CSI: Miami (TV Series) Hard Time (2003) User Reviews

one of the perfect episodes in an almost perfect series

[A_Different_Drummer · 10/10 · 19 May 2014]

When Peterson's oddball concept for a CSI show took off (and boy did it ever) the common wisdom was that lightening could not strike twice. It did. The tone and flavor of the two shows was different. In the Las Vegas edition, Peterson was the "glue," and he set the tone to such an extent that before he retired (and fret not, he retired WELL!) he was voted in some survey the "best fantasy boss" of all time. In this show Caruso is the glue. and his personality (and the writing) sets a very different bar. Part avenging angel, part Savior, he is at the opposite end of the personality spectrum. But THAT works as well, if not better. The cutting on the show is also much faster. Stuff happens much faster. That said, this episode, which starts with maggots dropping from a pristine white ceiling onto a virile young playboy who appears to be planning a date (with himself?) ... to the ending where Caruso assures the "unluckiest woman alive" that her tormentor will never see parole ... while unselfconsciously wiping her bleeding nose from the last murder attempt on her ... well, lets just say that it does not get any better than this. They could teach an entire class on film production from this one episode.