CSI Review: Man's Best Friend
Happy Halloween everyone! This week we were treated to a glimpse of the holiday in Vegas, as "Play Dead" opened with costumed strangers stumbling upon a crime scene.
And that was the end of it.
Perfect! Just the right amount to remind me what I stayed indoors and off the streets to avoid, but not enough to taint the story or make the entire case feel like it’s revolving around Halloween. CSI, there are several other programs that could benefit the wisdom you've learned in 13 seasons.
Sam and Nick absolutely stole the show tonight. I figured it was too obvious that Sam killed his partner. Besides, it’s never the first suspect, right? So I wasn’t surprised when Nick cleared his name. But the two of them totally had me in tears as they sat on the floor in the cadaver room where Nick found Sam waiting for his partner.
Before anyone comments and burst my bubble, I know they used animal handlers to get the “ideal” response out of Sam. Honestly, I don’t care; it doesn't make it any less cute or heartwarming and it really makes me want to get get a puppy!
Did anyone else think Sam was done for when he got shot? I thought it was just a clever way to write an ending to the story, a “dog dies helping get partner’s killer” type of story, that is. Imagine my surprise when Seargent Veranski said Sam survived and would make a full recovery.
Even more shocking was the twist that Sam will be going home with Nick. Will CSI Stokes be having a new recurring partner? Will Sam be making any cameo appearances? If you think about it, having a canine CSI isn’t that crazy and it could add some additional depth to the show that would be totally new.
One final thought on Sam (more specifically Seargent Veranski): David S. Lee, who played Veranski, possesses really striking features, no? I knew I had seen him before, but it took me the entire hour to figure out was most recently on The Nine Lives of Chloe King.
Sam, Nick and Veranski aside, I was a bit disappointed with how little we touched on Morgan and Hodges kiss. Just when I thought they were going to get into details or move it forward, it stalled out and fell out of the story. I couldn't tell if Morgan had feelings for Hodges or just felt embarrassed she kissed him. Maybe a little of both?
What did you think of this week's furry friendly episode? Did you like Sam? Should they have focused on Morgan and Hodges more? Don't go barking up the wrong tree, comment below!
Jim G. is a TV Fanatic Staff Writer. Follow him on Twitter.
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November 15th, 2012 12:30 PM
Anyone know the name of the dog in the episode. Sam from CSI looks a lot like Bear from Person of Interest except Sam only follows French commands and Bear follows Dutch.
November 8th, 2012 1:56 AM
This dog partner will save this show. Very fresh idea.
November 3rd, 2012 8:17 PM
CSI keeps getting better and better!
This episode was really good and I loved Sam, he's such a beautiful dog. I was so glad they didn't kill the dog and the scene where Sam is at the morgue was so sad. Though Nick and Sarah are my all time favorites, they all seem to blend. I really do love this show.
November 2nd, 2012 8:05 AM
Sam added depth to the show - the very BEST episode. Make Sam a regular!
Rank: Extra
November 2nd, 2012 2:39 AM
I really liked this episode, Nick & Sam stole the show!
I was glad they finally had Morgan & Hodges discussing the kiss (even though I would have wanted it to be more than "let's just forget everything happened") Is that supposed to lead to a Greg-Morgan-Hodges love triangle? Because I really hope not.
And I'm still waiting to hear about whatever happened to Hodges in Italy that was hinted at (if I remember correctly) during the finale.
The only thing that bothered me in this episode were... the orders they were giving Sam in french. It was gramatically correct but I still doubt anyone in France would talk to its dog like that. (I'm french btw)
Let's just say that in french you have two ways of translating 'you' and I think/feel like they used the wrong one.
Then again it happens often when french is used in à TV show (not that I really mind, I'm always glad to hear some french ;) )
November 1st, 2012 3:10 PM
CSI is always better focusing on a CRIME than personal details of its main characters (won't watch next week--I don't care who DB's son has killed!)
Nick is always a favorite of mine. Loved that beautiful dog.
I really appreciated Nick's private conversation with someone--he doesn't live in a bubble. But that's all we need to know.
As to Shue and her Finn character--less is always better. I just don't like the character. Morgan is a puff--nothing to her. According to CSI timeline, 4-5 months have passed since Morgan kissed Hodges and neither one is over it? Shows how immature both are. More on, please!!
November 1st, 2012 12:23 PM
Most K-9 does respond to sound not words
Rank: Recurring Character
November 1st, 2012 10:22 AM
I personally like the idea of Hodges and Morgan getting together, but I suspect the producers are trying to back off of that so that Morgan can be tied to others, both CSI and maybe suspects from show to show. No reason for me to think that, just how the backing off in this episode struck me???
They are using Shue better -- not so central in every episode, but a specialist (blood) working on assigned cases like all of the others, getting her moments, I'm sure, no more than the others.
November 1st, 2012 9:08 AM
I wanted to smack my head into the wall several times when Nick had to be told that the K-9 Sam didn't speak English. In my experience, pretty much everyone associated with law enforcement knows that. (I know a couple of police dogs; they respond to commands in Dutch and Czech, I believe.) The biggest reason for this, beyond the K-9s being bred and trained in foreign countries, is that police do not want their dogs being called off, or at least confused, by criminals. See "Person of Interest" for this situation, done much better!
November 1st, 2012 8:34 AM
What I wanna know is who was Nick talking to on the phone at the end.