Season 13 Spoiler Lab Discussion Part 1

blackflag said:
TV Guide's Ask Matt

Question: CSI really didn't deal with Nick quitting during the season premiere. By the end of the episode, he seemed like he was back at work and that was it. Do they plan on dealing with the fact that he quit, or is that storyline pretty much done? It seems like everything that deals with Nick is swept under the rug, which is a shame. — Connie

Matt Roush: I'm not sure what's in store and have only watched the first two episodes of the season, but it seems to me they resolved his dilemma by reinforcing how much he was needed during the cliffhanger crisis, and he put aside his angst to get the job done, after which he's back in business — as you pretty much knew he would be, right? These "I'm quitting" season-ending quandaries are so bogus, and beneath the status of one of the few remaining original players. He probably does deserve better storylines, but CSI has always been an ensemble show in name only, and while the supporting cast will get big moments on occasion, the current stars are unquestionably Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue (both bringing quite a lot to the latest reinvention), and to expect otherwise is setting yourself up for disappointment.
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We're used to disappointments! :( As a fan of CSI I don't think Elizabeth Shue brings all that much to this 'reinvention' of CSI. I can do without the character of Finn.
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Yes we sure are used to disappointments. I just don't get TPTB that after all this time they still think we are more interested in the newbies. I do like DB but Finn still does nothing for me, except annoy me and it is all about how she is written.

After 13 seasons they are bound to have to reuse names.
 
Mr Jo Danville said:
I'm quite liking Elisabeth Shue and think you guys should give her a chance.
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Well she's been on the show half a season and it appears very few people like her on the boards. I think she's had more than enough time to "settle in", particularly seeing as most of us took to DB and Morgan pretty quickly.

In my honest opinion, the second half of Season 12 was a big step-down in quality to the first thirteen episodes and I believe a large part of that is due to having a brash character like Finn strolling in and disrupting the nice dynamic which the first half had set up between both the new characters and the old. So it doesn't surprise me at all that people aren't taking to her.

I really, REALLY want to like Finn but the problem is the writers are going the completely wrong way about her character and I think it's dragging the show and other characters (in particularly DB) down. I don't know if this counts as character bashing or not, but there was pretty much unanimous agreement that the writers needed to tone Finn's character down but from these first two episodes, she hasn't appeared to have changed a lot.
 
I put my hand up as someone who likes Finn very much and feel she fits in with the team as well as anyone.

I think Finn is not nearly as unpopular amongst general CSI viewers as one is led to believe on this forum. , I would dare to say that Sara too is not a universally loved character. I find it puzzling that Finn is criticized as being brash and cocky when Sara is praised for it.

I feel there is a concerted effort on this forum to stir up negative feelings towards Finn/ES. Maybe some see her as the reason for the original 3 not getting enough screen time?

Does anyone ever ask themselves what the actors in question might want? More screen time means longer working hours. I have no idea how salaries are paid on the show but I am guessing they don't get paid based on the amount of time they're on screen but by episode? Possibly, after working on the same show for more than 12 years they're ok with putting in a certain amount of hours and collecting an easy paycheck.

While it's understandable that fans want to see as much of their fave as possible it might not necessarily be what their fave wants.
 
Press release - 13x06 Pick and Roll

THINGS BECOME PERSONAL FOR RUSSELL WHEN HIS SON IS NAMED A SUSPECT IN THE DEATH OF HIS COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH, ON “CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION,” WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7


CHEAT TWEET: Russell’s son plays defense as a suspect in his coach’s murder. Could he be benched? #CSI 11/7 10/9c http://bit.ly/Trfqa3

"Pick and Roll" — Things get personal when D.B. Russell is drawn into the investigation of the death of his son’s basketball coach, on CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, Wednesday, Nov. 7 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

SERIES REGULARS:

Ted Danson (D.B. Russell)
Elisabeth Shue (Julie Finlay)
George Eads (Nick Stokes)
Paul Guilfoyle (Captain Jim Brass)
Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle)
Eric Szmanda (Greg Sanders)
Robert David Hall (Dr. Robbins)
David Berman (David Phillips)
Wallace Langham (David Hodges)
Elisabeth Harnois (Morgan Brody)
Jon Wellner (Henry Andrews)

GUEST CAST:

Brandon W. Jones (Charlie Russell)
Peri Gilpin (Barbara Russell)
Robert Mammana (Coach Tom Burns)
Theodore Borders (TJ Fair)
Michael Gross (President Rob Austin)
Bryan Callen (Jack Oxford)
Kevin Mondane Jr. (Assistant Coach)
Italia Ricci (Vanessa Drake)
Alexie Gilmore (Linda Burns)
Elaine Tan (Miss Lotus)

WRITTEN BY: Rick Eid
DIRECTED BY: Alec Smight
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No, I don't think we've gotten a press release for episode 5 yet! :confused:


Susan
 
"Once Bitten" release:

A K-9 IS BLAMED FOR THE VICIOUS KILLING OF A POLICE OFFICER AND FINLAY AND MORGAN INVESTIGATE THE MURDER OF A HIGH-PROFILE DIVORCE ATTORNEY, ON “CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION,” WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31

CHEAT TWEET: The dog knows the truth about a murder but how will he tell the team? #CSI 10/31 10pm ET/PT http://bit.ly/RyJJfs

"Once Bitten" — When a K-9 is blamed for the death of his partner, the CSI team discovers there’s more to the case. Meanwhile, Finlay and Morgan investigate the death of a high-profile divorce lawyer with a lot of enemies, on CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, Wednesday, Oct. 31 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

SERIES REGULARS:
Ted Danson (D.B. Russell)
Elisabeth Shue (Julie Finlay)
George Eads (Nick Stokes)
Paul Guilfoyle (Captain Jim Brass)
Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle)
Eric Szmanda (Greg Sanders)
Robert David Hall (Dr. Robbins)
David Berman (David Phillips)
Wallace Langham (David Hodges)
Elisabeth Harnois (Morgan Brody)
Jon Wellner (Henry Andrews)

GUEST CAST:
Larry Mitchell (Officer Mitchell)
David S. Lee (Sergeant Varanski)
James Hyde (Barry Sloan)
Caroline Lagerfelt (Marjorie Randell)
Michael Bunin (Brent Walsh)
Brianne Davis (Sabrina Walsh)
Kyle Richards-Umansky (Ms. Young)
Elizabeth Abrams (Hooker #1)
Tauvia Dawn (Hooker #2)
Johanna Braddy (Carly Green)
Mike Alexander (Vinnie Barso)
Brigette Davidovici (Jen)
Katie Leclerc (Christine)

WRITTEN BY: Treena Hancock and Melissa Byer
DIRECTED BY: Eagle Egilsson
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THINGS BECOME PERSONAL FOR RUSSELL
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Ooooo...now there's something new! :rolleyes: His family sure does have bad luck with all of these murders and kidnappings since the move to Vegas. No wonder his wife is getting upset.
 
I like Lisa Shue. And actually I've never been a huge fan of Sara but over the years she has toned down. I don't think we needed another cocky/brash character like Finn on the show. If they tone her down like they have Sara I might grow to like her but right now she is too bossy.

I really think they should have waited for another DB family focus episode until later in the season. I think they have this one too soon after the season premiere. Most of us like DB, let's not force him too much on us that we grow to dislike him.
 
Frosch said:
I put my hand up as someone who likes Finn very much and feel she fits in with the team as well as anyone.

I think Finn is not nearly as unpopular amongst general CSI viewers as one is led to believe on this forum. , I would dare to say that Sara too is not a universally loved character. I find it puzzling that Finn is criticized as being brash and cocky when Sara is praised for it.

I feel there is a concerted effort on this forum to stir up negative feelings towards Finn/ES. Maybe some see her as the reason for the original 3 not getting enough screen time?

Does anyone ever ask themselves what the actors in question might want? More screen time means longer working hours. I have no idea how salaries are paid on the show but I am guessing they don't get paid based on the amount of time they're on screen but by episode? Possibly, after working on the same show for more than 12 years they're ok with putting in a certain amount of hours and collecting an easy paycheck.

While it's understandable that fans want to see as much of their fave as possible it might not necessarily be what their fave wants.
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I get your points, but I don't necessarily agree with all of them.

I don't think it's about screen time. DB gets a lot of screen time, but most people seem to like him, or at least accept him. And, Sara and Nick had more screen time than Finn in this last episode, but I still found her annoying. Sorry.

I tend to think Finn is more like Catherine than Sara with her cockiness and brashness. Catherine wasn't my favorite character either, but Marg seemed to inject more heart into her character. I admit, it's still early for Finn, so we'll see.

Sara was initially brought in to stir things up on the show, and I'm sure Finn is meant to do the same thing. Just because fans here may not like her now, doesn't mean it won't happen eventually. But I don't think it's mean-spirited of fans to ask the writers to consider more about how they write her character; or for ES to consider more how she plays the character. I think it was Jorja and Marg who approached the writers about toning down their conflict on the show. Just sayin' it's not too late to tone Finn down a bit, and still have an interesting character.

I do like ES as an actress. I just don't like the way she plays her character on CSI right now. I can handle the brashness; it's the smirkiness that annoys me. They deal with death everyday; it doesn't fit the show, or the profession, IMO.

ETA: I'm not a fan that needs to like all the characters in a show, but fitting into a show's premise is important. I'm a patient person, so I'm giving Finn more time. I would like to be more accepting of her; give her more scenes with Sara, and it could happen. :)
 
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Boo Moon said:
DB gets a lot of screen time, but most people seem to like him, or at least accept him.

I tend to think Finn is more like Catherine than Sara with her cockiness and brashness. [...]

I do like ES as an actress. I just don't like the way she plays her character on CSI right now. I can handle the brashness; it's the smirkiness that annoys me. They deal with death everyday; it doesn't fit the show, or the profession, IMO.
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This.

I also like ES as an actress, but I find Finn out of place. Her constant smirk is distracting and she comes across as a forced Catherine replacement. :rolleyes:

I guess, instead of treating Finn as a substitute the writers have to mould her into a real and likable character instead of a bossy one who's all over DB. I'm not a fan of DB either, but I don't mind him right now, as long as we don't have to hear about his family in every single episode. Also, I'm not keen on Morgan and Ecklie, but at least they're not in every episode. If anything, Greg should be a lot more involved than he currently is and split airtime with Nick.

I just don't see an ensemble in the show anymore, most episodes have become one-sided, and this leaves most of us disappointed because we don't see much of (if at all) our favourite characters every time like we used to...
 
I cannot believe that after more than 12 years the main characters are still described as "supporting cast" while the two new guys who've been on the show for nothing more than one and half (!) seasons are called the "current stars". I like DB, I like Finn (but still love and miss Catherine), I also liked Ray Langston, but I do not think of them as the core of the show! That's all the others: Sara, Greg, Nick, my all time fave Brass, and Robbins. Because THEY have been on the show since the beginning, and THEY have been contributing so much to the show, and THEY made it to what it still is today. :scream:

I think what's still most disturbing is the recent shift and change of characters. I don't like that either. I thought it was okay to introduce Morgan, but after Catherine left they shouldn't have put another character on the show to replace her, IMO.
 
Article in the TV Guide about the episode, "Once Bitten", talking about George's scenes with the dog. :) Thanks to Anita in the FBWard for posting this!


(click to see the full size scan)
 
I watched the episode today and it's SO good. George does some of his best work in the episode, and his monologue to the dog about a certain someone is really touching. It's a nice Halloween treat.
 
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