Advance Review: ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’ — ‘Karma to Burn’
5 min readShane Saunders reviews the Season Thirteen premiere of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, “Karma to Burn.” Read Rachel Trongo’s take later in the week.
A refresher for those who have completely forgotten how Season Twelve ended: In “Homecoming,” the CSI team reacquainted themselves with corrupt former undersheriff, Jeffrey McKeen, known to many as the sack of slime that killed Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan). After connecting him to a triple homicide and pursuing his son as a suspect, McKeen’s spawn is gunned down by Conrad Ecklie (Marc Vann) and in an act of retalliation, Ecklie is shot after reuniting with his daughter, Morgan Brody (Elisabeth Harnois) after attending a dinner with Hodges (Wallace Langham) and his mother, Olivia (Jaclyn Smith). Exhausted and unhappy with the direction of the Las Vegas Crime Lab, Nick Stokes (George Eads) informs two of his colleagues that he’s ‘out’; walking out on the lab he’s called home for over a decade. Unwinding at a bar with her new bedfellow Detective Moreno (Enrique Murciano), the newest member of the CSI team, Julie Finlay (Elisabeth Shue), is approached by Moreno’s partner, Michael Crenshaw (Billy Magnussen), a seemingly sinister detective who by all means should be a supermodel instead of patrolling Vice. As the finale’s montage reached its conclusion, DB Russell (Ted Danson)’s home was invaded, his ice cream loving granddaughter Kaitlyn kidnapped by McKeen’s people, and left with a note with the word “Karma” etched onto it.
Season Thirteen literally picks up the second “Homecoming” left off: with Finlay in the bathroom, washing her face, and interrupted by a text message from Sara (Jorja Fox) alerting her that mass chaos is errupting; the Russell home in disarray; and Ecklie in critical condition. Stokes is nowhere to be found during the opening teaser, and when he finally does enter the picture, viewers will be surprised with the action he’s taken to cope with the recent hurdles he’s been a part of. But, for the most part, Nick’s future at CSI is not a huge factor; in fact, the two important issues at hand here–Ecklie’s fate being the other–really don’t get much bang for their buck. While there’s some interesting moments for Nick and Sara, and Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) getting to sink his teeth into an issue that’s long bothered me (CSI’s going rogue and acting as cops is something that’s really been a weakness in the past few seasons; less door-busting and more print dusting is really what this show should focus on), much of the season’s first hour is spent on Russell and Finlay as they attempt to resolve their own personal differences (which, predicated by the last scene, are finally resolved one way or another) and the case of Russell’s missing granddaughter, a topic the show acknowledges as a conflict of interest, but a matter they let pass.
At this point in the show’s run, it is absolutely certain that some storylines will be repeated albeit with their own creative twist. Over the past twelve seasons, a myriad of established characters have been abducted: Catherine in “The Finger,” Nick in “Grave Danger,” Lindsey Willows in “Built to Kill, Part Two,” Sara in “Living Doll”/“Dead Doll,” Gloria Parkes in “In A Dark, Dark House,” Morgan in “CSI Down.” This time around, it’s another member of a CSI’s family, one we know very little about beside the fact that she adores ice cream and loves a bedtime story. While there’s really nothing new or different in regards to the resolution of that plot, there is some payoff in terms of seeing an entirely new side of leader DB Russell. Danson has proven himself to be a jolt of caffeine in CSI’s leg, and continues to be a great addition to the show’s cast. After a first season as the “zen master,” Russell’s persona enters a whole new light due to the events from the finale and the proceeding arc told here. No longer calm and cool, and certainly not in the mood for zen, Russell’s worries and emotions are unleashed, resulting in two great scenes between DB, Sara, and Nick.
Fans will see Sara as the voice of reason for a few characters this hour, which is definitely a highlight. Sara’s had a tangled history of personal and professional demons, and after learning from her mistakes and maturing, she’s able to speak wisdom to those going through similar issues. As a bonus treat her husband, the one and only Gil Grissom (William Petersen) who is out there, somewhere, doing something, is mentioned in a manner that fans of their relationship will enjoy. It’s a nice spot of continuity from a classic CSI moment.
This is a very pivotal year for CSI and will be a season that determine’s the future of the show. Some contracts are up after this season, the franchise is slowly going towards the big TV light in the sky, and the numbers are starting to dwindle. Going forward it would be nice to see more of cohesive team episodes as well as bringing many of the show’s original characters back to the forefront. An issue for the last couple episodes of Season Twelve, one of the show’s strongest seasons in recent memory, is that CBS is pushing Shue’s Julie Finlay character in a way they did with Laurence Fishburne‘s Ray Langston, and we all know how that ended. Easing off the family drama (which will continue this season), settling on a consistent tone for Finn (Shue is great, but this character has more personalities than Toni Collete in United States of Tara) and getting back to forensic stories (remember the investigation montages from earlier years? Please bring those back; the ALS would like to come out of retirement) would work wonders on a show that regained some creative traction last season, but has a few quirks still to figure out.
“Karma to Burn” premieres tomorrow, September 26, on CBS.
About The Author
Thanks for this review and heads-up for what’s to come. Your wishes almost mirror my own–get back to the crime scenes and away from all the personal details of the new guys. Don’t really care for Shue/Finn; needs to calm down and be a work horse rather than the office ?? show-off. I like Danson, but Sara, Nick, Greg and Brass remain fan favorites. And an appearance by Petersen would not hurt him at all. What else has he got to do? For several years, I have wondered why CSI did not bring in a younger crew to work with the originals, sort of a plan for the future, to keep this show going for years to come. It really has had–and still could be–a unique series in crime scene investigation–not just another cop show.
After the TOTAL TONNAGE of episodes that DO NOT have reviews, you review an episode that has not even aired yet! Are you fucking serious?!
You make a
good point about all of the reviews that didn’t get posted last season, but that’s entirely my fault since I do the regular episode reviews. Shane only does occasional reviews like this one. (I *would* like to go back and finish all of the reviews for last season at some point, but the new episodes will be my priority – I want to get all of them reviewed in a more timely fashion this season.)
🙂
That was a question I asked myself, too. None review on the last episodes of S12 and a “pre-review” or however you name it of the first episode to air tomorrow? I’ll beg a pardon and borrow csifansince9 review because I totaly agree with every single word. Please writers and producers listen to the fans at least for once and bring back the truly CSI essence as a show, a science crime drama and not cop action show!
Rachel and I cover completely separate topics on here; just like last year, I provided the advance review. If you are annoyed by the concept of posting an advance review that may contain spoilers, you are very capable of not clicking on a link and waiting until after the episode airs to read.
Could somebody post at the thread the clip of episode Karma to Burn with Sara and Nick for those who does not live in US, please!
I believe this might work:
http://jorjafox.net/2012/karma-to-burn-clip/
This is what CSIFILES has missed, of the original in Season 1, everything after FACE LIFT, Season 2-THE ENTIRE SEASON, Season 3, only CRASH & BURN, PRECIOUS METAL & LAST LAUGH have reviews, Season 4-only XX, TURN OF THE SCREWS & BLOODLINES have reviews, Season 5-COMPULSION & ICED which aired 7 years ago, have no review & ICED still has not had Its guest cast fully listed. Take a goddamn good look at the TOTAL TONNAGE of episodes that air not reviewed & you people review something that remains unaired. SERIOUSLY?! GET THE FUCK WITH IT! You could fill a DVD box set with what has not been reviewed. This is across the board for all 3 C.S.I.s. It’s disgraceful, after all these years. You people have pissed every summer away, summer when there are no new episodes of anything, you never invest in bringing the reviews up to speed. Do you people thoinkl NEXT summer can avoid being squandered?
Shane does not review the episodes during the season. I am the current reviewer (and have been for the past year or so), and Kristine Huntley was the reviewer before me. This advanced review has nothing to do with the regular episode reviews for previous seasons, so there’s no reason to rant about that in the comments of this post.
–
As I already said, I will eventually go back and finish the episodes I didn’t review last season – beyond that remains to be seen. Telling us to ‘get the fuck with it’ won’t make reviews randomly appear out of thin air. For the time being, my priority is going to be reviewing *new* episodes.
Kristine Huntley was lazy but you are far worse! Ever since you took over, the reviews have been thread bare. This site launched the weel RECIPE FOR MURDER premiered on the original & BUNK on MIAMI in 2003. The summers of 2003 & 2004 would have been the perfect opportunity to review ALL of the episodes that aired prior to the launch, but Huntley pissed away EVERY summer repeat season. Instead of getting the reviews up to speed, she reported everytime Gary Dourdan sneezed or when Adam Rodriguez farted. After nearly a decade, Season 2 of the original & MIAMI are barren. Huntley and now you have not even reviewed FOR GEDDA. Take a look for yourself, look at how Huntley wasted every summer. When none of you people see what summer affords you, I will say get the fuck with it. You & Huntley reported on every minor film role the castmembers got, but again waste the summers of 2003, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & now 12. 10 summers to get the franchise fully reviewed, but Huntley & now you keep piss, piss, pissing away. Season 2 of MIAMI went without reviews until THE OATH, leaving all of the Season 2 episodes from 2003 untouched & most of 2004. So I WILL NOT apologize because I would never squander what the summer would allow me to do. I would have had the reviews caught up before Alliance Atlantis folded, before Rex Linn was added to MIAMI’s credits. GO take a look, take a look at the load of episodes that could fill their own box set. All of you wasted the summer repeat seasons & now you have a near decade long backlog.
Hey, crazy guy–people have full time jobs. They don’t necessarily have time to go back and review old episodes of a show. The episode reviews here aren’t exactly short; they take some time. Go back to the nuthouse where you belong!!
@ Jared Baretta:
Long time lurker, unassociated with CSI Files but familiar with this situation chiming in here:
There are some things you might want to consider before you go on another pointless rampage:
1) These reviews don’t write themselves. They take time. It takes time to watch an episode of CSI, to take notes during an episode of CSI, to compose a draft of a review of an episode of CSI, and then to edit an publish a review of an episode of CSI. Given your very vocal tendencies and predilection for writing said opinions, one would hope you can understand that it isn’t simply a matter of just being pissed off and then charging to the internet to make your opinion –however unreasonable or overblown it may be — known to the masses.
2) Just like these things take time, the people doing the work to provide this extra content for you free of charge also have lives of their own to live and manage. Unlike, seemingly, in your world, the rest of us do not revolve our entire attention span or sphere of interest upon reviews of episodes from a 12-year old procedural. These writers have lives outside of message boards and television shows. These writers have day-jobs, some of which don’t end at 5pm, some of which require them to bring their work home with them, and some of which are jobs that these good writers actually loathe but only do because they have to pay their bills. Some of these writers have families, children, pets, parents, siblings, friends, and lovers who they want to spend time with. Some of these writers are so overworked they barely have time to eat and sleep let alone socialize. These are things that constitute a thing we call “reality,” from which (based on your posting history) you have seemingly become increasingly detached.
3) It’s a small world. CSI and its brethren are not the major hits they once were. Again, that’s reality. Let’s say I was one of the writers reviewing these episodes. I can tell you for sure that if I spent most of the year working my regular day job and living my already stressful, busy life and on top of that managed to eke out a review each week for the show currently airing, the last thing I would want to spend my hard-earned vacation time doing would be to go back and do more reviews just satisfy an ungrateful, supercilious little shit like you. Get some perspective.
4) Perhaps it did not cross that pea-sized brain of yours, but the fact of the matter is you can get more bees with honey than vinegar. Instead of leveling your nerd-rage at the good people at CSI Files as you have here (or on IMDB – way to keep it classy, by the way), why not just start a thread on your own? Title it “Episodes Yet To Be Reviewed” and invite posters like yourself to do those reviews? Don’t even make it about your snot-nosed little cause here, just do it in a positive manner. It’s not the end of the world, the Constitution isn’t being amended to limit your rights. Though it might be, if you’re a woman and Mitt Romney gets his way, which if you ask me is a much more serious and egregious concern right now than whether or not CSI Files cares about which sheriff they’re using in a given episode.
5) If anything, you should be praising Rachel, Shane, Kristine and whoever else has taken the time to do this (clearly) thankless work to provide these reviews (which you obviously hold in so high esteem.) What would you do if they stopped? What would your life be if you had no CSI reviews to bitch and moan about? This question leads me to my next bullet point which I’m sure you’ll ignore in favor of more vitriol and nerd-rage….
Turn off your TV. Turn off your computer. Go outside and get some sunlight. You’re living in the dark ages if you think that making such a big, immature, pathetic little stink over such a microscopic issue is going to do anything to get people here to take you seriously or believe that you aren’t just a petulant, mentally-deficient, little snot launching yet another pointless, one-man Don Quixote-esque temper tantrum crusade.
In short, if you can’t say anything nice or contribute anything positive or helpful toward resolving the issue you have with the site, then I would kindly and respectfully request that you SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY.
@ Jared Baretta:
Long time lurker, unassociated with CSI Files but familiar with this situation chiming in here:
There are some things you might want to consider before you go on another pointless rampage:
1) These reviews don’t write themselves. They take time. It takes time to watch an episode of CSI, to take notes during an episode of CSI, to compose a draft of a review of an episode of CSI, and then to edit an publish a review of an episode of CSI. Given your very vocal tendencies and predilection for writing said opinions, one would hope you can understand that it isn’t simply a matter of just being pissed off and then charging to the internet to make your opinion –however unreasonable or overblown it may be — known to the masses.
2) Just like these things take time, the people doing the work to provide this extra content for you free of charge also have lives of their own to live and manage. Unlike, seemingly, in your world, the rest of us do not revolve our entire attention span or sphere of interest upon reviews of episodes from a 12-year old procedural. These writers have lives outside of message boards and television shows. These writers have day-jobs, some of which don’t end at 5pm, some of which require them to bring their work home with them, and some of which are jobs that these good writers actually loathe but only do because they have to pay their bills. Some of these writers have families, children, pets, parents, siblings, friends, and lovers who they want to spend time with. Some of these writers are so overworked they barely have time to eat and sleep let alone socialize. These are things that constitute a thing we call “reality,” from which (based on your posting history) you have seemingly become increasingly detached.
3) It’s a small world. CSI and its brethren are not the major hits they once were. Again, that’s reality. Let’s say I was one of the writers reviewing these episodes. I can tell you for sure that if I spent most of the year working my regular day job and living my already stressful, busy life and on top of that managed to eke out a review each week for the show currently airing, the last thing I would want to spend my hard-earned vacation time doing would be to go back and do more reviews just satisfy an ungrateful, supercilious little shit like you. Get some perspective.
4) Perhaps it did not cross that pea-sized brain of yours, but the fact of the matter is you can get more bees with honey than vinegar. Instead of leveling your nerd-rage at the good people at CSI Files as you have here (or on IMDB – way to keep it classy, by the way), why not just start a thread on your own? Title it “Episodes Yet To Be Reviewed” and invite posters like yourself to do those reviews? Don’t even make it about your snot-nosed little cause here, just do it in a positive manner. It’s not the end of the world, the Constitution isn’t being amended to limit your rights. Though it might be, if you’re a woman and Mitt Romney gets his way, which if you ask me is a much more serious and egregious concern right now than whether or not CSI Files cares about which sheriff they’re using in a given episode.
5) If anything, you should be praising Rachel, Shane, Kristine and whoever else has taken the time to do this (clearly) thankless work to provide these reviews (which you obviously hold in so high esteem.) What would you do if they stopped? What would your life be if you had no CSI reviews to bitch and moan about? This question leads me to my next bullet point which I’m sure you’ll ignore in favor of more vitriol and nerd-rage….
Turn off your TV. Turn off your computer. Go outside and get some sunlight. You’re living in the dark ages if you think that making such a big, immature, pathetic little stink over such a microscopic issue is going to do anything to get people here to take you seriously or believe that you aren’t just a petulant, mentally-deficient, little snot launching yet another pointless, one-man Don Quixote-esque temper tantrum crusade.
In short, if you can’t say anything nice or contribute anything positive or helpful toward resolving the issue you have with the site, then I would kindly and respectfully request that you SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY.
Cannot wait. I hope the show and everyone will stay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Every summer since 2003 has been pissed away. There are no new episodes during the summer. A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to review the past episodes. The ONLY, again I say the ONLY way anything from Season 1 of the original got reviewed was because of the Writers Strike of 2007-8 left the franchise in limbo & Huntley ended up retro-reviews of the older shows. From my experience looking at this site, that without the strike, NOTHING from Season would be reviewed. If you lazy assholes invested the summers of 2003, 4 & 5 & kept it up afterward, THE ENTIRE FUCKING FRANCHISE WOULD BE REVIEWED STEM TO STERN, SOUP TO NUTS! Instead, Huntley & the rest of you decided to shit EVERY summer away since 2003.
Every summer since 2003 has not been pissed away, these reviewers are anything but “lazy assholes,” (particularly if they’ve got to deal with flaming, low-rent internet scum like you) and if the entire franchise ended tonight, the only positive thing to come from it’s demise would be that none of us would have to listen to your inane, slobbering drivel any longer.
Give yourself a hand-job and chill the fuck out already.