By Jae-Ha Kim
Amazon.com
October 17, 2006
The CSI franchise continues to thrive with the second season of CSI: NY, which aired on CBS during the 2005-2006 season. The kickoff episode is filled with lots of drama–but not much suspense–as the investigators delve into the death of a jewelry designer who is found wearing an $8 million diamond bra.
The other case involves the shooting of a thrill seeker who is killed while climbing up a skyscraper. Though neither crime is particularly challenging for the viewer to solve, it’s the little things that make the series an enjoyable viewing experience. A mosquito, for instance, provides more data on a potential killer than fingerprints or witnesses.
And in a later episode, a discarded coffee mug provides the evidence to convict someone of killing a plastic surgeon. There is drama within the department as well: One of the investigators, who gets too caught up in a rape case, tampers with the forensic evidence and is told to resign from the department.
While the chemistry between the main characters isn’t as strong as it is with the cast of the original CSI–starring William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger–Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump, Apollo 13) makes a strong presence as lead investigator Mac Taylor. And Detective Don Flack (Eddie Cahill) gets to show more dimension in a storyline where he’s trapped inside a panic room.
All 24 episodes are included on this 6-disc set, which includes audio commentary on five episodes, as well as a handful of behind-the-scenes featurettes.
This season also includes a little stunt casting, with David Caruso (playing his CSI: Miami character Horatio Crane) in a compelling crossover episode that involves the kidnapping of a young girl. Both strong silent types, Horatio and Mac make for a wonderful team, despite their different methods.
