First off, there's been a major cast addition. Claire Forlani has joined the show as the new medical examiner Dr. Peyton Driscoll. To give her character a reason to be there period, the writer's decided to make her Gary Sinise's first love interest on the show. For the character of Mac Taylor, that's a pretty big deal if you recall that in the first season of CSI: NY we found out that he lost his wife on 9/11. Anyway, a few notes on Peyton. I was surprised that they let Forlani keep her British accent, especially since Sonya Walger recurs as Jane Parsons and she has a British accent too. Two Brits working for the same CSI team... a stretch? A little bit I think.

Initially, I was 100% against Forlani's new M.E. because I thought she was replacing Dr. Sid Hammerback (Robert Joy). We went through almost half the episode before we saw Sid. I thought he was gone! Not the case. He's still around and it looks like he'll be splitting the morgue duties with Peyton. Good thing too because he was one of the bright points of last season. The man is hilarious and the show's producers would have been foolish to get rid of such a great character.

As I mentioned before though, the show seems like it's going through a lot of changes. Most are small, stylistic ones but I think they're important to note. First off was Mac Taylor. They seem to be loosening up his character a little. Beyond his romance with a co-worker, he's giving up on the shirt and tie. When have we ever seen him not wear a shirt and tie under his suitcoat? Instead, he responded to the first case with a dark purple, silk(?), v-neck shirt. It was trendy and Mac Taylor is not trendy. I get the feeling we'll be seeing a much lighter side of him this season.

Then there was Doc Hawkes. He got rid of the goatee! Visually, it makes him look very different but I think it signifies something more. Last year was a transitional season for him, moving from the Medical Examiner's office and becoming a CSI. Now he's made the switch completely and without saying it, the removal of the goatee shows it. It also looks like he might be getting a love interest too. A new detective will be working with Flack (who's fine after last year's explosion in that building). Her last name is Angel and Hawkes definitely has eyes for her.

The visual style of the show has changed too. The between scene bumps and music are faster paced and much peppier. The show has certainly come a long way from it's blue-tinted depressing first season.

So those were the major changes and how I interpreted them. Not to much happened with Lindsay and Danny but I'm sure they'll still pursue the flirtations that began last year. Same with with Stella, nothing new there either. But what do you folks think? Will this season of CSI: NY be the one where the show finally finds it's footing?