Well, here we are my friends.  Stuck in the middle of hiatus hell.   How’s the hiatus treating you so far?  Yeah…..me too!  H50 withdrawal is not a pretty sight!  So, I’m doing what I always do.  At the start of each hiatus, I go back to the very beginning and re-watch all the episodes in preparation for the new season ahead.  I started this little tradition in the Summer of 2011 while waiting for Season 2 to begin.  Happily, as the years have passed, this yearly re-watch takes longer and longer each summer, but who’s complaining, right? 😊😊

With filming set to start sometime in early July, it seemed like a good time to open the floodgates and get into what we’d all love to see or not see coming our way in the new season.

A year ago, at this time, we were all happily looking forward to the beginning of Season 8 filming.  We were excited for the new season, to seeing our beloved Ohana back on our screens for more wonderful H50 adventures.  We were thrilled when, in an Instagram posted at the end of Season 7, Daniel Dae Kim, reassuringly confirmed that both Alex and Scott were coming back for Season 8, while conveniently not mentioning the fact that he and Grace Park were not.  Of course, none of us realized what he was saying, or more specifically, not saying, with that post.  We spent the hiatus in happy, unsuspecting anticipation.

So, it was a total kick in the teeth when, just days before filming was set to begin on Season 8, word came that both DDK and Grace were out.  It’s safe to say those of us who closely follow the show, watched the beginning of filming with much speculation and a bit of concern over what was going to happen with our beloved show and the state the on-screen Five-0 Ohana would be in.

But, the powers-that-be hit a home run with the addition to the cast of Meaghan Rath and Beulah Koale, along with the promotion of Taylor Wily, Dennis Chun, Ian Anthony Dale and Kimee Balmilero to series regulars.  These changes more than made up for the departure of DDK and Grace.  As it turned out, all our worries were uncalled for.  Not only did our show survive, it absolutely flourished.

And, from the looks of things so far, we won’t have to worry about another cast shake up this year.  While, as of this writing, we’ve gotten no official word from CBS that the entire cast is returning for Season 9, there’s been enough unofficial word from people  who should know the facts, that we can assume all the actors are on board for the new season.  Of course, without official word we can’t be 100% sure but all indications are leaning toward everyone returning for the new season.

With that in mind, let’s have a bit of speculative fun.  Here’s some of my thoughts on what I’d like to see happen in Season 9…. the 50^th Anniversary year of Hawaii Five-0.  These are not in any specific order.  Just some random musings:

One Story Line:  If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you already know my feelings on multiple story line episodes.  You know how much I love episodes which revolve around only one story and includes the entire team working to solve it.  I know the odds of this happening more than once or twice a season, if we’re lucky, are slim but it’s still fun to think about.

If we can’t have a significant number of episodes with only one story, I hope the writers try to limit the multiple stories per episode to only two.  And, it would be wonderful if those two stories are somehow connected, that they dove-tail into each other and, therefore, end up giving us one story after all, but I know that’s probably asking a bit too much.  I’m not one of those who complains that multiple stories are too hard to follow.  I have no difficulty in following them what-so-ever.  It’s not a matter of confusion for me, just a matter of time.  With only 42 or so minutes per episode, it just doesn’t leave a lot of time to devote to three stories and they all end up feeling shortchanged.  That brings me to…….

Adam:  As of this writing, Adam is still a main character so, obviously, they need to find something for him to do.  While I adore Ian Anthony Dale, Adam’s story was boring last season.  It only got a bit interesting when Adam’s sister Noriko showed up.  But, one episode later, she washed up on that beach and Adam hightailed it out of Hawaii.  So, it inevitably seems this story will continue.

Not only will it continue, it was the Season 8 cliffhanger.  Not a very exciting cliff hanger but there is it.  It’s true that Adam wasn’t the most effective task force leader in the world but even he wouldn’t be stupid enough to kill someone, leave the gun and gloves he used in a kitchen drawer and then have a member of Five-0 come over to the house to water the plants.

Seems kind of obvious that Adam is being set-up but wouldn’t it be a real kick in the pants if he wasn’t?  What if he planted the gun and gloves himself in an attempt to make it look like he’s being set up and he really did kill Noriko?  That would be one hell of a twist even if it’s one I hope doesn’t happen because I have always liked Adam and, from the very beginning, have felt he is a really good guy.

My hope is that, wherever this story is going, it’s not going to be completely separate from the Five-0 team.  This works into my “please not more than one or, at the most, two stories per episode” wish.  Because when Adam is off on his own, it’s a guarantee that at least one story every episode is going to be completely separate from the team and that it’s probably the third story of that episode.

And what about Kono?  Is Adam going to come back to Hawaii alone, again?  Is the story going to be that Adam and Kono are still together but have decided it’s better to be apart because they both want to be in different places?  How is that together?  I guess, maybe, the writers are trying to keep the door open in case they get the chance to bring Kono back, even if only for one episode at some point in the future but for a couple who fought so hard to be together, who endured so much for their love, to now decide it’s ok to be apart just doesn’t make sense, especially now that it’s stretching into two years!

Tani and Junior:   Everyone knows I was not a huge fan of the original Five-O and had no intention of ever watching the reboot.  But, having loved LOST and DDK’s role in that show, I followed him over to CBS to check out the new Five-0 because of him.  I was worried that the loss of Chin (along with Abby and little Sara) would really diminish the show for me.  I was wrong.  I can honestly say, because of Junior Reigns, I do not miss Chin one iota.  As for Kono, the only time I miss her is when Adam is on screen because it still doesn’t feel right that he’s in Hawaii and Kono is not.

But other than that, nope…. I don’t miss them at all.  Tani and Junior are simply fantastic.  They have both breathed new life into our show, a “breath of fresh air” that most of us never even knew we needed.  And it’s not just my opinion, or even the opinion of just the fans, but of the other actors as well.  Every single actor on the show, when asked about the new additions, have expressed their joy at having them on set and the enthusiasm and vitality of youth they both bring to work every day.

And it plays extremely well on screen.  With Tani and Junior as “the kids”, it affords the opportunity for the elder statesmen on the team to mentor, teach and guide them as they grow into the job.  Of course, this is more for Tani’s benefit than it is for Junior’s.  As a Navy SEAL, Junior can hardly be considered a newbie even if Steve did insist he go to the Police Academy before getting his Five-0 badge.  Personally, I’ve always felt that was more a way to make sure Junior’s “battlefield” experiences could easily translate to the streets.  Junior has proved time and time again, Steve didn’t have to worry about that.

As for Tani…. she is smart and tough with a heart of gold.  She doesn’t take crap from anyone and her rapier wit is always on point.  She pairs fabulously with every member of the team and has spent individual time with them all.  Her interactions with Steve, Danny and especially Lou are priceless.  And then there is the wonderful friendship that has grown between she and Junior, which is totally adorable.  She is an extremely capable officer and she’s as kick ass as Kono ever was.  On a personal note, her relationship with her brother Koa is as heartbreaking as it is heartwarming.

It’s been a pleasure getting to know Tani and Junior and I can’t wait to learn even more.  We still don’t know the “long story” behind why Junior left the Navy at such an early age or what transpired in Afghanistan that had his ex-girlfriend saying she’d heard he was a hero.  As for Tani, we’ve met her brother, Koa, but we don’t know about the rest of her family or why she not only cheated on her final Academy exam but felt the need to punch out her training officer.  Yep… there’s still so much to mine from these two characters and their back stories.

One thing I am going to miss is Junior living with Steve.  I don’t know if we’ll get to see Steve helping Junior look for an apartment or if, the first time we see Junior outside the office, he’ll just be at his new place.  But I liked the idea of Junior being at Casa McG.  I’m going to miss seeing him around the house whenever anyone drops by.

Lou:  I’m not sure what I’m hoping for Lou.  I do wish we got to see Renee more.  I adore the relationship between Renee and Lou.  Their love is the kind they write about in story books.  The Lou centric episode last season with the suicidal man and the flashbacks to the most traumatic case of Lou’s Chicago career was incredible.  Chi is an amazing actor and any episode which gives him the opportunity to stretch his acting wings is sure to be a winner.

Just, please, for the love of God, no more Chicago stories revolving around Clay Maxwell.  Hopefully, once Lou found those tapes of Clay’s jailhouse confessions to the death row inmate, that meant they have everything they need to keep Clay behind bars for a million years and we can be done with that story forever.

Kamekona, Noelani and Duke:  The elevation of Dennis Chun, Taylor Wily and Kimee Balmilero to the main cast was a wonderful surprise for Season 8.  All have been beloved members of the Ohana for a long time.  Taylor Wily, for instance, as far back as the Pilot and Dennis Chun, early in Season 1.  It was wonderful to see all these great actors on our screens more often in Season 8 and it was about time they all got their names and faces in the opening credits.

The two episodes which were centered around Kamekona and Duke were fantastic highlights of the season.  It would have been nice if Noelani could have gotten a full episode devoted to her as well, but maybe we’ll get to see something for her in Season 9.

Duke’s story is one we are sure to see more of.  In the Season 8 finale, Lou commented that there was a hearing going on about Duke’s fate within HPD after he took the law into his own hands in order to try to save his granddaughter.  We’ve often seen the members of Five-0 in the courtroom giving support to one of their own.  You just know if the team hadn’t been dealing with a Russian submarine off Waikiki Beach, they’d have been there for Duke as well.  He is more than a colleague to them all, that’s for damn sure.

I hope HPD doesn’t come down too hard on Duke. I can’t bear the thought of him not being right there, by Five-0’s side on the streets.  Yeah, he broke the law but who on HPD would say they wouldn’t do the same under similar circumstances?  The belief in the concept of Ohana is something they all have in common.

There must be consequences, of course.  I don’t expect them to just let Duke walk away from what he did.   A formal reprimand for sure.  Maybe a suspension?  But, I sure hope they don’t kick him off the force.  He’d lose everything he’s spent his entire life working for.  That would be too much to bear.

Eddie:  And, of course, we can’t discuss the cast without including probably the best new addition to any TV show in years….. EDDIE!!!!  Eddie has done something I never thought anyone could ever do in the H50 fandom.  Everyone…. everyone…. loves him.  No fan wars over this guy.  What a refreshing development that is!!

From the moment we first saw Eddie it was impossible not to love him.  In his first few minutes on screen he went from happy enthusiasm to wake his friend/DEA handler for breakfast, to on-the-job pinpoint focus during the DEA raid, to fierce, angry determination to take down the guy who killed his friend, to heartbreaking pain when he, himself, gets shot.  Is it any wonder Steve’s heart went out to him the moment he laid eyes on him?  We’d already fallen in love before Steve even walked into that shipping container.

It’s no secret that Eddie is the most popular new member of the Five-0 team.  My wish for Season 9 would be to see even more of him.  I’d love it if Steve brought Eddie to the office with him every day.  Let’s face it, Five-0 never knows when a new case is going to drop into their laps or when Eddie might be needed on a case.  It seems silly for Steve to have to drive all the way home to pick up Eddie when he’s needed.  It would be much more efficient if Eddie was at the office every day, just like every other member of the team goes to work every day.  And it would also mean Eddie wouldn’t be stuck at home alone when both Steve and Junior are at work.

I know, it’s probably not feasible to have Eddie (the actor) on set as often as would be necessary to have Eddie in all the HQ scenes, but it’s fun to think about seeing him lying under the magic table while the team is in the field and Jerry is working the table.  Or to see Eddie running to the doors to greet Steve and the team when they come back from the field.

The Restaurant:  I really like this story and I’m so happy it’s going to continue into Season 9.  Well, let me clarify that a bit.  I’ve liked the idea of the restaurant from the moment Danny proposed it in Season 7 and I enjoyed it for the most part in Season 8.  Although I will admit the ongoing problems, the ineffectual attempts to get the place up and running and the constant negative comments made to Steve and Danny from pretty much everyone who heard about it did go on a bit too long.

I’m totally thrilled that Kamekona has come on board to help the guys get the place together.  Not only is it another way to get Kame on screen more (which is always a great thing in my book) it makes perfect sense.  Kame is an entrepreneur extraordinaire and the perfect person to put the guys on the right path to making their dream a reality.  I can’t tell you how much I want the “dream” Danny had when he was shot to come true.

But, what will the name be?  I, like many others, was thrilled when Kame had those T-shirts made for “McDanno’s Bar and Grill” and, of course, had to buy one of my own for my H50 T-shirt collection.  But, as much of a McDanno shipper as I am, I’m not sure that’s the right name for the restaurant.  Kinda sounds too much like McDonald’s or something to me.

But, if I had to choose between that and “Kamekona’s Italian Restaurant”, I’d go with “McDanno’s” for sure.  “Kamekona’s” just doesn’t flow right.  As I said in my 8.25 Season Finale review:

“I hope the writers don’t try to go there because there really isn’t any way the restaurant should bear Kame’s name.  Danny may hem and haw, rant and protest, but he ultimately understands the sentiment behind Steve’s request.  “…..because then, if we’re not together, we’ll still… you know… we’re still gonna…. we’ll be together still”.  Such a touching and heartfelt sentiment I can’t believe Danny would ever consider not honoring that request.  It’s a testament to their friendship.”  The restaurant really should be “Steve’s”.

Episode #200:  I’m so excited that our show is hitting this landmark in Season 9.  I keep thinking back to the 100^th episode and how fantastic it was, and I just know Peter Lenkov and all the writers are putting their heads together and coming up with something that will be absolutely fantastic to celebrate this milestone.  I have no clue what it could be, but I do have one fervent wish.  I hope, whatever it is, at the end of the episode, the entire Ohana assembles to celebrate the grand opening of Danny and Steve’s restaurant.  I can’t think of a better way to celebrate #200 then with a champagne toast at “Steve’s”!

Steve:   What do I want to see for Steve in Season 9?  Let’s see.  I wouldn’t mind if we got a bit more SEAL action.  It was such fun to see Steve and Junior in the 8.24 SEAL episode.  It was action packed and full of emotion and simply wonderful.  I know we can’t have that all the time, but it would be great if we could get another flashback to Steve as a SEAL.  As a matter of fact, any action-packed episode is awesome in my book.  With the fantastic stunt team H50 has, there’s no reason why we can’t have all kinds of action going on.  We do have two SEALs on the team now.  It would be wonderful to see them go all out more often.

I’d also like to see Lynn again.  We already know she and Steve are still together, but it would be so wonderful to see them together again.  Hey, I know, she should come to the grand opening of “Steve’s” in Episode #200, right? 😉  I know there’s a real-life issue of availability with Sarah Carter who’s happily at home with her new baby so it’s very possible we won’t be able to get her back.

If that’s the case and we can’t have Sarah/Lynn, I’d love it if Steve would run into an old girlfriend from his school days.  Junior’s only been home for less than a year and he’s already run into Layla, his ex-girlfriend and helped save his other high school friend Cammy.  Steve’s been home going on nine years and he’s never run into anyone from his school days.  So, I’d love for him to re-connect with someone from high school and see if it can develop into something more.  Ohhhhh and please let her be Hawaiian!  I don’t need to see her every episode, or even all that often.  Just let them meet again, let him mention her every so often, maybe see her a couple of times so we know it’s on.  Do I think there is even the remotest possibility this could happen?  Well… no.

What I don’t need is anymore health issues for Steve.  Yeah, I know, medical issues shouldn’t just be forgotten and written to mysteriously and magically disappear, but I really don’t need to see a sick Steve.  I know it’s not realistic but just like I don’t care that Steve is drinking beer after his liver transplant, I wouldn’t care if I never heard of radiation poisoning ever again.

Danny:  As far as relationships go, the same can be said for Danny as well as Steve.  Danny and Melissa have been going together now for going on five years.  It would be really great if we could see her again too or at least have Danny mention her every once in a while.  “Hey, you heading home, Danno?”  “Yeah, I’m picking up Melissa for dinner and a movie.”  See?  How hard is that?

But what I’d most like for Danny is a full time return to the seeing him as the fantastic detective we all know he is.  We’ve lost sight of the guy who had 87 homicide cases under his belt before he even came to Oahu.  I realize there are now six full time members of Five-0 (including Jerry) and the writers need to give lines to everyone, but I’d love to get back to Danny being the one who has the answers more often than not.  He’s too good to be relegated to standing next to Steve at the magic table and nodding at everyone else’s great ideas.

And I’m not talking about the five “Scott-less” episodes a season.  I fully understand those, and they’re not an issue with me.  I don’t even care when they don’t insert a line of dialog to explain why Danny isn’t there.  But what I do care about are the 20 episodes when Danny is there and the quality of that time.  I understand the logistics of Scott’s filming schedule, and that his screen time may be limited in certain episodes, but to me, that’s exactly when they should make the most of his presence.  Give him something awesome to do.  Let him be the one to take down the bad guy or come up with the solution that solves the entire case.  If it’s an episode where they only have him for 15 minutes out of 42, make those 15 minutes incredible!

McDanno:  Whether it’s carguments in the Camaro, beers on the beach behind Casa McG, throwing ideas around the Magic Table or working on the restaurant, these two are, have always been, and need to continue to be the cornerstone of this show.  The pillars that hold everything else up.  I loved the relationship between them in Season 8.  I know a lot of people complain that all they did was fight over the restaurant, but I don’t think that’s true.  I think they behaved exactly like any two close-knit guys would behave when faced with frustration, disagreements, and the massive stress of trying to start a new venture.  The only really heated fight they had was when their tools were stolen and even then, it was more frustration than real anger.

Long gone is the bitter, hateful sniping of a couple of seasons ago.  They have returned to the bantering of the earlier years and, for me at least, it’s something I’ll never grow tired of.  Seeing into Danny’s dreams, seeing that pretty much every thought he had as he was dying had Steve in it from operating a successful restaurant to growing old together was beautiful.  Their friendship, brotherhood and resolve to stick together is solid.

I hope more than anything we can keep this going into Season 9.  Regardless of how much time either character or actor is in an episode, when they are together, this is how they should always be.  This is the relationship that drew millions of viewers to the show from the very beginning and it’s still the relationship that keeps them coming back for more.  These two are simply perfection.

Guest stars:  H50 has, from the very beginning, always had fantastic guest stars, so fantastic in fact, many have becoming recurring characters. There are several I’d love to see again in Season 9.

The first one to top my list is Harry Langford.  I love that we got to see Harry twice in Season 8. His chemistry with absolutely everyone on screen is phenomenal but, of course, it’s his relationship with Steve and Danny that is 14 carat gold.  He not only is their equal with regard to their talent in crime solving but he also just… well, he gets them.  He and Steve are kindred spirits, with similar backgrounds and life experiences and as for Danny, Harry makes no secret of his fondness for him.  The three of them make a fantastic team and if we didn’t already have six members of Five-0, I’d think Harry could make a wonderful addition to the team.  As it is, I’ll be thrilled if we get him back for a least an episode or two in Season 9.

I miss Sang Min.  We haven’t seen him since close to the end of Season 7 and that’s too long in my book.  He’s our longest serving “bad guy” and while I know Will Yun Lee is busy with other projects these days, it would be wonderful if we could get him back, even if only for one episode.  Hey… there’s that #200 again…….

Someone else I miss terribly is Gracie.  I know she’s not really in this category, not really a “guest star” but we haven’t seen her is what seems like years.  The last time we saw her was in 7.20, a short scene at the end of the episode when Rachel told her and Charlie she and Stan were divorcing.  Danny’s mentioned her a couple of times since then, but we haven’t seen her.  I know Tailor Grubbs has moved away from Hawaii to LA so quick little scenes are much more difficult logistically but maybe they could write an entire episode that features Gracie to make the trip to Oahu worthwhile and we’d get the pleasure of seeing her again.

Others I’d like to see again:  Alicia Brown.  No I don’t want her to be part of Five-0 and .. no.. I don’t want her to be a love interest for Steve.  But she is good at what she does and it’s not unthinkable that Five-0 would be in need of her services once in a while.  Besides, weren’t those the terms of her probation anyway?

Odell Martin.  I’d love to see Odell in the court room again.  Now that Steve doesn’t have hair anymore 😉, we can’t count on Odell dropping by HQ to give Steve a quick cut so the fact that he’s now a practicing lawyer should come in handy.  Maybe a story where he’s not helping Five-0, but defending someone Five-0 thinks is guilty.  Having them on opposite sides of a case would be fun.

Gerald Hirsch.  Just because he’s so much damn fun!

Koa Rey.  I love the dynamic between Tani and Koa and I hate the idea that we won’t see him again.  I don’t want to see him go back to using or getting into trouble but maybe a case where he’s an asset to Five-0, an overdose victim he’d been trying help, for instance.  That could be an interesting episode.

Joe White.  8.24 was fantastic and watching Steve and Joe, along with Junior, fight their way out of that deadly situation was awesome.  There is still so much respect and affection between Steve and Joe, despite their difficulties.  There’s also still a lot of secrets only Joe knows, secrets Steve needs and has the right to know.  Steve’s entire life’s course was set in motion because of those secrets and he has the right to know about everything that happened.  There’s no one better than Joe to fill him in on everything, except perhaps for…..

Doris.  I do not like Doris.  I will never forgive her for what she did to John, Steve and Mary.  Her entire life is based on fabrications, secrets and lies.  I see no redeeming quality in her what-so-ever.  I have no doubt she loves her children but only as much as is convenient at any given moment.  She’s full of remorse for what she’s done, again, when it’s convenient and she needs something but then she falls back into her own world of cloak and dagger secrets.  It’s the only life she knows.

I don’t like Doris, but I love Christine Lahti and her scenes with Alex positively sizzle.  I really don’t want to see Doris lie to Steve again, or tell him, with perpetual tears in her eyes, how much she loves him or wanted to protect him.  But I would love to see Christine and Alex on screen together again.  A quick one and done would suffice.  Again, this might be a good story for #200.  Just like Steve finally got closure with WoFat in #100, perhaps it’s time for the same with Doris.  Oh… I’m not saying they need to kill her off, but Steve finally knowing everything, absolutely everything that transpired to make him who he is, and to hear it from Doris.. that would make one hell of a milestone episode.

You know the one I do NOT want to see:  This is probably another wish if mine that won’t happen.  I know, for some unfathomable reason, TPTB love Catherine and no amount of pleading from fans is going to stop them from keeping her in the show.  However, when Catherine left, again, she and Steve parted as friends.  Still good friends, willing to be there for each other when needed.  This I’m ok with.  They’ve known each other forever and were good friends from the very beginning.  Catherine’s choices make her totally undesirable and unacceptable as a wife but not as a friend.  If TPTB feel the need to bring her back for her obligatory one episode per season, having her call Five-0 for help, having Five-0 recruit her for a single international type case, or even if they just teleconference her onto the big screen for critical intel… I’m ok with that.  As much as I wish to never lay eyes on her again, like Doris, a one and done would be acceptable.

Finally, more creative control for Alex:  Eddie was his idea.  He got to direct an episode.  The fantastic story in 8.24 was his.  TPTB even allowed Alex to decide to cut Steve’s hair.  It’s plainly clear that Alex has wonderful ideas and, of course, he knows this show and his character as well as Peter and the writers do, maybe even better.  Alex’s story for 8.24 was incredible and I have no doubt he has many more wonderful ideas for stories that would give the show a new and different perspective that can only make it better.  I really hope we get to see much more of what Alex has offer behind the scenes as well as on our screens.

Well, that’s it.  HA!  That’s it?  This went on forever!  Well, it’s probably my only post from finale to premiere so what the hell?  Let’s hear your thoughts.  What do you want to see in Season 9?  What don’t you want to see in Season 9?  Do you agree with my ideas?  No… fantastic!  Let’s hear it all in the comments below.

I hope you’re all having a fantastic summer so far.  Filming for Season 9 should start in about a month so even if hiatus hell will last to the end of September, at least we should be getting some behind-the-scenes pictures relatively soon.  That’s always something to look forward to.

Hope you’re all well!  Aloha.  Malama Pono

No pictures with this one, folks!  Damn thing is long enough already! 😊😊