Hell yeah!
With sincere apologies to the male fans, I’m going to believe the CSI writers wrote this William Petersen swan song especially for me — okay, me and the millions of other female viewers — who believe a happy ending is possible for just about anyone, even a moody sleuth in a perpetual state of emotional lockdown. Sappy sendoff? Perhaps. Satisfying? You bet — especially since the last cast member to take a permanent hike (alas, poor Warrick) did it in such a depressing and tragic manner.
Truth be told, I never believed executive producers Carol Mendelsohn and Naren Shankar would keep Gil and Sara apart for long. That Dear John (Jane?) video she sent him earlier this season was a tricky-dick way to throw us off the scent, but if anyone seemed destined to catch a break, it was these two lonely hearts. And what a break they caught! I imagine the fans will argue long and hard about whether a prolonged and passionate buss is an appropriate act for a show about death, but I let out a gleeful gasp when those two embraced in that Survivor-like setting (at least, that’s what the one-track-mind Dalton Ross thought it looked like). I don’t know if these two characters will go on to get hitched — hell, I don’t even know if they’ll make it out of that jungle — but this is exactly the payoff I wanted if I were going to have to accept a CSI without Petersen.
There were plenty of other moments that got me feeling all mushy inside, despite the fact this was still an episode about death — like the way Nick said it felt like "Grissom’s last big game," or how Catherine grinned and winked as the King took his final stroll through the crime lab. But if I go on I’ll be sucking up precious space that should be devoted to your comments.
What did you think? Was this exactly the kind of upbeat goodbye that you wanted from Gil? Do you believe the writers made the right creative call by having him reunite with Sara? And under what circumstances do you believe it’ll be right for Petersen to make a triumphant (but brief) return to the show? (Remember, our boy is still an exec producer and has promised to appear here and there.) Start typing now!
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I LOVED IT. It was the only way it could have ended for me. I know not everyone was happy with that relationship, but I couldn’t imagine Grissom last episode ending any other way…
It was perfection. After 9 years of watching the push and pull between these 2, it was the ONLY way to have Grissom leave the lab. I can see them both coming back if Grissom needs to consult on a case, but I am perfectly happy if they never do since this was the best ending for these 2 angst-ridden characters.
I agree completely — the ending was perfect: beautiful and brief and warm and happy, particularly for a show about death, because this signifies Grissom really moving on and not just moving around with his life.
BEST. ENDING. EVER.
GSR wins y’all. It just wins.
‘And they lived happily ever after.’
It was beautiful and perfect. After ‘The Happy Place’ I wasn’t sure the writers could possibly get it right, but they sure did tonight. This relationship has been so angst driven that I welcome all the cheese of a Happy Ending for the bugman and his butterfly! Geeklove prevails, finally.
There was NO other way to end this. If any two people deserve happiness, it’s them. I love also how it mirrors Sara’s first scene on the show.
Beauiful.
Exceeded my expectations – by a mile. It was the correct creative decision, IMO. I can now continue enjoying CSI knowing that my two favorite characters are off somewhere, happy together.
After 9 years it was nice to see things full circle with Sara and Grissom. That is how they both came together on the show, except Sara came to Vegas for Grissom. It was nice to have a happy ending for a character for once. Now I can go and get into some other show, but I can leave CSI with good feelings. I hope the show stays on top, but my favorite characters are gone and I don’t care about the crimes anymore. Thanks for the happy ending, finally…..Peace Out!!Thanks Jorja Fox and William Peterson for playing such great characters I will miss you both. I wish I could have been that monkey and saw what happened afterwords wit those two…
Loved it. My husband was getting mad at the whole episode, because he said it seemed anti-climatic. Once we saw Grissom walking through the jungle, we knew where he was going and we both grinned like idiots!!! I have watched this show for 9 years and I am glad Grissom and Sara are out there happy doing something that has nothing to do with death…. I liked Grissom’s walk through the lab, beautifully done…..BRAVO!!CSI
How else could it have ended? First Sara had to leave to heal and then Grissom needed to figure out he really wanted a life outside CSI and that Sara was that life. Once those things happened these two had to end up coming together one last time on screen – I mean we had to have the kiss right? Once I saw the words Costa Rica it was all over and I was a happy camper because I knew what was coming. Thank you Billy and Jorja for giving us an amazing nine years. I would love to see Grissom and Sara back, but if not this was the best send off you could have given us.
I have closure and can now move on in life, maybe read the fan-fiction that the ending will certainly bring on. At least I know Grissom and Sara are out there together and happy. Makes me happy to know that two of my favorite fictional characters are together. Thanks Producers, and writers of CSI for doing a positive ending for two of your key characters.. Now if only Warrick could have made a brief appearance as a ghost of something..My little GSR shipper heart can rest in peace…I am booking a trip to Costa Rica now….
It was an appropriate ending for Grissom . As for him ending up with Sara , it was a nice surprise . I see Grissom coming back during a sweeps episode or maybe next years season finale . Something to do with bugs
NBC could learn a thing or two about how to end a journey that fans will appreciate *cough Las Vegas cough *
My husband went to sleep before the end. I had to wake him to tell him it ended in such a perfectly happy way.
Closure! Beautifully done! When I saw Gus walking through the jungle and Sara waiting and that beautiful kiss, I gasped, started to cry and then told my husband, Don, — “honey, we’re home.” Don died 7 years ago but during that final difficult time watching CSI Las Vegas lifted us both out of an unbearable situation for an hour each week. He would have enjoyed that ending — I cried both for the ending and for how I knew it would have made him feel. Thank you to everyone on CSI for every perforamce! Thank you William and Sara –you did SO good! Thank you writers for writing so artfully.
Viva ALL of the CSI shows but especially….Viva CSI Las Vegas!
Are you guys serious??? That was the lamest reuniting scene I’ve ever seen. Yes, it was closure to the Gil/Sara romance, but at least they could have looked happy to see each other.
I am looking forward to seeing LF’s first real episode and how he gets along with Doc Robbins. Pathologists of the world UNITE!!!!
I agree with every word of your whole article. I am still crying…it was the most satisfying, happy ending I’ve ever seen. When Sara turned around and looked at Grissom, all I could say was “YES!!!”. Well done, writers!
Perfection… any other ending would have insulted my 9 year loyalty. Thank you to the writeres of CSI.
GSR is true.
THE PERFECT ENDING!
i had all hopes for a happy GSR ending, and i got it! thank you, writers!
THE PERFECT ENDING!
i had all hopes for a happy GSR ending, and i got it! thank you, writers!
…yes, perfection, I loved the episode, Grissom’s last walk through the lab made me cry, but I could have done without the kiss at the end because, to me, it seemd out of character for Grissom; I would have preferd a long hug…
Well, It was an adequate ending which leaves avenues for other story lines to eventually develop. I wasn’t the greatest fan of GSR. I thought that Lady Heather would have been a better choice (read that as superior ability) to lead Grissom out of his funk. However, in real life that would be none of my business, so I (and others) have no choice but to accept his decision.
Grissom will be happy for some amount of time in the jungle with plenty of yucky (to us) but fascinating (to him)bugs to study. He will be satisfied to live in the jungle longer than Sara will.
A great twist ending to all this would have been for a 25 year old Chippendales toy boy to come out of the tent wearing only a loin cloth and then pan to Gil’s face.
Naw, that would only have been mean. For now, this is something that Grissom must do to find out if Sara truly is the answer. In the long term, I think not. He will return to the lab (and possibly) Heather.
Chicks… ::rolleyes::
Sorry, I did not watch….I could not get my mind to wrap around and accept Gil Grissom leaving the show. I have not recuperated from the departure of Sara, not to mention Warrick; (still crying about that one). However, after reading all the lovely comments, and with the mental picture I got from them, I feel like I watched CSI/Gil Grissom’s (Mr. William Peterson)exit episode and I am happy it played out that way. Thank you all for your beautiful comments.
COMPLETELY disappointed in that Sara/Grissom ten second thing. PDA is NOT in either Sara nor Grissom’s vocabulary, and come ON; she practically broke up with the guy over webcam! GSR has failed and now the fans have FALSE hope as to the relationship being ‘restored’. The REST of the episode, however, was brilliant. They got the badguy, I had a really big cry over Hodges being sad Billy is leaving and the way he left the rest of them doing what they do was both very sad and very brilliant. Missing you Billy!
C’mon – he got the girl and the ginormous insects too. A total happily ever after.
I cried my face off when he walked through the lab on his way out, but I have to agree; he got his girl and an endlessly supply of insects. Bravo! Plus, he will come back every now and again. I also enjoyed how after 9 years of working for the dead, Gil got to use his skills to bring someone home alive. A good note for him to leave on.
Loved the episode. It was truely a fitting way for the King to leave and for the Queen to ascend to the throne. Grissom and Sara’s reunion was as it should be silent, no words, she sensed that he was there and her facial reaction was all that he needed to realize he was were he should be home with Sara. My only complaint is the 360 degree shoot of the kiss. The monkey saw more than we did but at least it was a better kiss than the one she gave him in Goodbye & Good Luck. Long live King Grissom and Good Luck to Queen Catherine.
Loved the ending – hated the episode. I love watching Grissom solve a puzzle, but all the torture scenes and hostage in peril stuff had me watching from behind my covers.
Wow what an amazing ending.My entire family was looking forward to seeing Grissom’s last episode and the writers didn’t let us down.”chapeau” from Quebec Canada!It’s our favorite show.
Very, very good epi. Couldn’t work up much sympathy for the victim/girl cause she was too weeny, but was very happy with the last scene of Grissom walking thru the office, watching everyone get on with their lives, and their jobs. Loved the wink & smile Katherine gave him, and was THRILLED to see him reconnect with Sara. Yes, we cried, especially when he pulled out the memorial for Warrick, but it was a great way to go out.