Season 5, Episode 24: Grave Danger

William Petersen remains the steadfast rock that anchors the show. Even in moments of crisis, Gil Grissom's calm center allows him to think rationally.

And yet, there's no doubt that Grissom is emotionally affected by Nick's plight. He goes alone to meet Gordon with unmarked money, imploring, "I just want my guy back." Later in the episode, he watches Nick record his farewell tape and reads his lips and tells Nick that he never let him down. It is also Grissom that pulls Nick from the abyss by calling him Pancho and calming him down.

Despite Grissom's awkwardness around other people, he does have a keen grasp of human nature, and is in fact the one who connects with Nick emotionally at the crucial moment. And when Grissom cracks the case by identifying the type of ant in Nick's coffin, it's a classic CSI moment.

Marg Helgenberger's Catherine is less of a foil to Petersen's cool Grissom in this episode than an equally quick-thinking partner. When the department refuses to give over money for Nick's ransom, she turns to her father, Sam Braun, and acquiesces to his request that she ask him for the money as a daughter.

It is also Catherine who confronts Warrick about his emotional outburst. Catherine is clearly growing into her role as a team leader; will she retain that position if Grissom gets his "guys" back?

Review provided by CSI Files.