There have been episodes in season 15 that have made us hope for another season. This was not one of them. I didn't believe for a second that either D.B.'s daughter or Shaw would be harmed in any way. I didn't care about yet another one of D.B.'s relatives being in danger and neither found all those nods to past episodes amusing (the bugs, the ants, the violin, Hodges' mentor, the daughter leaving marks for CSI's to find... the list is long in this one). It felt like a 45-minute long trailer of a B movie (or a dream) with too many laughable moments.
As for a season renewal, I don't see why they would make a big deal out of Nick's departure if there wasn't going to be a season 16. If season 15 is the end then everyone else has been neglected throughout season 15, and that includes everyone from regular cast members to technicians. They all deserve a 'final day on set' tweet/photo/other. Additionally, there are mentions about Nick along the lines of 'we won't kill him and we're leaving the door open for future appearances instead'. Without a season 16 there's no 'door' to leave open. It doesn't make sense. It's just another trick to get some of its lost viewers back. I don't see it not being renewed.
And as for who is going to die, I'm between Doc and Dave (and that's only because my first guess, officer Mitchell, isn't listed as having been in season 1). Maybe there will be something deadly inside a dead body (something about the strings, a bomb, or poison)? A spoiler on the spoiler thread states: "A cast member who has been a part of the show since Season 1". Assuming there is going to be another season, then why get a major character killed and have fewer backup stories to write about? They can cut down costs by not having them present in every single episode, they don't have to kill them off. And if there isn't going to be another season then the hype over Nick's departure has simply been unfair towards everyone else involved with the show for the past 15 years, especially the character who will get killed, no matter how major or minor that character is.
Besides, CSI cannot have a final episode without Grissom.
Now they dont even care any more anything, the writers do everything they want, they think they are god, for write such a crap, they make the same old things of before.
And they are so stupid to believe that Grissom would teach something like dont touch the evidence, for good sake, when i see that i remember me watching the first episode when Hodges go to the ground and make some real CSI work, like 5 seasons after he is doing the same shit only that now is even worst.
Again the people dont care nothing, if CBS dont pick up the show then is the end of CSI, it would be so easy for CBS to make something like that and now they are even saying the same to the press over and over again, CSI is doing a really bad job in this moment, the finale would say if CSI still is in the 10 millions or if the show goes to the 8 millions and die.