Hi everyone!  Sorry this review is so late.  I had some family obligations I had to deal with this weekend and I didn’t get the chance to finish this up as quickly as I would have liked.

Please note:   This episode is shown as 8.02 even though it was filmed and originally intended to be presented as 8.03.  While it was not official stated by CBS, it is believed the episodes were switched due to the horrendous events which took place in Las Vegas last weekend.  I commend CBS for making this change in an effort to be sensitive to all those involved.  Whether this was the reason for the switch or not, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families and to everyone who was touched by this horrible act of brutality.

We are fans of Hawaii Five-0 so needless to say, we look forward to every new episode with great anticipation.  But there are some episodes, where the anticipation is even higher than usual and you just know you’re going to love it the moment you read the first spoilers. This is one of those episodes.  We all knew we’d be meeting soon-to-be new team member Junior Reigns and, of course, Eddie.  So yeah, anticipation was high for this one.

But let’s start off with the crime of the week.  It was a decent story if not a particularly exciting one.  But that really doesn’t matter because it wasn’t the crime of the week we were all tuning in to see anyway.  The case was kind of predictable.  DEA agent Paul Lazio gets a tip about a huge drug shipment at the docks and, lo and behold, as soon as he and the other agents arrive, they are ambushed.  It’s obviously a set up since the gunmen were not thugs the agents came upon unawares but were perched in strategic positions to take the agents down.  Set up = inside man.

Enter DEA Agent Chris Reid, the first one to jump in and offer to help in any way he can.  Yeah, ok.  Not too long after that, we meet restaurant manager Roger Niles.  Yup… this guy is going to be in on it too.  Why, because he’s being played by a “name”, Casper Van Dien.  I’ve always figured that it’s pretty certain they don’t fly a specific actor from the mainland to play a character that plays no significant part in the story.

At first, I thought it was just a going to be another cute “restaurant” scene like others we’ve seen in the past.  Retired cops telling Danny all the reasons why a restaurant is a bad idea, etc.  And for the first few minutes that’s exactly what it was.  Steve getting decidedly more uncomfortable with every word coming out of Niles’s mouth. Partnerships are like bad marriages.  Stress induced heart attacks.  But it was the knowledge that a restaurant survives on its wine list that seemed to hit Steve’s “oh crap… I never thought of that” nerve.  It was also what clued us in that the wine was going to play a major part in this crime.

It was obvious that Niles had Manny killed because he was the only person who knew Steve and Lou were on their way to see him.  And as for Agent Reid?  As soon as the words “he was going to shoot, I had no choice” came out of his mouth, it was like, “Ok, that seals it.  he’s the mole for sure”.  Even though I already knew it, that was 100% confirmation.  I immediately remembered, all the way back to Season 1, when Detective Kaleo killed Emilio Ochoa to cover up that he was the HPD mole who had Meka murdered. He said the exact same thing.

But, it doesn’t matter that the case was predictable.  This episode was great in spite of that.  It had fantastic team work, it had gun fights, car chases, action, humor and most of all, it had a ton of heart.

I particularly enjoyed how all the characters were used in this episode.  Almost the entire “main” cast was utilized.  Our main team, of course, but also Duke (at several crime scenes and later in Steve’s office), Noelani (at another crime scene and at the morgue), we met Junior, and even Adam got a mention. The only main character we didn’t see was Kamekona.  I especially like the way they are using Jerry this season.  I said it last week that I really like that Jerry has taken over as the Keeper of the Magic Table and he was fantastic in this episode as well.

I’m also really enjoying the budding relationship forming between Danny and Tani.  I loved how Danny was having a minor freak out when Tani leaned out of the speeding Camaro to take out the bad guys in the fleeing truck.  I’m really liking the idea of the rookie having a mentor.  Kono had Chin and it looks like Tani will have Danny.  Since it seems she possesses a similar reckless personality as Steve, this should be a lot of fun to watch develop.

One of the best scenes in the episode was the discussion between Steve and Danny in the Camaro.  I suppose you could call this a traditional cargument because (and I’m flashing back to Season 1 again) Danny had no problem “getting all Jersey” with Steve and it never deteriorated into anything nasty.  I always love it when I can tell the writer of the episode understands my part of the world and Danny’s relatives going “down the shore”, eating “disco fries” and “tomato pie” was music to my ears.  And for those who think the dialog was off base, I am here to tell you that Danny is 100% correct about Jersey water (and Philadelphia water, my neck of the woods, for that matter).  I know people who have moved away from here who operate pizza joints who say the same thing.  The dough is simply not the same as it is here.

But it was their discussion about Chin and Kono that choked me up.  Kono is doing a great job with her task force but every time they catch one bad guy, another pops up to take his place.  She’s even called on Chin’s San Francisco task force to help out on the west coast.  They already knew Chin wasn’t ever coming back. Now it seems that Chin and Kono are, if not in the same place, still working together.  The look on Danny’s face when he realized this was so sad, he really got choked up.  Of course, they are both tremendously missed.  The guys just looked so forlorn I wanted to reach through my screen and give them both a hug.

Later, we find out that Steve got a visit from Adam who told him that Kono’s case has intensified and it looks like she’s not coming back any time soon.  Adam is flying out to be with her.  Of course, we already know Adam is coming back eventually but the realization that Kono is probably not coming back may be what causes Steve to reconsider his decision to help Junior.

Ahhhhh yes, Junior.  One of the things we were looking forward to in this episode was meeting Junior Reigns (played by Beulah Koale) and I have to say, I’m going to really like this guy.  Junior is nothing else if he is not persistent.  This episode just kept flashing me back to Season 1 and remembering when Steve wanted Danny as his partner, no wasn’t an answer he was ever going to accept.  It seems Junior may be cut from the same cloth and while he’s, obviously, not in the same degree of authority as Steve, he knows he wants to work for Steve and he’s not taking no for an answer easily.

One of the things military men look very highly on is initiative and Junior sure has a lot of that.  Yeah, Steve and Lou could see right through the car washing deal but, hey, it worked, right?  It got Junior in the front door at Five-0.  The look on his face as he walked in was like a kid in a candy store.  I’m sure, as a SEAL, the high-tech gear wasn’t unfamiliar to him but still, he was mighty impressed.

I like how the writers are going to bring Junior on slowly.  It makes sense considering how quickly Tani was added to the team to not just add someone else brand-new right off the bat.  I also like that Steve wants Junior to go to the Academy. I saw a few people on Twitter after the show asking why Steve is making graduation from the Academy a condition when he didn’t do it for Kono, Tani, Catherine or, obviously, himself.

I think it makes perfect sense.  Kono was one week away from graduation when she was recruited for Five-0.  Tani cheated on her final exam, which also means she was very close to graduation when she was kicked out.  So, both Kono and Tani had competed full Academy training when they joined Five-0.  Steve, of course, was hired by the Governor based on his military career and training. As for Catherine, Steve knew her for years, knew her credentials, and had seen her skills and her training first hand.

Steve really has no clue who Junior is. He only set eyes on the man a day ago.  Oh, I’m sure he pulled his jacket before he made his offer and it’s obvious both he and Duke talked to his Master Chief, David Lang and got his recommendation.  But, Steve still hasn’t seen Junior in action.  Having him get some formal training and, getting it from Duke, is the best way to access his capabilities.  It’s a very smart move.  I’m looking forward to finding out Junior’s “long story” about why he left the Navy so young.  One more broken toy for Steve to mend.

But, of course, this episode really belonged to one person and one person only.  The fact that the person has four legs makes it even more special.  The star of this show was 100% Eddie!

From the first moment we see him, awake in his bed but waiting for the alarm to go off before happily jumping on his handler and best friend Paul’s bed for some early morning cuddles, I was in love.  Eddie was without a doubt the heart and soul of this episode from beginning to end.

Other than the bittersweet moments of remembering Chin and Kono, Eddie was the emotional impetus for this episode.  Right off the bat you can see Eddie is good at his job.  He saved Paul from getting shot twice before the fatal shot occurred.  At first Eddie licks Paul’s face, trying to comfort him but once he realizes what’s happened, he’s off, after the man who killed his friend.  I know we all agree with Danny when he said “shoot a dog, you’re going to hell, period” and we all cried out in alarm when Eddie went down.  We’ve all seen plenty of people shot on this show but watching that pool of blood spreading under Eddie literally stopped my heart.

But it was the emotional connection Steve made with Eddie that was the most heartwarming.  Steve, the admitted “cat person”, went to look for the “missing dog” immediately and from the moment he found Eddie in that shipping container bleeding out, there was no way our “testosterone filled marshmallow” wasn’t going to save and protect him.  Finding out that Eddie is not only a DEA/Police dog but also a combat veteran of Afghanistan only added to the connection.  His face literally lit up with relief when he found out that Eddie not only made it through surgery but was awake and hungry.

Eddie proved invaluable throughout the story.  When Eddie attacked the man who shot Paul he did a fine job of biting the man’s arm so that when they swabbed his mouth they were able to find the DNA evidence to track down the shooter.  Eddie was also well enough to assist the team in the final take down at the warehouse of Niles and Agent Reid.

Nothing was more satisfying than Eddie, tracking down Reid, slowly advancing on him, snarling and growling.  Reid, bastard that he was, was going to shoot Eddie again. He pulled the trigger but, thank God, the gun was out of ammo.  As Eddie advanced, you could almost read his mind and Eddie was pissed!!!  “He was your friend! He trusted you! I trusted you… you son of a bitch”!  I know we all cheered when they wheeled Reid out, bloody and mauled. Way to go Eddie!

There were some really cute moments with Eddie as well.  I liked the DEA tradition of everyone petting the drug dog before the raid for luck.  It was funny to me how Danny was already beginning to look at Eddie as an extension of Steve. “Try not to get shot again, buddy” is exactly what Danny would say Steve in that situation.  Steve’s kiss to the top of Eddie’s head made my heart simply swoon.

Then there was Lou.  You could tell Lou is not a dog person way before this scene.  Way back when Steve asked Jerry to check in on Eddie’s surgery, the look on Jerry’s face was a small, fond smile.  As if to say, “oh that’s sweet, Steve’s worried about the dog”.  Lou’s face, however, was pure “you’re kidding, right? You’re worried about a dog??”

Lou firmly tells Eddie he is not a dog person, but he will try to have his back if Eddie has his.  Of course, Eddie does just that, attacking and disarming one of the bad guys just as he’s about to shoot Lou.

The scene of Lou and Eddie after the raid was simply priceless.  “Is that my boy? Is that my nice boy, Eddie? Do you know you’re a nice boy, Eddie? “Oh.. don’t be silly, Uncle Lou, I don’t even know I’m a doggie!” Yes, but when you saw that bad guy, you said “I gotta go save my Uncle Lou” and that’s why your Uncle Lou is gonna get you a big juicy steak for your din-din”.  Tani giving Lou some good natured grief “Look who’s a dog person now!” and Lou’s return “No… I’m a “this” dog person” was, like I said before…. priceless.

But these happy moments were soon over.  Watching the team attending Paul’s funeral and Eddie, sitting there, right in the front, watching as his best friend is buried was heart breaking.  I swear, this dog is incredible.  Like when he attacked Reid, you could almost read his mind as he watched the coffin being lowered.  Steve, never took his eyes off Eddie, almost as though he understood exactly what he was feeling.  Well, he probably did.

When Steve later found Eddie, whimpering and laying on Paul’s grave that was it.  The funeral had me tearing up but this… I was a sobbing mess.  I don’t think my heart could have taken any more.  Steve sitting down next to Eddie, comforting him, telling him everything’s going to be alright.  It made me think of all those times we’ve seen Steve go to his father’s grave, just to be close.  Steve and Eddie have made a connection over loss.

And just like with Danny and with Tani, with all of them, Steve arrived in Eddie’s life just when he’s needed.  I’m so happy the box of broken toys at Five-0 has room for even one more.

Well, as you can tell this episode made me an emotional wreck.  I can guarantee you the dogs (and other pets) of every H50 fan got a lot of extra cuddles and love after this episode was over.  I can’t wait to see Eddie again and again and hopefully in many happy scenes as we can get.

Have a wonderful week my friends!  Aloha. Malama Pono.

All screen caps were done by me.