CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV Series) If I Had a Hammer... (2009) User Reviews

By far the best episode of CSI in a while

[jakobgschwarz · 9/10 · 24 April 2009]

After last week's mess of an episode, CSI proves that it's not lost its touch yet. This was one of the better episodes this season. Marg is finally given the opportunity to shine as the star of the show and she makes it count, delivering one of her finest performances. I have always felt that she should have been the one to replace Peterson as the star f the show. Nothing against Fishburne, I liked that they brought him in, he's a great actor, but this should have been Marg's show, and she shows why in this episode. The supporting cast was good too. I liked the plot, and thought that the ending wasn't too predictable. You kind of saw parts of it coming, but it wasn't that bad. I thought the resolution was actually solid and made sense. There were a few factual errors here and there, but nothing too egregious. CSI has found the right path again, let's hope they don't wander off again. Well done CBS, keep it up!

Back to the Fundamentals

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 1 March 2021]

For me it's the science that makes this show function well. There are enough police shows and they seem to run together. Here Catherine has to revisit a case she was instrumental in eighteen years back. Henry Thomas (ET) is a man who has become a jailhouse lawyer, claiming he was given bad advice by his lawyer and that the technology that exists now will exonerate him. This would mean a new trial and embarrassment for Catherine and the agency. What is good is that they peruse the little things, and while some of their findings are a little too easy, they methodically restructure the case.

Good episode

[criddic2 · 7/10 · 6 June 2009]

I have never previously watched CSI, but I saw that Henry Thomas was the guest star. You may remember him from "E.T." (1982), "Legends of the Fall" (1994), "Suicide Kings" (1998) or "Gangs of New York" (2002) among others. He plays a man who has spent 18 years in prison and now wants a new trial to claim innocence.

There is suspense in this episode and a lot of technical sequences where detectives go through evidence. Helgenberger and Fishbourne do good work, as does the dependable Thomas who doesn't get enough chances to shine on film in major projects. On the basis of the show, I may be inclined to view it again from time to time.

The Best Episode after the Departure of Warrick and Grissom

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 9 May 2023]

When the inmate Jeremy Kent questions his case to the parole board, the CSIs are forced to reopen his case from eighteen years ago. Kent was accused of murdering the ninety-one-year-old Thomas Harriot in the first solo-case of Catherine. The bruises suggested that the victim had been struck two blows to the head with a blunt instrument like a hammer that was never found. The only evidence was a stone with Kent's fingerprint used to break the window. Now Kent is claiming that he found Harriot dead and he only found the dead body. The CSI' have to use state-of-art technology to reinvestigate the case and prove that Catherine was right, but they discover he had a partner.

"If I Had a Hammer..." is the best episode of "CSI" after the departures of Warrick and Grissom. This show recalls the first episodes of this great series, with lot of investigation of the team. Jeremy Kent's plan backfired in the end, involving someone that he did not want to be brought to the case. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "If I Had a Hammer..."

Coincidences, coincidences

[tert72 · 5/10 · 27 July 2022]

After 18 years the magical hammer in the tree, with elements and las Vegas sand, still has fingerprints on it. The rock, which looked mighty porous, had a "perfect match fingerprint" and the woman who has a lawyer for a husband talks herself into a felony murder charge. If a fingerprint doesn't meet the minimum standard points of comparison, it doesn't get in as evidence... Judge or not. Because if a judge does let it in after precedent has been set, it's an auto appeal. Horrible bs episode. Oh I also forgot, they just happen to find a picture of the"dodge" in the year book, which happened to be used , and still had a piece of glass in the car after 18 years with blood on it.. can't make this stuff up.... But they did.