Bloodlines

You can just sense the network executives meddling with this episode. For whatever reason season finales always rank higher in viewership, so what to do to showcase your hit series? Make an episode that is completely unlike all the other 23 episodes in the season. It feels like a short movie, or a pilot for some other TV show.

The pacing, the cinematography, the soundscape, everything. It's completely unlike the CSI formula and breaks many of the show's established "rules". They literally pull the main suspect ouf of thin air during a scene transition. Usually just finding any possible suspect to compare DNA/fingerprints to makes up half the episode. No time for that, more action and drama!

It wouldn't be a bad episode for your average cop show, but it has nothing to do with CSI. As such the heightened drama just feels forced and out of place.

This is a fascinating case. A rape victim positively identifies the guy who raped her, yet DNA exonerates him. He has several brothers, and they add to the mix. But there are some incredibly bizarre circumstances. The writers/researchers must have dug up some pretty interesting stuff. This is well crafted and dark. There is also an issue with Sara that is going to follow her into the next season.