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Finally, a Hawaii 5-0 episode where Grace Park does more than stand (kinda)

With Kevin Sorbo guest starring in an episode featuring beach blanket Kona's surfing past, you'd think last night's show would rock like Hercules' abs. Guess again. How can the show improve?

- Season 1, Episode 6 - "Ko'olauloa"

OK, so far the show’s pattern is as follows: McGarrett and Danno banter. Kona looks lost. Chin Ho demonstrates his iPad view screen skills and then disappears for 40 minutes. Danno screams, “I have a daughter!” while McGarrett drives. The team tackles the terrorist of the week, unless it’s a personal connection. Then, the show ends.

In some ways the show is still better in terms of writing and acting than NCIS:LA (sorry, Deb), as it does not pander to its audience and does not overtly rely on the beauty of its cast, but I still can’t help but increasingly view Hawaii 5-0′s episodic flaws over its high-definition polish. Last night featured a foray into Kona’s past, with the death of her surfing mentor and appearance of her childhood surfer-turned-environmentalist friend, Ben Barnes.

I should have enjoyed this week’s episode considering the Kevin Sorbo guest spot, but everything last night incorporated a sweet and sour balance, with a focus on the sour. Although “Ko’olauloa” gave Kona more than five lines, her acting felt wooden (save her interactions with Ben). Although the final third featured awesome cast cohesion, the first two thirds felt disjointed with Kona investigating one case aspect, McGarrett/Danno interrogating another, and Chin Ho nowhere in between. While I loved the Kona-Danno interaction, the swelling music diminished their connection to an after school special circa 1984. Although I unabashedly crush on Alex O’Loughlin‘s facial expressions, even I admit his voice sounded flat at the diner. Plus, considering Chin Ho’s backstory, McGarrett’s violent island return, and Danno’s continuing paternal focus, I wanted a more intense background for Kona (or at least more anguish from the actress). I found the ending ceremony beautiful, but wish they’d burn Kona’s “Dukes.” I continue to find myself impressed with the show’s guest stars from D.L. Hughley to Masi Oka to Kevin Sorbo. On the one hand, I love that their cameos appear as Easter eggs and I respect that the show doesn’t want to rely on guest stints to stir up viewer interest, but I wonder if they could attract/retain more viewers if they indicated their weekly guest stars (more than what currently happens).

I want this show to continue and to succeed. If the Defenders received a full season pick-up and NCIS:LA survived to Season 2, a show with an arguably more talented cast from the lead to supporting actors (yeah, that’s right I said it) and an equally sumptuous cinematic appeal, like Hawaii 5-0, should do well. However, episodes 1-3 remain my gold standard because they were focused, featured cast cohesion, and strong writing. But now, I seeĀ  rat holes where I formerly saw moth bites. I’m comfortable with McGarrett as a man of mystery, but we could investigate his character more (without using a female of the week, including his sister). After seeing Chin Ho’s intensity, watching him re-fade to the background is depressing. While repeatedly focusing on the overarching corruption mystery might become tedious, the show’s recent episodes seemingly lacked focus. I also feel they’re wasting two of their actors. Why hire Grace Park of BattleStar Galactica and Daniel Dae Kim of Lost if the former repeatedly looks lost while the latter is consistently lost from the script itself? With the exclusion of Scott Caan (who receives the better lines) and Daniel Dae Kim (who works his weekly 5 lines for all they’re worth), Grace Park and Alex O’Loughlin only seem to connect with their lines when they’re personally invested (and, it hurts me to say that considering my “A. O’L” subscription). Overall, it’s a good show. However, it could do better.

So, considering last night continued the “meh,” what do people feel the show can do to improve?

Photo Credit: CBS

17 Responses to “Finally, a Hawaii 5-0 episode where Grace Park does more than stand (kinda)”

October 26, 2010 at 11:50 AM

Worst part of the show – using the high profile guest as the killer. High profile guests should always be red herrings, or the show is ruined from their first entrance.

Otherwise enjoyable this week. And made me want to go to Hawaii. ;-)

October 26, 2010 at 1:26 PM

I have to admit the minute Kevin Sorbo and his shifty eyes appeared, I thought “he’s the killer.” Plus, he mentioned his real estate connection in the first 5 minutes.

October 26, 2010 at 12:34 PM

I basically watch JUST for Alex O’Loughlin’s facial expressions. The only advice I would give the show is make the drums louder at the beginning of the theme song.

October 26, 2010 at 1:34 PM

I’m glad I’m not the only one. During ‘Moonlight’s’ initial episodes, I considered putting the show on mute so I could enjoy his face sans voice. If I could, I’d incorporate half of his expressions into my posts, but I think the CC Server might have issues with that.

October 26, 2010 at 3:59 PM

Last night’s episode of Hawaii Five-0 with a very talented cast and fantastic guest stars is extremely enjoyable and exciting to watch, In fact, Hawaii Five-0 is getting better week after week! The creative writers are doing an outstanding job!

October 26, 2010 at 4:52 PM

Hey Maureen, love the icon. I’m glad you see the glass overflowing rather than half-empty. I’d rather hear people love it than hate it (as the former will keep it on the air), then again, maybe even a little bit of the latter can help the show continue to improve!

October 26, 2010 at 7:09 PM

I had some comments to make but the multiple scenes of Grace Park in a bikini temporarily disabled my ability to form cohesive thought. Even my Spartan, stoic continence may have been compromised. I have not felt as euphoriant since that scene in BSG when Boomer found that basestar full of naked Boomers. Of course, I was only looking in appreciation of natural beauty, not of course, in an untoward way.

October 26, 2010 at 7:21 PM

“Spartan, stoic, continence….” You’re a hoot!

October 26, 2010 at 10:41 PM

Ditto, bsgfan. Tim-1 something tells me you plan on dressing as a Cylon for Halloween –

October 26, 2010 at 8:14 PM

I’m getting kinda bored w/ H-50. I’m not sure why. I love Alex O’Loughlin too.

And, NCIS: LA is much better than this show :)

October 26, 2010 at 10:26 PM

Don’t worry, I totally expected to get blowback from you or Deb ;)

October 27, 2010 at 1:38 PM

You expected blowback from only a few other primary reviewers-wow! Keep picking on the best new version of an old show and make me wonder why critics aren’t loved. Yes, it could be better; but so could most of the shows on any channel. Lets just say 5-0 exceeds anything any of the other new shows bring to the table, including “Terriers” which so many seem to have a love affair with. That is a show I keep trying to like, and just can’t. It is better than “Whole Truth”, but I really wouldn’t miss it. “No Ordinary Family” is in the same category. I had high hopes for NBC to find success with a least one new show in their attempted return to scripts, but if their best is (L&O LA), they would have been better keeping the original. I have already given up on “The Event”. Shows that critics and viewers seem to like, “Blue Bloods” is one that I think could use some tweaking; I’m hanging in–but find the Secret Society bit, a litle much. Especially when so much time is spent pushing family. Family, or “Secret Society”–I don’t need it to keep my interest. Lastly, O’Loughlin has finally found a show that looks to be around for some time. I am still mad about the quick cancel of “Moonlight”, a show with more potential than any of the present vampire craze.

October 27, 2010 at 2:55 PM

It’s good to see you’re a fan of the show. As I told Maureen above, I like when commenters have positive feedback for a show, even when I do not. Both the affirmative and critical comments serve as a healthy balance for the show’s (and article’s) writers and can only make it better. I hope to see Hawaii 5-0 reach and exceed the standard of its first three episodes so that it will continue to maintain and build its audience base.

Although I realized I would receive blowback from CC staff members Deb and Carla who unabashedly love NCIS:LA, I unwaveringly stand by my criticism of it. Check back next week as I continue to make minor side-swipes at it –

October 31, 2010 at 11:56 PM

I haven’t had a chance to catch up on this episode yet (I watch Castle live and H5-0 on the internet) but I laughed at your depiction of the formula because it’s spot on. The show started out well but now it’s become more ordinary and it’s hard to think that the people who made the Star Trek movie are also making this.

I have one additional problem: Having just seen Grace Park do 2 seasons of The Border where she played a smart and competent head of the Department of Homeland Security unit, it’s bizarre to see her as the lost waif of the unit. A bit of misogyny? I liked her characters better in BSG and The Unit.

November 7, 2010 at 10:08 PM

I enjoy the show, but evidently am not as critical a consumer of television as you are. Anyway, just thought you might like to know that Grace Park’s character is named “Kono” not “Kona,” which is the name of location/region on the Big Island. Kono Kalakaua. https://www.cbs.com/primetime/hawaii_five_0/cast/

November 7, 2010 at 10:51 PM

Hey –

Thanks for posting. But, don’t worry. I already figured it was “Kono” and included that in last week’s review: https://cliqueclack.com/tv/2010/11/02/why-is-castle-beating-hawaii-5-0-in-the-ratings/

February 13, 2011 at 4:53 AM

the problem with so many invited stars is you know they are guilty, it’s like in some other shows

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