The Trojan Caine
OPEN: JANUS FILE #0274
Do you remember when, if a top-rated TV series had its main character shot in a season finale, it was a topic of speculation for the entire summer? Now, it barely gets noticed.
In 1980, Dallas stunned everyone with what could possibly be called the shot heard round the world. As the season finale drew to a close, J.R. Ewing walked into his darkened office, and before he could turn on the lights, he was shot. Three times, if I'm not too mistaken. (I never really watched Dallas, so I'm probably getting some of the details wrong.)
That shot caused a sensation that lasted the entire summer. "Who shot J.R.?" was the question on everyone's mind. It was deemed important enough for either Time or Newsweek (or possibly both) to run a cover with that question in large bold letters. And when it came time to shoot the scene that revealed who indeed shot the man everyone loved to hate, the producers of Dallas decided to shoot the scene multiple times, with most if not all of the cast taking their turn behind the gun -- including a rather confused-looking Larry Hagman. (I really hope that those scenes were included as an extra in that season's DVD collection of Dallas.)
Fast forward to 2008, and the season finale of CSI: Miami. As Horatio Caine is waiting by a private plane, a single shot rings out, and he falls to the ground. One of the final shots before it cuts to black is that of Horatio lying on the tarmac. Lying just out of his reach are what some fans have dubbed "the sunglasses of justice," a bullet hole in the right lens.
If this was 1980, "Who shot Horatio Caine?" would have been just as big a question as "Who shot J.R.?" was. That might have even been the case in 1990 as well. But in 2008, it barely caused a ripple in the media. Oh, I am quite certain that the topic has been thoroughly discussed on any Usenet group that has any connection to CSI: Miami. In fact, I'm willing to bet it has been probably discussed to the point that the topic has now gained dead horse status. But beyond that, not a lot.
To tell you the truth, though, I haven't noticed much reporting on any season-ending cliffhangers over the summer. Part of it may be due to this year's writer's strike, but I think most of it may be because things have gone quite a bit beyond having the lead character getting shot. Dallas may have set the bar originally with that cliffhanger, but other series have raised it. I think the series that may have raised it the most was Star Trek: The Next Generation. In my own opinion, you would be hard pressed to find a season-ending cliffhanger that comes close to matching "Best Of Both Worlds, Part 1," with Captain Picard being transformed into Locutus Of Borg, and Commander Riker giving the order for the Enterprise-D to fire on the Borg cube.
From what I've seen of the commercials for the CSI: Miami season premiere, I think it may be the resolution to that cliffhanger that garners more attention. All of the promos seem to be suggesting that Horatio is dead, and the reaction of various characters to that revelation.
I don't believe Horatio is dead for one moment. For one thing, during the last season, there was no mention that series star David Caruso wanted to leave CSI: Miami. (One suspects that Caruso has learned from walking away from NYPD Blue over a decade ago.) In terms of the show, while we did see Horatio fall, we didn't see a bullet hole, nor did we see a pool of blood. But according to the promos for tonight's season premiere, people are thinking that Horatio is dead -- and that is precisely what he wants everyone, friend and foe alike, to believe.
As for why Horatio is faking his death, I think it's most likely to pull a con job on con artist (and suspected murderer) Ron Saris, who seems to be thinking of himself as an archnemesis for Horatio. (Oh, please. We have already seen two worthy claimants to that title in Walter Resden and Clavo Cruz, and Saris isn't in their league. Not by a long shot.) But who else is involved in this little Trojan Caine?
My guess is that Horatio has two accomplices in this little ruse. First, there is CSI Ryan Wolfe, who was seen receiving a cryptic text message after Horatio was shot: "It's done." Second, there is Kyle Harmon, Horatio's 16-year-old son (and whom Horatio didn't even realize existed until this past season). I think Horatio had Ryan and Kyle set up the "shooting," and is disappearing to give Saris enough rope to hang himself. And I am guessing that by the end of the episode, we will be treated to one of Horatio's one-liners; this one alluding to Mark Twain's quote about the reports of his death being greatly exaggerated.
Why Ryan and Kyle? In last season's finale, we saw Horatio taking Kyle aside for a brief conversation, but the viewers weren't privy to that little chat. And of all the characters in the series, he seems to be the one unaccounted for at the moment Horatio was shot. My guess is that Kyle was the one who fired the shot -- and I’m absolutely certain that Horatio was wearing some sort of body armor under his suit.
As for Ryan's involvement, I'm thinking that Horatio wanted both CSIs Calleigh Duqesne and Eric Delko (both of whom have worked with Horatio longer than Ryan) to be totally surprised and shocked by his supposed death. And after Horatio worked to get Ryan reinstated as a CSI, I'm guessing that Ryan feels that he owes Horatio quite a large debt indeed, and would do anything to help him.
I've been pondering this on and off all summer. But the time for pondering is almost over. I think we'll know at least a few of the answers in just a few hours.
CLOSE: JANUS FILE #0274
Do you remember when, if a top-rated TV series had its main character shot in a season finale, it was a topic of speculation for the entire summer? Now, it barely gets noticed.
In 1980, Dallas stunned everyone with what could possibly be called the shot heard round the world. As the season finale drew to a close, J.R. Ewing walked into his darkened office, and before he could turn on the lights, he was shot. Three times, if I'm not too mistaken. (I never really watched Dallas, so I'm probably getting some of the details wrong.)
That shot caused a sensation that lasted the entire summer. "Who shot J.R.?" was the question on everyone's mind. It was deemed important enough for either Time or Newsweek (or possibly both) to run a cover with that question in large bold letters. And when it came time to shoot the scene that revealed who indeed shot the man everyone loved to hate, the producers of Dallas decided to shoot the scene multiple times, with most if not all of the cast taking their turn behind the gun -- including a rather confused-looking Larry Hagman. (I really hope that those scenes were included as an extra in that season's DVD collection of Dallas.)
Fast forward to 2008, and the season finale of CSI: Miami. As Horatio Caine is waiting by a private plane, a single shot rings out, and he falls to the ground. One of the final shots before it cuts to black is that of Horatio lying on the tarmac. Lying just out of his reach are what some fans have dubbed "the sunglasses of justice," a bullet hole in the right lens.
If this was 1980, "Who shot Horatio Caine?" would have been just as big a question as "Who shot J.R.?" was. That might have even been the case in 1990 as well. But in 2008, it barely caused a ripple in the media. Oh, I am quite certain that the topic has been thoroughly discussed on any Usenet group that has any connection to CSI: Miami. In fact, I'm willing to bet it has been probably discussed to the point that the topic has now gained dead horse status. But beyond that, not a lot.
To tell you the truth, though, I haven't noticed much reporting on any season-ending cliffhangers over the summer. Part of it may be due to this year's writer's strike, but I think most of it may be because things have gone quite a bit beyond having the lead character getting shot. Dallas may have set the bar originally with that cliffhanger, but other series have raised it. I think the series that may have raised it the most was Star Trek: The Next Generation. In my own opinion, you would be hard pressed to find a season-ending cliffhanger that comes close to matching "Best Of Both Worlds, Part 1," with Captain Picard being transformed into Locutus Of Borg, and Commander Riker giving the order for the Enterprise-D to fire on the Borg cube.
From what I've seen of the commercials for the CSI: Miami season premiere, I think it may be the resolution to that cliffhanger that garners more attention. All of the promos seem to be suggesting that Horatio is dead, and the reaction of various characters to that revelation.
I don't believe Horatio is dead for one moment. For one thing, during the last season, there was no mention that series star David Caruso wanted to leave CSI: Miami. (One suspects that Caruso has learned from walking away from NYPD Blue over a decade ago.) In terms of the show, while we did see Horatio fall, we didn't see a bullet hole, nor did we see a pool of blood. But according to the promos for tonight's season premiere, people are thinking that Horatio is dead -- and that is precisely what he wants everyone, friend and foe alike, to believe.
As for why Horatio is faking his death, I think it's most likely to pull a con job on con artist (and suspected murderer) Ron Saris, who seems to be thinking of himself as an archnemesis for Horatio. (Oh, please. We have already seen two worthy claimants to that title in Walter Resden and Clavo Cruz, and Saris isn't in their league. Not by a long shot.) But who else is involved in this little Trojan Caine?
My guess is that Horatio has two accomplices in this little ruse. First, there is CSI Ryan Wolfe, who was seen receiving a cryptic text message after Horatio was shot: "It's done." Second, there is Kyle Harmon, Horatio's 16-year-old son (and whom Horatio didn't even realize existed until this past season). I think Horatio had Ryan and Kyle set up the "shooting," and is disappearing to give Saris enough rope to hang himself. And I am guessing that by the end of the episode, we will be treated to one of Horatio's one-liners; this one alluding to Mark Twain's quote about the reports of his death being greatly exaggerated.
Why Ryan and Kyle? In last season's finale, we saw Horatio taking Kyle aside for a brief conversation, but the viewers weren't privy to that little chat. And of all the characters in the series, he seems to be the one unaccounted for at the moment Horatio was shot. My guess is that Kyle was the one who fired the shot -- and I’m absolutely certain that Horatio was wearing some sort of body armor under his suit.
As for Ryan's involvement, I'm thinking that Horatio wanted both CSIs Calleigh Duqesne and Eric Delko (both of whom have worked with Horatio longer than Ryan) to be totally surprised and shocked by his supposed death. And after Horatio worked to get Ryan reinstated as a CSI, I'm guessing that Ryan feels that he owes Horatio quite a large debt indeed, and would do anything to help him.
I've been pondering this on and off all summer. But the time for pondering is almost over. I think we'll know at least a few of the answers in just a few hours.
CLOSE: JANUS FILE #0274