31 replies to this topic

[iscoffy]

When the CSI team is called in to investigate a robbery-homicide at an Alice In Wonderland-themed wedding, they have little to work with to find a killer. Meanwhile, Hodges’ mother comes to town, and he wants her to believe Morgan is his girlfriend.

The plot went down the rabbit hole a few times, I thought, and I don't care that much about Hodges and his obnoxious issues, but the main take home was, boy is Ecklie a big smiling dweeb about his daughter wanting to have dinner with him. Not sure I would want the ring that my fiancee died for at the alter on my hand for all time, or Finn at my fiancee's theme funeral.

Quick, someone tell me that DB isn't Finn's soul-mate that she never got to marry. I'm already not loving Finn and that would not help matters at all. I'm still in denial about Sarah and Grissom and I really like that DB seems to have a good family life. I hope they don't screw with it.

[HurricaneVal]

Oh, I really like the addition of the Finn character, but the mysterious back-story between Russell and Finn is starting to get annoying. When Russell was talking with his son, it seemed that the Finn thing was recent--like maybe he had been separated from his wife for a while, had a fling with Finn, and then the family got back together. But there wasn't any bitterness there between Russell and his son which you might expect if that were the case. But then if it was something that had happened back in the dim, dark past before Russell and his wife got together, why would the son seem to care so much?

And WTF is up with Nick's hair lately? It is like a bad Beatles/Bieber cock-eyed wig...

[rory]

HurricaneVal you beat me to it, I was just gonna as WTF is up with Nick's hair. It looks horrid.

The thing with Hodges and his mom seems a bit retcon? Wasn't his mom part of the problem with his non-relationship with Wendy? Normally I hate Ecklie's daughter (is it Reilly???) but she was really sweet the way she jumped in to help Hodges.

I have no use for Finn. Didn't appreciate Sarah getting the note or whatever from Grissom at the end, I keep hoping absense doesn't make the heart fonder and that they'll divorce.

[peeayebee]

Normally I hate Ecklie's daughter (is it Reilly???)

Morgan. Yes, it was nice of her to jump in to help out Hodges, but I still don't like her or the actress.

I liked when Hodges, his mom, Ecklie, and Morgan were at brunch, and Ecklie said, "I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have fantasies about walking Morgan down the aisle... (glances at Hodges)... Someday."

The second that paramedic went to give the bride a shot to calm her down, I knew he was the baddie. Who played his wife (the jewelry woman)? She reminded me of someone.

There are so many things that bug me in this show. For instance, I thought it was stupid and pointless when Sara scribbled on the guy's photo to make him look like the caterpillar at the wedding. Her stupid drawing did absolutely nothing to make the photo look like the guy in makeup and costume. Besides, I recognized him in the photo right away, and I wasn't up close and personal like Sara was.

What was the plant Grissom sent Sara?

[merylinkid]

Whoa Jacklyn Smith is Hodges' Mom.

I am so over Morgan and her daddy issues. Geez. So the guy didn't explain divorce well to his young daughter. That is not excuse to blame him for the rest of his life. I am quite sure the MOM had something to do with why he kept his distance all those years.

The case was meh. Too much Finn. And if they get Finn and DB together and I quitting watching the show. Did not like the montage at the end that ended with Finn with nothing about Nick or Greg. Finn is not the center of the universe anymore than Ray was.

[Comsimplex]

Nick's hair reminds me of William Shatner's in the post Jim Kirk and pre TJ Hooker era. And that's not a good thing.

[draiocht]

The thing with Hodges and his mom seems a bit retcon? Wasn't his mom part of the problem with his non-relationship with Wendy?

I don't remember Hodges or Wendy citing his mom as a direct issue..? Just Mandy strongly suggesting to Hodges that he ought to move out of his mom's (which he eventually does).

Mostly a Hodges episode, yet fairly balanced use of the cast... except Finn, who I can only tolerate in DB scenes. I'm fine with her when she's effectively an extension of DB's character; on her own, she's still too empty.

Action!Hodges was kind of awesome.

Oddly, I don't think I'd mind Hodges/Morgan. (Sorry, Greg!)

For instance, I thought it was stupid and pointless when Sara scribbled on the guy's photo to make him look like the caterpillar at the wedding.

That actually helped me out, as I wasn't too sure if I was recognizing the photo correctly. Even so, my main take-away was that Sara is an awful artist.

[peeayebee]

I had actually expected her to take a blue highlighter and color his face.

I don't think Finn and DB had a romantic or sexual relationship. I just keep thinking the show is messing with us, intentionally making us think they have such a past together. I don't have a good guess as to what the truth is.

[linderhill]

Kind of a meh show for me. Riley-I-mean-Fin can go away now. Actually, I think I prefer Riley to Fin. Riley was a know it all but at least she wasn't taking over the show, a totally un-neccesary replacement that is steadily getting more and more annoying.

Nicky, please get a haircut. Please. Hopefully the pornstache won't be making a re-appearance.

The story, knew the jewelry lady was in on it as soon as we saw her and suspected the EMT. And I normally, purposely ignore those tells that give away the guilty.

[Uncle Chuck]

So, Sara (Mrs. Grissom) gets flowers from her absentee husband and the doofus signs the card "Grissom"???

How romantic! NOT!

[HelloooKitty]

Does anyone know if the girl that played the young fiance of the older man used to be/is on Days of Our Lives? She looked familiar to me.

[mertensia]

>>Does anyone know if the girl that played the young fiance of the older man used to be/is on Days of Our Lives? She looked familiar to me. <<

Yeah, she was Chloe, I think, on Days.

I get the distinct impression that Nick was offscreen because he was deeply ashamed of the bed/hat hair from hell.

That said, come on, give us a Nick episode.

It was a fun case and I liked the twists and turns.

Morgan needs to lighten up about her folks' divorce. I'm starting to wonder if Mommy isn't rahter toxic.

[happy turtles]

So, Sara (Mrs. Grissom) gets flowers from her absentee husband and the doofus signs the card "Grissom"???

How romantic! NOT!


Awwww, I thought it was a cute callback to Season 2's "Burden of Proof." I thought it was romantic in a very tongue in cheek way.


(Why can't I get this quote formatting to work?)

[MrPissyPuppy]

But then if it was something that had happened back in the dim, dark past before Russell and his wife got together, why would the son seem to care so much?

The only speculation I can come up with is that perhaps she was involved with another family member like DB or his wife's brother/sister and something happened. That's all I've got and I wish they'd stop dragging it out.

Also Nick looks like he's put on weight in addition to hair.

[slowpoked]

I don't think Finn and DB had a romantic or sexual relationship. I just keep thinking the show is messing with us, intentionally making us think they have such a past together. I don't have a good guess as to what the truth is.

I don't think so either. Wasn't it in Finn's 2nd episode where it was implied that they had a falling out due to DB firing her? I think their tension is work-related. DB fired her because she messed up in a case and maybe she complained about him to someone higher-up or Internal Affairs.

[mammbee170]

I liked how Hodges told his mom the robbers intentions. It must have been a ploy to lull them into some sense of complacency.

This was a new situation for them, wasn't it? I missed the part about why the groom was killed with a button, but I don't remember hearing they killed people in the other cities.

And, I'm not a Hodges Fan, but I liked ActionHodges.

Ecklie was cute with Morgan. She pictured her life w/o him and he has been picturing her life with him in it.

Edited by mammbee170, Mar 23, 2012 @ 2:12 PM.

[Anen]

Finn and DB: I think she's his sister. Or maybe his wife's sister.

[draiocht]

I missed the part about why the groom was killed with a button, but I don't remember hearing they killed people in the other cities.

The groom charged at a robber, right into the barrel of a gun loaded with blanks. For whatever reason, the gun fired (jostled or shoot to scare), coincidentally in contact with a button on the groom's hat -- which then acted as a bullet.

Presumably, that accident also escalated the severity of crime they were willing to commit.

[LakeGal]

The minute I saw Cameron Richardson as the jewelry store lady I yelled "It's Chloe from Harper's Island". I knew then she was mixed up in it.

I hate being reminded that Sara is married to Grissom. In my mind they are not married.

I love the character DB but I am having trouble warming up to Finn. They need to quit pushing her on us.

Edited by LakeGal, Mar 23, 2012 @ 6:22 PM.

[HurricaneVal]

I was home sick from work yesterday, so I watched the CSI marathon that was running on one of the cable channels. It happened to start with the pilot, so I watched a bunch of the really early episodes. I watched CSI from the beginning, but these episodes were from so long ago that they were like new to me. Very refreshing to see the characters in their early days of their development. I had completely forgotten that Grissom himself brought Sarah into their group after the one CSI had been killed at the robbery scene. So there's always been a Grissom/Sarah connection and backstory--so they've had the longest story arc of any of the rest of the characters.

I had also forgotten that Brass and the rest of the CSIs had had a very adversarial relationship. Early!Catherine--before she became "Wonder Woman Super CSI Willows"--was tentative, cocky and a bit needy. I was reminded all over again that I really didn't care for the Warrick character, even though I thought Gary Dourdan was gorgeous. You can see the seeds of current authoritative, nurturing, and highly skilled Nick in early Nick--I may be biased because he is my favorite character, but I think his overall character arc through the course of the series has been the most realistic. Er, bug burial and psycho stalkers notwithstanding. Grissom's character hasn't changed much, but then you wouldn't really expect that from someone who was as well established in his career as he was when the series started. It was fun to see all the old-style clunky lab equipment--when the show proved to be a success you could see their props and set decoration reflected the increased budget. The "location" sets also got better. Rather than the second or third tier casinos, now you see them in the Bellagio or the Luxor (or facsimiles thereof). I had also completely forgotten that Greg had been there from the very beginning. I always thought he'd joined the cast in a later season, but there he was in the pilot--and the ho-yay! bromance vibe between him and Nicky was there from the start.

Very interesting perspective to go from the latest episode from the current season Wednesday night, to the pilot and early episodes the next day.

[catray]

First and most important: WTF is up with Nick's hair?! It looks terrible!! George Eads is a good looking guy and his current hair is atrocious. Fix it asap, please!!

I don't understand why Morgan pretended to Hodges' girlfriend. She seems to barely tolerate him most of the time and it seems out of left field that she would jump in to pretend to be his girlfriend.

Ecklie was all sorts of hilarious at the most.awkward.breakfast.ever. I actually think he was adorable, I'm not going to lie. I loved how smiley he was during the whole thing. And they were cute at the end of the episode.

I felt bad for Hodges getting captured... and then happy when he went all badass and knocked out the chick. Go Hodges! Probably completely unrealistic, but still... I have to root for him. I was glad he finally fessed up to his mother about his situation.

My eagle eyed husband thought he spotted Cote de Pablo (NCIS) in the crowd at the Alice in Wonderland funeral at the end of the episode. Yes? No?

[peeayebee]

Was that a special plant that Grissom sent Sara? I didn't recognize it, and of course it was not the usual floral bouquet a man would send his wife. But that wouldn't be Grissom, would it.

I don't understand why Morgan pretended to Hodges' girlfriend. She seems to barely tolerate him most of the time and it seems out of left field that she would jump in to pretend to be his girlfriend.

She was just being nice. She was uncomfortable with what Hodges' mother was saying to him, how he was coming across like a disappointment to her, so Morgan just stepped in to help out.

[betsyanne42]

Just found this board, and love all the wonderful ideas and plays of the characters and storylines. A few comments about the characters first:

Totally agree about Nick's hair. Where on earth did he decide that would fit his character. What was up with Jackie's Smith facelift. She looked way better just a couple of years ago. I do like Hodges, and it was so nice to see him break away from the lab with his story line. Would love to know who DB's wife is. Finally, I did not think of Finn being the sister in law. With all of the references to weddings, my thoughts are: Finn and DB jumped into a brief marriage early on, and decided friendship was better than marriage. This would give the son a reason to question things about Mom worrying. IDK. Maybe step-sister aspect.

About this show. Other than the gold being poured down.....ewww...it was pretty good. Loved the angle of the paramedic, and the fact it took the team a while to figure out.

[FrogsRule]

catray and peeayebee, I saw Morgan's helping Hodges as a direct consequence of the awkward conversation she had just had with her dad. Ecklie had asked her to have dinner with him one day next week, and she had shot him down.

So I saw her reaction to Hodges-Hodges' mom as an extension of her own Daddy issues. She was simply able to empathize with Hodges on that particular personal issue.

I *liked* how her good deed made her see Hodges in a different light. Amazing how getting to know someone better often can make us realize they are "good people". At the end, Morgan seemed genuinely concerned about Hodges' fate. That doesn't mean they have to get together. Becoming friends would be enough.

Just checked IMDB to see if Eads has a movie in progress, since that certainly affected "Michael's" hair on Burn Notice. But nothing like that. Looks like CSI is pretty much his only project.

ETA: Welcome aboard, Betsyanne!

Edited by FrogsRule, Mar 24, 2012 @ 2:21 AM.

[wlk68]

Was that a special plant that Grissom sent Sara? I didn't recognize it, and of course it was not the usual floral bouquet a man would send his wife. But that wouldn't be Grissom, would it.

I think that was a shout out to something from an old episode. Grissom was being his typically oblivious self and ended up pissing Sara off. Cath gives him a slap upside the head and tells him to pull his head up out the microscope and take a look around. He sends Sara a plant by way of apology, knowing that she appreciates growing things rather than flowers that would just die. And he signs the card 'from Grissom'.

I can't remember the name of the eppy but its the one where Grissom is hatching fly larvae on a pound of ground beef to determine a time of death and once he's done, tells Sara to clean up his mess.

If this is indeed a shoutout to that incident, the Continuity Fairy is really on the ball.

[misterbfd]

The second that paramedic went to give the bride a shot to calm her down, I knew he was the baddie.

So did I. The paramedic had lines. Production doesn't pay the extra money they have to pay to actors for a speaking role. That's why so many background characters never say anything, even when addressed directly by a main character, and tend to respond with nods and such. So as soon as he spoke, I said: "Okay, this guy is probably involved".

[Ocean Chick]

"I can't remember the name of the eppy but its the one where Grissom is hatching fly larvae on a pound of ground beef to determine a time of death and once he's done, tells Sara to clean up his mess."

Sorry - I can't get the quotes to work. That would have been "Burden of Proof". Grissom remembers that Sara said she was a vegetarian, so he decided to send her a plant instead of flowers that would die. When the florist asks what he wants to put on the card, he says "from Grissom". I thought it was sweet that the Continuity Fairy remembered that early episode. Sara knows her husband is socially awkward and unconventional (and she doesn't plan to try to change him), thus the sweet little smile when she saw the card. I like that they have a little "in joke" between the two of them.

[chicagofan]

Finn and DB jumped into a brief marriage early on, and decided friendship was better than marriage

On the rerun shown last night - don't remember the title, but it was the freak show one - DB tells Catherine that he lost his virginity to his wife, so this seems to nix the possibility of a previous marriage to Finn. But add me to the list of those that aren't crazy about Finn and the sekrit past with DB.

[annsterg]

For me, this show was a festival of "Hey! it's..."

- Chloe from Days of our Lives
- Con from Deadwood
- Chloe from Harpers Island

But...I am getting more and more disappointed with what seems to be the growing emphasis on the characters' personal lives. I like the procedural aspect. I like Hodges. I think the actor does a great job with the role. I don't care about his mother and his personal life...although I did like the duct tape heroics!

[zombygirl]

Well, this ep finally reminded me where the hell I'd seen Morgan before. She used to play Alice on Disney's Adventures in Wonderland. Why I remember that show's existence I don't even know.

Nick's hair is a travesty.

Finn bugs me because she's always on. More than 5 seconds of the other characters please. I'm only a little curious about her history with DB because I care about him, not her, and I agree that it's not a relationship thing. I'm basing that on the way Charlie reacts to her mostly.

Edited by zombygirl, Mar 31, 2012 @ 4:16 AM.