What I would like to see in Season Five....
1. I really want more interactions outside of work with the CSIs...we've seen Danny and Flack playing pool, going to a basketball game, etc., Stella and Mac at a Dog show in Season one, etc etc. I really hope the writers can realize that these characters can interact outside the lab without being in a relationship or having a love interest. I loved the episode where we get to see Mac having breakfast at a diner, and its clear that he's been there before when the people recognize him. As much as I love Mac and Stella, and would love to see them get together, their interaction is friends is simply amazing, and I really want to see more of that. The same goes for Adam, Sid, Hawkes, etc. Adam and Danny seem to have a good rapport, as do Sid and Hawkes (although Sid seems to freak him out occassionally =P) so why not show that in an episode?
2. For god sakes, no more relationships!!! There is one in particular that I'm thinking of, and it was so badly written that i'm not even sure what one would call that attempt...but honestly, I think my little brother could have done it better. If two main characters absolutely NEED to be in a relationship, make them ADULTS, and not whiny teenagers about it. That being said, I loved the first season of NY, and there weren't any relationships outside of friendship there. That isn't to say that I wouldn't be totally against any relationships popping up, but please, make them realistic, and make them believable, and for god sakes, let them have chemistry and development before they get to that point.
3. More of Hawkes. I love that poor guy...Season 2 was supposed to be his rookie year, but he was pushed aside for new girl Lindsay, and it really denied him his chance to shine. He's a compassionate, caring, and loyal character-why wouldn't the writers want a chance to use him????? Give him his own episode, or make him a main part in another episode, like in the one where he was accused of murder, or was a target of Shane Casey. Give him some angst, or let him lead, like in Grand Murder at Central Station. Hill Harper has the talent and drive to really bring his character to life, and its sad that he's being pushed aside for dramatic trueee lovveeeeee (/sarcasm) story lines.
4. More Adam, and more Sid. AJ was supposed to be a main character last season, was he not? I love that geeky little guy, and he always shines when he's on the screen. I love his little crush on Stella and the way he interacts with Danny and Mac. It seems to me that he has the same kind of relationship with Mac as Danny does--wanting his approval. Also, I'd like more of his past--someone mentioned that he could have been abused, and the same story has also been applied to Danny. It would be a wonderful episode to compare and contrast the way Adam deals with his issues now with the reckless way Danny does, if they really were both abused. And Sid....Sid is just awesome. He really works well with all the actors on the show, and I would really like to know more about him and his family--bring him into a case maybe, or out in the field to get a body, like Hawkes did in season one (to get the fat guy who choked on a piece of candy and fell off a ledge...forgot ep name.).
5. More compelling suspects. There have been a few killers that have been really creepy and really sadistic, ones that i've really enjoyed watching. Taxi cab killer started out great, and Shane Casey was also compelling. Joey Lawrence was a good creepy guy, and I also loved the magician episode (again, forgot the name and the magician =P), and thought that too was a great villain. I hate the old killer excuse of "she/he was cheating on me!" "he made fun of me for being fat at a basketball game"....come on. I mean, I know alot of crimes happen for petty reasons, but this is a TV show--you can create good compelling killers everyday if you want to, even if they don't happen every day in reality.
6. Diversity. People have said it before, and I agree wholeheartedly. Not all killers/victims in New York are white rich guys or girls. I loved the gritty eps in season one, where Aiden had to investigate the pizza place in a seedy neighborhood, or that old abandoned "haunted" church. Not everyone in New York is white collar--bring back some of those blue collar guys the Sandhogs or the dock workers. Same goes for people of color, or different ethnicities, or people of different sexual orientation. I also want to see more of NEW YORK. All of it. Central Park, the place where the WTC stood, the Bronx...you could even have a crime on Broadway!! NYC is such a cultural cornacopia (alliteration, heh), and I really hope the writers make it a bigger character this season.
7. Guest stars. And I don't mean the lame ones we've had in the past. Joey Lawrence was excellent, and Kid Rock didn't do so bad of a job either. I really liked Michael Clarke Duncan in season one, where Mac had to reexamine the evidence to try and prove him innocent. I'd really love to see him back as a guest star, maybe actually committing a crime (proving that *GASP* Mac Taylor is capable of being wrong) this time. I'm sure CSINY could get other great stars, too...after all, it is New York-famous people come through the city all the time, and it would be great to see some.
8. *drum roll please* CONTINUITY.....!!!!! The writers really handled the Danny/Rikki/Ruben storyline beautifully....he didn't disapear after one episode, and neither did Rikki or Danny's guilt over his death. In so many episodes something monumental happens, and is forgot about in the next episode. Flack gets blown up in the season two finale, but is totally fine next season. Danny gets his hand smashed up and Adam is tortured in season three, but come the beginning of four they are both fine, as is the blown up lab. AND FOR CHRISTS sake, where is LOUIE???? It really has been way too long since they've mentioned him. AT least have Danny say he's going to the hospital after work to visit him or something...give us a bone at least, if you really can't bring him back for an episode....
Well...thats it for now. But I'm sure I can think of more when I'm more awake.