To say this week’s Five-0 was explosive is a monumental understatement. From the moment the episode opened with “Sammy” the bomb squad robot heading into an office building to check out an abandoned briefcase to the end with Kono’s discovery of two dead Yakuza henchmen, the episode was riveting from start to finish.
This week’s crime of the week brought back Randy Couture as arsonist, Jason Duclair, one of the most coldblooded psychopaths we’ve ever had. He not only had a pathological need to set fires but a sadistic desire to watch as not only the houses burned but the people inside them as well. He made my skin crawl the first time we met him and, whether in a strait jacket in Halawa or meeting Steve for “dinner” he was just as menacing.
Like most of the crime stories on Five-0, this one had several twists and turns to keep me on my toes. Duclair doesn’t “have friends” who would orchestrate bombings in order to help him escape yet he admires the “beautiful work” of the bomber who seems intent to terrorize for his release. He also still has a fascination for seeing the bodies of those burned in the fire. Steve pegged him perfectly. He’s one sick son-of-a-bitch!
Then the twists and turns I love so much with this show begin. Catherine and Chin go through Duclair’s prison correspondence and find a message (brilliantly hidden beneath the postage stamp) from Tim Richards, a former cell mate of Duclair’s who not only idolized the man but wants to carry on the torch, so to speak. But Richards is a patsy, he’s only transcribing the letters for someone else. In a recorded phone call between Duclair and this other person, Duclair states that Richards had become a liability and needed to be neutralized. The second bombing wasn’t meant for First Responders, it was meant for Richards.
Just a question before we move on. In both cases the briefcases were detonated in place. The first in the lobby of the Monroe Building and the other in the hallway outside the HNN News studio. I understand the necessity of expediency and the time it would take to have two more scenes added to the episode but I don’t think that would happen in real life. Wouldn’t they move those cases to a secure location outside before they blew them up? I mean, in both cases, they were duds…no explosives inside. What if both those cases hadn’t been duds but were, in fact, filled with explosives. They would have taken out major portions of two buildings by blowing them up inside.
Ok… moving on… the mastermind of the plan, the one who admired Duclair so much is Andre Trout. Chin and Lou identify him because he was stupid enough to allow his entire face to be seen on the surveillance cameras outside the Palace when he was planting a van full of explosives. At the Palace!!! Dear Lord….my heart… not the Palace!!
When they go to his house, they find a shrine to Duclair and through writings he left behind, discover Trout’s plan isn’t to get Duclair out of prison to be free, but to kill him and become famous for doing it. Hello sick son-of-a-bitch #2!
I was really kind of surprised Steve and Danny capitulated to Trout and got Duclair out of Halawa and left him in the jungle like he wanted (but just how awesome was GPS tracking in his boots! LOL). It was a true “Oh my God” moment with Trout shot Duclair in the leg, then doused him in gasoline. I guess Karma really is a bitch, eh Jason? Too bad both bad guys managed to get away.
When Duclair called Steve to set up a meeting, the first thing I (and I’m sure a lot of other people) thought was “Don’t go Steve…don’t go alone”. I sat watching the scene torn between emotions. First, fear that Steve had once again gone off on his own. Second, a bit of, what? I don’t want to say compassion because Duclair is well and truly beyond that. But he’s upset. Trout did what he did for fame. But Duclair doesn’t do what he does for fame, he does it because he has no choice, he can’t stop. The only way to stop him is to lock him up. So what is this? A bit of a soul after all? Who knows? But, I was extremely relieved to find that, for once, Steve really didn’t go into it alone, he had the best backup there is watching his back.
Lastly, this scene had me feeling a bit nostalgic. My mind flashed back to a long ago noodle house and Steve sitting across the table from WoFat. When Steve cocked his gun under the table, my mind furnished…..“say hello to my little friend” and I have to admit it gave me a bit of a chuckle.
This story kept me on the edge of my seat the entire night. The use of the briefcase as both a diversion to the first bombing and as a method to deliver the flash drive with its poetic demands was chilling. Every time our team ventured anywhere I was scared to death something else was going to explode. I knew in my head our team wouldn’t come to any harm but I have to admit my heart rate increased every time. When Duclair gave Steve the key to the P.O. box and he went to open it, I was really scared, sure it would be booby trapped. Inside, Steve finds a jar of ash. Somehow, it seems fitting for Trout to end in this way. Ashes to Ashes – Dust to Dust.
Major kudos to Jeff Cadiente and the stunt/special effect crews for not only another great episode but one that had some of the most realistic explosions we’ve ever had on this show and we’ve had some doozies in the past. I’m sure there is plenty of CGI involved to make those bodies fly from the force of massive explosions but I will never fully understand how they do it so realistically without people getting hurt! There are reasons why they give out awards for this kind of stuff and it’s criminal that Jeff and his crew haven’t won an Emmy for all their great work on Five-0 through the years.
Of course, there were other things going on in this episode. It’s Five-0 after all, we can’t have just one story at a time to wrap our head around, can we?
Let’s start with a couple of fun things:
Did Danny get a new 2016 Camaro? Because this car looks even more awesome than ever!
Is this the same bomb disposal officer we’ve seen twice before? He was in 3.06 and then they used the same footage of him again in 5.15. He looks like the same guy to me, especially his eyes. I suppose after that explosion we won’t get the chance to see him again.
Is it just me or did they, after 5 years, finally let Danny actually change his pants?!?! LOL
Ok….enough fun. Let’s get on with it! I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s going to say this but… Kono and Adam are just friggin’ adorable together… period. Watching her help him with his physical therapy and then Adam “carrying” Kono across the threshold of what is now “their” house…. yes… the only word I can come up with is adorable. I have to admit I’m going to miss those spectacular views from Adam’s house though.
I am not a massive shipper on this show. I have said on previous occasions that I have enjoyed every relationship our team members have been involved in (and will enjoy any new ones down the line) but I don’t consider relationships to be an important part of the fabric of the show. Then there’s Kono and Adam.
Maybe it’s because, unlike the other team members, their relationship isn’t a backstory for Kono, it is the story for Kono. Having the Yakuza back in their lives ups the ante for the couple and having Gabriel always hovering somewhere in the background makes this story a threat for the entire team to deal with. I am really looking forward to see how this plays out with our newlyweds caught between Gabriel and the Yakuza. I just really hope it works out for them. I may not ship couples on this show but I would really like Kono and Adam to get their happy ending.
I really loved this week’s cargument between Steve and Danny because in the small amount of time the scene took, they touched on a couple of interesting topics. First, on a light note, there is the continuing saga of Jerry and his place within Five-0. Jerry is still angling for a spot on the team, hopefully one he can actually get paid for and it sounds like he’s going to get his wish. Or at least part of it. Steve is giving Jerry an office, which from the looks of the promo is an old desk in a room that looks like it’s in the basement. But, it’s an office.
I totally agree with Danny on this one. Tough as nails SuperSEAL is a softy when it comes to Ohana and Danny is worried a desk will lead to a badge. Please, guys…don’t do that. Jerry having a desk in HQ and even getting paid for his “consulting” services makes total sense. It really isn’t fair, with the amount of time he’s spent and the great help he’s been on several occasions, that he not be paid. And a desk makes sense so he’s not spread all over Steve’s personal space. But not a badge. He’s not a cop, ex-cop, ex-military or any other thing that could justify being part of the team.
As for the other part of Steve and Danny’s discussion…. Steve’s ongoing preparation of the covert military OP known as a marriage proposal. He’s secured a ring and reconned the perfect location. Now he just need to execute. Ahhhhh Steve… my heart is melting at the romance of it all. LOL
“I can see it now….you and Catherine in matching camouflage cargo pants, on some very exotic shooting range. And you get down on one knee and say “babe, I want you to join my unit for a lifelong mission”. I mean, it’s every girl’s fairy tale.” God, I love Danny so much! ROFL
Personally, I’m still leaning toward this proposal not happening. In the 6.03 promo, we see a small part of the meeting between Catherine and Danny at his thinking spot. Of course, all we’re seeing is Danny telling Cath he doesn’t want to see Steve hurt so it’s impossible to tell what the entire conversation could be about. Does Steve propose and Cath tells him she needs time to think so she calls Danny to talk? Or does Danny find out something and calls Cath to confront her about it before Steve has the chance to ask her?
Remember, most people are not on social media and following the show as closely as we all do. The casual viewer only has the actual episodes and the promos they show on TV to go by in order to anticipate what the next episodes will hold.
In order for there to be the “huge turn” in the episode we’ve been told about, one of two things needed to happen. Either they show Steve and Catherine miles apart and not at all cozy in the previous episodes so the “huge turn” could be a surprise proposal and a yes OR they bring them closer, huge romantic kiss at Kono’s wedding, have Catherine tell Steve there is nowhere she’d rather be than “home”, make it look like an eventuality that the proposal will be a success, then have her either say no or have it not happen for some reason. I honestly feel bad for all the really nice Cath fans who want this to happen so badly, but I think it’s the second option they are going to go with.
There were two big tells for me in this episode. First, was the line where Catherine observed to Steve “that’s who we are, the job always comes first, right?” Could be that line was planted to show us that a decision may be coming soon where Cath chooses “the job” over staying with Steve. And that’s where the second tell comes in for me. Cath’s other statement to Steve… “there’s no other place I’d rather be”.
It’s the exact same thing Kono said to Adam when they were at PT. But Kono has moved heaven and earth to be with Adam, went on the run with him, searched 3 continents for him, has risked her life over and over to be with him and is still risking her life now. But, Catherine has never done anything close to that when it comes to Steve. I’m not talking about their years in the Navy where their separations were unavoidable but she had no qualms about leaving Steve to head off to Afghanistan and she seemed to have no problem staying away for an entire year. I have no doubt, if given an opportunity for something she feels she can’t refuse, she’ll never refuse it and choose Steve. Where Adam is the most important thing in Kono’s life, there will always be something more important to draw Catherine away from Steve.
Of course, I could be 100% wrong about this and for those of my friends who really love this relationship I hope I am. Also, because I absolutely hate the idea of Steve getting hurt again. That doesn’t mean I want to see them married just that I don’t think they need to totally destroy the character for it not to happen.
But whatever does happens in the next episode we can be sure social media is going to explode. There is no way any show can make all their fans happy but this relationship has been a lightning rod of discord for years. Repeating myself here, I don’t really care one way or the other whether Cath stays or goes.. story wise. But I can honestly say, I hope she’s gone after this episode simply because I am just so sick of the ugliness the character brings to the fandom.
Anyway, that’s it for this week. Have a wonderful week my friends! Aloha. Malamo Pono
Hawaii Five-0 Kool-Aid 
Great review Linda!! Just want to add that I too thought about the first scene with the suitcase, they never moved it outside of the building just simply detonated it in the hallway of that building and the same as the 2nd scene – I found it rather odd that it wasn’t placed in more secure location just in case it was real!! Nevertheless lots of explosions in this episode!! Loved the Adam and Kono scenes together!!
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I totally understand why they didn’t move those cases for time purposes. Two additional scenes showing them taking the cases outside would have taken several minutes and with only 42 minutes to work with I can understand the writers and/or director conveniently forgetting those cases should have been brought outside. Didn’t take any enjoyment away from the episode even if, in reality, it wouldn’t have happened that way. But this is Five-0 after all. I’ve learned that reality and enjoyment are not mutually exclusive.
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Great review! This episode was very intense,to say the least! Trout & Duclair were both pieces of work,if you know what I mean! Kono & Adam will be looking over their shoulders for quite a while. Would love to know who shot the two guys who were watching their house? Looking forward to the proposal next week!
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I’m pretty certain Gabriel took care of the guys in that car. I’m sure with the money he stole from Adam, he has the resources now to have a fair number of goons at his disposal so taking care of a couple of Yakuza flunkies who probably had their guard down wouldn’t have been too hard for him to do.
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Linda, I had the same thought. Having the bomb squad try to disarm or detonate the “bombs” in the confines of the buildings leaves you scratching your head. But another question is, why did the director on the news set just watch the man leave the briefcase and make no attempt to stop him himself or call security to try to stop him?
This episode had some things we’ve come to love about the show over the years. In the cargument, Steve saying that Danny sounds live the parents in a Peanuts cartoon was priceless. Better to call Danny Linus than Boo-Boo.
I’m liking Kono and Adam’s moments together. I had thought that he was shot in the upper body and had his chest stomped on by Garbiel, but instead he has problems with his legs and walking. Unless that wheelchair is motorized, that couldn’t have been an easy thing to get both himself and Kono up that ramp. No problem with upper body strength.
As Rhonda said above, both Duclair and Trout are (were) sick. I was a little worried that the PO Box would blow up too.
I’m guessing that the Yakuzas were shot by Gabriel’s henchmen, although I’m not sure that makes sense. Right now the Yakuza is after Adam and by extension, Kono. This will get them after Gabriel now for sure, if they weren’t onto him before.
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As I said to Val above, I can understand the writers/director not wanting to take several extra minutes out of the available 42 just to move those cases. Yes, in reality they would have been moved but they were still awesome scenes.
As for the News director not stopping the man in black…I give him credit for his fast thinking to get everyone out of there. I’m not sure, in a moment like that, a person’s mind has the time to work through all the possible scenarios. Did I just see what I think I saw? Do I run after the guy? What if he hurts me? What if he has a gun? What if that really is a bomb and it explodes while I’m chasing this guy away? What if…what if…what if…. No, I think my mind would have gone the same way his did….RUN LIKE HELL.
I’m leaning toward Gabriel taking out those Yakuza also but I’m wondering if Shioma will blame Kono for the killings. I mean, she did go out there with her gun drawn and if things had escalated she wouldn’t have hesitated to shoot them. I doubt the Yakuza will do a ballistics report to determine the bullets didn’t come from Kono’s gun. Or maybe another Yakuza family took out Shioma’s men? There are several ways this could go, which is why it’s such a good story.
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I thought it was strange that they exploded booth suitcases in the building and why didn’t they send “Sammy” to the bombers house.But I really did like the episode. It had more turns and twists than most shows on.
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I agree Robin. It’s one of the things I love about this show so much. It always keeps me on my feet….this episode, in particular,
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Hi Linda,
Thanks for your review. I wanted to get the Catherine/Steve part over with first. You and I have not seen this relationship the same way, but I respect your opinion.
As much as I love them together, I also am tired of the vicious attacks by the “fans”. The people who are so brave to personally bash a woman they do not know and probably made stuff up behind their computer key boards are not going to let up. I give Michelle a lot of credit for getting rid of her twitter account, because defending herself just made it worse. So I will go with what ever the writers come up with to end this. However, what you wrote made it sound like, if the Catherine Character ends, then the bashing will stop. I do not have that faith. Every woman on this show with the exception of Grace Park and Carol Burnett has been personally attacked. I feel for the next female coming on. I don’t understand it and never will, which is why I do not read many comments or comment myself much anymore. If I start reading a review that I think will be ripping this show apart making me wonder why they are even watching the show, I close it down and don’t read further. So thank you Linda for being fair and showing that you enjoy the show even if you don’t always agree with what they do, as no one is going to agree with everything.
I agree that the bomb would have been taken out of the building, but it did not spoil my enjoyment of the show. I thought it was a great episode. I also love, Adam and Kono, I hope this relationship lasts. I know it won’t be a smooth road, because this is TV, but I would they always stay together. The us against the world type couple.
I also agree that Jerry, although, is a good consultant, is not police or military and has no training, so give him a card and a desk, but keep him away from the badge and gun. They had some really nasty bad guys in this one, and I am sure Gabriel was behind the 2 Yakuza guys being killed. I very much enjoyed this episode.
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Thanks Diane. First and foremost I LOVE this show but you are right, I don’t love everything about it. But, although I bring up things I don’t understand or things I may not agree with, I refuse to dwell on the negative because there is too much about this show that is good….great. I will not be happy if Catherine accepts Steve’s proposal but I will enjoy the story none-the-less because it is a storyline in a show I love.
I’m not going to defend or condemn Michelle for anything that happened on social media. There is more than enough blame to go around. The treatment she was subjected to was not only uncalled for but down right vicious. However, while she had all the right in the world to defend herself, her behavior in doing so was just as mean spirited and vicious. The question isn’t did she have the right or should she have defended herself. The question is should she have just taken the high road and left it alone? People have different views on which would have been the better path.
I agree…all the women on this show, with the exception of Kono/Grace have been subjected to some level of this treatment, but none more so than any woman who is connected to Steve/Alex. It will not stop because Catherine leaves. But what I think, or more so, what I hope, is it will diminish a bit IF IF IF the new actress doesn’t engage the way Michelle did. She made everything worse by her behavior. There may be fans who don’t like Catherine but there are more fans who don’t like Catherine BECAUSE they don’t like Michelle. That’s the difference. Hopefully, if the new actress doesn’t engage, the “fans” may still not like the character but they won’t be able to pile on the additional hatred of the actress as well. That double whammy is what makes the battle on social media that much worse.
Just my opinion, of course.
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I agree Linda, Michelle should have taken the high road and ignored it. We are all human, and sometimes the anger and hurt gets the better of us, we strike back without thinking. She is in the public eye, and should have let it go. I think she learned by stopping the twitter account. I don’t however find that a reason to end the character. If we met half of the actors we have seen on TV shows,
there may not be many shows to choose from. We have no idea what they are really like, but I choose to give them the benefit of the doubt. I hope when she is gone this ends. Have a good week.
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Wow, that was a great episode and a great review. The COTW was explosive and had so many twists, just like all good 5-0 crimes have. I agree that to explode the suitcases in the buildings seemed wrong, but it is television after all. The Wo Fat scene sprang to my mind when Steve had his gun pointed at Duclair under the table, just as it did for you Linda. When Steve opened that post office box I actually held my breath I was so convinced it would explode. But finding Tout’s ashes was not what I was expecting, but it did make sense knowing how sadistic Duclair is.
Kono and Adam are a great couple and I hope they can have some happiness at some point this season. I think Gabriel shot the two Yakuza henchmen, maybe to make them think it was Kono who did it.
I loved the cargument it was so nice to have the two of them go at it like they used to do in previous seasons.
Jerry getting an office works, but no badge, that just wouldn’t be right. So Steve the big softy better not cave as Danny predicts.
The whole Catherine think needs to be over soon. That’s all I’ve got to say on that because I’m so done with it that I’m not really that interested anymore. Though I do agree with what you’ve said on the subject Linda.
As always another fantastic review. Thanks.
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Yeah….I agree. I think that may be part of why I want her gone. I’m just so over it and I’m looking forward to seeing Steve move on to a new chapter in his life. People keep saying it’s been ten years, it’s time for them to move to the next level. I’m like, it’s been ten years, if it’s not on the next level by now there’s a good reason for that. Besides, I just don’t feel it anymore. Even when it’s written for them to be in a cozy scene, like the one in this episode in Steve’s office, it feels forced to me. But, of course, it’s just how I see it.
Some see a kiss to his forehead as a warm, cute, affectionate snuggle from a woman madly in love. I see it and say… “that’s it? He expresses his gratitude that you’re finally home, you tell him there’s nowhere else you’d rather be, and you kiss him….on his forehead? Seriously?” Everyone sees the exact same thing totally differently.
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My husband said the same thing that you said, Linda. He thought that comment from Catherine about them putting their jobs first was a big clue about what is coming up next week. We know that, at least for now, they do not stay together. Steve is going to have a potential new love interest but with H50, you never know. Steve and Catherine may end up together in the end. I really hope that Jerry does not get a badge. I think he should get paid and be made a consultant to H50 team. I love the way Danny and Grover can get annoyed with him. But Danny is right. To give him a badge would be too ridiculous. And I totally loved the cargument. That was so adorable. Typical Steve and Danno. Can’t wait for next week. Well, looks like my son did a good job setting me up. I had not trouble get on here this week.
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I agree. Unless they kill her off, which, of course, is NOT going to happen, there is always a chance she may end up coming back. I have no problem with her showing up in the very last episode of the series and having she and Steve walk off into the sunset together, forever. As long as I don’t have to see her more than that. LOL But if I do have to see her more, this year, or whenever, I will still try my best to enjoy the story and it will never diminish my love for the show.
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Action episode with great stunts, guest baddies and twists. I liked the bit where the baddie projected images on the wall – haven’t seen that done before plus I felt sure something bad would happen when McG reached for it. Adam and Kono looking at their little house was sweet – Adam on Kono’s couch light years away from his former world says volumes……..
Yay for “caruments” they seem to be getting back on track. Can’t wait to see how Danny gets to have a say in the Steve/Cath thing. Once that’s done perhaps we can get back to hearing what’s going on with Charlie – otherwise the time line is getting a bit off. I guess all this is happening very fast and Adam wasn’t in hospital very long. I know, it’s TV ……gotta be patient and go with the flow. Oh and I forgive them for the briefcase deal – SAMMY was cool. Wonder if we’ll see him again?
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I totally agree. While they have devoted very little screen time to Steve and Catherine’s story (the dancing & kiss at the wedding & waking up together in 6.01 and the two of them in Steve’s office in 6.02, totally amounted to about 6 minutes of actual screen time) I would have much preferred if those few moments had been devoted to Charlie and Danny.
In the S5 finale Danny said Charlie’s procedure was going to be “next week” and 6.01 picked up exactly where 5.25 left off. Adam said about rehab, “I just want to get out of here” and that the doctor told him he could get out “yesterday”. That makes it sound like he’s been there long enough to be sick of it so that would make it seem like we’re way past “next week”.
Was Charlie’s procedure postponed? Did he have it? If so, how is he doing? Did it work? Questions…questions…questions. Questions I’d much prefer to get answers to than wasting even a few precious minutes on Catherine and the eventual ending of their relationship.
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Excellent review Linda season 6 is already a winner superb stunts by Jeff and his crew,
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Totally agree!!!
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Having finally gotten to watch 6.02, I have to say it was well worth the delay! This was an episode reminiscent of Season 1 in so many wonderful ways! Who could not love the action – the spectacular bombings and fireballs! The twists and turns in the story line, culminating with the baddie’s neat little send off?
The Cargument – a perfect rendition of season 1’s most catchy aspect – the development of the Bromance. I’m loving this season’s return to the seriously fun carguments – so far no cringing over writing Danny out of character at all!
Looks like all true followers of this show furrowed their respective brow over the bomb robot detonating the brief cases inside the respective buildings – obviously some poetic license in order to move the story along. We’ve come a long way, baby, from season 1 when Original fans would turn that into a freezing frenzy of disdain! Hallelujah for small pleasures!
Bring on episode 3 – let’s get the elephant out of the back room, meet it head on, and move forward from there. We will still have 21 episodes to deal with the consequences. Looking forward to it.
Kono and Adam – love them together in their cute little house (we’ve seen that little bungalow now too long ago, haven’t we, Linda?) Now, here’s the thing about the dead Yakuza boys – it seems almost too simplistic to say Gabriel did it – or had it done. We saw in the season premiere that he has no sense of remorse for his actions, so why would he care if Kono and Adam are killed off by the Yakuza? I think there may be a couple of different Yakuza factions involved in this storyline, and perhaps Adam’s father’s friend might be more on his side than he’s willing to show at this point. All speculation, of course, but it will be fun to watch this story develop (as long as there’s a happy ending for Kono and Adam, eventually!)
Jerry – office in the basement, fine. Badge and gun? Definitely not, because that would be one way to get rid of the character – give someone a gun and authority without having any background, especially set him up in Five-0, and you are asking for that person to be killed. It’s a plausible storyline – one that would haunt McGarrett for the rest of the show, but I don’t really want to see it happen.
So, for now, can I just say thanks for a another great review – and I only have to wait 2 more days for the next episode!
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Welcome home babe! Glad you finally got a chance to watch the episode. It really was a great one. Can’t wait to see what 6.03 has in store for us. No matter what, it’s sure to be just as explosive as this one without actually blowing anything up. Brace yourself! LOL
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