The cynics among us would probably argue that dogged TV reporters have taken away the element of surprise that used to come with CSI. Thanks to our own scooperman Mike Ausiello, we already knew that Gary Dourdan’s Warrick Brown was going to be history long before his departure finally played out in last night’s season premiere, or that Jorja Fox would briefly reprise her role as Sara Sidle in preparation for Billy Petersen’s much-anticipated exit as Gil Grissom. But those cynics would be wrong. There was no way to foretell how much Gil’s anguish over Warrick’s death would truly move us, or whether the sight of him clutching his runaway fiancee (where you been, Sara?) would give us hope that these two complicated souls might just see better days ahead. Cut the crap, Emmy voters — what more does this show have to do to get your damn respect?
But I digress; we’re here to talk about last night’s premiere. Though stricken with grief over the death of one of their own, the team and Capt. Brass promise to get "all hands on deck" to solve this mystery — all except the coroner, Dr. Al Robbins (the sorely underappreciated Robert David Hall) who announces that he’s "asked the day shift to handle this one" before turning away from the sight of Warrick’s body. Crack investigative work by Nick and Catherine inside Warrick’s car (they follow the clues to a tiny print on a bullet!) lead the team to believe that the under sheriff, not the previously suspected Officer Pritchard, was the one who really pulled the trigger. Just like that, our fearless heroes had found their man.
But the whodunnit part is not the main reason you tuned in, right? I came to see the first of Petersen’s final eight episodes as a series regular (I’m already thinking this show can’t survive without him — and the dude’s not even gone yet) and to check out how Fox’s Sara would return to the man and job she abandoned last year. I choked up at the sight of those two embracing, and let out an audible gasp when I saw them cuddling in bed (!!!) during the scenes from next week’s episode. But it was George Eads — who looked so crestfallen at the funeral — who really broke my heart (uttered a great, Godfather shout-out, too, when he was snooping through Warrick’s car: "Leave the gun, take the cannoli. This was a hit!" I sure dig those CSI writers).
What did you think? Did you shed a tear or two over the final sight of the beautiful (and obviously tortured, if you’ve been reading the headlines) Gary Dourdan? Were you thrilled to see Fox back in action? Are you already dreading Petersen’s departure? Let it all out, fans: Gil and his team certainly did.
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One little thing bothered me (other than the overwrought performances)…It bugged me that Brass said that as of now “we have no other cases”…I’m sure the families of all the other victims in Las Vegas would have been glad to hear that. Don’t know why that bothered me so much. Just seemed the wrong thing to say. Would have been more true to the show to say “hey, we still have other crimes to solve too even as we grieve” or something like that….oh well…good tv…
I cried like a damn big baby…I did. That was an emotional episode lastnight. Warrick dying, Grissom mourning, Nick just looked like his world was stolen from him…it was just sad. I’ve been watching the original CSI since day 1. This is my favorite CSI. These are my favorite CSI’s. Them not being a team anymore is heartbreaking seriously. They were the best team. We lost Sara last year, Warrick lastnight and Grissom in a few weeks. It will not be the same. They had great chemistry and the storylines were amazing. Is it just me but did Georgia look pregnant. I’m convinced she’s pregnant. She’s pregnant in real life or maybe it’s a possible storyline and why Grissom is leaving because she’s having his baby. I’ve said I will continue to watch because I do think Lawrence Fishburne is an exceptionally gifted actor and they couldn’t have picked a better replacement for Grissom. I wish the team was still together. Great Great Great Season Priemer bring Warrick BACK!!!!!!!!!
tore my heart out.. this is going to be an interesting season.
Flypay – I can see where you’re coming from, but i guess i assumed they just passed those cases off to the day shift or what not, and that the core group, those close to Warrick, were asked to focus on solving his murder.
oh yes i cried. I really wanted Nick to shoot McKeen but I guess Im glad he didnt cause we would lose him too! I agree with Denise I thought Jorja looked pregnant, too. Wish they had included the son and paternity test BEFORE Warrick died, but oh well. I will keep watching and while I look forward to Laurence Fishburne, not sure the show will ever be the same without the original team. I always watch these shows not for the crime solving but for the characters and their interactions.
Weeping the whole way through. I really started to lose it when Doc Robbins couldn’t go through with the autopsy. And just when I thought I was done crying, Grissom’s eulogy broke my heart all over again.
I think Brass’s comment was more out of grief. They probably told Day shift to work some of their cases. I’ll admit that I did cry. This will be definately an interesting season, but seriously (and on a lighter note)…what is up with Jorgia Fox’s hair?
Very sad episode. At least Warrick’s departure was done honorably. Thought that the entire ensemble delivered marvelous performances. CSI as we know it and love it is fading. Not really sure how this show goes forward without Grissom. He is the heart of CSI, as he proved last night.
I bawled at the beginning (with the Gladiator music) and at the end (with the beautiful Nicky fighting back tears). I will really miss Warrick, he was one of my faves. So cool and dreamy, yet tortured too. Very complex. I HATE SARA. I wish she would have stayed away. I also dont think the show will last very long without Gil.
I cried so much during that episode, I have watched this show since the very first episode. I am so upset that Warrick is gone and I can not even begin to process that Grissom is leaving he is the heart of the show. And he is CSI. I mean I love them all, but I can not see this show without Grissom. I am just in total shock. I really dont know how I will be able to handle this all.
I thought it was a great episode. I was a little surprised that they solved the case so quickly but it was kind of satisfying. Never really cared for Sara Sidle so I could have done without seeing her back but I guess she had to come back in light of Warrick’s murder. I loved the scene with Warrick talking about Grissom and I loved Grissom’s pain over losing Warrick. I thought that William Petersen conveyed so much without going over the top. A heartbreaking episode overall. I’m not entirely sure they had to kill Warrick off but since that’s the way they decided to go, at least it was done in an honorable way. This has always been my favorite CSI – by far.
plain and simple is and always has been my favourite CSI and probably will discontinue watching now that Warrick and Grissom are no longer or will no longer be a part of the show – loved them both….too bad, they all made a GREAT team TOGETHER
I loved the episode but I really wish that had not killed off warrick, he was one of my favorite characters on the show. I hope he finds more good rolls to play that give as much as his warrick role did to csi.
I miss Warrick.
i cried the whole time. if its not broken, don’t fix it. all the characters on this show weren’t just friends, they were a real family. and it breaks my heart to se any of them leave. i don’t think that i can continue to what the show after Grissom leaves, that loss would be too much for someone who loves the show….the way that it originally was.
Last night’s episode reminded me why I love this CSI best. It demonstrated, again, how complex the human side of life can be. Flypay, the comment Brass made is closer to reality than you think when law enforcement lose one of their own.
I was surprised the warrick character was killed off. now they are getting rid of the grissom character? the show cannot survive without grissom. he’s the anchor.
I enjoyed the ep, but found that it was WAY too easy for them to find their man. This deserved a two-hour slot. Events unfolded quickly, and there was very little time for the greiving team to talk it out amongst themselves. I would have liked to see a little more interaction with our core players. Jorja Fox was never a favorite, but she would have been conspicuous had she not come back. (Kinda like Clooney and Margulies absent from ER when Dr. Green died.) I have a feeling that Warrick was killed off because of Dourdan’s personal issues, and I think that was a mistake. The show will NOT be the same without Warrick and Grissom, but I look forward to what Laurence Fishburne will bring to the table.
I have been waiting for this season very patiently and didn’t move from my couch during the show. I got very emotional while watching Gil hold Warrick as the life went out of him. The whole team put on a dynamite performance and I truly believe they will miss Gary Dourdan and that they wish him the best. But Gil? OMG!! I am so going to miss him and his little crooked smile.. big blue eyes.. and everything about his quirky character. I would really like to see Gil content and with someone who loves him. I am glad he will still have his hand in the show by producing…and would like to see him come back for a visit here and there to help on a case. I am Grissom’s girl.
Well since my CBS affiliate decided to not show the last 10 minutes of the episode, I can’t really comment on it. Grissom is the rock of this show and will be sorely missed when he’s gone.
I guess I’m the only one who DVR’d this ep. so I could watch it tonight. And I guess I’m the only one irritated by the spoiler (I don’t read Ausiello) on the HEADER of this post on the Pop Watch page. I didn’t know Warrick was going to kick the bucket. A big giveaway like that one should have been inside the post instead of on the front page. Thanks, Lynette.
Great episode,but sad to say the least.I was stunned Warrick was killed off.He was and always will be one of the favorites of this great show by many many fans.The tears were flowing early and were flooding my living room at the end.
Good luck to you Gary and I hope all goes well in your future.
It was mostly well done except since Nick was Warrick’s best friend, I felt it a miss that we didn’t get to see Nick till he’d already found out about the shooting.
I worry about the future of the show because all the press points to it being handed over to Laurence Fishburne and lauding over Jorja Fox (who was already written out) and not giving any decent press to Marg Helgenberger and George Eads. They’re the continuity many fans will want to make sure are carrying on, but the official press makes it sound like they’re nothing. It’s wonderful to see them (especially George) do such great work but they’re greatly underappreciated by the producers of CSI and the show will sink thanks to that poor treatment.
I thought one of the most brilliant parts of last nights episode was the silence. It made the impact of when the team spoke far more powerful. I agree it will be tough to watch with three main characters gone but maybe it will bring fresh life into the show.
I cried so hard from the very first moment to the last one. I “felt” their pain. I will miss “Grissom” and “Warrick”. However, I do not agree that the show is “over”. No one seems to have faith in the other actors on the show, who have had just as much to do with the success of the show. Who would Grissom and Warrick be without the others? They all played off each other. Those who remain are very talented and if you are truly a fan of the show, Peterson and Dourdan leaving shouldn’t change that. I don’t believe the show hasn’t “jumped the shark” and the only way it is going to fail is if fans stop watching. It is not necessarily the shows choice to remove these two. Maybe Peterson wanted something else for a change(that does happen). And Dourdan is great, but I am glad he has time to focus on his health. I would rather him leave the show and take care of himself, than lose this talent for ever. I wish Peterson and Dourdan, and CSI the best of luck. I will remain a fan until the end.
I could not wait to see this episode and it was worth the wait. I thought it was very moving to see how they dealt with their teammate and friend’s death.. I loved Warrick and I will miss him. I was glad to see Sara back, Grissom needed her there to support him.Was’nt it sad to see Grissom’s pain, it broke my heart. Like many fans of this show, I don’t know how Grissom’s departure will effect the rating, he is the anchor of this show. We will need to be patient and give Mr. Fisbourne a chance he is a great actor, however it will not be the same.
While sad to see Warrick go I’m glad someone finally bit the dust. Almost everyone has had some (end of season or almost) near death experience; Stokes being buried alive, Brass being shot, Sara in the desert etc yet all miraculously survived. Sara’s was by far the last straw for me at the beginning of last season. So, I think it was about time someone didn’t make it…although if I could have picked, it wouldn’t have been Warrick but my last straw as previously mentioned.
George Eads has always been under-rated on this show- check out the episode Gumdrops for proof of his ability to break the heart. Last night, I was deeply moved by George’s performance again. And I’ll give it to the creators of the show for killing off Warrick, I never thought they’d do it. I thought they’d follow cliche and save him. Well miss ya, Warrick!
I CRIED THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH ALSO. WARRICK WAS ALWAYS ONE OF MY FAVORITES. GIL AND THE REST OF THE CAST DID AN EXCELLENT JOB IN THIS. SARA DID LOOK DEFINITELY PREGNANT, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WILL BE WHAT MAKES GIL GO OFF INTO THE SUNSET WITH SARA. MAYBE THIS IS JUST WISHFUL THINKING ON MY PART..BUT EVEN THO WE SAW ALL THAT BLOOD AND HEARD ALL THAT HORRIBLE CHOKING SOUNDS FROM WARRICK, WE DIDN’T SEE THEM PROCESS THE BODY AT ALL, NO PICS, NO LIGHTS, NO AUTOPSY, AND THE COFFIN CLOSED. MAYBE SOMEDAY IF THE POWERS AT BE AT CBS DECIDE TO BRING HIM BACK, HE WOULD HAVE MIRACULEOUSLY SURVIVED AND WENT INTO WITNESS PROTECTION????CAN I DARE HOPE???KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED..!
I agree that Marg and George are also very stong caracters in this CSI serie and I will continue to watch the show because of them especially. Nick aqnd Marg pain was heart ranching, I cried like a baby, I felt all their pain and sorrow.