Hi everyone! Before I get started, I just wanted to add a quick word of apology for this review being so late. The entire weekend totally got away from me. It was late Saturday night before I could even watch the episode properly and by the time I went to work Monday morning, I hadn’t been able to write a single word let alone do another full re-watch to do screen grabs!
I’m not sure if you’re all going to be disappointed or wonderfully relived that I didn’t have the time for my usual, long winded review. Even though I was able to grab a decent number of screen shots, I only hit the highlights of what I enjoyed about the episode. I’m counting on you guys to fill in the gaps in the comments section. One of the things I always hear you say is “I could add more, but you seem to have covered everything!” 🤣🤣 So, I’m counting on all of you to have my six this week! Thanks! 
The beach at Casa McG: Let’s just say, there are certain things in life that are inevitable. Death. Taxes. That money buried on a beach will not stay buried for long. That dogs, even adorable, wonderful, courageous dogs, are going to dig, especially when you wouldn’t let him help you dig the hole in the first place. That Danny is going to rant when Steve does something totally stupid. That Junior will try to be a peacemaker and both he and Eddie will “hate it when Mom and Dad argue”. 🤣🤣
“Don’t just stand there and be handsome, say something!” Sorry Danny, Steve don’t know how to look no different! 🤣🤣
But, ultimately, Danny didn’t stay annoyed with Steve for very long.
“Why are you still pouting?”
“Nobody has any idea where Greer is.”
“Look, you did what you thought you had to do with Greer. It was the right thing at the time. You let her go, you let her go. Don’t be so hard on yourself”
I just adored this entire scene. It’s one of the best arguments turned “I’ve got your back” moments that we’ve had in a long time. I also love the easy way Steve and Danny, or in this case, probably Alex and Scott, have with each other. When Steve reaches out to stop Danny from walking past him, their arms linger, almost entwined for several seconds before they break apart. It really is amazing how comfortable these guys are in each other’s space.
Steve and Danny: As a matter of fact, they were totally on point this entire episode. From working the case together and bouncing ideas off each other as they try to fit the pieces together, it was vintage Steve and Danny teamwork.
And when Steve sent Danny off into the jungle with Tani and Junior, Danny knew Steve was up to something. When does Steve ever give up the opportunity to leap out of the skies and traipse through a jungle after bad guys??
It turned out Steve wanted “the kids” to spend time alone with Danny because Steve knows, as does anyone with a brain, that Danny is a fantastic detective who can teach the kids a lot about doing the job right. But Danny tends to let the kids defer to Steve in the field, and Steve wants them to learn from Danny as well. So Steve sent them all off together and basically forced Danny into the teachable moments Steve knew would come.
I loved the exchange between Steve and Danny when Steve forced Danny to admit that he did, indeed have “a couple of good moments… a few gems that I dropped”. I just love how Steve wants Danny to do more of this kind of thing, “I want you to teach them what you know, about being the good cop that you are”. I hope that really does happen. I’ve missed the Danny we saw in this episode. Nothing would make me happier then to have Danny in the lead on an investigation more often.
But both Tani and Junior did benefit from Danny’s wisdom. Watching Danny teach “How To Be a Good Detective 101” was fantastic. I especially got a kick out of Junior asking Danny not to tell McGarrett that Danny had given him, a SEAL, a lesson on how to track a suspect.
Renee’s car: Nine years in, should we be surprised that Steve can’t ever let anyone else drive a car?? The Camaro having been sent off with Danny, Tani and Junior to the jungle and Steve’s truck back at Casa McG, Steve takes off with Lou in his car. Except it isn’t Lou’s car, it’s Renee’s. Renee’s third baby! Steve can try to tell Lou not to worry so much about the car but, of course, it was only a matter of time.
So, it wasn’t a surprise that Steve would total Renee’s poor baby in a spectacular crash. I loved Danny’s chuckle when the entire bumper fell off the front of the car and his remark about calling an Uber when Steve tried to convince Lou the damage wasn’t all that bad. Imagining Lou sitting in Steve’s kitchen in his underwear eating Fruit Loops as a consequence of Renee’s wrath was hysterical.
COTW: I liked this story. I liked it because it was vintage H50. When we think we have something figured out, they turn the tables and take us in a completely different direction. Mild-mannered Jack Teague turns out to be a Chinese spy, the bad guy. But then he’s not, he’s a CIA double agent actually working against the Chinese so now, he’s a good guy. The team goes from Danny and the kids hunting down Teague in the jungle to our entire team trying to protect him from the Chinese. I like it when our stories twist and turn. It makes following along a lot of fun.
The best was when Teague leaped off that cliff to get away. I had to laugh thinking that if Steve had been the one chasing him instead of Danny, Steve would have leaped right over that cliff after him without even hesitating or breaking stride with Danny right behind him screaming at the top of his lungs “no no no no” the entire way! 🤣🤣
Of course, it was only a matter of time before Greer showed her face again. I always find it so amusing when Steve confronts one of these traitors in the blue room. Why do they do it? Money? Prestige? Or, in many cases, some idealistic vision that they are better than the evil US Government they used to serve. They rationalize what they see as the “evil” perpetuated by the US for the greater good. What’s amusing is they all seem to think they’ll be able to convince Steve their vision is right, or noble. It’s such a laugh.
But Greer did bring up something quite intriguing. Something happened right before they had their little fling in Marrakesh. Something they worked on together and something that may or may not have worked out as planned. Greer intimated that Steve did something, something under orders, yet something not quite kosher. I am totally intrigued to find out what she’s talking about. Someone on Twitter (and I can’t for the life of me remember who it was… if you know, please tell me in the comments) suggested it could have something to do with the infamous “Strawberry Fields”. Just how cool would it be if the writers reached all the way back to Season 2 and brought that story crumb forward?
Tani and the Gun: It took a lot of guts for Tani to go back to her training officer Captain Keo. As we learned in the Season 8 premiere, Tani punched out Keo after she was caught cheating on her final exam and was thrown out of the Academy. Going to him was a long shot but it was nice to have more background on what happened before we met her. This one was a bit predictable though. As soon as Keo turned down her request, I said to myself “Ok, he’ll be back by the end of the episode with a change of heart”.
It was sweet to hear Tani say that, besides Koa, Five-0 is her family and she can’t bear the thought of losing them. While I understand the reason to spread this story out a bit, (having to wait for Ian to get done with Salvation filming) I wish it wasn’t necessary. Tani thinks Steve won’t forgive her if she accuses Adam of Noriko’s murder and she’s wrong about it. She doesn’t want to hurt him if she’s right. Well, she’s mistaken on both counts.
Steve wouldn’t hold it against her if she took that gun to him and told him where she found it as soon as she did. He would do exactly what she is doing. Run the ballistics to see if the slug matches the one that killed Noriko. There is no way he’d ever hold it against her no matter how those ballistic tests came out. Tani may consider Five-0 and Steve her family, but it seems she doesn’t really know him as well as she thinks she does. At least not yet.
Well, that’s all I have time for this week. I hope you enjoyed the review. I’m not sure next weekend is going to be any better, time wise, so I hope this is ok! Have a great rest of the week, my friends.
Aloha. Malama Pono
All screen caps are mine.
Hawaii Five-0 Kool-Aid 
Great review! I loved seeing Steve & Danny as a team again-it’s been a while since we’ve seen them like this,I mean having a disagreement, then having each other’s back at the same time. The COTW was cool, although a bit confusing at times,but once we knew the guy was a double agent,it all made sense. I felt for Lou-how is he going to explain to Renee about what happened to her “third baby”? He may just end up at Steve’s and that would be hilarious! At first, I thought Tani was wrong to go behind Steve’s back to have the gun checked out, but what you said about Steve doing exactly what she did made me change my mind. However, I am hoping it will be resolved soon. I don’t like Greer, but like you, I am wondering what Steve did that she considered not quite kosher. This season is only two episodes old, but it looks like it will be the best episode yet!
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I meant to say best season yet-sorry about that!
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That’s what I was thinking too. If Steve had found that gun himself, I’m willing to bet he wouldn’t have turned it right over to HPD, the same way Tani isn’t turning it over to Steve right off the bat. I don’t like that she’s not telling Steve but I think that’s more a sign of her inexperience with him as not just her boss but as the sort of patriarch of the Ohana. He’d want to be 100% sure that gun was the murder weapon before he took the next, necessary step. Tani is doing the same. This will probably be the lesson she will learn from this. That she didn’t have to fear she would lose anything with regards to the Ohana.
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Hope that everybody will come to his rescue. And that really think that something happened with Steve and Greer
But really Steve control freak ways are getting annoying. It may be funny to some. But Steve does get car sick. Bear in mind however also they are a family and if Lou and Danny did not want Steve to drive their cars, they let him do so or else they would put their foot down.
But really Steve can be a bit selfish over driving car and going back on promises. I feel for Lou and taking blame instead of Steve.
Tani did take a lot of guts to go to her former CO. And in the hoping not to break the Ohana she has built as that is all she has in addition to her brother. And yes do not thank him yet but this will come back and bite her in the rear. If she is wrong
Wonder if Greer planted a bug on Steve’s office. But you know a SEAL is not dumb and he could find out.
Glad Danny took command and gain respect for the “kids” there LOL.
8/10!
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The boys are definately back……their banter this week was perfectly timed and they are projecting a level of comfort with each other we haven’t seen for a while. Loved the mom & dad line from Junior and how Steve is stepping back to let the kids learn from Danny. There were lots of twists and turns, but once again everyone worked together to solve the COTW.. Tani going to Keo was an interesting choice – I quite liked him and wouldn’t mind seeing him as recurring. Lou as usual had some great one liners. Overall I feel like I’m already getting things from my wish list. CIA is still bad news all around…..thanks for all the time you put into these reviews Linda. I look forward to them each week.
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I think that was my favorite part of the entire episode. When Steve told Danny he wanted him to reach out and take the kids in hand more to impart his expertise as the great detective he is. WE’VE always known that was true but it seemed, the last couple of years the writers, and, therefore, Steve kind of forgot it. So wonderful to see Danny be the leader in the field and have both Tani and Junior look to him as they look at Steve. They still have a lot to learn and I hope to God the writers continue this theme of Danny being what he’s always been. A fantastic detective!
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Thank you for posting this. I don’t know how you found the time but thank you and most of all congratulations!
This season is off to a good start. I realize they can’t keep up this momentum with every single episode, but what I’ve seen so far is better than I’ve seen in a few years. I’m really enjoying it.
The McDanno moments are gold. My first thought was no Eddie, no! However, as a dog owner I thought it shouldn’t have been there to begin with and I’m siding with Danny. I understand that if they must put the money in the bank they will need a lawyer, but wouldn’t Odell be available for a freebie or at least a low fee, if he’s still on the island? Even if he isn’t they could just mention him. Also, I think I remember besides the floor board with Doris’s diary, didn’t they have some other spot or safe in the house? For goodness sakes, put the money in a mattress inside of the house.
I love, love, loved teacher Danny. I hope we get to see more of that this season. I’m concerned about Tani and I hope she talks to Steve sooner rather than later. It seems like the people in Steve’s life keep things from him because they are afraid they will hurt or disappoint him. Can you imagine how much better it would be if they would just go to him, explain this, and then give him the truth. I would think whether he liked it or not, he would be appreciative that they chose to be honest with him. I’m sure this is just a stumbling block in Tani learning to be more trusting.
As for Lou, I really can see him sitting at Steve’s table in his underwear eating froot loops. I’m looking forward to the Thanksgiving episode if this means Renee will be sitting at a dinner table with Steve. I would love to see him uncomfortable, in the doghouse, trying to get back into Renee’s good graces (although we know she wouldn’t hold a grudge for long).
Finally, if they are planning to do an arc all season with Greer I think it could be interesting. We of course, know whatever Steve did, he didn’t do it out of malice. That’s just not Steve. However, it would be interesting if whatever he did came back to haunt him and gave us a little more insight into his past.
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I didn’t even think about Odell. That’s a very good point. And you’re also right there could have been plenty of places to hide that money besides the beach. I’m with you….100% behind Danny. It was a dumb..dumb…dumb…idea! I had to laugh at the flowers planted in the dug up space as if that was going to deter Eddie from digging there. ROFL
Personally I don’t think Steve will see Tani’s behavior in the same way as he sees the betrayal that others have perpetuated over him in the past. She’s a subordinate and has become a friend but there isn’t that “years of trust” thing going on with her, at least not yet, as there is with the others who have stabbed Steve in the back. I think he will chalk it up to inexperience and fear of hurting and losing the only family she has left. I’m willing to bet ballistics is going to come back and that gun IS the one that killed Noriko. She’s not going to have any choice at that point, she’s going to have to tell him. When he hears her reasoning, I’m sure he’s going to understand her reasoning and cut her a lot of slack!
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Wow. I know you didn’t have alot of time to do this, but it was GREAT! You seem to be able to touch on every subject even when you say you have no time. To start, the Steve and Danny dynamic is still working perfectly, and in perfect harmony. If I was going to count how many times in 9 years that Danny’s said “The STUPIDEST MOST IGNORANT thing you could do!”, I’d be counting for a while 😊. And I loved the “Mom and Dad” comment! After years of marriage joking, now they just cut out the middle man and say that they’re already married! Tani says she knows Steve, but in only one year of knowing him, she really can’t. It took us five years to learn he played guitar, and it took us four years to learn Danny was claustrophobic. If Tani really knew Steve, she wouldn’t be worried. He didn’t tell anyone when he found out Chin killed Frank Delano, or when Danny killed Marco Reyes. He kept them quiet for his ohana, because that’s what he does. Plus, he didn’t tell anyone when he found out Tani got her brother out of a drug raid. She’ll learn in time. The case was really fun, and I love Steve being Spider Man and climbing up the hotel room🙂 probably one of the best parts was the car. Renee should have expected the car to get ruined, since she’s known Steve for a while and knows what kind of work Lou does. It would be funny to see Lou in Steve’s house in drawers. I do think that Strawberry Fields could be involved with what he did. The last time they mentioned it was in season 4 on Thanksgiving. Thank you for the new review!
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You are absolutely right about Steve keeping Chin’s and Danny’s secrets. There was also the gun Deb’s husband Leonard left with Steve from the murder case in New York. He kept that safe until (we’re assuming because he said that’s what he was going to do) after both Leonard and Deb died. So, yes, Tani really doesn’t have anything to worry about but, of course, she doesn’t know ANY of that history so how could she know she doesn’t really have to worry.
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Thank you for the great review. I agree with all you said, especially the Steve and Danny stuff. The beginning of the episode was great, with Eddie looking so innocent. Loved seeing Danny on the ground picking up the money. And Junior’s comment about Mom and Dad fighting was awesome. And I loved how Danny had Steve’s back about Greer. It was all great. I also liked Tani’s old teacher. And I wouldn’t mind seeing him once in awhile. I thought Lou was hilarious. The image of him sitting at Steve’s table in his drawers eating fruit loops is hilarious. Lou is always good for a few laughs. My favorite part, though, was Steve giving Danny the encouragement in the end. What a vote of confidence. I also would like to see more of Danny being the good detective we know he is. This season is off to a great start. If it continues like this, I will be one happy camper.
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Could not agree more! ♥♥♥
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Well it just keeps getting better & better. This was the perfect episode. The priceless Steve & Danny moments were the best ever. Eddie was back and as the problem child, Lol. Danny was the one the kids learned valuable lessons with and one of the best moments Danny gets to deliver Greer back to Steve. Although Greer’s smugness was meant to intimidate Steve she still alerted him to what she may do, that was a mistake on her part. Steve will no doubt be more than just one step ahead of her no matter what ever it was that they did, in any case she was at least one half of that action. The determined look on Steve’s face at the end tells me she won’t win. I do think we will be seeing more of her in the season.
This was an excellent review Linda and in such a sort time. Thank you so much, you are truly appreciated!
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Thanks Susan! I also loved that scene at the end between Greer and Steve at the end. You could tell Steve immediately tensed up when she mentioned the OP in Marrakesh, that it was something he didn’t appreciate being reminded of. I can’t wait to find out what it ‘s all about!
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great review as always loved seeing my baby Alex wearing kevlar and a thigh holster so yummy oh my
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Great review of a terrific episode, Linda! This season, even though only 2 eps in, is completely satisfying all my needs so far! I love the kinder, gentler dynamic between Steve and Danny. Of course, we ALL knew disaster would strike with money + a hole + an “unstimulated” dog! Steve deserved the Danny rant…and he knew it!
Just finished rewatching the ep, and the ending scene has just notched up my anxiety level. Something pretty bad went down before the Marrakech sojourn, and the way Greer told Steve she knew she was safe as long as they were on the SAME SIDE, Steve wouldn’t incriminate her. In other words, somehow, some way, she’s going to spill the dope she has on Steve sometime down the road. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, when it happens. Greer appears to be the big thorn in Steve’s side this season, and I think we’re in for quite a ride!
Meanwhile, Professor Danny in the field (forest) was superb! He’s learned a lot himself about recon work over the years he’s been following Steve around the forest, but he’s finally able to use those detective skills we know and love to teach some caution, patience and expertise to the new kids. I love how Steve lets Danny know he appreciates his skills and wants him to take charge more often.
Grover and Renee’s baby – that was too good for words. If the next episode starts with Lou eating Fruit Loops in his boxers at Steve’s, well,that just might trend on Twitter! LOL! (BTW, Danny’s giggle was priceless.)
I think Tani’s dilemma is that she knows she owes Adam big time for saving Koa’s life, and she just doesn’t want to find out he might have killed Noriko and she be the one to turn him in. She desperately wants to fit in to this Ohana, and she’s afraid if she turns the gun in to Steve, he’ll hold her responsible for what might happen to Adam. Like everyone says, though, she just doesn’t know Steve well enough to know he would never blame her. He’s more likely to lecture her on not trusting him first! Looking forward to Ian’s return to Hawaii so we can get on with Adam’s story!
Kind of surprised they killed off Agent Miller – Poor guy really was collateral damage from Greer’s betrayal. I love how they are adding a little more serial story to this season – pleasantly reminds me of the McGarrett Family saga from the early seasons. And we are finally getting some backstory relating to what Steve did during his military past – something we all hoped for!
I’m looking forward to Ep. 3 – we’ve been in one of those Hawaiian heat waves – high temps, high humidity, no trade winds – haven’t we, Linda! Luckily there were no power black outs. Can’t wait for your review!
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