Like most people, I have those few favorite shows that I have to catch every week. Unlike most people I have waaayyy too many of these favorite shows. So when I hear about a new show that I ‘just have to watch’, I’m generally very skeptical as I only have so many hours in the day to get in some quality viewing. In recent years I’ve shied away from most ‘cop shows’, because the few I had tried to get into in the 90’s left me kind of cold. They were all the same, with semi-interesting characters, dull plots, car chases and shoot-outs.

I had the same reaction last year when I had several friends tell me to catch “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.” I was way too busy and just couldn’t find the time to give it a chance. Thanks to Paramount Home Video and CBS DVD, I’ve learned I really need to listen to my friends a little more often. With the release of the entire 1st season on DVD, I had the opportunity to sit down and ‘give her a spin.’ What I expected to be another run of the mill cop show, turned out to be one of the best and most original TV dramas I’ve seen in recent years.

Originally I was going to just watch a few episodes and get a cross section idea of the scope of the show so I could get an overall opinion to share in my review. Instead, I was completely hooked and ended up watching all 23 over the last few days. Each time my wife and I finished an episode we looked over at one another and said… “One more?” Sleep and I had officially parted ways.

“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” is original in that it avoids nearly all the conventional action sequences that most police dramas need to survive. It’s a show that really makes you think, as each episode is a puzzle waiting to be solved. Some episodes have more than one plot, while others take all the members of the CSI team together to solve one big crime. The pieces of the puzzle are presented in flashback version of the crimes, based on suppositions or lies. But more interesting is the way the physical evidence is shown. Utilizing creative cinematography, the camera often zooms in close to give us, at times, a microscopic perspective of the smallest items; hairs, blood drops, etc… Other times we are given a ‘bullet’s eye’ view of the damage that can be done to the human body.

As a show simply cannot survive on cool cinematography alone, I have to get to the second reason the show is so good. The stories. Each plot is intricately woven, and though constantly moving forward is never rushed. The show’s writers are careful in making sure no fact of the case is missed in case you want to play detective right along with the CSI team. So far, none of the stories seem too far-fetched and are unfortunately all too realistic at times. I say unfortunately, because where some shows glorify the violence they present; “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” offers an unflinching view of how horrible, sadistic and sickening acts of violence can be. And it also goes beyond the physicality of the acts to show the tragic effect it has on the victim’s family.

Furthering my take on the writing is the simple fact that the CSI team doesn’t always win; this in itself brings an even more realistic feeling to the show. When they win, it’s exhilarating, when they lose it can be devastating. We also have five main characters, and though one or two are the obvious leads, over the course of the series, and sometimes within a single episode, all of them have the opportunity to come to the forefront.

Speaking of the characters, these are by far what really make the show tick. Heading up the cast is William Peterson as Gil Grissom, the head of the Las Vegas CSI Unit. I first remember seeing Peterson in “To Live and Die In L.A.” and he had one of those commanding personalities that made you sit and watch. Over the years I only saw him in a few other films, and for some reason as good an actor as I thought he was, he never seemed to cross over to ‘star’ status. This show has finally put him on the map, and deservedly so. Grissom is easily one of the most likable characters on Network TV. His easy demeanor and quick wit allow him to easily bridge the gaps between being a boss, father figure and friend, the members of his team.

Marg Helgenberger has always been a welcome addition to the cast of any movie or show. As Catherine Williams, she is the maternal member of the team. On one side of the coin she is tough as nails when it comes to the criminals, on the other side empathetic to the victims. Gary Douran as Warrick Brown, is in constant competition with George Eads’ Nick Stokes, and the interplay between the two is priceless. Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle struggles daily with just how to deal with all the death, and will hopefully learn to move on. This is a group of highly watchable and believable actors and characters, each with their own flaws and inner demons. How they come together as a team, in and on the show make for an entertaining hour each and every time out of the gate.

The combination of all these pieces of the puzzle; cast, plot and cinematography makes “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” rate amongst the best shows on TV. If you’ve never caught an episode I recommend picking up this DVD set. I dare you not to stay up all night!

Episodes available on this 6 Disc set:

Disc 1
Pilot
Cool Change
Crate and Burial
Pledging Mr. Johnson

Disc 2
Friends and Lovers
Who Are You?
Blood Drops
Anonymous

Disc 3
Unfriendly Skies
Sex, Lies and Larvae
I-15 Murders
Fahrenheit 932

Disc 4
Boom
The Halve and to Hold
Table Stakes
Too Tough to Die

Disc 5
Face Lift
$35K OBO
Gentle Gentle
Sounds of Silence

Disc 6
Justice is Served
Evaluation Day
Strip Strangler

Starring: William Peterson, Marg Helgenberger, Gary Dourdan, George Eads, Jorja Fox, and Paul Guilfoyle
Extras: Character Profiles, “Who Are You” CSI Music Video, Featurette – “CSI: People Lie… But the Evidence Never Does
Specifications: Full Screen, Dolby Digital
Studio: Paramount / CBS DVD
Release Date: 3/25/2003
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/main.shtml

We'll give CSI Season 1 an A.