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« CSI: Miami
January 22, 2007: We Both Try to Make Miami a Better Place
I got so excited when I read the description of tonight’s episode and found out that it involved Frank and a land mine. I was then crushed when I found out that it was not going to be an emotionally wrenching hour of bomb-squad awesomeness à la Grey's Anatomy, nor perhaps a friendship forged around a certain death due to a subway accident (we miss you and your Baltimore ways, Frank Pembleton of Homicide: Life on the Street). Instead, I learned to stay away from con artists and received a lesson in the politics of Cuban exiles. What now? That doesn’t really have anything to do with bombs and Detective Tripp, you say? Yeah, tell me about it. It took me pretty much the whole commercial break after they saved Frank to recover.
Once I did recover, I was confused. Why would the past-his-prime pitcher randomly set land mines on a beach? I’m aware that he knew that’s where his rival would be landing, but wasn’t it kind of lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) that the victim just happened to step on one? I managed to follow this story line with relative ease, but I got totally lost when it morphed into a tale of Cuban exiles, and assassins with promises to Fidel Castro (and speaking of Castro, did you know that he apparently tried out for the Cincinnati Reds in 1941? I wouldn’t put money on it, but that’s what the shady sports agent said). As far as I can figure out, it was just that the CSIs were able to identify a shell casing as Cuban that led them to discover a plot on a prominent exile’s life. That’s some good sleuthing.
(Warning: rant ahead) I have found the focus of CSI: Miami this season to be, at best, schizophrenic — as well as misguidedly centered around American foreign policy. Nowhere is this more evident than with Delko’s new personal plotline. At the beginning of the season, we paid attention to him and Horatio as they brought Marisol’s (and Ray’s) killers to justice. Then we needed to endure Ryan’s self-destructive tendencies and Natalia’s ex-husband, with some Calleigh mess thrown in there, too. Now it’s cycled back around to Delko. I’m all for character development — in fact, in the past I’ve practically begged for it — but this is getting to be too much. I care about each of these characters, but please, follow through on a story before starting a new one (and don’t end one too early, like what happened with Nick Townsend). What happened to Ryan’s documentary? That just disappeared! Suddenly, Delko was facing what could have been a real character expansion story line, and it ends up with him settling because he doesn’t want too much focus on the lab. It’s enough to make my head explode like those land mines did. Is it a crime to want to know more about what makes my Miamians tick? (Rant over)
According to the listings, we have yet another rerun next week, and then a new episode on Feb. 5, which will be the first of two parts. So, until then, my friends, and as always, I’ll leave you with some classic lines from this episode:
— Frank: Well that’s a hell of a way to start off a day!
— Horatio: And it’s only… 8 o’clock.
— Agent: I have a signing meeting this afternoon.
— Horatio: The only thing you’ll be signing is a booking slip.
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Jan 22, 2007 11:49 PM
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Frank Pembleton Homicide: Life on the streets ... Loved that show!!! Oh how I miss it.
Anyway - I have been thinking for a while that something was up with Delco. Thinking that his character was up to something that wasn't good. Perhaps it was me, but I really thought that something was going to happen to him. I like him & really do not want him to go, but ... I don't know. Perhaps it was just me.
I was shocked that Frank's landmine discovery happened so soon into the show. I sort of expected it to happen mid to end of the show. Guess they wanted to start the nail biter @ the beginning. 3 explosive shows in a row. Not sure I can take that many Monday night shows like that in a row too much longer. But alas, next wk is a rerun. Not like it's going up against Idol or anything. 
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Jan 23, 2007 12:20 AM
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I gotta agree that the commercials made it seem like this ep was gonna be jam packed with tension over Tripp. I was so bummed when it was all over really fast. I really get mad when previews make an ep out to be something it is not. I thought the landmine idea was kind of silly when I heard about it but figured it was going to be used to make a really rivoting, nerve-wracking, emotional hour of Television. Too bad it didn't work out that way. I thought Delco settling was also very wierd and, not for nothing, very depressing. Poor guy. First he was paying Marisol's bills and now this. How will he survive and pay rent with 20% of his pay garnished? Maybe he'll do something desparate?? Hope not. What I do hope is that this storyline is followed up in a future ep - like maybe this chick who set him up will get killed and then Eric will have to solve the mystery and also then be off the hook. If she keeps running scams she's destined to get offed by some disgruntled person. And wouldn't it take your entire lifetime plus, oh I don't know, about FIFTY to pay off 250,000? or did he settle for a lesser amount? I wanted to smack that girls face!
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Jan 23, 2007 2:41 AM
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As I watched Delco look around at the end, I couldn't help but get the feeling that he wouldn't be there much longer. It seemed like a last look to me. Am I crazy or did anyone else think that as well? I love the show, but if he leaves then I might have to stop watching because every time they bring in a new character (Wolf, Boa Vista), I can't stand them (and I really miss Speedle).
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Jan 23, 2007 6:56 AM
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Those subtitles were making me dizzy, changing sizes and moving across the screen like that. Didn't they even subtitle lines that were spoken in English?
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Jan 23, 2007 9:51 AM
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Leah
Don't know if you're a BtVS fan, but here's a little tidbit: the actor playing the baseball pitcher who planted the landmines was played by Charlie Weber, who played the Ben half of Ben/Glory from Season 5 of BtVS.
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Jan 23, 2007 10:41 AM
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I have to say that I was a little confused by the fact that Delco would be willing to settle with an obvious con artist! I am a paralegal and the bartender's confession that the suit was a scam was more than enough to get it thrown out of court and possible sanctions against the girl! WTF??? And even if that wasnt enough to get it kicked her passed as a "slip and fall" girl would have been. How dumb the writers of this show must think the television viewers are. I was screaming at the TV!
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Jan 23, 2007 10:41 AM
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lellyred, I was screaming at the TV about this very thing. As a proven scam artist the courts would have held her accountable, not Delco, right? The writers are stupid, or they think we are. The scenery in this show can't keep me happy for much longer if the scripts keep stretching the imagination so much.
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Jan 23, 2007 12:18 PM
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I looked at the comments just to see if anyone else thought it was ridiculous that the case was still going forward!
I mean, the woman should now be behind bars for the scam she pulled! The bartender admitted to knowing it was a scam!
WTF, indeed!
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Jan 23, 2007 2:44 PM
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I think there is more going on with Delco than meets the eye. Like he is settleing to keep eye off him, and something he is up too, more than the lab or his lame Brazil story. We'll see...
The land mine thing was idiotic. They should have shown the pitcher to be "crazy" to think his plan would work. Anyone not crazy would realize that the odds of the guy he wanted stepping on the mine were miniscule and the odds of an innocent person or persons being killed was huge! If they had shown him to be "crazy" we would see he didnt care or think it through.
They are really reaching this season, I hope they can get it back to the good ole days when we were looking forward to an episode, instead of watching out of habit or hope it will get better.
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Jan 23, 2007 4:19 PM
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Sorry for late post but it's been a hectic day. Agree about the land mine - could have been exciting but wasn't - agree about Delco settling. Why? Think too there's a lot more going on here and when he left and kept looking back didn't you think he was just looking over his shoulder that he had to watch his back? Because I think that's what's going to be happening - he's going to have to watch his back and from what?? Hopefully the answer will be more satisfying than the quick fix of the land mine under Tripp's foot!!
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Jan 23, 2007 6:08 PM
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Last night's episode was weird. I really didn't buy Delco caving and giving the 20%. Part of me would actually like to see Delco go bad, off the con artist and get away with it. It would go with how cartoonish some of the episodes have been this season.
Also want to add another non-CSI rant. ILNY is one of my favorite guilty pleasures, but if it gets a blog the Wire better get one when it gets back.
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Jan 23, 2007 7:37 PM
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The only thing that really got my attention was how bad the actress playing the con artist was. Just horrible...she must know one of the producers or something. awful.
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Jan 24, 2007 10:18 AM
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It seemed like this entire episode took place in one day. Delko still had the same jacket on form that morning as he was signing the papers to garnishee his wages. So that means that numerous DNA and lab tests, filing of lawsuit, settling of lawsuit, wage garnishment orders - ALL of these were done in the space of a few hours? Come ON!
However, this is the first time I remember seeing Horatio smile like that, even joking a little. That I liked.
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Jan 24, 2007 10:54 AM
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This episode was so far-fetched it was pitiful. First off - where exactly does a person get land mines? Second - what was up with the subtitles getting bigger and smaller? Third - why the hell would you settle a lawsuit based on what was shown to us? Fourth - why not get a lawyer?...remmeber Callie's dad - oh yes - he died in Prison Break!! Fifth - what was up with the sniper - didn't really fit in with the rest of the episode at all!
The best thing about the show was showing Horatio laughing - I don't remember this ever happening before!!
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Jan 24, 2007 12:30 PM
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