Crime Scene Investigation

May 27, 2005 9:01 AM

CSI-filter. I'm considering buying a season of CSI (the original, Las Vegas show) as a birthday present for a fan. Is there any consensus out there on which is the best season? It looks like seasons 1 through 4 are available, but I can't afford more than one.
posted by jasper411 to Media & Arts (10 answers total)

I didn't really start watching it until Season 2, but my impression is that all the seasons are pretty equal. There're some over-arching story lines dealing with the characters, but mostly, the episodes are completely incapsulated and so each season has its mix of good vs. bad shows.

If the person is a big fan, and if you know s/he doesn't have any of the seasons yet, I would start with Season 1. Just seems the way to start out the collection.
posted by bibbit at 10:37 AM on May 27, 2005

Well if I watched it, which I certainly don't, I would heartily recommend season 4 as the best. The show just seems to keep getting better with each passing season. Or, so I've heard. I wouldn't know, personally.

OH OK I DO WATCH IT! Twist my arm, jasper! I vote for #4 as the best, although if you think your friend may want to collect them all, it's nice to start at the very beginning, as Mary Poppins so wisely suggests.
posted by iconomy at 10:56 AM on May 27, 2005

(or maybe it was from The Sound of Music, but Mary Poppins is very wise anyway)
posted by iconomy at 10:58 AM on May 27, 2005

I loved the first season, but I think it's gotten progressively worse since then. Plus, isn't it more likely they missed a few episodes of the first season than the later ones?
posted by Sibrax at 11:41 AM on May 27, 2005

Actually, you might want to consider Forensic Files instead. It's the show that inspired CSI. It might be more interesting since the cases are real, and your friend probably hasn't seen them. Just a thought.
posted by Sibrax at 11:50 AM on May 27, 2005

But there's no Gary Dourdan on Forensic Files! =)

I find the seasons interchangeable from 2 - 4. In season 1 they're still getting their schtick together, which is pretty amusing/entertaining. Get season one, I say.
posted by xyzzy at 1:03 PM on May 27, 2005

Just to completely confuse you, I would recommend season 3, there are some good episodes there. But if you're starting this persons CSI DVD-collection it's probably a good idea to start with season 1.
posted by bering at 3:27 AM on May 28, 2005

seriously, every season is awesome. rand()%4+1.
posted by Mach5 at 9:40 AM on May 28, 2005

I love CSI (*heart*William Peterson & Jorja Fox)
I say go for season1, which I own. Very cool, and unique cases, with lots of character magnetism.
What a nice gift! :)
posted by Radio7 at 2:18 PM on May 28, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks all - I think I will go with season 1 for all the reasons given above.

Iconomy -- I don't watch the show either, so I know how you feel... well, every now and then I check it out on re-runs, whenever I happen to notice that it's on (Spike TV, Dish channel 168, double reruns, 5-6 & 6-7 WEEKDAYS!!!). They've been showing a lot of season 4, so I think moving to season 1 could be good.

Radio7 - yes, I agree Jorga Fox is teh hot!!
posted by jasper411 at 2:44 PM on May 28, 2005