I can't actually believe how much I'm enjoying this season so far, I admit I was so incredibly skeptical but I thought this episode was the best in a long time.
I liked that it didn't have a gratuitous 'shock element' like the Octo-love in the last episode. Just a straight-up case, and even though it was a similar crime to past crimes, they mixed it up really well and I couldn't predict what the ending would be. I think the casting they did was really good too, the woman they cast as the jilted lover was truly believable to me. I also liked how they handled the would-be pedophile too, they made him unsettling without making the scenario too dark or lurid (We got enough of that in 'Burn Out" I think). I appreciated that a lot.
I'm really liking the chemistry too. I totally cocked an eyebrow when they announced Ted Danson would be coming in, but I think he's brilliant so far. I really like his laid back attitude and to me he really inhabits that role, I believe he's been working crime scenes for many years without any exposition on his past experiences. I think he gels well with the others too.
I was also skeptical about the addition of Morgan Brody, I wasn't much impressed with her appearance last season or in the first episode this season. I wasn't buying her as Ecklie's kid. I really enjoyed her in this episode though! When she's in the driveway while Ecklie is answering questions, something about her reaction really clicked for me and I suddenly felt completely on board with the idea she's Ecklie's daughter. The two actors pulled off that familial connection really well I think, I could believe they know things about each other that we don't know about (yet).
I feel it's definite the Brody character is intended to eventually become Greg's other half, for me there's just no question about it. I'm a Greg groupie, I admit I was like "Grrrr" about that and I actually really WANTED to dislike her, but dang it, I don't!
She's so much warmer and likable than the Riley Adams character, she seems to have a little bit of attitude but it's not angry and over-the-top like I personally felt the Riley character was, you know? She just seems spunky and assertive, so in spite of myself I'm really liking her so far, haha. The interactions with Greg felt organic and real to me too, especially the "Good call, Hollywood" crack and the "Brown nose" remark. I remember Greg's interactions with Riley and they were so awkward and forced to me, but I thought the interactions with Morgan came off with way more chemistry.
I agree this episode felt more like old CSI, it was really gratifying. I felt that weird pang of "Awwe man" when they showed D.B. in Grissom's old office too, but it also felt nice to see it again in its original layout. It still hurts, but not as much as before, lol.
I was also bummed to think Bobby Dawson has gone, I wasn't expecting that. I haven't made up my mind about the new ballistics girl yet, I need to mourn Bobby first if he's not coming back. Now I'm hoping we will see Henry, Mandy, and Archie soon, I hope they're still on board!
Overall, I think the past few seasons had so much darkness and negativity running through them. This season has a much lighter touch to it, and I'm really liking that so much. I think they've been using warmer color tones as well, which works well for me too. I'd like to think they're really aiming to get back to the roots of the show a lot more, and I like how they've been including those personal interactions without it being a jolting distraction from the case plot. I really am looking forward to what comes next now!