An unexplained series of events occur on a Vegas tram; unexplained until the CSIs are on the case, that is. Nick (George Eads) returns from Hawaii after a seminar to find the joke's on him. The new boss, DB Russell (Ted Danson) lies on the tram floor and Nick thinks he's just a DB, which he is. DB by name, but not a real DB! Nick's reaction to his name, his initials is exactly what I thought when it was revealed who Ted was going to play in the show. DB as many know stands for 'dead body.' The others can only laugh and disappear. Nick isn't too happy to be the butt of their joke and he and DB don't really seem to hit it off - not like Nick and Ray (Laurence Fishburne).
Two people were killed on the tram and three were injured. One Vic, Tom (Nathan Anderson) was stabbed. Doc Robbins (Robert David Hall) determines he was already dying and had a few months left. Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) also calls on Doc to the hospital so he can take a look at one of the survivor's. Sometimes he likes to attend to the living. He finds a large, swollen protrusion on Nancy's (Heather Prete) leg but is unsure of what caused it.
Tom was in Vegas with his brother Jimmy (Chad Faust) and they were both on the tram. However Tom was stabbed before boarding and Jimmy when he saw him, attempted to pull out the knife. This led to the cowboy drawing his gun and firing, leading the off duty security guard, AJ (Stephen Amell) to fire too. The cowboy must have thought Jimmy stabbed Tom. Nancy was collateral damage and was traveling with her son, Emmet; (Skylar Gaertner) who is the only witness they have.
Jim is found in a hotel room attempting suicide with a bag over his head and is shocked to see he's still alive, maintaining he didn't kill his brother. Nick and DB question Emmett but Nick doesn't get anywhere with him, cos the scene belongs to DB and his 'magic bag of tricks' an invisible tennis ball which he throws in the air and catches in a paper bag. This catches Emmet's attention. Though Nick is great with children and most everyone, DB is good with Emmett cos he has a son of his own. Emmett found $100 on the platform outside the tram, which was covered in blood. DB promises a replacement note as a reward for this. The money on the blood proves Tom was already bleeding when he boarded the tram and DB heads to the one place where there aren't any surveillance cameras; the toilets. Here more blood is found. Prints are matched to Allen (David Tom) who was on the next tram and was also in prison cos of Jimmy. Tom tried to protect Jimmy by paying off Allen, but he stabbed him instead. If he didn't want money, why did he grab some from the floor.
Sara (Jorga Fox) and Greg (Eric Szmanda) work on a case in Brime County, with Catherine (Marg Helgenberger) having some fun with DB over the pronunciation of 'Brime,' which Sara goes and spoils for her. Dale, the DB's chest is old and sagging in comparison to his face, which is younger in appearance. An air compressor nozzle was inserted into his chest where he was stabbed by deer horns, when they attempted to skin it. Ross (Clay Wilcox) explains it was an accident. Greg watches one of his Norwegian relatives use an air compressor to skin deer which gave them the clue as to what happened to Dale.
This season of CSI aims to get past the previous ones with Ray and return to a more subdued approach of Gil Grissom (William Petersen); only DB is far from laid back (not that Gil was either he just had a different approach.) Perhaps I should have said easy going. DB demands excellence and has plenty to say about his team, well nits to pick. Like commenting on Nick's approach to questioning Jimmy, when he alludes to his own time playing baseball at college but he wasn't good at it. Ecklie agrees with DB on them "acting like social workers." DB would hate to lose Nick. Sorry is Nick going somewhere, he likes him. (George did take some time away from the show to be with his ill father, who sadly passed away and George was grateful to the show for letting him have the time away. So maybe his 'leaving' is a reference to that.)
There really isn't anything wrong with the CSI's approach to their work, suspects, Vics etc; it's what they're used to and everyone has their own methods, as DB has his. It's just an attempt for the show to undergo a shake-up and keep it fresh after 12 seasons.
As DB tells Nick when he asks for something he expects it done and doesn't want to chase up on receiving reports. Then he proceeds to change the subject and mention Nick not being good at baseball. Well, Nick found the blood on the tram door, another clue. He also IDs the ants from the ant farm, in his continuing new found role of insect man, following Gil's departure.
Whereas Ray was new to forensics and his approach was different, he wasn't in charge either; DB is a seasoned CSI. Ecklie on the other hand would be in favour of the shake up of the CSIs probably one reason why he brought in someone like DB. Particularly after the CSIs kind of went rogue last season in their attempts to help Ray. He's always been a stickler for the rules and being efficient, like breaking up the team into dayshift and nightshift some seasons ago. Let's hope he's moved by the arrival of his estranged daughter, Morgan Brody (Elisabeth Harnois) . Think he deserves a little of his own medicine. Morgan wants a permanent post and Nick introduces her to Greg and warns him off Ecklie's daughter.
Catherine it seems has her own axe to grind and didn't do much this episode - she hasn't left yet, but you can see where her decision to leave will probably stem from. She's outraged she's been demoted and she takes it out on Nick. Well she gave DB Nick's office without so much as telling him. Seems the new boss has everyone on edge instead of being relaxed and they have had more time to get used to him than Nick. Catherine brews up a storm cos Nick wanted some leniency towards Jimmy from his parole officer and wants Nick to call him back to undo this. Also recalling LA and how he dropped everything to help Ray. They all did and she believes they can't do that anymore and thus her demotion.
Ray is happy with Gloria in Baltimore and Doc and Brass think that's a good thing. Brass comments on Ray being "railroaded by IA." Brass can see that Ray did the right thing in protecting himself.
Somehow didn't think DB would be shocked at Hodge's (Wallace Langham) when he arrives to comment on the autopsy of the octopus David (David Berman) carries out. Or his remark of "shokushu goukan," meaning "tentacle erotica." Only in Vegas and only in CSI. As there's evidence an octopus was also on the tram. Thus the bite mark on Nancy's leg. Funny Hodges should know of this - though having sex with an octopus gave this episode of CSI it's unusual edge. Hodges noticed the woman in the tram, Shizu (Elaine Tan) had a diver's helmet tattoo on her arm from the CCTV. So the slimy trail on the tram floor came from an octopus.
This episode also featured Carrot Top in videos streamed across the city. He was featured in last season's episode, Man Up.
Many have commented on the positive aspects of Ted joining the show and though it does seem to be keeping the momentum of keeping the show new and different going, not being a big fan of Ted's, I shall save my opinion until I've seen some more episodes. Still he adds some friction between the characters which can only be a good thing.
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