CSI: New York – Season 9 (DVD)

Starring: Gary Sinise, Sela Ward, Carmine Giovanazzo, Ann Belknap, Hill Harper
Director: Various
Running Time: 710 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: May 12th 2014

After nine years CSI: New York comes to an end with the final 17 episodes. Thankfully though, while most shows simply get yanked off the air, they knew this would be the end for the Big Apple’s finest crime scene investigators, giving them time to wrap some things up and give the characters a proper send-off.

That’s particularly true for the show’s central character, Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise), who finds romance in Season 9 – which is certainly fitting considering the series started with Mac still reeling from his wife’s death on 9/11.

However largely it’s business as usual, with plenty more murders to solve, ranging from people chopped in two with a chainsaw and a shooting at a political rally, to murder by 3D printed gun. There is also time for a double-episode crossover with the Vegas set CSI. Although technically one of those episodes is Vegas CSI and the other CSI: NY, they’re both included in the DVD box set, which ensures you won’t be wondering why Ted Danson’s D.B. Russell is suddenly coming to New York to search for Mac’s missing girlfriend, as you’ll be able to watch the setup to all that.

Some people may wish Season 9 stuck to the crimes a little more, as in trying to make sure all the characters get their chance to shine and to help wrap things for them, things do sometimes get a little convenient, whether it’s Det. Flack’s new partner/romantic interest finding herself a little too close to a crime or Danny, Lindsay and family ending up in the middle of a shooting. It doesn’t ruin things, but there are moments when it pushes credibility.

Fans will be pleased CSI: NY gets a properly planned conclusion through. It’s a shame it’s gone. Although it took a couple of seasons for it to find its feet, since then it’s probably been the most consistent on the CSIs. While Miami increasingly started to feel like self-parody and Vegas has had more than a few ups and downs in the last few years, New York has nearly always maintained the strength of its scripts, helped by a very good cast.

Overall Verdict: The crime scene investigators of New York bow out with a season that may occasionally get a tad convenient, but largely allows the characters a suitable send-off with some pretty good mysteries.

Reviewer: Tim Isaac