CSI and Scrubs are arguably some of the best shows on television, and are among my favourite shows ever, CSI being my favourite.
The two shows have a lot in common; they're on long runs, they're both cult hits and they both feature stalwarts; namely Gil Grissom and Perry Cox.
Gil Grissom is a wise, aged criminologist and crime scene investigator whos main purpose in the show is to offer guidance to his troubled proteges, Perry Cox is a veteran doctor who seemingly knows everything there is to know and whilst he provides the backbone to his medical staff he also has the opportunity to make wisecracks at his attendings because Scrubs is a comedy whereas CSI is a drama.
The two notable observations i've made having seen every episode of Scrubs and everyone except 3 episodes of CSI Vegas is that both 'gurus' experience moments of significance whereby they question their very existence and whether their heart is in the job. Perry's comes towards the end of Season 5 where his best friend dies and he feels he is partly to blame as he failed to spot a diseased transplant organ. For me, this was the perfect time to end the show (now into its seventh season and frankly, now terrible) because it showed that even the most cold-hearted of characters (Cox showed little remorse for his actions and never showed emotion til this episode) could be undone and unlocked by any tragedy. One of the main storylines in the show floated around the idea that Cox couldn't ever feel a connection to another human being and his relationship with JD in this particular episode was excellently executed, really showing how close they were and how much Cox needed JD despite the latter being the protege. The show needed to end at that point because there was nothing else left to prove.
In CSI, i feel it is more of a bad decision on the writers' part that brought about Grissom's 'moment'. His feelings for Sara were evident throughout the show, and in Season 7 they finally clicked, showing raw emotions towards each other and constant references were made insinuating a physical and emotional relationship and i personally felt this weakened the show for the idea of Grissom's character was for him to be someone who would always offer emotional support and guidance but would never openly admit to needing someone himself. His personal life is rarely delved into and this was the great thing about his character, we knew so little and imagined so much. It should have stayed that way.
When Sara leaves in Season 7, it clearly has an effect on Grissom who kisses her before she walks out of the lab. This, in my mind, showed weakness of Grissoms behalf. His character was damaged by the open awareness of how much he supposedly needed her and couldn't hide his feelings from the rest of his crew of colleagues.
In Season 9 we again see this relationship reignited when Sara returns following Warrick's death. Whilst it was nice to see them together again, the ensuing scenes are unwarranted. We see Grissom yet again questioning his future at the Crime Lab and he is yet again exposed as showing emotions. His speech at Warrick's funeral is one of the best scenes in CSI but only because he has lost his closest member and one who he loved as if he were his own, something which is reciprocated by Warrick himself in the same episode. This relationship is typical of the sort of character Grissom is, holding each member of his staff in the highest regard and looking out for them. But when intimate love is brought into the equation in the form of his relationship with Sara, i feel the show loses credibility and frankly gains cheesiness which is avoided for seven seasons.
CSI is still probably the best drama show on television, i just feel Grissom's character needs closure and to focus on the future ahead.
4 comments:
I like your review, but I woner what your thoughts are on any specific plot lines you would prefer for both shows. In csi, what for you would define as 'closure', especially with grissom. Do you think it is appropiate for grissom to have an intimate relationship with someone.
I think his relationship with Warrick, whereby he was treated like the prodigal song because of his gambling and alcohol problems, was sufficient to feel Grissom's empty void which was the simple concept of loving someone. I feel his character is not one that should be put under pressure by missing a female character, let alone one so much younger and on his own team. Warrick was a character whose parents died whilst he was young and so he lacked a father figure, taken upon by Grissom. This storyline was adpt.
if grissom did not have any romantic relationships, wud u feel he was asexual? By not having any intimate relationships, does that place him above everyone else, in terms of not falling into the pitfalls that everyone else does in terms of love? Is he 'immune' to to emotion? If so, what purpose would that serve?
Grissom is often referred to as asexual, in particular by Lady Heather. We never establish whether Grissom has been married, nor of his dating habits as a younger man. Indeed, it is this state of affairs which he himself says places him in a superior position to the rest of society since he doesn't have to worry about the issues involved with personal relationships.
As a CSI, one's viewpoint is supposed to be strictly neutral and by showing little personal emotion throughout the first several seasons, Grissom demonstrates perfectly the role model. The other characters refer to their own dating patterns and have each come under scrutiny for letting their personal lives affect their work. As such, until season 8 or so, this is not a problem for Grissom. But as viewers of season 8 onwards will know, this changes.
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