'CSI' ends its run with 'Immortality Parts 1 and 2'

Last night, the series finale of CSI aired and brought back some beloved characters, including Gilbert Grissom (William Petersen), Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger), Jim Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) and Lady Heather Kessler (Melinda Clarke). After 15 years, the series ended by showcasing the forensics that came with searching for evidence in the bombing case.

In the episode, a bombing at the Eclipse hotel, which Catherine owns now after the death of her father Sam Braun, brings back the characters as they try to figure out if this is terrorism at work or something else. When evidence points to Lady Heather being involved, Grissom is brought back since he was closer with her and would know where he could likely find her.

The main focus of the episode was drawn toward the Gil and Sara romance. For 15 years, fans have watched as the two characters played around each other, with their eventual romance being confirmed in season seven when Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) went missing as a result of a serial killer case. Lady Heather’s reappearance stirs up feelings Sara has regarding the woman’s relationship with her ex-husband and it is clear Sara still loves him.

The two hour series finale brought us back to the heart of CSI in using forensics and reminding us of little things, such as when Lindsey, Catherine’s daughter and newest CSI, mentions chocolate covered grasshoppers, a throwback to the pilot episode when new girl Holly Gribbs was first brought on before being killed.

There were some funny moments in the episode, such as when we see Grissom after all these years getting arrested for trespassing on a boat in which the owner was illegally obtaining shark fins. One of his first lines was even about “jumping the shark.” Later on as he talks to Catherine and wonders who the new CSI is, not recognizing his co-worker’s daughter, she gives a pause before replying incredulously, “My vagina!” Plus, we also got to see Grissom scare Henry slightly when he asked how much he weighed and that they were going to “blow him up,” just as an experiment of course.

For people who missed Grissom, it was a chance to see the beloved investigator again. It did feel different with the dynamic, since it had been so long since he was in Vegas so everything was new to him. He didn’t recognize new people in the lab and when he saw his old office, his brains had been traded for mushrooms thanks to DB Cooper. But when he was with his old team, it was like he never left, save for the tension with his ex-wife, of course.

While Ted Danson has been a focus of the series since he came on as a regular, this episode centered on the old cast and you could see how things were different but still the same, such as when they get together at one point for a meeting to discuss the likely involvement of Lady Heather. One thing I wish the episode had done was showcase CSI Greg Sanders (Eric Szmanda) some more, so we would know what his fate would end up being after the series ended, though it is likely he would stay on as a CSI since he loved his job. It felt as though the episode only focused on what would happen with Grissom, Sara, and Catherine, but us fans are free to use our imagination over what could possibly happen to the characters.

Some of the things I enjoyed about the episode were that you could feel real terror during some scenes, such as when a female bomber stands in front of innocent children performing a school play. One of the saddest and touching scenes in the episode is when Catherine tells two little girls their mother passed away in the hotel bombing. We don’t know what the fate of the girls will be, but there’s a strong hint that Catherine will make sure they are okay.

As for Julie Finlay, we do find out her sad fate at the end, although it would have been nice to see a mention of her early on instead of a throwaway line, but we can see DB remembers her even after what happened. In the end, the episode did a cohesive job of bringing the team back together for a case that ultimately led back to the relationship between Lady Heather and Grissom. While this part of the story seemed a little cheesy, Grissom only made things amusing when he faces danger, but knows without saying a word that the real bomber is not as prepared to carry out his final deed as he thinks he is.

While George Eads did not come back to originate the role of Nick Stokes, although his new hometown of San Diego is brought up briefly when we see Grissom for the first time, it still felt like the team was back together and you could see that even though time had passed, they all cared about each other. In one tense scene when Catherine, Morgan, and Greg must deactivate several bombs, Catherine makes sure her co-workers hear her say “I love you” before they all hug each other in relief for surviving the terror.

15 years later, CSI is over, but will continue to live on in the hearts of fans whose lives were changed thanks to the stories told for the beloved characters.

Photo: Sonja Flemming/ CBS ©2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved