CSI: Why Gary Dourdan's Warrick Exited During Season 9

screenrant.com:

Here's why Gary Dourdan's fan-favorite Warrick Brown left the show during CSI: Crime Scene Investigation season 9. Crime procedural CSI: Crime Scene Investigation debuted on CBS in 2000 and follows the titular team of investigators who used science to solve murders or other crimes. The show's use of science and its likable cast of characters — including William Petersen's Gil Grissom and Marg Helgenberger's Catherine — saw it become one of the biggest shows in the world during its run. Fans were confused when CSI season 9 saw Warrick's death. So why did CSI kill off the beloved character?

CSI later received video game adaptations and spawned spinoffs like CSI: Miami, CSI: New York, and CSI: Vegas. Miami was the best received of these offshoots and was anchored by David Caruso's enjoyably hammy turn as Horatio Caine. The franchise was so big it even attracted directors like Quentin Tarantino and Rob Zombie to guest direct episodes. The show itself came to an end after fifteen seasons in 2015, and the cancellation of CSI: Cyber in 2016 marked the end of the franchise; until the revival series. Unfortunately for fans of the original CSI, Warrick's death happened in nearly the smack-dab middle of the show. CSI season 9 wasn't the end of the series and the show simply wasn't the same afterward.

Related: CSI: Why Sara Left In Season 8 (& Returned In Season 11)

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation season 9 was an important turning point as it marked the final series with Grissom in the lead as William Petersen exited, though he returned for various guest appearances. It was also the final season for Jorja Fox's Sara Sidle and Gary Dourdan as Warrick Brown, who had been with the series since CSI season 1. Warrick may have been good at