The 2024 round of WIP Big Bang is now open for sign-ups! Any fandom is welcome, as long as the fic is 500 completed so far and will be at least 7,500 words upon its finishing. Signing up is easy: just fill out the form linked below after you read the FAQ and take a look at the schedule.
Schedule
All times are by 11:59pm PST. Convert time zones.
Sign-ups Begin- April 15th
Sign-ups Close- May 21st
Check In #1- May 22nd
Check
Welcome to the eleventh annual WIP Big Bang! If you're interested in signing up and have read all our FAQs (https://wipbigbang.dreamwidth.or
I decided to list a few of my likes and disappointments where CSIV is concerned before the last episode. How the show handles its ending will potentially color my overall impression, for better or for worse.
First of all, cut kiss notwithstanding, GSR has been an utter joy to watch. Grissom and Sara are so close to exactly how I thought they would be after living together on a boat for 6 years.
Now as much as I have loved watching them, I do think the writing team made some errors. I think they isolated them too much from the rest of the cast. More character interaction among all 6 of the principals I think would have given more insight into the newbies. For example, we learned more about Hugo in the ring scene with Sara because he was telling her about himself. I think had Grissom or Sara spent more case time with Folsom and Allie that we may have seen them through a wider lens.
Whosever idea it was to try to make Folsom and Allie GSR light needs to have their head examined. One thing that is always true on film is that you cannot manufacture chemistry. Granted, over time, sometimes actors will find something together, but you can't force it from the get-go.
Secondarily, they were trying to do this thing within the same arena as GSR. Now, call me crazy, but I think there are few pairings in the entire history of filmed fiction that wouldn't pale when juxtaposed with Billy and Jorja as Grissom and Sara. They are that unique. They are, as Zuiker says, magic.
Bad choice.
They could have made both Penny and Chris a more integral part of the team, cross-pairing them with Folsom and Allie, so that they could have become more than throw in characters, developing them as well as offering entree into the two primaries outside of interactions with each other.
I actually enjoy Folsom and Max far more than Folsom and Allie because that relationship seems genuine, whereas Folsom and Allie seem spoon fed.
I love Max. She has chemistry with everyone, but I especially like her dynamic with Sara.
I don't think it was necessary to have every crime they investigated to be completely over the top. I've become inured to gruesome and grizzly on crime drama, so little shocks me. What gets me are small, human foibles that are true human tragedies. This iteration has none of that, perhaps because they knew that there were only 10 episodes, so they opted for the bombastic. Sometimes the quietest drama speaks the loudest.
We've known about Wix for some time now, but we've been given little insight into his motivation, other than that he blamed CSI for losing cases. But there should be some defining moment that turned him into a murderer.
I will admit I will be somewhat disappointed if there isn't some Wix mole at CSI. We still don't know how Chris' luminol got back into the supply closet or how Wix found out about Guillermo.
All in all, even given the shortcomings, I am grateful for this version of GSR. It has been far better--and truer-- than I expected or even hoped.
Watched the new ep of CSI Vegas (1x03 Under the Skin), and guys, I teared up multiple times.
The Hank mention (Rest in Pawsome, Bruno Petersen,) Grissom being vulnerable and Sara supporting him with that hug. "If you need something to hold onto, hold onto me."
And then the promo for next week, guys, are we getting another kiss?
Also, getting more and more into the new cast as well. Loved Max and Hugo from day 1, but really starting to love Josh and Allie too, now we are getting to know them better. Plus, an episode about gaming hits me rigt in my sweet spot.
Only drawback: when Josh mentions Street Fighter he didn't do the st(d)ance.
I don’t know what it is but I really hate the way Folsom and Allie are written. Or… maybe I don’t like their acting? Their chemistry/interactions seems forced. I know they hinted at a past relationship or attraction at the very least but I’m just not buying it. I find their interactions weirdly stilted and awkward. They’re trying to parallel them with Sara and Grissom and I just don’t love it.
But I think about if their dialogue had been written for any of the past cast, like… Nick and Greg… and I don’t think I would hate it as much?
I do like the way Sara and Grissom are written, however. It feels very true to the original writing for them. I don’t know if I’m just having a hard time connecting with the new cast or what. I love Hugo, though! He’s super quirky and I love his art hanging on the wall.
Hail the new show! This series is particularly dear to my heart. The original CSI night shift crew always felt like my older siblings while I was in forensics studies, and now that I’m on an academic gap year, it feels like a timely reunion. You can never step back into the same place, but I was delighted with the visual familiarity and how Brass and Sara anchored this new offering. I loved the slightly braggy new forensics montages. And I am still cackling over the same things like Very Pretty and Super Fast Databases and Long Hair Over the Microscope
This is more of a character-ramble than a recap. If I have more time later, I’ll try for actual recaps.
Brass and Sara
I love them. I’ve missed them. They both look so great and have only deepened into their old characters. To wit: “I could really use your help” = Sara does a six hour drive in five hours and then busts his chops for not telling her sooner about his diminishing eyesight. Brass’ comment to Sara that he’s glad she can’t tell if he’s joking says volumes. He’s not sure of where he stands, and until he does, he’s sure as hell not going to let anyone else try to tell him. Classic Brass.
Sara has not changed one bit in character, but she’s clearly more relaxed and enjoying her life. Her line about realizing she wasn’t meant to live in two places at once says so much. The little kid who bounced from home to home has finally found her own, and it’s wherever she and Grissom are together. That’s the order of priority.
I’ve headcanoned that Brass’ suite at the Eclipse is Catherine’s personal suite and workspace there. It would make sense for her character to offer it to Brass for as long as he needs. I’ve no doubt she heard about the attack within the hour, whatever time zone she was in. She and Sara would also be reassured that Brass would have any personal assistance he might need, while still being as independent as he chooses. In fact I’d extend this to Catherine TELLING Brass he is going to stay there as her guest until more long-term arrangements can be made, since apparently his old house isn’t secure.
Meet the New Crew:
Character-intro expositions are always a little klunky, but I think they were handled about as well as could be done. Joshua Fulsom’s intensity and apparently broad set of hyperfocus interests makes him a standout – his aura is pervasive and much larger than his understated, physical space-minimizing delivery. Every crime show needs a human encyclopedia, and Fulsom is a strong candidate. He’s got that dedicated-young-cop-too-serious-for-his-age thing going on that makes me wonder when he last had a good hot meal, and if he would ever stop beating himself up for a minor mistake.
Wide-eyed Allie is just excited to have been picked for the team, bless her. She’s bright and quick where Fulsom is deliberate and thoughtful, she’s clearly on top of the latest research and eager to please, and she responds to positive reinforcement like a deprived grad student. Luckily, this kind of support is Max’ forte. It’s interesting that she seems to occupy a more central role than she realizes – everyone comes to her for information, and her words are often the ones that spark conversations. Though that’s also the kind of role-conflation that CSI is known for: she’s doing the work of about six separate specialists that I could count. As an Indo-Brit myself, I am effing delighted to see some actual representation of the gajillions of us in Forensics. Not sure about the Allie/Folsom ex-tension thing though.
Coroner Hugo reminds me of the original crew the most. I think Jorja said it best, that the team are all sort of cartoonish, with strong, simple character outlines, cartoonish names and not a lot of nuance. Hugo is…not subtly written in terms of his Domain, his adoration of old Doc Robbins, and filling the autopsy suite with beautiful paintings of his own creation. I like him, though, and I like that he openly embraces his various facets and sees a fellow to respect in Allie.
Chris the Office Gossip is also not particularly complex, but good fun. He’s the guy you want to have lunch with now and then but have to remember to be careful around. Generally harmless. The type that, once he’s older, will have a lifetime of stories from everyone he’s talked to, and be a repository of local history.
And Max! Yes, we hear a lot about Max’ character background, which could come off as anvils, but Paula weaves it into Max’s welcoming, maternal persona. We do learn…rather a lot about her. Unlike Brass and Grissom, Max is the product of a new generation, in which what used to be disparaged as “soft skills” are now the basis of strong and supportive management. Grissom knew that if you want innovation and educated risks to lead to results, you need to trust your people’s skills and back them up. While Grissom was often chastised for his loose-reins approach, Max and her team now benefit from it. I love that Max gives Brass verbal clues so casually, (“I’m here with Allie Rajan, a Level II CSI”), thinking ahead to things he might not see clearly. Sara’s visible surprise at Max’ warm welcome and lack of jurisdictional gatekeeping were hilarious, especially as a coda to her first chilly meeting with Catherine. From “If you think you're taking my case ... forget it” to “Saddle, up, Sis!”
