#csirw

ahh thanks so much & right back at you. 100% agreed on GSR-WV. same kind of prolonged torture and rewarding conclusion. also the same “season # requirement” apparently since both reached the bedroom in S6. ;)

You’re gonna make me watch all this again, aren’t you?

Never seen this episode. This looks so good.

ah I love this old school vibe they have. When Sara leaves, she also writes to him to explain why. But by not sending his letter, Grissom essentially mimics his own “can’t say it” moments, only this time in writing. Still, we get to see most of the letter in 722 when Sara finds it tucked into what looks like the complete works of Shakespeare on his bedside table:

Sara,

Our parting was awkward… I don’t know why I find it so difficult to express my feelings to you. Even though we are far apart, I can see you as vividly as if you were here with me… I said I’ll miss you and I do.

As Shakespeare more ably wrote my sentiment in sonnet #47…

“Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took, And each doth good turns now unto the other: When that mine eye is famish’d for a look, Or heart in love with sighs himself doth smother,With my love’s picture then my eye doth feast And to the painted banquet bids my heart; Another time mine eye is my heart’s guest And in his thoughts of love doth share a part:So, either by thy picture or my love, Thyself away art resent still with me; For thou not farther than my thoughts canst move,And I am still with them and they with thee; Or, if they sleep, thy picture in my sight Awakes my heart to heart’s and eye’s delight.”

This one belongs to the so-called “eye-heart sonnets” and is - imo - perfect for them since so much of this relationship is rooted in the act of looking + the mirror is a recurring image around them as well.

Well, Shakespeare in general is perfect for Grissom, imo. There’s an essay collection by George Steiner titled “Language and Silence” where he notes that Shakespeare is like the symbol of an unfaltering belief in language and the efficiency of words. Grissom has a marked lack of both (see his trust and communication issues), but his love for art/literature acts as a subtle and nice counterbalance, and he tries to use it as a conduit, e.g. in the letter above, and to make up for what he (thinks he) lacks.

This failure of conventional (word-based) communication is (understandably) sth they have a tough time getting around bc Sara repeatedly mistakes his silence for lack of interest/feelings/commitment/care/etc. and Grissom is forever scared that his “defect” will drive her away for good. This issue is actually in the forefront of the finale where she’s like “wow, 30-minute drive w/o a single word. must be a new record” and Grissom’s like “i thought we were talking”. Then later he also brings up the “52Hz whale” (a true story btw), “the world’s loneliest whale” that isn’t understood or even heard by his own species due to its unconventional sonic signature (acc to one theory). That’s Grissom and - just like the whale - he cannot “correct” this isolating feature about himself. He can only keep trying to “call out” in his own way, fully aware that an answer may never come yet still hoping that the right partner will hear him amidst the silence, recognizing it for what it truly is.

And she will. ;)

I believe what happens in the S5 finale has a direct influence, yes, but while that impulsiveness doesn’t yield anything lasting for Warrick, it does for Griss and Sara bc there’s already an established bond and love and understanding there. When in S8 they are asked about it, their answers are essentially the same, that it’s been there btw them for many years. Sex doesn’t legitimize or call this intimacy into being, it merely strengthens it further, and I *love* how both of them essentially scoff and are ?!??? at the lab policy that only recognizes a relationship as a relationship if it involves sex. But I digress again. So yes, the brush w/ death is a factor and it speeds up the natural progression of their dynamic.

As for first kiss, well… I think it’s more on the cautious and clumsy side… like maybe it begins as a supportive embrace btw two very relieved but v exhausted scientists, but then they don’t pull apart fast enough (they are v exhausted and in love after all), so noses bump clumsily, his lips lightly brush her cheek as she slowly, deeply inhales his closeness, then tilts her head and when he does the same, their lips finally meet in a small, soft experiment of a kiss, then another, and another, each a bit deeper, more confident than the previous……. ;) then there’s a bit of forehead touching (it’s a must) and then she takes his hand and pulls him inside and they collapse on the couch and have the best, most peaceful sleep - still in each other’s embrace (and whichever wakes first watches the other snore lightly w/ the happiest, stupidest grin on their face).

2. And this Ray dude? Everyone is running around him like he is some kind of genius and I don’t get why?? Am I supposed to care about him? (this is getting away from me sorry) He got the first name in credits so he is supposed to be a lead but all I can see is that they use everyone to prop this guy. He gets these “revelations” even though last seasons Nick or Greg or even Hodges would have cracked the case half an episode ago by sheer unrelentingness and professionalism. Whatever did they do

3. without his insights and neverending wisdom. Oh and then he gets to be the wisest man to ever wise (completely uncalled for most of the time). I mean his whole character is a big joke! A doctor getting squeamish? Can’t find the time to eat?? How did you go through med school?? He is walking around with two giant cases until they gave him an office his first week? Guys been here for more than a decade and everyone had found a place for their stuff. He gets treated like he’s a new Griss and

4.  he deserved it how exactly? And wow this rambling has turned into a rant and omg I didn’t realize how frustrated I was with this. I didn’t understand Grissom’s fascination with him either but i figured he was just being polite to a fellow academic, not that they would so blatantly shoehorn him down my throat. He is not even bad or anything, but WHY is all the focus on him?? And omg I’m SO sorry if I’m offending you or anyone, this is all imho of course, and perhaps I sneezed and missed some

5. important development, or he’ll become someone truly awesome, anyway sorry for ranting! But for now I really miss Griss, Sara and Warrick, I really fucking miss Sophia, I miss the original characters who could brake a case by lunch time without looking for any guidance

I am SO sorry for blowing up your askbox yesterday! It’s kinda hard for me to stop if I get going but still, uncalled for. I don’t even know why it irked me so much, I’m watching 9x21 and the last couple of eps he’s been completely normal character (I even liked him for a second, when he was referencing some ancient Greek philosopher, dude’s smart I can’t help it…). I guess the clumsy introduction of a character made my dormant non-conformist rear its head and word-vomit everywhere. Apologies)

There’s no need to apologize, anon. I am sorry it took me this long to respond.

I went through this exact same “grieving process”, and the new characters - esp the ones you think are replacing the favs you lost - are always the best targets when you are… well, emotional. It’s okay. This is great, actually. It means the previous 9,5 seasons were def not a waste of your time. Also thank you for making me laugh. I wasn’t laughing at you ofc but at the chain-rant you ended up having. It is quality, my friend. I always love a good rant.

To be honest, I have v little memory of S9b. I did watch it but all I remember is this sinking feeling that “okay, this is now a different show and it is nobody’s fault, really, but I can’t stick w/ it anymore”. So I quit and have yet to see 99% of those episodes btw S10 and the finale.

This ep is a goldmine for domestic!Grissom!! cooking, wandering around in pjs and robe, taking care of his dog, and desperately trying but failing to escape visitors & adventures like some reincarnation of Bilbo Baggins.

I guess if a show is on air long enough, it’s almost inevitable to have an episode where the flu or a cold - or a musical event - strikes our faves. I tend to enjoy those eps and this one is no exception. Yes, your eyes weren’t deceiving you, those guest nerds in the lab were Adam and Jamie (CSI has on- and off-screen ties to the Discovery Channel), and oh YES that’s def Sara calling at the end. It’s enough to look at Griss stretch out on the couch after he answers the phone. I think if you lean close, you can hear him purring ;)))) And I kept thinking about it, but rn I honestly cannot recall what happens to Sofia. I think she just… idk… drops out of the story at some point?? and Warrick, yeah… now his departure is something else, like

9x01. How can I even… I AM NOT OKAY!!! Jesus I can’t even formulate anything… They’re all so close… Family… How can I ever be fine after seeing Grissom’s face?? When he just crumbled… Losing someone after allowing them to become that close, I don’t know how to… I’m not ok, with any of this… Glad Sara is there (even more beautiful than before, that’s just not fair) God I’m such a mess. I didn’t even like him all that much but Nicky loved him, and I can’t see him cry! And Gris… JC

What you said, anon. I’m not familiar w/ the specifics of the off-screen events that forced the writers to come up w/ an exit for Warrick/GD, but boy did they manage to make it CRUEL and PAINFUL. but also meaningful, imo. Warrick once called Grissom a robot for never emoting like a “normal” human being, and here we have this “robot” saying the L word out loud and openly breaking down and literally clinging to him in an entirely irrational and desperately emotional, futile human act to keep him alive… yeah, I’m w/ you 1000%: I AM NOT OKAY!!!

9x02. “who are we talking about right now?” A-a-and there is my Sara from first few seasons! God I love that woman. So brave, and strong, standing up for what she believes in, unwilling to talk riddles and play mind games. Just say it straight to her. Kind of understand Grissom too though… This whole thing is so damn sad… Oh and that pillow talk was so tender and quiet, so them…

They’ve been doing this thing ever since they started dating - whenever one makes an observation or drops a remark about a victim or a scene they happen to process, the other is like “okay, is that supposed to be about us?” and it’s never 100% clear. Work and private stuff has been bleeding together w/ them for a while and it is finally starting to make waves in a way that not even Grissom can remain immune to it.

9x05. Why does this show insists on fucking me up this season??! I can’t see them suffer anymore! He’s like a fish out of the water the whole episode… I’m a bit conflicted though. Sara left because she couldn’t take that job anymore and I totally get it, but did she expect him to just follow her? I mean it just doesn’t seem like him at all. Yes he belongs by her side but she moves around, he should have just upended his whole life, without any kind of plan? Perhaps I need to sleep on it tho…

905 is like exhibit A of why I love Lady Heather episodes - she cuts through Griss like no other, and this time there’s a clear overlap btw case and private life. LH’s sugarcoat-free remarks are relevant to both, helping Grissom unpack (or more like rip open) some of his own private mess and climb off the fence he’s been sitting on. I do understand your conflict, I was the same way at first, but then I came to the same conclusion you did below:

9x08. You damn right it’s time to up the ante! This girl is the right girl!! Ugh… 9x09. If Sara was here, she’d help you with that last word… Just saying… *omg is he for real? (I know he is, I’m just really emotional omg) *fly-fishing) his mind is already off of work)) he has been quite distracted lately though. This whole thing is a long time coming. Perhaps all he needed was that push from Sara… *man I love Bill Irwin! Which reminds me, have you watched Legion this year?

(After reading the summary, Legion instantly went on my watchlist, anon, but I haven’t seen it yet.)

Exactly, it’s been a long time coming and that’s why I think Sara was not out of line with her hope - or maybe even reasonable expectation? - that he’d start a brand new chapter with her away from the lab. Most of this relationship happens off-screen, so I can only offer guesswork, but we can find some telltale breadcrumbs leading up to these final episodes.

Grissom already starts displaying burnout signs in S7 + he starts dropping comments about how ppl no longer really need him in the lab anymore. He is not bitter, mind you, he is genuinely proud of the team he’s trained/mentored, but this also means that he becomes - as he tells Warrick - a teacher w/o students who feels increasingly aimless, unfulfilled and even drained after having spent 25+ years wading through the (literal and figurative) cesspools of humanity. I think the combination of developing burnout and unfulfillment is why he grabs at the opportunity to leave for a month and teach a seminar as far away from Vegas as possible, and I don’t think it goes unnoticed by Sara. It is never said out loud (naturally), but she seemed to understand why he just up and left the same way Griss understood why she needed to leave in S8 despite each feeling miserable w/o the other. It’s a constant back-and-forth btw them, a drifting away then back again then away again, as they work through their individual baggage, and this “double pendulum” doesn’t stop until the very last episode of the show.

Uprooting one’s life is a huge ask, esp for someone like Grissom, but in this specific case I think it was a natural progression and would have happened anyway. Sara did not force him out of a pleasant, fulfilling life. He needed - wanted - to move on, he knew it was time, he just needed one more little push, like you said. Then he jumped in w/ both feet

and:

i didn’t write this but i feel this on a spiritual level

well, it’s a scientific fact that the presence of organic GSR produces an intense chemical response, esp in us and those 2 portraying it ;)