FAREWELL, MY DEAR FRIEND, NICK STOKES

Better late than never....

Nick Stokes first appeared in the pilot of CSI as a Level 2 CSI that was competing with another character, Warrick Brown to become a Level 3 CSI. Little did anyone know he would become one, if not the most loved characters of that CSI franchise.

Nick Stokes in recent seasons has become the face of the franchise, in my opinion, since the departure of  Gil Grissom (William Petersen)in Season 9. When I think of the CSI, Nick Stokes is the first thing that comes to my mind. With his charming southern accent in addition to being chivalrous, handsome and a true gentlemen, Nick was a true fan favourite especially with the ladies. (I think that every lady that watches CSI has at one point had a crush on him.) Nick Stokes represents the emotional heart of the series. Nick also has a natural empathy when dealing with the crimes he investigates; a quality that is truly his own. Despite being the true all-American man Nick Stokes would get emotional under pressure contrasting the male stereotype of not showing emotion. Nick was also very low-maintence with little drama in his life and little need for attention. Nick was the most reliable worker within the crew especially in the most recent series and was always driven to solve his cases.
With all of his qualities Nick Stokes has become the most loved character in the series and will be greatly missed.

My 6 favourite Nick Stokes moments:

6. Emotion connections: In 11.5 "Turn, Turn, Turn"Nick befriends a guest-starring Taylor Swift, who ends up the latest victim at the hotel he has visited over a few years and had made a personal connection with her. This further demonstrated that Nick becomes emotionally attached when it comes to victims that are aprt of the cases he is part of.

5. Nicky gets promoted: When Nick Stokes got promoted in the pilot to CSI level 3, the whole team came together to celebrate. This foreshadowed his career over the next 15 years as one of the best CSIs on the team.

4. His different hair styles/facial hair: from the Bieber cut, the shaved head, short hair moustache, and beard, you never knew what you would get when you tuned in.

3. Flirting with Sara in season 1: As soon as Sara Sidle joined the crew in season 1.2 "Cool Change" Nick Stokes and her were always flirting and here are two of my favourite quotes from that season:

Sidle: you're standing in my crime scene. 

Stokes: No, you're in mine.

Sidle: you got audio, I wanted that. 

Stokes: I out rank you.

Sidle: Technicality, who'd Grissom handpick to work here.

Stokes: Keep telling yourself that. 

----------------------------------------------

*talking about a chemistry set a gift for Catherine's daughter's birthday 

Sidle: you keep that; might learn something 

Stokes: Stop flirting with me

Sidle: you keep that; might learn something 
Stokes: Stop flirting with me

-----------------------------------------------

2. Nick shooting the Biebs: Nick Stokes shooting Justin Bieber...well the character Justin was playing at least in 11.5 "Targets of Obsession". It was hilarious and of course Nick would get the honour of doing it!

A video of Nick shooting Bieber

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJsIPUw5ckQ

1. Being buried alive: In 5.24/5.25 "Grave Danger" which was directed and written by Quentin Tarantino, was the most suspenseful thing I have ever seen! Nick was buried alive in a glass casket that had a live feed so the crew could watch. In addition, the grave was booby trapped with a bomb so even if they saved Nick they would die in an explosion! Well as predicted they were able to not detonate the bomb and saved Nick just before his oxygen ran out. (phew!) 

The fact that Nick was teary-eyed at the end of the episode when saying goodbye to Greg and Sara truly reinforces the fact that he was the emotional heart of the series--no character will ever be able to fill that role--as he was the face of the series and will truly be missed. 

All the best, in San Diego Nicky! (Maybe we will see you in CSI: Cyber? Hopefully)

Next Article: The CSI Finale: Finlay, I'm sorry 

CSI Season 15 Finale: Finlay, I'm Sorry

"It's all your fault, Hillary!" 

Okay so if you haven't figured this out yet I'm a huge fan of the series, Crime Scene Investigation (CSI/CSI:Las Vegas). I don't like the spinoffs: Miami is okay and I will not watch NY. The original CSI is my obsession and by the end of the year I hope to have seen every single episode of the series which now contains over 300 episodes. Over the complete seasons that I have seen, there are some characters that I find annoying like Riley Adams that replaced Sara Sidle in Season 9. Adams was unprofessional and was not a good CSI, she made mistakes and did not fit well with the rest of the cast. Adams was also sassy and obnoxious, she was the opposite of Nick and never could relate to the victims or the cases emotionally. Thus the reason her character did not return for season 10. But no character in the series has annoyed me more than Julie Finlay (Elisabeth Shue). Julie Finlay was introduced in Season 12 when she came with DB Russell the current leader of the team from Seattle.

"I know one actor looking for a job, Finlay.

 Me: "She could do a reboot of the Karate Kid." 

I always say "I hope Finlay would leave the team or get killed off because she is so annoying." But you are probably thinking, "Hillary why do you find Finlay annoying?" Well, Finlay was brought in basically to replace Catharine Willows, who she will never be able to live up to. Catharine was at one time the leader of the team; she was brilliant, smart and was a critical part of the team. Finlay on the other hand is too flirty (Willows was not that flirty) to a point where it has jeopardized her life. Although Catharine was flirty too, she used it to her advantage to solve the crime. Finlay also gets too excited when solving crimes and smiles too much, she is way too happy. Although Finlay does play a role in solving many of the investigations she could easily be replaced by the two other lady CSIs Sara Sidle or Morgan Brody, all three characters are not needed as they are basically too similar, espceially Finlay and Sidle who are both veteran CSIs.

So in the premiere of this season of CSI, Finlay is trapped in her car and is almost blown up by a serial killer that she helped capture in Seattle, The Gate Harbour Killer . I did say that, "if Finlay got blown up I would be happy" but I was joking at the time. Well, Finlay ended up being okay that time. I even decided that, that moment was my second favourite moment of the season (the first being when Nick Stokes brought the Miniature killer's miniature to a secret serial killer fan memorabilia exchange.) Then Finlay is kidnapped by The Gate Harbour Killer when she went to her apartment alone (which you never do in any crime series) and was unconscious with no pulse in a trunk of a car that was stolen. It is then revealed that Finlay is in a vegetative state. But I don't think that they will kill her off, Nick Stokes left too in the finale so they cannot loose two characters right? RIGHT?

"Maybe Finlay will appear in CSI: Cyber oh wait no she's dead." 

So Julie Finlay I am truly sorry that I wished you dead. I really did not mean I was just joking come back for season 16 and maybe be less annoying! I will be so upset if you are not there as I will feel responsible! The writers hear me say that "I hate Finlay and wish her dead" and then try to kill her off but when I say "I want Grissom to come back" they ignore me! 

All I know is that if CSI doesn't get renewed for next season I will never know what happened to Finlay!!!!!!!!!!:-( So CBS renew CSI so that I will know what happens to Finlay! 

Are quotes in bold are brought to you by my parents who keep reminding me that I got my wish about Finlay.

Next Article: The coolest things about the CSI: CYBER premiere!