CSI: Gedda and Gary Dourdan, So Long Warrick Brown
Monday, May 19, 2008



Was it the budget cuts? Was it the writer's strike? Is the show becoming too expensive to produce? I watched CSI, since the show started, not only for the ridiculous crime scenes and scenarios, but for the interaction of its characters. They were quirky people with interesting, yet troubled pasts, narratives, and characteristics than the other CSI franchise shows.

I've always watched watched Gary Dourdan's Warrick Brown with a sense of foreboding. I remember the Mod Squad reruns as a kid, when they killed off Linc Hayes (Clarence Williams III). I cried when it happened! How could they do that?

Even when Sara and Nick were in danger, I never expected them to die. I'll let you figure out why. The storyline was that the crew would do their best to find them, which is exactly what happened.

You can always tell when it is the final episode for a character. The plot is ridiculous: the story isn't plausible no matter what. Then there are those deep heartfelt hugs, handshakes, and strange looks that pass between the actors.

I never thought that Gary Dourdan's character would last up to and including the show's end. Steam runs out of a program by the third or fourth year. CSI gave up the ghost around year five or six.

It's just that I can't get the image of that bullet hole in Warrick Brown's neck out of my mind.


He was my favorite character, because he was a bit "off the rails" and foine as hell. Physically, he's the biggest guy there, and if people started nonsense, he'd step in to protect the others. I liked him, because he acted real: a normal guy doing his job, with lots of emotional and personal baggage.

I also liked the interaction he had with Grissom (William Petersen). I could never put my finger on it, but it wasn't that typical Hollywood phony and stupid dynamic of black guy being a doofus or supernegro sidekick to the white guy (see Psych, and every damn black-white buddy flick).

I think Grissom's character was able get the best out of Warrick, because he demanded it. Warrick respected him for that. I saw Grissom as a quasi-surrogate father figure to Warrick.

Since Gary Dourdan isn't returning, neither am I.

Labels: CSI, Gary Dourdan, Mod Squad, William Petersen

posted by GoldenAh

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