Previously on CSI, I recapped the pilot and “Cool Change” and then you guys voted for me to recap “Unfriendly Skies” next. This means we’re going to miss the Grissom/Sara face touching and “tie me up” scenes in “Crate ‘n Burial,” Nicky’s pretty tears in “Who Are You?,” and a wee Dakota Fanning in “Blood Drops.” I think y’all need to take a moment and really think about what you’ve done. Read the rest of the recap at my blog!

Previously on CSI, Holly Gribbs had a crappy first day, then it got better, and then it truly turned into the shittiest day ever when she was shot. This is what comes from taking Catherine’s advice.

It turns out that Holly’s shooting doesn’t bring the city to a screeching halt. Who knew? A couple right out of “New Jersey trash” central casting are bickering in a casino. She wants to give one of the $20 slot machines a whirl but he thinks it’s a waste of time and money. However, her screeching wears him down enough to try out a machine, which is just being abandoned by a dejected loser. Mr. Jersey pulls the handle once then twice with no result, as he expected. He yanks the handle a third time and starts walking back over to Mrs. Jersey without seeing the result. Mrs. Jersey’s delighted shrieks and the clanging alarms clue him in that he’s just won approximately a gajillion dollars. Read the rest of the recap at my blog!

Big thanks to Michael for giving me permission to post the teaser and link to my classic CSI recaps on my blog.

Let's go back to where it all began, October 6, 2000. Grissom was a spazzy flirt, Catherine could move her face, Brass was an asshole, Nicky was the n00biest n00b to ever n00b, Warrick was still alive, Greg ruled the lab, and as for Sara...well, I'll get to her in the next recap.

The POV switches back and forth between the Las Vegas skyline and a hand loading a gun with bullets. Um, that might have been redundant. It's not like you guys were thinking the gun was being loaded with cheese or shampoo or something. Anyway, we hear a man's voice: "My name is Royce Harmon. I reside at 7642 Carpenter Street, Las Vegas, Nevada. I am 41 years of age...and I'm going to kill myself. I'd like to say 'I love you' to my mother Paige and my sister Gina. I'm so sorry. I never wanted to put you through this. I just can't do it anymore. I love you, Mom." Then, a shot rings out. Read the full recap at my blog!

A well-deserved happy ending

Last month, Grissom and his new bestest buddy, Dr. Raymond Langston, tried to trick an imprisoned serial killer into helping them capture his apprentice. While the serial killer's apprentice motif has become trite, I guess I should be grateful that it wasn't revealed to be Greg. Yeah, I'm looking at you, Bones. Also? Grissom told everyone he was taking his toys bugs and going home to parts unknown.

Blue pill or red pill?

If this recap is late, it's only because it took me forever to figure out what was going on and who was who. Was it really necessary to jam-pack this episode with 502940204627482 interchangeable young white guys? Perhaps the Agent Smith-ness was a nod to Morpheus himself, Laurence Fishburne, but I would've preferred a Pee-wee's Playhouse homage instead.

...And introducing Catherine's backup singers, the Willowettes!

This episode has everything I love about a CSI episode: hilarious meta commentary (in this case the subject is American Idol, terrific character moments, legendary guest stars, a nice balance between pathos and humor, and cases that bring old Vegas and new Vegas together. It doesn't surpass one of my all-time favorite episodes, "Kiss Kiss, Bye Bye," but it's my favorite episode of the season so far.

Yup, she's still got a pain in her sawdust

If you were like me and expecting the return of the Miniature Killer to be the big storyline this week, I'm sure you're as disappointed as I am. I think all together that subplot took up fewer than ten minutes of airtime in the entire episode. Bad promo monkeys! No biscuits for you!

So what took up the rest of the time? Two unrelated cases of accidental homicide. Also, Nicky has totally gotten over Warrick's death and found himself a brand new BFF. Let's get to it.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood Koreatown. That is, until the bullets start flying. The neighbors scream and scatter or hit the ground, all except one old woman who freezes while watering her lawn and one little boy, blood spattered on his face, who stands silently in the middle of the chaos.

While the cops, stymied by the language barrier, try to question the crowd, Grissom, Riley and SuperDave examine the two victims, a male and a female. There's no ID on the female but the male is identified as Sung Bang, who was released from prison earlier that day. Grissom finds a pair of child's sunglasses on the ground and they're covered in blood drops, indicating the kid witnessed the whole thing. Whether the kid ran or was taken, Grissom says they need to find him before something happens to him.

Lady Heather can psychoanalyze me anytime

Oh, boy. This episode is going to trigger the debate of the ages. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's go back to the beginning.

It's storming heavily in Las Vegas as Grissom drives to a crime scene, upset and distracted by memories of Sara. Specifically, memories of a video message she sent to him. In sharp contrast to Grissom's downtrodden expression, Sara looks relaxed and at peace.

Sara: "I've been thinking about us a lot, though, all the moments. I thought we could survive anything. This trip has given me a lot of clarity. That last year in Vegas, I could barely breathe, let alone think."