The Eighth Season of CSI saw the departure of two characters (one in the first half and the other in the second half). Both departures have ramifications that are felt through this season and the current one (season 9). Kudos to CBS DVD for getting the WITHOUT A TRACE crossover episode included on this set. I like the moment where the midget actor tries to hit on Catherine Willows in THE CHICK CHOP FLICK SHOP. Two of the best episodes are GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK and the season finale.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Audio commentaries for two episodes-
YOU KILL ME by Naren Shankar and actors Wallace Langham, liz Vassey, Archie Kao, Sheeri Rapport, & David Berman
COCKROACHES by director William Friedkin, actor William Petersen, and producer Dustin Abraham
The second track is the best as the director launches right into the audio commentary without the usual intros by everyone.

Two featurettes are on disc 3:
WHILE THE CAST'S AWAY, THE RATS WILL PLAY- a featurette on YOU KILL ME
WILLIAM FRIEDKIN: A DIFFERENT TAKE- a nice companion to the audio commentary for COCKROACHES. Interviews with Friedkiin, Petersen, Dourdan, and two CSI producers

one deleted scene for GRISSSOM'S DIVINE COMEDY

Four featurettes on disc 5:
SO LONG, SARA SIDLE- a focus on the seven episode arc that lead to Sara leaving Las Vegas (which is ironic if you're watching season 9 now)
WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS...- the character arcs, the stories, and how the writer's strike affected the second half of the season
SHOT IN THE DARK- the use of shadows in the cinematography of CSI
TOD: A BUG'S LIFE- how the show uses bugs for TOD in the series

FINAL ANALYSIS: CSI season 8 has some great episodes and marks the exit of two characters (one gets killed). the set has some good featurettes, but I wish they had more than two audio commentaries. I do wish they switched the package design to ThinkPak cases like they did with CSI: MIAMI.

this DVD review is (c)10-14-2008 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com  

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