The originalCSI: Crime Scene Investigationchanged the game for procedural crime dramas when it debuted on CBS at the turn of the millennium. The team behind the show incorporated an ultra-realist, forensic approach to depicting criminal investigation with the panache of one of Arthur Conan Doyle or Agatha Christie’s classic murder mystery sagas, to produce a series that set a new benchmark for its TV genre. Nevertheless, things move fast in the world of television, andCSIcouldn’t maintain its unrivaled position as a procedural crime show forever. In its ninth season, the series began its protracted decline.
The show was still a worthwhile watch until the very end of its 15-season run, but its loss of thebest character in anyCSIshowproved impossible to recover from.WhenCSI’s chief protagonist, LAPD crime lab supervisor Gil Grissom, departed in an episode midway through season 9, it lost a charismatic leadernot many other TV serial dramas in any genre could match, who almost single-handedly elevated the show above its competitors. It may have had an excellent ensemble cast, but William Petersen’s flawed genius Grissom was someone quite different from the rest.
“One To Go” Was Grissom’s Final CSI Episode Before William Petersen Left The Show
The Departure Of Its Original Protagonist Was A Watershed Moment For CSI
In 2009’s midseason episode “One to Go”, Petersen became one of thenine actors to leaveCSI: Crime Scene Investigationduring its lengthy network TV run, and the series was never the same again.Gil Grissom decided to retire from his worksoon after finishing a case that involved the murder of his colleague and friend, Warrick Brown. This case took such an emotional toll on the forensic investigation supervisor that he felt he just couldn’t do the job anymore.
For Petersen’s part, the reason he leftCSIwas to explore other avenues for his acting career, including his first love, the theater. He’d return for a brief cameo in the series finale nearly seven years later, but otherwise the show had to find ways to fill the enormous shoes of his brilliantly obsessive lab detective protagonist.
In the final, moving scene of “One to Go”, with his last case concluded, Grissom walked the corridors of the forensic lab he’d called home for so many years, taking one last look at the place, and the people he wa’s leaving behind. He found a program card from Warrick’s funeral, and exchanged a long, wistful smile with his closest colleague, assistant supervisor Catherine Willows, in a moment that brought manyCSIfans close to tears.Gil Grissom would be sorely missed, not only by his fellow characters in the show, but by millions of viewers at home.
Without Gil Grissom, CSI Was Just Another Crime Procedural
Grissom’s Maverick Approach To Criminal Investigations Elevated The Whole Series
As much asCSI: Crime Scene Investigationcontinued to set the benchmark for procedural realism in crime television in its last five-and-a-half seasons,it couldn’t maintain the narrative cutting edge it had when Petersen was at the head of its cast. Gil Grissom’s unorthodox leadership, based on show creator Anthony E. Zuiker’s real-life experience with LAPD criminologist Daniel Holstein (viaLas Vegas Sun), along with his inimitable one-liners, was a keytrope of everyCSIepisode. Without it, the series failed to strike the same chord with its fans.
DID YOU KNOW: TheCSIteam often made their breakthroughs thanks to Grissom’s pioneering application of forensic entomology.
Grissom’s characterization as an innovative but unruly detectivewith an incomparable grasp of deductive logic and an obsessive approach to his field of work wasbased on Sherlock Holmes, the legendary detective created by novelist Arthur Conan Doyle. As with Holmes, the maverick sensibility of William Petersen’s character made him difficult to work with, but engendered the utmost professional loyalty in subordinates who got used to his eccentricities.
It seemed as thoughthere was no case Grissom and his team couldn’t solve. They often made their breakthroughs thanks to the supervisor’s pioneering application of forensic entomology, in which small animals such as insects are used to obtain vital evidence in criminal investigations. Grissom’s use of investigative methods within this field reflected his tendency to think outside the box when solving crimes.
Although Langston & Russel Were Good Characters, Grissom Was CSI’s Biggest Asset
After William Petersen left the series,CSIimmediately introduced its Gil Grissom replacementin the form of Laurence Fishburne’s new lab director Raymond Langston. The show purposely differentiated Langston from Grissom as a character, an astute move given that any like-for-like replacement would have inevitably fallen short.Langston took a more hands-off approach to working with his investigation teamthan Grissom had, and was shown to have an unusual combination of hobbies and interests outside his day job.
Likewise, when Fishburne departedCSIat the end of season 11, the character of his replacement, Ted Danson, represented another change of direction for the series. Danson’sD.B. Russell had a softer touchwhen running the LAPD’s forensic investigation team than either of his predecessors, but also brought a different kind of eccentricity from Grissom’s to the table. Danson also put his comedy acting experience to good use, bringing a somewhat lighter tone to the show.
Still, as well asCSI: Crime Scene Investigationhandled replacing Gil Grissom,ultimately, no one could live up to its original protagonist. Grissom wasCSI’s biggest asset, and his absence irreparably harmed the show regardless of who replaced him.
William Petersen Would Eventually Return As Gil Grissom For CSI: Vegas
He Was A Main Character Throughout The Spinoff’s 1st Season
However,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’s ninth season wasn’t the last time we’d see William Petersen’s Gil Grissom.In addition to Grissom’s cameo in theCSIfinale episode, he returned as a main character inCSI: Vegas, a three-season spinoff of the original show set in Sin City. Grissom’s comeback as ateam leader setCSI: Vegasapart from the franchise’s other spinoffsby reminding viewers of the original show in its heyday.
William Petersen only ever signed up for 10 episodes ofCSI: Vegas, meaning that when the first season was over, Grissom had to leave the show.
Although the character only returned for one season, he still helped makeCSI: Vegasthe best-received iteration in the franchise since his time as a regular in the originalCSI. TV ratings for the spinoff notably declined when Petersen left the franchise behind once again. While it’s true thatCSI: Crime Scene Investigationwas about more than just its peerless protagonist overall, there’s no question that the historic success of Gil Grissom’s time inCSImakes him its most important character.
