C.S.I. - Crime Scene Investigation - Vegas - Series 5 - Vol.2 (DVD)

CSI hit our TV screens in 2000 and became a massive hit from the very first show. Since then it has gone from strength to strength and is now into well into its tenth series. CSI has also spawned two similar crime investigative series: CSI New York and CSI Miami and the merchandise market for the series’ together include video games, board games, clothing and figurines. The original and therefore longest running series, the original CSI, sometimes ...
...I think it’s safe to say most peoples, favourite.

Each CSI series can be purchased in one complete box-set but it is more common to find them sold in the split two DVD box-sets. This review is for the box-set series 5.2 and therefore contains, over three discs the final thirteen episodes of the 25 episode long fifth series.

== What is CSI all about? ==

Fundamentally CSI is a crime series but instead of ... more

CSI hit our TV screens in 2000 and became a massive hit from the very first show. Since then it has gone from strength to strength and is now into well into its tenth series. CSI has also spawned two similar crime investigative series: CSI New York and CSI Miami and the merchandise market for the series’ together include video games, board games, clothing and figurines. The original and therefore longest running series, the original CSI, sometimes referred to as CSI: Las Vegas is however mine, and I think it’s safe to say most peoples, favourite.

Each CSI series can be purchased in one complete box-set but it is more common to find them sold in the split two DVD box-sets. This review is for the box-set series 5.2 and therefore contains, over three discs the final thirteen episodes of the 25 episode long fifth series.

What is CSI all about?

Fundamentally CSI is a crime series but instead of being based on the traditional police department outlook focuses on the actions of the Forensic Criminalistic Department and the Crime Scene Investigators that work for it. More specifically CSI focuses on the cases and characters of the graveyard shift in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Most of the episodes therefore are jam-packed full of investigative techniques that range from fingerprinting and large evidence collection, to analysing blood spatter and small items of trace material. The episodes document the entire process from the crimes committal to the CSI’s arriving on the scene, their first impressions and ultimately how they deal with trying to unpick what they find in front of them and separate what is probative from what is not.

The very nature of the programme and the crimes that are depicted within it does mean that there are a lot of dark themes running through it. In turn this definitely means that the series warrants its 15 certificate as the bloody violence and gory forensic images aren’t for the young or the faint hearted.

Greg Sanders: I found this toilet behind my apartment complex. It's volunteered for an experiment.
Sara Sidle: It's moving.

The Characters and Actors who play them

It is my considered opinion that no matter how good the premise for a television series is, it will not work unless the devised characters are ones that resonate with the audience and the only way that this can happen is if they are all allowed to develop like people in reality and if the actors that portray them do so with and sense of conviction yet a presence of ease. Personally I think that CSI as a show works so well and is so popular because of its characters and of course the actors who play them.

All of the characters within the show grow as the episodes and series’ progress and all of them have a history before even the first episode aired and this means that we are able to learn new information about them just a little bit at a time without it seeming like the character focus is simply a way for the writers to create a new episode. Because of the way that the characters have been written they interactive with each other in an extremely believable way in I feel that they are possibly the most rounded television characters and therefore cast that I have seen.

It is worth noting that in the first half of this series the CSI graveyard shift team was split by Conrad Ecklie. Catherine was promoted to Swing Shift supervisor and allocated Nick and Warrick whilst Gil was allowed to keep Sara and Greg and allocated Acting Swing Shift Supervisor Sofia – who I personally found rather difficult to warm to.

Below I have written small character brief for each of the characters and tried to explain how the episodes in this box-set effect them, cause them change etc. I have done so because of the fact that I think by understanding the characters within the show you understand the show so much better. I know that not everyone wants to read this in a review and if you are one of these people then simple skip ahead to the next section, which is titled ‘This Box-Set’.

Al Robbins

Al (Robert David Hall) is the Chief Medical Examiner for the CSI unit and works closely with his assistant David and the rest of the CSI team. Al handles all of the autopsy and medical examinations that the team can throw at him and is always willing to lend a hand as and when he can. His knowledge is amazing and he delivers it to the others with not only a sense of purpose but also a sense of humour, which is integral to keeping his scenes fresh and interesting. He has a great rapport with the rest of the cast and this streams through every time he is on screen. The very nature of his character could have made Al rather dull to watch but with clever scripting and some great acting on the part of Robert David Hall, Al has become a loveable and memorable character and one that I personally really enjoy watching.

Gil Grissom

Gil Grissom (William Petersen) is a quirky forensic entomologist that is somewhat obsessed with bugs. He is also the graveyard shifts supervisor but his laid-back attitude and sometimes unwillingness to do paper work doesn’t always win him favours with those outside of his team. Despite his outward appearance and his dedication to his work Grissom isn’t as dull as he may seem. He has a passion for riding roller coasters and a dry humour that is second to none. This season also sees his feelings for Sara become more prominent although nothing is openly said or shown to give the audience an idea of exactly what they are one way or the other. William Peterson is a star in my opinion and her superbly handles and the little quirks and changes that occur within his character with a great sense of ease. He gives Grissom credibility not only as a scientist but also as a boss and a friend, which is ultimately what Grissom is all about.

Dr. Al Robbins: From everything I've heard, this guy was a considerable ass.

Catherine Willows

Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) is the Assistant Night Shift Supervisor and a blood spatter analyst. Catherine was an exotic dancer before becoming a CSI and is also a single parent. She is an impulsive and fiery person who likes to do things her way but is ultimately a team player when it comes down to the crunch. She has an immensely strong although platonic friendship with Gil and is also close to Warrick, which seems to have a certain romantic spark. Her friendship with Nick however is possibly the strongest. The pair playfully flirt and Catherine has made major sacrifices for him in the past. They have also told one another things that no one else is aware of. Helgenberger is in my opinion absolutely fantastic as Catherine. She makes her seem like a such a believable and down to earth character that it is easy for the audience to relate to her nature and the situations she finds herself in.

Nick Stokes

Nick (George Eads) is a hair and fibre analyst and quite possibly the most laid back and empathetic of all the CSI’s. He is a clean-cut sort of guy, permanently smart, honest and loyal. He is also extremely intelligent although his outward good-looking and powerful appearance wouldn’t necessarily lead you to think this. In many respects Nick is a tower of strength but he harbours a great secret. At the age of nine Nick was molested by a last minute babysitter, which has lead him to be one of the most sympathetic of the CSI’s. He is often told he watches too much Animal Planet and Discovery Channel but has strong friendships will the rest of the team. In my opinion Nick is the most complex and intriguing character of the bunch and therefore George Eads has to be commended for his portrayal of him. He is always convincing and plays his role with conviction.

Warrick Brown

Warrick (Gary Dourdan) is an audio-video analyst and a very interesting character to watch. Warrick once had a gambling problem and therefore is aware of the truth of the city – the only one who wins is the house. He uses his knowledge of the casinos to provide greater insight into the people that work and play in them. He is confident of his abilities as a CSI but doesn’t show off about it. He can however come across as a little cocky but ultimately he is rather a humble man who wants to make a difference. Gary Dourdan is brilliant as Warrick in every single way and really adds dimension to the cast. His build makes him a imposing screen presence yet his nature is one of genuine calm most of the time. His on screen relationships with other characters is strong and comes across in a very natural way especially between himself and George Eads (Nick) and Marg Helgenberger (Catherine).

Sara Sidle

Sara (Jorja Fox) is the final team investigator and a materials and elements analyst. She was brought up in a foster home and was once a student of Grissom’s and the have a strong personal relationship together although the audience is never quite sure exactly what has gone on or is going on between them. Sara is ultimately a very successful person and a more than competent investigator in all areas, especially excelling at processing vehicles and mechanical items, but she is rather quick-tempered. This series also sees Sara start to turn towards drink in an attempt to solve personal problems. This isn’t always overtly clear but is made well-known to the audience by the series’ end. Jorja Fox in my opinion really comes into her own in this half of the series. She consistently gives powerful performances as the head strong Sara and places her difficulties and issues on the table in a very credible yet delicate way.

Greg Sanders

Greg (Eric Szmanda) used to be the teams DNA Technician but since showing an interest in becoming a full-blown CSI towards the end of series three he has worked closer with the team and spent a lot of time trying to find someone to replace him in the lab. This season sees his replacement arrive and Greg move on to become a trainee CSI and then a CSI- Level 3. Greg is extremely hardworking and although he retains his optimistic outlook of life and his fun loving attitude that we have all come to know and love this series does see him grow up a little bit. He is however still one of the most humorous characters and his mere appearance on screen is often enough for some element of wit to be played out. Eric Szmanda does a perfect job as Greg on all counts and seems to have seamlessly moved him for cheerful and professional DNA technician to slightly out of his depth yet hardworking CSI.

Jim Brass

Captain Jim Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) is a homicide detective who used to run the CSI lab and therefore is well aware of the stresses and strains that are placed on the CSI’s that he works closely with. He is an integral member of the team and a very interesting one to watch. Jim has an exceptionally dry sense of humour and can come across as relatively hard nosed, ultimately though he is simply thorough with his job and knows what he wants to achieve. His relationship with Grissom is one of friendship but not of the same kind that exists between members of the lab. Jim is also friendly with all the other CSI’s in turn and clearly has a lot of respect for them. In my opinion Guilfoyle plays a superb part as Jim Brass and really adds depth and dimension to the show. In a strange way he has an element of warmth about him that the others lack and because of his departmental difference to the rest of the cast adds a different perspective to events as they unfold.

Nick Stokes: [to phone] Did you get his autograph for me?
Captain Jim Brass: [to phone] You know, actually I did, and if you get me a match, you might be able to meet him at his trial.
Nick Stokes: Do you think that would make his autograph worth more? Or less?

This Box Set

This box set contains the final thirteen episodes from CSI’s fifth season. Each of these thirteen episodes contains within it at least one case, and usually two or more, that the CSI team must investigate. Well that is the case for the first eleven episodes as the final two episodes in this box set are actually one double length special episode by Tarantino, called Grave Danger. This makes this box set rather special in a way as Grave Danger is quite possibly the best CSI episode I have ever seen and probably ever will see.

Some of the cases within this series link to those in other episodes and cases in previous series’ also figure at some points. Ultimately however it is still possible to watch each episode as a stand-alone piece of drama, as each mini case within an episode it’s brought to a close before the final credits role. Personally however I still think that it is far better to watch the episodes and series’ in order as this allows you to take full advantage of the subtle jokes, character developments and general progression of the team and the cases they work on.

Within this half of the series the team, or teams as the case generally is, work on a multitude of different and intriguing cases. Some of the cases I must admit do leave you feeling a little uncomfortable but I suppose that this is probably the desired effect, as the uncomfortable feeling that we get comes from us as an audience empathising with the situations and the characters.

The cases within the series are fantastically scripted and acted and ably backed up by some fantastic computer graphics that make them such a gem to watch and give you a wonderful insight into the scientific process used as well as into the working minds of the CSI’s working them. The cases that flood the forensics office this time include the discovery of two female corpses in tar, the murder and rape of a flight attendant and a brutal murder at a state mental hospital. This is on top of, of course the fantastic double episode season finale in which the victim is none other than one of their own. When Nick is kidnapped from a scene the race is on to find him and when they find out that he has been buried alive they must pool all their skills and resources to find him before time runs out.

This episode is truly fantastic in so many ways and really highlights what CSI is all about. Better still the natural relationship between the characters is really allowed to flourish and everyone pulls together in a way that highlights how much they think of each other and how much they value the positions that they are in. The final line from this episode is quite well known, (I have reproduced it below) and is in my opinion one of the best season finale lines ever. It may not make much sense to you know but in the context of the programme and the state of the known CSI team as I have mentioned previously it is very important.

Gil Grissom: [To Conrad Ecklie] I want my guys back.

Dark Vs Light

Although I have mentioned that the tremendous computer graphics make the cases so engrossing they also make them exceptionally visual and therefore we as an audience get to see a lot of the gruesome points of the crime in great detail. This coupled with the crime flashbacks as the CSI’s piece ideas together can provide some rather horrendous and slightly uncomfortable scenes and for this the programme has been criticised. Personally though, although I will admit that the programme can be quite dark at times, I think that this merely adds to its appeal. The inclusion of these images and scenes makes us feel closer to the CSI team as well as the victims and suspects. In this way we feel like a greater part of the programme rather than simply a spectator of the unfolding events.

Furthermore I have to say that I think all of the issues tackled within the programme are dealt with in a way that shows delicacy yet doesn’t shy away from the truth. On top of this the programme’s darker moments are interspersed and sometime coincide with some much lighter ones that lift the mood. These lighter moments are often found in the comments, facial expressions and sometimes actions of the CSI team and those around them. These humorous snippets lift the dark mood that can sometimes set in and bring us closer to the team and the case. Some however will find this humour rather crude whereas others like myself realise that the jokes cracked by the team are simply there way of coping with what they see and providing a suitable working environment.

Sara Sidle: Relax and lie down on your back.
Greg Sanders: You know, this is exactly like a dream I had once, except it wasn't in a garage. And Grissom wasn't watching.
[pause]
Greg Sanders: That was a different dream.

Music

Personally I think that music is an integral part to any series and that in this series it is probably one of the most important factors. A lot of times throughout the episodes there is no or very little dialogue due to the screen being filled with evidence collection or processing. At these points the music that is utilised is the quite possibly the only thing that tells us exactly how we should be feeling about what is on the screen and how we should react.

My favourite music in this series is definitely found in the Tarantino special, as every piece seems to be sublimely placed and gives the entire episode an amazing atmosphere and emotion that may otherwise be lost. Running Battle by Kasabian is played in the second half of the episode and is a fantastic piece of music for the situation capturing emotions, characteristics, pace and tempo excellently.

The most iconic piece of music from the series however is the programmes title track; ‘Who Are You?’ by The Who. This truly is a memorable theme tune and one that I think fits the programme perfectly. The tempo and general pace is quick and quirky rather like the cases and character and the lyrics in many ways sum up some of the things the CSI’s must think on a day-to-day basis.

DVD Extras

As well as the twelve episodes, the box set also contains some special features. I will admit that the special features included in the CSI box-sets have decreased in quantity and quality over time but to be brutally honest I don’t personally buy a box-set for the special features they contain but for the actual programme and could therefore never mark a box-set down for lacking in them.

The special features for this box-set are a selection of episode commentaries, which unfortunately I cannot comment on due to my severe dislike of commentates full stop, features on CSI procedures in the lab and CSI: Tarantino Style as well as a post mortem of the entire series. These final three special features are really interesting to watch and the one discussing the Tarantino special episode is definitely one that I would recommend all viewers to talk a look at. Overall therefore the special features in this box-set are far better than those that have found their way into the previous few sets.

Overall Opinion

I absolutely adore this box set and cannot think of a single reason why every CSI fan doesn’t have this one proudly displayed within their DVD collection. I know I say this about every CSI box set I review but I really don’t know how this one could have been any better and if the next season is even half as good as this one then I’m in for a real treat.

Dr. Al Robbins: Let's start with the stomach contents. They're fascinating. They reminded me of that scene in Jaws where Dreyfuss cuts open the sharks belly and all sorts of weird things come out?
Gil Grissom: You found a license plate?

Facts

The complete run time for the episodes is 512 minutes.

The box set has a 15 rating, which I think it honestly deserves due to the nature of the case content.

The DVD box-set can be purchased from most good DVD stores as well as online but ranges greatly in price. I bought my copy for around £8 but it can cost anywhere up to £40, so keep an eye out.

Gil Grissom: I'm not any good at politics. And it's cost me. It's how I lost Nick and Warrick.
Catherine Willows: Your loss was my gain.
Gil Grissom: Yeah. And at least they're in good hands. 

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