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« CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
November 9, 2006: Excusable
I'm very impressed with the quality of CSI episodes lately. There have been some great episodes this season. I really love the story line for Greg that's developed. The episode where he got beat down was my favorite of the year so far, but this one trumps it. I knew from the previews that the serial killer was coming back, but I didn’t know we'd be revisiting Greg's story line in the same week. The writers are starting to tie in the early episodes now, and the results couldn't be more riveting.
Of course, I say it was riveting, but I have to admit that the dead woman didn't really interest me at first. A messed-up old lady getting thrown through a window is nothing unique for this show. I mean, I was paying attention to it until Greg showed up on my screen. At that point, I couldn’t have cared less about what happened to that lady. Even though I knew about the killer coming back, when the scale model of the house showed up, I was shocked. The whole thing slipped my mind because I was so focused on Greg. Kudos to the writers on this one — for keeping me on my toes.
So let's talk about the Greg thing first. I'm not going to claim to be some judicial expert here, nor am I claiming to have watched every episode of the gadzillion procedural dramas out there, but I've never really heard of this "inquest" process before, and I definitely haven't seen it portrayed on television before. I guess the reason I'm not familiar with it is because actual trials are used on major cases. Maybe "inquests" aren't large enough to garner coverage? Either way, though, I can't believe that process can actually happen. People can just shout out whatever they choose, and the judge actually allows it? D.J.'s family can just say anything they'd like, and that's OK? The guy on the jury can stand up and ask, "Is it OK to run over black kids in the street?" and this is even remotely OK? That is a bizarre process, but big props to Greg for keeping his mouth shut. There's no way I would have been able to not reply while people were yelling at me. More props to Greg after he was confronted by the judge about drinking wine at dinner and knowing right off the top of his head the exact blood alcohol numbers and how sober he would have been on his shift. Take that!
Three things I am still pondering about this story line:
1. What was up with that juror and his questions? I kept thinking there was something more behind that guy, but it wasn't mentioned in the end.
2. Didn't that judge seem like he was attacking Greg near the end with the whole "how was the sea bass" thing? That just seemed a little out of line.
3. Greg certainly got saved by that random guy in the bathroom, or D.J.'s brother would have probably beat him senseless. But if that guy had walked in after, say, a punch or two was thrown, would Greg be in a better situation in the long run? It might sound stupid to say, but the wrongful-death suit might have less merit or maybe even never have been filed at all if the brother had been caught pounding Greg. I know, I know — Greg could have also been pounded to death, so maybe I'm just thinkin' crazy tonight.
Now, let's get back to the woman being murdered. I really started paying attention once the nephew (D.J. Qualls from The New Guy) brought the scale model of the crime scene to the ladies. So right now it's assumed that the unknown caller on Penny's phone list has something to do with the crime. Otherwise, these two killings do seem pretty random. It was interesting that Grissom figured out that the reason the model wasn't left at the scene was because it was wrong: Penny was supposed to die differently. I love these models, though, accurate right down to the hidden drugs under a rock outside the house. The whole scenario seems to be getting more baffling now, and neither story line has closure yet. So we'll get to more of both of them at some point down the line. For Grissom's sanity we have to hope he doesn't get too many more miniatures, and for Greg's sanity we have to hope he doesn't have to constantly be looking over his shoulder for fear of getting pummeled. Riveting!
Until next week, friends.
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Nov 9, 2006 11:16 PM
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Great recap, enjoyed the show and I don't really have anything to add except a question. Please, does anyone know who sings the version of "Word Up" played in this episode? I've already searched all my music resources and can't find anything remotely close!
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Nov 10, 2006 1:09 AM
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This was a good episode. Greg is my mother's favorite character and everytime he is beaten/in danger of being beaten she gets all anxious. She doesn't like her favorite to be in any danger. It's so cute. I can't wait for next week's episode!
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Nov 10, 2006 1:10 AM
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Great recap. Great episode.
I at first thought that inquest was a "mock trial" situation and the jury were college students. Guess I wasn't paying attention at first. I too thought it was way out of line and odd.
I'm wondering if this episode was a little out of sequence because last week Grissom was suffering stress and migraines and I thought it was the reason he was going on "voluntary hiatus" from the show. Now, this week all was well. Seemed odd, but I loved the episode and the tying up of a couple of "untied-up" episodes.
This original CSI is the best. Beats Miami and NY versions many times over.
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Nov 10, 2006 3:06 AM
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Wow great episode,I felt so bad for Greg.I just have one gripe,well not really a gripe but the way sara talks drives me nuts,i'm not sure why,can't seem to put my finger on it,but she just sounds so stuck up or something to that effect.Wish Warrick was in it a little more,love to see him anytime.
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Nov 10, 2006 7:37 AM
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Cait - That version of "Word Up" is done by a woman called Willis. It's on her EP "Take You High."
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Nov 10, 2006 7:53 AM
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This whole inquest thing really bothered me. We have inquests here, but the inquests are run by a different police department (so that they remain neutral) and are not held in a court room (at least not from what I understand). The police investigate and then come up with a conclusion and give their recommendations on how to proceed. This court room inquest just seems way too far fetched for me. But if it really was even remotely accurate, there is no way that people can just scream and shout what they want, when they want. No sefl respecting judge would allow their courtroom to become a circus.
Some comments:
1. What was up with that juror and his questions? I kept thinking there was something more behind that guy but it wasn't mentioned in the end.
I think we are going to see more of this guy. I think he might have a connection to Demetrius.
2. Didn't that judge seem like he was attacking Greg near the end with the whole "how was the sea bass" thing? The whole thing just seemed a little out of line.
To me, this judge had it out for Greg. What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? This judge allowed it to seem as though Greg was guilty from the beggining and he even encouraged it by allowing the mother and brother's outbursts as well as the comments from the jury (any know if juries can really ask their own questions?) and then finally the dinner questions.
3. Greg certainly got saved by that random guy in the bathroom or DJ's brother would have probably beat him senseless but if that guy had walked in after say, a punch or two was thrown, would Greg be in a better situation in the long run?
I hate to say it but you are right. I think if a few punches had been thrown, Greg wouldn't have the wrongful death suit on his hands now. But I also don't think that it would have helped in his inquest. The judge would probably have helped excuse the brother's acts by saying he was driven to it because of Greg's actions.
Maybe I'm over reacting because Greg is by far my favorite character. Although I do have to say I was stuck to my seat waiting to see what happened to him (no matter how frustrated I got).
Random thoughts:
I did love Hodges robot dance. Many people don't like the character, but I do.
We need more Warrick.
I'm curious to see what the next Miniature Model Serial Killer murder will be. I like this story and like how it pops up every couple of episodes. I have a feeling that this story won't end until the end of the season.
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Nov 10, 2006 8:11 AM
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Inquests? Didn't you ever watch the show Quincy? They always did a Coroner's Inquest when they didn't show a trial. It's a carryover from the British system. The Brits still have inquests.
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Nov 10, 2006 9:02 AM
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This episode was fantastic! I thought maybe I would get a little bored with the return of the serial killer but Greg's court trial made it perfect. I was very annoyed with the whole "is it okay to run over black kids now?" Yeah if the black kids are about to bash someone's head in I would say, hit the gas! Not everything is about race!
As usual I am not that excited about Sophia, I don't feel like she has the chemistry that exists between the rest of the characters and I would have liked to see the pep talk come from someone like Nick.
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Nov 10, 2006 9:16 AM
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Sara's voice is gravely and HOT!!! BTW
I love it, but I know some people are not into that. I could have her read to me out of my textbooks and be a happy camper
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Nov 10, 2006 9:17 AM
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Greg's lawyer whispered to him that the judge was running for Council and playing to the constituents, hence the blatant bias against Greg. Nevertheless, I've never seen anything like that courtroom melee in fiction or in reality.
Pinkie, I agree: Grissom's lack of any symptoms seemed totally out of sync with last week's ep. I would have thought that another miniature would have pushed him over the edge!
Anna, I think that the juror in question could have actually been one of the hooded thugs. All we really know about that gang is that they were a bunch of disenfranchised youth, and I suspect that not all of them were caught. That guy looked like he could have been the right age (looked younger than Fed-Ex, that's for sure).
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Nov 10, 2006 9:37 AM
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Inquests? Didn't you ever watch the show Quincy? They always did a Coroner's Inquest when they didn't show a trial. It's a carryover from the British system. The Brits still have inquests.
Columbo often mentioned Coroner's Inquests also. I'mma HUUUUGE Columbo fan so I'm familiar with the term. Quincy was the man as well, he woulda rocked that inquest, if it was on him, and had the brother and the judge in a headlock by the time the show was over!
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Nov 10, 2006 9:46 AM
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A couple of comments. First, I, too, assumed that Grissom's headache last episode might be a prelude to his absence, but since then have read he'll be teaching (somewhere). There was an episode in an early season that showed him having migranes. This may have simply been a reminder that those are ongoing, and like much of their private lives, we don't usually see it.
I gave them benefit of the doubt that the inquest system must exist, parallel to a grand jury system. I'm guessing if the death had been judged "homicide" Greg would have gone to trial; not that this replaced that. They explained the system was different, allowing questions-comments, and the judge's stance as related to political ambitions, but the general hostility was what I found harder to buy. There was this group of attacks, and the guy whose life was saved, plus Greg's injuries, and everyone was going to be attacking Greg? HOWEVER, I thought his own belief that "excusable" not justifiable, was the correct verdict, was very moving, and thought provoking.
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Nov 10, 2006 9:52 AM
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First of all, love the show (way more than Miami or NY), loved this episode. But I have an off the wall observation: when Catherine went to Aunt Penny's house to help Sara process the scene, Sara told her she had not processed the rest of the house, so Catherine walked into the bedroom -- using a flashlight -- in the middle of the day! What's up with that? Last I heard, even dead people's electricity is still on. Flip a switch, wouldja?! Okay, I feel better now.
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Nov 10, 2006 9:58 AM
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Like gateworlder, I have seen inquests on "Quincy, M.E." also, but never like this.
1. The judge allow the proceeding of the inquest like a three ring circus because he was running office. He had to look like he cares about the family and not about the police. I don't know how many times I yelled at my tv: "You got to be kidding" when the judge accused Greg of being drunk at the time. This was uncalled for; even if you are running for office.
2. The family speaking for their son on what he was like has been done on "Quincy" but the family questioning the process why he was dead isn't. I don't care if you are black or white with a gpa of 3.8, you don't go after people with a rock or beat people up into a living pulp. That is why the jury found the death 'excusable'.
3. I never seen the jury questioning the process either. That juror had something against the cops; especially when he said, "When is it okay to run over black kids?" It made it sound like Greg was a racist. No! Again, the kid had a rock and was going to use it against Greg. I know I would have done the same thing Greg did; no matter what race the person came from.
In the end, reporters questioned the juror who mouth off, the judge, the family, and finally Greg about the outcome of the inquest where Greg was rescue by the guy, who was being beat up when Greg arrive. "This kid is a hero." Hopefully, he will rescue Greg again when the civil case comes up.
Greg is my favorite charazter and I hope this matter is resolve in his favor. Of course, he will worry that DJ's brother will not beat him up or run him down with his car. With the CSI team by his side, hopefully Greg will survive.
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Nov 10, 2006 10:17 AM
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