Season premier. Here I go...
Generally, the purpose of season openers is to address lingering storylines of the previous season and to setup future ones. This episode did not stray.
I was pleased with how they closed off the Jekyll arc. Ray was quickly helped and Haskell was subdued. It wasn't drawn out. I liked that. It also put Ray in a position I've always preferred him in. Not injured (well, maybe...), but as an adviser. He's good at that.
This episode was really about Nick, Cath and Brass. For the first time, I really saw how aged they are. You can see in Brass and Catherine their world-weariness. Both just seem to be tired of the game. There was no jovial, sarcastic Jim. Cath was very controlled, even in her discussion about Warrick. I found that interesting. And Nick's emotions were just right for a guy who just got shot and blown up (more on that particular scene in a bit). I really felt bad for him, mainly in the funeral scene. I understand why he was asked to leave, but I also understand why he wanted to be there.
Another interesting bit I picked up on was Sara. Jorja is now part of the main credits again. That means she's full time, right? At the end of the episode, Sara looked unsure of where she was and where she was going. Was this just a scene to illustrate the fatigue of the team? Or is there trouble in Sara's life that is going to be addressed later? Troubled marriage perhaps? (Nice punch tough)
The new tech I found to be okay. I don't know whether or not she's going to return, but as far as this episode goes I liked her. She actually seemed to fit in with the CSI world around her. I'm not sure I see her as being party to the antics of Hodges and the other rats, but I see her getting along great with the CSIs. Kind of like Greg, Jacqui, Bobby and Mia before her - they were best with a CSI.
As for Bieber, I think he was miscast. I found him unconvincing of being apart of the group he was with. Everything from his looks to his mannerisms clashed with the identity he was given. I'm not too particularly interested in seeing him return.
The case, however, was pretty good. I've always enjoyed the ones involving explosives. Unlike the serial murders we're used to, explosions (and poisons) really give a case an interesting touch. Its impersonal. I like that.
Two nitpicks. Both involving explosions. The scene at the beginning with Nick was... to put in bluntly, ridiculous. It looked incredibly fake. Sorry, but it did. The second is the one at the end and is a preemptive 'pick. Greg just got blown up. Again. And it probably will not even be addressed. But I'm used to Greg being only a background player at this point.
No Hodges, though I didn't expect to see him until next week...
Overall, I'm interested enough to continue watching. I really have no idea what this season is going to offer.
Generally, the purpose of season openers is to address lingering storylines of the previous season and to setup future ones. This episode did not stray.
I was pleased with how they closed off the Jekyll arc. Ray was quickly helped and Haskell was subdued. It wasn't drawn out. I liked that. It also put Ray in a position I've always preferred him in. Not injured (well, maybe...), but as an adviser. He's good at that.
This episode was really about Nick, Cath and Brass. For the first time, I really saw how aged they are. You can see in Brass and Catherine their world-weariness. Both just seem to be tired of the game. There was no jovial, sarcastic Jim. Cath was very controlled, even in her discussion about Warrick. I found that interesting. And Nick's emotions were just right for a guy who just got shot and blown up (more on that particular scene in a bit). I really felt bad for him, mainly in the funeral scene. I understand why he was asked to leave, but I also understand why he wanted to be there.
Another interesting bit I picked up on was Sara. Jorja is now part of the main credits again. That means she's full time, right? At the end of the episode, Sara looked unsure of where she was and where she was going. Was this just a scene to illustrate the fatigue of the team? Or is there trouble in Sara's life that is going to be addressed later? Troubled marriage perhaps? (Nice punch tough)
The new tech I found to be okay. I don't know whether or not she's going to return, but as far as this episode goes I liked her. She actually seemed to fit in with the CSI world around her. I'm not sure I see her as being party to the antics of Hodges and the other rats, but I see her getting along great with the CSIs. Kind of like Greg, Jacqui, Bobby and Mia before her - they were best with a CSI.
As for Bieber, I think he was miscast. I found him unconvincing of being apart of the group he was with. Everything from his looks to his mannerisms clashed with the identity he was given. I'm not too particularly interested in seeing him return.
The case, however, was pretty good. I've always enjoyed the ones involving explosives. Unlike the serial murders we're used to, explosions (and poisons) really give a case an interesting touch. Its impersonal. I like that.
Two nitpicks. Both involving explosions. The scene at the beginning with Nick was... to put in bluntly, ridiculous. It looked incredibly fake. Sorry, but it did. The second is the one at the end and is a preemptive 'pick. Greg just got blown up. Again. And it probably will not even be addressed. But I'm used to Greg being only a background player at this point.
No Hodges, though I didn't expect to see him until next week...
Overall, I'm interested enough to continue watching. I really have no idea what this season is going to offer.
Good to see he has stuff to deal with, but can still do his job.
