CSI: Vegas

As a huge fan of all the CSI franchises (even Cyber) I was looking forward to this. I binged the first series and had high hopes with the return of a few familiar faces but something just didn't seem quite right. The camaraderie was missing between the characters, they just didn't gel and it seemed like they were literally just reading lines. No fluidity, it was obvious they were all strangers, yet in the original series you genuinely believed they were colleagues and friends at the same time. I've just started the 2nd series and it hasn't got any better. I am British and have lived and worked all over the UK yet Mandeep Dhillon's accent is overbearing and annoying to the point it's making me want to switch off. It seems forced. I doubt very much I will finish this series.

I made it halfway through the episode and gave up. The new supporting cast is as weak as 3.2 beer. This is a pale imitation of the old show.

The major problem with this is that the actress they have chosen to play the lead is just a lead actress. She was ok in castle when she played a supporting actress but just isn't up to carry a show like CSI. Needs to be recast.

Season 1 with Gill and Sarah and Hodges was OK. Didn't have the cohesiveness of the original CSI but Sarah did a great job keeping up. Petersen felt very reserved and distant from Sarah. The 2nd season somehow just fell flat even with Catherine back. Overall, good acting by Lex Medlin, Matt Lauria and Paula Newsome and returning character guests, Gill, Sarah, Hodges and Catherine.

I do wish that Mandeep Dhillon and Aruana Guerra would disappear. Dhillon is way too over the top with her constantly surprised wide eyes and attitude. Guerra is just not a comfortable nor eexy character. The show has none of the brilliance and magic of the original. Maybe we're all too old and tired.

The cast seems like they can be salvaged and could start gelling, but Dhillon sticks out like a sore thumb. I liked her in After Life, but she's just awful here. She needs to be sent off.