Overview: Things heat up in CSI: Miami - The Ninth Season for Horatio Caine and his team of CSIs. Using cutting-edge technology and good old-fashioned police work, they must keep the citizens of Miami safe from madmen, serial killers and vengeful nerds.

DVD Verdict: WARNING: SPOILER ALERTS COMING! ... Getting this straight from the start, I am a HUGE fan of ALL the 'CSI' shows. Indeed, this past week I sat down and watched both 'CSI: Miami' and 'CSI: NY,' their latest full seasons back to back - and loved every single second of the viewing experience!

In the season opener 'Fallen,' we follow on from the prior season ender when toxic gas was released in the crime lab, sending everyone to the floor. As the gas disperses, we quickly find that Jesse Cardoza (Eddie Cibrian) has died from hitting his head on a table collapsing to the floor. Roger Bart as the killer in the cells is Horatio Caine's (David Caruso) brilliant foe here. This episode also includes the classic Caine line, 'When someone lies to me it really hurts my feelings!" In 'Sudden Death,' a young girl is drowned by a $3,000 bottle of rare 1957 champagne. In 'See No Evil,' a blind witness to a bathroom killing means someone already in prison for similar crimes is now their lead suspect!

In 'Manhunt,' a break out has occurred from prison and all the escaped convicts seem to have one thing in common: kill Horatio Caine! Predominantly Memmo, the one heavily-tattooed killer who shot and killed Caine's fiancée a few years back. In the fifth episode, which is actually the broadcast sixth episode, 'Sleepless In Miami,' a man believes he's killed a man in his dreams. In 'the sixth episode which is actually the broadcast fifth episode, 'Reality Kills,' a Jersey Shores type scenario brings forth a TV killing that's all to real. A great episode, a complex episode, it is easily one of the best of this season.

In the seventh episode which is actually the broadcast eighth episode, 'On The Hook,' a sniper takes aim on a fisherman and a man looking to commit suicide. Now this tale was definitely a great whodunit to have to figure out, that's for sure. In episode eight which is actually the broadcast ninth episode, 'Happy Birthday!,' a pregnant woman gets in the way of Caine "birthday celebrations." This is the 200th episode and with things not quite what they appear to be throughout, you can see everyone went the extra mile for it.

In the ninth episode which was the broadcast seventh episode, 'Blood Sugar,' a sugar refinery explodes killing a worker. It also includes one of the best close up's of a bullet flying (albeit slowly here) from a gun I've ever seen!. In 'Match Made In Hell,' a dating service, an alligator and a swimming pool all converge to make one bloody mess! In 'F.T.F.' it's a mysterious case of two dead with one bullet, before 'Wheels Up' brings us a death at a Roller Derby rink. Miami's new State Attorney is gunned down on TV outside a seized drug den in 'Last Stand' and it's the Mala Noche that are guilty of it. This episode also stands out for the horrific throat cutting of a young girl by an "Old" Memo.

In 'Stoned Cold,' a school senior is stoned to death whilst tied to the goal posts which leads to a great teenage whodunnit! Trust me, you'll NEVER guess! In 'Blood Lust,' a killer is on the loose in Miami. A collector of fingernails, it stars the lovely Alicia Witt. And, again, trust me, you'll NEVER guess whodunnit! In 'Hunting Ground,' humans are being hunted for game, and in 'Special Delivery' a delivery driver (think UPS) with a passion for his female clients is found brutally murdered in the back of his truck!

In 'About Face,' one of the escaped convicts from the prior prison break (remember them) kills a campus student in a style all of his very own MO. But was it truly him? In a story about internet shopping and selling things from your home, Natalia Boa Vista (Eva La Rue) gets kidnapped along the way too! In 'Caged,' another of the escaped convicts is tracked in a manhunt. This time though he isn't after Caine, but his ex-MMA fighting partner, who is taking part in a big Championship match Saturday night! In 'Paint It Black,' a girl gets killed on campus in a hot tub and a tale of split personalities soon comes to light.

In 'G.'O.' a supposed club death leads to a whole other kettle of fish, and in the season ender 'May Day,' a completely unrecognizable Christopher Titus plays the maniac role of a convicted killer who now finds himself on the loose in Miami! And yes, it comes with a doozy of a cliffhanger!

For my money, season nine was the season in which it finally pulled away from the original and became its own. Incorporating a shed load more running for certain actors (yes Ryan Wolfe aka Jonathan Togo, I'm referencing you!), the action was blown up (no pun intended, I think!) and they managed to make a lot of the story lines more personal to the actors. A darker edge was also noted in the themes, especially for Caine this season. Also, it seemed that Natalia BoaVista (aka Eva) was way more involved in the season than ever before. This was a GREAT season, all ends up and just never gets old to watch. These are all Full-Screen Presentations (1.77:1), and come with the Special Features of:

A Miami Milestone: The 200th Episode
Extended Alternate Ending for 'Blood Lust'
Behind The Scenes: With Adam Rodriguez
The Whole Nine Years
To Be Continued: The Season Finale
Deleted Scenes