CSI is ****e, isn't it?

Exit

I've been watching it since it first aired over here, and I've been watching the Miami one too, so it's not as if I've just seen a couple of episodes and am complaining.

I just watched the episode broadcast on Tuesday, and here's the things that annoyed me about it.

Sidle's attorney friend that she's been working with for 6 months or so is only introduced to us in this one episode, and only for the purposes of the crime she committed. It smells of the writers thinking of someone and writing on the spot. Wouldn't it have been better if she appeared in numerous episodes before her crime is revealed?

The software that they use is pathetically simple. In this episode, they find a distorted fingerprint. "Can you fix that up?" "Sure, give me approximately 2 seconds" This happens in every episode where they use software like this. For the average chump, this stuff would take hours to do.

When Sidle is examing the old evidence from her case, she explains how if somebody is standing up and shot, the blood from the wound will flow down due to gravity. Then she picks up the shirt for the first time and looks at the blood flowing sideways and exclaims "Hey, he was lying down"

Not in this episode in particular but in the programme as a whole, they always find the exact evidence they need. If you go into an average house and search the floor for evidence, you're gonna end up a whole load of dust, hairs, bits of food, just general rubbish. Yet, they only ever find the evidence that they need. "Hey, here's a tiny piece of clothing material with a stain on it, let's analyse it" and sure enough, it'll be what the murderer was wearing. Why couldn't it have been something he was wearing 3 weeks ago. "Hey Greg, did you analyse that stain?" "Yeah, it was pizza"

In a Miami episode recently, they find a girl's dead body on a beach, and one of the CSI's asks Horatio "Do you think she died here or somewhere else?" and Horatio replies "No, she died here. There's no drag marks in the sand" So, effectively he narrowed his investigation down and ruled out any other options without thinking "Hey, maybe some guy carried her here"

In every episode I watch I get annoyed by these little things (maybe I'm too observant), so I'm just not gonna bother watching it again. Does anyone else dislike it this much? Does anyone notice these things?

ixoy

I notice them all the time but I don't let it distract me from the show I particularly get what you mean by their technology. I half expect them to find a piece of cloth, some time, and their computer will automatically give them the murderer.
If you want hardcore realism in your show, go elsewhere. "The Wire" is a perfect one for that - you know how shows always have wire taps? Well it ain't even remotely as easy to get one as they let you think...

Exit

Yeah, I think I asked you a week or two ago if the first series was shown anywhere here. I read somewhere that the whole season is devoted to just the one crime, and every minute detail is shown such as them having to go get warrants, etc.

Season 2 is one TG4, right? Has it started already? Do I need to have seen Season 1?

voxpop

I wouldnt call it s**te just beacuse they dont go into all the minute details of their investigation. Almost every crime drama does the same - they gloss over the more boring bits of the investigation and focus/jazz up the more interesting aspects.
Now maybe im wrong and forensic science is in fact really interesting, but I doubt most ppl want to watch it in all its gory deatail.

Next you'll be complaining that noone completed form 45a before looking for a warrant :rolleyes:
If you want pure facts then watch Discovery

Exit

Are you one of those people who watches Arnie get shot 19 times and yet still single-handedly kill every one of the bad guys despite being vastly outnumbered? Do you sit there bouncing up and down on your chair, clapping your hands and shouting "Yay! Yay!", or do you watch films that have some semblance of realism to them?

I didn't say I wanted pure facts. I said I'd prefer some realism in the programme.

John R

It is just entertainment, they never suggest it is real. It is complete hokum, none of the procedures are in any way realistic. There is no way crime scene analysts would ever be allowed interview witnesses or suspects, in csi all the police do is hang around waiting for the csi people. If you want realism watch some documentaries.

As for more realistic crime dramas how about Law and Order, NYPD Blue or Homicide: Life On The Street which in my opinion is by far the best police drama ever made and the most accurate.

Dr. Dre

It's just a TV show, don't take it so seriously.

ondafly

Originally posted by Exit
I've been watching it since it first aired over here, and I've been watching the Miami one too, so it's not as if I've just seen a couple of episodes and am complaining.

and you didn't notice it was a repeat from last year..... :rolleyes:

ixoy

Originally posted by Exit
Yeah, I think I asked you a week or two ago if the first series was shown anywhere here. I read somewhere that the whole season is devoted to just the one crime, and every minute detail is shown such as them having to go get warrants, etc.

Season 2 is one TG4, right? Has it started already? Do I need to have seen Season 1?

Nah, Season 2 has yet to air. It's set around a different crime but it still continues on stories from the first. It helps if you've seen the first because the show does not waste time introducing people - that doesn't happen in real life either.

Here's an example of realism, if it's the thing you appreciate: At one point a character accidentally fires a gun. They at least mention the fact that you have to file paperwork and account for all bullets fired. There's also a great insight into the petty internal beaurcracies in the police force (constantly shoving cases around departments so someone else can deal with it). They don't have anything like fancy glitzy CSI labs either - think more NYPD Blue level.

Having said that I enjoy CSI for what it is - interesting (the science bit, altho' I think the science can be wonky), flashy, and an easy way to pass the time due to a decent set of characters.

Jip

The software that they use is pathetically simple. In this episode, they find a distorted fingerprint. "Can you fix that up?" "Sure, give me approximately 2 seconds" This happens in every episode where they use software like this. For the average chump, this stuff would take hours to do.

Yeah, because watching someone anlayse copious amounts of data infront of a non-graphical GUI for hours on end trying to find a fingerprint match would be much more interesting :rolleyes:

Elmo

I find CSI and its spin off a bit dead.

The characters in the spin off are pretty much the same as the characters in CSI, just in a different city.

I think Law And Order have done a better job of characters not only the Detectives but also of the victim/criminals.

Without A trace is the only other one that come close.

Exit

Originally posted by ondafly
and you didn't notice it was a repeat from last year..... :rolleyes:

No, because I was away when it was on.

Ah well, it seems I'm in a bit of a minority here. I like my programmes to have a bit more intelligence.

ixoy, I may check out Season 2 when it comes around. Sounds interesting.

User45701

I am always busy on a thuesday night so i always miss the double CSI maimi but i watched it once and thought it was very good.

I used to watch CSI new episodes on a mon night but then i changed to watching enterprise then friends and then out to pub or elce back to computer so the show wasent reley good enough to hold my interest for a long time but i did watch it for a few weeks before christmass

TCamen

CSI is good for an entertaining hour. Like all crime shows....

CSI
CSI Miami
Without A Trace
Law & Order + spinoffs

It totally depends on how interesting the case is for me to enjoy it. I don't care about the simplified nature of the investigative tools as long as the hour is entertaining. Was the world of advertising ever as bitchy & back-stabbing as 'Melrose Place' made it? Probably not, but hey, it was far more entertaining
Just an example, my point is, if it's entertaining, I don't mind a few minor quibbles here or there.
Season 3 of CSI has some very good episodes imo--watched it already on Living. I don't like CSI Miami, can't stand the characters. Hope New York does better with casting.

Next week's episode is quite interesting, with the return of Lady Heather. It's running about 80mins on RTE...It was a 90min episode in the US. Look out for a cameo from the original Las Vegas Showgirl Elizabeth Berkeley hehe

Elmo

Next week's episode is quite interesting, with the return of Lady Heather. It's running about 80mins on RTE...It was a 90min episode in the US.

does the 90 mins include adds?

Las Vegas Showgirl Elizabeth Berkeley

Of saved by the bell fame!!!!

John R

Originally posted by Elmo
does the 90 mins include adds?

Yes, so the programme itself would run for slightly less than an hour.

lemondrop

I think CSI is really good........it is obvious that they wud also find lots of dust amd dirt on the carpet but remember they only have an hr (including ads) to get the whole crime solved and i know i personally wudnt like to be watching dust for a few mins and then figer pint tracing on the comps..............why wud u watch it there wen u cud watch it on discovery r something. Its a program, entertaining and all that...i dont think half an hr taken up by finger print analysis wud be entertaining....Do you??