CSI: NY Exclusive: Peyton Is Back! Who Will Mac Choose?
Claire Forlani and Gary Sinise, CSI: NY
CSI: NY's Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) will have some difficult decisions to make when former flame Peyton Driscoll (Claire Forlani) returns to the Big Apple, executive producer Pam Veasey tells TVGuide.com exclusively.
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As we first teased, Peyton's return comes just as Mac gets cozy in his relationship with Dr. Aubrey Hunter (Madchen Amick). So will Mac stick it out with Aubrey or be tempted by his passionate past with Peyton?
"It's actually like he doesn't have to make the choice; it may be that these two women are trying to make the choice for him," Veasey says. "It's a great place for a character to be in: There's an old love who could return or a new relationship and new possibilities. These are two very smart, talented, attractive women that are in his life."
Peyton will return in a Rear Window-esque episode titled "Point of View" when one of her colleagues from Chelsea University becomes a suspect in a case. Veasey says Peyton does become aware of the other woman in Mac's life, and despite Peyton's abrupt departure to London with only a goodbye letter in Season 4, she has history on her side.
"Peyton's really happy to see [Mac], and it's a fond memory for him," Veasey says. "It's a surprise for him when she returns. ... I think they both know that they're fond of each other still, that there's something that makes each other smile. It was a great relationship, and anything can happen when those feelings are sort of stirred again."
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The episode, which airs May 19 and is Season 6's penultimate hour, will leave Mac to ponder his decision over the summer break, Veasey says. And she's hoping to hear from the fans before offering the resolution in Season 7.
"It's what we like to call our Twilight triangle," Veasey says with a laugh. "We hope the audience makes up their mind and chats about it online over the summer. We'd love for them to chime in and decide who they like or who they don't like.
"It will be answered in some form [next season], and we don't know what that is yet," Veasey says. "We like both Peyton and Claire, but at this point, all we know is that Mac is in a great place to have a relationship with someone."
And what about those fans who are still pulling for Mac to choose Stella (Melina Kanakaredes) instead? "There are always surprises on our show, so we can't say that it will never happen," Veasey says. "They have a really close relationship, and there's always moments where they dip into a fondness and a closeness. You will see it in the episode where Peyton returns. Mac is surrounded by the women in his life; he's got a lot of women taking care of him in that episode. He's not a man without choices, but no one could ever say what he's going to do. He's an unpredictable soul."
So, where do you stand: Team Peyton, Team Aubrey or Team Stella?