Serendipity is that strange thing where two seemingly unrelated things actually share something in common. The timing and subject matter of last night’s CSI: Miami episode was, for me, like deja vu. You see, on Sunday, I happened to catch Masterpiece: Contemporary on PBS. The episode in question was “Collision,” the latest program by Anthony Horowitz, creator of the excellent Foyle’s War. “Collision” dealt with a traffic pile-up and the secrets of those drivers and passengers involved in the accident. The writing was tight and compelling, and I’m looking forward to the conclusion next week.
Hate to say it, but the only thing I was looking forward to last night was the end of CSI: Miami’s eighth episode of the season, “Point of Impact.” After last week’s cool but ultimately disappointing CSI Trilogy, everyone knew going in that it was going to be back to normal for the police in Miami. I think the creative team could have come up with a stronger episode to lure in casual viewers who may not watch CSI: Miami on a regular basis but who, last week, tuned in for the big crossover event.
We did have something special last night. Pau Gasol, of the Los Angeles Lakers, played Victor. After the collision during the opening moments, Victor ran up to a burning SUV. The driver, a woman, is dead. A young man who turned out to be her son was slumped in the back seat. Victor dragged out the lad and called 911. Good man. Well, he was a good man until CSI Walter figured out that the driver of the second vehicle in the accident (a Bentley) was a large–or tall–man. Victor’s good deed earned him a trip downtown where he gave a truly unique story: “I was driving this Bentley because it belongs to my sister’s ex-boyfriend, and I was just returning it even though it was reported stolen last night.” Jesse, thankfully, didn’t buy that explanation…until Victor’s sister confirmed it.
Cool. Now Victor’s absolved of any culpability for the accident. He can go now. Uh-oh. He just died in holding. Dr. Tom Loman, ME, gave us a nice demonstration of what happened to Victor’s brain with a nice assist from some Jell-o. Needless to say, Victor’s sister decided to get all in Jesse’s face. His usual response: sit down.
Calleigh, meanwhile, has to tell the grieving husband and father that his wife was intoxicated. Mr. Ballard doesn’t take it well. And it’s here that our hero Horatio Caine makes an appearance in his own show, somewhere around the ten-minute mark of the hour. Listen, I’m okay with bringing in new folks to replace old ones or to inject new blood into stale relationships, but you have to let your lead be the lead. We watch CSI: Miami for David Caruso, right? He’s the primary reason for me, anyway. It was Horatio who pointed Calleigh in the direction of finding the deceased mother’s eyeball which popped out during the accident. She found the missing eye and, after a cringe-inducing scene complete with needle and eyeball, proved the mom wasn’t drunk. She was just having an affair.
The remainder of the episode centered on one question: who was driving the SUV? The mother, Karen, is dead. The son, Greg, insisted his mom was driving. Besides, he had his license suspended two weeks before the accident. The daughter, Lily, is unconscious in the hospital. Besides, assured Mr. Ballard, she is only fourteen, and my wife surely would not let Lily drive the car. That explanation only held water until Lily regained consciousness and confessed that she was, in fact, the driver. She was doing okay until a gator (!) crossed the road. She swerved to avoid it and, according to her, the car felt heavy. Horatio and Ryan looked in the car and found evidence that one of the hoses was cut. Sabotage?
No, just a cheap way to throw suspicion back on the husband. Mr. Ballard didn’t take his wife’s call because he was watching a football game. While the day of the week isn’t specified, the CSI programs do a great job of having their respective crimes occur on the air date. Thus, it was a Monday morning. Only game I know that’s on that early is the one you had to Tivo from the day before. Didn’t buy that one.
As Calleigh, Ryan, and Jesse set up shop and some ultra hot lights to pour over the SUV, they smell a peculiar, sweet odor: marijuana. Odd, there seemed to be a bag stuffed amid all the pipes and hoses under the hood. Hey! Didn’t the son, Greg, get popped for possession? Yup. The under-the-hood method was his way of getting the weed home so he could take it to his high school football game (the one his dad was watching?) and score some popcorn money. As he tried to secure the paper sack, he pulled out his knife (the one he carried at school?) and inadvertently cut the hose. As he’s carted away, booked for possession with intent to sell as well as vehicular manslaughter, he asked Horatio to let his sister know it wasn’t her fault. Horatio said he would in that earnest way he always does.
Except it rang false here. Maybe it was the dinner I had last night or that the episode of Castle was more entertaining, but last night’s CSI: Miami episode was basically filler. Natalia was MIA, and Tripp had only a line or two. Omar Miller’s Walter was the star of the show, for it was his forensics knowledge that guided the team at crucial points in the investigation. Ryan even commented on it, a bit contemptuously, at one point. Point taken, however. Walter’s profile continues to rise every week. Calleigh’s best moment was a rare sign of mirth as she gave Walter the heebie jeebies when she brandished the missing eye at him. Dr. Tom, the ME, continues to carve out his particular nitch–the earnest know-it-all who constantly has to prove his worth to the team. Jesse didn’t do much tonight, either. He tried to assuage the grieving sister of Victor about how much a hero her brother was for saving Greg from the SUV. Just didn’t work.
So, did I just miss the point of a great episode or did the CSI: Miami team mail this one in? If I truly missed something, please let me know. The promos for next week look quite promising: Jesse’s past from LA might be catching up with him. Here’s hoping it’ll be a better episode than last night.
Do you think that writers of crime stories are being overtaxed by the sheer numbers of them? Maybe going to shorter seasons would produce better shows. The British seem to go with six or so rather than 20.
Having also watched “Collision” Sunday evening, I thought once again that “Miami” has this spooky way of taking stories right from headlines almost before they happen, so I guess that PBS and CBS could have similar fictional plots, too. It was quite a coincidence —- makes one think about corporate spies. Now there’s a scenario for consideration.
Is Mr. Caruso semi-retired? If reports of his weekly salary are accurate, he shouldn’t be. I have been tempted to hold a stop-watch to his on-screen presence so I can see how much he earns per minute of air time. He must have a honey of a contract. Horatio’s journey is what this show should be all about. Other characters can come and go, but this loner who keeps losing family and friends, yet persists in trying to keep the citizens of Miami safe, intrigues and interests me like no other TV character has done before, with the possible exception of Robert McCall in “The Equalizer”, played by the very recently departed Edward Woodward. Loners make good characters and one who keeps getting family members who just disappear on him, is either in a state of constant sadness or is a victim of dipsy-doodle writing. I want a Horatio-centric episode and would also like to see more of Frank —- much more of Frank. Natalia also deserves a stronger presence; her charisma is evident in every one of her scenes.
I did like how the plot centered around just one accident and most of the solving came from evidence brought out through lab work. I was hoping this might actually be an episode where it would be proven to be truly and accident and not a crime. In the end, all the crew would have had to do is sit around and wait for the daughter to regain consciousness. But that wouldn’t have been any fun, would it?
I also watched Collision on Sunday night! It seems like we have great taste going here, you guys! You’re right, deja vu. I agree that the cross over trilogy could have been a bit more powerful. The story line was good but it just kind of fizzled out at the end. The new coroner is driving me nuts! He doesn’t seem to have the smarts for the job. Does anyone know the song at the beginning! I’ve tried various lyric googles and none seem to come up. Much appreciated.
Scott, you didn’t miss the point or anything else for that matter. I’m getting a bad feeling about the direction of the show. I hope they haven’t “jumped the shark”. I agree with you about the “lead” needing to lead the show. I got tired of waiting for Mr. Caruso’s appearance and fell asleep. I need more Horatio and some back story for him would be nice. I feel like so much was left hanging from last year. Where’s Yelina, where’s Kyle? As far as humor,
I think they are going overboard. A little humor is ok but it seems like they are trying to hard.
Patti, The British have it down to a science. Do less then twenty episodes and not only leave the audience wanting more but they create classics in the process. We beat a dead horse and then turn it inside out and beat it some more.
Who played the dad, Mr. Ballard on the “Point of Impact” episode on CSI Miami on Monday, November 16th? Looked familiar but could not place him.
who played mr ballard
Henry Simmons played Mr. Ballard. He was one of the sculpted hunks from NYPD Blue. Remember?
Patti – You may have something there. The British consider a season to be six episodes or so. Can’t say I’d want that few but maybe the writers are trying to stretch things too thin.
Shelby – Caruso semi-retired? I hope not, although his reduced screen time seems like it. I enjoy the Horatio-centric episodes, especially with his complicated past. And I like your idea that the accident could really have been just an accident.
Sue Gold – Cool about Collision. Looking forward to Sunday. “Fizzled.” That is a good word to describe the CSI Trilogy. After the Miami episode set things up, I enjoyed the chases in NYC. The Vegas part was limp. Don’t know about the song.
Jewelz – Perish the “jump the shark” thoughts. Yelina is one of the neatest stories with Horatio and she definitely needs to return. Will admit I dislike Elizabeth Perkins’ acting so she doesn’t have to return. However, she will if Kyle returns.
David – Surprised you didn’t mention that we Americans take things and beat them to a pulp. [wink] Like I mentioned in Patti’s comments, I’m okay with less if we get good value. Take Lost and 24: I like that we have to wait until the spring but then we get the entire season in one lump sum.
Brian and Ron – Shelby has your answer. Thanks for reading.
Shelby – Thanks for the tip.
hey who knows the song at the beginning? in point of impact im from ecuador