On October 9, 2008, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Broke the hearts of longtime fans by doing the one thing I never expected the show to do; Killing off longtime character, Warrick Brown. CSI had a tried and tested formula, and very rarely deviated from a satisfactory conclusion in each episode. So, with a show that is established and reliable, fans like us did not expect the Season 8 cliffhanger, where Warrick was shot in his car, to actually lead to the death of the character. "For Varrick"The usual turned up CSI script, and made his most memorable episode to date.
CSIFirst premiering in the year 2000, the show is revered enough to have a franchise that is still successful 24 years later, and even after all this time, "For Varrick"Still in my opinion. The bold decision to kill off a main character completely changed the tone and expectations of the show - a huge risk to take, but it obviously paid off."For Varrick" stands tall as an episode that proves CSI It's not afraid to kill its pets for the sake of the plot, and is more than capable of venturing beyond a formulaic crime drama.
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"For Varrick" is the highest rated episode of CSI on IMDb
Season 09
I'm not surprised that"For Varrick"is the highest rated CSI Episode on IMDb. for most CSIs runtime, the show has stayed professionally procedural, barely letting us into the characters' personal lives. The season 9 opener took a drastic turn from the norm, giving us an episode that didn't focus on just solving crimes, but masterfully dealt with the shock and grief that inevitably followed the murders. "FOr Varrick"Didn't just kill off a beloved character, but forced us to process the death along with the team.
"For Varrick" Removes that safety blanket
The team, told to investigate the murder of their close friend, gave us a painfully raw and emotional performance that I honestly never expected the show to deliver. I know I'm not the only one who is most awake CSI With a level of detachment from the crimes presented by the show, CSIThe audience focuses more on the suspense and science than the idea of the murder itself. But, "For Varrick" Removes that safety blanket. The decision merges crime procedural with personal drama, and the shock felt by fans like me gave the episode an unforgettable emotional weight.
What made "For Varrick" so different from other CSI episodes
Season 9
Killing off Warrick shifted the tone of the show in many ways, most notably the stakes it raised. It is not to say that CSI had never put a main character's life in jeopardy before this, but the concrete death of a team member, let alone a beloved one, sent a hardcore message to the long-time fans of the show; No character is safe, even the ones you love. Breaking the expectation that the main character will make it out in the nick of time created a new level of fear and tension that hung over the tension of CSI Forever.
The opening of the season did not give us a chance to settle into our familiar formula. Watching Varrick die in Grissom's arms was the tragically perfect way to put viewers in the same state of shock as the team. This sudden empathy is what singled out"For Varrick“Out of the rest of CSIs best episodes; We as viewers went from enjoying the characters to connecting with them. The usual approach to a case that we will see was replaced by an emotional and difficult show of grief, and We saw a completely new side to the team, emphasizing their humanity and emotions.
I'm still surprised CSI killed off a main character like that
Gary Dourdan left CSI after season 8
Warrick's actor, Gary Dourden, was set to leave CSI After season 8, but despite his character inevitably leaving somehow, the fact that the show decided to kill Warrick still surprises me. Procedural points vi CSI They rarely make extreme changes to their main characters, let alone kill them off, because it can hinder the show's ability to be watched in an episodic format. The killing of Warrick in particular makes for a drastic pivot from the norm, as Warrick has been in the main ensemble since the show's pilot, and has been beloved by the show's fans.
Even viewers who knew Dourdan was set to leave would likely have been surprised by Warrick's death. Integral cast members leaving a project is an incredibly common occurrence in television, but writing a character's death around that decision means the actor may never return. Although I saw Varrick shot in the CSI Season 8 finale, I really believed that the gun wound would be framed as his exit, having Warrick walk away from the investigation unit. So, the unprecedented decision to say goodbye to Warrick forever is heartbreaking, but ultimately made for an unforgettable episode of CSI.