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The following contains spoilers for CSI: Vegas Season 3, Episode 1, "The Reaper," which debuted Sunday, February 18 on CBS.

CSI: Vegas' Season 3 premiere is a pivotal episode for the CBS series -- and the one that elevates it to being the best TV procedural in a very crowded field. Season 3, Episode 1, "The Reaper" has the task of resolving the Season 2 cliffhanger that is exactly nine months old. As if that isn't enough, said cliffhanger could easily drive the show off a cliff if it ends up being another of the crime drama genre's many fakeouts. These two hurdles mean that the stakes are incredibly high both on and off-screen. Thankfully, showrunner Jason Tracey and fellow producer/co-writer Craig O'Neill gamble in the premiere as much as they did in the Season 2 finale.

"The Reaper" understandably picks up where Season 2, Episode 21, "Dying Words" left off in May 2023, because it has no choice. CSI Josh Folsom's mother has been murdered -- and Folsom is under arrest for killing the person responsible. The episode follows the investigation into who actually tortured Kahn Schefter. It's just as surprising as "Dying Words," but in a different way. Whereas the Season 2 premiere shocked with its plot twists, the Season 3 premiere catches viewers off-guard with its character arcs. By the end of the hour, CSI: Vegas is no longer in the shadow of its predecessor or any other TV crime drama.

When CSI: Vegas made Josh Folsom a murder suspect, it walked right into one of the most common TV procedural tropes of all time. Almost every crime drama has an episode -- usually more than one -- in which a main character is accused of or otherwise personally connected to a crime. And in nearly every one of those cases, viewers know what to expect. The episodes are a great showcase for the actor portraying the key character, but they follow the same handful of story beats and then everything wraps up nicely by the end. But just like "Dying Words" was smart in how it handled the setup of this particular dilemma, "The Reaper" cannily avoids every single trope, because its crime story ultimately evolves into a character story.

Audiences are left in suspense regarding Folsom's guilt or innocence for just the right amount of time. Tracey also wrote "Dying Words," and he carries his story threads through in a very understated way. The now incredibly necessary recap happens organically, as flashbacks are woven in while Folsom is being driven to jail by Maxine Roby and Serena Chavez. The obligatory scene in which Folsom's colleague debate whether or not he's a murderer is an actual back and forth between Beau Finado and Penny Gill -- with Beau actually thinking Folsom could be a killer, as opposed to most shows, in which everyone is automatically convinced the good guy is still good. And even the usually cringe-worthy beats in which a higher-up insists on villifying the hero make great sense, because there's already been one crime lab controversy; that plotline was the whole basis for CSI: Vegas Season 1. The fact that the Undersheriff is played by All Rise standout Reggie Lee is the icing on the cake, because Lee has a gift for portraying bureaucratic characters who are three-dimensional, empathetic people instead of mere human roadblocks.

Savvy TV viewers will already feel comfortable that Folsom is going to be vindicated, because Matt Lauria is the heartbeat of CSI: Vegas and so it's a better series with him in the mix. But Tracey, O'Neill and even Lauria himself provide enough tension to create some anxiety. Folsom says almost nothing in his own defense -- and has a proper reason for doing so, even when his silence makes viewers want to scream at the screen. And that's where the episode sneakily pivots; it becomes less about who killed Kahn Schefter and more about the effects caused by his death. When the murderer is finally identified, that's almost an afterthought because it opens up what appears to be CSI: Vegas Season 3's ongoing plotline: Folsom and CSI fan favorite Catherine Willows vs. drug lord Raphael Tarquenio (cast reliably with procedural veteran Benito Martinez, who has now appeared on all the major CBS crime dramas). There is no easy answer and nothing ends up being okay -- and that's what puts CSI: Vegas head and shoulders above its competition.

CSI: Vegas has differentiated itself from other TV crime dramas -- including the still-classic original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation -- because of the way it approaches its characters. Procedurals have a hard time finding balance; either the characters come second to the genre format, or a show gets bogged down in characters' personal lives and the cases only exist to service those personal plots. In contrast, CSI: Vegas has strong crime stories and then asks itself where those stories naturally take its characters. It's not afraid to break convention if that makes sense for its protagonists. That was true with "Dying Words," and it's true in "The Reaper."

Folsom might be vindicated, but he has a lot of emotional pieces to pick up. Trey -- the only family Folsom now has left -- will be behind bars for a long time, thanks to his own revenge mission against Tarquenio. His reputation at the crime lab is almost certainly going to take another hit (after Folsom was passed over for promotion in Season 2). And it's telling that just moments after he finds out that the jail lost the photo he had of his late mother, he has a tough conversation with Maxine Roby, who points out that she thought she knew him like family. Matt Lauria and Paula Newsome have created a beautiful dynamic between Folsom and Max, where they bolster each other in different ways, and now that's been broken on both personal and professional levels. But "The Reaper" doesn't belabor the point, simply lets each character say their piece and doesn't feel the need to resolve their issues for a happy ending.

The same is true for how CSI: Vegas doesn't drag Folsom's romantic relationship with Serena or his feelings for Allie Rajan into the plot when those two subplots have no reason to be there. All three characters are upset because they care about Folsom, and that's enough. There's no big emotional breakdown on anyone's part -- the closest anyone gets is Serena pleading with Folsom to say anything, and Ariana Guerra hits exactly the right balance between desperation and frustration. The way "The Reaper" ends allows all the major relationships to continue to struggle and/or heal in future episodes. Folsom's arc in CSI: Vegas is better for these challenges. By refusing to tie things off neatly, Tracey and his writing staff are not only more authentic, but they continue to show that procedurals can indeed have great character depth.

Between the possible pitfalls of its cliffhanger and the extended delay caused by the strikes, the odds seemed to be stacked against the CSI: Vegas Season 3 premiere. However, it accomplished everything that it set out to do. It revealed Kahn Schefter's murderer, confirmed that the killer wasn't Josh Folsom, and laid the groundwork for another ongoing storyline. CSI: Vegas has been hit-or-miss with serial plotlines (the first season's David Hodges story was stronger than Season 2's uneven Silver Ink Killer), but the concept of one long thread against cases of the week is another element that serves the show well. It allows for a more realistic feel and extra time to play out character beats. Audiences likely forgot that Catherine also has a past with Tarquenio, so allowing him to escape justice in "The Reaper" provides a reason for her to stay on the show -- and with All Rise cancelled a second time, Marg Helgenberger should have more screen time in CSI: Vegas Season 3 than she did in Season 2. But Catherine isn't the focus of the story; it feels like a group effort, of which Helgenberger has become a seamless part.

"The Reaper" may not be the most action-packed or emotional episode of CSI: Vegas; there's still nothing better than Season 2, Episode 17, "The Promise." But "Dying Words" was a close second and "The Reaper" is a satisfying, sensible conclusion to that story. All of the main cast members add an extra emotional charge to their performances without overdoing it, and Martinez is a Big Bad who toes the line between being evil enough and needing to show off. The arrival of Reggie Lee will add something new and special as the series moves forward. Season 1 and Season 2 had certain caveats because they focused partly on legacy cast members -- but the CSI: Vegas Season 3 premiere has this undervalued TV show standing entirely on its own.

CSI: Vegas airs Sundays at 10:00 p.m. on CBS.

Return to CBS' smash hit CSI franchise with this series that picks up after the events of the original. A new team at the Las Vegas Crime Lab uses their forensic expertise to solve cases, assisted by familiar faces from CSI: Crime Scene Investigation history.

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CSI: Vegas Season 3 Premiere Proves This Is TV's Best Procedural - CBR - Comic Book Resources

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Could the case be closed on this investigator? With him in jail following the murder of his mothers killer, viewers cant help but wonder if Josh Folsom is leaving CSI: Vegas and what could happen to Matt Laurias character in Season 3. The days of this crime-scene expert could be numbered.

CSI: Vegas is the fifth series in CBS CSI franchise, which started in 2000 with CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and continued with CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, and CSI: Cyber. Like its predecessors, CSI: Vegas which premiered in 2021 follows a team of crime-scene investigators employed by the Las Vegas Police Department as they use physical evidence to solve murders.

Matt Lauria plays Joshua Josh Folsom, an original character since Season 1 of CSI: Vegasand a CSI Level III who is often the lead investigator on cases. Josh is in a relationship with Serena Chavez, a homicide detective who joins in Season 2.

After two seasons as one of the male leads of CSI: Vegas, the series ended its second season with a cliffhanger that saw Josh arrested for murder and possibly done with his CSI career as a whole. The cliffhanger begged the question: Is Josh Folsom leaving CSI: Vegas? Anything is possible on CSI. Read on for what we know about whether Josh Folsom is leaving CSI: Vegas and what happened with Matt Laurias character.

Is Josh Folsom leaving CSI: Vegas? The CSI: Vegas Season 2 finale, Dead Memories, ended with a cliffhanger as Detective Serena Chavez was forced to arrest her boyfriend and co-worker, Josh, on the suspicion of murder, which led viewers to wonder if CSI: Vegas was writing Josh out of the show.

The episode started with Josh learning that his mother, Jeanette, was using heroin again and that she was involved in drug dealing. During Dying Words, Josh watched his mother meet a dealer named Jared Ott with a new stash, as he decided not to intervene. As he followed Jeanette, Josh watched as his mother was taken to a warehouse where another drug dealer had been strangled. While in the warehouse, Jeanette was also stabbed to death.

Because of the relation between him and Jeanette, was taken off the case, though he teamed up with his childhood friend, Trey, to secretly investigate his mothers murder on the down low. Trey tracked down a middleman named Kahn Scheffer, who convinced Josh and Trey that he was innocent. But as they were getting ready to let him go, Josh saw marks on his arm that proved he was his mothers murderer, which led Josh to attack Kahn himself. Kahns body was later discovered by the CSIs Allie Rajan and Beau Finado, which led Serena to have no other choice than to arrest Josh for murder. Its important to note that, while Josh attacked Kahn, CSI: Vegas didnt actually show him killing him.

So is Josh Folsom leaving CSI: Vegas? The answer is no at least not yet. Matt Lauria, who plays Josh Folsom in CSI: Vegas, returned in Season 3, which saw him in jail for Kahns murder. Lauria also confirmed to CBR in May 2023 that he would be back for CSI: Vegas Season 3. Ive been assured by the writers that I will be back [for Season 3], he said.

In another interview with TV Insider at the time of the CSI: Vegas Season 2 finale, Laura explained that Kahns death was left purposely ambiguous. I think it was deliberately penned with that ambiguity infused in there. Im eager to learn what people surmise about all of that, he said. I had to pull Jason Tracy, our amazing showrunner and who directed that episode, aside, and we had to have some whispered conversations about what we thought was going on there. But yeah, its definitely open to interpretation.

He continued, I can say this: Im in shock. Whatever event has happened, it is deeply disturbing. Also there has been a sort of adrenalized mission over the last 48, 72 hours, and so its a dump. You find me at the beginning, at that site before I even know that my mom has passed away, looking for something, looking for something that maybe was substantive from my past, something that was comforting, something that is familiar, and then finding myself back there again at the end with that sort of adrenaline dump.

Lauria went on to tell TV Insider about how he understands Joshs motivation if he was the one who killed Kahn. One of the more interesting facets of who Josh is is theres everything that Ive ever been and raised to be and all the great influences around me as a child that have made me into a certain thing, he said. And then its the departure from almost all of those things and the aspiration to change and to become something distinctly different than that. My whole life is this measured approach, self-mastery, and choosing an entirely different path from what was probably laid out for me or very likely I would walk down. I think that that measured part and that self-mastery part of Josh is the one who devised the blood gimmick, but then something breaks and something snaps. Youre suddenly looking in the face of your mothers murderer. So yeah, I think anything is possible.

He contniued, I think at the end when I accept the handcuffs, I know theres no use in fighting it. Its the only way it can be. And so regardless of what may have transpired, its an inevitability. But yeah, I definitely think absolutely, no question. I could have done it.

In another interview with TV Insider at the time of CSI: Vegas Season 3 premiere, Lauria seemed to lean more towards Josh being Kahns killer. I definitely think absolutely, no question, [Josh] could have done it, Lauria told TV Insider about whether Josh killed Kahn. [The] measured part and [the] self-mastery part of Josh is the one who devised the blood gimmick [making Kahn think he was bleeding out], but then something breaks and something snaps. Youre suddenly looking in the face of your mothers murderer.

CSI: Vegasis available to stream on Paramount Plus.

Check out who your favorite primetime stars are dating and married to in real life in the gallery below.

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Is Josh Folsom Leaving CSI Vegas? What Happened to Matt Lauria's Character? | Soaps.com - Soaps.com

Debuting almost twenty-five years ago, the "CSI" franchise, despite a few hiatus, is still going strong, with "CSI: Vegas", the sequel of sorts to the crime dramas original incarnation, set to debut its new season. Bumped from its traditional Thursday night time slot, season 3 will go out on Sundays, starting February 18.

"CSI: Vegas" season 3 airs for FREE on TVNZ+ in New Zealand, on CBS and Paramount Plus in the U.S. and on Global TV in Canada from Sunday, February 18 and viewers abroad can watch it from anywhere with a VPN.

'CSI: Vegas' season 3 release date and time

Date and time:"CSI: Vegas" season 3 premieres at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Sunday, February 18. FREE TVNZ+ (New Zealand) U.S. CBS (via Fubo or Paramount Plus) Watch anywhere try ExpressVPN 100% risk-free

While much of what to expect from "CSI: Vegas season 3 is being kept under wraps for now, the first few episodes will no doubt deal with the fallout of the season 2 finale which saw Josh Folsom (Matt Lauria) being charged with murder after the body of a suspect he was investigating was found in a dumpster.

The usual cast are back, including veteran Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows and Paula Newsome as Maxine Roby, alongside Mandeep Dhillon as Allie Rajan, Ariana Guerra as Detective Chavez, Jay Lee as Chris Park and Lex Medlin as Beau Finado. If previous seasons are anything to go by, we wouldnt rule out the return of some legacy cast members either.

Despite being a delayed and shortened season (due to the Hollywood strikes), the latest instalment in the long-running procedural is sure to be as gripping as ever, so read on to find out where to watch "CSI: Vegas" season 3 online and from anywhere in the world.

"CSI: Vegas" season 3 episodes stream for FREE in New Zealand on the TVNZ+ website and app, arriving the same day as the U.S. on Sunday, February 18.

New Zealanders who find themselves abroad don't need to miss out, however they can use a VPN to stream episodes just as they would back home.

In the U.S., "CSI: Vegas" season 3 premieres on CBS on Sunday, February 18 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

CBS is a local broadcast network that can accessed with one of the best TV antennas or through a cable TV package.

If you've already cut the cord and don't have cable, you can watch CBS on a live TV service, like Fubo, Hulu With Live TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream.

Of these options, we recommend Fubo, one of the best streaming services on the market.

You can also watch your local CBS station's live feed with Paramount Plus with Showtime ($11.99/month).

The cheaper $5.99/month Essentials plan lets you stream episodes the following day.

Currently off traveling in a country where TVNZ+ isnt available? With the right VPN (Virtual private network), you can continue to access your usual platforms and watch your favorite shows online no matter where in the world you are.

We've evaluated many options, and thebest VPN isExpressVPN. It meets the VPN needs of the vast majority of users, offering outstanding compatibility with most devices and impressive connection speeds. It's also affordable at $12.95 per month. (Signing up for longer periods of six months or a year reduces the cost even more down to a minimum of $6.67).

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, ExpressVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect toin the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.K. and want to view a New Zealand service, you'd select New Zealand from the list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the show. Head to TVNZ+ and stream all-new episodes of "CSI: Vegas" S3 online.

In Canada, the third season of "CSI: Vegas" airs on Global TV at 10 p.m. ET/PT every Sunday, starting February 18.

The network also has anonline streaming platform, which lets you watch some shows the day after they air, with no need to log in for the first seven days.

You can also stream "CSI: Vegas" via theSTACKTV add-onwith Prime Video, which grants access to programming from Global Television, the Disney Channel, National Geographic, Showcase, W Network, and Adult Swim.

A Prime membership costs CA$9.99 each month, and a Stack TV subscription costs CA$12.99 on top, but both offerfree trials to new users.

Not in Canada at the moment? Signing up toExpressVPN will help you access your preferred streaming service when you're overseas.

"CSI: Vegas" season 3 will stream on Paramount Plus in Australia, though the exact start date is yet to be confirmed.

A subscription to the streamer costs AU$9.99 a month after the one-week free trial.

Remember: if you're based in Australia but aren't there at the moment, you could still connect to Paramount Plus and stream "CSI: Vegas" season 3. All you need is a VPN such asExpressVPN.

Currently there's no release date for "CSI: Vegas" season 3 in the U.K., however when it does arrive, we'd expect it to air on Sky Atlantic which you can also access via the NOW streaming service withan Entertainment Membershipfor just 9.99.

For now, anybody currently abroad in the U.K. from the U.S., Canada or Australia can use one of the best VPN services to access their usual streaming service. We recommend ExpressVPN thanks to its speed, reliability and trusted security features.

While season 2 bumped season 1's 10 episode count up to 21, the Hollywood strikes mean that this season will be more in line with the first, with 10 episodes expected.

The official synopsis reads: "With their respected colleague Josh Folsom under arrest for the death of Kahn Schefter the man responsible for killing Folsom's mother theCSIteam combs through every crumb of forensic evidence to determine his innocence or guilt."

There have been four other installments in the long-running CSI franchise, starting with the original Vegas iteration, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000-2015) and followed by "CSI: Miami" (2002-2012), "CSI: NY" (2004-2013) and "CSI: Cyber" (2015-2016). For the most part, episodes can be streamed on Paramount Plus globally.

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How to watch 'CSI: Vegas' season 3 online stream crime drama from anywhere - Tom's Guide

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on November 1, 2023, Andrew Fantasia, 27, of Beachwood, was charged with Possession of Child Pornography and an additional count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Fantasia had previously been charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, and Official Misconduct, on October 25, 2023.

An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit and Jackson Township Police Department determined that between February 2023 and June 2023, Fantasia while employed in his official capacity as a teacher at Carl W. Goetz Middle School and club advisor at Jackson Memorial High School had inappropriate sexual contact with a student on high school property. The investigation further revealed that Fantasia requested nude photos from the victim.

On October 25, 2023, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit, Jackson Township Police Department and Ocean County Sheriffs Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, executed a court-authorized search warrant at Fantasias residence; as a result, Detectives seized multiple electronic devices in Fantasias possession. Fantasia was taken into custody and transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing.

A full forensic analysis of Fantasias electronic devices, conducted by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office High Tech Crime Unit, revealed nude images of the victim on Fantasias cellular phone. On November 1, 2023, Fantasia was served with the additional charges as noted above by way of warrant at the Ocean County Jail.

Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutors Office Special Victims Unit, Ocean County Prosecutors Office High Tech Crime Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, Jackson Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and Ocean County Sheriffs Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their collaborative efforts in connection with this investigation.

The charges referenced above are merely accusations and the press and public are reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

R.P.C. 3.6(b)(6).

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additional charges for jackson township teacher: possession of child ... - Ocean County Prosecutor Office

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on November 1, 2023, at approximately 10:00 a.m., a mobile home fire was reported on Lakewood Road in Plumsted Township. Upon arrival, emergency service personnel observed heavy smoke emanating from the mobile home, with a male victim outside the residence and another victim still trapped inside. The male victim, later identified as the homeowner, Paul Hakos, 79, was transported to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold for treatment of his injuries. He is listed in stable condition. Firefighters located the body of a female victim, later identified as Catherine Hakos, 63, in the back bedroom of the residence. Ms. Hakos was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A thorough and extensive investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutors Office-Arson Squad, Ocean County Fire Marshals Office, Plumsted Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Plumsted Township Fire Marshals Office, 0and Ocean County Sheriffs Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, has revealed that the fire originated underneath the structure, and that a failure of energized electrical equipment could not be eliminated as the cause. The cause of the fire has been ruled accidental.

Prosecutor Billhimer acknowledges the Ocean County Prosecutors Office-Arson Squad, Ocean County Fire Marshals Office, Plumsted Township Police Department Detective Bureau, Plumsted Township Fire Marshals Office, and Ocean County Sheriffs Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, for their combined and cooperative assistance in connection with this investigation.

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fatal plumsted township fire ruled accidental - Ocean County Prosecutor Office