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Celebrating 1,000 NCIS-franchise episodes

S15.E18: The End Game

ottoDbusdriver

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Kanner

Kanner

I am so glad that Nick's story ended with him running his own lab. It was the perfect evolution of his character.

Also, thank you George for finally leaving the show. I can stop watching now. Hallelujah!

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CoyoteBlue

CoyoteBlue

I feel like I'm just replying "Me too!' but, yeah....

 

Glad Nick got a proper send-off that just follows the development Nick's had being a senior in Vegas and he actually took a sensible career decision without being an idiot or throwing away a perfectly good opportunity. And yes, thank you, George, for leaving so if that wasn't the series finale for the show, it is for me.

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Linderhill

Linderhill

I did like how they showed scenes from the show's and his history even if they didn't dwell on them. There was a noticeable lack of CSI Ray I noticed. It was nice to see Grissom, Warrick and Catherine in those scenes. It would have been nice to see a couple with Brass too.

When was the last time we saw that case board? Also, was that Carol Mendelsohn as an extra in the the last scene? It sure looked like her.

Good by Nicky, I'll miss you. And thank you PTB for not killing him off. Good Luck George in your next endeavor.

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mertensia

mertensia

Oh thank God Shaw took the bullet for Finn.

Also: maybe I am a wuss hut psychoboy is after me? I'm livin' at the Lab. Not going home.

Bye Nick; glad you got a good goodbye and survived. And saw that at least one San Diego CSI was ready to welcome him.

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shapeshifter

shapeshifter

(edited)

...maybe I am a wuss hut psychoboy is after me? I'm livin' at the Lab. Not going home...

Yeah, D.B. and Sara must not watch any crime shows.

Anyway, was this supposed to be a possible segue to a CSI San Diego series with Nick as the head of the lab? If so, they are keeping it under wraps; George Eads' IMDb page isn't showing any new projects.

Edited by shapeshifter
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wlk68

wlk68

I honestly haven't watched this show in years but tuned for Nick's last episode. The utter ridiculousness of the plot had me rolling my eyes so hard I thought they would fall out of my head. Looks like I haven't missed much.

 

I'm glad that Nick left to run a lab of his own rather than being killed off, etc. He's grown so much over the course of the show and was wasted in Vegas so this makes sense.

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ottoDbusdriver

ottoDbusdriver

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(edited)

I wonder if that tattoo/sex parlor is licensed ?  Can you even get a license for a combination tattoo/sex parlor ?  Were these women not aware of who this guy was because his picture was likely plastered all over the news last time he escaped. So Paul Winthrop tats himself up and then cuts off the middle finger of his left hand with pruning shears.  I guess he won't be flipping anyone the bird with his left hand anytime soon.

 

Winthrop's call to Fin was a little too coincidental.  What if Fin had taken off her coat, and changed into some comfortable clothes, gone to the washroom or done anything that would have delayed her opening that box.  So that when Wintrhop called she had no idea what he was talking about.

 

Nick's job offer from San Diego gets some traction -- I think I know where this is going.  And is that really a week's worth of beard on DB -- because it looks more like a month.

 

48 hour passes for co-conspirator of serial killers -- oh, that happens ALL the time.  But yep, sure thing, he's out on the street escorted by Fin.

 

Eric Roberts as a preacher/pimp -- using the good word to sell people a good time.  Sounds like a role made for Eric Roberts.

 

Morgan jumps to a very big conclusion that the statue was a murder weapon -- it had minuscule amounts of blood spatter.  If that statue had truly been a weapon it would have been drenched in blood since he used it to kill two people.

 

And now that they both have tattoos, the two brothers are dead ringers -- except that Winthrop is missing a finger.  Did they forget about that ?

 

Sarah checks out the mystery rope, but doesn't check under the bed where it leads to -- why not ?  She just wanders over and looks at the pretty rope -- that just happens to have super rare cactus pollen.  A cactus that only Winthrop's father grows. Oh come on.

 

Despite Greg's fancy schmancy camera and software, wouldn't that big of a puddle of blood still be partially wet after only 12 hours ?  Did no one test it first to make sure it was blood and at the same time not discover if it was wet ?  And Winthrop would have had to have staged that crime scene with a bandaged hand, so yeah he's got to have a partner to do that so quickly.  A partner that is never discovered by the end of the episode.

 

And those twins that were tattooing/screwing Winthrop weren't college age, especially since the one was the ex-wife of a tattoo artist in Seattle (that she stole the appropriate amount of extremely rare tattoo dye from).  And if she was that talented she would have to be much older than college age to have that much experience.  Calling bullshit on all of it.

 

There really should have been uniformed officers clearing that guest house either before or along with the CSIs.

That was really bad CGI effect blood spatter on Shaw.  I mean really bad.  And Shaw dies saving Fin in the process.  Awe, he redeems himself. And Winthrop offs who he thinks is his dad (what a waste of Barry Bostwick).  And he killed the twin tattoo artists, drove them all the way from Las Vegas to San Diego and stashed then in the freezer in the guest house.  Man, this is getting ridiculous.

 

That plant audio capture software is just stupid beyond belief.  No matter how Morgan explained, it was just ridiculous. And even worse is that is the first thing that she tried.  Why didn't they just hire someone to read lips ?  They wouldn't have got the entire conversation, but they saw who Colin Winthrop was talking to and interrogated him. Why would Papa Winthrop conduct questionable transactions in view of his own HD security cameras ?  He had to know the cameras were there ?

 

Brother Larson (Eric Roberts) is Paul/Jared's father.  WTF ?  He knocked up a 15 year old Mae Winthrop, and she gave birth in the convent to the twin boys.  How come they aren't arresting Larson for statutory rape -- did the statute of limitations expire ?

 

DB and Fin are planning to go to Seattle to meet up with Mae Winthrop/Sister Alice at the convent, but when DB goes to pick up Fin to go to the airport, DB discovers that Fin has been brutally attacked and her apartment processed by Winthrop, who then confronts DB in the room.  You would think that Fin would live in a building with better security considering the threats on her life recently.  A nice place with secure parking would have been helpful.  Including video camera security in the parking area to see people putting bodies in trunks of cars.

 

Of all the cars in the underground condo parking area, no one suspects the black Cadillac with the darkened windows (that looks like an airport limo) until they run they plates.  Wouldn't a condo require parking stickers for the resident's vehicles ? Try checking for that first ?  They find Fin in the trunk of the limo, but Greg can't find a pulse but Fin is still warm.  Still warm ? Quick, use her fingerprint to unlock her phone. Plus, it's Las Vegas, it's always warm.  If she's been dead without oxygen for at least 4 minutes, she's likely brain dead if they can get her heart restarted (which turns out to be the case -- FinComa as it was called upthread).  When Winthrop was shot and went down, his left hand was not even bandaged as he was wearing a normal glove and the middle finger looked and acted completely normal.  So what was the point of him sending the CSIs his finger again ?

 

Nice photo on the door of Nick's locker with Grissom, Katherine, Warrick and Sarah.

 

Why would Nick and Fin both only be up to Crime # 100 on the Crime Scoreboard -- Fin's only been there a couple of years, Nick has been there since the start of the show.  Even Morgan was up to # 61.  Greg was up to at least #164, and he's been in the field half the time Nick has.  It can't be crimes in a year, because two episodes ago it was Feb. 2015 -- and there's no way Nick or Fin have solved 100 crimes in two months.  And when they showed the board with Warrick's name on it, Warrick and Nick were both at Crime # 100.  That was just poorly done and made no sense.

 

So when does CSI: San Diego get announced ?  Because I doubt CSI: Cyber is long for this world.

Edited by ottoDbusdriver
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Trey

Trey

 

That plant audio capture software is just stupid beyond belief.  No matter how Morgan explained, it was just ridiculous.

 

Isn't this the same show that listened to a clay pot that was being made on the potter's wheel while the perps were talking?  Somehow the conversation got recorded on it like on a vinyl record.  And Grissom played it.  Or it was a different show altogether.

 

I am sorry they didn't "accidentally" kill Winthrop.  Now he's still alive to perhaps show up again, should the show have another season.

 

Really loved Nick's send-off.  Glad they gave him the respect he deserves.  I doubt there really is going to be a CSI: SD.  If George Eads wanted to leave this show I don't think he'd be up  for a whole new CSI show.

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wlk68

wlk68

(edited)

Isn't this the same show that listened to a clay pot that was being made on the potter's wheel while the perps were talking?  Somehow the conversation got recorded on it like on a vinyl record.  And Grissom played it.  Or it was a different show altogether.

 

 

This! That episode came to mind while I was watching this one and I thought the clay pot thing was just as ridiculous back then.

Edited by wlk68
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Raja

Raja

The saddest part was it played as if Nick didn't have any friends from his long stay in Las Vegas, just workplace friends most of whom had moved on. In that case going to San Diego is a no brainier.

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FormerMod-a1

FormerMod-a1

The clay pot thing is real.  I've seen it in historical documentary type shows.  It works the same way an "old fashioned" record works.

 

As for this episode, I don't have much to add.  I haven't been paying much attention and thought for sure this was the series finale given the way they've been burning through episodes, sometimes 3 a week (2 on Sunday and 1 in the middle of the week) and  the wrap up of the Stokes character.  I half expected a real resolution to Finn, but then realized they wouldn't want to end the series on a downer, granted she doesn't seem to have a lot of fans, but still a death of a team member would be a downer.

 

So, it's really still up in the air if the show is over?  Interesting.

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wlk68

wlk68

The clay pot thing is real.  I've seen it in historical documentary type shows.  It works the same way an "old fashioned" record works.

 

As for this episode, I don't have much to add.  I haven't been paying much attention and thought for sure this was the series finale given the way they've been burning through episodes, sometimes 3 a week (2 on Sunday and 1 in the middle of the week) and  the wrap up of the Stokes character.  I half expected a real resolution to Finn, but then realized they wouldn't want to end the series on a downer, granted she doesn't seem to have a lot of fans, but still a death of a team member would be a downer.

 

So, it's really still up in the air if the show is over?  Interesting.

I know that CBS is insisting that this was just the season finale and that stuff about the series ending was just a mistake but I wouldn't be surprised if this really is the end. At some point between now and July I can totally see CBS announcing that it won't be back. 

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ottoDbusdriver

ottoDbusdriver

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I know that CBS is insisting that this was just the season finale and that stuff about the series ending was just a mistake but I wouldn't be surprised if this really is the end. At some point between now and July I can totally see CBS announcing that it won't be back.

 

It won't be back with these kinds of ratings -- hit series lows for both episodes with a 1.1 18-49 rating.  Talk about going out with a whimper.

 

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2015/02/16/tv-ratings-sunday-saturday-night-live-40th-anniversary-gigantic-csi-finale-brooklyn-nine-nine-hit-lows/363356/

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Richness

Richness

Sorry to see George Eads leave. Does anyone know why he left? I know he hasn't had the best track record with the show's writers and producers. Oh well. Nick was my favorite character.

 

The only thing that really bothered me was the sudden switch in facial hair for both DB and Nick. My apologies to Ted Danson, but DB looked too much like a clean cut Santa Claus. At least Nick is known for horrid hair style choices.

 

It might not have been so jarring if there had been a week between the last two episodes, but they were aired back to back on the same night. Surely if they knew George was leaving, they could have filmed the episode right after the previous one. Or did they have to hurriedly film this episode due to the declining ratings so it could serve as a series finale?

 

I still like the show, but the bizarre scheduling this season has left me thankful for my DVR. Even then, I have to make sure there isn't a scheduling conflict every so often since I can only record two shows at once. If the show does get cancelled, I won't be too upset. I don't know yet if I'm gonna watch CSI:Cyber or not.

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shapeshifter

shapeshifter

...My apologies to Ted Danson, but DB looked too much like a clean cut Santa Claus...

Ha! Exactly my thoughts!

I'm guessing he must need a beard for Fargo.

I saw a picture of Colin Farrell filming True Detective with the biggest, blackest mustache you could imagine.

Facial hair on men must be a trend for Emmy aiming dramas.

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wlk68

wlk68

I still like the show, but the bizarre scheduling this season has left me thankful for my DVR.

 

 

When I heard this show was moving to Sunday nights at 10pm, I knew that was the final nail in the coffin. That is a time slot where CBS shows go to die. Between episodes getting bumped for football games, awards shows, March Madness, etc. it's pretty much the end of the line. 

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needschocolate

needschocolate

I thought it was a nice touch that, at one point (Nick's last scene?), it was just Sara, Nick and, Greg - the three that had been there since the beginning.   

 

The saddest part was it played as if Nick didn't have any friends from his long stay in Las Vegas, just workplace friends most of whom had moved on. In that case going to San Diego is a no brainier.

 

Nick mentioned at least twice that all his friends were in LV.  One time, he was talking to Sara and said (paraphrasing) "My friends are here, my family is here" and then he eyes Sara knowingly, as if to say that his co-workers are like his family.  

 

I suppose by "here" he could have meant "in the crime lab", but I understood it as "in Las Vegas."  I don't remember his exact words, he may have actually said his friends are in Las Vegas, not just "here."

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RustbeltWriter

RustbeltWriter

(edited)

I'll echo everyone's sentiments and say that I'm glad Nick got to go off like he did. The character certainly deserved it and it was completely believable.

 

As for the future of the show, if they can still get 7 million people to watch (from the numbers up above), they can still produce a show that's interesting. It would just take some major changes.

 

For example:

 

  • CSI's would need to do some lab work. Right now they seem to be detectives who ask the lab rats for test results while they all think of motives and conduct interrogations.
  • Do some real science and stay away from listening to plants (I mean, really?)
  • The show is missing Brass. It needs a detective to do the police work. What's the actress that played Sofia doing?
  • No more serial killers. At this point I don't understand why anyone would live in Las Vegas.
  • Bring back the format of having more than one case per episode. It's too hard to find something for everyone to do on one case.
  • Fill George Eads spot with someone who can carry the weight of the show.
Edited by RustbeltWriter
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Kel Varnsen

Kel Varnsen

I haven't watched CSI in probably 2 seasons (couldn't handle how annoying Finn is), but my wife and I wanted to see Nick's last episode. Glad to see I haven't really missed much.

 

You would think that Fin would live in a building with better security considering the threats on her life recently.  A nice place with secure parking would have been helpful.  Including video camera security in the parking area to see people putting bodies in trunks of cars.

That made me laugh. From the inside it looked like she had a huge, really nice condo. But yet both the Zack Morris murderer and DB were able to get to her door without having to be buzzed up or anything like that. I have lived in my crappier apartments, and even in those call box systems, with a TV channel tied to the front door security camera weren't uncommon.

Isn't this the same show that listened to a clay pot that was being made on the potter's wheel while the perps were talking?  Somehow the conversation got recorded on it like on a vinyl record.  And Grissom played it.  Or it was a different show altogether.

 

Is that clay pot thing real? I remember some show back in the 80's that I watched as a kid used it. The plant voice thing was hilarious. It seemed like the natural crazy evolution of their crazy image enhancement software. I mean how can an image on a computer measure movement that is smaller than a pixel? I also loved how when they got the voices working, not only were they totally clear, but the program was able to figure out Eric Roberts' and Barry Bostwick's accents, instead of them being those standard computer voices.

 

 

  • No more serial killers. At this point I don't understand why anyone would live in Las Vegas.

After not watching for so long the fact that they were still going to the serial killer well really annoyed me. I mean I think I counted once when I was watching, and in the time I had been watching, there had been at least 10 serial killers on the show. If a city has one serial killer it usually makes national news. Make it some of the over the top ones like the miniature killer and that would make world wide news. If Las Vegas has more than 10 serial killers in a 15 year period who the hell would ever go there?

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LisaM

LisaM

I couldn't sit through the episode but watched the last few minutes to see the goodbye tribute to Nick. I thought it was very well done. Nice to see the Season 1 picture with the originals as well as the photos with Grissom. Cracked up at the photos with Nick's various hair styles. A real reminder of the long history of this show.

 

I thought that CSI:Cyber was horrible - dull, boring and too one-note. Arquette, Van Der Beek and MacNicol must not come cheap either. I'm betting that the original CSI will be back for another 13 episodes.

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John Potts

John Potts

Thinking about this a couple of days later, it struck me that "At least they resisted the temptation to do a CSI in peril!" plotline, until I remembered "Oh yeah, Finn" - which just goes to show how little I think of her character. We never did get to catch the Serial Killer of the Week, did we? Maybe our gang should do more investigating and less time talking to plants (which has to be one of the most ridiculous things CSI has ever done - even if we accept that could work, like OttoDBusDriver says, try reading lips first, because we know that works!). And yes, I remember the clay pot thing, too.

 

Kel Varnsen If Las Vegas has more than 10 serial killers in a 15 year period who the hell would ever go there?

 

It reminds me of what somebody said about Bergerac (UK series set in Jersey - the Channel island, not the US State) when John Nettles was shilling holidays on the island - on the one hand, he was trying to convince people to visit the island, on the other he was saying it was stuffed to the gills with criminal masterminds (though the same might be said about the - fictional - county of Midsummer where he also plays a cop).

 

Raja The saddest part was it played as if Nick didn't have any friends from his long stay in Las Vegas

 

Well considering that any friend introduced in an episode turns out to be either the victim or the killer, maybe he decided to not make any new friends!

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