Character Screen Time Thread

[oldfanatic]

That's odd - this episode was supposed to focus on Brass yet he had less screen time than 5 other people.  That doesn't make a lot of sense.

[sarapals]

Should have been more Brass!

This season was such an up-down season, just when I thought "this is good", something went off (like CSIs acting like cops, going into buildings first) and I'd think "not-so-good".

[dyneemo]

Whoah...Brass was only 8 minutes? I can see DB getting more time since he's the leader now, but I figured Brass would be right up there with him...disappointing

CgrGrl,thank you so much for keeping track of this for all of us!

[csiwareagle]

But, guys.  Brass is so good that what is lacking in quantity is made up in quality.  But, I agree.  The characters are no longer ensemble so the stars are stars and the rest are support and it really takes away from the show.

I would have much rather have had Nick working along side DB rather than Finn.  I just don't like the Finn character. 

[Crumbs]

The characters are no longer ensemble so the stars are stars and the rest are support and it really takes away from the show.

Disagree strongly with that, if there's something that this past season has been good at it's been getting a good balance between characters. I fully expect for DB to get the most screentime overall but there have been a few episodes where he's taken a backseat. Apart from her Seattle episode I've hardly noticed Finn all season. Morgan seems to wind up in every storyline but there are a lot of episodes she appears for very little time. I feel nowadays I can expect to see a decent share of the characters and really disagree when people say the show is now all about the new characters.

The Langston years were terrible for the team ensemble, Seasons 6 to 8 were pretty rubbish with it as well with Warrick, Greg and Nick being relegated to 'blink and you'll miss them' characters in many episodes.

[oldfanatic]

Reflection of it being an ensemble production in the early days was the fact that there were usually two cases at the very least, often three so that we had different pairings almost every week with all of them involved in pretty substantial roles.  Now they seem to all work only one case at a time and one or more of the characters has such a minor role he or she might as well not be there.  This is more a cast that is led from the top down even when DB has a less important part to play.

[csiwareagle]

Crumbs, I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this one.

Ensemble to me means literally what I would expect to see in a work environment.  OF worded it very well.  The characters play such minor roles in some of the new cases that they really aren't needed.

4X4 was one of the best examples of ensemble I can think of. This is the kind of writing that I miss.

[sarapals]

Remember--I was very young when CSI started.

I thought the oldest guy was listed first in the credits--not that he was the star!  Paul/Brass was listed last because he was more of a co-star, but all the original team--Grissom, Catherine, Nick, Warrick, and Sara--were equal stars so that was why it was called an "ensemble". (I'd guess I got that from hearing "ensembles" sing in church!)

[CgrGrl]

Screen Time for The Devil and DB Russell -

Doc, Super - 1
Hodges, Henry - 2
Greg - 3
Nicky, Sara, Ecklie - 5
Brass, Morgan - 8
Ellie, Finn - 9
DB - 21

[Hooleo]

Wow.  I knew DB was in it a lot and I know he's the main star but they kind of overdid it in this episode.  But then again, I didn't like the eppy so that's probably why I thought they gave him too much time.

[sarapals]

I must have blinked a few times and missed Nick and Sara!!

And did anyone notice Sara in the opening credits? Blink and you miss her!

[Susan]

You'd think an episode about Brass and Ecklie's daughters missing would have a bit more of Brass and Ecklie in them.  But, there I am sounding logical again! 

And did anyone notice Sara in the opening credits? Blink and you miss her!

Blink and you miss everyone!  They go by so fast now that they're not on screen for 2 seconds each.  

[CgrGrl]

Guess what I did?  As promised over a year ago, I've started to track past seasons. 

Screen Time for the Pilot  -

Greg, O'Riley (remember him) - 2
Brass - 7
Nicky, Catherine - 9
Holly - 12
Warrick - 15
Grissom - 20

[CgrGrl]

Screen Time for Cool Change -

Bobby, Greg - 1
Brass - 2
Warrick, Sara - 10
Catherine - 14
Nicky - 17
Grissom - 26

[oldfanatic]

Not surprising that this early Grissom would be getting most of the screen time.  A bit of a surprise, not unwelcome, to see Nick got more than Catherine in this one.