This is an average episode that could have been better. The main plot is basically the same as David Fincher's "buy a fantasy for someone" film called The Game (1997), as CSI gradually discover through the episode.
I have noticed a disappointing trend in season 6. Whereas CSI usually had 2-3 simultaneous plots in each episode (4 in one episode!) which displayed some very dexterous writing verging on genius at times, the writing has now been significantly simplified in season 6 and the episodes now only contain one main plot.
This episode is no different. And although you'd naturally expect this to allow more in-depth coverage of the subject at hand, the scenes in this episode (and many others in season 6) seem to have predictable by-the-numbers dialogue and less of the witty character observations (main character and incidental character) that made previous seasons so entertaining. The effect being that episodes feel like they drag on and actually become slightly tedious at times. It's almost like they have intentionally dumbed-down the show somewhat.
An example being that Catherine Willows character seems to be sidelined to an extent, and although she appears in this episode on a number of occasions, she has very little significant or meaningful input in the story, almost as though the writers included her just for the sake of it and didn't actually know what to do with her. This is also becoming apparent to varying degrees with all the other main characters, Grissom included.
It's a shame and I hope that things pick up in later seasons, as I do really like the show up to this point and would love to see it maintain the high standards set previously.
I have noticed a disappointing trend in season 6. Whereas CSI usually had 2-3 simultaneous plots in each episode (4 in one episode!) which displayed some very dexterous writing verging on genius at times, the writing has now been significantly simplified in season 6 and the episodes now only contain one main plot.
This episode is no different. And although you'd naturally expect this to allow more in-depth coverage of the subject at hand, the scenes in this episode (and many others in season 6) seem to have predictable by-the-numbers dialogue and less of the witty character observations (main character and incidental character) that made previous seasons so entertaining. The effect being that episodes feel like they drag on and actually become slightly tedious at times. It's almost like they have intentionally dumbed-down the show somewhat.
An example being that Catherine Willows character seems to be sidelined to an extent, and although she appears in this episode on a number of occasions, she has very little significant or meaningful input in the story, almost as though the writers included her just for the sake of it and didn't actually know what to do with her. This is also becoming apparent to varying degrees with all the other main characters, Grissom included.
It's a shame and I hope that things pick up in later seasons, as I do really like the show up to this point and would love to see it maintain the high standards set previously.