O’Brien: It’s Totally Unexpected

The season finale of CSI: Miami, “Mayday”, will find Horatio Caine (David Caruso) facing danger—and the possibility for romance. (Spoilers after the jump)

The Florida-based spinoff will close the book on season nine this weekend, and fans will get their first glimpse of Agent Renee Locklear, who is played by Natasha Henstridge. The character will also appear in the season ten premiere this fall, and she could return on a recurring basis as a love interest for Horatio. “We set up the possibility for [sparks] to happen, but I give the actors all the credit for the way the relationship turned,” co-executive producer Barry O’Brien told TV Guide. “It was David and Natasha. They look great in a two shot. They really reacted well with each other and it was all very natural and organic, so we all looked at each other and said, ‘OK, more of this!'”

Before Horatio can contemplate romance, he’s going to have to survive the season’s cliffhanger ending. “If you look back at the scenes in our season opener, he risks everything to save the entire team,” O’Brien explained. “In the season finale he puts his very survival on the line to save one. I think that’s where the shock will come from. It’s totally unexpected of him.”

The original interview is available on TVGuide.com.