Crime Scene Investigation in the Big Apple (CSI (New York))

Member Name: carpe_diem

Product:	CSI (New York)
Date:	10/09/08 (227 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant cast, fascinating storylines

Disadvantages: None

I stumbled across an episode of this show on Five US a few months ago. For the uninitiated, there are 3 different series in the CSI franchise - the original 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' set in Las Vegas which began in 2000, the spin-off 'CSI: Miami' which began in 2002, and 'CSI: NY' which first aired in 2004.

I had never previously watched an episode of any of the CSI series. I already watch quite a few US tv dramas, but the idea of this one had never really appealed to me. I assumed it might be too gruesome, too serious, not very entertaining etc....but all without any foundation as I'd never actually seen it for myself.

What finally drew me to CSI: NY was the knowledge that Gary Sinise is the lead actor in the series. I've seen Sinise in the films Forrest Gump, Apollo 13 and Ransom - all very different roles but all brilliantly acted by him - and I was sure that he'd put in another good performance here.

The first episode I tuned into (a repeat of the 2nd episode of season 2) featured a murder in Grand Central Station during rush hour, the death of a blind woman, and the firing of a member of the CSI team due to evidence being planted to secure a conviction. The pace was fast, the dialogue was sharp, the characters were well-written and the storylines were involving. By the end of that episode, I knew I'd be tuning in regularly from then on.

As the title suggests, each episode of CSI: NY involves the investigation of crimes that have taken place in and around New York City. Usually two separate crimes are featured, with several different detectives on the CSI team being assigned to each case. Gary Sinise plays the compelling Detective Mac Taylor, a former war veteran who lost his wife to the 9/11 bombing of the World Trade Centre. The cast also includes Melina Kanakaredes as Stella Bonasera, Carmine Giovinazzo as Danny Messer, Anna Belknap as Lindsay Monroe, and Eddie Cahill as Don Flack. Those names may not look very familiar (often when you haven't seen an actor in any other high-profile US dramas you soon realise why) but in this case the entire cast is superb. I particularly enjoy the interactions between the main characters - put any two of them in a scene together and there will be brilliant chemistry, humour and a believable history between them. The show's guest stars, who appear as suspects and witnesses to the crimes, also tend to be very well cast, and I often recognise them as having appeared in minor roles in series like 24 and House.

The team's investigation of crimes involves a thorough examination of the crime scene, questioning of the witnesses and suspects, and further forensic work back in the lab, including post mortems on the bodies of the victims. It's nowhere near as gruesome as it sounds, as you end up being fascinated by the tiniest details that can make all the difference, the amazing range of science and technology at the team's disposable, and the sheer genius of the methods used to eventually solve the crimes.

Most storylines are sewn up by the end of each episode, although occasionally a major story arc will run for a few weeks. But if you are unable to watch regularly, this is definitely a series that you can happily dip in and out of.

Five and Five US are currently showing three different seasons of CSI: NY on various days. So thanks to the wonder of Sky +, I've series linked them all and I'm now watching 3 episodes per week. Having seen over 30 episodes to date, I can confirm that the quality of writing, acting and directing remains extremely high throughout.

Summary: An intelligent, well-acted and highly addictive US drama series