David Caruso’s CSI spin off returns for its fifth season on DVD and this time he’s out for revenge as well as solving the crimes that plague the surf and sands of Miami.
Lead crime scene investigator Lt. Horatio Caine (David Caruso) is out to avenge the murder of his wife and has to go out of the country to do it. The rest of his team – Calliegh Duquesne (Emily Procter), Eric Delko (Adam Rodriguez), Dr. Alexx Woods (Khandi Alexander), Ryan Wolfe (Jonathan Togo), Det. Sgt. Frank Tripp (Rex Linn), and Natalia Boa Vista (Eva La Rue) also have their hands full as they work their way through the cases that season five offers them.
Caine and Delko travel out of the country to Brazil to avenge Marisol’s murder (in a possible CSI first since I don’t recall any of the shows going out of the country), but all is not hugs and kisses for the rest of the team either. Ryan’s job is on the line because of his gambling problems and nothing seems to go right for Natalia this season. Caine also comes face to face with an old enemy this season.
This season has enough thrills, chills, and mystery to keep the fan on the edge of their seats. I should admit that I was at that junction against my better judgment since I’ve never really been a fan of David Caruso.
I’ve found his breathy reading of lines and demeanor as the character much more abrasive to my tastes that William Petersen’s Sherlockian delivery. I’ve always preferred to focus more on the mysteries and cases than paying too much attention to Caruso’s delivery.
I guess it says something about the show when even I, an anti-Caruso, can be pulled into the storylines and situations.
CSI: Miami is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Special features include a series of commentaries. Disc one has a commentary by director Sam Hill, writer Sunil Nayar, and location manger Brian O’Neill on “Rio” and one by Hill, Adam Rodriguez, and production designer Carey Meyer on “Death Pool 100.”
Disc two has a commentary on “Death Eminent” by Jonathan Togo, writer Corey Miller, and effects supervisor Larry Detwiler and by Eva La Rue and writer John Haynes on “Darkroom.” Disc four has a commentary by director Karen Gaviola and actor Gonzalo Menendez on “Man Down.” Disc one features the 9 minute “Rio Grand” about the production heading to Rio for the big season opener. Disc two has the 14 minute “If Looks could Kill” which is about the extensive makeup used to make the gruesome corpses and wounds.
The 9-minute “Turning up the Heat” focuses on the visuals of the show and is on disc four. Disc six has the 6 minute “Dressing the Part” which highlights the costumes on the show. The 25 minute “The Real MDPD with Jonathan Togo” has the actor comparing his fictional dealings with what the real forensic experts have to go through. The box also a CD-ROM playable demo of the CSI: Hard Evidence game.
Even though I prefer Gil Grissom to Horatio Caine, I still found enough excitement and mystery in Miami to keep me satisfied. The season also has some interesting special features that both take you into the real crime scene investigation world as well as the world of the show.
C.S.I. Miami - The Fifth Season is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
Your Talkback on this Story