The series's 300th episode aired during the season, with Marg Helgenberger guest starring in the landmark episode in a series of newly recorded "flashbacks" to a case that occurred in the time frame of the first season.[1] Due to the leave of absence taken by George Eads following his altercation with a writer, he appears only in the first three episodes of the season, under the pretext of receiving special training in Quantico. Eads returned in the episode "Check In and Check Out".[2] The season also introduced a redesigned title sequence.
On February 18, 2014, CBS announced plans to launch a new spin-off of the CSI franchise, tentatively titled CSI: Cyber, with a backdoor pilot episode, entitled "Kitty", that aired April 30, 2014. Inspired by producer Mary Aiken's work as a cyber-psychologist, the new series revolves around Special Agent Avery Ryan, played by Patricia Arquette,[3] who is in charge of the Cyber division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.[4] The show was officially picked up by CBS on May 9, 2014.[5] On March 13, 2014, it was announced that CSI: Crime Scene Investigation would return for a fifteenth season, which started airing in September 2014.[6]
Plot
D.B. and Finn lead the hunt for Morgan, while Brody makes a shocking discovery that endangers her own life ("The Devil and D.B. Russell"), in the fourteenth season of CSI. Also this season the team investigate the unusual, the brutal, and the life-changing, including a casino heist ("Take the Money and Run"), a night-club fire ("Torch Song"), a contact lens discovered on a cookery show ("Last Supper"), a cold case that takes the team, and Willows, back to 2000 ("Frame by Frame"), the death of a homeless man ("Passed Pawns"), a body in a human hamster ball ("Helpless"), a stabbing at a hotel ("Check In and Check Out"), the murder of Santa ("The Lost Reindeer"), a petty crime on a plane ("Keep Calm and Carry On"), a car-crash ("Boston Brakes"), a murder in Mexico ("De Los Muertos"), and the death of a sixteen year old ("Love for Sale"). Meanwhile, Greg is accused of framing a man seven years ago ("Under a Cloud"), Sara, Morgan and Finn head to a spa ("Girls Gone Wild"), D.B. is taken hostage ("The Fallen"), the team track a cannibal ("Consumed"), and Brass has to make a decision when his daughter attempts suicide ("Dead In His Tracks"). Avery Ryan, meanwhile, heads to Las Vegas to work alongside the CSI team when a casino owner's wife is killed in a cyber-related case ("Kitty").
Cast
Changes
Paul Guilfoyle, who plays Jim Brass, left the series at the end of the 14th season.[7] Marg Helgenberger guest stars, Patricia Arquette makes her franchise debut as Avery Ryan.
During their investigation of the Dante's Inferno murders that claimed more lives, Russell and the CSIs discovered that both Morgan and Ellie have been kidnapped; the kidnapper gave Ecklie and Brass six hours to decide which of the two should live or die, with tragic consequences eventually given to another loved one. (Guest starred James Callis, Eric Roberts and Tim Matheson.)
A high stakes poker game at a casino was held up in a heist that saw the shooting death of a casino guard and the sudden death of the getaway motorcyclist, who had "stolen" hundreds of thousands of dollars in play money. The CSIs track down the real thief and murderer, who had sacrificed his accomplice's life as a patsy.
A night club hosting a hatecore band goes up in flames with many attendees escaping for their lives; four had died, including members of the band. The CSI team goes looking for an amateur arsonist who, like the band, is a devout neo-Nazi. (Guest stars John Ratzenberger, who was Ted Danson's co-star on his earlier series, Cheers.)
An episode of a cooking reality show Elite Chef began with a tasting challenge where, unknown to the contestants and host Wolfgang Puck, the secret ingredient was human. Or more specifically, a former contestant. The CSIs take a close look at the "ingredients" in order to find the murderous cannibal. Meanwhile, Hodges and Elisabetta break off their engagement, after learning that neither of them would be happy away from their longtime homes.
In a salute to CSI's 300th episode, the team examine a murder at a movie producer's mansion. Sara and Ecklie, however, relate this case to a cold case they investigated 14 years earlier, involving the same suspect. (Guest starred Marg Helgenberger, reprising her role as Catherine Willows in newly-filmed flashbacks. Also guest starred Jason Priestley.)
301
6
"Passed Pawns"
Phil Conserva
Story by : Michael F.X. Daley Teleplay by : Christopher Barbour
A homeless man uses his last $200 to win $350,000 at black jack at a small casino; he was later found beaten to death in an alley. The CSIs try to determine who was at fault, only to find out that the victim had a connection with the murderer - and the pawn shop where he pawned his jewelry.
A John Doe found barely alive during torrential rains in Vegas was admitted to hospital; as Sara examined his personal effects, she discovered a bomb inside his satchel. It was soon discovered that he intended to commit a terrorist act at a local casino, but when the FBI got involved, they discover more about the terrorist plot, and the suspect. Meanwhile, Greg Sanders is investigated and accused of framing a man for murder seven years ago after discovering two different pictures of the same crime scene that don't match. (Guest starred Lea Thompson.)
The CSIs examine a bludgeoned, bloody corpse inside a "human hamster ball" that rolled around a neighborhood, leading to a discovery that it was an act of "claustrophilia" gone wrong. They later found his girlfriend, who mailed herself to death. Also: Morgan works with a swing shift CSI on a rape case, involving that CSI's son as the suspect.
The CSIs investigate a local motel where a series of grisly murders took place. Not only have they been committed by otherwise outstanding citizens with no record, they all occurred in the same room. Hodges and Sanders would later find the answer - the hard way.
En route to Reno for a weekend at a spa resort, Sara, Finlay, and Morgan found themselves stranded in a small town with car trouble. Their stay would lead to a murder investigation after discovering a dead body under a hood of a stolen car, and a missing persons case when Finlay disappears after being a victim in a hit-and-run. The CSI team must piece together what happened in detail to find her, and to solve the murder case.
"Santa Claus" was discovered dead on the artificial snow-covered front lawn of a suburban house, with a reindeer having blood on its hooves. The CSIs would discover his death was in connection with the illicit trade of another kind of "snow" - cocaine. Meanwhile, the CSIs guess who their "secret Santas" are, when they receive their gifts.
Shortly after an inbound plane to Vegas made its landing, several passengers reported having their belongings stolen. A short time later, the CSIs would later find the suspected thief - dead, at the end of a runway. The "thief" was on a rush to Las Vegas to escape an abusive relationship, meeting up with a janitor with connections with someone who could help her "disappear". (Guest starred Joel Grey and Jaleel White.)
John Merchiston (James Callis), the reporter who covered the Dante's Inferno murders, is back in Vegas working on an exposé involving top secret documents and espionage. During his assignment, he was "killed" by a car bomb - or so that they wanted others to believe. While the CSIs assist, the FBI takes over, as it involved classified documents detailing automobiles that can be driven by remote control.
309
14
"De Los Muertos"
Louis Shaw Milito
Story by : Richard Catalani Teleplay by : Tom Mularz
Robbins and Nick travel to Mexico to assist a local coroner in investigating a Las Vegas woman who was found murdered in a Mexican town. Meanwhile, back in the states, the CSIs investigate a local couple found dead inside their driveway, which would later connect with the Mexican slaying.
Sara and Sanders investigate the murder of an Elvis impersonator, and a nearby rook who was found stabbed to death; they later discover that the characters of the victims and the location of their deaths resemble a sadistic chess match. The investigation would move to a chess tournament, where the suspects included a chess expert who tutored Sanders in his youth (Ron Glass, in his last role before his death on November 25, 2016), and a retired chess grandmaster who has lived a reclusive life in recent years.
The CSIs investigate the murder of a rock and roll groupie and the disappearance of a prostitute that both have ties to a mysterious band of wannabee musicians. One of the early suspects in this case included KISS frontman, Gene Simmons.
313
18
"Uninvited"
Brad Tanenbaum
Story by : Treena Hancock & Melissa R. Byer Teleplay by : Elizabeth Devine
The CSIs are called to investigate when an entire family is reported to have been missing for a month. Suspects included a man who mysteriously moved into their vacated house after his release from prison. (Guest starred Edie McClurg.)
A teenage boy opens fire at the police station, killing two officers - one of them a husband to another police officer. He would later take Russell and an injured interviewee hostage. Russell, with the help of the CSIs, would attempt to defuse the situation before, he, or the other officers, shoot again. The investigation, however, would determine that the teen's shooting spree was an inside job.
The CSIs track a cannibalistic killer and discover he's not alone. Then the story turn into confusing tales of the killer who was trying to spread the unique mythologic legend of cannibalistic crime. One of these related murders included a woman who was murdered by being stabbed in the stomach while an endoscopic camera was inside her.
After a casino owner’s wife was murdered in an otherwise secure electronic "smart house", the CSIs enlist Avery Ryan (Patricia Arquette) of the FBI’s Cyber Crime Division to determine what created the chink in the house's electronic armor.
In 1989, three boys came across a dying man in a shack alongside the railroad track, with proceeds from a robbery. 25 years later, the CSIs would investigate a crime that would connect with a murder related to the cold case. Meanwhile, Brass's daughter, Ellie, is in hospital following a suicide attempt while in town for arraignment in her murder case; this would lead to a career-changing decision for the sake of his daughter. (Guest starred Treat Williams.)
