#csim rewatch archive
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 36
2x12- “Witness to Murder”
CASE: A diamond broker is shot in a parking garage. The only witness to the crime is a mentally disabled man who is determined to be helpful. Meanwhile, Eric and Tim’s investigation into the death of a teenage girl hits a road block when the body is stolen. I can’t decide how I feel about this episode’s portrayal of disability. On one hand, there are things about the depiction of Eugene and the way people respond to him that can feel problematic at times. On the other hand, I love Eugene’s determination and the way the episode shows his unique capabilities. He picks up on details like the contents of Doug’s car and the brand of sneakers the shooter was wearing. That’s really cool! Horatio saying a private goodbye to Eugene was a sweet note to end the episode on. It’s interesting, actually. While the garage shooting started off somewhat poorly and got better as it went, I think the opposite can be said for the Kincaid family’s story. It starts off in a really unique way, with Jenny’s body going missing. By the end, it becomes something much more generic and uninteresting.
CHARACTER: I must say, I do like the admiration Horatio has for Eugene. He more or less treats Eugene as an equal, or at the very least as someone worthy of respect. There’s not much else to discuss regarding the characters. Although, I did like the moment where Alexx, Eric, and Tim are talking through what happened with Jenny Kincaid’s body. That was some pretty good comedy. Have I mentioned that I love that Alexx refers to Speedle as Timmy?! It’s so sweet. Speaking of Alexx, I have a really hard time believing she’s every given someone the middle finger.
CRAFT: This episode was written by Ildy Modrovich and Laurence Walsh, with the story credited to Michael Ostrowski. It was directed by Duane Clark. The dialogue is kind of uneven, with some really good lines and some really bad ones. Other than that, there’s not much to say. It’s another one of those episodes that exemplifies the CSI: Miami mold, with no one aspect standing out as exceptionally good or bad. I know I’ve said that about many episodes so far, but I didn’t want to just make something up when there’s really nothing to say.
Grade: B
A pretty decent episode, for sure. It’s just not one of my favorites. Next up is “Blood Moon.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 3
1x03- “Wet Foot/Dry Foot”
CASE: A human arm found inside a shark leads to a boat that was carrying drugs and Cuban immigrants. One of the passengers, a young girl named Elena, turns up with a gunshot wound, further complicating things. I wish I liked this story a bit more than I do. There’s definitely something very sweet and emotional about the outcome, which is usually enough for me. There are just a few details that trip me up. Isn’t there some way Pedro could have guaranteed Elena’s safety without the risk of her bleeding to death? She has asthma and we see that she lost her inhaler on the boat. Couldn’t they have just explained that to the Coast Guard? Or does it only qualify if the need for medical attention is immediate? At any rate, why didn’t he tell his aunt and uncle what happened? Weren’t they expecting her? Even if Pedro and Elena didn’t inform their family of the trip beforehand, wouldn’t his grief have been obvious enough to give it away? I mean, she was his sister! Regardless of whether or not shooting Elena was strictly necessary, that oversight really bugged me. Unless he did tell them and they just didn’t see any point in reporting it. The fact that this is so unclear is frustrating by itself. There’s also the matter of the one, possibly two, other victims in this episode that we spend barely any time learning about. That’s not even counting the other passengers on the boat who presumably drowned. I get that we had other things to worry about, but still. This episode wanted to show the dangers and difficulties Cubans face when traveling to Florida, but I’m not sure it totally succeeds in it’s objective.
CHARACTER: The dynamic between Horatio and Megan continues to be rather interesting and compelling. I like the push and pull they have going on. We also get the first hints of my one and only OTP for this show, Calleigh and Delko! Calleigh’s smirk as she lays down her ground rules for allowing Delko to stay at her house made my heart happy. We also get out first hint at Delko’s family history in this episode. We learn that his family came to America while Eric’s mother was pregnant with him. (Spoiler Alert: At least, that’s what he thinks. We’ll later learn that this isn’t quite true.)
CRAFT: There’s not a whole lot to say about the writing, direction, or acting in this episode. The dialogue and performances are fairly standard for the series. Instead, I want to focus on something else. I mentioned in my first post that I think this show does a good job of portraying Miami in a realistic way, and this is my first real opportunity to expand on that. I like that the show doesn’t overlook the fact that Miami has a huge Cuban population. This is the first episode to really highlight that and it’s nice to see. The fact that a majority of the CSI team is either fluent in Spanish or can at least hold a basic conversation is really well-observed. They couldn’t do their jobs effectively in a city like Miami without it! That’s not to say the racial politics in this show are perfect by any stretch of the imagination. I would still classify this cast as a bit below average in terms of representation, despite having Delko and Alexx. Although, this does improve later on with the additions of Natalia, Walter, and Jesse. There’s also a moment in this episode where Horatio makes a comment about needing to negotiate with the community before getting a search warrant, which struck me as a little bit racist. I don’t recall there being too many more moments like that in the series, but I could be wrong. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes open.
Grade: B
I know I was kind of hard on this episode, but I still think it’s a pretty good one. There’s definitely some interesting stuff worth liking here, even if it comes with its fair share of problems.
Next up, “Just One Kiss.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 35
2x11- “Complications”
CASE: An anesthesiologist working at a plastic surgery clinic is found hanged in his apartment. It initially looks like a suicide, but the team quickly finds evidence proving that it was homicide. This also prompts them to examine a recent death at the clinic, which might be the motive behind Carlos Garza’s murder. Kristy Swanson and Leonard Roberts are in this episode! It’s actually kind of funny that they’re in the same episode. Kristy Swanson starred in the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie, while Leonard Roberts spent a season on the TV show. As for the episode itself, it was definitely better than I remembered it being. The inner workings of a beauty clinic doesn’t sound like a promising premise, but the episode goes in some interesting directions with it. Although, I was really upset that we made romantic jealousy Debbie’s motive for killing Carlos, instead of the impending lawsuit. What? Did the writers not think we would buy that a woman would care more about her career than a man? That bit was disappointing, but it didn’t ruin the whole story for me. Brad finding out that his wife ruptured her implant while sailing with him was really kind of tragic!
CHARACTER: This isn’t a big character episode, but there a few details worth discussing. The first is a moment between Calleigh and Dr. Winters at the clinic. When Dr. Winters first started talking about Calleigh’s cheek bones, I cringed so hard. Commenting on the bone structure of a person you barely know isn’t great, but the moment wasn’t as bad as it could have been. He stops talking without suggesting ways he could make her even more beautiful, and Calleigh graciously accepts the compliment. It actually ended up being a pretty decent moment. It’s nice when someone can take a compliment without resorting to self-deprecation. This episode also has an extremely minor subplot between Alexx and the ME who performed Sara Foster’s autopsy. She suggests that he might be overworking himself, and he responds by dumping some of his load on her. I’m not entirely sure what message we’re supposed to take away from it, but it gave Alexx something more interesting to do besides deliver exposition. The only other thing I wanted to mention is that there was some pretty amusing banter between Delko and Valera about plastic surgery. It was sort of cheesy, but a lot of fun.
CRAFT: This episode was written by Sunil Nayar and Corey Miller. It was directed by Scott Lautanen. Honestly, I’m not sure I have much at all to say for this section. The writing was better than I remembered, especially the dialogue. The directing is neither exceptionally good, nor unusually bad. There aren’t any interesting bits of editing or other details to discuss. That’s really about it.
Grade: B-
I had some reasonably good things to say about this episode, but it still wasn’t one of the better ones we’ve seen so far. Next up is “Witness to Murder.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 31
2x07- “Grand Prix”
CASE: A fuel man is burned alive by invisible flames during a race. The CSIs look both outside and inside the man’s team for answers. In almost every way, this is a formulaic and unremarkable episode. However, there are a few interesting things to note. The race track provides a colorful and exciting new backdrop for the case, which is always nice. I also like how we contrast team American Spirit with our beloved CSIs. One is willing to betray or even kill each other if they think there’s something to gain. The other works together in harmony to get the job done. I’m not sure how intentional it was, since there aren’t any particularly familial moments between the CSIs in this episode. Still, it’s an interesting way to read it. That about wraps up this section. The only noteworthy guest star for me is Jason Lewis, currently of Midnight, Texas fame.
CHARACTER: Having Calleigh and Alexx swoon over Jimmy Hutton and pointedly not care that he’s a terrible racer as long as he’s cute felt clunky to me. I suppose it tracks with Calleigh’s character, but I didn’t totally buy it from Alexx. On a related note, I would normally be fine with Calleigh using her feminine charms to secure the cooperation of the other teams, but it clashed a little uncomfortably with the aforementioned swooning. Aside from that, there’s not much character work happening in this episode. It’s mostly business as usual.
CRAFT: This episode was written by Michael Ostrowski and Steven Maeda. It was directed by David Grossman. The writing here was rather underwhelming. I’ve seen worse, but I’ve also seen much better. The directing isn’t particularly flashy or anything, but it’s good. I do want to call attention to the opening sequence, though. Those shots from the drivers’ POV were super cool! Nice going!
Grade: B-
This is a pretty generic episode that does hardly anything to make itself unique besides the intriguing race track setting. Add in the lackluster writing and a B- is the best I can give it. Next up is “Big Brother.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 29
2x05- “The Best Defense”
CASE: Two bar owners are found dead inside their establishment, with a third man injured. It initially looks like a robbery, but the case soon takes a very different turn. Meanwhile, Calleigh’s defense attorney father comes to her with his latest case. It’s a murder involving a girl stabbing her boyfriend with a screwdriver that could be a case of self-defense. These cases pair rather well together. They both involve trusting the evidence, even when it goes against your initial impressions. However, they take very different tones. The shooting at the bar comes with no prior emotional attachments from the CSIs, and so they have no qualms about building a case against Ricky Murdoch and his sleazy lawyer. On the other side of the aisle, Calleigh is forced to tell her dad that his client didn’t have to kill her boyfriend. He was unconscious when she dealt the final blow. I was surprised we didn’t go for the obvious happy ending with that case. Gloria is innocent and Mr. Duquesne wins the big case. Instead, we put Calleigh in a really emotionally vulnerable position. From a story perspective, it’s nice. Before I close out this section, I just wanted to say that we got some pretty big name guest stars in this episode. We got Idris Elba, Ian Somerhalder, and Brad Bufanda (R.I.P).
CHARACTER: Looks like Calleigh and Detective Hagen are officially an item! I don’t remember exactly, but it might not be lasting too much longer after this episode. I love that Calleigh confronts Hagen when she thinks he’s covering up evidence that might prove Gloria acted in self-defense. She would never compromise her morals, or let her boyfriend get away with doing so just to win a case. Horatio has taught her well. This episode also puts a lot of focus on Calleigh’s relationship with her dad. Things start off so great! He seems to be doing really well for himself, and you can tell Calleigh wants a good relationship with him. She hates to disappoint him by telling him his client is guilty, but she can’t ignore the evidence. As sad as the ending of that story is, I think it’s important that Mr. Duquesne wound up at a bar. It shows that the journey to sobriety isn’t an easy or linear path. There will be stumbles, especially when things get tough.
CRAFT: This episode was written by Shane Brennan and directed by Scott Lautanen. A couple of new players, but they slip right into the mold. There’s really not much worth noting in the writing, directing, editing, performances, etc. It’s all very by the numbers. I will say that I think Emily Proctor is one of the more talented members of the cast.
Grade: B+
It’s a mostly average episode, but the interesting story and other little details put it over the edge. Next up is “Hurricane Anthony.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 26
2x02- “Dead Zone”
CASE: A treasure hunter is found dead on his ship, having been impaled by a spear gun. His diving partner and an investor become the primary suspects. This case nicely suits the Florida setting, which is a point in its favor. It’s fun when this show tells stories you probably wouldn’t find on the other CSI shows. I suspect that this will be a very short review, because there’s really not too much else to say. It’s cool to see Eric’s diving skills feature so prominently. One thing that sort of bugged was that it feels like there were a few too many side characters. The woman from the treasure salvaging company and the older lady who bought the cross from her, for example. They are relatively important to story, but we make them feel more significant than they need to be. However, I do like the way they play into the core theme of the episode, which I took to be the dangerousness of greed. There was just one more thing that confused me. How would getting Betancourt in trouble with his Columbian drug supplier help Marty and Paul get the gold? The episode doesn’t really make it clear why they needed to do that. It seems like an unnecessary risk.
CHARACTER: There isn’t very much important character work in this episode, but there are some fun details. I absolutely loved the detail about a young Eric searching for gold in order to bring the rest of his family over from Cuba. It felt so in character for him! Calleigh’s bruise from her spear gun test is not only a key bit of evidence for the case, it also leads to some nice character moments. As sweet as John’s concern for her is, I kind of like that she gives him a hard time about telling Horatio. Intentionally or not, it makes a good point about how women need to be absolutely perfect at their jobs just to be considered equal to men in the same profession. With that being said, the teasing and flirting between Calleigh and John in this episode was pretty cute. On a related note, Horatio and Yelina are still adorable. Because when are they not?
CRAFT: This episode was written by Michael Ostrowski and directed by Joe Chappelle. All I can really say is that this is a standard episode of CSI: Miami. The writing is sort of a mixed bag, with some genuinely great bits of dialogue and some less great bits. The direction is a bit more interesting. Since the story requires us to spend quite a bit of time underwater, it presents an opportunity for some unique cinematography. I’d be intrigued to know what filming those sequences was like. Also, was that brief sequence of the boat sinking animated with CGI? It looked pretty good for 2003.
Grade: B
This was a very generic, but still rather enjoyable episode. Therefore, it gets a B. Next up is “Hard Time.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 25
2x01- “Blood Brothers”
CASE: A young model is hit by a car and killed. A short time later, her roommate is also found dead. The investigation leads the team to a pair of brothers with diplomatic immunity that protects them from prosecution. This is another instance where the writers were able to add a twist that makes the story feel unique and fresh, while still staying well within the formula. Watching the evidence continue to pile up while knowing that it’s likely futile is incredibly frustrating, but also very interesting. To make matters worse, Clavo and Ramon barely even try to deny that they killed these women. Clavo in particular seems to take great joy in rubbing his immunity in Horatio’s face. It makes for good drama. The scene where Horatio is forced to apologize to the Cruz brothers is kind of painful to watch, but it makes his almost giddy expression when he outsmarts them at the end all the more satisfying. This episode features brief appearances by Heidi Klum and Alan Dale (who I recognize as King George from Once Upon a Time).
CHARACTER: Ah, Horatio and Yelina. I just love them so much! It’s nice to see them finally acknowledge what could have been. This is actually one of Caruso’s better performances, particularly in the scene where Horatio and Yelina talk out their feelings. Their comfortable chemistry and mutual dislike of Rick Stetler was very enjoyable to watch. Speedle also gets a rather nice little arc in this episode. At one point, he asks Horatio why they’re bothering with forensics when the culprits have immunity. His question is answered in the last scene, in which Horatio is able to offer Michelle’s family some closure. It’s really lovely! There aren’t any other big character moments, but there were plenty of little details that delighted me. Anything involving this team being a family, such as the stakeout scene or Tim teasing Eric about girls, brought a smile to my face. I also adored Calleigh’s insistence on waiting while Valera processed the DNA samples. Finally, I loved the idea of Calleigh watching MTV with some popcorn and a cup of decaffeinated tea.
CRAFT: This episode was written by Ann Donahue and directed by Danny Cannon. This is technically their first contribution to CSI: Miami. However, they did both work on the backdoor pilot that aired as part of the original CSI series. This might be some of the best writing we’ve seen so far, at least as far as the dialogue is concerned. There are bits that are really snappy and delightful. The directing is fairly standard for the series, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good.
Grade: B+
This is a very promising season premiere. I like it quite a bit! It didn’t quite reach an A-, but it sure came close. Next up is “Dead Zone.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 23
1x23- “Freaks and Tweaks”
CASE: A bomb goes off while the team is investigating a scene involving a dead man taped to a chair. The investigation leads Horatio to uncover more about his brother’s past. Meanwhile, a case becomes personal for Alexx when one of her close friends is murdered. This episode opens with our beloved team in danger once again. As valuable as this tactic is, using it again after last week’s episode is a little much. You have to let the audience and the characters breathe a little bit, or run the risk of it feeling cheep. That being said, I think the broader emotional notes in both these stories are rather effective. Adding a personal stake to the story is almost always a smart move in shows like this. Personal stories are almost always more satisfying than generic cases of the week. Some of the drug culture references in the primary storyline confused me, but that’s probably just because I’m not familiar with it. I found the way the episode uses Susie’s character problematic, but I’ll talk more about that in the next section. I also couldn’t help feeling like there was a general presumption in this episode that drug addicts are inherently bad people simply because they’re drug addicts, which is also problematic. I didn’t see any obvious issues with the evidence for either case, but I did find the roll of duct tape with Chaz’s name written in big blue letters a little silly.
CHARACTER: Azura Skye is such a great actress! I loved her as Cassie in the final season of Buffy, and I love her as Susie here. She really makes you feel for this character. I really wish we hadn’t used her as a way of motivating Horatio. We shouldn’t have to put a woman in danger to motivate the men and make the audience care. I did find most of the stuff about Horatio’s brother pretty interesting. Is the only reason people thought he was dirty that they thought he was a meth addict? If so, that’s not great. Let’s switch to talking about the other story in this episode. We finally give Khandi Alexander something to do other than talk to dead bodies and deliver exposition, and she does a rather good job with it! I also liked how this episode depicted Calleigh and Alexx’s friendship. Calleigh tries her hardest to be professional and do her job, while also trying to be a good friend to Alexx.
CRAFT: This episode was written by Elizabeth Devine and John Haynes. It was directed by Deran Sarafian. A lot of the dialogue in this episode is pretty cheesy, but Azura Skye really sells it! Some of the drug lingo in this episode seemed strange to me. I can’t recall seeing of hearing the work “tweak” elsewhere, but I assume it must have been in common usage at some point.
Grade: B+
I really wanted to give this episode an A-. Unfortunately, I had to deduct a few points because of the problematic messaging. Next up is “Body Count.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 19
1x19- “Double Cap”
CASE: A woman found dead by a hotel pool leads to discoveries involving the FBI and witness protection. I have a question. Why is this FBI agent so incompetent?! I guess it was necessary in order to make the story work. But when your story relies upon the total incompetence of important government agencies, I would suggest you find another story. That being said, I do like the idea of building a story around the witness protection program. There’s definite potential there. I also like the idea of a conflict between letting a murderer go in order to prosecute much more dangerous criminals, or prosecuting the murderer while losing your chance to catch some much bigger fish. I think it could have been even better if it was framed in such a way that Horatio actually got to make a choice, but this is still pretty interesting.
CHARACTER: We get to meet Calleigh’s father in this episode! It certainly adds a new layer to her character. In one scene, Horatio tells Calleigh that not having family is harder than having family. I’m not entirely sure I agree with this. At least, not in the way I think he means it. You should absolutely cut ties with biological family members if they are toxic or harmful to your well-being in some way. Calleigh even has a found family at the lab who loves and supports her! Luckily, her dad is actually a pretty decent guy. You know, aside from the alcoholism. I love how concerned Horatio is about Calleigh, while still giving her space and letting her talk to him on her own terms. Horatio gets some other great moments in this episode, too. His relationship with Yelina continues to be lovely and sweet. It’s one of my favorite things! Also, what’s up with Horatio’s random attachment to Mary and Jessica Hinkle? This sort of thing worked amazingly well in “Dead Woman Walking” when we had the whole episode to develop it. This just felt weird, lazy, and tacked on. I want to end this section by saying that Calleigh continues to prove many times over why she is my favorite character on the show!
CRAFT: This episode was written by Marc Dube and directed by Joe Chappelle. There’s not a whole lot to say about the craft in this episode, to be honest. I think the writing for Calleigh’s subplot is a bit better than the writing for the episodic case. It’s pretty average, overall. The directing is also pretty average. Not bad by any means, but also not particularly noteworthy.
GRADE: B+
Honestly, this grade might be a bit too generous. I can’t help it! The episodic case might not be great, but I like the character work a lot. I also gave it a few bonus points for potential, even though it was mostly wasted. Next up is “Grave Young Men.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 18
1x18- “Dispo Day”
CASE: An armed drug heist during what should have been a routine evidence disposal leads to an internal investigation to determine how the information was leaked. This is a rather unique episode in that the nature of the investigation puts the focus entirely on the characters. Episodes like this are rare for crime procedurals, because the writers are reluctant to stray too far from the formula. It think that’s stared to change in the 15 years since this aired, though. Luckily, the characters are by far the best thing about CSI: Miami. The investigation of the heist itself isn’t nearly as interesting as the character moments that come out of it. The final reveal that a reporter was the mastermind behind it all was kind of a neat twist, though.
CHARACTER: The family dynamic that had started to emerge in “Dead Woman Walking” is fully formed here. I love the very big sister way Calleigh reminds Speedle to clean his gun in the future. It comes from a genuine place of concern and affection. I also liked when Horatio gave him the gun cleaning kit as a late birthday present at the end. That was very sweet! This won’t be the last time Speed’s neglect of his gun will become important. *sobs quietly in a corner* Okay, moving on. Calleigh accidentally getting high on cocaine was kind of hilarious! I think the writing there could have been a little bit better, but it’s so amusing to watch that I can’t really be mad. The relationship between Calleigh and Horatio continues to be one on my favorite things ever! I love when he stands up for her! Speaking of relationships, I get that Delko being a bit of a player with the ladies is part of his character. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. I just wish we wouldn’t write it in such a sleazy way. It makes it harder to appreciate the moments when he’s a genuinely amazing person. The final thing I want to mention is the ongoing mystery of Horatio’s brother. We get a bit more information in this episode. It’s confirmed that he was killed in the line of duty, apparently during a drug-related case.
CRAFT: This episode was written by Elizabeth Devine, Ildy Modrovich, and Laurence Walsh. Devine is credited with the story, while Modrovich and Walsh are credited with the teleplay. For the most part, I think this script is pretty good. There are just a few clunky bits. For example, there’s a moment where Calleigh says that Officer Hollis was “fatally killed” by a bullet. That really should have been “fatally wounded” or even just “killed.” One more draft would have fixed that. Unless it was a mistake on Emily Proctor’s part, in which case someone really should have caught that. Also, while I understand that the explanation of how the polygraph works was intended for the audience, it doesn’t really make sense within the story. Police department employees shouldn’t need it explained to them. I just have one more nitpick. It would normally annoy me that we have a brief flashback to something that happened earlier in the episode, but I’ll let this one slide. I think it provided some mostly necessary clarification as to when Calleigh inhaled the cocaine. This episode was directed by David Grossman, and I’m glad he’s back! The man knows how to shoot a quality episode of television.
Grade: B+
This is an immensely enjoyable episode! I like it quite a bit. Next up is “Double Cap.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 17
1x17- “Simple Man”
CASE: Just before Horatio is set to testify at a high profile murder trial, a new victim forces the team to reexamine the evidence. It’s disappointing to see a show set in Miami use the Latina maid trope. I suppose it’s a realistic job for young women trying to make a new life in America to have, but that’s not really a defense. It’s still stereotyping. Also, the continued references to the victims being pretty as one of the signatures is...not great. We literally name one of the girls Bonita. That said, the story isn’t all bad. The fact that we start the episode with a closed case and then force the team to reopen it lends itself to some interesting character moments. In fact, most of what makes this a quality episode has to do with the characters. So, let’s jump into it.
CHARACTER: It’s interesting to see how the other characters, particularly the State Attorney who’s prosecuting Escalante, react to Horatio reopening the case. The State Attorney cares far more about winning the case at this point than actual justice, and that absolutely does not fly with Horatio. I love that Horatio sticks to his principles, even when his career could be on the line. We also meet Detective John Hagen in this episode, who will become a pretty significant character going forward. His relationship with Calleigh is immediately compelling. You can sense that there’s a history there. It’s very key to Calleigh’s character that she doesn’t let that history compromise her loyalty to Horatio. Her deep respect and love for her boss shines brightly throughout this episode, and it makes me so happy! Calleigh has other great moments in this episode, too. As much as I hate guns, the moment where she goes to the gun vault and practically swoons always makes me smile! I’m telling you, Calleigh Duquesne and her work is one of the greatest love stories of all time. The other major character introduction in this episode is Yelina Salas, another police detective and Horatio’s sister-in-law. She’s great! If I were going to ship Horatio with anybody, it would probably be Yelina. Considering what’s going to be happening next season, I can’t ship them as much as I might have. Even so, I find their relationship very sweet.
CRAFT: This episode was written by Steven Maeda and directed by Greg Yaitanes. There are some really great shots here! It’s a good looking episode, for sure. The writing is also rather good, I’d say. Overall, this is nicely put together episode!
Grade: B+
If this had just been the story of a serial killer targeting Latina maids, it likely would have scored a bit lower. However, the unique and interesting framing combined with some truly amazing Calleigh is enough to raise the score. Next up is “Dispo Day.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 16
1x16- “Evidence of Things Unseen”
CASE: A Russian man is murdered inside a peep show booth, with the only witness being the stripper who was performing for him. This certainly isn’t among my favorite cases we’ll see on this show. For one thing, I think the story itself has a little bit too much going on. It’s a little convoluted and hard to follow at certain points. Then, there’s the fact that a lot of the behavior from the men in this episode is super problematic. I was painfully aware that this was written by a man, but more on that later. I guess there are some interesting aspects to this case, but they kind of get lost along the way. I think I’ll end this section here. I’ll save most of my ranting and raving for the “Character” section.
CHARACTER: This is our introduction to Frank Tripp. He’ll become a regular character before long, but this is our first taste. I remember liking him during my first watch of this series, but he sure makes an awful first impression. He flat out says that he sees Amy’s life as inherently less valuable than Victor’s, and is dismissive of Horatio’s desire to pursue the case. Yuck! I’m pretty sure he gets better, but I’ll be very sad if I’m wrong. I also really wish it had been Calleigh who took an interest in Amy and her future instead of Horatio. The way Horatio goes about it feels kind of patronizing, despite being well-intentioned. Speaking of Calleigh, can we talk about her reaction when the peep show owner tells her that she’d be a big draw?! She gives him the coldest look and says, “You’re standing in my crime scene.” What a legend! She doesn’t even dignify his comments by declining. I love it so much! I suppose there’s not too much else to add. Based on this episode, Delko speaks at least three languages. That’s cool!
CRAFT: This episode was written by David Black. Aside from that one awesome Calleigh moment, I’m not a big fan of this script. Even the men we’re supposed to like get some problematic lines. Was it really necessary to have Speedle and Delko talk about Delko “dating” a stripper? Really? This episode was directed by Joe Chappelle. I certainly wouldn’t say it’s a bad looking episode. The peep show set lends itself to some unique lighting and shot composition choices.
Grade: C+
This episode has a few good moments, but the overall story isn’t the best. It leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. Next up is “Simple Man.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 14
1x14- “Forced Entry”
CASE: A man is tied to his bed, sodomized, and finally killed. Horatio and Speedle try to find the culprit. Meanwhile, Calleigh and Delko investigate multiple murders at a crematorium. You know, sometimes I wonder how I manage to eat while watching episodes like this. Between the literal pile of dead bodies, microwaving a severed hand, and violent assault, there’s plenty to unsettle your stomach. Even so, the stories themselves make for another decent episode of CSI: Miami. The Thomas Carpenter case brings up a moral dilemma that I actually find really fascinating. To what extent do people like Carpenter deserve justice? He raped and robbed multiple people. Should Horatio and Speed really be trying to help him by catching his murderer? This question comes up quite frequently in shows of this type, and I’m typically glad when it does. It’s nice to see the show at least try to make things a bit murkier than the typical black and white. As for me, I’m of the belief that murder is almost always morally wrong, unless it unquestionably in self-defense. Leonard Murphy may have had a righteous motive, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be punished. After all, there’s a very old saying about this. “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” I really wish the writers had thematically linked these cases by having Calleigh and Delko face the same question during their investigation. Benito Ramon might not have been the greatest person in the world, but he’s no Thomas Carpenter. The case ends up being more about Michelle Carter’s death, anyway. The theme of revenge does run through both cases, but I think the morality angle would have been more interesting. The only piece of evidence that didn’t sit quite right with me was when Calleigh and Delko take the lack of evidence on the first two rings as proof that the club owners didn’t kill Michelle. Surely the matching pattern on her face is enough to keep them in the running as suspects. It usually is on these shows. The discovery of the third ring does make that a little less problematic.
CHARACTER: “You might be a lawyer, but I’m a CSI. A damn good one.” Yeah, you are, Calleigh! That’s my girl! She’s so badass. I love how she never lets anyone intimidate her. Also, we find out she has a tattoo! Speedle’s comment about how she doesn’t want to show it to anyone and her squeamishness when Alexx microwaves the hand is all so adorable. I’m also really glad that we’re sticking with these new pairings, because Calleigh and Delko are so great together. I think that’s about it. There isn’t that much important character work in this episode. I suppose I could mention that we’ve been seeing some new techs helping out around that lab these past few episodes. Most notably Valera a couple episodes back. She’s the only one who ever gets significant development, so there’s not a lot to say.
CRAFT: This episode was written by Mark Israel and Lois Johnson. It was directed by Artie Mandelburg. The writing is okay, but we’ll definitely see better. I have to hand it to Mandelburg, though. This episode looks very nice. It helps that the set design and art direction for Club Canvas is super cool!
GRADE: B-
This episode is certainly watchable. But missed opportunities and the fact that revenge stories aren’t my favorite kept it from getting a higher grade. Next up is “Dead Woman Walking.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 13
1x13- “Bunk”
CASE: A man dies after accidentally inhaling fumes from a drug lab. Meanwhile, Calleigh and Delko investigate the bloody death of an elderly woman in her condo. I found both of these stories to be sufficiently engaging. Even if you aren’t interested in the specific mechanics of the cases, there are enough good emotional moments to keep you watching. It’s nice to see the characters get emotionally invested in a case beyond the desire to see justice done. I’ll go a bit more into detail about this in the “Character” section. The interesting thing about this episode is that the deaths that initiate the cases were both technically accidents. However, Rudy’s death was caused by someone else’s negligence while Betty’s was not. It’s an interesting distinction that makes for some good character moments. Speaking of...
CHARACTER: We get some great character work in this episode! Calleigh and Delko are working together again this time and it is fantastic. I love the moment where they discuss their ideal way for their grandmothers to die. It sounds grim, but it’s actually really sweet. I love how it highlights their very different cultures and family environments. I also really like the scene between Calleigh and Pearl. You can see how much it pains Calleigh to ask this old lady about her sister’s death. Pearl telling Calleigh that she looks like Betty did when she was young is so sweet, and comes back in a heartbreaking way at the end of the episode. It also makes Calleigh’s refusal to even entertain the possibility that Pearl killed her sister feel as earned as it possibly could in the given time frame. Horatio also gets some important development. We come back around to his brother’s death in this episode. We don’t get too many more details, but we get a better sense of how it has impacted Horatio. It becomes clear that the case was never solved, making Horatio’s lingering bitterness feel mostly justified. Also, apparently Speedle has a girlfriend. Way to go, Timmy!
CRAFT: This episode was written by Elizabeth Devine and directed by Charlie Correll. Once again, we get some surprisingly good dialogue! The banter between our main characters is particularly great. I guess I don’t really have much else to add. It was a pretty standard episode.
Grade: B
I’ve been giving out a lot of Bs. We’ve sort of hit a stretch of episodes that are good but not especially outstanding or memorable. Next up is “Forced Entry.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 12
1x12- “Entrance Wound”
CASE: Horatio and Speedle are on the case when a prostitute is found dead under a hotel bed. Meanwhile, Calleigh and Delko investigate the shooting death of a German tourist during an apparent car jacking. Before I talk about the cases, let me take a moment to fangirl. Yay, it’s D. B. Woodside! This is right around when he was on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, too. Moving on. This is a nicely put together episode, in my opinion. There are a lot of great scenes where the characters just talk things out and exchange ideas. That might not sound interesting to some people, but I love it! The primary case had some nice twists and turns. Although, I can’t help feeling like there are one too many red herrings. We start out thinking Cole did it. Then, Horatio figures out he was framed. Wendy’s ex-husband seems like the obvious suspect, but that turns out to be untrue. The final twist when it turns out it was the guy who owns the Judsons’ building sort of seems like it comes out of nowhere. Still, I think it mostly works. And even though the reveal that the German tourist’s wife ordered the hit is fairly predictable, I found myself enjoying that story, too. Calleigh and Delko just pair so well together!
CHARACTER: I know I said the parings in the previous episode were my favorite, but I love these, too! All of these characters are so great, and they all work so well together. That’s really all I have for this section. We don’t get a lot of new information or any truly notable moments. Even the reveal about Horatio’s brother at the end of the previous episode goes unmentioned. Kind of disappointing, considering this was the first episode after the break. I’m sure viewers at the time were anxious to learn more.
CRAFT: This episode was written by Laurie McCarthy and Gwendolyn M. Parker. It was directed by David Grossman, who also directed several episodes of Buffy. Man, it’s like a Buffy reunion over here. The dialogue here is a lot better than we’ve gotten in the past few episodes. It’s part of what makes the scenes where the characters discuss their respective cases so engaging! Things go a little south at the end, but the rest of the writing is pretty good.
Grade: B
Kind of a shorter review, but there’s not a ton to say. It’s a good episode. It’s so close to being a B+! If the final confrontation with Lee Bastille had been a little better, it might’ve gotten there. Next up is “Bunk.”
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“Shades of Justice,” a CSI: Miami Rewatch: Episode 11
1x11- “Camp Fear”
CASE: When the body of a teenage model is found in the vicinity of a disciplinary camp for girls, Horatio and Calleigh look to the camp itself for answers. Meanwhile, Delko and Speedle investigate the death of a man who appears to have been burned from the inside. This episode is by no means perfect, but I do think it deals with some interesting themes. Society puts so much pressure on girls from a very young age. We’re expected to be perfect, and beautiful, and desirable. I like how this episode shows that women are sometimes more than just passive victims of this oppressive system. Society also encourages women to want these things. The entire makeup industry is built upon this. It’s important that Mrs. Winters isn’t portrayed as being at all sympathetic once the full extent of her treatment of Dara is revealed. This episode’s secondary case is definitely more interesting than a typical secondary case might be. It turns out Willie wasn’t actually murdered. His cell phone ignited the gas fumes lingering in body. Freaky! But also sort of cool.
CHARACTER: The time has come to officially say goodbye to Megan Donner. She doesn’t actually appear in this episode, but we do learn of her resignation. I think the way she was written out works pretty well. I do wish we had seen a few more instances of her husband’s death impacting her work performance. As it stands, we just got a few brief mentions. In fact, Megan made a point of telling Horatio how important it is to keep grief separate from work. It’s possible that Kim Delaney’s exit from the show was too sudden for the writers to work it in gradually. Although, the steady decrease in screen time seems to contradict that. Regardless of the situation, I think having her resign due to unresolved feelings about her husband’s death works well enough. I’d also like to point out that I love the character relationships on this show. This episode gives us some of my favorite work pairings! Horatio/Calleigh and Delko/Speedle. We get some great Calleigh in this episode! I love her compassion when talking to Julie. I also love her emphatic response when Mrs. Winters says she wouldn’t understand why she made the choices she did regarding her daughter. “No, I wouldn’t.” You tell her, Calleigh! Finally, this episode gives us our first hint about Horatio’s brother Ray. It’s just a brief moment at the end of the episode, but it’s enough for us to know that he was a police officer who recently died.
CRAFT: This episode was written by Eddie Guerra and Steven Maeda. It was directed by Deran Sarafian. This is a very female-centric episode, so I was surprised to see that it was written by two men and directed by another. They did a pretty decent job, all things considered. Kudos, fellas. This isn’t quite the best dialogue we’ll see from the show, but it’s far from the worst.
Grade: B
This is a pretty solid, if unremarkable, episode. I sufficiently enjoyed it. Next up is “Entrance Wound.”
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