Fans And Critics Weigh In On Sara's Departure

See Also: 'Goodbye and Good Luck' Episode Guide

Will CSI: Crime Scene Investigation suffer without Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox)?

Fox's departure from CSI has some fans worried for the future of the show. "I think [CSI] will be worse off. The character, besides being a good, if troubled role model was often the voice of humanity on the show," S.H. from Washington told MSNBC. "It was nice to see a woman in science who didn't wear all white to a crime scene or heels to check out blood spatter. I hope they find a like-minded person to replace her or somehow entice her back to the show." Joe from Irvine, California agreed. "The show will not be the same without Jorja Fox and her character of Sara Sidle," he said, going on to say that Sara "is probably the most complex and emotive character on the show. Jorja's immense talent makes it so easy for the viewers to sympathize with the character, and I fear that without her the show will lose its heart and become a cold rock of boredom and mediocrity."

Critics, however, seem to think Fox's choice to leave CSI will not hurt the show in the long run. "CSI has built its success over the years by being more story-driven than star-driven," Vincent Fitzgerald, who heads the communications department at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, told the NY Daily News. "Because of that, the show should be able to withstand the loss of one character without suffering in the ratings." Fitzgerald went on to say that "television has shown over the years, repeatedly, that supporting characters can be replaced or eliminated" without the show going downhill.

Fox's final episode is "Goodbye and Good Luck", which airs tonight. Hal Boedeker described the episode as a "fitting farewell" for the actress. "Fox plays Sara's sadness with such wrenching and relatable feeling that this episode becomes one of the most satisfying hours you'll see this season," he said at OrlandoSentinel.com. Boston Herald reviewer Mark A. Perigard said that "[t]he nature of her departure will stab at the hearts of viewers."

Comments on "Goodbye and Good Luck" are from the Orlando Sentinel and the Boston Herald. Examples of fans' reactions can be found at MSNBC. The quotes about CSI's ability to withstand losing a main cast member are from NY Daily News.

Discuss this news item at Talk CSI!
 Add CSI Files RSS feed to your news reader or My Yahoo!
Also a Desperate Housewives fan? Then visit GetDesperate.com!