TV Show Review: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

It is often for television shows to start with a mix of the actual story, but then the writers focus more on the characters personal problems rather than the bigger picture. The only genre this doesn’t seem to affect too much are crime dramas; well most of them. One of the shows this seems to ring true is the original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, perhaps better known to outside fans as CSI: Las Vegas. It was one of the longest running crime dramas and television shows of all time; airing for 15 seasons from 2000 until 2015 including three mildly to pretty successful spin offs (one I’ve already reviewed) and television movie serving as the series finale. I had heard of CSI for years but never really got into the franchise until high school when I took a forensic class and we would watch an episode of the show every few weeks; took me a few years to catch up on the whole series, but it was definitely an interesting ride seeing how the crime lab of Las Vegas solved some of the strangest, disgusting and borderline psychotic cases to hit the Vegas strip. I will give just a little glimpse into what happened season by season and why this TV show became one of the most successful franchises of all time.

Season 1. Right from the start we meet several characters audiences will come to know and love. CSI 3 Supervisor Gil Grissom (William Peterson) who often has an odd fact at the ready, knows about every species of bug out there and believes in letting the evidence speak for itself (kinda like Sherlock Holmes if I were to compare him with anyone). His team consists of the grave shift of the Las Vegas Crime Lab: assistant CSI Level 3 supervisor Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger) a former showgirl and single mother who got her degree to better her life, Nick Stokes (George Eads) a recent CSI Level 3 from Texas who often builds a trust with victims of the crime despite other CSI’s keeping their distance (it has often proven to be useful), Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan), another CSI Level 3 who throughout the series seems to have one problem after another (gambling and drugs mostly), Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox), an old friend of Grissom he met at a work study he calls in when the team is short before deciding to stick around, Greg Sanders (Eric Szmanda) a lab tech specializing in DNA but desires to be in the field, Dr. Al Robbins (Robert David Hall), the coroner who lost his legs when he was a kid and has seen just about everything on his slab, Dr. David Phillips aka Super Dave (David Berman), another medical examiner and Captain Jim Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) a detective who trusts Grissom’s team and if often the legal muscle of the team. We do have other characters audiences will see throughout the series begin on the first season; mostly Conrad Ecklie (Marc Vann) a day shift supervisor before moving up in the police department; he comes off a strict, spiteful and a pain to Grissom’s team before eventually growing up a little, several detectives and lab techs. The first season has the team coming together after the death of one of their own and solving unusual crimes. Grissom also comes across a serial killer (which only happens a handful of times on the show) staging suicides, and when by the time he realizes he has met the killer it is too late.

Season 2. Once again the team solves some of the most bizarre crimes such as how a woman drowned in a desert, a scuba driver in a tree to the murder of the son of one of Vegas’s crime bosses, who Catherine has a past with (more on that later). Nick also has a stalker at one point, Grissom comes face to face with a past enemy and the first of three spin-offs takes place as Catherine and Warrick travel to Miami to find a missing girl and meet the head of the Miami crime lab Horatio Crane (David Caruso). We are also introduced to Lady Heather (Melinda Clarke) a dominatrix later sex therapist Grissom becomes fascinated with. The two would have a rather interesting relationship throughout the series and Ellie Brass (Nicki Aycox) Jim’s estranged daughter, later revealed to not be biologically his but he still cares about her (and she is MESSED UP.)

Season 3. With Szmanda and Hall becoming regulars the team has more interesting cases: bodies with fire-ants, a cheerleader left destroyed to a body appear dead before waking up in autopsy (that’s terrifying). Meanwhile Grissom fears his hearing is going away much like his deaf mother’s, Catherine might lose custody of her daughter, Greg is injured in a lab explosion and one of the detectives that works with the team is killed during a bank heist. We are introduced to David Hodges (Wallace Langham) a lab tech who tries too hard to impress Grissom. We also discover Catherine’s true connection to the crime boss from the previous season. We are also introduced to another serial killer known as The Blue Paint Killer as they paint the railings of the houses of their victims.

Season 4. Some of the series more disgusting and more memorable cases show up in this season including a murder involving the furry lifestyle, a victim Grissom thinks looks like Sara (it is obvious the two’s relationship is becoming more) and a woman who accuses a man of rape but DNA evidence seems to exclude him despite her objections.

Season 5. Greg begins the process of lab tech to being in the field as the team once again dives into some weird cases, but thanks to Ecklie the team becomes separated in different shifts for a few episodes. We are also introduced to Sofia Curtis (Louise Lombard) who would be a CSI then detective. The Blue Paint Killer returns and, in arguably the series most popular episode, Nick is captured by a psychopath and is buried alive. We are also introduced to Henry Andrews (Jon Wellner) who starts off in toxicology before moving to other fields. He and Hodges start off as rivals before having a somewhat friendship.

Season 6. With the team reunited cases begin to pile up, and things turn ugly. A police shoot out in a Latino community leaves many dead, including a police officer with the bullet saying one of their own killed him, a TV crew follows the team on a case, a little girl says she killed one of her brother’s classmates when he is on trial for the same murder (Sara becomes personally involved in the case) and Brass nearly dies after getting shot in the finale. We are also introduced to Wendy Simms (Liz Vassey) who has a bit of a rivalry with Hodges (although later episodes show the two are attracted to each other.)

Season 7. Grissom and Sara’s relationship is now romantic, but they have to keep it hidden. One of the show’s most prolific serial killers makes their debut: The Miniature Killer who kills, cleans up with bleach and leaves behind a minature replica of the crime scene; the case soon turns personal for Grissom when the killer is revealed to be Natalie Davis who blames Grissom for the death of her father figure (killed himself taking credit for her crimes) and she has kidnaps Sara. Catherine’s father dies and Greg is attacked at a crime scene saving a man’s life but kills one of the people responsible. Liev Schreiber also temporarily joins the cast as Michael Keppler when Grissom goes on sabbatical, a man with an interesting past.

Season 8. With limited episodes due to the writers’ strike of 2008 stories had to get wrapped up. Sara must make some tough decisions regarding her career as she becomes burned out. Many celebs make cameos in the show and Warrick is accused of murder.

Season 9. With one of their own dead and Grissom leaving, the team changes up a little. Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne) joins the team after helping Grissom with a serial killer case and is quick to get caught up in cases; including one where he and a colleague are held hostage. Taylor Swift also guest stars at one point, Hodges and Wendy grow closer and so much more.

Season 10. Catherine’s skills as a leader are questioned after a team member leaves but Sara returns. Rascal Flatts make a cameo while Langston makes appearances on the Miami and New York spin-offs to find a missing girl. Finally (among the weird cases) another serial killer identified as Dr. Jekyll makes the team’s life hell as he leaves bodies with odd medical questions. We also get a visit from a killer from the previous season that Ray has a history with.

Season 11. With Ray almost dying at the hands of serial killer Nate Haskell more bizarre cases come to the Vegas, including when Haskell escapes to try and torture Ray; going after Ray’s ex-wife and others sending Ray over the edge. Justin Bieber also appears in the season as a teenaged bomber and we get the debut of Morgan Brody (Elisabeth Harnois) Ecklie’s daughter who helps the team when Haskell arrives in L.A.

Season 12. After the debacle involving Ray and Haskell ends with Ray leaving, and Catherine’s demotion, new team leader D.B. Russell (Ted Danson) ties to keep the team’s emotions in check. However when a case from the past comes back to haunt the team emotions reach an all-time high. Catherine also leaves to join the FBI after a case gets personal and is replaced by an old friend of D.B’s Julie Finlay (Elisabeth Shue) who is a blood expert.

Season 13. The issues in the previous finale come to a head and the nature of Sara and Grissom’s marriage comes to light. In addition to their cases a killer using Dante’s inferno puts members of the team in danger.

Season 14. Tracking down the people responsible for the Dante inferno killings (in a big shocking twist) the team regroups, but no rest for the wicked as they deal with hostage situations, cases from the past, one of their own may leave the force and the final spin-off CSI: Cyber makes its debut.

Season 15. In the shows final season a serial killer from Russel and Finn’s past comes back for revenge; as if their current cases weren’t complicated enough. Nick must also decide where his career is going when he gets a great opportunity.

In the finale movie titled Immortality a bombing brings back many fan favorite characters, Catherine’s daughter joins the team and the love triangle between Sara, Grissom and Lady Heather comes to fruition.

Obviously some episodes are not that hard to figure out, some even feel like repeats but what I truly loved about the show was that besides focusing on the personal lives of the characters they actually put a lot into the crime itself. Every episode I saw left me fascinated with how the team figures out everything: who, what, where and why. It probably inspired many to become criminologists, and other television show with the same M.O, counting the spin-offs. The characters were wonderful, each adding something unique to the show: Grissom’s weird facts, Nick’s optimism, Sara and Warrick’s problems to Russel’s oddball ways; it is hard to imagine the show without many of the characters. I would highly recommend checking out the original CSI as soon as possible.

In 2021 the original series returned called CSI: Vegas. William Peterson, Jorja Fox, Wallace Langham and Paul Guilfoyle reprising their roles along with new characters. It was renewed for a second season with Peterson and Fox exiting, but Marg Helgenberger returning.

TV Show Review: Once Upon a Time

Everyone probably grew up reading fairy tales such as Snow White, Peter Pan, Cinderella and so many others, but did you ever wonder what would happen if they came to the modern world. From 2011 until 2018 with a short lived spin off on ABC, Once Upon a Time took the stories we all know and love and twisted it, possibly showing that the hero and villain may not be who you think they are and the difficult journey. Spoilers ahead as usual. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

In season 1 we are introduced to the world of Storybrooke, a small forgotten town in Maine. Henry Mills (Jared S. Gilmore) finds Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) a bail bonds collector and Henry’s biological mother who gave him up after serving time in jail. Henry has a book titled Once Upon a Time where he believes the residents of Storybrooke are actually characters from the book. However, according to Henry they do not remember because they have been cursed by the town mayor, and Henry’s adoptive mother, Regina Mills (Lana Parrilla) whom he believes is The Evil Queen. Henry is convinced Emma is the only one who can break the curse because she is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, in the town he believes they are Mary Margret Blanchard (Ginnifer Goodwin) a meek school teacher and David Nolan (Josh Dallas) a married man who has been in a coma for a very long time until he finally wakes up when Mary Margret reads to him. Emma doesn’t really believe Henry, but after growing attached to him as well as a few other residents sticks around, much to Regina’s dismay as well as Mr. Gold (Robert Carlyle) who Henry believes is the evil Rumpelstiltskin. Of course Henry is right as we divulge into the past lives of the characters, finding out why Regina cast the curse to hurt everybody, how Snow and Charming met and even how Rumple found love with a woman named Belle (Emile de Ravin). Other characters we meet alternate versions of are as Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio, Red Riding Hood, Granny, the seven dwarfs, Mad Hatter and so many more.

In season 2, the curse is broken and magic has come back thanks to Rumple, but problems continue. Residents remember who they were in the past, and struggle to become just who they truly meant to be, having been frozen in time for nearly 28 years. Meanwhile other characters are introduced including Killian Jones aka Captain Hook (Colin O’Donoghue) a villain who has a score to settle with Rumple and develops a flirtatious relationship with Emma, Cora aka the Queen of Hearts (Barbara Hershey) Regina’s mother who is just as if not more evil and Neal Cassidy (Michael Raymond-James) Rumple’s long lost son, Emma’s former lover and Henry’s father (yeah try and work that family tree). Other people also come to Storybrooke trying to destroy magic, while at the end many of the main characters have to travel away in order to save Henry.

In season 3 the main characters travel to many magical places after villains emerge such as Peter Pan (Robbie Key) who has a history with Rumple among others as well as Zelena aka The Wicked Witch of the West (Rebecca Mader) trying to make Storybrooke their own, and in Zelena’s case as well as gain revenge against Regina, her long lost sister. At some point Emma and Henry leave Storybrooke after another curse is cast; forcing residents to return to the Enchanted Forest with no memories of Storybrooke only to return after Killian, who has fallen for Emma and she as well, to reach out and get help for Zelena’s evil plans. Other characters make their debut including Robin Hood (Sean Maguire) and his merry men who falls in love with Regina and she does as well, Ariel, Tinker Bell and so many others.

In season 4 things get colder as Elsa, Anna and Kristoff are introduced as a women identified as The Snow Queen makes her plans known for Storybrooke and Emma. Later on Rumple, having been forced out of Storybrooke by his wife Belle, returns along with other villains: Maleficent, Cruella DeVil and Ursula trying to get their own happy endings searching for the Author, the only one who can make it possible. However the darkness in Rumple is too much to contain and one of the heroes may be forced to make a sacrifice.

In season 5 with one of the heroes forced to become dark the gang travels to Camelot in order to get the darkness out. It does work, but at a huge cost, forcing the gang to then travel to the Underworld (essentially hell) in order to save a friend. We reunite with some people we have met over the seasons as well as meet Hades (Greg Germann) who wants to keep our heroes in hell while he takes over Storybrooke. Many characters do get a happy ending, but some do not even make it that far as another realm opens up bringing in long forgotten charterers.

In season 6 characters who stories have long since been forgotten try and make names for themselves. We also get a glimpse at a world where Emma is not the savior. Meanwhile a prophecy about Emma made long before she was born may come to fruition when the most evil villain of all The Black Fairy arrives for The Final Battle which may result in the end of the light magic. There is also a musical episode I enjoyed very much.

In season 7 things have changed as a now adult Henry (Andrew J. West) along with Regina, Hook and Rumple are cursed in a town called Hyperion Heights with no memories and no powers. The only person who seems to be awake is Lucy, Henry’s daughter with another version of Cinderella. We also meet other version of characters we love such as Alice, Robin Hood, Tiana, Lady Tremaine, Dr. Facilier and more.

I know I may have given some stuff away, but this is actually a hard show to explain because there is not only so much information but there are so many with history, other versions of characters; basically take what you know about fairy tales and throw it out the window. It can be confusing, but oh man was it a good watch. Admittedly some episodes were better than others, but every single person I thought did an amazing job. It would be hard to single out just one character I liked, or loved to hate, more than others. If you have not watched this show, catch up on Netflix. I promise it will not disappoint you.

TV Show Review: Bones

If I were to say what my favorite TV show of all time was, this would probably be at the top of my list. From 2005 until 2017 on Fox Bones proved to be one of the most successful crime dramas on television, not only with the very gross bodies and science but with one of the greatest couples on television (and probably the real reason why the show lasted 12 seasons). I have often said look between the re-runs of NCIS, CSI and Law & Order and you will find Bones. I will go over a little season by season to give you guys a general idea of what the show is like, but there will be spoilers ahead. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Season 1. We meet most of the crew that viewers have come to know and love for a long time. Dr. Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel) is a forensic anthropologist (works with skeletons) and author who is brilliant, beautiful but is kinda arrogant, an atheist, does not really understand social situations, uses rationality to explain everything and is does not believe in something she cannot prove. She works at the Jeffersonian Institute, the most renowned crime lab in the nation alongside some brilliant minds. These include the following: Angela Montenegro (Michaela Conlin) Brennan’s best friend, a drop dead gorgeous forensic artist (uses skulls to give the victims a face) and created a system known as the Angelator or Angelatron later on using holograms and three dimensional graphics often to simulate crime scenes and using the evidence determines what happens to the victim(s). She is very socially active in the first season, dating very often and tries to get Brennan out of the lab to have fun (it is also revealed that a fictional version of Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top is her dad who frequently appears on the show). Dr. Jack Hodgins (TJ Thyne) a brilliant entomologist who uses bugs, dirt, trace evidence and anything small to help figure out any and everything about crime scenes often ranging from where the victim(s) where buried to even figuring out who the killer is, often calling himself the King of the Lab because he brings in the most evidence. He is also somewhat arrogant, a conspiracy theorist and later revealed to be very wealthy, although it doesn’t impact his relationship with his co-workers. Zack Addy (Eric Millegan) Brennan’s grad student in the first season who is extremely brilliant, but not socially aware (much like Brennan but not as bad, possibly). He was working on two doctorates in Anthropology as well as Applied Engineering while working at the Jeffersonian. Finally Dr. Daniel Goodman (Jonathan Adams) an archaeologist and director of the Jeffersonian (this would be his only season on the show). The Jeffersonian works with the FBI to help solve crimes and Brennan is forced to work with a man she did not like (at first). The very handsome Special Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) who while smart doesn’t understand a lot about science (at least what Brennan and her team are talking about) calling them squints, because of how they look into things. He is very good at reading people and doing his job. He and Brennan do not hit it off right away having some past history and more than often they bicker about their beliefs in the case, relationships, Booth’s nickname for Brennan “Bones” which she hates or religion (Booth is Catholic and gets angry whenever Brennan says there is no God). It is revealed in season one that Booth has a son, four at the time, named Parker but never married to Parker’s mother (their relationship is shown to be good because of their son). Brennan and Booth work together, along with the team, to solve murders involving skeletons and bring down killers; including a serial killer, Howard Epps, killing young blond women who would come back in season 2. We would also meet one of the most recurring characters in Caroline Julian (Patricia Belcher) a prosecutor with a very sharp tongue (I personally love her very sarcastic attitude). Along the way some of Brennan and Booth’s past are revealed to the audience; Booth’s being former Army ranger and sniper having to do some things that haunt him (not to mention his family history with drinking as well as his former gambling addition) while Brennan’s parent disappeared when she was 15 and her brother Russ abandoned her forcing her into the foster care system. In the first season we find out more about why Brennan’s parents left and who they were; by the end of the season they learn her father is still out there protecting her and Russ.

Season 2. With Dr. Goodman on sabbatical (a permanent one apparently as he never comes back) Brennan, Booth, Angela, Hodgins and now Dr. Addy welcome Dr. Camille Saroyan (Tamara Taylor) a forensic pathologist and former NY coroner who is now the head of the forensic division at the Jeffersonian. Cam and Brennan butt heads almost immediately but soon come to respect each other, meanwhile Cam and Booth rekindle their old relationship for a brief period of time, until Howard Epps breaks out of prison and almost kills Cam to get to Booth and Brennan. Many major recurring characters debut in this season. Max Kennan (Ryan O’Neal) Brennan’s criminal father who tries to reunite with Brennan, but she is not interested at first because of who he was; he would later turn himself in to Booth knowing if he were to run again their relationship would be done for good. Dr. Gordon Wyatt (Stephen Fry) an FBI psychologist who Booth has to go to when he did something stupid and later helps Booth and Brennan’s partnership when it temporarily sours. Finally Tim Sullivan aka “Sully” (Eddie McClintock) an FBI agent who works with Booth and Brennan temporarily when Booth is in therapy. He and Brennan begin a short lived relationship, but after a case he leaves the FBI to sail around on a sabbatical and she doesn’t go with him. Another relationship develops between Angela and Hodgins, after very subtle hints, and they almost get married if it wasn’t for something huge from Angela’s past. Meanwhile the cases get interesting and dangerous, including one where Brennan and Hodgins are kidnapped by a serial killer known as The Grave Digger who buries people alive in exchange for ransom, obviously they make it out but it was scary. We also continue to discover more about Brennan’s parents past. An episode that was supposed to air in the second season was moved to the third because it involved the death of a college student and the week it was supposed to air the Virginia Tech massacre happened. The episode had to re-shoot a few scenes, otherwise you can’t really tell the difference.

Season 3. A season shortened because of the writer strike, but one that had a lasting impact. The team expanded to include Dr. Lance Sweets (John Francis Daley) an FBI psychologist despite his young age who studies Booth and Brennan’s relationship as well as offer advice to the other characters and assist in cases; we also meet Dr. Clark Edison (Eugene Byrd) who would be a major recurring character for the rest of the series. While dealing with new cases, and Brennan’s father’s trial for a major murder he committed the previous season, the team stumbles across a serial killer who had been killing and cannibalizing their victims, continuing a very creepy and disturbing ritual. The team calls him Gormogon after discovering evidence in a vault linking the killings to this. At the end of the season the team discovers to their horror that one of their own has been tricked into working for Gormogon, and when I first watched that episode I couldn’t believe it. Also Brennan and Booth’s relationship takes a turn thanks to Caroline.

Season 4. With two episodes in the U.K Brennan and Booth continue to solve crimes, but the team dynamic has shifted in a few ways. For starters Angela and Hodgins’s relationship ends after issues of trust begin to form, and both have to deal with the fallout. Angela rekindles with an old girlfriend, but the relationship ends and after advice from Sweets takes a vow of celibacy for a few months. After the end of the third season episodes shift between multiple interns helping the team with cases throughout the rest of the series. Dr. Edison returns every now and then trying to keep things professional, but eventually begins to open up to his co-workers. Daisy Wick (Carla Gallo) a very enthusiastic intern who idolizes Brennan (and is kinda annoying), but she and Sweets develop an on/off relationship throughout the series. Vincent Nigel-Murray (Ryan Cartwright) a brilliant mind with many little known facts at the ready, but often doesn’t know when to shut up. Colin Fisher (Joel David Moore) a morbid intern but very smart. Wendell Bray (Michael Grant Terry) an intern with financial trouble but is the most normal out of the interns. Finally Arastoo Vaziri (Pej Vahdat) a Muslim intern. We also meet Booth’s younger brother Jared (Brendan Fehr) who is interested in Brennan, but has a drinking problem like their father. During a case we also meet Michelle (Dana Davis but then portrayed by Tiffany Hines) the daughter of Cam’s former boyfriend who became a murder victim. Cam would later adopt Michelle. We also finally get to meet The Grave Digger, the serial killer who buried Brennan, Hodgins and this season Booth but thankfully she is captured. We also have a health scare with Booth resulting in the final episode being a somewhat weird one but nonetheless enjoyable.

Season 5. Booth returns from his health scare and realizes he is in love with Brennan, but doesn’t say anything at first not wanting to ruin his partnership, but when he does reveal it Brennan cannot take that chance, but their partnership seems to be OK. Meanwhile Angela and Wendell begin a relationship, but ultimately it doesn’t last because of lingering feelings between Angela and Hodgins who after a case give in and finally get married. Arastoo accidentally reveals his fake accent but thankfully no one cared. We also get to meet Booth’s grandfather Hank (Ralph White) who raised him and Jarred after their mother left and their father continued to abuse them. Deputy Director Andrew Hacker (Diedrich Bader) who has an interest in Brennan. The team has their cases, but also the trial for The Grave Digger commences as well as the audience seeing just how the team came to be including where Booth and Brennan first met in the 100th episode. At the end of the season the team embarks on yearlong journeys.

Season 6. The team reunites to save Cam’s career and things have somewhat changed. Brennan finally realizing her feelings for Booth must come to the fact that she is too late as Booth has fallen for a reporter named Hannah. However because Hannah doesn’t want to get married the relationship doesn’t last. Meanwhile when the Grave Digger is killed by a sniper Booth is forced to fight his mentor Jacob Broadsky (Arnold Vosloo) who takes justice into his own hands, and because of that one of the interns pays the ultimate price. Angela and Hodgins begin a family with the birth of their son, Michael which at first scared them because there was a chance the baby could be born blind (was not the case). The season also introduced the short lived spin-off The Finder, an old army buddy of Booth’s that can find the most remote things. The season also end thankfully with Broadsky’s capture, and Brennan making an announcement to Booth that forever changed the pairing: she was pregnant and he is the father (this was due to Emily Deschanel’s pregnancy).

Season 7. Reduced to 13 episodes because of Deschanel’s pregnancy Brennan and Booth are finally together with the birth of their child Christine, after Brennan’s mom as they and the team continue to solve very unique cases. This season would introduce in my opinion their greatest threat in Christopher Pelant (Andrew Leeds) a serial killer who is exceptionally brilliant with computers and always seems to be one step ahead. He also frames Brennan for murder and forces her to take Christine on the run to clear her name, devastating Booth.

Season 8. Brennan, thanks to the team, is able to return and cleared of charges, although Pelant manages to avoid going to jail. While still solving crimes, Brennan and Booth must deal with the fallout of the previous season, as well as Pelant constantly trying to make things difficult for the team; including stealing Angela and Hodgins’s money. We also meet two more interns: Finn Abernathy (Luke Kleintank) who begins a relationship with Michelle, after Cam gives permission as well as Dr. Oliver Wells (Brian Klugman) a brilliant but arrogant man. Meanwhile Cam and Arastoo’s relationship is revealed to be more than co-workers ( I called this in season 4 they would get together and was thrilled I was right), Booth’s mom returns and things between Booth and Brennan begin to falter thanks to Pelant.

Season 9. Despite Pelant’s attempts Booth and Brennan’s relationship remains intact and thankfully his story comes to an exciting conclusion. However he leaves Brennan with the thought of a female serial killer still out there, but the team eventually discovers the truth, but it may have a terrible cost. Booth and Brennan finally get married, but their relationship is put the test because of the discovery of an FBI conspiracy. We also meet an old friend of Booth in the CIA Danny Beck (Freddie Prinze Jr.) Angela and Hodgins discover a secret from Hodgins’s family past, Wendell finds out he is sick and two more interns make their debut: Rodolfo Fuentes (Ignacio Serricchio) a doctor who defected from Cuba and Jessica Warren (Laura Spencer) a rather unique intern.

Season 10. The team is forever changed when one of their own is killed in order to keep the FBI conspiracy secret, but it only intensifies the team. We meet Booth’s new partner in James Aubrey (John Boyd) a young agent with a somewhat obsession with food. The show also celebrates its 200th episode with a tribute to Alfred Hitchcock. Meanwhile because of the death of a friend, and Brennan announcing she is pregnant again (once again due to Emily Deschanel’s pregnancy) Booth’s gambling addition resurfaces forcing Brennan to question their relationship. Cam and Arastoo are forced to spend time apart when Arastoo’s brother gets sick and he has to go back to Iran, Aubrey and Jessica seem to develop a bond and a serial killer emerges killing former convicts and taking their tattoo; the team at first catches someone but evidence proves someone else committed the crime. Brennan and Booth then make a decision to leave the FBI at the end of the season and honestly had the show not been renewed it would have been a perfect series finale.

Season 11. After Booth goes undercover and a body resembling him shows up at the Jeffersonian, Brennan returns and discovers it is not Booth but his estranged brother. Booth, thankfully alive, returns and both return to the FBI. Cam and Arastoo’s relationship ends after not wanting to be in Brennan’s shadow makes the decision to leave; however an accident intended to kill the police has Arastoo come back for Cam and their relationship rekindles. The same accident also leaves Hodgins paralyzed from the waist down; because of this his and Angela’s marriage is in severe jeopardy. The show also crossed over with Sleepy Hollow at one point, had a unique episode with a camera crew following the team on a case, Betty White made a guest appearance and another serial killer emerges seemingly targeting the team, and evidence seems to be leaning to an old friend.

Season 12, the final season. With someone from Booth’s military past after him no one on the team nor friends and family are safe as the show comes to a great conclusion.

Ok I know I gave away a lot but there is a lot of information in each season. As you can clearly tell I love this show. While I won’t lie and say the show doesn’t falter from time to time I still believe it was one of the best shows on television. I loved all the characters, the serial killer storylines had my heart racing and the bodies ranged from normal to downright run for the toilet do not eat before watching this show gross. Watch this show today you will not be disappointed.

TV Show Review: The Zoo

Ok I’m sure you might be thinking “Didn’t she just do this show?” Actually no, this is not Zoo with the crazy animals. This is an ongoing show on Animal Planet that I have grown to love very much; it is currently airing its second season and I hope it goes on for a long time. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

On Animal Planet, hopefully you have the channel but if not I believe there is a streaming service Animal Planet GO or you can find the episodes online, viewers are given a special behind the scenes look at the largest metropolitan zoo in the U.S; The Bronx Zoo. Their into, which features many of the zoo keepers along with the director of the zoo Jim Breheny, is pretty breathtaking and each episode shows how they take care of their animals. Whether it is an eating habit, matting, or a health problem the amazing zoo keepers are shown to be committed to their animals. I won’t lie and say there have been episodes that have left me and my mother a little misty eyed, but for us at least when you see the zoo keepers forced to make a tough call or the animal makes a recovery it makes you feel for the keepers as they get emotional. Allow me to give an example. In the first season they wondered if the bee eating birds could naturally go back to eating bees, they had not been fed bees in I believe over nine years, the results are pretty incredible. In addition they used the honey to give to the bears as a treat; my mother absolutely loved that moment

Now I have been to the Bronx Zoo many times in my life, and if you have yet to experience it I HIGHLY recommend it. However if you don’t live in or nearby New York this is a pretty close experience. My family has gone to the Bronx Zoo a couple of times since the series aired and while I would not say we were star-struck by the zoo keepers we recognized many of the people from the show, and even got visitors asking them about the show. I would call The Zoo a must see if you like animals and cannot get to the Bronx Zoo.

TV Series Review: Revenge

The title does not lie, this show was about Revenge and it was actually pretty good to watch. Based on the famous novel The Count of Monte Cristo, but with plenty of twists, Revenge was a popular show among the people, nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress and nominated for several People and Teen Choice Awards. It aired for four seasons (2009 until 2015) and thankfully despite it being canceled out of the blue it did not end on a cliff hanger. If you like a good mystery and soap opera drama than Revenge is perfect. I’m not going to go over season by season, but just in case spoiler alert. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

A beautiful young woman named Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) moves to the Hamptons and rents the beach house next to the gorgeous Grayson Manor. She meets the Graysons at the latest party they are throwing. The Grayson family consists of Victoria (Madeleine Stowe), Daniel (Josh Bowman), Charlotte (Christa B. Allen) and Conrad (Henry Czerny). Daniel and Charlotte welcome Emily with open arms, and Daniel to his bed, while Conrad and Victoria are a little hesitant. They have every right to be, because Emily Thorne is not who she is. Years ago a young girl named Amanda Clarke witnessed Victoria having an affair with her father David and then along with Conrad betrayed Conrad setting him up for treason. David would be convicted, sent and died in prison. Amanda dedicated her life to revenge going after the Grayson’s. She originally wanted to do it alone, but soon reality is she is not alone. Among her allies are her father’s old friend Nolan (Gabriel Mann) and her childhood sweetheart Jack (Nick Wechsler) who has his own problems with the Graysons. However despite Emily’s attempts to prevent it, her emotions as she carries out her plans tend to get in the way and soon secrets come forward that either fuel or hurt her. Meanwhile the Graysons, specifically Victoria, will do just about anything to protect the family from bad press and much more.

While you won’t catch me watching soap operas like Young & The Restless, Revenge was pretty good. VanCamp is spectacular as Emily, Stowe is so evil you both hate and love her, Bowman is great, Allen you want to feel sorry for and also slap her face when she does something stupid and Czerny you don’t feel bad for one second. Mann and Wechsler are two of my favorite characters from the show stealing the scene almost every time they are on screen. Once again if soap opera mysteries are your thing than Revenge is perfect for you. If not the show is still amazing and I would highly recommend it. I know it was on Netflix streaming, and it may be depending on your area. Other than that try the ABC app or Hulu. Revenge is not always a dish best served cold; sometimes you have to heat things up, just like this show.

TV Show Review: Covert Affairs

If you like anything spy then this TV show has to be on your list. Haven’t heard of it, don’t worry it is a quick to figure out. On the USA Network for five seasons, Covert Affairs was a thrilling spy show with action, romance and so many thrills, all provided by a woman and her incredible team. Spoilers ahead as usual. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Annie Walker (Piper Perabo) was training for the CIA when suddenly she is pulled out of the farm and sent to become a field agent for the Domestic Protection Division (DPD). Annie is very quick to realize become a spy is very hard as she forms bonds with many people over her missions; in addition she also speaks several languages. She does have help in the form of her handler, Auggie Anderson (Christopher Gorham). Auggie is a CIA military intelligence/special opperator and was also blinded when he was in Army Special Forces (on a side note he and Annie become friends and then lovers for a couple of seasons). Annie also has superior help in Joan and Arthur Campbell (Kari Matchett and Peter Gallagher) a married couple in the CIA and help out when they can, but also keep secrets from Annie. Annie must also keep her identity secret from her sister Danielle (Anne Dudek), which makes their relationship difficult when she has to leave. Over the five seasons of the show Annie makes some friends; Jai Wilcox (Sendhil Ramamurthy) a man with family history in the CIA, Calder Michaels (Hil Harper) a man critical in the later seasons, Ryan McQuaid (Nic Bishop) someone important in the last season and one of my favorite recurring characters Eyal Lavin (Oded Fehr), a Mossad operative Annie learns to trust over the five seasons. However she makes many enemies and must put them down in one way or another.

I remember reading reviews for Covert Affairs and someone compared Annie to a female Jason Bourne, and it would be hard pressed to argue. Ok while Annie and Bourne don’t have the same story it is still about CIA and spies. Piper Perabo is so good in this role; Annie is tough, smart and quick to adapt when the situation changes. A woman who thinks with both her head and heart, watching Annie’s journey throughout the five seasons was amazing. My favorite character though is Auggie, not just Christopher Gorham is attractive but his development as Annie’s handler as well as his relationships with a few women including Annie. The rest of the cast are also fantastic characters as we dive into their past and so much more. The bad guys you meet on this show I swear had my blood boiling many times, that’s how much you will hate them. I am pretty confident in saying when they are at the locations Annie has to go to for their mission they are actually there, but do not quote me on it. While I would not say the show ends on a cliff hanger it does kinda end with a question mark. Other than that I would highly recommend watching this show, I believe all five season are on Netflix DVD other than that I am uncertain where.

TV Show Review: Necessary Roughness

This show did not last too long, but it was a fun ride. Necessary Roughness aired for three seasons on the USA Network and while you don’t need a degree in psychology to guess a few things it was funny, dramatic and just a joy to watch. I wasn’t even too mad it was canceled because it didn’t end on a cliff hanger, maybe a couple of things were unexplained but it’s fine. As always spoilers will be ahead. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Based on the true story of the New York Jets psychologist Necessary Roughness follows Dr. Danielle “Dani” Santino (Golden Globe nominated Callie Thorne) a tough as nails divorced therapist who becomes the voice of reason I guess you can call it for the fictional New York football team, the New York Hawks, more specifically their star player and troublemaker Terrence King, aka T.K. (Mehcad Brooks). Dani also gains other clients and helps them out with their, I’m going to say, unique problems. Meanwhile Dani has to keep her own life on track with her ex-husband, two rebellious teenage children Ray Jay and Lindsay (Patrick Johnson and Hannah Marks) and her own love life, which includes Matt Donnally (Marc Blucas), the Hawks athletic trainer. Dani does get some help thanks to the mysterious Nico (Scott Cohen) a fixer, and in season two she becomes attracted to him as well. This is a majority of the first two seasons, but in season three things change. After refusing to share her therapy seasons with the new meaner head of the Hawks Dani is fired, but is quickly hired by V3 a sports agency lead by Connor McClane (John Stamos) and soon becomes involved in something much bigger than her clients.

Callie Thorne was so good as Dr. Dani; funny, tough and you can see how much she cared about whomever she was working with at the time. She would not stop until the problem was resolved. Mehcad Brooks is amazing as T.K, there are times where you feel sorry for him but there are times where you want to reach thru your TV screen, or wherever you watch it, you want to punch him in the face. I’ve seen Marc Blucas on a couple of other shows, but this was the first time I saw him as part of the main cast and I was very pleased to see him do so well. John Stamos was as well a nice addition in the last season. My favorite character though was Nico; he was there when you needed him, always there to help and was oh so mysterious (and who doesn’t love a mystery man.) I’m not sure if this show is still on TV somewhere but I do know Netflix DVD has all three season. If you have that plan I would put it high on your queue. If not I’d try Google because this show was awesome.

TV Show Review: The Nanny

A show that is near and dear to my heart. I actually remember watching this funny show when I was a kid, of course I didn’t understand anything going on back then. It wasn’t until I re-watched the series on Nick at Nite did I remember how much I loved The Nanny. It aired on CBS from 1993 until 1999, six seasons, and brought many laughs to TV. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Fran Fine (Fran Drescher), a Jewish woman from Queens, NY has been fired from her bridal consulting job and dumped by her boyfriend for another woman. She begins a job as a door to door cosmetics girl, but when she arrives on the doorstep of Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy) a widowed British Broadway producer she is hired as the nanny for his three children Maggie, Brighton and Gracie (Nicholle Tom, Benjamin Salisbury and Madeline Zima.) Needless to say chaos ensues. Fran is not alone as she has Niles (Daniel Davis), Max’s longtime butler and has a quip at the ready, mostly for his arch rival and Max’s business partner C.C. Babcock (Lauren Lane) who has her eyes set on Max. Other hilarious characters include Fran’s family, more specifically, her mother Sylvia (Renee Taylor), her grandmother Yetta (Ann Morgan Gilbert) and her best friend Val (Rachel Chagell.) Fran and Max have very different lifestyles and ways to raise the children, so they often fight. However it becomes very obvious there is something more between the two. If curious watch the show.

As I said I watched this when I was younger and a few years ago became re-acquainted with it. Now I’m not going to lie and say the show is dated by today’s standards but it is still very funny. Fran is an absolute delight with her big hair, flashy clothes and New York attitude. Max is charming and hilarious as well. Niles is absolutely hilarious and some of the best scenes are him ribbing on C.C or doing something to make her look bad. The kids are also fantastic, Val is dumb but has a great heart, Sylvia is overbearing but can make anyone laugh while Yetta can have you on the floor laughing. Many of the jokes as I said are dated, and some you may not get unless you know what they are talking about, but there is enough physical comedy to make it up. There were also many guest stars on the show including Elizabeth Taylor, Pamela Anderson, Elton John, Jon Stewart and so many more. This show has also been adapted in other countries including Chile, Russia, Italy and more. If you want a good laugh, watch an episode of The Nanny, you will not be disappointed.

TV Show Review: Young Sheldon

I’m not just about shows that have ended or classics I watch plenty of the new shows coming up. In case anyone here has some doubts about the newer shows coming up or upcoming seasons I hope I can put your mind at ease after the pilot. So today I am reviewing the spin-off of one of my favorite shows on TV, Young Sheldon. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Even if you do not watch “The Big Bang Theory” you have to know about one of the characters, Sheldon Cooper (Golden Globe and Emmy winner Jim Parsons providing narration for the show) as he is often listed as one of the best, annoying, unique, etc. characters on TV today possibly ever. Well fans now will have a glimpse of what Sheldon was like as a kid (Big Little Lies star Iain Armitage) in Texas with his born again Christian mother Mary (Zoe Perry, the daughter of Laurie Metcalf who plays the older version of Mary on The Big Bang Theory), his father George (Lance Barber) and his siblings; older brother George Jr (Montana Jordan) and twin sister Missy (Raegan Revord).

The pilot starts of as Sheldon is nine years old and about to start high school, and let’s just say he doesn’t exactly get off on the right foot. If you are familiar with Big Bang you know why, if not let me explain. Sheldon is a very smart person, but his people skills are not up to par. He values education, following the rules and is very rational; he will say anything and everything on his mind even if it embarrasses others or he gets picked on. His siblings are annoyed with him and his parents just want him to fit in; but with Sheldon that is not possible.

The pilot aired on Monday September 25, and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. Armitage has everything audiences love about Sheldon in the predecessor down to the tee. So far the pilot shows the dynamic of the Cooper family and what will happen going forward as Sheldon goes into high school. Young Sheldon will be back in November and I cannot wait to see where the show will do next.

In an update, I am loving Young Sheldon. The characters are amazing, writing is impeccable and overall pretty funny. I know things may get dark as the show goes on possible if I remember Sheldon’s family history on Big Bang, but it may be interesting.

TV show Review: Glee

If I were to rank my favorite TV shows of all time, this would be number 1 or number 2 easy. In case someone has been under a rock from 2009 to 2016 allow me to divulge into what “Glee” is about, spoilers will be ahead as usual. I DO NOT OWN THE PICTURE.

Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan “Glee” follows a high school choir, a glee club, headed by a teacher Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) as they battle to save the arts at their school, the fictional William McKinley High School, while dealing with their own personal problems; including love triangles, sexuality bullying and so much more. We do follow some of the students after they graduate as they enter the real world to make their dreams possible; but they always have the glee club on their mind. Some of the best songs ever written and a few originals would touch viewers, inspiring them to write or sing their own stories. This show also introduced, or re-introduced the world to several great actors, actresses and singers that would take over the world for years to come. Actors Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Naya Rivera, Mike O’Malley, Dot Jones and so many more portrayed characters viewers related too as they struggled with high school, romance and the real world.

Glee had a tragedy between seasons four and five with the death of one of the lead actors, Cory Monteith, passing away. I remember going on my brother’s iPad (I didn’t have my own at the time) and I saw on YouTube a clip about his passing. I couldn’t believe it and immediately went to Google; as soon as I saw CNN and ABC I knew this was real. I woke up my mom to tell her the news, she’s also a fan, and she comforted me as I cried. My heart immediately went out to his family, friends, costars and his girlfriend on the show and in real life Lea Michele. During season 5 a tribute episode for his character and in a way the actor aired, and my mom and I watched it live with tears in our eyes. After the episode Finn would be brought a handful of times after and almost every time I had to get the tissue book because I couldn’t contain myself. I know it seems silly given I didn’t know Monteith personally, but watching his character over four seasons made many connect with him. I cannot watch the tribute episode without crying just a little.

I can honestly say many of these characters stories changed my life. One of the characters I love on the show is Chris Colfer’s character Kurt, a character who at first had trouble coming to terms with his sexuality, and dealing with multiple bullies because of it. While I would love to go into my reasons I know there are many who will argue with me and quite frankly it is not worth an internet argument.

Glee was a huge success and has forever changed the world. Despite the love triangles are formed, sexuality is questioned, multiple rivalries are formed, the message is the same; be who you want to be, love who you want and if the world says no you change it. All six seasons are on Netflix. Please give it a chance if you have not; I can guarantee you will feel something you may not have felt in a long time.