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

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 see  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?

Clacked by An Nicholson
on Oct 26, 2010 @ 09:00 EST5EDT