{ CSI finale: Grave Danger }

[delga]

Ok, first off - PONCHO?! The hell?

Now that I've got that out of my system, I give the story credit for being uber tense. I know that was kinda the point but jeez Louise! I could feel the claustrophobia when Nick woke in that coffin. And as the episode went on, things just kept getting worse, with the gun and the ants and the cracking? And then the bomb, of course. This is the first time I've really been able to say this but wel done George Eads.

In true QT style, the story jumped a mile a minute and then threw you back to the unknown; I my opinion, that broke the tension somewhat, as opposed to building it up. Especially the section with David and Backup David (although that was hilarious, especially if you pegged onto it real quick and I mean, how could you not?) However, we did get that awesome scene with Nick and Warrick in the locker room. Normally I hate that kind of exposition but, ladies - Warrick is not only dating but her name is Tina. This is so new I don't really know what to do with this information. But what a brilliant scene. Dourdan and Eads really work the chemistry there. The Hodges and Liam scene was a whole other world of the fuck? Although I now totally get 'the full Hodges experience' gag.

The scene when Warrick thinks Nick is going to shoot himself was so taut with tension, I couldn't believe it. I'm not sure whether or not I'm glad QT made it out so that it was obvious Nick wasn't going to shoot himself. I mean, yeh, we knew he was going to shoot out the light so he could get the fan but what if we, as the audience, hadn't known that? The gun shot would have scared me - like that time in 24 when Kiefer has to shoot Chappelle? DAMN. But QT didn't play it that way so whatever. I'm just wondering what the dramatic impact would have been. Dourdan won that scene by the way: "You SON of a BITCH!" And the sheer relief on his face afterwards was magnificent.

All of the main cast members (Liam aside) did a really good job of conveying subtlety. I loved how they used Grissom's lip-reading ability; that was a sweet touch. I also love that we didn't hear what Nick had to say. Very smart move, I think. Jorja Fox and Marg Helgenberg both acted their socks off with their quiet reactions and that last scene when they're all collating evidence? And then the camera follows Sara running through the halls and back again? Loved that. I just wished that I hadn't sussed that part out already (as soon as the guy's daughter said she used to like to grow things, I made a soil connection so, bleurgh). Another round of applause, please, for Paul Guilfoyle because dude, he is the best. Seriously, he maintains his air of pathos all the way through and I loved that.

Having Nick confront that girl was an odd but ultimately good move; again, Eads really played the scene so damn well. And his singing! Heh.

Grissom wants his guys back! YAY! Bring on Season 6!

Too bad we have to wait until February for the next season. When I get back from town today, I WILL watch both SVU and L&O. WILL.