Hawaii Five-O: Any Fans?

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Ring of Life

A weak episode IMHO.

Don Knight (my MPI) did a good job but just didn’t like the episode much. Can’t put my finger on it.

I agree. Not a great episode. Although I've come to appreciate it more than during my first viewing, same thing as with Don Knight's earlier episode "Flash of Color, Flash of Death". The thing that makes it work though is Don Knight himself! The man can do no wrong! Similar to his previous role as an Aussie obsessed with getting his bloody opals back, here he's an Aussie again (or is he a Brit now?) obsessed with those figurines. And he'll kill for it, as before! Knight is somehow able to elevate lesser material simply by his presence.

I was also impressed with Harvey Jason, a British actor who's appeared in many American shows, as the Indian consul. I remember the first time I saw the episode I really thought it was some Indian actor. I didn't recognize Jason at all!

[Little Garwood]

Don Knight always makes an episode worth watching! Knight (1933-1997), was the kind of reliable character actor who could steal any scene from most of today's movie stars. He's the kind of meorable, charismatic, and amusing performer that's harder to find these days. Here are Don Knight's Hawaii Five-O appearances:

The Ways of Love (First Season): Knight is memorable in a small role because of his voice, but he makes his mark here as Dan Larsen. A small role, but it’s important for introducing Don Knight to Hawaii Five-O fans.

V For Vashon: The Father (Fifth Season): Knight is high-priced hit man Dylan Heyward, hired by Honore Vashon (Harold Gould) to assassinate McGarrett. Knight has a great scene in his meeting with Vashon, where he displays a quiet, confident sense of menace to his dealings with the crime boss.

Flash of Color, Flash of Death (Sixth Season): Knight is Hobbs, an Australian Opal smuggler who’s spent his life chasing down rare Opals to sell in Hawaii. When a robbery separates Hobbs from his stones, he goes on an obsessive search to get them back. He’s excellent in his scenes with McGarrett, as first he feigns ignorance to who robbed him and uses Five-O’s mug shots to track down the robber himself. He outsmarts Five-O’s attempts to tail him. Knight uses subdued, threatening tones and when they fail, he explodes in a white-hot rage, terrifying all in his wake. McGarrett has a great line after Hobbs is caught, and we have one of the sixth season’s stronger episodes.

Ring of Life (Seventh Season): Among my top-ten S7 episodes, and it’s all because of Don Knight’s entertaining performance as Colin Nichols, who’s another driven man obsessed with obtaining another set of valuable items, the Kashmiri “Ring of Life”, a set of statues with a reward of one million Dollars for their return to the Indian government. Nichols is even more brutal than Hobbs, burning his victims with a lit cigar in order to get information. He’s not totally humorless, though, as a thief sent to help him is just the taciturn and monosyllabic henchman he asked for—and then some! In addition to Knight’s fine turn, there’s a memorable music score by George Romanis, who provides the exotic touch where needed.

The Bells Toll at Noon (Ninth Season): To be fair, this episode does not spotlight Don Knight, as it’s Rich Little’s over-the-top antics that are the focus of this episode. Knight’s character, Thayler, is merely one more target in a revenge plot.

The Kahuna (Twelfth Season): Knight is barely in this forgettable episode, but at least he’s in it. That’s about all I can say, and is mentioned for completion’s sake. His presence here is more a reminder of how great Five-O was, and though I actually enjoy the twelfth season, this episode does no one any favors in terms of entertainment value.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Don Knight always makes an episode worth watching! Knight (1933-1997), was the kind of reliable character actor who could steal any scene from most of today's movie stars. He's the kind of meorable, charismatic, and amusing performer that's harder to find these days. Here are Don Knight's Hawaii Five-O appearances:

The Ways of Love (First Season): Knight is memorable in a small role because of his voice, but he makes his mark here as Dan Larsen. A small role, but it’s important for introducing Don Knight to Hawaii Five-O fans.

V For Vashon: The Father (Fifth Season): Knight is high-priced hit man Dylan Heyward, hired by Honore Vashon (Harold Gould) to assassinate McGarrett. Knight has a great scene in his meeting with Vashon, where he displays a quiet, confident sense of menace to his dealings with the crime boss.

Flash of Color, Flash of Death (Sixth Season): Knight is Hobbs, an Australian Opal smuggler who’s spent his life chasing down rare Opals to sell in Hawaii. When a robbery separates Hobbs from his stones, he goes on an obsessive search to get them back. He’s excellent in his scenes with McGarrett, as first he feigns ignorance to who robbed him and uses Five-O’s mug shots to track down the robber himself. He outsmarts Five-O’s attempts to tail him. Knight uses subdued, threatening tones and when they fail, he explodes in a white-hot rage, terrifying all in his wake. McGarrett has a great line after Hobbs is caught, and we have one of the sixth season’s stronger episodes.

Ring of Life (Seventh Season): Among my top-ten S7 episodes, and it’s all because of Don Knight’s entertaining performance as Colin Nichols, who’s another driven man obsessed with obtaining another set of valuable items, the Kashmiri “Ring of Life”, a set of statues with a reward of one million Dollars for their return to the Indian government. Nichols is even more brutal than Hobbs, burning his victims with a lit cigar in order to get information. He’s not totally humorless, though, as a thief sent to help him is just the taciturn and monosyllabic henchman he asked for—and then some! In addition to Knight’s fine turn, there’s a memorable music score by George Romanis, who provides the exotic touch where needed.

The Bells Toll at Noon (Ninth Season): To be fair, this episode does not spotlight Don Knight, as it’s Rich Little’s over-the-top antics that are the focus of this episode. Knight’s character, Thayler, is merely one more target in a revenge plot.

The Kahuna (Twelfth Season): Knight is barely in this forgettable episode, but at least he’s in it. That’s about all I can say, and is mentioned for completion’s sake. His presence here is more a reminder of how great Five-O was, and though I actually enjoy the twelfth season, this episode does no one any favors in terms of entertainment value.

"The Kahuna" is like a trash dumpster compared to those other episodes that Knight appeared in. Probably tied with "The Moroville Covenant" as the single worst episode in the series' run! A sure-fire cure for insomnia!! Though "Tread the King's Shadow" is up there as well. But you know what, Knight is still very good, even in those brief scenes that we see him in. He never seems to phone in his performance, even if he's in something truly wretched. He just always has this spark, this glint in the eye. I actually really like him in the end with Cathy Lee Crosby after he holds her captive on his jeep. He instantly flashes into psycho mode as he threatens her with the blade of his knife! He truly excels in these types of unstable/combustible roles!

[Little Garwood]

Don Knight’s son, Mark, posted the following comment on the late-and-lamented “Mark & Julie” Five-O site on July 20, 2003:

“Im laughing my butt off at some of these comments. Ok so his "Aussie" wasn’t perfection at times, the "accent" is real, Born and raised in Manchester England. You work with the script you get, which I still have BTW as well as the Director that "has a vision." LOL. To answer the other questions "was he on others?" OH YEA. Jack Lord was our "Official, Unofficial Godfather." The Ways of Love, V for Vashon (all), Flash of Color Flash of Death, Ring of Life, The Bells Toll at Noon, The Kahuna. He died or was arrested and came back again as another. Jack and Our favorite person in the world Charles S. Dubin ensured that he went back to the islands for Magnum PI. And yea the Kahuna stinks. Dad was on pain meds after running through a 1/4 glass door thinking my sister had just been run over by a car. Love him or hate him, your choice and yes he was a ham at times!”

[T.Q.]

Study in Rage

I liked this episode.

"Hapa" Mike (Richard Hatch) is a complicated man.
"Chop Suey" in Hawaiian pidgin.

I loved the artwork angle as he made his way to eliminating anyone in the way of his (perceived) lady.

The artwork was amazing and stood out.

Entertaining episode.

Is Ben gone from the series at this point? Remember, I'm missing 6 episodes.

MPI: Gretchen Corbett, Josie Over

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Study in Rage

I liked this episode.

"Hapa" Mike (Richard Hatch) is a complicated man.
"Chop Suey" in Hawaiian pidgin.

I loved the artwork angle as he made his way to eliminating anyone in the way of his (perceived) lady.

The artwork was amazing and stood out.

Entertaining episode.

Is Ben gone from the series at this point? Remember, I'm missing 6 episodes.

MPI: Gretchen Corbett, Josie Over

#metoo! I like this episode! No idea why it has a bad rap everywhere, including Mr. Mike's site. Can't be just because of the darker Hawaiian make-up job on Richard Hatch. I've seen worse. But as a story it totally works for me! Yet another troubled young man obsessing over a girl and murdering anyone he perceives a threat. The artwork angle as you mentioned was a cool touch.

Yep, Ben is gone by this point. He disappeared somewhere mid-season. As you've probably noticed he's been replaced (unofficially) by Douglas Mossman as Frank Kamana.

What 6 episodes are you missing?

"Chop Suey" in Hawaiian pidgin.

What was this in reference to?

[T.Q.]

"Chop Suey" in Hawaiian pidgin.

What was this in reference to?

Mike's Hawaiian friend called him "Chop Suey".

It's Hawaiian slang for mixed race.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

"Chop Suey" in Hawaiian pidgin.

What was this in reference to?

Mike's Hawaiian friend called him "Chop Suey".

It's Hawaiian slang for mixed race.

Ah, I see. Don't remember that.

So which 6 episodes are you missing?

[T.Q.]

"Chop Suey" in Hawaiian pidgin.

What was this in reference to?

Mike's Hawaiian friend called him "Chop Suey".

It's Hawaiian slang for mixed race.

Ah, I see. Don't remember that.

So which 6 episodes are you missing?

Looks like 9 - 16.

The episodes I’m watching SAY they are 9 - 16 so I’m hoping they’re all just mixed up and I will eventually see them.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

"Chop Suey" in Hawaiian pidgin.

What was this in reference to?

Mike's Hawaiian friend called him "Chop Suey".

It's Hawaiian slang for mixed race.

Ah, I see. Don't remember that.

So which 6 episodes are you missing?

Looks like 9 - 16.

The episodes I’m watching SAY they are 9 - 16 so I’m hoping they’re all just mixed up and I will eventually see them.

Ooo, you're missing some good ones, including a Wo Fat.

It looks like your 9-16 are actually 17-24. So maybe your 17-24 are 9-16. Easy to check. Your 17 should be "How to Steal a Masterpiece".

[T.Q.]

It looks like your 9-16 are actually 17-24. So maybe your 17-24 are 9-16. Easy to check. Your 17 should be "How to Steal a Masterpiece".

Yep, that's what I suspected... just finally checked.

Listed as "Hawaii Five-O S07E17" but I started it and it is "How to Steal a Masterpiece".

So they're all there just in wrong order.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

It looks like your 9-16 are actually 17-24. So maybe your 17-24 are 9-16. Easy to check. Your 17 should be "How to Steal a Masterpiece".

Yep, that's what I suspected... just finally checked.

Listed as "Hawaii Five-O S07E17" but I started it and it is "How to Steal a Masterpiece".

So they're all there just in wrong order.

Perfect! You should be good then.

[T.Q.]

And the Horse Jumped Over the Moon

Interesting episode.

Ed Flanders returns and Bruce Boxleitner guest stars again pretty quickly.

Good premise. Snatching drug shipments from a plane and skydiving the goods.

I believe this still goes on in the Bahamas. Buoys that have flags on timers. Not quite as exciting as planes, they use super speed boats.

I like the opening with the snitch being murdered while ON THE PHONE with McGarrett. Good way to get him riled up.

Some goodness at the end when they decide to keep the drugs but Kevin the jumper had other plans.

Good episode.

Hit Gun for Sale

Not so good. Kinda felt stale like I had seen this all before in bits and pieces in previous episodes.

Was cool seeing Sal Mineo.

MPI: Nehemiah Persoff

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

And the Horse Jumped Over the Moon

Interesting episode.

Ed Flanders returns and Bruce Boxleitner guest stars again pretty quickly.

Good premise. Snatching drug shipments from a plane and skydiving the goods.

I believe this still goes on in the Bahamas. Buoys that have flags on timers. Not quite as exciting as planes, they use super speed boats.

I like the opening with the snitch being murdered while ON THE PHONE with McGarrett. Good way to get him riled up.

Some goodness at the end when they decide to keep the drugs but Kevin the jumper had other plans.

Good episode.

Hit Gun for Sale

Not so good. Kinda felt stale like I had seen this all before in bits and pieces in previous episodes.

Was cool seeing Sal Mineo.

MPI: Nehemiah Persoff

Sorry about the delay but I've been working on that bamboo cage again.

So let me get this straight. You did not like "No Bottles" (even after 2 viewings) but you liked "Horse Over Moon"? And then to make matters even worse you did not like "Hit Gun for Sale"? You're on thin ice here. Tread very very carefully. Wrath has been incurred. You must atone for your transgressions. Repeat after me. "No Bottles" is a VERY good episode. "Horse Over Moon" is a lousy episode. "Hit Gun" is a return to form and is MUCH better than "Horse".

Oy vey. What I have to put up with around here. Pay attention now, children...

The only good thing "Horse Over Moon" has going for it is some nice aerial photography and skydiving scenes and some nice shots of the ocean. Ok, the execution in the phone booth was cool too. But that's it. The drug smuggling bit bores me and the infighting between the trio of smugglers I don't care for. It's a bottom 3 episode for the season, alongside "Steal Now -- Pay Later" and "The Two-Faced Corpse".

"Hit Gun for Sale" may not be the best of the organized crime/warring crime factions stories but it's still a very solid entry, but the real kicker is the shocking twist at the end which I TOTALLY did not see coming! It has to be one of, if not THE BEST, twists in the entire series! Again, totally did not see it coming. Also loved where the climax was shot - at Kapiolani Park not too far from the War Natatorium, at the edge of Waikiki. I also liked the Kahala scenes earlier where Cordell (Persoff) lives with his daughter (always loved that area). Loved the drive through Kahala too (with the palms lining the street), accompanied by a great Don Ray score!

Ok, class dismissed. You're welcome.

Now, where's my hammer and the rest of that bomboo??

[T.Q.]

Sorry about the delay but I've been working on that bamboo cage again.

So let me get this straight. You did not like "No Bottles" (even after 2 viewings) but you liked "Horse Over Moon"? And then to make matters even worse you did not like "Hit Gun for Sale"? You're on thin ice here. Tread very very carefully. Wrath has been incurred. You must atone for your transgressions. Repeat after me. "No Bottles" is a VERY good episode. "Horse Over Moon" is a lousy episode. "Hit Gun" is a return to form and is MUCH better than "Horse".

Sorry Ivan.

Only way I can explain it is I felt most of the elements kinda came from previous episodes.

Maybe I just don't like mafioso stories based in Hawai'i.