CSI: Vegas

I made it halfway through the episode and gave up. The new supporting cast is as weak as 3.2 beer. This is a pale imitation of the old show.

The major problem with this is that the actress they have chosen to play the lead is just a lead actress. She was ok in castle when she played a supporting actress but just isn't up to carry a show like CSI. Needs to be recast.

The cast seems like they can be salvaged and could start gelling, but Dhillon sticks out like a sore thumb. I liked her in After Life, but she's just awful here. She needs to be sent off.

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.