Last week, the sequel to the influential crime drama, CSI: Crime Scene Investigations, premiered. CSI: Vegas brought back legacy characters, Gil Grissom, Sara Sidle, and Jim Brass, to where it all began while introducing viewers to the next generation of investigators. Both young and old characters must team together to clear their laboratory’s tarnished image when a former lab tech, David Hodges, appears to have fabricated evidence on previous cases to get convictions.
In “Honeymoon in Vegas,” Allie and Folsom try to solve a double murder of a couple who were days away from being married. Their investigation takes them to unexpected places but maybe on par for Vegas. Elsewhere, Gil and Sara work on clearing the name of their old colleague. Though they always follow the science, the husband-and-wife quarrel over how emotionally attached they should be to the case.
CSI: Vegas has a smart approach by separating the legacy and newer characters. They can follow their familiar case of the week format with Allie and Folsom. Having them on their own allows viewers to get to know them without either being distracted or overshadowed by the cast we already know.
On the other hand, Gil and Sara focus on the overarching case without getting in the way of the day-to-day work of the lab. Even though the optics might not be good, they are also more invested in saving Hodges and could have a bigger drive to get to the bottom of the case. But they aren’t completely isolated from each other and the moments they get together are nice. Grissom geeking out over Dr. Ramirez’s device is a fun scene.
The actors who play Sara (Jorja Fox) and Gil (William Petersen) have had years to build their rapport and it’s comforting how they haven’t missed a beat in CSI: Vegas. However, separating the different teams also makes the lack of chemistry between Matt Lauria and Mandeep Dhillon, who are Folsom and Allie respectively, more noticeable. There’s no spark between them despite their backstories involve a romantic relationship in the past.
The sexual tension is supposed to be ratcheted up because the case involves swingers club but they couldn’t be more frigid. I can imagine that exes working together can be awkward. At least their clunky interactions can convey that on the screen but probably not in the way they wanted.
One newbie we receive a better grasp of is Paula Newsome’s Maxine Roby. The actress and writing are creating a compelling character. She obviously has the brilliant mind needed to be the head of the lab but she’s more flexible with her interactions and knows how to play the political games a director needs to in order to get the job done. Newsome also flashes more of an outgoing personality when delivering the one liners when she has her suspect.
“Honeymoon in Vegas” allows viewers to become more familiar with the new cast and Paula Newsome as Maxine Roby begins to distinguish herself and stamp her own mark as the Head of the Las Vegas Crime Lab.
CSI: Vegas airs Wednesday nights on CBS.
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