New York CSI TV Series - Is it a Family?
Over the years, like many of us I have watched a lot of TV. Lately I have thought about what makes a good TV series. What was the common thread that made me go back and continue to watch a series, week after week? Just what was it that made me a fan?
The Original Concept
The original concept of a series is very helpful in attracting attention to the program. The many crime scene investigative series that are now on TV have been highly rated since their debuts. This is probably because viewers want to see crimes solved, period. They want to see the guilty put behind bars and the key thrown away. And ever since the beginning of using DNA as evidence about twenty years ago, the whole field of forensic science has produced irrefutable evidence which has been incredibly powerful in finding the guilty and convicting them.
The original concept of a series is very helpful in attracting attention to the program. The many crime scene investigative series that are now on TV have been highly rated since their debuts. This is probably because viewers want to see crimes solved, period. They want to see the guilty put behind bars and the key thrown away. And ever since the beginning of using DNA as evidence about twenty years ago, the whole field of forensic science has produced irrefutable evidence which has been incredibly powerful in finding the guilty and convicting them.
Watching these CSIs (crime scene investigators) collect evidence, study it and finally find and arrest the guilty captures a lot of interest. But will this by itself keep the series going and keep the fans happy?
Characters
The series must have living, breathing, caring characters. The characters have to be at least a little bigger than life and have to be unique. They have to have problems just like the rest of us. Some have unresolvable problems.They suffer from the loss of a father or their wife or husband. Or are orphans trying to make their way always thinking about what might have been. We sympathize and sometimes even empathize with them.
The series must have living, breathing, caring characters. The characters have to be at least a little bigger than life and have to be unique. They have to have problems just like the rest of us. Some have unresolvable problems.They suffer from the loss of a father or their wife or husband. Or are orphans trying to make their way always thinking about what might have been. We sympathize and sometimes even empathize with them.
Many TV series have had their heroes or heroines going about in there lives being productive, but always on their minds are the things that could have been. If dad or mom had lived. Or if my wife was still here, etc.
Good characterization is helpful, but if a series makes the next step it prolongs its life.
The Family
Thinking about it further, it is more than just the characters and their problems. It finally came to me one day - it is the 'family'. Does the cast create a family? Is there love or a special caring between the characters? If there is no caring then the series is probably doomed. There has to be love for human interest. Family adds that extra touch.
Thinking about it further, it is more than just the characters and their problems. It finally came to me one day - it is the 'family'. Does the cast create a family? Is there love or a special caring between the characters? If there is no caring then the series is probably doomed. There has to be love for human interest. Family adds that extra touch.
New York CSI
When I watch New York CSI episodes, I see characters who definitely have their problems. The lead detective Mac Taylor is a workaholic. Maybe this is because he loved his wife so dearly and she died in the Trade Towers on 9/11. Or is it that he is an ex marine officer and has that stick-to-it-ness that good marines always take with them when they leave the Corps?
When I watch New York CSI episodes, I see characters who definitely have their problems. The lead detective Mac Taylor is a workaholic. Maybe this is because he loved his wife so dearly and she died in the Trade Towers on 9/11. Or is it that he is an ex marine officer and has that stick-to-it-ness that good marines always take with them when they leave the Corps?
The idea of family is taken one step further by Mac. He acts a lot like the good father of his CSIs. He has a steady hand and is very wise like a father who has gathered a lot of smarts over the years and uses them to guide the younger ones he is raising.
Stella Bonasera the number two detective, is like the mother of the CSIs. She is strong, wise, and cares for Mac almost like a wife. She does at times go astray (do her own unauthorized investigations) in doing things that Mac would not approve of, but in the end it makes her a little bigger than life and also makes for an interesting plot.
Danny Messer is a CSI and like the errant son that Mac is always trying to guide along, he nevertheless seems to end up getting into problems because Danny won't listen to the shrewd advice that comes his way.
Lindsay Monroe a CSI is like a close daughter to Mac. She listens to him, but is fully capable on her own of doing the tasks assigned to her.
These four characters are the central, closely-knit family. There are three or four more characters who are more like cousins and assist Mac and his crime team.
Mac watches over all of the members of his team and cares for their welfare. They have the greatest respect for him. The end result is a program that captures the hearts of its fans who keep coming back to see how the 'family' reacts to the next set of crimes it has to solve. So the next time you watch NY CSI see if you agree with these observations.
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