Of all the things I have been labeled within this fandom, some nice, some rather nasty, I will easily own up to at least one. I am an eternal optimist when it comes to this show and while I am not blind to things that could be better or things that don’t make sense, I choose to concentrate on what’s great and not waste too much time with what’s not. An episode like this one makes that so incredible easy. Even though it juggled three different stories (with a discussion about a fourth), I honestly could not find one thing to complain about. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
So let’s get to it:
Chin and Sara: The discussion between Chin and Kono on the beach was a nice little bridge in Sara’s story without having to have an actual scene with Sara. Chin has reconciled himself to letting Sara go to her relatives in Mexico. He’s had them thoroughly investigated and they are good people. “Everything Gabriel was not”. That doesn’t mean he’s happy about it, in fact, he’s just as sad as little Sara is but Chin doesn’t want to put her through a custody case after all she’s already been through.
And Chin is right. After all, he has no real claim to Sara. He is not a blood relative and his living situation isn’t ideal. Of course, we know Chin would be an awesome father and we also know that with Chin’s network of family and friends there would always be Ohana there to help with Sara. We know that but a Court of Family Law will see it differently. They will see two stable, well off, blood relatives for parents in Mexico as the better option.
But, who didn’t love Kono’s little side eye about going down to Mexico to plant something on the relatives to “stall the adoption”? Chin, as well as the rest of us, know she’s only kidding but we also know our Ohana. If there was something any of them could do for Chin and Sara, they’d do it in a minute.
But you just know that even when Sara leaves, Chin will do all he can to be there for her and protect her. We will see that cutie pie again; I have no doubt. Mexico is hardly a stable place and Sara is still Gabriel’s daughter. Who knows what may come down the line with this story.
Kono and Rosie: “I don’t want to be your full-time reclamation project. I just gotta do this part on my own”. What an absolutely wonderful story this was. I love stories that allow Kono to revisit her past and her connection to the sea that gave her and taught her so much. We know how Kono’s story went. Blowing out her knee and all that came after. But Rosie’s story was simply heartbreaking.
When Rosie is arrested, she asks for Kono’s phone number, to make her one call, because she’s heard that Kono became a cop. It’s Duke who escorts Kono back to the cell where Rosie is, asking her how it is she and Rosie know each other. When she tells Duke how they were on the Pipeline Tour together and how Rosie was one of the best, you can instantly see Duke’s face change. He, of course, has seen Rosie and Kono has not. You can see the instant Duke realizes that Kono doesn’t know about Rosie. You can also see the immediate sadness in his face when he realizes how much Rosie has lost. Great bit of subtle acting there on the part of Dennis Chun.
It’s sad these two really couldn’t be friends in their competitive years. As rivals they didn’t get to know each other that well. Making this connection now, Kono can see that Rosie’s issues go well beyond the loss of her legs. I really love how they, very quickly, form a mutual respect for each other, a respect neither knew was there when they competed. Kono doesn’t patronize Rosie or try to preach to her about the way she is living her life. Kono realizes that Rosie is right. There are some things a person just has to work through in her own time.
But that doesn’t mean Kono can’t help Rosie recapture a time when life was whole and fun. Watching Rosie get back on her board and once again ride those waves was another one of those moments where this show had me reaching for the tissues. Damn, they do these types of stories so well.
Alicia and the Chess Piece Killer: There is an old joke that a Republican is a Democrat who’s been mugged. I guess the same goes for the criminal profiler who refuses to be part of a case until she finds the dead body of one of the victims in her bed. While she is sleeping in the bed. In his blood. Something like that does tend to send a message. Anyone else get a “Godfather” flashback?
We knew last week that this killer is bold. It’s now obvious he is watching every move Five-0 makes. The killer knew Steve and Danny had visited Alicia’s house but he also knew she went to HQ. What’s the body in the bed supposed to do? Scare her away from the investigation? Or, draw her in? Another worthy adversary, like Steve, being taunted to “catch me if you can”?
I’m really loving Alicia. Having Officer Lau’s body exhumed on falsified authority and signatures from Steve, to telling Steve to be sure to pay for the robe she stole from the Hilton… she’s damned ballsy. I can see why Steve’s impressed with her. She’s strong, independent, unorthodox, thinks completely outside the box, does what she wants, doesn’t follow sets of rules, finds it easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission, is basically…. Steve! The mutual respect I see forming between these two is going to be fun to watch. Will Alicia hang around after the Chess Piece Killer is caught? Will she be part of the new longer term “big baddie” arc that’s supposed to be coming down the line? I don’t know. But, I wouldn’t mind one bit if she did.
Dr. Madison Grey: Is it really possible this is our Chess Piece Killer? From the looks of next week’s promo, Steve and Alicia have gotten too close to something… something that’s going to put their lives is extreme watery danger. The “History of Medieval Chess” book in her office is no mere coincidence, that’s for sure. When I thought Michelle Shioma was going to be our new big bad, I was thrilled. A woman mastermind… how awesome. That wasn’t meant to be, I guess, so this would be the next best thing. A woman serial killer. If Dr. Grey is our perp… I hope they don’t catch her next week. I hope somehow she gets away so this story can go on longer. I’m loving the set up and the bits and pieces added each week. Like a great crime novel, I’m flipping the pages chapter by chapter, dreading the end of the book.
COTW: Honestly, of the three stories in this episode this was the least interesting. That’s not saying it wasn’t a good story or that I didn’t enjoy it, because I did but I was more wrapped up in Kono and Rosie and in our ongoing serial killer arc. I have to say the best thing about the COTW, what did make it so enjoyable maybe wasn’t the crime itself but what revolved around it. Meaning, the great individual scenes that occurred because of it. BAMF Kono, Good cop/Bad cop, and the continued resurgence of the wonderful relationship between Steve and Danny.
BAMF Kono: With Kono not involved in the COTW for the entire episode, it was a fantastic WTF moment when she emerged from that bag. I was wondering why Steve was walking so carefully with the bag and why he set it down so gingerly. I thought at first that maybe it was a subtle nod to the fact that he is still healing. It never occurred to me Kono was inside. Even my husband jumped a bit when she emerged from that bag and he is not as easily impressed as I am! This entire episode was a slam dunk for Kono. From her story with Rosie to her BAMF bad-guy take down. And that bag!!! What a contortionist she must be. Adam is a very lucky man. 😉
Steve and Danny: I sure as hell hope the writers continue to give us the Steve and Danny we have grown to know and love. Three episodes in and the boys are BACK! I don’t know if Peter and the writers actually do monitor what fans say online but it sure seems like over the last year or so they might have. Might have heard us saying how much we still loved the bromance but not the bitching. How much we hoped the boys could return to the wonderful banter of old without the nasty edge to it. Well, here it is folks and I am thrilled!
Since I couldn’t figure out a way to say this any better I concede the floor to my friend Lynnette: “The garage chase was a perfect example of the difference in the way the guys’ minds work! Steve is take the bull by his horns and hang on for dear life, while Danny uses his brain first to figure out how to get said bull through the gate with a minimum of effort. It’s how they work, and there has never been a better example of it in all the previous seasons combined! That scene will go down in the annals of this show as classic H50.” I could not agree more!
Last week, with regard to little Sara, we talked a little about TV tropes (cute moppets, etc). The good cop/bad cop bit is about as classic as they come. How does this always work? Honestly, don’t bad guys on TV watch TV? Regardless, this one was hysterical and done perfectly.
“Pretend to disagree with me for a minute.” “That’s not difficult, but why?” Perfection! Considering the amount of time these two spend actually arguing, this came completely natural. I also loved that Danny chose this moment to finally explain, six plus years in, what that drain in the floor is for. “You don’t want him to get involved, because when he gets involved, things get messy. Expensive suits get ruined, the drain gets clogged….” ROFLMAO
And I absolutely loved that Steve stood back and let Danny get into Sanchez’s head. Reminded me of all the way back to the second episode of Season 1 when Danny tried to get into the head of the guy before Steve hung him off the roof. Nice to see Steve letting Danny take the lead on this one. And Danny was fantastic. He played Steve’s plan absolutely perfectly. I just love it when the writers allow Danny to be the great detective he’s always been.
6 weeks after surgery: Yes… we heard liver again. Personally, I have no problem with this and have reconciled myself to the fact that yes, we’re probably going to hear about it forever. But, to be honest, it’s not the liver mentions that bother me but the online moaning and groaning we’re subjected to for days every time it happens. I honestly wish the writers would stop it just to shut those people up!
Liver mention or not, Danny’s concern is genuine. He watched his brother almost bleed out and die in front of his eyes. If he’s over melodramatic about not wanting to risk ever seeing something like that again, so be it.
As far as Steve’s swimming is concerned:
According to Dr. Emily Blumberg, University of Pennsylvania Health System:
“It’s safe for liver transplant patients to swim in chlorinated pools. In most cases, the ocean is also okay, but patients should avoid swimming in the Chesapeake because the presence of some dangerous bacteria has been found there in recent years. If liver transplant patients experience any kind of abrasion while in the ocean, the abrasion should be thoroughly cleaned with soap and an uncontaminated water source — not the water they are swimming in — to minimize the risk of infection.”
http://penn-medicine-liver-transplant.blogspot.com/2015/07/is-it-safe-to-swim-after-transplant.html
The time frame, of course, is pure TV fiction. It’s not the swimming, per se, that’s the issue, but the fact that it’s been only 6 weeks since the surgery. So yeah, it’s too soon, ergo, why Danny is upset Steve did it!
UK National Health Service:
“Exercise: It’s a good idea to get plenty of rest when you first get home from hospital, although you should start moving around as soon as you feel able to. Start off with gentle activities, such as walking, and gradually increase how much you do over time. You may see a physiotherapist, who can advise you on specific exercises to try. Contact sports and swimming should be avoided for several months until you have fully recovered, as there is a risk of picking up an injury or infection.”
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Liver-transplant/Pages/Recovery.aspx
Lest I be accused of not doing my research or, worse, of being too stupid to read it or comprehend it properly, I have supplied the links to the pages I have quoted. For those so inclined, please feel free to read these pages and all pertinent medical information at your leisure and critique all the inaccuracies of the show to your hearts content.
Me? I’ll just be over here, enjoying the action, the suspense, the chases, the explosions, the surprises, the dialog, the Ohana, the bromance and all the damn fun. I know all my loyal readers, those who come here to enjoy all the great things this show has to offer, will be right there with me. Wine and popcorn in hand, “enjoying the ride”! 😉
Have a wonderful week my friends. Next week’s episode looks to be an intense thrill ride. Can’t wait until we can all share it together! Aloha. Malama Pono
Note: All screen caps are mine except where noted.
Hawaii Five-0 Kool-Aid 
As I am currently being pummeled by Hurricane Matthew but amazingly still have power, just want to say wonderful review! Your friend Lynnette described the Steve/Danny scene perfectly!
One question — I read somewhere that Steve and Alicia might become “an item.” Do you know if this is true? I love her character, but I don’t want them to be anything more than co-workers. Can’t see her wanting to play the foxhole fantasy! LOL.
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The love interest angle is pretty much fan generated. Peter said something, in one interview or another, about Alicia being someone who understands Steve better than almost anyone else. Or something like that, I don’t remember the exact quote. Some people took that to mean they were going to have a “connection” and then extrapolated that into a “romantic connection”. I haven’t seen anything official or even a hint from Peter that’s the case. I like Steve with Lynn and hope to see them moving forward into a long, committed relationship once he has finally discarded all his old baggage.
Stay safe from the storm. Looks like it’s winding down, by what the news is saying. Hopefully it will be over for everyone soon. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment again this week! 🙂
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I loved how you put up that information about liver transplants. It is like Steve said; they are just suggestions. My husband and son don’t always take the doctor’s suggestions either but I am more like Danny and I tend to nag them about it. And Danny is listening to the doctor. Look how in the first episode he would not drive the car. I also hate all the complaints about it. Peter Lenkov said there is going to be a story arc where Danny is going to try and get Steve to slow down. Let them complain. The way the ratings are going I don’t think anybody is going to listen. They got the highest rating of any other show on Friday night out of all the networks. It must be working. I could see Duke’s reaction too when he asked how Kono knew
Rosie. I agree it was an excellent bit of acting. I always say the actors on H50 act with their eyes. It was great the way Kono admitted she was jealous and how they both feared losing to each other at the time. When they really shared their feelings, a real friendship was formed. My favorite part, of course, was when Danny took the elevator and then proceeded to take they guy down. Their good cop/bad cop was fantastic. But my favorite line was when Danny told the guy the milk in his fridge had a longer shelf life than he had. I love his snark. But I was totally shocked by what they found in the psychiatrist’s office. That was a great cliffhanger. I can’t wait for the next episode. I am loving this season. Bring it on.
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Thanks for the comment! 🙂 You always leave such great remarks! ♥
In reality, the rules that are laid out for transplant recipients are not really “suggestions”. They are there for the protection of the patient. A transplant of any kind is literally a foreign object invading a person’s body. The body’s first line of defense is to attack the foreign invader, just as if it were a virus or bacteria or even a splinter in your finger. Rejection is a real possibility for those who don’t follow the rules, who treat the rules as “suggestions”. Those who do not follow the guidelines the way they should are just being stupid AND quite frankly, it’s a slap in the face to the person, living or dead, who donated that organ so the person could live. In reality.
But, as we reasonable people have said a zillion times this is NOT reality… this is fiction. In fiction wizards fly around London, vampires walk the streets of a small town in Washington State and dinosaurs roam an island off the coast of Costa Rica. In fiction, a man can run like a maniac, scale buildings, go swimming and even have a beer a few weeks/months after a transplant. Honestly, who gives a shit if it’s not the way it would be… in reality??
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Thanks for the info. Next week looks great!
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I think Chin is doing the right thing in letting Sara go, but I’d still love it if she stayed. Kono’s story line was heartbreaking, but really well acted by both actresses. I thought the cotw was weak, but it did give us some great Steve and Danny moments. Loved the whole garage scene, and that bit in the car when they’re talking to the bad guys was just like old times. Kono coming out of that bag was so unexpected. The serial killer case is getting really interesting, so looking forward to next weeks episode. Thanks for another great review.
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Thanks for reading and commenting Wendy. I agree with all you said, especially looking forward to next week! 🙂
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I pretty much agree with the view on the multiple storylines. I did struggle to follow the COTW for a bit. The first rendezvous scene when the bad guy was kidnapped by his own people was a bit awkward to me, but i guess they had to do something to create the ransom demand. I loved Kono in the tote bag! That would have been my part were I on an elite crime fighting team as I am the contortionist/flexible one of all my acquaintances. Like others on twitter, I thought Kono may have been called for her sniper skills. That was a nice, and not too off the wall surprise.
I sometimes tweet about Danny’s liver comments. I think the nagging is the writers way of acknowledging the serious nature of Steve’s injury since they rarely carry over healing from one ep to the next. It would be nice for Steve to have a comeback about his latest dr. visit or something. We all know H50 is not made to be a drama that plays out realistically, but my personality is such that I like to see something real. It does seem to me like Steve has had more footchases per episode than normal this season. I did love his running in circles while Danny calmly took the elevator – particularly the shot of Danny watch him running by.
I like how the serial killer storyline is playing across several episodes. It would be interesting if he or she got away next week. My first thought while Steve and Alicia waited in the counselor’s office was that it was her, but i know serial killers are rarely women. as well, she does not appear in the images we have seen from next week’s episode ( it doesn’t look like her to me). Anyway, I also wonder whether Alicia will survive; I hope she does for her and Steve’s sake. I find her a bit awkward; i don’t know if that is just how she is playing the character. I like her character (particularly that she has pulled some McGarretts on McG), but her line delivery is strange; she didn’t come across that way on NCISLA. I never considered that she was meant to be a possible love interest.
One thing from the preview, they seem to be tracking McG with gps. Did he purposely get kidnapped to track the killer and then things go wrong? When he wakes up on the floor, his expression at seeing the duct tape is interesting, like his surprise was not waking up in a strange place, but that he was bound. maybe i am thinking too much. The intensity looks like it could match that of 5.07 ( i held my breath for much of it). I cannot wait to see the next episode, and I think I am going to have to wait until Saturday night!
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I agree….serial killers are rarely woman. I’m curious to see how multi layered this case might be. Level 1: serial killers. Level 2: a serial killer killing serial killers Level 3: a mastermind manipulating all the other levels and doing none of the actual killing themselves. Because it’s highly unlikely that it’s Dr. Gray abducting Steve and Alicia and dumping them in the drink. She’s (If it IS her at all) got other people doing her bidding, people who will also probably become expendable.
That’s why I’m really hoping this arc doesn’t end after 4 episodes. There is just sooooo much potential for more intrigue.
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Loved your review! Kono & Rosie’s story was very heart-touching-I loved seeing Rosie get back in the water,like she was getting back into life again! My favorite scene is Kono coming out of that bag and taking down all the bad guys-that was awesome! I was glad to see Steve & Danny back to the way they used to be-still bantering with each other,but not really arguing! I hope the relationship between Steve & Alicia doesn’t go any farther than friendship-I like him with Lynn and look forward to seeing her again soon. The COTW was kinda hard to keep up with,but as for the Chess Piece killer,I’m anxious to see how Steve & Alicia get out of their watery prison next week!.
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I agree Rhonda. Right now, I see a budding friendship and a great sense of mutual respect between Steve and Alicia. I think all the love interest talk is simply click bait on so called new sites and nothing more. I like Steve with Lynn too and I”m looking forward to them moving forward with their relationship once Steve gets his head out of his ass 😉
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Great review Linda- I love the research that you do, always very interesting! With Danny so protective of Steve, it will be interesting to see how next week plays out with what looks like Alicia & Steve being in danger without Danny there to help out. (I don’t think Scott’s in next week’s?). Danny will never leave his side again! Thanks for your insight, loving season 7!
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Yes… I’m not happy that next weeks episode will be one Scott will miss. Even though I have no problem with his schedule that doesn’t mean I like it when he’s not there. You’re right…it will be interesting to see what excuse they give for Danny not being there next week. I just hope the writers come up with a solid reason for Danny to be away and not just another cheer-leading competition with Gracie.
Welcome to the blog! ♥
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HEY! As usual, I love reading your review. I have to say, the Kono/Rosie story didn’t affect me the way it seems to have everyone else. Do I think it was a fantastic story? YES! But it did not bring tears to my eyes. It does show how wonderful a character Kono is and how well played by Grace Park. The “good cop/psycho cop” scene has jumped into my top 5 of all time for this show. I was sad to see that, for the most part, it was all scripted, but regardless, still fantastic acting and shows how comfortable the two are with each other. I loved the garage scene, especially the part with Danny, the gun and the car. Priceless and vintage Danno! I missed that. And I blew right past the “liver” mention loving the fact that Steve is actually responding to the comments instead of what had become his usual ignoring it. I agree, so nice to see the bantering and not the bitching! And the scene with Jerry? Acting like an old married couple with Steve commenting on how to handle Danny best is perfection! I have to say I am so pleased with the addition of the new writers. They seem to have a better take on the show than the ones that left. Maybe new eyes are giving a fresh perspective on what’s been missing! I hope they can keep this up for the entire season. If so, we may yet see a Season 8!
Thanks again for a wonderful read!
Peggy
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Well, I wrote a comment last night, and just before I hit send, the iPad died! All my brilliant witticisms sadly disappeared, too. Thanks for quoting me in your review. I honestly feel that what we were meant to see in that garage chase scene is the different ways both men do their job. They are diametrically opposed, and yet compliment each other in the end.
You know, you can complain about Danny til the cows come home, but he IS an important part of the H50 story world and he’/ not going away. You can moan and groan about his insufferable arguing with Steve at inopportune times, and shout at your screen to him to “STFU,” but there are millions … yes, I said millions … over 9 million, in fact, who do still enjoy the brotherly banter. As far as the liver transplant goes, who else does Steve have to tell him to slow down, take it easy, and follow the doctor’s orders? His father is dead, his mother is in Timbuktu, for all Steve knows, his sister is in LA raising his niece, and the “love of his life” is off somewhere covert spying. Danny is his partner, his friend, the brother he never had. AND DANNY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR STEVE. Case closed.
I will say it again — the garage chase is classic H50. In my mind, it couldn’t have been done any better, and I will stand by my statement even if others think I’ve fallen into La La Land.
Same with the interrogation. You can not tell me that after 6 years together as partners, both men do not know each other’s strong suits and liabilities as well as understand the intricate workings of each other’s minds. Their relationship can be likened to a tractor, one that creaks and groans along until given a shot of oil and a tune up to get all the gears running in perfect sequence.
When Steve and Danny are in sync, they can rumble over a suspect and have him pleading for mercy in no time. It only works this way because they are tuned in to each other.
Now, I DO realize there was more to this 43 minute episode than Steve and Danny’s interactions! I enjoyed Kono’s story and I love how the Show makes this sort of story an integral part of each season. It shows the team members’ humanity outside of the job, and I like seeing that. I do NOT watch this show just for the action, the procedural, or the “pretty.” I am not so enamoured with one character, whoever that one might be, not to enjoy it when other characters are given a story of their own. So, delving into more of Kono’s surfing backstory and forwarding it to the present with her rival’s tragedy was heartwarming and added realism to the show. Many wounded vets face overwhelming obstacles upon returning home, and Hawaii is no exception. Put it out there for the rest of us to see and understand. This type of occasional story line is not going to take any precious time away from our stars screentime. In fact, it gives the actors a chance to emote and develop their characters away from the constant chases and bullet dodging.
Of course, after all that emotional stuff, Kono gets to jump out of the bag and be BAMF. Only on H50😜
Loved the episode…not one thing I didn’t like about it, either. (Can I please get some of Alicia’s drugs? I’d love to be able to sleep through the placement of a dead body in my bed!)
And please, Show, let the Chess piece killer arc continue after next week! I”m loving it!
Thanks, Linda! Sorry if I got carried away today!
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You can get carried away any time you want. I agreed with absolutely everything you said. I have said it a million times, Steve and Danny are the glue that holds this show together. Just check out online polls that ask what “Mc” people prefer and more so than not, McDanno always wins. Danny haters can bitch and moan all they want but you are 100% right. Danny has been there for Steve EVERY SINGLE TIME. No one else even comes close.
I’d also honestly wish that those who keep screaming at Danny to STFU would take their own advise.
Thanks for the fantastic comment! ♥♥♥
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LINDA This was truly a “Masterful” review{ as in a chess master.] every plot line analized brilliantly. I loved it and like everybody else here I can hardly wait for the next episode, Thanks again and keep up the good work.
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Yet another perfect review Linda, and another episode that can’t arrive soon enough in the U.K. We see all
the promos and snippets people post (which are fab btw) but always fun to place them within an episode when we read your reviews, the additional research you added too was great. Thank you 😀
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