When the original CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) first aired in 2000, I was intrigued. There had been plenty of police dramas prior to CSI, but this was the first one I watched that was focussed on forensics.

From DNA to Luminol sprays to blood spatter to bullet striations, using science to unravel the mystery of a crime and compiling concrete evidence to convict criminals made for good storytelling.

However, CSI was visually dark as the team featured in the show worked the night shift. That made it feel a bit too 'serious' for me. I wished it was lighter.

Well, I got my wish two years later in 2002, when CSI: Miami premiered. Goodbye moody Las Vegas, hello sunny Miami.

Brightness

CSI Miami was refreshing as I was tired of dark cinematography. It's much easier to watch episodes that take place during the day, and this made the show more visually appealing, too.

Although CSI Miami was actually shot in Los Angeles, enough establishing shots of locations in Miami and Florida were spliced in to give it the correct vibe.

Cinematography aside, CSI Miami also had a unique protagonist in Lt Horatio Caine (played by David Caruso). While CSI's Dr Gil Grissom (played by William Petersen) had scientific gravitas, Lt Caine comes across as more detective, less scientist.

CSI Miami is also distinct because of Lt Caine's one-liners, which are famous/infamous, sometimes punny, but mostly corny. They precede the "Yeaahhhhh!" from The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again, and to the show's fans, it's not CSI Miami without them.

Say what you want about the deadpan (or is it wooden?) delivery, but it's all part of the flavour.

Making every one-liner so awesome is Lt Caine's sunglasses routine: He delivers half the line, pauses for dramatic effect, then puts on his shades before finishing it. Till today, I wish I could have the same pair of Silhouette frameless sunglasses.

The dialogues I recall the most include:

Frank Tripp: It's a mob hit, Horatio.
Lt Caine: Yes - puts on sunglasses - and it's time to hit back.

Frank Tripp (looking at a woman's dead body): No matter how you cut it, divorce sucks.
Lt Caine: Frank (puts on sunglasses), it's a killer.

Eric Delko: He might be trying to get our attention.
Lt Caine: I don't know (puts on sunglasses). But he just got mine.

Dr Alexx Woods: Think someone was sending a message? 
Lt Caine: (Puts on sunglasses) I do, Alexx. And I just got it.

Comedian Jim Carrey even parodied him on a talk show. He was praised by David Caruso, who found the entire segment hilarious.

It's also about the action

All CSI series had their share of chase scenes, suspect takedowns, house raids and shoot-outs. I would even say that the action scenes in CSI: New York, led by renowned actor Gary Sinise, felt the grittiest. Perhaps this was down to his character, Mac Taylor, being an ex-US Marine.

But the action sequences in CSI Miami are better. Although Lt Caine is no soldier, he is a nevertheless a crack shot. And unlike other CSIs who take off after villains on foot, many of his chase scenes are done behind the wheel.

Besides, Lt Caine is typically a step ahead of the suspect when pursuing him or her. I've lost count of the number of times a perp has come running around a corner, thinking he's escaped, only to find the lieutenant waiting for him...with his pistol raised and those trademark sunglasses hanging from his other hand. This pose is particular to his character and makes CSI Miami more distinct, too.

Then again, it's cool when he does this wearing his shades, as seen in the opening for Season 6, Episode 16.

When the bad guy realises he's done for

This episode also has a climactic end to CSI Calleigh Duquesne's kidnapping. Here the baddie used Calleigh to gain entry to a private high-stakes poker game, not knowing that her fellow CSIs were waiting at the table.

I laughed as I watched this for the first time, because by now, I knew the playbook. Bad news for the baddie: If Lt Caine isn't facing you, that means he's behind you. "Now, if I were you, I'd fold."

Pistol aimed with sunglasses in hand - that's classic CSI Miami
 
Good things eventually end
 
After 10 seasons, CSI Miami was cancelled in 2012. It doesn't matter how many plaudits you've earned or fans you've gained. When viewership falls, production costs increase, and the format grows stale, it's time to call it a day. 
 
There'll never be another show like this one. Say what you like about the lead actor, but he brought Horatio Caine to life, gave us our one-liners (there are many videos on YouTube on this), and helped make the series distinct from its counterparts. 
 
Ending a series is sad, but at the same time, concluding it allows the show to become truly memorable to fans. Besides, I can still watch it anytime - I have all ten seasons on DVD.