Hawaii Five-O: Any Fans?

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Turkey Shoot at Makapuu

Not great. Okay.

Cool aerial footage and interesting idea.

Couldn’t stand the girl though. Her stunt at the end to draw out the killers was a good idea but kinda silly at the same time.

I liked to two baddie locals Blooey and Tonker (?)

MPI: Joe Moore, Wallace W. Landford

Really like this one, as well as the sequel "Practical Jokes Can Kill You" (the season 9 finale). Lee Purcell was a cutie back in the day. She looked even better in "Practical Jokes". Love all the hang gliding scenes, and the 2 baddies (Tonker and Blooey) are among the nastiest creeps in the series. Gotta go all the way back to season 3's "The Guarnerius Caper" (about the 2 white-trash violin-nappers) to encounter such a creepy pair. Morton Stevens provides an excellent score, especially the cool jazzy piece that plays when the 2 creeps pursue the girl with car trouble at the beginning.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Funny sidenote.

Not sure if it's Makapuu or Kamehame Ridge but we drove all the way up to that drop off over Waimānalo a few years ago because I wanted to see the view and the Robin's Nest property.

We dragged one of our Hawaiian friends.

We got up there and there was a fence. Dejected... We turned around and drove back.

After watching this episode I Google Earthed it just for fun and...

DOH!

We were so close.

Hey T.Q. You're still lucky because you got much closer than I did. I drove up Kamehame Drive, as far as the residential area goes. Then where the residential area ends there's a gate which was closed that I couldn't drive or walk past. Sounds like you were able to go quite a ways past that gate, up the ridge. Then you got stopped by a fence close to the lookout. I was there in 2018 so I'm guessing by then you could no longer go up Kamehame Ridge. Maybe when you went it was still allowed. Sucks how many restrictions there are on Oahu these days! Back in the day you could go anywhere, nothing was restricted. Do so at your own risk. Nowadays so much restriction and hand-holding so that you don't accidentally stub your toe. Pretty soon they won't let you hike Diamond Head or Koko Head because it's "too dangerous". There's a road above Hanauma Bay which we saw cars go up both on Five-O and MPI. Can't go up there anymore either. Believe me - I checked.

By the way, that area on the ridge where you had to turn back... just ahead is the building that was used as Holly Fox's radio station in MPI's "The Look".

[T.Q.]

A Killer Grows Wings

Bit slow moving but not bad.

Good interesting scheme devised by the baddies. Good body count.

Crazy woman signing a land sale agreement with no price. Someone give her a shake.

MPI: Keokeokalae Hughes, Reginold F.H. Ho, Josie Over again

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

A Killer Grows Wings

Bit slow moving but not bad.

Good interesting scheme devised by the baddies. Good body count.

Crazy woman signing a land sale agreement with no price. Someone give her a shake.

MPI: Keokeokalae Hughes, Reginold F.H. Ho, Josie Over again

Yep, it's pretty good. Destroying the sugar crop was a plot back in season 2's "Sweet Terror". There it was for political reasons (the Commies were behind it), here it's for business purposes. There it was via a fungus to be introduced into the cane fields, here it's through larva. Richard Kiley, who played one of my favorite COLUMBO villains (he was the police commissioner, Columbo's boss), is not nearly as memorable here as the crooked developer. I like the Aussie guy at the start (local actor Bruce Wilson) who gets knocked off after he finds the larva in the field. Wilson is always good - it's the accent.

[T.Q.]

The Capsule Kidnapping

Lost power 2pm half way through (Island life) and finished last night.

Kidnapping and poisonous Lionfish. Themes we've seen before.

I thought it was pretty good though.

Was far-fetched as heck. How these semi-accomplished intelligent scientists were going to get $1.5M for research and keep it hidden where these funds came from.

The underwater capsule was cool but pretty unnecessarily elaborate for the baddies but makes for good TV.

Plane explosion at the end was good for the mid-70s. Better than previous episodes when things went Kablooey.

MPI: Michael Hasegawa, Elizabeth Smith, Susie Elene (Mai Ling)

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

The Capsule Kidnapping

Lost power 2pm half way through (Island life) and finished last night.

Kidnapping and poisonous Lionfish. Themes we've seen before.

I thought it was pretty good though.

Was far-fetched as heck. How these semi-accomplished intelligent scientists were going to get $1.5M for research and keep it hidden where these funds came from.

The underwater capsule was cool but pretty unnecessarily elaborate for the baddies but makes for good TV.

Plane explosion at the end was good for the mid-70s. Better than previous episodes when things went Kablooey.

MPI: Michael Hasegawa, Elizabeth Smith, Susie Elene (Mai Ling)

It's a top 5 episode for the season for me! It's another kidnapping/ransom story but I love those. Plus the underwater capsule idea was really cool (if needlessly elaborate) so the race against the clock to save the boy was pretty gripping. This also marks the third appearance by Bruce Boxleitner on the show. The way he gets plugged by Asuko (Suesie Elene) was pretty cold-blooded. That chick had ice in her veins! A far cry from her Mai Ling on MPI. By the way, did you recognize her right away? Or not until the end credits or a quick IMDB scan? I only ask because for me Asian women tend to all look alike, unless it's someone very prominent like Lucy Liu or someone with pretty distinct features. Or someone that I've watched over and over through the years. Otherwise I couldn't tell you Suesie Elene from Kim Miyori. I probably saw "China Doll" only 2 or 3 times (I'm sure you saw it way more than me), same with "Capsule Kidnapping" and that was some time ago. Not enough to register a face that I'm otherwise unfamiliar with. Come to think of it - I can recognize Irene Yah-Ling Sun, but that's probably because I've seen more of her in many different shows.

Oh, and this is the only episode directed by Bernard McEveety (a veteran TV director, going back to the classic westerns of the 50s and 60s), whose more famous brother was Vincent McEveety, who also did a lot of TV directing but perhaps is best remembered for directing all those Disney comedies of the 70s (with Kurt Russell, Dean Jones, Don Knotts, the Herbie movies, Apple Dumpling Gang, etc.)

[T.Q.]

Recognized her right away.

I'm good at faces.

You know who still stumps me a bit. Josie Over sometimes. Despite being in so many episodes she can look quite different from one to the next.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Recognized her right away.

I'm good at faces.

You know who still stumps me a bit. Josie Over sometimes. Despite being in so many episodes she can look quite different from one to the next.

Oh, I've got no problem with Josie Over. She's easily recognizable. Distinct features. But then she's been in so many dozens of episodes of Five-O that it's impossible for me not to recognize her. Even with major changes - from a hooker in one episode to a lab technician in the next. Major hairdo changes on her can't fool me.

[T.Q.]

Recognized her right away.

I'm good at faces.

You know who still stumps me a bit. Josie Over sometimes. Despite being in so many episodes she can look quite different from one to the next.

Oh, I've got no problem with Josie Over. She's easily recognizable. Distinct features. But then she's been in so many dozens of episodes of Five-O that it's impossible for me not to recognize her. Even with major changes - from a hooker in one episode to a lab technician in the next. Major hairdo changes on her can't fool me.

Josie's weird for me. I don't know why I think she changes so much.

Few episodes ago outside the War Memorial. The pic I posted. When I first saw her I was like WOW Hubba Hubba thinking it was a new actress. Strange I know.

[T.Q.]

Love Thy Neighbor, Take His Wife

Magnum's Step-Dad Frank... NOOOOOO. Can't stand him.

I felt nothing when Mr. Rhoads got a bullet to the gut.

Standard story but pretty decent.

Setting up the local boy Tanaka (Kimo Kahoano). I loved his van.

Liked how they got the money from the locker and Chin's reaction to that.

And of course tracking everyone down.

MPI: Danny Kamekona, David Huddleston, Kimo. I think I saw Robin's Nest when Duke showed up but it was a quick shot and then the scene was filmed elsewhere.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Love Thy Neighbor, Take His Wife

Magnum's Step-Dad Frank... NOOOOOO. Can't stand him.

I felt nothing when Mr. Rhoads got a bullet to the gut.

Standard story but pretty decent.

Setting up the local boy Tanaka (Kimo Kahoano). I loved his van.

Liked how they got the money from the locker and Chin's reaction to that.

And of course tracking everyone down.

MPI: Danny Kamekona, David Huddleston, Kimo. I think I saw Robin's Nest when Duke showed up but it was a quick shot and then the scene was filmed elsewhere.

Ah, David Huddleston. The Big Lebowski for many. For me he'll always be Grandpa Arnold from THE WONDER YEARS. Always enjoyed him as an actor. He's solid here too.

It's another kidnapping story. Not as great as the previous one, but still very good. One of the other kidnappers is played by Dennis Redfield (he with the crazy red hair) who played the scumbag who shot Danno's cop friend during a traffic stop back in season 5's excellent "Pig in a Blanket". He can do despicable characters really well. Kimo Kahoano gets a pretty prominent role in this one. He gets to take center stage again in season 10's "Tall on the Wave".

[T.Q.]

A Sentence to Steal

Pretty weak. Just wasn't gripping or anything.

Inserting the Sergeant into the youth home was cool. I liked McGarrett balling him out for being disrespectful.

Not feeling great today so that's all I got.

MPI: Tommy Fujiwara, Remi Abellira (Moki), Sam Peters, Harry Chang, Ed Fernandez. I may have missed one. He was sitting around the table with the "boys" at the beginning.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

A Sentence to Steal

Pretty weak. Just wasn't gripping or anything.

Inserting the Sergeant into the youth home was cool. I liked McGarrett balling him out for being disrespectful.

Not feeling great today so that's all I got.

MPI: Tommy Fujiwara, Remi Abellira (Moki), Sam Peters, Harry Chang, Ed Fernandez. I may have missed one. He was sitting around the table with the "boys" at the beginning.

It's weak alright. And a weak end to the season. Probably the weakest finale of them all. It's yet another "steal" episode which we've had before and which tend to leave me cold. I mean we just had "The Waterfront Steal" a few episodes back (which also had Fujiwara by the way). And here's another one focusing on warehouse thefts. Just not interesting. Of note is Barbara Baxley guest starring here again, if only to remind us what a powerhouse she was in "One Big Happy Family" where she played the disturbing matriarch of the murderous clan of rednecks.

So what did you think of the season overall? Let me have your top 5 for the season. Just no random picks, ok?

[Pahonu]

A Sentence to Steal

Pretty weak. Just wasn't gripping or anything.

Inserting the Sergeant into the youth home was cool. I liked McGarrett balling him out for being disrespectful.

Not feeling great today so that's all I got.

MPI: Tommy Fujiwara, Remi Abellira (Moki), Sam Peters, Harry Chang, Ed Fernandez. I may have missed one. He was sitting around the table with the "boys" at the beginning.

It's weak alright. And a weak end to the season. Probably the weakest finale of them all. It's yet another "steal" episode which we've had before and which tend to leave me cold. I mean we just had "The Waterfront Steal" a few episodes back (which also had Fujiwara by the way). And here's another one focusing on warehouse thefts. Just not interesting. Of note is Barbara Baxley guest starring here again, if only to remind us what a powerhouse she was in "One Big Happy Family" where she played the disturbing matriarch of the murderous clan of rednecks.

So what did you think of the season overall? Let me have your top 5 for the season. Just no random picks, ok?

Wait a minute Ivan, you told me Hawaii Five-O was perfect in every way!

[T.Q.]

EWW, I hate doing these. Plus you're too critical.

1. Retire in Sunny Hawai'i Forever
2. McGarrett Is Missing
3. The Case Against McGarrett
4. A Touch of Guilt
5. The Capsule Kidnapping

6. Anatomy of a Bribe
7. Deadly Persuasion
8. Target The Lady
9. Death's Name is Sam
10. Honor is an Unmarked Grave

By the by. Don't go back and say I didn't like it at first. This the best I can do from memory scrolling down the IMDb season page.

You have to remember, I'm watching a lot of episodes, first time ever seeing them, at a pretty fast pace.