Since I can't seem to post an opinion on the CSI message board about this topic without being called immature and my attempts to defend my words getting blocked, I will post them here.
First of all, I do not consider an honest opinion or strong objection to be a sign of immaturity. I think the whole Grissom/Sara relationship is wrong. He berates Nick for sleeping with a hooker, and Catherine for using the lab to run a DNA test to determine that Sam Braun is her father. But when Sara talked back to Catherine AND Eckley (who almost fired her), he went rushing to her side to hold her hand. You know, Warrick didn't exactly have a glowing childhood either, but you don't see him taking it out on other people.
Their affair was revealed on last season's final episode and this season, they've worked EVERY case together. It is still overtly obvious from the 10/19/06 episode that William Petersen and Jorja Fox remain the primary focus of this show. CSI went way too far with this episode when the plot allowed this perverted couple to go near, much less process, a crime scene involving religious entities. This UNGODLY ploy took sacrilege and hypocrisy to the extreme so this sex-obsessed, obscene couple could continue to WORK AND SCREW TOGETHER AGAIN. (And by the way, nobody gives a damn what their religious views are).
William Petersen and Jorja Fox have made it overtly clear to viewers that they have an obscene desire for one another. Since they obviously have control over their sleazy characters, as well as this show. And what is disturbing is that this depraved, UNPROFESSIONAL couple is going to find a way to take their obsession to the next level--HAVING SEX AT A CRIME SCENE and witnessing Grissom unzipping his pants and Sara dropping hers.
This show has a good, strong cast with Marg Helgenberger, George Eads, Gary Dourdan and Paul Guilfoyle, but it looks like all they want to focus on is the Grissom/Sara relationship. No wonder Grey's Anatomy is #1 in the ratings. This show USED to dominate that spot, but with the nonsense going on, I'm not surprised that they lost it.
Comments
JohnnySoftware
There was an article in the paper when I was a school kid about a pair of coworkers who had an affair and, worse, set out to destroy the husband of the female part of this couple.
Because they all 3 worked in the same place and the 2 having the illicit affair apparently had considerable charisma or something, they were able to practically destroy the cuckold husband professionally, and I think financially too.
You think the show's characters are committing some unpardonable sin, you should read what these real life characters did.
When you think fiction is bad, try reading the newspapers sometime. It is not right to hold all fictitious characters to a standard that trusted individuals in respected institutions cannot uphold, eh?
Going back to Sara and her boss, maybe the fairly low-key affair is just a way to get the popular Fox in more scenes, and let the actors and writers exercise their skills by adding a little nuance and innuendo to some episodes.
This too shall pass. Liaisons like this on prime time TV series are as fleeting as guys in red shirts on Star Trek "landing parties".
By the way, religion and extra-marital affairs are not mutually exclusive. If the clergy can do it in the course of their work, then surely we viewers can forgive imaginary characters their imaginary pursuits.
There have been scenes where Sara was sexually teasing Grissom going back at least a year or two ago. Take the handcuff scene, for instance. And his lack of reaction as opposed to surprise or irritation was pretty telling. So this has been building for a while.
Besides, they see death all the time. Seems unfair for them not to have a life.
And this way there is an economical use of existing characters, instead of introducing a new boyfriend for Sara or a fiance for Grissom suddenly popping up.
No new characters for viewers to have to learn, and no new actors for the producers to have to add to the payroll.
Besides, it sort of "fits" the characters. That might be why the actors are behind it. Actors on long-running series tend to really build up an innate understanding of the personalities/motivations/quirks of their characters. Well, Grissom is probably lonely even if he is unaware of it and Sara clearly needs a rush of excitement from time to time.
An affair would address both these needs. Both characters are single and well above the age of consent. The only rough edges are that their ages are further apart than usual and he is her boss.
The latter point could form the basis for another story arc down the road if Grissom gets censured for having a relationship with a direct-report subordinate. If that happens, maybe one of them will have to transfer to CSI:NY or CSI:Miami. ;-)
You think this stuff is bad, go pick up some ancient Greek mythology and give that a read for a few days. And it was all based on human nature.
In this case, the shows producers might eventually use this arc to show viewers that such an affair is usually doomed and what can happen. And that will be people's take-away.
You and the producers might have very mature attitudes about the affair. In the end, you might find that theirs were not that different from yours - and completely different from that of some people's in the forum.
It is too soon to judge, though.