"CSI: Miami" started off explosively in the best way they know how - with the death of one of their own. The murder of Jesse Cardoza (played by Eddie Cibrian - who's personal life has certainly made him a household name) brings the gang together and definitely draws the audience in, as losing one of their own is certainly a sore subject for Horatio's CSI team (remember Rory Cochrane's character Speed?!)

Although the choice to kill Jesse off was a bit premature, as he added a new dynamic to the show and showed improved acting skills compared to the somewhat mediocre acting the show is known for, his death pulled in the viewers immediately into the action.The rest of the show focuses on the team’s mission to find out who is responsible for the death of their beloved team member and friend. Unlike other episodes, the spotlight was focused on the fantastically cliché Horatio Caine (David Caruso). The other team members played very limited roles and got little screen time, which was quite refreshing as Caine's screen time is usually limited, albeit very poignantly delivered. 

The most surprising part of the show had to have been the way Caine was portrayed which was in a very different light. Caine had always been the portrayed as the good guy who was  all powerful and above all, even tempered. In this episode, however, he was less patient, more angry and stuck with the “ends justify the means” type of attitude. This added a new dimension to his character and made him a little more human (for a guy who has already been through enough drama for three lifetimes). The show’s subsidiary actors still lack the great acting skills, but the plot line was solid and captivating. The end of the show unfortunately, killed it. As is the pattern with most "CSI: Miami" endings, it was very corny and just made the viewer want to roll their eyes and change the channel. Here's hoping that Horatio has enough one-liners to keep the audience captivated throughout season 9. 

Reach reporter Elizabeth Sandoval here.