CSI: Vegas is officially changing the guard. With William Petersen not returning for Season 2, the CBS revival needs a character who can anchor the show like Gil Grissom did in the original series -- and an actor who can capture viewers' attention like Petersen has. Luckily it's already got both in Josh Folsom, the engaging crime-solver played by the criminally underrated Matt Lauria. With Folsom leading the new team the way that Grissom led his, the future of CSI is in great hands.
No one will ever replace Grissom, but Folsom can capably follow after him and keep the spirit he brought to CSI alive. Folsom has the same quality that made Grissom an iconic character -- that the guy solving the mysteries is somewhat of a mystery himself. Audiences saw early on that Grissom was different and were always interested in learning more about what made him tick. Folsom inspires that same curiosity. His backstory started to come out in Season 1, but it's clear there's much more to him than his difficult family. He's been around the block and like Grissom, probably has an anecdote or a factoid for almost everything. And like Grissom, it's fun to watch him do even the most mundane or technical things.
That's important because CSI can easily get bogged down in the science if the characters aren't interesting. The actors have to make scenes like waiting for test results and talking about technical details worth watching. Lauria does that effortlessly and almost more importantly, in a genuine way. So many crime dramas create a character whose defining characteristic is being witty or quirky as a way of livening up the procedural elements. Folsom has wit and charm, but that comes from Lauria himself; even when he's delivering an obvious one-liner, he makes it sound natural and not like an intentionally placed joke. His authenticity and charisma make Folsom someone the viewer likes and wants to follow, just as Grissom is always entertaining.
He's put effort into developing Folsom beyond what's in the description. CSI: Vegas is not the first crime drama to say the hero has a criminal in their family or that they come from "the wrong side of the tracks." Those things are true of Folsom, but they're just parts of his story rather than his defining characteristics. Lauria gives him an edge and world-weariness but also a spirit. He's not brooding or overly tough; he's learned from his experiences. It seems like he's constantly learning -- taking everything in, curious about everything, ready to see where the next case leads him.
Folsom's also not trying to do everything alone. Where Grissom had Catherine and Sara, Folsom's rapport with colleague Allie Rajan (Mandeep Dhillon, best known as Sandy in After Life) is a pillar the show can build on. It's an equal partnership that may or may not turn romantic, and if it does isn't really important. Folsom leads at times and Allie leads at others, with mutual respect in every scene. That relationship can keep growing in Season 2 and recreate the team dynamic that made the original series so popular. Lauria guest-starred in three CSI episodes a decade ago, so he knows what the show needs to be successful. He's never just focused on his character.
What the speculation has overlooked is that CSI: Vegas was always positioned as the Star Trek: Generations of CSI. Petersen was never meant to stay for more than one season, and Jorja Fox had her own option to leave after Season 1. CBS chose to do a revival with a mix of old and new characters on purpose, and that's reflected in who they cast. Matt Lauria is a TV veteran of incredible series including Friday Night Lights, and he's more than capable of leading a show. He has the resume and the talent to not only pick up where Petersen left off but move the universe forward.
It's time for CSI: Vegas to stand on its own. If CBS wants to create a next generation of CSI -- which seems to be the point of having Season 2 -- the series has to have its own watchable characters. Josh Folsom has been a lot of fun to watch so far, and Matt Lauria will continue to develop him in the second season. If he's given the writing to keep spreading his wings, he can lead the series and make it memorable in its own right. Grissom would be proud to see the next generation of investigators do well after him.