We've watched a few eps of CSI:Miami

[bovil]

The running joke is that Torchwood is CSI: Cardiff. It's not really a joke, Davies has said that they took some inspiration from CSI.

We don't watch much CSI.

Now I understand.

CSI: Miami has all the structural and pacing problems of Torchwood and more. The acting is rougher. The production design and technology are less realistic.

Comments

[genuine-snark.livejournal.com]

It's worth noting that the three CSIs have very different flavors, with Miami being particularly overdramatic and stylized. NY goes for grim and gritty, and Las Vegas has more of a dark (if glossy) thriller setting.

I'm a Las Vegas fan, myself, and have more or less decided that Caruso's scenery chewing in Miami is just too painful to watch.

I haven't watched much Torchwood yet (wanted to get through some of the new Doctor Who first) but it seemed like the basic procedural structure was a fairly common formula. That would put it in company with CSI, NCIS, Dangerous Minds, and so forth. Of course, the nature of the plots differentiates the show well. :)

[bovil.livejournal.com]

CSI features two things in common with Torchwood that aren't just part of the procedural formula.

There are the loads of aerial shots of the city to remind you where you are. That's kind of cool for Cardiff, a city that doesn't usually get that sort of treatment.

There is the ensemble cast, with a central character but weekly story-lines focused on the supporting characters. The way both shows handle this structure is very similar.

Still, Torchwood handles all of this in a more subtle fashion.