The Miami CSIs work to get to the bottom of Rebecca Nevins’ death—and are surprised to learn they are being investigated by Delko.

Synopsis:

Rewinding to a few minutes before “Mommie Deadest” ended, “Time Bomb” opens with Calleigh realizing Delko is lying to her and following him to the marina where he’s arranged to meet Rebecca Nevins. Delko refuses to tell Calleigh why he’s meeting Rebecca, and she starts to leave, but when the bomb goes off, she rushes back to Delko. Horatio and the team arrive at the scene, and Delko fills Horatio in on the lead he was pursuing—the theft of the heroin on the 2006 case Horatio’s old partner, Sully, worked. Horatio visits Sully and the retired officer swears that he didn’t discuss Delko’s findings with anyone else. Back at the scene, Calleigh and Walter are surprised to learn that Delko was wearing a wire at the lab—and that Natalia knew about it. Delko helps Jesse get a VIN number off the car next to Rebecca’s that contained the bomb. The two CSIs are surprised to find the car came from a police impound lot. Delko and Tripp question the officer at the impound lot, who shows them the car was signed out to a Detective Stephen Carmichael several months ago. Delko notices that this car isn’t the first Carmichael has signed out. Horatio and Delko query an inmate, Tino Garvez and learn that Garvez killed Carmichael in 2008. The inmate is amused to find someone is playing the officers.

Walter and Ryan go over debris from the explosion, discovering hundreds of metal sprockets from golf carts among the wreckage. Ryan finds the remains of the detonator: a cell phone. The bomb’s make up matches one from a bomb made in 1999 by a Drew Pollack. Ryan questions the man, pointing out that Rebecca Nevins was the one who worked out his plea bargain—which still sent him to jail for ten years. Pollack clams up, asking for a lawyer. Dr. Loman performs the autopsy on Rebecca and recovers a GPS chip from her body which came from the car with the bomb. Delko assembles a GPS and activates the chip, hoping to use it to backtrack to the bomber’s house. He and Calleigh activate it and drive to the location the car came from and are shocked to find it’s Ryan’s house. Ryan returns home to find his colleagues combing his house for clues, and to see Delko discover the diamonds hidden away in an electronic device. Ryan swears they aren’t his, but Stetler has him taken back to the precinct. With Horatio present, Stetler grills Ryan, asking about his gambling debts and pointing out that he was the one who discovered the diamonds missing. Horatio wants to keep the investigation going, but Stetler tells him he’s done. Jesse, Natalia, Walter and Delko witness Ryan being taken away in handcuffs, and Natalia gets the idea to check the diamonds for bacterial DNA to determine who handled them—and framed Ryan.

When Horatio learns Sully was the lead on the Pollack investigation, he returns to question his old partner and Sully admits he got in over his head. He refuses to give Horatio details, instead drawing his gun and causing another officer to fire at him. He’s taken away, still alive, in an ambulance, and Horatio turns his sights on Olansky, the duty officer in charge of the evidence locker. Horatio and Delko catch him in a lie: he never called tech services the day the diamonds went missing to report the cameras down. Realizing that he’ll be charged with murder one, Olansky gives up the true identity of Carmichael: Rick Stetler. Delko brings Natalia a folder Stetler had to confirm the bacterial DNA match. Ryan is released, and along with Horatio and Delko, confronts Stetler. The game up, Stetler admits it all started with the theft of a car from the impound lot. Worn down by being a police officer, he decided to make his fortune another way. Horatio points out that Stetler didn’t just steal—he killed Rebecca Nevins as well. Ryan arrests Stetler, and Delko apologizes to Calleigh, acknowledging that it will take a while for him to regain her trust.

Analysis:

“Time Bomb” is without a doubt an exciting hour, but my feelings about it are decidedly mixed. Rick Stetler has been one of the show’s more interesting recurring characters, if not the most, in part because he’s always been something of a nebulous figure. Sure, he’s Internal Affairs, which means more often than not, he’s breathing down Horatio’s neck, but aside from an ill-advised season three storyline that had him strike then girlfriend Yelina Salas, Stetler has always lived in an interesting grey area. Sometimes, it seemed like he was on Horatio’s side: he’s expressed genuine concern for Horatio in the past, and in “Dissolved” the two even worked side by side to take down coroner Tara Price and interrogate villainous Ron Saris. The great thing about Stetler is that he’s never been a one-note adversary, and even when he’s opposed Horatio, his point of view has been an understandable if not entirely sympathetic one. Actor David Lee Smith always brings so much to the role, too, most notably a sincerity that underscores what, up until this episode, has always come across as a genuine devotion to his job. IA is a tough assignment, but someone’s got to do it.

What’s so disappointing about the revelation that Stetler is a dirty cop—not just one willing to steal a car or swipe valuable evidence, but also who will resort to murder and a frame job to hide his criminal activities—is that it robs the show of its only worthy foil for Horatio. Let’s face it: over the course of the show, Horatio has become a more and more remote figure, one built upon moody poses and slick one liners rather than the promising compassion and keen observations that distinguished his character in early seasons. Stetler was one of the few characters that Horatio acts like a human being and not a superhero around, perhaps because Stetler annoys him—and is there a more human emotion than annoyance? Without Stetler to ground Horatio with occasional appearances, I fear that Horatio will move even further into caricature territory, something that’s never good for a lead character.

Smith gives a fantastic performance, another thing that makes this a shame that it’s probably the last time we’ll see him on this show. Though I didn’t like the sudden reveal that Stetler was behind the thefts and the murder of Rebecca, Smith sells Stetler’s world weary cynicism with aplomb, making me believe that twenty years of thankless work had gradually worn him down, and what started as a simple car theft had led to a slippery slope that took him down the path to murder and framing a fellow officer. The things Stetler complains—high blood pressure, two ex-wives—might be fairly mundane and cliche, but Smith does offer a convincing through line of anger in his delivery. Stetler devoted his life to a job that gave him nothing back, which is what made stealing a car that nobody would notice was missing easy. The escalation that followed made sense—if no one would notice one car disappearing, why two, or three? Like any addiction, it only got worse from there, until murder and planting evidence seemed like legitimate options for covering his tracks.

Ryan was no doubt a logical choice for the frame job. Not only is there no love lost between Ryan and Stetler, who fired Ryan after discovering he gambled while on duty in season five’s “Burned”, but Ryan’s former gambling addiction made him a logical target. Not only that, but poor Ryan had the bad luck to be the one to discover the diamonds missing in “Meltdown”, which immediately cast some suspicion on him. Jonathan Togo gives a fiery performance when Ryan returns home to discover all of his co-workers tearing apart his house. His first reaction is anger, and it only gets worse when Delko actually finds the diamonds hidden away at his house. Ryan lashes out at everyone, maintaining his innocence, and to his credit, his colleagues never seem to really doubt him. Natalia’s first move when he’s arrested is to look into the bacterial DNA scan, which in the end does exonerate Ryan and point the finger at Stetler. Ryan gets his due when he gets to arrest Stetler, saying, “You’re going to go to prison, you SOB,” as he arrests the IAB officer.

The culprit might be in custody, but there are some serious divisions among the team now. When Calleigh and Walter find out that Delko has been investigating them and that Natalia knew about it, they’re stunned—and angry. “Some team,” Walter mutters. Delko defends his actions, saying he was trying to protect the team, but Calleigh points out that he nearly got himself killed. Yet in the end, Ryan ends up thanking Delko, telling him that, “I’m glad you got my back. Thank you.” Delko and Ryan used to have a somewhat contentious relationship, and though a friendship has grown up between them over the years, they do sometimes butt heads. It’s nice to see that Ryan appreciates Delko was there to uncover the truth and not to hang one of his colleagues out to dry.

Calleigh, understandably, isn’t as comfortable with Delko’s actions as Ryan seems to be. She asks Delko if he was wearing a wire when they were at home together, and Delko’s failure to answer immediately does look fishy. He finally does answer her, telling her he wasn’t wearing the wire at home, but obviously he does feel guilty about not confiding in her. At the end of the episode, Calleigh confirms his assertion that it’s going to take time to win back her trust. And yet, her warm smile as she confirms it suggests that the couple will weather this storm. And that’s a good thing—the two have been through a lot together, and though they might need to be better about opening up to each other, the foundation their relationship is built on is a strong one. I hope that now Adam Rodriguez is returning to the show full time next season, the writers won’t break them up to create conflict. There are plenty of other interesting conflicts to be found on the show right now.

Walter and Ryan are on their way to becoming my new favorite duo. I love their prickly rapport, and more often than not, they provide laughs, even in the tensest of episodes. The way Walter’s face falls when Ryan barks at him, “Make yourself at home, Walter!” is simply perfect. Omar Miller clearly has an instinct for comedy, and watching him and Togo play off each other is just fun. And yet, it’s not all laughs: of everyone, it is Walter who is the most openly upset when Ryan is arrested. He watches Ryan led away in handcuffs with a chagrined expression, and he’s the first to speak after the elevator doors close, saying, “This isn’t right,” and casting a long look at Delko. The burgeoning friendship between Walter and Ryan is definitely one of the most fun elements of the show these days, and I look forward to seeing it grow in season nine.

The Miami team is on the hunt for robbers who gunned down a man in a jewelry store.

Synopsis:

A carefully planned out jewelry store heist leaves a man buying an engagement ring dead. Though Horatio chases the thieves, he loses them on a Miami bridge and soon realizes they doubled back and escaped in a truck. At the scene, Calleigh is shocked to spot undercover cop Jake Berkeley in the crowd. Though the VIN numbers on the vehicle used to block off the street during the robbery have been removed, she finds a discarded VIN plate with the number on it. Inside the store, Tripp questions the manager, Leonard Sterling, and learns he was the only employee in the store during the robbery. Natalia finds a signal jammer in the bushes outside that reacts badly with her hearing aid, and she and Tripp determine it was used to take out the store’s security cameras. Dr. Loman examines the body of the man killed in the robbery, Ben Rooney, and finds trace under his nails. Ben’s girlfriend, Kayla Pennington shows up at the scene and is crushed to discover he’s dead. At the lab, Walter and Calleigh find the trace under Ben’s nails is latex, indicating the killers were wearing gloves. Tripp gets an address on the VIN number from the car and he and Calleigh go to check it out. They find the getaway van at the address—along with a sizable stash of discarded diamonds—and hear the sound of gunfire. When they get inside, they find Jake holding a gun, and the other man with him dead on the ground.

Jake identifies the dead man as Joe Tepper. The undercover cop tells Horatio he was recruited for the heist, but Joe sniffed him out as a cop and was going to kill him; Jake shot him in self-defense. Jake tells Horatio he drove the getaway truck, and that Joe tossed the diamonds because they were tattooed with serial numbers and therefore traceable. Back at the lab, Walter and Ryan discover one of the envelopes of diamonds is missing—and Ryan is the last one to have checked out the evidence box according to the log. Stetler comes to the lab to investigate and is vexed to find out the security cameras in the lab malfunctioned because of the signal jammer device, which was turned on despite Walter’s insistence that he removed the battery. Ryan and Natalia recover pictures from a digital camera found on Joe Tepper, which was used by the robbers to monitor the jewelry store. When they discover the photographs were taken from a real estate office belonging to Ben Rooney, they suspect he may have been in on the robbery. Natalia and Calleigh question Kayla Pennington, who tells them she met Ben three weeks ago when she went to his office to buy a condo. Ryan discovers boric acid on Joe’s clothing, leading Horatio to conclude that the thieves are melting down the gold from the settings so they can resell it. Jesse and Horatio consult an “expert”—Ricky Spano, doing time for similar crimes. Ricky tells them the thieves will need a lot of gold from multiple robberies, and then will melt it down and reshape it so that it can’t be traced.

Eric Delko returns to the lab to help on the case, but Natalia quickly figures out that he’s wearing a wire and is in fact there to figure out who at the lab took the diamonds from the evidence locker. Natalia warns him to be careful. Delko finds pistol powder on the signal jamming device, leading him to question Jake, who denies handling the device aside from when he gave it to Tepper. When Delko tells Jake he thinks he’s been undercover too long, Jake reacts angrily. Jesse and Horatio are able to connect the jewelry store heist to 23 other robberies, and find a few shots from witnesses’ cell phone cameras that reveal the thieves are wearing different masks at each heist. The CSIs run a composite photo and are surprised to find the two robbers are women—and one of them is Kayla Pennington. Calleigh and Jesse interrogate the woman, who admits she made one mistake: she fell for a mark. She went to Ben so she could observe the jewelry store from his office, but she ended up falling for him. She denies shooting him, and tells Calleigh that her partner Whitney Dern was the one who killed Ben. Horatio and Jesse find Whitney about to leave town with a truck full of motorcycles. Upon examination, Jesse finds the motorcycles themselves are made out of gold. Whitney and Kayla are arrested. Back at the lab, Calleigh reassures an uneasy Delko that Jake wasn’t the one who took the diamonds—and that he’s no threat to their relationship. The team goes out for drinks, but Natalia begs off, not wanting to be around Delko knowing that he’s investigating the lab.

Analysis:

Miami opens up a new story arc in this exciting entry, which brings Eric Delko back to the lab to investigate the disappearance of an envelope filled with diamonds from an evidence locker. Not unfamiliar with subterfuge herself, Natalia quickly realizes Delko is back to covertly figure out which of his co-workers snatched the diamonds. The chances of the culprit being a regular seems slim, although there are three new characters this season that we’re still getting to know. Last season, Tara Price snagged prescription drugs off a body—and tried to frame Horatio’s ex, Julia, for the theft—so it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that one of the three newbies could be behind it. But grief-stricken Jesse, jovial and open Walter and quirky Dr. Loman all seem pretty unlikely suspects. No doubt Ryan will fall under suspicion, as he was the last one to check the evidence box containing the diamonds out before envelope number five went missing. After so much strife in his career at the lab, more suspicion is the last thing Ryan needs.

Natalia has serious reservations about Delko’s undercover mission, which writers K. David Bena and Brian Davidson cleverly link back to the hearing aid Natalia got in “Die By the Sword”. Natalia’s hearing aid comes in handy not once but twice in the episode, first when she’s able to locate the signal jammer and then when it allows her to realize that Delko is wearing a wire. Natalia comes down pretty hard on Delko, cautioning him that the road he’s going down is a tricky one. She brings up her own introduction to the lab back in season four, when she worked as a confidential informant for the FBI. It took Natalia a while to regain the trust of her co-workers after the revelation that she was informing on them, despite her claim that she only shared good things about the lab. Knowing that Delko is investigating the lab—and knowing that her colleagues are in the dark—makes Natalia so uncomfortable that she begs off getting drinks with the team… a gathering she herself had proposed and pushed for. I wonder how long Natalia will be able to keep quiet about Delko’s covert mission.

Unsurprisingly, Delko’s investigation causes him to zero in on Jake Berkeley right away. An edgy undercover officer, Jake also happens to be Calleigh’s ex. Things between Delko and Calleigh might not be strictly defined right now, but that doesn’t stop Delko from being jealous of the smoky-voiced, charming Jake. After Delko and Jake face off in an interrogation, Calleigh steps in, telling Delko not to worry about Jake because he was with her. Delko’s face falls and Calleigh quips that she thought he wasn’t bothered. Casting a shadow over their exchange is the fact that Calleigh probably doesn’t know the real reason Delko is working at the lab again. When Natalia asks him about who knows what he’s up to, he confirms Horatio does, but leaves it at that. If Calleigh doesn’t know what Delko is up to, the eventual revelation could cause more friction between the two.

The investigation also brings IAB officer Rick Stetler back to the lab, and though Horatio never seems happy to see him, it’s certainly a treat for the audience. Stetler has come down hard on the team more than a few times, but he provides tough opposition without just being a cookie cutter force of opposition. This is in part due to David Lee Smith‘s sincere, appealing performance and in part because the writers always make an effort to give Stetler a reasonable motivation. After all, any IAB officer worth his salt would be concerned about the theft of a hundred thousand dollars worth of evidence from a supposedly secure locker.

Stetler does seem to rub the normally easygoing Walter the wrong way. Walter asserts that he took the battery off the signal jamming device, but when Stetler picks it up, he observes the battery is still on the device. “Yeah, I got eyes, pal,” Walter shoots back, sarcasm dripping from his voice. Walter doesn’t like being criticized at work; he got similarly defensive with Kyle Harmon in “Dishonor” when Kyle accused Walter of suggesting his friend was guilty of murder. As laid back and friendly as he is, Walter clearly has a sensitive side, and no doubt Stetler’s observation felt like an accusation to him.

The case doesn’t get lost amid all this interpersonal drama, and I found ill-fated Ben Rooney to be a convincing red herring. Listening to him bartering for the engagement ring and then seeing him get shot, I did suspect him of being involved. That he was just an innocent pawn came as something of a surprise, as did the revelation that his girlfriend Kayla was one of the two masterminds behind what turned out to be a cross-country spree. If Whitney’s arrest with the gold motorcycles at the end felt a little anti-climactic, it’s because of the intrigue and twists that came before—and because of the audience interest and investment in what happened to those missing diamonds.

The CSI Producer discusses the big crossover, what’s coming up in the remaining sweeps episodes of CSI and the return of a memorable nemesis. Lights spoilers inside!

November sweeps has already seen the historic first three CSI show crossover, but there’s more excitement to come, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Producer Allen MacDonald promises. In addition to teasing the episode he’s at work on now–which brings back a familiar face–MacDonald discusses the return of Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox), the departure of Lauren Lee Smith and Nick Stokes’ (George Eads) promotion.

CSI Files: The three-show crossover scored big in the ratings last week. How did the plans for the trilogy originate?

Allen MacDonald: It all started with [Executive Producer] Carol Mendelsohn.  It’s something she’s been wanting to do for some time now.

CSI Files: Was the crossover tricky to pull off?

MacDonald: It was just a matter of scheduling on the part of all three shows.

CSI Files: How was Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne) chosen to be the character to tie it all together?

MacDonald: Laurence and David Caruso (Horatio Caine) have worked together in features and very much wanted to work together again.  After that, it just snowballed. It was quite a kick to watch Langston interact on-screen with Horatio Caine and Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise).

CSI Files: What else can we expect from sweeps?

MacDonald: A Dustin Lee Abraham episode involving the world of professional bowling and a decapitated human head bowling ball. Intrigued?  Believe me, by the time teaser is over, you’ll be hooked.  It’s gross – but in a fun way.

CSI Files: Bringing in a new leading man after eight and a half seasons is obviously a big challenge. What do you feel was the most difficult thing about the transition from Gil Grissom (William Petersen) to Langston?

MacDonald: Just simultaneously having to do two very important things at the same time: giving Grissom the emotionally satisfying send-off he deserves while simultaneously setting up Langston, and making him a unique, compelling character in his own right, instead of trying to simply recreate Grissom.

CSI Files: Langston’s father seems to loom large in his mind. Are there plans to see him at some point?

MacDonald: Not that I know of — the character is dead and there are no plans to depict him in flashbacks.

CSI Files: Sara Sidle sure is spending a lot of time away from her new husband! Are we meant to read anything into that?

MacDonald: I think it’s always been clear Grissom and Sara would have a non-traditional approach to marriage.

CSI Files: What was behind the decision to have Sara and Grissom marry?

MacDonald: We felt it was a natural conclusion to where we left them both at the end of “One to Go” in the rainforest of Costa Rica.

CSI Files: What was behind the decision to promote Nick Stokes?

MacDonald: To recognize his huge contribution to the team and his growth as an emerging leader.  Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) needed somebody to back her up and Nick seemed like the natural choice.

CSI Files: Nick and Langston seem to be developing a friendship. Will we see more of this?

MacDonald: Absolutely.  They’re getting to know and trust each other.

CSI Files: Greg Sanders (Eric Szmanda) is expressing a little job dissatisfaction this season with regards to the assignments he’s getting. What’s behind Greg’s disgruntled attitude?

MacDonald: It’s like he said to Sara in the premiere, he still feels he’s being treated like the geeky DNA lab tech when, in fact, he’s matured into a seasoned CSI capable of handling anything thrown his way.

CSI Files: We’ve seen a bit more of Catherine in the leadership role this season. Will this continue?

MacDonald: Yes.

CSI Files: Is there any official word on the reason why Lauren Lee Smith (Riley Adams) didn’t return for the tenth season?

MacDonald: From what I understand, it was felt Riley never quite gelled with the rest of the team because she was introduced at a pivotal point in CSI’s history – two episodes after Warrick’s (Gary Dourdan) death and seven episodes before Grissom’s departure.  As a result, the character got a bit lost in the shuffle, which is not a reflection on Lauren, who is a spectacular actress and was much-loved on the set.

CSI Files: Are there any plans for another Lab Rats episode this season?

MacDonald: Yes.  It’s going to be written by Liz Vassey (Wendy Simms) and Wallace Langham (David Hodges), who are working on it with [Executive Producer] Naren Shankar right now.

CSI Files: Are you at work on a new episode now? Can you hint at what it might be about?

MacDonald: I am.  And the only hint I can provide is that it would be the completion of a CSI storyline trilogy involving Sara Sidle and a very, very smart young girl.

The CSI Miami co-executive producers discuss the big CSI crossover kicking off in Miami tonight, a deadly situation for three CSIs and what brings Eric Delko back–on the opposite side of his former colleagues. Spoilers inside!

CSI: Miami‘s eighth season has been one of many changes for the show, with the departure of Adam Rodriguez (Eric Delko) from regular rotation and the addition of several new characters, including Jesse Cardoza (Eddie Cibrian), a CSI who worked with Horatio years ago. Co-Executive Producers Marc Dube and Barry O’Brien share some insight about the cast changes this season, what fans can expect to see in the Miami episode of the three show crossover and the status of Calleigh (Emily Procter) and Delko’s complicated relationship.

CSI Files: The big CSI crossover is set to kick off in Miami this week. What can you tell us about the Miami installment?

Barry O’Brien: The first installment of the crossover begins in Miami, Monday at ten. It’s a compelling story with noir elements — we open on a young girl, seemingly terrified, behind the wheel of her car, fleeing the city of Miami. Her tires have worn down to the rims, sparks are flying, which give evidence to her desperation. Meanwhile, the girl’s mother makes a frantic plea to Horatio Caine (David Caruso)– find her daughter. She’s missing. Our CSIs embark on what begins as a search for a missing person. Unfortunately, when they find body parts strewn off the side of the freeway, their search turns to a murder investigation. Our CSIs find parts to a second body that connects us to a missing girl in Las Vegas. Calleigh Duquesne (Emily Procter) reaches out to the Las Vegas CSI’s. As a result, Dr. Raymond Langston, played by the legendary Laurence Fishburne, flies to Miami to join the investigation. Dr. Langston and Horatio work side by side to solve both murders. In the course of their investigation, Horatio and Dr. Langston uncover a deadly conspiracy involving the Zeta Gang and long haul truckers. That story continues as we follow a young girl, kidnapped and forced into the back of an eighteen wheeler, bound for New York.

CSI Files: How will Horatio and Ray Langston get along?

O’Brien: The relationship between Horatio and Dr. Langston mirrors the relationship between David Caruso and Laurence Fishburne. These two legendary, iconic actors are truly friends. Theirs is a friendship based on a shared history as actors and the mutual respect afforded performers at the very top of their games. Watching them work together was a lot like watching professional athletes. There was a camaraderie and electricity between them like nothing I have ever seen.

CSI Files: The big news this season in CSI: Miami seems to be all the cast changes! How is everyone adjusting? What’s the biggest challenge going into the eighth season of the show with the departure of one regular and the addition of three more?

O’Brien: The cast has certainly gone through some changes. We all feel it. Actors, writers, crew. After eight seasons, the show functions as a true family. We saw the fabric of that family transition a bit this year. Adam Rodriguez left to pursue other career options. Eddie Cibrian, Omar Benson Miller and Christian Clemenson came in to fill the void. That shows you the power of Adam. It took three people to try and fill his slot. The happy truth is, Adam isn’t gone. He’ll be back for a ton of episodes this season and, hopefully, will rejoin the family full time. So, we have the amazing benefit of Eddie, Omar and Christian and have Adam as well!  Eddie Cibrian as Jesse Cardoza is an exciting addition to the show. He has a mysterious back story that we’ll be exploring in upcoming episodes. Omar is a great talent from the feature world who gives us both solid comedy elements as well as a sense of authenticity to his role. And, the Emmy-winning Christian Clemenson as ME Tom Loman… he’s a gem!

CSI Files: Was the introduction of Jesse Cardoza planned before Adam Rodriguez decided to leave the show?

O’Brien: Adam’s departure took us all by surprise. Thankfully, Eddie was available and immediately gave us all a sense of confidence that, yeah, we’d be okay. With Adam’s return… you won’t believe the electricity between these two actors once they’re playing opposite one another. Stay tuned!

CSI Files: Jesse mentioned a mysterious woman in “In Plane Sight” but told Calleigh “it’s not what you think.” Can you tease anything about this woman’s identity? Will we get to meet her at some point?

O’Brien: Jesse did, in fact, mention a mysterious woman from his past. The subject came up between both Walter and Natalia (Eva La Rue). The most I’m able to tease at this point is — it’s a mysterious woman from Jesse’s past. Trust me when I tell you, the mystery will unfold in a surprising and compelling way. And soon!  And, yes, the audience will definitely be meeting her!

CSI Files: Are there sparks flying between Jesse and Natalia? Is there a possible romance there?

O’Brien: Jesse and Natalia are great in scenes together, aren’t they? Sparks… well, let’s just say they push each other’s buttons. Natalia is on to the fact that Jesse may be hiding something. And, she’s determined to find out what that something may be. Natalia Boa Vista has a bit of a mysterious past herself. I think that enables her to see some of the damage behind Jesse’s stoic demeanor. Suffice to say, all is not what it seems with either Jesse or Natalia. When the truth comes out, new vulnerability will be revealed for both characters. And, that’s the stuff of great drama.

CSI Files: Fans have noticed Natalia is around less than some of her co-workers. Is there a reason for this? Can we expect to see more of her in future episodes?

Marc Dube: We certainly have a larger cast to contend with this season. Which is a great thing. More story possibilities. However, as a result, we have to shuffle around some of our players on the field. By season’s end, we really make a conscious effort to be sure every character has faced some kind of personal or professional challenge. Natalia Boa Vista’s turn is certainly coming. She will be facing a personal setback in the workplace, which forces her to conceal a harsh truth from colleagues.

CSI Files: What’s on the horizon for Ryan Wolfe (Jonathan Togo)? He and Delko had a rocky start that ultimately resulted in a friendship; will Ryan and Jesse become friends as well?

Dube: Ryan and Jesse are forging a unique relationship. They’re definitely not afraid to bust on each other. Jesse was quick to point out that he was a member of CSI long before Wolfe showed up. And Wolfe is extremely curious about Jesse’s elusive background and is not afraid to put him on the spot about it. Jesse plays it off, but how long can he keeping the probing questions at bay?

CSI Files: What exactly is the status of Eric and Calleigh’s relationship? Are they still together, or is their relationship over?

O’Brien: The frayed ends and emotional unfinished business between Calleigh and Eric Delko will remain a driving force roiling just under the surface of season eight at CSI: Miami. As my daughter, Delaney, often asks me… will Calleigh and Eric ever get together? The answer is — I can’t say. But, that very question and the emotional power behind it, will inform every time these two characters are in a scene together. I can tell you this– I’m very confident you will not expect the surprising turns this subtextual story takes.

CSI Files: Delko left the lab, but we’ve heard he’ll be back on the show. What are the circumstances surrounding his return?

O’Brien: Delko makes a powerful return to the series in episode 811 when he becomes a forensic expert for the defense… opposing our CSIs in a pre-trial hearing in court over a shocking murder case.  Delko finds himself head to head against both Horatio and Calleigh on the witness stand as he counters forensic evidence our team presents for the prosecution. When the judge in the case refuses to take the case to trial, Delko finds himself “monitoring” his old team as they go back to the scene to find more compelling evidence. As you can imagine, the dynamic between the characters is turned on its ear and tested as its CSI versus CSI. Delko and his old team ultimately join forces to find the real killer. And, the outcome is a shocker!

CSI Files: Will there be any emotional fallout for Calleigh over his departure?

O’Brien: As I mentioned, the fallout for Calleigh and Delko will continue and deepen in complexity as the season progresses. Just as Locard says… one always leaves evidence on another. So, it goes for Eric and Calleigh. They’ve left an indelible mark on each other and this is the year they confront that.

CSI Files: Miami has something of a revolving door for lab techs. Is Walter Simmons here to stay?

Dube: We love the guy. He sells the science and he makes us laugh. His interaction with the rest of the cast feels fresh. We’ve really enjoyed his involvement in the show and are looking forward to seeing how it evolves.

CSI Files: We’ve heard that there will be a showdown between pals Jesse and Walter in which Jesse is aiming his gun at Walter. Can you tease anything about that situation?

Dube: Yes, you will see Jesse and Walter take each other on in an episode entitled, “Count Me Out.” You’ll see their friendship, but also their rivalry, and how they respond to a split-second life threatening decision. A near death experience can bring out the best and worst in people. For these two, it’s fight or flight. Which do they choose?

CSI Files: Rumor has it that two CSIs are caught in an explosion in a future episode. Can you tell us which two CSIs?

Dube: There are plenty of plot spoilers out there. We’ll let them do the heavy lifting. Two of our people do get in harm’s way — and a third has little choice but to do the same. Will they survive? Can’t say. But one thing’s for sure. Things will not be the same for one of them as a result. How’s that for a cliffhanger?

CSI Files: “Bad Seed” featured a great moment with the team all gathered together to discuss the case at hand. Can we expect to see more of that?

Dube: We’re really pushing to do more of that this season. It’s difficult to achieve from a production standpoint. More set-ups for our crew, more syncing of schedules. But it really is great to see the whole gang in a scene together. It reinforces the TEAM aspect and lends a greater sense of urgency to the stories we’re telling. It gives us a real “all hands on deck” feel.

CSI Files: Is Horatio’s son Kyle (Evan Ellingson) still working in the morgue?

Dube: Kyle could be working in the morgue… In your imagination. Maybe he’s working the graveyard shift. Either way, we’re not featuring him this season. We’ve elected to pursue other story lines for Horatio. That’s not to say the winds won’t change. We enjoyed exploring that side of Lieutenant Caine. Never say never.

CSI Files: Fan favorite Stetler (David Lee Smith) has been around quite a bit to butt heads with Horatio. Will he be showing up again anytime soon?

Dube: Stetler is the guy that stirs the pot. If our CSIs get angry on the job or at each other, it’s quite often because Stetler has stepped on somebody’s toes, made bold accusations, or questioned CSI operating procedure. He’s a valuable tool. If we want to lob another obstacle in front of our CSI’s, he’s our man. You will, most certainly, see him again.

Executive producer Carol Mendelsohn admitted that CSI stumbled a bit during season nine, which saw the departure of leading man William Petersen (Gil Grissom) and the placement of Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger) as the head of the team. “We look at last season in a way not dissimilar from the fans,” she said. “We may have shortchanged a number of our characters in being focused on the transition from Grissom’s team to Catherine’s. We’ll try to make up for that this season.”

“We were out of our rhythm a bit last year,” George Eads (Nick Stokes) explained. “We needed to go back to the garage and find what inspired us, and there’s some good stuff with what’s happening on the show now.” That includes the return of Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox), who is scheduled to appear in several episodes this season. “I’m very pleased with what they’ve come up with to bring Sara back,” Fox said. “You do get to learn a little about what she’s been up to. I was pleasantly intrigued.”

With the departure of Riley Adams (Lauren Lee Smith), the return of Sara adds some more estrogen into the mix. Helgenberger said she doesn’t mind working with the guys, “But there needed to be more of a presence of female power. So I was thrilled to have Jorja back. She’s just the coolest chick on the planet.”

CSI won’t waste time telling what happened after Grissom and Sara reunited in the jungle last season. “The audience will know in very short order the status of Grissom and Sara,” Mendelsohn promised. “I can say that between the time they left and now, there are no little Grissoms out there.”

The rest of the team has something in store for season ten as well. Newcomer Dr Ray Langston (Laurence Fishburne) has a wife, “and we may get to meet her,” Fishburne revealed. The character will also deal with a serial killer who is “doing these strange operations on people, putting something inside them that doesn’t belong there.”

Dr Al Robbins (Robert David Hall) will help Langston with the serial killer, and he might get some help of his own in the morgue. “We have an idea for a new character who may join the coroner’s office,” Mendelsohn shared. Meanwhile, Dr Robbins gets a chance to take part in the action at the start of the season. “Dr Robbins is the defender of the coroner’s office,” Mendelsohn explained.

Greg Sanders (Eric Szmanda) will be looking for respect as part of the CSI team. “He’s not happy with the way thing have been, and he wants them to change,” Szmanda said. “This is something he’s been holding in all this time, and it’ll be a shock to everyone.”

Season ten will include an episode that centers around the Las Vegas Crime Lab’s technicians. Budget cuts, meanwhile, will force techs like Wendy Simms (Liz Vassey) and David Hodges (Wallace Langham) to spend more time in the field. Mendelsohn revealed that Hodges, who still holds a torch for Wendy, will have a “slight misstep and actually come bearing gifts for Catherine.”

The full article can be found in the September 28-October 4 issue of TV Guide.

Vassey admitted that she isn’t sure what’s coming up for her character, but she hopes fieldwork is involved. Last season, Wendy left the lab with new leading man Laurence Fishburne (Dr Ray Langston) in “Kill Me If You Can”. “I had a great time being able to shoot in the sunshine, as opposed to the darkness of the lab,” the actress told After Ellen.

It appears Vassey may get her wish to spend more time outside of the crime lab. She and costar Wallace Langham (David Hodges) recently went to Las Vegas to do a ride-along and speak with real CSIs. “I get the feeling things are moving in that direction,” she said.

Vassey is glad to have Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle) back on CSI for several episodes this season, but she is disappointed that she hasn’t been able to film with the other actress yet. “We really like working together,” Vassey said. “And it’s nice when the women get to do stuff ’cause we’re outnumbered by the men on the show. We all genuinely like each other. But the law of averages says you’re probably going to be working with the guys.”

The number of women on the show is down by one now that Lauren Lee Smith (Riley Adams) has been cut from the cast. Riley joined the team during season nine, but as CSI Files previously reported, she won’t be back for season ten. “That had absolutely nothing to do with her talent, because she’s a very talented,” Vassey said of the decision to get rid of Smith’s character. “It was unfortunate — she was brought in at the same time as Laurence Fishburne. And [we] were in the midst of this perfect storm of cast upsets: three people leaving and Laurence coming in. I think she’ll land on something in about five seconds, if she hasn’t already.”

The original interview can be read in its entirety at After Ellen.