[ad_1]
Jorja Fox: “We had fun” working on “CSI: Vegas”
Six years after the end of the original series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”, the sequel “CSI: Vegas” finds former partners Jorja Fox and William Petersen working together again. (October 5)
PA
The crime scenes are back. But not much has changed since 2000.
For 15 years, the forensic scientists of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” have often literally unearthed clues about the Las Vegas murders. And their derivative counterparts have done so in New York, Miami and online (“Cyber”). The series was immensely popular on CBS, gaining a reputation as a criminal proceedings network attracting a huge and somewhat older audience.
Gone are the days when the “CSI” franchise reigned supreme on television. Of course, crime shows are still popular – just watch CBS’s “NCIS” and “FBI” franchises. But as the audience has fragmented, the ratings game is playing out for numbers far lower than in 2004, when an episode of the original “CSI” could draw 30 million viewers on a Thursday night.
Six years after its demise, “CSI” is back on CBS with some old favorites, a few newcomers to “CSI: Vegas” (premieres Wednesday, 10 EDT / PDT, ½ of four). It’s still the forensic technicians at the Las Vegas Police Department who solve crimes with science, but by now most of the original characters have retired; only a few were sent back to the department to help track down a criminal pursuing theirs.
The best thing to say about “Vegas” is that it’s nice, familiar, and easy to watch: there are pictures of dead bodies and many technicians wearing lab coats passing cotton swabs to them. through sophisticated machines. The new criminal lab is led by Maxine Roby (Paula Newsome), a former pragmatic college basketball player. His young team consists of the typical brand of attractive geniuses that populate the crime labs of this franchise, including enigmatic Josh Folsom (Matt Lauria) and prodigy Allie Rajan (Mandeep Dhillon).
Following: CBS Adds New “NCIS”, “FBI” & “CSI” Series In Fall Programming Crime Wave
When former LVPD captain Jim Brass (Paul Guilfoyle, from the original series) is attacked in his home, the Criminal Lab team investigates one of his old cases. Brass enlists a friend and former colleague Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) to help him with the case. When it gets out of hand, threatening the very existence of the criminal lab, Sara and Gil Grissom (William Petersen), remain in the department to investigate.
The first episode assumes a knowledge of the characters of the original to land its twists and surprises. You might find yourself searching for IMDb and then Google searching for footage from the cast now, 21 years after they were the fresh-faced kings of broadcast TV.
Following: 2021 TV premiere dates, from “Succession” to “You” and “The Bachelorette”
“Vegas” mainly retains the structure of the original: technicians investigate one large crime and a smaller one in each episode. But there is also a bigger mystery in the series: Sara and Gil are trying to find out if one of their former colleagues used his forensic know-how to plant evidence and trap suspects, or if he is one who is accused of an elaborate criminal conspiracy. trying to get their buddies out of jail. The setup of this season-long plot is so absurd and confusing that even the characters do logical gymnastics to justify their actions. It is both the hook on which the renewal relies to justify its existence and the weakest part of the show.
Beyond the eccentric plot, “Vegas” projects an overwhelming air of blandness and monotony. Everything about the aesthetic and the characters (new or returning) is tired and all too familiar. Those who really liked the original will likely appreciate the revival, but it’s also possible that this particular nostalgia grip is just too dull to entertain even the most die-hard fans. Nostalgia alone doesn’t make a good plot or compelling characters, and “Vegas” struggles with both.
Will the original forensic drama end up at the heart of Nielsen’s ratings again? It will surely make a dent, but “Vegas” is a revival that CBS didn’t need to bet on.
Following: Review: Useful ‘NCIS: Hawaii’ Spin-Off Tries To Be Different And The Same At The Same Time
[ad_2]
Source link