CSI: Vegas

As a huge fan of all the CSI franchises (even Cyber) I was looking forward to this. I binged the first series and had high hopes with the return of a few familiar faces but something just didn't seem quite right. The camaraderie was missing between the characters, they just didn't gel and it seemed like they were literally just reading lines. No fluidity, it was obvious they were all strangers, yet in the original series you genuinely believed they were colleagues and friends at the same time. I've just started the 2nd series and it hasn't got any better. I am British and have lived and worked all over the UK yet Mandeep Dhillon's accent is overbearing and annoying to the point it's making me want to switch off. It seems forced. I doubt very much I will finish this series.

Season 1 with Gill and Sarah and Hodges was OK. Didn't have the cohesiveness of the original CSI but Sarah did a great job keeping up. Petersen felt very reserved and distant from Sarah. The 2nd season somehow just fell flat even with Catherine back. Overall, good acting by Lex Medlin, Matt Lauria and Paula Newsome and returning character guests, Gill, Sarah, Hodges and Catherine.

I do wish that Mandeep Dhillon and Aruana Guerra would disappear. Dhillon is way too over the top with her constantly surprised wide eyes and attitude. Guerra is just not a comfortable nor eexy character. The show has none of the brilliance and magic of the original. Maybe we're all too old and tired.

Have watched 1st 6 episodes with high anticipation not having watched the original for quite a few years.

1st thoughts.... what is missing with this show? Characters don't feel right, script and dialogue don't feel right. Even returning Grissom and Sara seem off.

So I went back and started rewatching the original show. Oh, the original is so much better and for a show 21 years old it is so good and holds up so well.

Acting, script, filming style is just all so much better than new show.

Even though I was never fond of all the characters except for Grissom and Willows (Nick, Sara and Warrick never truly engaged me - especially Warrick and Sara) the dynamics all work brilliantly.

So getting back to new version, Grissom seems a parody of the old Grissom (and I am truly a fan of Peterson). The others just don't have the same chemistry with their interactions.

Verdict: maybe it will grow on me but I'm having much more enjoyment rewatching 1st 12 episodes of Season One.

Jim Brass shoots a man in self-defense at home. He calls Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) for help. She's now married to Gil Grissom (William Petersen). Maxine Roby (Paula Newsome) is the new team leader. With David Hodges seemingly being framed, all the old cases are in jeopardy and Gil returns to Vegas to clear their names.

The original series is groundbreaking. One could argue that it brought the idea of CSI into popular consciousness and pushed expectations in real world justice. This iteration starts with the return of several characters from the original series. As a limited revival, there is some interest to revisit these old TV friends. The first season seems to work on that level. Other characters show up for the second season, but the show is already losing steam. It is a limited gimmick and cannot be expected to go on forever. It does not. It is canceled after three seasons which is two seasons too late.

Mandeep has about 5 expressions but without emotion. Her lackluster walking thru the lines detracts from a diverse and otherwise interesting group of cast members. Also, the actress heading CSI is rather lacking in the intensity that role requires! The show needs a dynamic leader with dimension. If you could replace those two with seasoned character actors/actresses it would improve the show overall. The previous leaders possessed layers, history, paradoxes and edginess that kept me returning to find out more, so far I can't get invested with these boring characters. This WAS such a well played series until they got into long drawn out storylines that eventually I just wanted it over with. Please don't fall into that trap again.