CSI

[corilannam]

I've now watched the first nine episodes of CSI (a good way to feel like you're being productive when you don't want to get out from under the blankets), and my reaction to the series so far: Meh. I have to say, considering all the hype, so far I'm not impressed. It's incredibly pretentious without much substance underneath. Maybe I've just been so spoiled by Without a Trace, but I was expecting a lot more from the show that's been dominating US TV for years and has a fandom of impressive size (for a procedural drama).

A big part of my problem is that I loathe Grissom. What a self-righteous, empty platitude-spouting little prig of a man. If someone would just stuff a sock in his mouth, I would be so much happier.

Warrick and Catherine I actually like quite a bit as characters, but unfortunately most of the fanfic doesn't seem to be about them.

Nick and Sara are okay. I like them well enough when they're onscreen, and don't think of them at all when they're not. Nick and Warrick are (non-slashily) darling together, I admit.

I liked a couple of the episodes better, and that's probably because they were the only two episodes that focused entirely on one mystery. It's very hard to care about the plot when you have three different cases being crammed into 45 minutes (again, kinda spoiled by WaT). The one with Dakota Fanning (before she set off on her life's mission to upstage every leading man in Hollywood before she can drive) was pretty engaging, as was the one with the airplane. But I'm constantly thrown out by the very bad dialogue and the way they just pull stuff out of their asses. I'm happy to suspend belief to a pretty forgiving degree with regard to procedure, technology, motivation, and so on. But you gotta give me something to anchor the bridge on. "It's a dove! A dove means peace! That means peace of mind, and what brings peace of mind? Justice! The killer wants justice for a past wrong and he won't stop killing until we figure it out!" Wha-huh?

But I'll keep watching because I'm kind of compulsive that way, and the DVDs aren't costing me anything. I figure there has to be a reason there's a fandom. Maybe it's just one of those shows that took a while to hit its stride? Or do I just need to tune out the things that annoy me until I get used to them? I can be patient for the good stuff if I know it's coming.

Comments

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling this way about all three of the shows we're watching on teevee night right now. I watch because it's there, and because my friends are watching, but there is no love.

-J

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

What shows are you guys watching now?

I've started off watching several shows that way, and the love hit me when I wasn't expecting it. But sometimes there's just nothing there to love, and I'm afraid this might be such a case. I was expecting the opposite, so that would be disappointing, if it turns out to be the case.

[margueritem.livejournal.com]

A big part of my problem is that I loathe Grissom. What a self-righteous, empty platitude-spouting little prig of a man. If someone would just stuff a sock in his mouth, I would be so much happier.

Yes! Yes! *produces tons of dirty socks* Viva la Revolucion!

[kris4n6.livejournal.com]

I think it did take a while to hit its stride. I remember watching a few episodes when it first came on, but after that it was quite a while before I watched again. The only character so far that I've loathed was that moronic chick who had her first day on the first episode - when she was freaking out about "the smell" of the dead body, which was the freshest dead body I have EVER seen, I laughed my ass off. What a wuss. She'd never last a day as a real CSI.

I've started watching it more recently, and I actually really like Grissom. I think he's gotten better over the years - they toss in little things about him, like how he's a rollercoaster fanatic. I also like Catherine a lot, Warrick I'm eh on, same with Nick, sometimes I like Sara a lot, other times she annoys me. Greg is very adorable (he's basically the McGee of CSI - he worked in the lab first and is now a 'probie' [though they don't call him that]). It might be I just like the later episodes better, or maybe I've just learned to overlook the amazing leaps of logic or the barely plausible forensics (and let me laugh a bit more over DNA in 20 minutes! BWHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!).

All in all, I wish they were showing a rerun on Spike now. *g* And the bearded Grissom eps are better, IMHO.

Bring on the socks

[bthebuff.livejournal.com]

I share your opinion of this show, even though I have spent *far* less time watching it. I tried to watch a few and it just didn't grab me, and then I turned on one in which William Peterson (Grissom?) was interrogating someone and made possibly the dumbest speech in the history of television. It made Scully's incessant questioning look profound. It was something like this (not exact, but pretty close): "You gotta give me something more. I got eggs and milk, and I mix them together, put them in the oven, bake them up, and all I got is limp souflee."

I changed the channel.

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

We're biding our time until frabjousdave has caught up on Carnivale or mouseman has caught up on the Sopranos, whichever comes first, and in the meantime we're watching one episode each of Veronica Mars, Desperate Housewives, and the Shield. I think I actually don't like Desperate Housewives; it irritates me more with every episode. The other two I like, but have no love for.

-J

[squashed.livejournal.com]

I couldn't get into the show at all when it first came on. And I tried with a couple of episodes and never made it through them.

Then came an episode sometime in the late third season that I watched because it had Richard Burgi in it and this one also followed the characters as characters a little more.

And then I discovered Greg, one of the dna lab guys, a sweet dork who tries so hard. And by fourth season they started giving him a bit of a bigger role and I was kind of hooked *grins*

Greg/Nick is my pairing of choice, though I don't read it often, but when I feel like fanfic? That's brand I'll look for.

I am sorry, but now I must kill you with my robot army.

[merryish.livejournal.com]

A big part of my problem is that I loathe Grissom. What a self-righteous, empty platitude-spouting little prig of a man. If someone would just stuff a sock in his mouth, I would be so much happier.

I--

You...!

He--!!

:: glares ::

EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE...!

Re: I am sorry, but now I must kill you with my robot army.

[cereta.livejournal.com]

What she said.

So my CSI boyfriend.

Maybe if I got you into the CSI drinking game, which is mostly taking a shot every time someone says "evidence."

[elynross.livejournal.com]

I actually started watching in S2 or 3, and didn't see the S1 eps until quite a bit later, and they did suffer in comparison. For me, it's the whole team, and the way they interact, as much as the procedure. It might pick up for you, later on, if you keep watching. It makes for great Thursday night TV for me, CSI then WaT, but I don't find I like one over the other.

But I adore Gil, I have to admit. *g*

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

I've never seen the Shield, but I'm with you on the other two. I started watching Desperate Housewives because of Felicity Huffman, but eventually I had half a dozen episodes on my TiVo that I hadn't watched because every time I put it on, I got annoyed enough to turn it off every ten minutes. So I cancelled my season pass, and now I'm much happier.

I liked Veronica Mars well enough, but I didn't fall in love with it the way most other people I know did. And it's on at the same time as two other programs that I really do love, so I ended up letting it go.

Carnivale and the Sopranos are both on my list to try at some point soon.

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

They don't have to be dirty socks. Just something to stop him from talking. I like him fine when he's not talking. *g*

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

Carnivale is a great show, but I don't love it. I have no explanation for this so far, but someday I'm going to poke at it and see what I come up with. It has all of the elements of a show I should love, but I just don't.

The Sopranos, on the other hand, has me whimpering to watch season two. I think if we actually do watch Carnivale next in teevee club, I'm going to give and just get the Sopranos discs through zip.ca. There's only so long I can hold out, you know? It isn't perfect, but so many of the characters are just so intriguing. Especially Tony.

-J

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

She'd never last a day as a real CSI.

She only lasted a day as a fake CSI as it was. *g*

Greg is cute, what I've seen of him so far. I'll look forward to him having more to do.

I guess I'll keep watching and see what happens.

[noelql.livejournal.com]

I'm voting with you. Just don't get it.

However, I'm very disappointed to hear that you aren't into Desperate Housewives. Now that is some seriously good crack in my opinion. Oh well, to each her own.

I'm waiting eagerly to be pimped into House and WaT, you know.

Re: Bring on the socks

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

Yes! I *just* watched that episode today, and when he said that, I was like, oh, you have *got* to be kidding me! Someone actually got paid to write that line? So awful.

Your icon, on the other hand -- GUH! indeed! I've been on a massive Vin kick lately. *g*

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

I do like Greg, on the rare occasions he's shown up so far. He's a total cutie. Nick/Greg does seem to be the major pairing of the show, so I'm going in ready to look for that. *g*

I'm definitely going to try some of the later episodes, since those seem to be the ones that are hooking people. They must have worked out the kinks by then.

[chelseafrew.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... Maybe I should Netflix some of the CSIs myself before I have you bother to make copies...

And it sounds like you're having the exact same reaction to the show I've had the 3 or 4 times I watched... Meh. I'll take WaT any day. :-)

P.S. See my shiny new icon??

Re: I am sorry, but now I must kill you with my robot army.

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

Wow. What a freakish coincidence. That is *precisely* the reaction I have every time Grissom opens his mouth on my TV!

*beams at you*

Re: I am sorry, but now I must kill you with my robot army.

[merryish.livejournal.com]

What was that? Did you say something? No you didn't, you know why? Because

YOU ARE DEDD!!!1!

Re: I am sorry, but now I must kill you with my robot army.

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

If I played that drinking game, I'm betting the show would look a *lot* better. Or at least I wouldn't care as much. *g*

Re: I am sorry, but now I must kill you with my robot army.

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

I am NOT dead, for you and your poor taste and spelling are FAR too feeble to defeat me!

Though I am impressed with the number of destruction-themed icons you have.

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm definitely getting the feeling that I should stick with it until I get to the later seasons. That seems to be where most people start loving it. I'm willing to put in the time to see, though I don't think I'll fall for it the way I did WaT.

But I adore Gil, I have to admit. *g*

I'm glad he has people to love him. He looks like he needs it. *g*

Re: I am sorry, but now I must kill you with my robot army.

[merryish.livejournal.com]

(deadgirl talking!)

Though I am impressed with the number of destruction-themed icons you have.

Heee. What can I say? Shark Week is good to me. =)

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

I did like Desperate Housewives, when it started! And I may yet like it again. It's just something I really have to be in the mood for.

We are all ready to pimp you into House and WaT next week! You just have to promise to remember that the hospital in House is completely unlike any other hospital you have ever worked in, ever. *g*

Just a few more days!! What time do you guys get in on Thursday, anyway?

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

Well, I've already made you copies of most of season 1, so you're stuck with them now. As if I was going to suffer alone. *g*

And icon *pretty*!! Mmmm, Danny and Martin.

[marzilla.livejournal.com]

Yeah, from what I know of it, I'm kind of surprised you don't love Carnivale. I'll be surprised if I don't love it either, when I finally get around to it, but you never can tell.

I've been putting off the Sopranos just because I've been put off by all the constant hype about it. But it definitely sounds like exactly my kind of thing, so I know it'll get me eventually.

[kris4n6.livejournal.com]

She'd never last a day as a real CSI.

She only lasted a day as a fake CSI as it was. *g*

I remembered that as soon as I hit reply. Oh well. *g*

At first I thought it would have been really cool, seeing this person just starting out as a CSI, following her along, seeing her learn. I had only been working about two months when it came on, so I of course related to her. Until she turned out to be a complete moron (not that I don't occasionally relate to that). By the end of the episode I was glad she'd been killed.

Even if she did play Richie's old girlfriend Donna in an episode of Highlander.

[margueritem.livejournal.com]

I'm a student. This morning I only had *dirty* socks. Now I have some newly washed ones.

I admit he's cute. He's like a big bear, somehow.

But the dialogues! Argh. *pokes eyes out with icepick*

I would suggest you stick to the original CSI.

CSI miami? seventh circle of writers hell.

[lydiabell.livejournal.com]

There was a ship_manifesto post about Warrick and Catherine a while back, which at least linked to a fic archive and a community.

http://www.livejournal.com/community/ship_manifesto/74108.html

[noelql.livejournal.com]

You just have to promise to remember that the hospital in House is completely unlike any other hospital you have ever worked in, ever.

See, this is such a huge stumbling block to me any more. That's why I won't be watching Grey's Anatomy again. It's just not that hard to get a medical consultant. Maybe I should just go volunteer my services to these people. *g*

What time do you guys get in on Thursday, anyway?

We're getting in around 11 PM, so we'll likely see you on Friday. Whee!!

Re: Bring on the socks

[bthebuff.livejournal.com]

Is he yummy or WHAT? I have Deannie to thank for that icon and this one. Feel free to save them for your viewing pleasure. :)