I didn’t know how to write this review. Hawaii Five-0, the show I’ve loved and lived for the last 10 years is over. Just writing those words is so terribly hard. I can’t imagine a September Friday coming around and not hearing that theme song at the start of a new episode ever again.
I didn’t know how to write this review. I’ve loved these characters for so long. We’ve laughed with them and cried with them. We’ve seen them go through life’s triumphs and tragedies. We’ve watched kids grow up and old friends leave and sometimes die. We’ve seen them go through so much and I know there was so much more to see, so many more stories to tell. It hurts knowing that will never happen.
I didn’t know how to write this review. I didn’t know how to rationalize the things we saw. There were parts I absolutely loved. Parts that confused the hell out of me. Parts that had me bawling my eyes out and parts I will refuse to ever watch again.
I didn’t know how to write this review. I guess because I honestly didn’t want to write it. I didn’t want to try to wrap up an episode that ended the show I love. An episode that was so wonderful in parts and so utterly disappointing in others.
I think I’ll start with confusion. Peter Lenkov said we’d finally get all the answers to the mysteries of the Champ box in the finale. Did we? Let’s see…..
- John knew Doris was alive, or at least suspected it and that’s what his investigation was all about
- John knew about WoFat and Doris
- John didn’t want Steve to know Doris could still be alive or about WoFat
- WoFat worked in coordination with Victor Hess to get Anton away from Steve
But…….
- WoFat knew all along that Doris was alive but didn’t know she was Shelbourne?
- Or did he know she was Shelbourne all along and was only trying to torture her whereabouts out of Steve while pretending he didn’t know for the hell of it?
- John had never met WoFat, only talked to him on the phone. But he did meet him and shake his hand in Jamison’s office. So, he met him but didn’t know he was WoFat at the time? Did we all just hallucinate that video?
- WoFat introduced himself to John on the phone as Doris’s son and John wasn’t surprised. I’m assuming because of the time constraints of the episode, that line couldn’t have been written as it should have been?? “This is the man Doris raised as her son”. But the way it was presented, it sounded like WoFat was saying he was Doris’s biological son. We know that can’t be, because Steve tested the DNA. It was a huge plot point in the 100th episode. “She’s not your mother! I ran the DNA! She’s not your mother!” Did we all just hallucinate that as well?
- But John knew about WoFat. Did Doris tell him? Did he find out through his investigation? How did he know?
There was a ton of stuff in that Champ box and it all boils down to this? Doris and money? It was all always about Doris and money. For a show that’s had the ongoing theme for ten years of “daddy issues” it all comes down to Doris. I don’t really know how I feel about that. I mean, it’s not like we haven’t always known it. Maybe I was just hoping Peter would have been a bit more creative and come up with a better surprise instead of just falling back on what we’ve pretty much known for years. Everything was always Doris’s fault.
And what a waste of a character who could have been a totally awesome big bad, cut from the same cloth as WoFat. Deiyu Mei hasn’t been seen all season. Hell, she hasn’t even been mentioned since the first couple of episodes. But somehow, she knew about the cipher, knew Doris had it, knew she’d left it for Steve and, evidently knew the cipher would lead her to WoFat’s “inheritance”. How? How did she know all these things? Who would have known about any of this, who could have fed her that information?
And the huge secret was that Doris had a pile of money hidden in her crypt? Just how much money did she think she needed to buy Steve’s belief that she actually cared about him and Mary all this time? The money in Mexico? The money in the Swiss bank accounts? The money in the crypt? And, once again, who told Deiyu Mei about any of it?
We’ll finally have all the answers in the finale? Ummmm…. hardly!
So, let’s move on to the 2/3rd of the episode that I loved because, for me at least, it was a love letter to what’s made this show so special for 10 years. A love letter to McDanno. I loved every moment of this story. It was written perfectly to show Steve’s terror at the thought of losing Danny, “the most important person” in his life. His all-consuming desperation to find him. His guilt thinking it was happening because of him. His anger at God and demand that if He wanted a life, to take his and not Danny’s. His relief when Danny opened his eyes and demanded to know why he’d stop holding his hand.
I also really loved seeing Danny be a BAMF again. No one saved him. He saved himself. He got himself out of that hell hole, taking down several of the bad guys and almost made it all the way out on his own. He knew from the beginning Daiyu Mei wasn’t going to let him live. He knew Steve would be risking his own life if he agreed to her demands. Just like John McGarrett all those years ago, Danny warned Steve not to give her what she wanted. If Danny hadn’t freed himself, he would be dead.
Did you see the way Steve was holding on to Danny as they were rushing to the hospital? And the way Danny reached for him, even in his delirium as he was being wheeled in? They were totally in tune with each other.
And the look on Steve’s face in the chapel was positively murderous. I think it was that moment, more than any other, where he’d reached the point where he had enough. Enough pain, enough fear, enough with losing people he loves.
It’s why what came after was so hard to reconcile. This entire season has been one of the best for McDanno then we’ve had in years. The first 2/3rd of this episode solidified it. But then they turned around and blew the entire thing up. Everyone who’s watched this show over the years knows the essential and pivotal place Steve holds in Danny’s life and vice versa.
They’ve saved each other both emotionally and physically more times than I can count. Steve has half of Danny’s liver for Christ’s sake. Steve literally held Danny’s life in his hands when he was shot in isolation. They are best friends. They are brothers. Steve is Uncle to Danny’s kids, and they love him like a second father. These two have been inseparable for ten years and now, Steve just walks away?
And the reasons really make no sense. I understand completely that Steve’s had a tremendously hard year on top of everything that’s happened in his life. I understand needing to get away for a while, the need to clear his head and get some perspective. But Danny is right. They’re in Hawaii. There are seven other islands with more open and quiet spaces, mountains and beautiful beaches than you can shake a stick at. Take a few weeks, or even months, live the hermit life on some remote spot in the islands. Why does he have to totally leave?
Then there is the ridiculousness of saying he only stayed in Hawaii to solve his father’s case. What a load of bull. He was convinced to stay in Hawaii when he originally found the Champ box, yeah. But he’s built a life there. It wasn’t all that long ago, he was telling Danny he wanted to walk away from the restaurant because he loved being a cop more than anything and couldn’t bear the thought of giving it up. He has a family he built from the ground up with people who love him and support him more than his own family ever did. It makes no sense for him to say that now that his father’s case is solved he feels he can now leave.
Watching Steve walk away from Danny on the beach felt so incredible wrong on so many levels. Danny looked crushed and slightly diminished to see Steve walk away. Danny’s words are very telling. “my main dude is leaving me”. Not just leaving but “leaving me!” I still can’t believe Steve actually walked away. Just for one moment, it looked like he was going to go back. I was literally screaming at my TV. “Go back… what the hell are you doing… go back!!”
I mean, what the hell? Look, I know H50 has always been Steve’s story, from the very beginning. And I understand this finale was meant to bring him full circle. He arrived in Hawaii because he was unable to save his father from WoFat. He leaves Hawaii after he was able to save Danny from Daiyu Mei.
But what about Danny? Danny has had more than his share of tragedy in his life too. He’s had 2 partners murdered, his brother was murdered, Grace was kidnapped. He’s been poisoned and has almost died from being shot multiple times. He’s been sent to a Colombian prison to die and only a few months ago was in a tragic car crash where a woman he could have possibly built a life with practically died in his arms. We don’t even have to go into all the trauma in his life because of Rachel and her lies. Steve is leaving to find peace? Where is Danny’s peace?
The screen said it had been a week since Danny was shot. Well, he didn’t get out of the hospital in one day after that, and by the looks of him and the way he was moving, he’s only been home an extremely short time. Maybe it would have been a teeny bit easier to accept if it had been even a month later and Danny was healed and strong. But no. Danny’s been home for probably a day or two, he’s battered and convalescing, can barely move to get up out of a chair and Steve decides this is the time to leave? This is the man who wanted Danny to name his restaurant after him so they could be together always? Nope… doesn’t fly. Does not fly one bit.
The farewell scene between Steve and the rest of the team was very painful to watch. It was a wonderful scene because of the sheer talent of every actor in that scene. I read that Peter had only just told the cast that the show wasn’t coming back and that the cast was allowed to say pretty much what they wanted. Within character but also from their hearts as well. It was extremely raw and the pain coming from them all was palpable. I had started tearing up while Steve and Danny were on the beach but once Steve was saying goodbye to Eddie and asking that he look after Danno, I was a weeping mess.
But it was Chi’s Lou that really did me in. Damn but that big man can cry and watching a big strong man lose it is something that has always wrecked me.
When Junior grabbed Steve for a long and deep honi I could barely see the screen through the tears and forget hearing anything they could have been saying over my sobs.
As Steve is leaving he turns to Cole and utters the words that would have bridged the series into its post-Alex incarnation had the show been renewed. “Do me a favor. Hold down the fort for me.” I still think it would have been interesting to see what the show could have been like had it returned in September. Would the network have been able to coax Alex back for another season, or even for just a few episodes? Who knows? I’m just really sorry we’re never going to get a chance to see what could have been.
And Steve turns for one last look at his beloved Ohana. The look on his face is sadness but it’s also full of love for them all. “Aloha. A Hui hou.” Until we meet again. Fade to black. The End.
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Ok..ok… but you know what? I’ve expressed my opinion so many times, I’m tired of hearing myself talk about it. Everyone knows my opinion. There is no need for me to express it again. The show ended with that wistful smile and shaka. Anything else, I simply choose to ignore.
And that’s how it should be. An ending that can be extrapolated any way people want. Those who loved it will write stories about happily ever after’s and ongoing adventures. Those who hate it will write stories of more deceit, lies and abandonment. I simply choose to ignore it completely.
Those of us who love Steve and Danny got a full season of some of the best McDanno we’ve had in years. We had laughs and we had camaraderie. We had Danny living in Steve’s house for months. In this episode, we got almost 40 minutes of great McDanno emotion and love. Steve’s panic and anger at the thought of losing Danny, at his bedside, on the beach. Everything that has made H50 what it’s been all these years. A validation… a solid, never wavering canon that Danny is “the most important person” in Steve’s life. And I know exactly where to cut off the playback on every re-watch forever. This series ended the moment Steve walked out of Casa McG for the last time. Period.
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Well, that’s it my friends. I just want to thank you all for all the years of support you’ve all given me. It’s been a pleasure to write these reviews and all your wonderful comments and support have been sooooo incredibly appreciated. You’ll never know how much it’s all meant to me.
I don’t know if this will be my last post. I haven’t given a lot of thought to it beyond this last episode. But I’ll still be on Twitter and for any of you who follow me there, I hope we can all remain friends even if our show is no more. And, who knows, I may just be around here from time to time too.
Lastly, I want to say thank you to every single person who helped to make this show the great success it’s been, especially all the fantastic actors who brought these wonderful characters to life, as well as all the writers, directors, wardrobe, hair, crafts and, of course, the best crew ever.
I know no one connected with the show (with the possible exception of one person) will ever see this. I wish I could tell each and every one of them how much they have all meant to me. So I’m just going to paste here what I wrote on Twitter Friday morning. I don’t think I can express it any better than that.
Farewell, my friends. Aloha. A Hui hou…. Until we meet again.
Hawaii Five-0 Kool-Aid 
Linda, you saved your best review for last! You nailed everything perfectly! The goodbye scene between Steve & the team was so beautiful and so raw. I know filming it had to be very hard for all of them. Steve saying goodbye to Eddie was rough,too,but Eddie knows that he has to take care of Danny, just like he took care of Steve and I know he will do that. Have to admit that, like you, the resolution of the Champ Box mystery didn’t really make sense to me,either,considering what we already knew. I noticed that you didn’t mention the last two minutes of the show and I understand why. Seeing Steve fly off with Catherine was not something I wanted to see. I do appreciate that she cracked the cipher and all that,but all she has done for Steve is lie to him, betray him and abandon him and these are things Danny never did. Now that the series is over, I want to thank you for your reviews-they have been wonderful to read and I will miss them, however, we will still stay in touch through Twitter and Facebook.
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If you think about it, it was a perfect appearance because it embodied exactly who she is. Someone very good at her job who’s always available for a favor when needed. Who shows up when least expected, always uninvited, with no regard to whether the person she’s invading even wants her there. Relying on the fact that he’s too polite and, in this case, exhausted and weary to argue and tell her to just go away, go back to where ever she came from. She’ll wheedle her way back into his good graces, until the next assignment, the next thrill comes along and then she’ll be off again, to her life. The life she found without him years ago.
Then Steve can go home. Go home with the realization that everything he’s ever needed was there all the time. Go home to his Ohana, to Eddie, and of course, to Danny.
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Linda, on Friday nite I didn’t get caught up in some of the finite details that you commented on at length. I was too busy watching my guy do what he does best for the last time. It’s been a tremendous 10 year run. I had watched the original series 1968-81 and enjoyed it … but this new one blew my doors off from day one in 2010.
On Thursday nite I watched the PILOT for maybe the 9th-10th time, then I tuned in at 9pm Friday to see it all end. Along the way, two episodes stood out for me: the Pearl Harbor story, with David’s search for his father’s killer … then of course, the nite that Steve and the rest of us lost Joe White. Those two hours are etched in my mind forever.
I too was a little surprised to see Steve leave Danno’s side on the beach — but I think that once he knew his best friend and partner was going to recover, he refocused on his plan to get away from it all, and end the pain. The final ten minutes were so hard to watch, as he said goodbyes to Eddie and the Team he created.
But when he walked out the door with a mere half-filled duffle bag, it made me realize how lonely and battered Steve had become — he HAD to make that change.
I hit rock bottom at that moment. But when he got on the plane and found his seat, I heard that familiar voice — and I know some of you won’t like this — of the only girl he was ever meant to be with. These two had history and chemistry, but were committed to their missions first. She had the look of an angel … and they took each other’s hand and seized THEIR moment.
I’m sad to see my guy fly away — but because of that final scene, I feel much better now. I will miss the show terribly, and being a part of these great stable of 5-0 fans.
Major thanks to you, Linda, for making my and our journey with Steve McGarrett so memorable. MAHALO to ALL …
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I saw that half filled duffel bag as well and my thought when I saw it was “he isn’t taking much. He doesn’t expect to be gone too long”. My head canon has him bumming around the world for awhile and realizing everything he’s always needed is right where he left it and he will go home.
As for the rest, I’m glad you’re pleased and it made you smile. It only made me angry that she’s barging in and forcibly injecting herself into his life again where she’s not wanted or needed. You’ll notice Steve didn’t see the need to call her and ask her to join him. She wasn’t even the slightest of thoughts to him.
Whatever. It’s over… it’s done… It is what it is…. It doesn’t matter anymore. For me, the series will always be over the moment Steve walked out of the door of his house. I’m happy for you that you got an ending that made you happy. That’s the way it should be. We all take away what we want from what we’re given. To each his own…whatever makes us happy.
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I mostly agree with your opinions and you did an amazing job explaining…however I started to lose some interest way back in Season 4 when Grover became part of H50..first of all no matter why he did it he was a disgraced cop and when Denning took over he laid down his own rules so how could Grover be added to the Task force just like nothing happened? As it turned out Lenkov and the writers pushed Grover almist as Steve’s new partner..I know Scott started to limit his time after Season 4…he had a new family on the Mainland..but even when he was there so many times it was Grover with Steve.. and then when Grace and DDK left and they were replaced with the new people and the writing started to tank..so many story lines around Grover..Junior and Tani…Scott and even Alex were shoved to the side..Scott and Alex were the heart and soul of Hawaii Five-0 and I can’t imagine that it would have survived very long without the two of them..and Catherine on the plane..let’s not even go there…and of course Steve telling Danny he only stayed because of his father’s case? We were supposed to actually fall for that? It’s on Ion now but once it gets to Season 4 I lose interest with the exception of a handful of episodes the last 6 seasons were
unwatchable..
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Hi Linda,
I knew I was not going to be satisfied and I did not get the answers to all the questions you pointed out. I was screaming at the TV, WHAT ABOUT THE DNA TEST!!!!! If Wofat was Doris’ son then it would have shown up then. The writers needed to be know that the true fans of this show would remember that, and that they did a disservice to us by ignoring that. I know that the show was rushed and that all answers could not be resolved in one episode, but they should have thought about that before. I do not see Alex making up his mind during the last couple of episodes unless CBS was being stubborn about bringing Alex and Scott back to end the show in a short season. Very disappointed.
That said, I loved the good bye scenes, I understand Alex needing time away, and Steve did say it was not forever, so in my mind he will come back at some point. I was a a fan of Catherine, but when she left for the last time, I was done. She broke Steve’s heart too many times and was no better than Doris in her decisions. That was the writers who made this character a bad person in my mind. I could say something else, but will refrain. So that scene of everything is forgiven and now all of a sudden she going to be with him when she had so many chances over the years just made me mad.
I don’t want to come off that I have not enjoyed the past 10 years. I have loved this show from the pilot, it has given me an escape and the actors on this show were excellent. I have cared about these characters more than I have in any other series and I will miss them all. I do appreciate the 10 year run, which is why the ending was so disappointing. But I will continue to watch the DVD’s over and over. I wish all the staff, crew, and actors good luck and look forward to seeing them in the next projects.
The feeling of Ohana I will always remember and I do thank the writers for that.
Linda, I wanted to thank you so much for this blog. I have enjoyed reading and commenting on this, and although we did not always agree, I have a great amount of respect for your views and writing. Thank you for giving me a place to go to where I could read other fans thoughts and for giving me your views of the show which on many occasions made me think and change my mind at times. I appreciate what it must have taken to write the last several reviews knowing it was coming to an end. I wish you and your family good luck, good health, and happiness. Thank you.
Everyone stay safe,
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Thank you so much for the wonderful comment. One of the things I really wanted when I started this blog 6 years ago was to have a place where people could come and express their opinions freely without judgement. Of course, people tend to gravitate toward blogs that mirror their own beliefs so most of the people who frequent this place are very like minded. It’s just human nature to want to be somewhere where you feel comfortable.
I appreciate everyone who have taken the time to read my ramblings over the years and even more so, those of you who felt comfortable commenting. I will be forever grateful that you all gave up any measure of time out of your own lives to visit this page and participate.
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Pau. Done.
Hard to believe, and I can’t imagine what life will be like going on from here. I’ve never loved a television show and it’s characters more than I have this one for the past 10 years.
And Linda, you and I have shared so much of our real lives with each other, it’s even harder to believe we don’t have the same blood somewhere in our veins!
The show is pau, but the memories, emotions and love we have all come to share as a fandom will never be lost.
Darn you, Linda I thought I had cried my last tear, but nooooo, you had to remind me of what I have loved for 10 whole years! The sense of loss just welled up in my heart all over again! Well, I’ll get even, eventually.
I, too enjoyed 2/3rds of the finale. Same 2/3rds you did, naturally. I think the biggest head-scratcher was Daiyu Mei. I also wonder how in the world did she know everything she did about Doris and Steve and the cypher that was in a sealed envelope in an attorney’s office in England for months. Did she have a mole embedded somewhere? She was surveilling Steve for months, probably since Doris’ death, but what did she hope to find? Did she know Doris had a ton of cash hidden somewhere that WoFat knew about and told Daiyu Mei it was his “inheritance.” Is that why she tailed Steve because she thought he would know where to find the cash?
And then we have Doris. The things I could say to her. Number one being, how could you DO this to your family? The family you “claim” to have loved? Enough of her. I can understand Steve needing time to process everything she’d done through the years. I hope he kicks her memory right out the door.
The McDanno this season has been outstanding, but nothing compares to the sheer perfection in this episode…right up to the good bye on the beach. It was so intense to watch Steve panic at the thought that Danny was killed in the burning Camaro, and then fight so hard to get him back. The chapel scene made the whole series for me. Alex nailed the culmination of McDanno right there.
BAMF Danny just couldn’t have been acted out any better by Scott. I loved it!
The hospital scene was so sweet – a perfect final banter between the boys. Sigh, I’m sure going to miss those scenes!
And then suddenly we’re on the beach where a recuperating Danny is sitting in his usual chair, looking far the worse for wear, and Steve is bouncing down from the house too say Good bye! It’s been fun, call me sometime. I was shocked, but it wasn’t until much later that I realized Danny had pretty much asked Steve to stay, and he didn’t. Got a touch of outrage going at the moment because of that. People often talk about Steve being OOC for doing this, or not doing that, but in my mind this is the biggest, most outrageous OOC Steve we’ve ever seen. To see that despondent, hurting man left alone on that beach, knowing that his main dude had just left for God knows how long, broke my heart. Not happy about that AT ALL!
I cried giant tears for the good byes with the team, but interestingly, my daughter, who’s watched off and on, felt uncomfortable during that scene. To her, it was too much raw/real emotion on the screen, and she wondered if the actors would be happy to see themselves like that. I told her they had just been informed the show had been cancelled and those emotions were most definitely real. She felt that was even more reason to hold off filming that scene for a day so they could all get their emotions in check. I thought that was a very interesting take.
There was more to the finale after the final Aloha?
Thank you so very much to the creator of the H50 franchise, Mr. Leonard Freeman. He’ll always be the man! Thanks to Jack Lord for making McGarrett such an iconic character and H50 something that was ripe for a reboot. Thanks to Kurtzman, Orci and Lenkov for developing the reboot and convincing CBS to pick it up.
And most importantly, thank you Alex O’Loughlin for owning Steve McGarrett for the past 10 years and becoming every bit as iconic as Jack Lord.
Scott Caan, no one could have created a more perfect Detective Williams than you. Thank you for his brashness, his Jersey bravado, his perfect example of fatherhood, his love for family – all family – and his quintessential loyalty and devotion to his best friend and partner.
Chemistry is undeniable, and it was there from day 1 all the way through day’s end on 10.22.
A big hug and thanks to everyone else who’s ever appeared in an episode or worked a day as an intern, or worked every day for 10 seasons. I love you all and wish you nothing but the very best life has to offer.
Chi, Ian, Meaghan, Beulah, Katrina, Dennis, Kimee, Taylor, Shawn, Teilor, thank you for making this Ohana so believable. I appreciate your acting abilities, and look forward to following you on to your next projects.
And to all my friends that I have made thanks to H50. May you all be blessed with happiness and health and innumerable reruns of this incredible show.
Talk to you soon, Linda – you ain’t getting rid of me this easily! 😘🥰
Thank you, Linda, for allowing me to badger you those years ago to write these reviews. We had so many great discussions between ourselves, I knew you needed to share your thoughts and writing talents with the fandom. As you found out, there were plenty of people who’d rather enjoy a KoolAid perspective instead of a sarcastic one.
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Wow babe!! Maybe YOU should have been the one to write a blog. You’ve hit a major home run here. I totally understand where your daughter was coming from with the goodbyes. While I know there really wasn’t any way they could have postponed the filming of that scene, maybe it would have been better if someone would have had the foresight to hold off telling the cast the show was over until after they filmed that scene. They are all such incredible actors, the scene would have still be powerful and emotional. Alex was leaving, after all. Those goodbyes would have still be real because they were saying goodbye to Alex. Waiting until after it was filmed to drop the bomb on them wouldn’t have deprived the scene of anything. It would have still be incredibly raw but it would have been kinder on the cast.
And I am hugely relieved to know we’re still going to be connected at the hip even if the show is in our rear view mirror. I don’t want to be rid of you…ever! And thank you for pushing and prodding me to give blogging a try. You were right. There were a lot of people who found sarcasm, vitriol and venom distasteful. I’ve been honored and privileged they found their way here.
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I discovered your blog a couple of years ago, and I’ve enjoyed it ever since. I always appreciated your love and your enthusiasm for the show. With the show ending, I thought I would take this opportunity to thank your for wonderful posts that added so much to my fandom experience. I can’t say I’ve enjoyed the show much the last three years, but your posts and your positive spin on things always alleviate some of the disappointment I felt towards the show…until now.
Never in my wildest dreams would I image the show end with the destruction of a 10 year friendship, and I can’t get over that disappointment. I always believe no matter what Steve loved his ohana, but it was all I lie; he only stayed on the island because of his father. According to the show, Steve is a fake. This revelation will always taint my perception of the show and the character.
Anyways, thank you again for your blog and your efforts.
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I’m sorry to hear your perception of the entire series is now tainted because of this ending. While I can completely understand your feelings, it hurts me to thing you feel this way. I’m highly disappointed Peter chose to write this finale the way he did and yeah, I especially hated the last few minutes. But, this was a 10 year love affair for me and even if the ending isn’t what I would have wanted, it can’t diminish the love I’ve had for this show for so many years.
I’m kind of looking at it like a divorce. Once the pain of the breakup is over. Once the bad taste of whatever caused the rift dissipates, it’s possible to look back and say, “yeah, it didn’t end well, but we still had some really good times”.
Maybe, eventually, you’ll feel better about it all, remember all the great times and the seasons you truly loved. I hope someday you’ll be able to look back on all those years and smile again.
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Ten years – I joke that I don’t know what happened to my fifth decade, but I do know what I did every Monday and later Friday nights….my little escape back to that magical place I first decovered watching Jack Lord many years ago. The ‘new’ Steve & Danny captured my heart from day one. News “my show” was ending started a month of rollercoaster emotions. I’ve been a mess and dreaded what was to come.
Your take on the finale is much the same as me. I loved the Steve & Danny parts while the rest left me underwhelmed, disappointed and just grrr. First the good parts: Steve’s concern about Danny, his frantic search and angst, the rescue and touching scenes at his bedside…..all confirmed what we know. Danny is the most important person in Steve’s world. Even Daiyu knew it. BAMF Danny – always among my favorite moments. Seeing Danny strung up like we’ve seen Steve (way too many times) I realized how different the boys are in the same circumstance – Steve all silent/stoic and Danny….the Jersey boy comes out! God I love him and will miss him so much!
The rest of it was …….hard to find words. The cypher being about money was lame/ ridiculous. As if throwing a bunch of money at Steve would make up for all the lies and crap Doris pulled and that huge crypt- what the hell! Why a cypher at all – she couldn’t write a letter of apology? Oh yeah, no cypher, no need for Cath……….grrrrrr!
We didn’t even see the champ box so I don’t see how that was wrapped up – I suppose the only minor reveal was John knowing or suspecting Doris was alive, though in hindsight not much of a surprise.
The goodbyes were heartfelt, but it all felt a bit off to me. I felt terrible for Danny, knowing Steve needed to leave for a while, but obviously still hurting. They could have done more there – discuss Danny staying there etc. As it was done, I agree the episode should have ended with Steve’s Aloha. The airport scene a completely pointless add on not needed or wanted by most. Enough said.
If Steve really had to leave (for a while) my ending would have flipped the casa McG scenes. Steve saying his goodbyes in the house and then going to Danny on the beach, his bag packed ready to leave, but one last evening with Danny – sitting on the beach toasting the sunset with Longboards…..fade out.
Well that’s my take. It’s done. There’s already a slew of fix it fics getting posted. Linda thank you so much for all your time creating this blog. I will miss coming here every week almost as much as not seeing the boys…..I fear we won’t see Alex or Scott any time soon. They both seem committed to family time which is so well deserved and it wouldn’t surprise me if they continued working behind the camera. Sucks for us! Again, thank you – perhaps a review of the DVD???
Stay safe.
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There are already a slew of fanfics out there!?!?! I was so busy with this review the last 2 days I haven’t seen any of them. Thank God…. talented writers taking the mess of end of this finale and setting it straight. Woooohooooo…. I know what I’m going to be doing for many day ahead!!!!
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Last I checked at least 10 on archive. Not sure where else to look for them.
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I was crying all the until end and then I got mad. Why do have someone come back that the star of your doesn’t like. Steve didn’t even smile, he like oh god, here we go again. Now we know who she pull with, Peter. He did a cop out. He said that is how he planned it to be all along. No he mad because his show was ending because he protect Alex from getting hurt a lot. So he brought back the person that his stars of the show didn’t like, most fans didn’t like, which in a interview, he admitted as much that fans didn’t like C. Oh well!! It was a great run while it lasted. Be watching British crime shows or home improvement shows or watching the Zoo on Animal Planet. I have no reason to watch CBS shows, will watch local news and national news on CBS, but not the shows. If they had just taken chance on Steve and Danny’s relationship, instead putting in other distractions. Aloha.
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Linda, Thank you so much for putting into words what a lot us of could not. Your blog was spot on with my line of thinking at least 98% of the time. I would have been happy to even end it when Steve got Danny’s text while on the plane. He could have responded with “Love you too Danno”, smiled and faded out. That would give us all a way to imagine their future in our own way.
I’ve never been invested in a show this much and will miss it dearly! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all those talented actors.
Now bring on all the fanfic!!!
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Thank God for Fan Fiction where the ending can be written properly.
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Thanks for your reviews. As really put in a lot of effort. And really keep up the good work Linda. As really hope we all can find a show we can like. But really Fridays in the fall will never be the same
Yeah as really Danny and Steve have been through a lot. And really would had loved it if Danny was well enough and that his car was now torched yet another Camaro gone up in flames, Steve I think could had been nice to let Danny drive to the airport with Steve riding shotgun to get the fear of what he puts Danny through.
But other than that will miss the show. As really glad that Steve solved his ten seasons of the case his father died for and tried to protect his son
Doris thought she may have meant well but really ruined a bit of Steve’s life popping into his life. Both should had sat down and talked about things and put their feelings into consideration.
But makes you respect John McGarrett on the son he raised.
And really hate that Duke, Kameonka did not make the finale. As really Peter L says that of time limits was the reason why in interviews.
Well Ohana and Aloha!
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I agree totally about the confusing parts. Thank you Linda for all your hard work on this blog & also the positivity. Chi McBride made me cry too. I may have to watch Magnum for my Hawaii fix now, but I will always miss Alex. Both Alex & Scott did a fantastic job on the finale. Hope to see them both in other projects someday. And Chi & Ian & Beulah too. Please be safe in PA. NY is still reeling but NYers are stubborn & we will get thru this virus problem. Hope the world gets back to good health soon.
Happy Easter & Passover for those who celebrate. I am “churching” online now.
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I think that’s the part that pains me the most. The idea that I won’t ever get to see Alex and Scott on my screen again and definitely not together. I don’t know what Alex will do. Just going by the things he’s said in recent months/years, it sounds like he wants to take a long rest and them move behind the camera. I hope he’d consider a short series, one with 10 episodes, like The Crown or something. Or a guest spot on another show, like when he did Criminal Minds all those years ago.
As for Scott.. who knows? He’ll still be involved in his theater company that’s probably a certainty and a film here and there. Either way, they won’t be on our screens anymore and that is truly very sad for us. I’m sure they’re both thrilled, but very sad for us.
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I hope they have a DVD for season 10 with a lot of commentary. Stay safe & Happy Easter/Passover to everyone.
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Yeah, that’s what’s saddest about the end of this particular chapter in their lives — we may never see them together on-screen again, unless there’s some sort of epic H50 reunion movie a few years down the road. (I think Trek is about the only ‘verse I can think of where the actors have reliably turned up working together again in new projects). I’ve always hoped the cast of Merlin — Bradley James and Colin Morgan especially — would wind up working together again on some new project, but so far, nada.
DDK and Jorge Garcia getting back together again on H50 was a delight in that regard (didn’t “Desmond” play a one-off baddie in one of the earlier H50 seasons?) Kind of the exception that proves the rule.
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I actually have a file on my computer called “LOST in Hawaii Five-0” of all those who had been on LOST appeared on Five-0. I lost track after about Season 5 but there were quite a few.
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I also was disappointed with the ending and I chose to ignore the very last few moments of it. Luckily most of it was okay. It was a lot of McDanno. It was fun to see Steve running around half out of his mind with worry for Danno. And I loved BAMF Danno. He saved himself. I loved how Steve was holding him all the way to the hospital. I guess Peter L had to give the McRoll fans something to hang on to at the end. I don;t think Steve will be gone for long. He left his home and Eddie, his dog, and I think he will be back soon. I’ve heard there might be a movie in the future. I would love that. But I’m confused. The way Steve told Lincoln to hold down the fort while he’s gone sounded like he’s in charge. Shouldn’t that be Danny when he is all healed. And in the meantime, shouldn’t it be Lou. I was confused. This guy just stepped into it. Well, I will miss it so much on Friday nights. It meant more to me than any show ever has. Thank you for your great reviews all these years.
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One two hour movie to really tie things up would be wonderful. Steve bumming around the world for a few months or a year, getting his head together and coming to his senses that it wasn’t his father’s case that kept him in Hawaii for 10 years. It was his love of the islands, and more importantly, his love for his Ohana. Maybe he could go home for Gracie and Will’s wedding. It would fulfill part of Danny’s dream and there’s no way Uncle Steve would ever miss Gracie’s wedding, right?
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I have mixed feelings, but have to admit the scenes with Danny and Steve were very satisfying with heart felt words. This season and the last few episodes were great. I see, feel, and hear the loving bond between the two. I truly believe it when Steve looks at Danny and tells him directly to his face that he loves him. I don’t necessarily mean in a romantic way but brotherly way (I realize that I am watching the conservative CBS). I would have liked to hear their bickering and banter one last time, but I realize it was the last episode. I choose to believe this is a time for Danny and Steve to find themselves. Danny will have time to heal and bond with the other team members and Steve will have time to get himself together.
I really would have liked to see a little more Lincoln Cole next season rather than this episode, but I understand. Lance Gross’s performance was excellent and he’s easy on the eyes. It would have been interesting to see the new team dynamics.
I read your tweet about having tunnel vision and I noticed a little of this in the episode. I have read that a lot of times when a show begins, they already have a beginning and end in sight. It is easier for some to tweak their direction and writing of a story over time. When this show first started, I am sure that there was a story for everyone that was on the show, but the cast and characters changed. I think with a few deep meaningful words or conversations these past 5 years some of the frustrated McDanno fans would view the ending more favorably. I also think I would not be questioning Doris’s point of taking all that money in Mexico. It just does not make sense that she had a load of money in a crypt yet felt the need to steal more. As far as Daiyu Mei trying to get her hands on the cypher for the money, I am sure that the type of business she and WoFat ran would have yielded that kind of money in one or two illegal business deals. I really thought it would have something to do with having information on various international criminal organizations or government intel.
This is where I might differ from others. The show ended for me when Steve came and sat down next to Danny and their conversation began (no talk of Steve leaving right away, but going on an extended vacation in a couple of weeks, maybe). It would have been nice for Steve to have a little time alone to get his head together before we got the ending, but I know they were pressed for time. This was about Steve finding peace and the ending works well with this. Steve is still stuck on the one that got away so maybe he needs a second chance to find peace with the relationship not being viable. Danny finally got his second unencumbered chance with Rachel and came to this realization. If I remember correctly, Steve and Catherine started dating 8 years before the show started and John was murdered. What kept him from creating something more permanent before he arrived on the island? I think now would be a perfect time for them to spend a lot of free time day and night together, which is something they have never done. Sometimes, it helps people understand why it never really worked in the first place. The fantasy and what if sometimes change when you’re suddenly with that person all the time. I really don’t expect anything to change for them since God and country come first. I also don’t expect Steve to be gone more than 3 or 4 months because wanderlust and unregimented free time doesn’t ring true for him most of his life. I can see him and Catherine spending a month or 2 together a few weeks to try and get back to where they were and then a month or two of trying to be a forever couple before realizing too much time has passed and they are both set in their independent altruistic ways regarding their jobs. I see them coming to that decision mutually and going their separate ways, but staying friends. Steve takes another couple of weeks or a month to relax by himself and then he’s ready to return to Honolulu and work from his 3-4-month sabbatical in Hilo. 5-0 might have been created due to his father’s death, but it’s his creation and it gives him a sense of worth to protect the people and island that he was born on and validating his purpose in life. I don’t think he can walk away from it.
Lastly, thank you Linda for all you’ve done and restoring the fun I had watching this show. This is due to your genuine enjoyment of this show. You’ve been doing this blog for a while so take it easy and enjoy. This is a stressful time for all of us. Please stay safe. On the bright side some of us have a little spare time for reading and writing fanfiction!
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Linda, first thank you so much for all your hard work in doing this blog. I know it was a labor of love and I’ve loved reading your thoughts and commenting over the years.
Wow 10 years just flew by didn’t they. I’m not sure what my Friday nights will look like in September because there’ll never be another show like Hawaii 5-0. I was an Alex fan from his 2 previous (albeit short-lived) shows and was so happy to have him back on screen in 5-0. And I was in love all over again. I was hooked from the 1st scene.
But oh my. What an injustice this episode, the very last of an extraordinary show, was to the main cast who gave their all for 10, 7, 3, or however many, years. It was good, don’t get me wrong but was it great or excellent? No. The goodbyes were heart wrenching. The raw emotion was tangible. The McDanno dynamic was intact, thank the Lord. But otherwise it was rushed and uneven. There was so much potential, but for me, there were a helluva lot more questions left than answers given. Answers we will never get. Sigh ….
Seeing the pain Steve was in rushing to find Danny, get him help, pleading for his life was Alex at his best. Seeing badass Danny was Scott at his best. But the “book him Cole’ line, huh? what was that all about? It was sacriligious. There were flat out lies throughout the episode. Somebody didn’t do their homework. But be that as it may I’m going to miss the show something terrible. The chemistry between the entire cast was extraordinary.
For me the show ended with the goodbye on the beach which was as sad as sad could be. The best bromance ever. Two consummate actors making you feel the pain, sadness, lonliness, love. That’s when the tears started flowing. Then the Eddie scene broke me, seeing Big Lou crying, Adam, the hugs the tears and finally Junior and the honi and the HooRay and I was a mess.
Fade to black ….
I’m not a MacGyver or Magnum fan so I will have to get my Hawaii fix through repeats and CBS AllAccess.
Lasty, this show has given me so many wonderful, life-long friends. And for that I will always be eternally grateful.
Mahalo, Aloha and a hui hou.
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Spot on Linda. So sorry it had to be your last review of our beloved show. I can’t believe the passive person I am lived for the fight scenes all these years. They were awesome and the cast awesome. I’ll miss Sunset of the Beach for sure. I know of no show that’s ever done that and gave us the opportunity to get up close and personal with the stars. So much fun these 10 years have been. Mahalo, Aloha and a hui hou my friend.
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I’m still really sad that I was only able to get to one SOTB but ohhhhhhh what a fantastic experience it was. Getting to meet the cast, get to tell them how thankful I was for the show and all their parts in it, getting to hang out with my H50hana/808 Ohana and spending an entire week bumming around Oahu with my sistah from another mistah, Lynnette. It’s things like these that I’m the most grateful for because of this show. Who would have ever guessed a TV show that was just a “might as well see what this is about” pit stop on a Monday night could become so important to me.
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Living in a comparably-situated island nation as I do, a trip to Hawaii wasn’t ever anything I thought about seriously until I started watching H50, and a dear friend suggested we just go for it. Which we did, three successive Falls during S2, S3, and S4. 🙂
Only got to one location shoot – an office building housing the campaign offices of some on-screen ne’er-do-well not too far from the old Advertiser studio location, as it turned out – but we scored seats at H50’s S2 Q&A panel at HIFF, which was a blast. Got to meet so, so many great local fans who’ve become decade-long, and hopefully life-long, friends. Got to explore the beauty (and H50 location sites) 😉 of Oahu at length, driving around the whole island and criss-crossing up and over the Pali, the Likelike, the Hirano tunnels… Got to go traipse through the Dole Plantation maze, got to enjoy the decadent deliciousness of a Dole Whip… Got to learn how to correctly pronounce place and road names, like Wahiawa, or the Kalanianan’ole… got to drive up into and explore Punchbowl, got to drive past the graveyard which would be the actual site of the street address quoted in the show for the McGarrett manse (something on Pi’ikoi, wasn’t it?)
Diamond Head! Kaneohe! Kailua! Waimanalo! Makapu’u Point! Ka’ena Point! Kualoa! North Shore! Pearl Harbor and the Mighty MO… the Ali’iolani Hale, the Palace… Liliha Bakery, Rainbow Drive-in, Leonard’s, Zippy’s… Watching the sunset and enjoying dinner at House Without a Key… our first loco moco, out at Keneke’s in Punalu’u…
Never did make it out there for SOTB, though the thought of roasting on the beach for the better part of a day or more wasn’t something I was looking forward to. 😉
Whether I ever get out there again or not, I’m really, really glad I got to go — that I got to experience the beauty of the place, the culture, and the people. I wouldn’t ever have done that if not for this incarnation of Hawaii Five-0.
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Hi Linda,
Thank you for the review! It was incredible as always. You wrote above, “I know no one connected with the show (with the possible exception of one person) will ever see this.” I am merely a (now-ex) writers’ assistant for Five-0 (Seasons 8-10) and in no way speak on behalf of anyone else associated with the show, but I just wanted to say that I personally looked forward to reading your reviews every week.
I personally believe your Five-0 analysis is unparalleled on the web — it’s truly unusual to see such thorough and clear-eyed examination of a long-running procedural. And even when you didn’t like the episode that week, your love for the show would shine through. I just want you to know how blessed I felt to have fans like you and everyone else on this site watching every week. I like to think it made all of us in the writing room work a bit harder.
Wishing you the best in these tough times. Stay safe. Can only hope that you review whichever show I end up on next. Aloha & mahalo.
Taylor
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Welcome Taylor and thank you so much for the lovely comment.
I’m so happy I was able to always convey my love for this show even when there were things that disappointed me or even things I truly hated. I think I’ve said this about a hundred times in the last couple of weeks, Hawaii Five-0 has been a 10 year love affair for me and like any long time relationship, there comes times when things aren’t exactly as you’d like them to be, things that drive you up a wall no matter how much love is there. All of us, stuck now on home arrest with our beloved significant others can probably attest to that! LOL.
I don’t know if you’re still in contact with those you worked with in S8 – 10 but if you are, please let them know how much we fans truly appreciate all their hard work in bringing us this great show. Especially these last three seasons, when we were so worried about what was going to happen with the show after S7. But the addition of Tani and Junior was inspired and I loved their stories! These last 3 seasons have been a blessing. Thank you all. I wish you nothing but success wherever you are headed next. Stay safe… Aloha.
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Here, here! Thanks for stopping in and giving us a little touch with someone who actually worked on the show! Much appreciated! Best wishes for all your future endeavors!
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Couldn’t have said it better myself, it’s a relationship. I think that’s what the show did at its best — it formed a sense that all those involved and invested were ohana. And, like a family, sometimes we might not agree on the right path, but it usually comes from a place of love. And there are things I wish I’d pushed for harder or done better, but unfortunately I am not superhuman — I leave that to McGarrett, Danny, and the rest. Also, Tani & Junior are fantastic!
I will be sure to pass along your well-wishes, but I think it’s safe to say that all the writing staff — from PL on down to myself — already know. Personally, fans like you and others on this site are what made working on this show such a joy. Thank you!
Taylor
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Well, Taylor… that’s very nice to hear. People who do such wonderful work should know they are appreciated on an ongoing basis, not just when shows end! I’m glad they knew how much we loved them all this time even during times when we didn’t always agree on a certain course. ♥♥♥♥♥
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Hey, Linda! Actually took the time to muck with the login routine to be able to post a reply. 😉
Hard to believe a decade’s gone by since we started watching (and obsessing about 😉 ) this show and these unbelievably seductive characters. Like you, I followed Grace from BSG and DDK from LOST, mostly on a whim, and quickly fell in love with McGarrett and his Ohana – like Stitch, one he found for himself, little and broken, but good, yeah, still good. (Not to mention, completely emblematic of this Fixer of Broken Toys).
Like you, I enjoyed the finale… right up until the point where I didn’t.
The wholesale retconning of the show’s history in re: McG Senior’s relationship with / knowledge of Wo Fat, and the blatant, outright rewriting of history that had Steve claiming the only thing ever holding him in Hawaii was his father’s case… that was a gut-punch I felt from thousands of miles away. Chalk it up to Steve’s obviously teetering mental state, if he’s indeed in coming apart under the weight of untreated PTSD? That might work in-universe, but it doesn’t explain the writing taking him in that direction. What a slap in the face to relationships going back ten years! Not to mention, viewers and fans who bought wholesale into that theme of found family, of Ohana, of Steve coming to depend on and *love* these misfit toys he’s gathered unto himself. He’s just going to casually toss them all aside, now, ‘cos he’s solved his father’s case? It’s laughable. Laughable, and so, so sad, that this is where the writing brought this deeply-loved and loving character.
I saw someone on twitter refer to Danny & Co as Steve’s “work family” as a way to excuse this denigration and dismissal — um, ‘scuse me? Danny is his “work family”? How many co-workers d’you know who’d give you half their liver? Sneak into a foreign, authoritarian, communist country to rescue you? Bulldoze their way into another (Afghanistan) to rescue you after your mission to help Former Flame find an abducted kid goes badly sideways? Turn themselves over for extradition to a sure-death South American hellhole to save you from the same fate? How many co-workers trust you with their children’s lives? Let their children call you Uncle and come to love you as such? Hang a Christmas Stocking with your name on it on their mantelpiece? Sorry, that excuse doesn’t wash. Not only that, it is spiteful in the extreme to fob Danny off that lightly.
Steve may have needed to get away — hell, he may have been heading to Coronado and some proper Naval PTSD treatment/therapy center, for all we know — but that entire scene with Danny out there on the beach could’ve been written in a way that wasn’t such a dismissive slap in the face to a ten-year partnership. I mean, really? “You got a phone, don’t you?” Like, toodles, brah! I’ll see ya when I see ya.
This all taking place barely a week after Daiyu’s scheme has been defeated, with Danny obviously just recently released from hospital and clearly stiff, painful, convalescing — how in the hell does it make sense for Steve to be taking off for Parts Unknown, all la-dee-da, free as a bird, when Danny’s still clearly far from 100%? This, on the heels of those scenes where Steve was out of his mind with fear that he might be losing Danny? Not to mention, Danny very clearly doesn’t want him to go, and has also obviously been trying to talk him out of it.
Ugh. It is what it is, but it could’ve just as easily been 3 weeks later, a month later, could’ve been handled and written to put them on a more even keel, a more even footing, with Danny – even if grudgingly – accepting that Steve needs to get away for a bit, and Steve being far less evasive about his plans, such as they were — actually giving Danny something to hang onto, an itinerary, a time-frame, something. Danny is a worrier, Steve knows this, yet he leaves him hanging, without much in the way of reassurance when Danny says “it feels like my main dude’s leaving me.”
That final airplane scene — it is what it is, I guess. For all there’s vindictive cackling, gloating and glee in some circles at that being the final scene of the show — “endgame,” etc., etc. — it strikes me as a Pyrrhic victory at best, as dancing on the grave of all of our favorite show.
In-universe, it brings up some “things that make you go hmmmm.” First off, Lincoln Cole rolls into town and it just so happens that he *also* knows Catherine Rollins, though he claims he’s lost contact with her? (Doesn’t seem to have had much difficulty finding her to decrypt the cypher while Steve’s sitting vigil at Danny’s hospital bedside). Once he’s got the decrypted cypher, it never comes up that he was able to get hold of Cath to do the decryption? Clearly Mr. Car-crusher Paste guy didn’t do it from beyond the grave!
Somewhere in that intervening week, Cath makes her way to Oahu — without letting Steve or, presumably, anyone else on 5-0 know — and is thoroughly updated on the current state of Stevedom, right down to his departure plans (which Steve doesn’t seem to have been especially forthcoming about to his team or “the person you care most about in the world”). She’s able to not only get on his flight, but score the First Class seat right beside him, presumably at a moment’s notice (though unless he’s planned this out in a lot more depth than we’re shown, Steve has also done the near-impossible in scoring a First Class seat on very short notice). She also knows that Steve gave Cole the keys to Danno’s car — which means she’s either been stalking Steve, or getting way more intel from Cole than he had any business passing along. (Wonder what car this was, though? Camaro’s toast, so did Steve somehow get Danny a replacement while he was still in hospital? We’ll never know).
Cole, Cole, Cole… what are you doing getting all up in Steve’s business? Why are you chattering all Steve’s business to someone he’s told you he hasn’t heard from / spoken to in quite a while? Did you ask his permission to start playing TMZ with his personal life? What are you, a latter-day Yenta? Does Steve look like he needs or wants you to play match-maker? Jeez, the guy’s a blabbermouth! Not to mention, he’s been lying to Steve by omission, something Cath did to her detriment during the Doris seasons. Steve has to be having a serious “oh god, what have I done? Who have I left burrowed into my team, my family? What’s this guy’s agenda?” moment during all this. It’s no wonder the look on his face is one of wariness.
Steve is surprised to see her on that plane. Steve only puts two and two together re: the cypher when he sees her. This all says he didn’t know Cole had contacted her, had no advance knowledge she was on the island, nor that she was going to come rollin’ down the aisle of that United 757. Why has Cole — had to have been Cole — been serving as Cath’s mole / intel source throughout this Daiyu situation?
I dunno — this doesn’t look like the scene of Utter Contentment and Happiness (TM) some quarters would like it to be, but… eh. It is what it is. Love it or hate it, we all have to deal with it one way or another. That’s the beauty of online fandom — we’re all interconnected now and like-minded fans will find ways to work around less than satisfying show canon.
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Hey, Linda! Actually took the time to muck with the login routine to be able to post a reply. 😉
Hard to believe a decade’s gone by since we started watching (and obsessing about 😉 ) this show and these unbelievably seductive characters. Like you, I followed Grace from BSG and DDK from LOST, mostly on a whim, and quickly fell in love with McGarrett and his Ohana – like Stitch, one he found for himself, little and broken, but good, yeah, still good. (Not to mention, completely emblematic of this Fixer of Broken Toys).
Like you, I enjoyed the finale… right up until the point where I didn’t.
The wholesale retconning of the show’s history in re: McG Senior’s relationship with / knowledge of Wo Fat, and the blatant, outright rewriting of history that had Steve claiming the only thing ever holding him in Hawaii was his father’s case… that was a gut-punch I felt from thousands of miles away. Chalk it up to Steve’s obviously teetering mental state, if he’s indeed in coming apart under the weight of untreated PTSD? That might work in-universe, but it doesn’t explain the writing taking him in that direction. What a slap in the face to relationships going back ten years! Not to mention, viewers and fans who bought wholesale into that theme of found family, of Ohana, of Steve coming to depend on and *love* these misfit toys he’s gathered unto himself. He’s just going to casually toss them all aside, now, ‘cos he’s solved his father’s case? It’s laughable. Laughable, and so, so sad, that this is where the writing brought this deeply-loved and loving character.
I saw someone on twitter refer to Danny & Co as Steve’s “work family” as a way to excuse this denigration and dismissal — um, ‘scuse me? Danny is his “work family”? How many co-workers d’you know who’d give you half their liver? Sneak into a foreign, authoritarian, communist country to rescue you? Bulldoze their way into another (Afghanistan) to rescue you after your mission to help Former Flame find an abducted kid goes badly sideways? Turn themselves over for extradition to a sure-death South American hellhole to save you from the same fate? How many co-workers trust you with their children’s lives? Let their children call you Uncle and come to love you as such? Hang a Christmas Stocking with your name on it on their mantelpiece? Sorry, that excuse doesn’t wash. Not only that, it is spiteful in the extreme to fob Danny off that lightly.
Steve may have needed to get away — hell, he may have been heading to Coronado and some proper Naval PTSD treatment/therapy center, for all we know — but that entire scene with Danny out there on the beach could’ve been written in a way that wasn’t such a dismissive slap in the face to a ten-year partnership. I mean, really? “You got a phone, don’t you?” Like, toodles, brah! I’ll see ya when I see ya.
This all taking place barely a week after Daiyu’s scheme has been defeated, with Danny obviously just recently released from hospital and clearly stiff, painful, convalescing — how in the hell does it make sense for Steve to be taking off for Parts Unknown, all la-dee-da, free as a bird, when Danny’s still clearly far from 100%? This, on the heels of those scenes where Steve was out of his mind with fear that he might be losing Danny? Not to mention, Danny very clearly doesn’t want him to go, and has also obviously been trying to talk him out of it.
Ugh. It is what it is, but it could’ve just as easily been 3 weeks later, a month later, could’ve been handled and written to put them on a more even keel, a more even footing, with Danny – even if grudgingly – accepting that Steve needs to get away for a bit, and Steve being far less evasive about his plans, such as they were — actually giving Danny something to hang onto, an itinerary, a time-frame, something. Danny is a worrier, Steve knows this, yet he leaves him hanging, without much in the way of reassurance when Danny says “it feels like my main dude’s leaving me.”
That final airplane scene — it is what it is, I guess. For all there’s vindictive cackling, gloating and glee in some circles at that being the final scene of the show — “endgame,” etc., etc. — it strikes me as a Pyrrhic victory at best, as dancing on the grave of all of our favorite show.
In-universe, it brings up some “things that make you go hmmmm.” First off, Lincoln Cole rolls into town and it just so happens that he *also* knows Catherine Rollins, though he claims he’s lost contact with her? (Doesn’t seem to have had much difficulty finding her to decrypt the cypher while Steve’s sitting vigil at Danny’s hospital bedside). Once he’s got the decrypted cypher, it never comes up that he was able to get hold of Cath to do the decryption? Clearly Mr. Car-crusher Paste guy didn’t do it from beyond the grave!
Somewhere in that intervening week, Cath makes her way to Oahu — without letting Steve or, presumably, anyone else on 5-0 know — and is thoroughly updated on the current state of Stevedom, right down to his departure plans (which Steve doesn’t seem to have been especially forthcoming about to his team or “the person you care most about in the world”). She’s able to not only get on his flight, but score the First Class seat right beside him, presumably at a moment’s notice (though unless he’s planned this out in a lot more depth than we’re shown, Steve has also done the near-impossible in scoring a First Class seat on very short notice). She also knows that Steve gave Cole the keys to Danno’s car — which means she’s either been stalking Steve, or getting way more intel from Cole than he had any business passing along. (Wonder what car this was, though? Camaro’s toast, so did Steve somehow get Danny a replacement while he was still in hospital? We’ll never know).
Cole, Cole, Cole… what are you doing getting all up in Steve’s business? Why are you chattering all Steve’s business to someone he’s told you he hasn’t heard from / spoken to in quite a while? Did you ask his permission to start playing TMZ with his personal life? What are you, a latter-day Yenta? Does Steve look like he needs or wants you to play match-maker? Jeez, the guy’s a blabbermouth! Not to mention, he’s been lying to Steve by omission, something Cath did to her detriment during the Doris seasons. Steve has to be having a serious “oh god, what have I done? Who have I left burrowed into my team, my family? What’s this guy’s agenda?” moment during all this. It’s no wonder the look on his face is one of wariness.
Steve is surprised to see her on that plane. Steve only puts two and two together re: the cypher when he sees her. This all says he didn’t know Cole had contacted her, had no advance knowledge she was on the island, nor that she was going to come rollin’ down the aisle of that United 757. Why has Cole — had to have been Cole — been serving as Cath’s mole / intel source throughout this Daiyu situation?
I dunno — this doesn’t look like the scene of Utter Contentment and Happiness (TM) some quarters would like it to be, but… eh. It is what it is. Love it or hate it, we all have to deal with it one way or another. That’s the beauty of online fandom — we’re all interconnected now and like-minded fans will find ways to work around less than satisfying scenarios — even series-ending ones. 😉
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Wow Bert…. you wait until the very last review to post a comment but what a comment it is. Can I agree more than 100% on this one?!?!?
You hit the nail right on the head about that talk between Steve and Danny on the beach. You know what it reminds me of? It reminds me of Rachel’s reveal to Danny about Charlie. They didn’t have to assassinate her character to make Charlie Danny’s son. One changed line…. all she had to say was “It wasn’t until we checked mine and Stan’s DNA did we find out Stan couldn’t possibly be Charlie’s father”. Nothing else would have changed. Charlie would still have been Danny’s son. Danny would have still missed the early years of his life. But Rachel wouldn’t have had to be a bitch about it. There was zero reason for it.
The same goes here. Like you said, a couple of weeks… a month later would have been better. Just have the screen crawl say “a month later” instead of “a week later”. How hard would that have been, even if they didn’t change one letter of dialog?
But ohhhhhh how I wish they’d changed a lot of those letters. Steve could still say “10 years ago I hit the ground running” because that’s the truth. Have we ever seen him take any real down time accept for maybe that weekend he and Danny went to Maui for “couples therapy”. When has he taken a good long, restorative vacation? Maybe if he’d gone with Danny on a few of the trips back to Jersey but no. He’s been there, day in and day out, case after case for 10 years.
But having him say the only reason he ever stayed was because of his father’s case is dead wrong and, like you said, a total slap in the face to especially Danny but the rest of the team as well. It’s also the 2nd time they conveniently changed Steve’s reasons for being in Hawaii. He told Lou all those years ago that he came to Hawaii after Freddie’s death because the Navy had lost is allure, or some such nonsense as that. Now he’s all “I only stayed here because of my dad”.
It could have been so easily salvaged. All he had to say was “I hit the ground running, and after the year I’ve had, I really just feel like I need to get away for awhile and get my head together. But don’t worry, I’ll keep in touch and I’ll be back.” And Danny would have understood and not have been left looking like a broken man on that beach alone. Again… not all that hard.
As for that last scene… again you’re 10000% right. If Cole hadn’t brought her up Steve wouldn’t have even thought of her. And just how in the hell does an AWOL Marine even know an ex-Naval Intelligence officer? Catherine left the Navy SEVEN years ago. Was Cole even more than a raw recruit seven years ago? Maybe he was, but the timing still seems way off to me.
Funny how Steve never even considered calling Catherine to decode that cipher. She wasn’t on his radar one bit, even after Cole brought her up. He didn’t think of her, never considered calling her, she never even occurred to him. She was the farthest thing from his mind. Ahhhhhhh true love!!!!! 🙄🙄🙄
“For all there’s vindictive cackling, gloating and glee in some circles at that being the final scene of the show — “endgame,” etc., etc. — it strikes me as a Pyrrhic victory at best, as dancing on the grave of all of our favorite show.”
Ok.. first off, I had to look up what a Pyrrhic victory is… and OMG… you hit it out of the ballpark again, Bert!!
“A Pyrrhic victory (/ˈpɪrɪk/ ( listen) PIRR-ik) is a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. Someone who wins a Pyrrhic victory has also taken a heavy toll that negates any true sense of achievement or damages long-term progress”
What a perfect description of that last scene. Let them gloat. They waited years…YEARS… for two minutes of discomfort from both characters. Two minutes of awkwardness. Two minutes between two people who haven’t seen each other for more than 3 days in four years, who “love” each other so much, they can’t even be bothered to keep in touch as distant acquaintances.
So yeah…let them gloat. They got what they wanted the only way they could have ever gotten it. A relationship only conceivable if the show ends and and no one is forced to watch that character again. Let them enjoy their little two minute pity scene. They’re the only ones watching that scene again anyway.
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Why do I feel like were back on the Undercover page? All the old participants are crawling out of our caves for one final push! None of us have forgotten how to do it, either. I’ve missed those days of intense discussion in the early seasons.
Hey, Officer 808, wherever you are, see what you started? 👏👏❤️
Thank you, Brah!
Oh, and Bert! You nailed it completely.🙌
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Ahhhhhhh the wonderful Undercover page. The birth of so many friendships!!!
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Pretty sure that’s where *we* all first got to know each other! I remember absolutely *devouring* Officer 808’s content like a starving man at a banquet — BTS photos, location reports, general info about the production and what was going on where on Oahu — and getting into discussions on the episodes as they aired.
LOL at the idea that getting Steve out of the 1.24 situation was ever something I was so anxious about. Whatever I envisioned Danny them using to save Steve’s bacon, an ornate clock with a pinhole vidcam was most definitely *not* it! 😀
Remember Carolina Liar’s “Drown” being used in the S2 premiere promo when it started airing? Man, doesn’t seem possible that was nine seasons ago…
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I remember the debates all Hiatus long over whether Danny was really going to go back to Jersey with Rachel. And the next year, it was all about what “Mom?” meant!
Such good times!
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OMG The memories!!! ♥♥♥♥
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Ahh, the heady salad days of H50 fandom, when we were all young(er) and much quicker to wade in and start splashing around! 😀 (I remember unwittingly crossing swords with PL there on the Undercover blog on some aspect of 1.24 that I found especially maddening — that was back before I realized he followed and occasionally chimed in on Officer 808’s blog). =-O
As for only just now commenting on a review — I tried multiple times but would get vexed when the system played stupid with me about logging in with this or that to actually send a comment, and I’d suck my teeth and close out). 😉
But hey, what better way to bid the show adieu than to see it out the way we saw it in, with rousing and sometimes cantankerous back and forths? 😀
I have been truly blessed through this show, no lie, with some awesome friendships. It’ll never truly fade away as long as the friendships live on. ❤
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So…Linda…I didn’t want you to write this review. I didn’t want to read this review. I held off as long as I could because I knew, once I read it, that would mark the end in yet another way. Of course, as always, you found ways to say so many of the things that we’re all feeling and you’ve done it beautifully (although it’s still painful).
I think the only thing I feel compelled to say at this point, because I believe in McDanno, is that I think PL overlooked a critical perspective. When someone writes a book, it is a complete work from start to finish and the reader is left to form an opinion based on that totality. When someones writes a play, it is a complete work and the audience is left to consider what they’ve seen afterwards and form their opinion based on that. When a movie is completed and shown in theaters, that audience does the same as they walk out afterwards. Even with sequels and such thrown in, each stands on its own merit as a completed work.
With H50, this story spans 10 years and the viewers continued to watch over that time…but, what is different is that, despite the “author” saying it was all figured out from the beginning, I beg to differ with that particular wisdom. With television, the viewer is an active, ongoing participant (i.e. ratings, popularity of show, characters, etc.). If a show’s characters aren’t working, it becomes apparent. If the stories suck, it becomes apparent. Networks expect the “product” to satisfy the viewers and, if not, then cancellation usually follows. Or recasting.
With H50, everything worked exceptionally but Alex and Scott moved the goal line with their chemistry and their acting. I truly feel like, as McDanno became the spark that drew people in and kept them coming back, it should’ve changed the trajectory of that original vision. Why stay committed to an earlier idea when something incredible is keeping the show at the top? To me, that makes no sense at all. It’s one thing for a person to write a story and say, “This is mine and I’ll do what I want with it” and another thing to say that about a long-running show kept popular by the love and dedication of millions of viewers.
I won’t apologize for my opinion on that ending. Even if I were a fan of that ship, I would say no thanks, too little, too late. If that was the so-called endgame, then it should’ve been written over the years in a way to support the integrity of that relationship. But it wasn’t. Just like Danny’s relationship with Rachel–it wasn’t written that way. As a result, that “what the heck” ending came off as desperate and flat. When you don’t have that rich history over ten years, then how in the world do you feel good about that sudden pop-up scene?
What we HAVE had over ten years is a partnership (however you choose to look at it) that has proven to be strong, loving, consistent, and healthy. Two people always there for each other, both willing to die for the other. Steve staying with Danny at the end would have validated all they (and us) have been through for ten years. And that’s why most of us are choosing to simply edit out the other piece…because we know what was true all this time and what was not.
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews and thoughts on the show and for providing a safe, respectful place to share our own. Mahalo and aloha!
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That’s the rub, isn’t? The story of how they got to the point of being on that plane does not add up at all. I really had no problem with her up until Kono’s wedding. Well, I didn’t particularly like the phone call between she and Steve after Afghanistan but that was mostly because she didn’t see fit to even ask him if he was alright after what he’d been through with the Taliban. But when she road off into the sunset to go after Najib I understood why she felt she needed to leave, to find that boy, to repay his family for saving her life all those years ago. It was noble and it was brave.
But just like I said above about the assassination of Rachel’s character, I feel much the same way about Catherine. If Peter wanted her to be Steve’s endgame all along, why did he write her so terribly? If she wanted to join the CIA, fine. She’s very good at what she does. She should have gone right from Afghanistan to her CIA assignment without going to Oahu. The only reason she went back was to use Steve as a cover. That wasn’t one bit necessary.
And she’s never shown up for any other reason except that she needed help with something. She and Steve never kept in communication, never kept any semblance of even a passing acquaintance, let alone as ex lovers or even friends. Every time they’ve been in each other’s presence in the last 5 years has been distant, awkward or downright silly.
Now we’re supposed to believe these two are going off on some grand adventure to rekindle a love affair the mercifully fizzled out years ago. Nope… doesn’t work.
If Peter had wanted that to be the true endgame, Catherine should have told Steve the truth from the very beginning, She should have told him straight away that she came back to Oahu for Kono’s wedding but she couldn’t stay because she’d accepted a position with the CIA. “Don’t ask me where or what, Steve. You know I can’t tell you that”. Steve would have understood that completely.
Then, in between assignments and those once a year appearances, we should have heard about phone calls, or video chats, any evidence that they each still knew the other even existed would have been nice. There should have been “I love you”s and “I miss you”s and then a grand reunion would have made more sense. Steve has more chemistry and open affection for Eddie than he has for Catherine.
Personally, my head canon has it that she’s on an extended leave from her duties. A month, maybe two, but once that’s over, she’ll be gone again, back to the life she loves. And Steve will be on his own, like he wanted to be in the first place. Maybe then he’ll realize where he really does belong and get his ass home where he belongs.
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Hello! Just popped in to say I totally agree with everything you said. I didn’t like the thought of Steve leaving at the end but to actually watch it and see he left when Danny could barely stand? That left a bad taste in my mouth. Even leaving a month later would have been more in character for Steve.
Going forward I’ll probably stop it before the very end scene because for me it was just awkward as Steve didn’t look happy to see her and he never actually invited her. Also, knowing Alex’s feelings on the matter, that they forced this on him and used his own words from previous interviews against him just makes you wonder.
On the positive side though we got proof that Danny is the most important person to Steve, which we knew but it’s nice that it was actually acknowledged.
All in all it was a good episode until it simply wasn’t.
Thanks so much for investing so much of your time to doing these reviews over the years. I’m definitely going to coming back to reread them in the future.
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Welcome and thank you so much for the comment. In my head canon, she’s only going to be there for a short time anyway. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit, if a month or so after they leave, she tells Steve she was only meant to be away for a short time and now it’s time to go back. I can see it so clearly. “Oh Steve, I thought you understood…. I was always going to go back.”
Once that happens, Steve will realize where he belongs. “Oh Danno… I thought you understood… I was always coming back to you”.
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Yeah I don’t her sticking around to be honest. She finally found something she loved and made her feel useful so I don’t see her just giving that up for Steve.
The image of Danny alone on the beach broke my heart but at least he’s got Eddie and the rest of the Ohana to look out for him.
I will say over the past few days I have been enjoying other people’s interpretation of the episode. There’s some fantastic writers out there.
Thanks again!
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You are very welcome! ♥♥
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I know my comments here are a tad late but like you I have a hard time excepting this I’d probably the last time I get to comment on your wonderful review so I kept putting it off, that being said, you are spot on with every single point. I got not one thing answered. In fact I’m left with more questions than ever. Peter left more holes on that story than a fishing net. The time from when Steve left Danny in the chair to the end was like watching a completely different show, it certainly wasn’t 5-O. Peter also said around S6 or 7 that there was to much that had gone down between Steve & Cathrine for them to continue to be a couple any longer (morning show with Billy V.) So typical Peter to keep changing things he says to the fans, just to keep everyone happy, honesty would have shown more integrity. I’m an owner of one of the fan sites & I’m posting that of all the reviews I’ve read yours is the most honest & truthful of any of them out there. Thank you for always maintaining that quality. You’re amazing. I do truly hope to keep seeing you post something here. Take care & be safe ❤️
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It’s never too late to leave a comment.. and thank you for all the great comments over the years. I, of course, have no idea what goes through Peter’s head. Not when he gives interviews, or with what he posts on twitter or what he writes in his scripts. All I know is what I see and what I perceive to be what could come next. In my mind I don’t see them as a couple any longer. She showed up unannounced, which is how she’s shown up every single time she’s been back since Afghanistan. If we were talking about a real person and not a TV character I would say she’s scared that if she calls and tells him she’s coming he’ll tell her not to.
Not that I think Steve would do that because he’s too much of a gentleman AND he does still have friendly feelings for her. There was no warmth in that plane scene. She cornered him, like she always does, and he was resigned to the fact that she was going to tag along whether he wanted her to or not. That’s what I saw in that little smile… “oh well, I guess we’re doing this together… whatever”.
I’ve said this before… in my mind they won’t be travelling together long. I’m willing to bet she just took some time off and she’s scheduled to go back to work in a relatively short time. A couple weeks… maybe a couple of months.. but she will go back. I don’t think Steve will be crushed when this happens. He’s no fool. He knows “these intelligence types, they got a habit of, uh, disappearing on you, you know?
He”ll enjoy her companionship, for as long as she deigns to give it to him, then she’ll be off to “her place” she found without him and he’ll get on with what he needs to do to clear his head, find some balance, and then go home.
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I agree, Love you Linda 🤗
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