CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV Series) The Strip Strangler (2001) User Reviews

The Serial-Killer

[claudio_carvalho · 9/10 · 1 October 2022]

When the third woman is found tortured and strangled on her bed, with no evidence of DNA but semen with a red unidentified component, the CSI and the police conclude that there is a serial-killer in Los Angeles. The politic Sheriff Brian Mobley calls the FBI despite the protest of Grissom, and the arrogant Special Agent Rick Culpepper assumes the investigation. When a woman is murdered in a hotel and her husband is arrested, the FBI informs the press that the case is resolved and closed. However, Grissom does not believe the man is the notorious serial-killer.

"The Strip Strangler" is the golden key closure of the First Season of CSI. This episode tells the story of a sick serial-killer and how Grissom and his team investigate the case. The plot, as usual, is well-developed disclosing the CSI work with minor details left in the crime scene. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "O Estrangulador" ("The Strangler")

Politics are Boring

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 4 January 2021]

I agree with another reviewer that throwing the Sheriff's political aspirations into the show too often messes with what this show is all about. We have a pretty basic serial criminal. But because the CSI's haven't solved the case in a heartbeat, in comes the FBI. They are always portrayed as arrogant, self serving types who allow others to do the work and then take credit. It's interesting that the first season ended without a cliffhanger. I also agree that Sara Sidle's character is way off base when it comes to teamwork.

Sarà is an idiot

[Valkonian · 4/10 · 25 March 2022]

Sarà is an idiot in this episode. No CSI would act like this. The FBI's involvement, their setup, the whole episode was absurd. Shame because they could have made it a good episode.

Unrealistic, Infuriating Slog of an episode.

[usagiarwen · 1/10 · 11 May 2024]

To be fair, I'm coming into this review 23 years after the episode first aired. This episode took place 4 years before Criminal Minds began airing on CBS. If my first viewing of this had been before Criminal Minds, I might have been more forgiving of the FBI in this episode.

In summary, the CSI team were investigating a serial rapist and murderer. They were using the forensics to go through the crime scenes as is their signature for the show, and suddenly the chief invited the FBI in to take over the investigation. Almost immediately, the agent in charge, Culpepper, gave the unknown suspect a name, the strip strangler, and began stomping all over the leadership of the team. Sara Sidle teamed up with Culpepper against Grissom's wishes as team leader, but their ops was not a success because another woman was found. Forensics did lead to this woman's husband being her murderer, and Culpepper decided to pin him for all the murders, despite lack of evidence tying him to the others. He claimed that the signatures matched up, despite parts of the signature forensically clearly not matching up. Grissom was suspended for publicly stating the strangler was not yet caught, and they had to go behind the backs of the police to solve the crime off the books. Grissom never even received any recognition for this, probably because it would make Culpepper look like a moron.

This episode was incredibly unrealistic, and honestly, quite stupid. I found myself saying "This isn't how the FBI works."

I couldn't help but call out the absurdity of how Culpepper behaved in this investigation. First, there's a reason police generally do not want the feds in their investigations. So inviting the FBI in would come with a lot of expectations. First off, why is Culpepper giving this guy a name, the Strip Strangler? Why is Culpepper going above heads to get Sidle into an op? Why is Culpepper not relying on the forensics to help him determine the facts? Why is he coming off as a total ignorant fool? Why was Grissom suspended when he is renowned for his professionalism? Why is no one taking anything he says to heart to reevaluate the situation? There are so many questions, and I find myself comparing this episode to Criminal minds because of how contrary the FBI agent is acting in this as compared to how the BAU establishes their own professional boundaries of cooperation with local police forces. I truly hate this episode.

ridiculous

[gs20 · 3/10 · 7 June 2010]

First of all, I was stunned at the absence of review for this particular show. Let me qualify any statements made here with the fact that I love this show generally but in the interest of posterity I just had to speak out on the implausibility of this whole episode.

No sheriff or chief of police on the face of the earth with access to this incredibly staffed and almost supernaturally successful CSI department would ever suspend the, by now, nationally famous (like Dr. Lee from CT) Grissom, let alone allow an underling CSI to supersede his (Grissom again) authority especially when dealing with another police agency......why would he when he garners credit for the work others do as do all real sheriffs and chiefs. The character of Sara Sidle would undoubtedly be demoted, officially reprimanded or possibly even fired for such a breach of chain of command. The Sidle character is too loudly opinionated, stubborn, and impatient anyway to be a CSI. Whether or not her character is supposed to be actually disturbed is not relevant here. However, the non support by Grissom's staff does have a ring of truth to it, as demonstrated by Grissom's incredulousness at their actions and opinions .........shocking but realistic........unfortunately the political skills in the characters of conniving and technically under skilled Eckley and the very often callous, passive aggressive and under skilled Willows are probably the most realistic characters in the show.....what with their greater concerns of advancement over crime solving.

Historically, police departments loath FBI involvement in their cases even when they ask them to participate.......prior to 911, co-operation with this sort of thing was poor..........even after, improvement is questionable.

In the context of the show the CSI lab is easily as good as, or better than the FBI's real crime lab. A fact that i am sure irritates real live crime labs across the country.......all in all, the ridiculous premise of the forced relationships really took away quite a bit from the solving of the crimes and the science which i thought was counter-productive.