Gil - I'll Miss You!
Well, it happened. I suppose it was inevitable. I mean - it's been ten years for the guy and I imagine he is tired of the routine.
William Petersen, who plays Gil Grissom on CSI (the original one; not CSI: The Beautiful One [Miami] or CSI: The Bad One [New York]), is leaving the show. We've known this for some time, but last night was the episode in which Grissom announces to his staff that he's leaving. I admit - I teared up.
I have no doubt I'll keep watching the show because it's written so intelligently and I have always loved Laurence Fishbourne, who is coming on the show as a new character who will ostensibly replace Grissom.
But there is something about Gil that I'll miss terribly. Partly, it's the witty remarks in the opening just before we hear the opening bars of "Who are you?" by the Who.
Partly, it's the character being so well-read - philosophy, religion, Shakespeare - and his ability to deliver the right literary observation with just the right tone and texture.
Partly, it's his ability to find the humanity in characters we might often simply dismiss as evil or immoral. (I mean, who would get to know someone like Lady Heather and assume one could find some real human qualities there? Or become her friend?)
Partly, it's his penchant for off-kilter, but completely true observations about life. (Remember the episode in which the whole staff ends up investigating a strange murder at a brothel? Sara asks Gil if he's ever visited a brothel. He says, "I've never paid for sex ... it just seems so ... bleak." He could have said it's so ... wrong; immoral; risky; sad; oppressive. No - "bleak." Perfect.)
Partly, it's his blind spots - the difficulty communicating on a personal level with the staff; the near inability to be in touch with his emotions in key situations; his reticence to share much of himself with those closest to him.
Partly, it's his steadiness and comfort with the role of being an "anchor" for those around him - even with his failings.
So, I'll miss you, Gil. Do come back and visit from time to time.
William Petersen, who plays Gil Grissom on CSI (the original one; not CSI: The Beautiful One [Miami] or CSI: The Bad One [New York]), is leaving the show. We've known this for some time, but last night was the episode in which Grissom announces to his staff that he's leaving. I admit - I teared up.
I have no doubt I'll keep watching the show because it's written so intelligently and I have always loved Laurence Fishbourne, who is coming on the show as a new character who will ostensibly replace Grissom.
But there is something about Gil that I'll miss terribly. Partly, it's the witty remarks in the opening just before we hear the opening bars of "Who are you?" by the Who.
Partly, it's the character being so well-read - philosophy, religion, Shakespeare - and his ability to deliver the right literary observation with just the right tone and texture.
Partly, it's his ability to find the humanity in characters we might often simply dismiss as evil or immoral. (I mean, who would get to know someone like Lady Heather and assume one could find some real human qualities there? Or become her friend?)
Partly, it's his penchant for off-kilter, but completely true observations about life. (Remember the episode in which the whole staff ends up investigating a strange murder at a brothel? Sara asks Gil if he's ever visited a brothel. He says, "I've never paid for sex ... it just seems so ... bleak." He could have said it's so ... wrong; immoral; risky; sad; oppressive. No - "bleak." Perfect.)
Partly, it's his blind spots - the difficulty communicating on a personal level with the staff; the near inability to be in touch with his emotions in key situations; his reticence to share much of himself with those closest to him.
Partly, it's his steadiness and comfort with the role of being an "anchor" for those around him - even with his failings.
So, I'll miss you, Gil. Do come back and visit from time to time.
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