This article contains mention of violence and other sensitive topics.
Summary
CSI: Crime Scene Investigationis a highly regarded edition of the crime drama genre, and there are manythingsCSIdid better than other crime procedurals. However, that doesn’t mean the seminal show is without its faults, and it even has a few moments that make audiences stop watching the TV show entirely.Premiering in 2000 and going on to air for 15 seasons with multiple spinoffs,it’s fair to say thatCSIis an unmitigated success. Conversely, since it began so many years ago, there are some outdated moments and episodes that viewers don’t look back on fondly.
CSIwas unique because it took a scientific and analytical approach to criminology, whereas other TV series focused on the work of the detectives.
Many of thebestCSIepisodesfeature dark and disturbing themes, but this is to be expected when watching the show. Part of the reason thatCSIstood out next to its competition is that it was willing to push the boundaries of what audiences were used to seeingon network television. Additionally,CSIwas unique because it took a scientific and analytical approach to criminology, whereas other TV series focused on the work of the detectives. All of these elements created an amazing show that can stand the test of time if viewers overlook some questionable episodes.
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10The Enhancement Of Unclear Images & Evidence
It is one of the many spotty uses of science that occur throughout the show.
The concept of enhancing a blurry or indistinct image is an element ofCSIthat can be seen throughout the original series. These moments of questionable science arethe parts ofCSIthat have drawn skepticism and created unrealistic expectations for viewersabout what police work is actually like. For any audience member who is familiar with the true capabilities of real CSIs or the concept of how evidence is analyzed, it doesn’t take long forCSIto grow tiresome and outlandish.
Many contemporary shows would parody the wayCSItreated scientific investigation, especially when it came to using technology.
For the average viewer,this unrealistic science doesn’t matter as much as the fun ofCSIis watching the investigators solve the mysteryat the heart of the episode. However, it can’t be overlooked as a part ofCSIthat has aged poorly. Many contemporary shows would parody the wayCSItreated scientific investigation, especially when it came to using technology. In 2000, many people were unaware of the limitations of computer analysis, but today, audiences are more technologically savvy.
9CSI Season 1’s “Blood Drops” Goes Too Far
Season 1, Episode 7
From the first episode of the series,CSIcommunicated to the viewer that it wasn’t a show that would pull punches or cut corners about portraying the most gruesome parts of police work. However, for audiences that were just getting into the show, episode 7, “Blood Drops,” took things too far a little too soon. It’s a well-crafted episode, andthe twists and turns leave audiences guessing until the very end,but this quality doesn’t outweigh the trauma faced by the characters in the episode.
Violence, incest, and assault all play large roles in “Blood Drops,” and it would be unsurprising if viewers who were introduced to the series through this episode would immediately turn the series off the TV.CSIwent on to dial back this intensity a bitand be judicious about when to include episodes that were heavy on the trauma and fear factors. However, it would have been smart to wait a little longer before releasing “Blood Drops.”
8What Happens To Lady Heather’s Daughter
Season 6, Episode 15, “Pirates of the Third Reich”
It’s also a reminder of how the violence against women that’s constantly shown in the series can weigh heavily on the viewer.
Lady Heather is one of the most interesting side characters inCSI, and her dynamic with Grissom is an enduring part of the series that audiences will never forget. She comes and goes throughout the earlier seasons, andwhenever she appears, the audience can be sure it’s going to be an amazing episode.However, in “Pirates of the Third Reich,” not only are there gruesome murders, but they come a little too close to home for Lady Heather.
Though the representation of sex work onCSIis far from perfect,the portrayal of Lady Heather as a fully realized character with a life and feelings is one of the more compelling parts of the show.Being introduced to her daughter and then watching her be ripped away in the same episode was incredibly sad. Lady Heather’s experience in this episode makes the audience feel for her. However, it’s also a reminder of how the violence against women that’s constantly shown in the series can weigh heavily on the viewer.
7The Prejudiced Stereotypes In “Poppin' Tags”
Season 6, Episode 20
One of theharsh realities of rewatchingCSItoday is coming to terms with how much prejudice is woven throughout the show and how the level of diversity the show started with was abysmal.It was a predominantly white show throughout its run,and this is always an undercurrent in the series. However, in “Poppin' Tags,” the racial discrimination and prejudice of the series come through in how rap music and gang violence are discussed.
The character portrayals and the way people of color are treated in the episode demonstrate a lack of care and self-awareness that a TV show would never get away with today. These subjects are treated with much more nuance today, for the most part, but it’s a tough reminder that Hollywood still has a long way to go in unlearning harmful stereotypes. When looking back onCSI,it’s important to learn from the mistakes of the show and do better in the future.
6Catherine’s Trauma In “Built To Kill”
Season 7, Episodes 1 and 2
Catherine Willows is aCSIfranchise character who deserves a spinoffas she was an underutilized and highly skilled character who should have gotten more recognition. Her brief time serving as head of the crime lab didn’t make up for the fact that Catherine often got the short end of the stick. Every episode that focused on Catherine or her backstory was intriguing and engaging, but her development and future at the Vegas crime lab should have been taken more seriously. This made it particularly difficult when she underwent such trauma in season 7.
The two-part episode that season 7 started with saw the introduction of some serious villains on the show.
The two-part episode that season 7 started with saw the introduction of some serious villains on the show, but the scariest part was Catherine being drugged at the end of the first episode. She tests herself for evidence of assault when she wakes up, and it’s emotionally devastating to see this happen to Catherine. Additionally, any episode that deals with assault is a grueling and sensitive episode, butseeing it happen to one of the central female characters was an intense choice.
5When Liev Schreiber Joins The Show
Season 7, Episodes 12–15
Liev Schreiber stepped in as Michael Keppler halfway through season 7 when Grissom stepped away to take a sabbatical. Thankfully,CSInever had any intention of keeping Schreiber on as a true replacement for Grissom,as seeing someone else lead the team was startling. Keppler wasn’t a bad man, but he brought a lot of baggage to the Las Vegas police department, and this came back to haunt him, serving as the primary drama during his arc on the show.
However,watchingCSIwithout Grissom during one of the strongest points of the series was jarring,and many audience members weren’t aware that Keppler was only temporary. Additionally, he brought corruption and betrayal into the department, which was unsettling for the main characters in the series. It would have been more compelling and aligned more closely with the show’s arc if one of the existing characters had received the central plot line in these episodes.
4Warrick Brown’s Death
Season 9, Episode 1, “For Warrick”
It wasn’t long after Warrick’s death that Grissom left the show, and things onCSIwere never the same.
Of all the deaths onCSI, Warrick Brown’s was one of the saddest and most disappointing. Played by Gary Dourdan,Warrick was a hallmark of the series until his exit at the start of season 9.It wasn’t long after Warrick’s death that Grissom left the show, and things onCSIwere never the same. However, it was the manner of Warrick’s death that was especially tragic. He was killed by another member of the police department. The people involved were part of a conspiracy, so they worked together to cover it up.
Warrick was a great character who deserved better than this exit. Before he was killed, Warrick had been going down a dark path, but it would have been much more satisfying to see him come back from this rather than never get the chance to set things right. Thoughit was beautiful to see Warrick’s friends and colleagues come together to avenge his deathafter he passed, it still didn’t make up for his absence from the show.
3William Petersen Leaves As Gil Grissom
Season 9, Episode 10, “One To Go”
There’s noCSIwithout Gil Grissom, and the spinoff,CSI: Vegas, was well aware of this when it brought Grissom back in season 1. However,the originalCSIkept going for several seasons after Grissom made his final appearanceas part of the main cast. Though he would come back as a guest star, he would never be the team’s stalwart leader again, which was upsetting to the characters and audience members alike. While other team leaders brought new skills to the table, none could live up to the hole Grissom left.
Grissom’s exit marks the beginning of the end forCSI,as after his departure, the quality of the series began to go downhill in earnest.CSIis formatted so that it necessitates a strong leader to nurture the rest of the cast and ensure that everyone stays on track. Grissom was the perfect blend of seriousness and analysis while being able to step into the father-figure role that so many of the characters needed. Thankfully, no replacements tried to copy his signature style and investigation techniques.
2Justin Bieber Guest-Starring
Season 11, Episode 1, “Shock Waves”
It’s easy to forget thatJustin Bieber is in aCSIepisode, but he’s far from the only guest star with a background in music. Like most crime procedurals,CSIfeatured many exciting actors and celebrities to keep audiences interested in the series and add an element of surprise.Taylor Swift was also a guest in season 9,setting a precedent for Bieber to appear on the show. However, his episode was a signal to many viewers thatCSIhad already peaked and was using gimmicks to stay in the game.
While younger viewers likely appreciated the Easter egg of having Bieber on the show, it didn’t align with the tone and themes the series started out with.
Bieber’s episode had nothing to do with the conclusion of season 10’s arc,and having him be the face of the first episode of season 11 was surprising. Additionally, the intersection between fans of Bieber’s music at the time and the audience base ofCSIdidn’t have much in common on paper. While younger viewers likely appreciated the Easter egg of having Bieber on the show, it didn’t align with the tone and themes the series started out with. It represents howCSIwas losing momentum as the season came to a close.
10 Most Tiresome CSI Tropes Every Crime Procedural Continues To Use
CSI shaped forensic storytelling, but the overuse of some tropes has also paved the way for procedural narratives that feel far too formulaic.
1Ray Langston Killing Nate Haskell
Season 11, Episode 22, “In A Dark, Dark House”
Laurence Fishburne is an underrated addition to theCSI: Crime Scene Investigationteam, and the seasons that he was on the show brought some life back into the franchise. His character, Dr. Raymong Langston, joined the team after Grissom left and was an interesting leader who brought many new facets to the group. However, his biggest rival,Nate Haskell, turned out to be one of the most notorious killers on the show.Haskell went so far as to kidnap Langston’s ex-wife, leading to a violent confrontation.
It was already upsetting to see Langston’s wife kidnapped, but when Langston finds her and takes on Haskell, it leads to Langston killing him. On one hand, this opens an interesting conversation about the nature of self-defense in the line of duty as an officer of the law. However,the show ended up using this moment as an excuse to write Langston off the show.The investigation into Haskell’s death is quickly tied up and forgotten about, undermining several seasons of tension and stakes with a disappointing ending.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Cast
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation centers around a team of forensic investigators in Las Vegas. The series, released in 2000, follows the experts as they solve criminal cases by meticulously analyzing crime scenes, gathering evidence, and uncovering the truth behind various mysteries.
