the camel's back. I don't think the supervisor had anything to do with it. The only thing that would have changed had Grissom still been in charge is that Nick might been in a slightly better place, emotionally and psychologically, had he not lost yet another imporant person in his life. Also, the loss in manpower also probably didn't help. Technically, they have the same number of people, but trading a supervisor for a rookie probably made a big difference in the amount of work required for everyone, especially Nick and Catherine, who had to take on greater leadership
Overall, I'd say Catherine has done a phenomenal job so far and I really, really doubt that Grissom could've handled any of the issues so far better than Catherine has. It was Ray that came to Nick's aid, and I can't imagine Grissom doing a better job. It's always been Catherine who's helped the CSIs through emotionally trying issues. Now, Ray, who seems a lot better with people is there to help as well.
So, overall, I don't see at all how not having Grissom has caused any problems, aside from the fact that he probably left some of the CSIs feeling at least a little abandoned. But Catherine's been doing an awesome job so far.
