Just in time for the announcement of the show’s tenth season, Paramount has released the CSI [Crime Scene Investigation] The First Season on Blu-Ray.
C.S.I. first aired in ’00 and in just 9 seasons had two spin-off shows (CSI: Miami and CSI: NY) a series of mystery novels, comic books, and even the occasional video games. It’s easy to see why when watching the first season. Known for being one of the first shows to be filmed and presented in HDTV format, Paramount finally releases all 23 episodes in the original 16:9 wide-screen.
Season one gets back to basics as Las Vegas was not yet filled with serial killers and there were no plots directed at the forensics team by the suspects. Follow the evidence with the Las Vegas Police Department’s night shift Crime Scene Investigation unit, lead by Gil Grissom as they solve puzzling murders, do a little science, and maybe catch a bad guy or two. Grissom encourages his team to get the truth by letting the evidence speak for itself, and when they do not know what to look for, then to look for what is not there. Woven into all the blood, corpses, and science experiments are the lives of the five team members, adding a drama element that will have most individuals relating to at least one of the characters in the show. Beautifully shot the series is told with a fast-paced storyline that keeps the viewer asking themselves how Grissom knows so dang much about bugs.
The twenty-three episodes of the first season are presented on five Blu-Ray disks. All of the deleted scenes and episode promos are placed as an extra option with their respective episodes.
In addition to the deleted scenes and episode promos, the extras on the first disk include a director’s cut of the pilot with optional commentary and the original launch promos for the show. The fifth disk includes the “CSI People Lie… But the Evidence Never Does” documentary, "CSI Season One – Rediscovering the Evidence" HD, and a four minute gag reel that is worth all 240 seconds of your time.
Overall
This set is a must have for any CSI fan, primarily for the 16:9 wide-screen. If you were late coming into the series, and have never seen the first season of C.S.I. there really is no better way to go. The 1080i video transfer suffers a very few minor technical issues, mainly noticeable background graininess due to the over-stylization of some of the shots. Uncover C.S.I. on Blu-Ray: “It’s crime seen and heard the way it was meant to be!”
ComicsOnline gives CSI [Crime Scene Investigation] The First Season on Blu—Ray a four out of five cases closed.
