CBS revived the CSI franchise in 2021 with CSI: Vegas, a show that brought back old faces while building a new team around them. The result is a solid procedural that respects its legacy without leaning too heavily on nostalgia.
Trailer, via Rotten Tomatoes TV.
The Team Behind the Scenes
Jason Tracey, Anthony E. Zuiker, and Ann Donahue created the series. CBS aired it starting October 6, 2021, with a total of 41 episodes across three seasons. The show ran until May 19, 2024, when it ended with its finale.
Paula Newsome plays Maxine Roby, Matt Lauria plays Joshua Folsom, and Mandeep Dhillon plays Allie Rajan. Marg Helgenberger returns as Catherine Willows. Ariana Guerra plays Serena Chavez, Jay Lee plays Chris Park, and Lex Medlin plays Beau Finado round out the main cast.
Bringing Back the Old Faces
William Petersen and Jorja Fox returned as Gil Grissom and Sara Sidle for the first season before leaving. Marg Helgenberger joined beginning with season two as Catherine Willows. Wallace Langham, Paul Guilfoyle, and Eric Szmanda appeared as David Hodges, Jim Brass, and Greg Sanders in guest roles.
The show originally ran as a limited series before getting a full second season. Petersen left as a cast member but stayed on as executive producer. Fox followed him out before the second season began, along with Mel Rodriguez.
| Season | Episodes | Premiere Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | October 6, 2021 |
| 2 | 21 | September 29, 2022 |
| 3 | 10 | February 18, 2024 |
What Works and What Doesn’t
The new team carries the weight of the show. Paula Newsome brings strength to Maxine Roby, and Matt Lauria gives Joshua Folsom a grounded sense of purpose. Mandeep Dhillon rounds out the group as Allie Rajan.
Marg Helgenberger’s return as Catherine Willows adds a familiar presence without overshadowing the newer actors. Her scenes with the younger team feel natural rather than forced.
The series leans on its core strengths: strong writing, tight pacing, and a clear focus on the evidence itself. Cases move quickly, and the science behind them stays grounded even when the plots grow strange.
The show’s biggest weakness is its middle ground. Some episodes rely too heavily on guest stars from the original series, which can pull focus away from the new team. The show also struggles with pacing in its second season, where the sheer number of episodes dilutes the stakes of individual cases.
Final Word
CSI: Vegas succeeds because it treats its new characters with respect. The show honors the past without letting it define the future.
The series ends on a note that feels earned, wrapping up its storylines with dignity rather than spectacle. That ending earns the show a solid 7.7 out of 10.
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