Hawaii Five-O: Any Fans?

[T.Q.]

MPI connection: You missed the killer, the man without a face. That's Jonathan Goldsmith and he's better known these days as the "most interesting man in the world" (with a gray beard of course) in the Dos Equis beer commercials. "Stay thirsty, my friends". "He once had an uncomfortable moment. Just to see what it feels like."

WOW. This one was a shocker. Never clued in on that.



NEAT.

And yes, the beach scene at the end was epic.

I didn't post right after viewing yesterday. Had I done so, with it fresh in my mind, I probably would have mentioned it as it was super well done.

Don't get McGarrett angry. You wouldn't like him angry.

[T.Q.]

Ready, Aim.....

Weak. Pretty boring.

Trying to think of good scene to say "I liked this and this and that". Not many to be honest.

Cool seeing young Edward James Olmos.

I liked when McGarrett blew him away.

MPI: Manu Tupou (Charlie), France Nuyen, Jimmy Borges, Francis Yoshida, Rodney Philip Aiu

[Pahonu]

Ready, Aim.....

Weak. Pretty boring.

Trying to think of good scene to say "I liked this and this and that". Not many to be honest.

Cool seeing young Edward James Olmos.

I liked when McGarrett blew him away.

MPI: Manu Tupou (Charlie), France Nuyen, Jimmy Borges, Francis Yoshida, Rodney Philip Aiu

I remember seeing this one in rerun in the late 80’s because I recognized Edward James Olmos, then of Miami Vice fame. It wasn’t great as I recall but it stood out for that reason. This was very near the beginning of his career. I also remember seeing him in a Police Story episode from the same time in his career that had Don Johnson from Miami Vice! The episode also starred one of my favorite actors, David Janssen. France Nuyen was a great actress and she was in an excellent Police Story episode as the mother of a child killed by a sniper in a freeway shooting. The shooter was James Woods and her husband was played by Manu Tupou.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Ready, Aim.....

Weak. Pretty boring.

Trying to think of good scene to say "I liked this and this and that". Not many to be honest.

Cool seeing young Edward James Olmos.

I liked when McGarrett blew him away.

MPI: Manu Tupou (Charlie), France Nuyen, Jimmy Borges, Francis Yoshida, Rodney Philip Aiu

For a long time this one was a very elusive episode for me. It's the only one I don't remember ever seeing in reruns. So I was really looking forward to seeing this one when I got my season 9 DVD. Ultimately it ended up being pretty average. At this point all I remember is guns being smuggled in ice cream containers (I think). Previous Five-O alums Manu Tupou and France Nuyen are back again and we get an up-and-coming Edward James Olmos in this one. Oh, there's also a scene at the Byodo-In Temple which is always a plus. Other than that I can't think of much. I also recall Jimmy Borges having some kind of snazzy sports car (can't remember what it was... some foreign job I think?) which gets shot up pretty good.

The next one is much better...

[T.Q.]

Elegy in a Rain Forest

Good episode.

Lucien was a bad baddie and William Watson does a great job.

Always get upset when bad guys just blow people away. Can't you just be bad and not kill some family man guard with kids and a bunch of randos minding their own business?

I did not understand the "mute" character at all. Was the only really weird thing to me. What the heck is with the bush man?

The ending scenes on the cliff were good. I thought they killed off John for a second. Just a leg wound.

And McGarrett prevails again!

Little Side Notes: McGarrett scene sail boating was funny as the scene was ripped from a previous episode I think. Just dubbed over.

Duke got karate chop game. Loved it.

MPI: William Watson, Lee Woodd, Robert Silva, Lauren Levinson, Beau Vanden Ecker

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Elegy in a Rain Forest

Good episode.

Lucien was a bad baddie and William Watson does a great job.

Always get upset when bad guys just blow people away. Can't you just be bad and not kill some family man guard with kids and a bunch of randos minding their own business?

I did not understand the "mute" character at all. Was the only really weird thing to me. What the heck is with the bush man?

The ending scenes on the cliff were good. I thought they killed off John for a second. Just a leg wound.

And McGarrett prevails again!

Little Side Notes: McGarrett scene sail boating was funny as the scene was ripped from a previous episode I think. Just dubbed over.

Duke got karate chop game. Loved it.

MPI: William Watson, Lee Woodd, Robert Silva, Lauren Levinson, Beau Vanden Ecker

Yep, this is another very good episode and pretty disturbing in spots, mostly due to the performance of William Watson as the psychotic Marcus Lucien. This one used to be in my top 5 (at #5) for the season but I think these days it's just outside of my top 5, probably #6. I vacillate on this one because on the one hand it's a pretty gripping tale of being lost in the wilderness and being held captive by a psycho, but on the other hand you have this "nature boy" story which seems kinda weird (what's he doing out there?) and while William Watson can be scary in certain scenes, in other scenes he's way too OTT (babbling, crying, throwing tantrums, etc.). I don't have a problem with Manicote grabbing a gun and getting in on the action, after all it's his daughter that's being held captive by this lunatic. I love the scenery at the end from atop Kamehame Ridge - you can see Kalanianaole Hwy below and even Robin's Nest!! I just love that turquoise water! It's the most beautiful spot on the island to look out on the ocean!

Yep, the scene at the beginning with McG sailing and Chin calling out to him is ripped directly from season 8's "McGarrett is Missing". The interesting thing is that in both episodes Chin calls out to McG about a prisoner escaping. In that one it was Charley Bombay (Charles Cioffi). In this one it's Lucien. So not much needed changing.

Yep, Duke's pursuit of stuntman Beau Van Den Ecker at the junkyard and the karate chop is pretty classic! Also love the stuttering guy hiding in the trash dumpster. Great scene!

P.S. This is the second one directed by Sutton Roley and again he gives us a bizarre character (Lucien) and maybe even "nature boy". His first pair of bizarre characters was in "Double Exposure" - mobsters Weston and Vince!

[T.Q.]

Dealer's Choice... Blackmail

Good. Enjoyed.

'Jack Tripper' is back as a compulsive gambler. Always like John Ritter. He was a good actor.

Wifey was watching with me and when he went to put down the original $10,000 we both went "NOOOO".



Sandi Wells not too bright but when dealing with family you tend to have blinders on.

Only silly thing was the casino bust. Me thinks the coppers would have had all the doors covered. Would have avoided all the mayhem that ensued.

Victor Palua was cool. Liked his response when the loan shark had a soft spot for Mike.

MPI: Original KKC, Amanda McBroom, Nehemiah Persoff, Joe Moore, Rap Reiplinger, Ernest Chan, Deborah Takushi, Earl Kingston, Jorie Remus, Reri Tava Jobe,

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Dealer's Choice... Blackmail

Good. Enjoyed.

'Jack Tripper' is back as a compulsive gambler. Always like John Ritter. He was a good actor.

Wifey was watching with me and when he went to put down the original $10,000 we both went "NOOOO".



Sandi Wells not too bright but when dealing with family you tend to have blinders on.

Only silly thing was the casino bust. Me thinks the coppers would have had all the doors covered. Would have avoided all the mayhem that ensued.

Victor Palua was cool. Liked his response when the loan shark had a soft spot for Mike.

MPI: Original KKC, Amanda McBroom, Nehemiah Persoff, Joe Moore, Rap Reiplinger, Ernest Chan, Deborah Takushi, Earl Kingston, Jorie Remus, Reri Tava Jobe,

Yep, I always liked this episode too. Agree that John Ritter was a very good actor. He's iconic as Jack Tripper but even when playing other characters (such as the one here) he's really good. You really feel for him here - he's got a "sickness" that he can't shake. Can't stop gambling. It's a serious addiction which destroys people completely. I agree about the scene where he comes back to the gambling table with more money, just when it seems like he's finally beginning to see the light. You get a sinking feeling in your stomach. Nehemiah Persoff is great as always in these types of gruff mobster roles. Love it when he yells "GOOO HOOOME SAMMY!!!!"

[T.Q.]

A Capitol Crime yesterday.

Really liked it.

Lots going on for McGarrett in this one.

Beginning Hawaiian show was fun. Been to many of those. Even old Don Ho when he was alive. Sometimes cheesy but awesome. Reminded me of that.

Poor Mr. Palmer. Felt a lot of compassion for his predicament. Not the way to handle it but hope they went easy on him.

And having the second story line of the mobster, confusing at first, was great when it merged the way it did.

Mr. Palmer coming through with the "heart attack" was great.

Was that a McGarrett 4th Wall at the end?

MPI: Jimmy Borges, Harry Chang, Bill Bigelow, Ed Fernandez, Wayne Oxford,

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

A Capitol Crime yesterday.

Really liked it.

Lots going on for McGarrett in this one.

Beginning Hawaiian show was fun. Been to many of those. Even old Don Ho when he was alive. Sometimes cheesy but awesome. Reminded me of that.

Poor Mr. Palmer. Felt a lot of compassion for his predicament. Not the way to handle it but hope they went easy on him.

And having the second story line of the mobster, confusing at first, was great when it merged the way it did.

Mr. Palmer coming through with the "heart attack" was great.

Was that a McGarrett 4th Wall at the end?

MPI: Jimmy Borges, Harry Chang, Bill Bigelow, Ed Fernandez, Wayne Oxford,

Hooray!! You chose the perfect episode to view on Christmas!! Not because it's Christmasy but because it gets my vote as the best episode from season 9. I already sang my praises for the other 3 stellar episodes this season (Target-A Cop, The Bells Toll at Noon, Man in a Steel Frame) and this one is definitely of that same high caliber but something about this one makes me rate it even higher, at #1.

You already mentioned it but I'll mention it again. I love how there are 2 unrelated stories developing here and I love how they converge at the end. It works so great! The one story is very unique for this series - the plight of an elderly man who is being evicted. He takes things to the extreme but you really feel for him. The whole standoff is pretty tense throughout. Barnard Hughes gives a magnificent (and Emmy-worthy) performance. Of course he wasn't even nominated. The other story is more familiar Five-O territory - a gangster is being transported to prison. Dick Davalos is also very good as this slimeball who really needs a punch in the mouth! Then enters his girlfriend into the picture and she ends up bridging the 2 stories together. She's a total nutcase as we see at the end. Scary crazy! The finale is extremely tense!! Another superb performance by Sharon Farrell. Along with the trigger-happy junkie Dina in season 7's "A Woman's Work is With a Gun" she's the craziest chick ever on this show! I also enjoyed Jimmy Borges playing himself here and his Hawaiian show.

Another cool nugget is that you get to see the director of this episode - Sutton Roley. He plays the judge who is sentencing Hawley (Davalos) and is ordering his transport to prison. This is his third and last and BEST episode that he directed. As with his previous 2 episodes, he seems to specialize in bizarre and crazy characters. Here we get the bizarro pair of Hawley and his girlfriend!

Yes, it does look like McG stares at the 4th wall at the very end. Almost as if he's asking the audience to decide what kind of sentence the old man deserves.

[T.Q.]

To Die in Paradise

Well, said I'd be honest... So here goes.

Stinky. Pee-Eww.

Not that good. Definitely lotsa things we've all seen before and I found the episode pretty boring.

Not much to say about it. Original kidnaping was fun. Her breaking the window with her guitar.

I thought she was pulling the Stockholm syndrome for a while which kept me a bit interested.

An ukulele made an appearance. Liked that.

MPI: Stephen Young, Winston Char, Lee Woodd,

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

To Die in Paradise

Well, said I'd be honest... So here goes.

Stinky. Pee-Eww.

Not that good. Definitely lotsa things we've all seen before and I found the episode pretty boring.

Not much to say about it. Original kidnaping was fun. Her breaking the window with her guitar.

I thought she was pulling the Stockholm syndrome for a while which kept me a bit interested.

An ukulele made an appearance. Liked that.

MPI: Stephen Young, Winston Char, Lee Woodd,

Haha, looks like you're another one in a long line of haters of this episode. Personally I like it. Quite a bit in fact!

It's another jungle trek, which we just had a few episodes earlier with "Elegy in a Rainforest". Of course this one isn't as scary as that one (the kidnappers here aren't too bright) but I'm a sucker for Hawaiian scenery and the rainforest in general so this one works for me. I like the kidnapping in the beginning and I really like the cliff action at the end (accompanied by a good Don Ray score to boot) and I really don't mind the stuff in the middle either. The acting here leaves a bit to be desired but the overall feel of the episode works for me. I really don't like the "Bible Jim" character. Such a ridiculous character. Well, actually he cracks me up but for all the wrong reasons! Such a caricature and a really baaaaad performance!

There was a time, believe it or not, when this was one of my absolute favorite episodes! No kidding! Of course these days I can see its flaws pretty clearly. Though I still can't fathom people calling it one of the worst episodes in the entire series. Not when you take into account some of the stinkers in the next seasons. I still have a soft spot for it and while it won't make my top 5 for the season I think it makes my top 10.

[T.Q.]

Agree to disagree without threatening my with the Bamboo cage.

We're making progress in our friendship.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Agree to disagree without threatening my with the Bamboo cage.

We're making progress in our friendship.

Hey, hey, let's not get carried away here.

[T.Q.]

Blood Money Is Hard to Wash

Lots of rehashed elements.

Pretty good episode though.

Liked the slimy mobster and the back-n-forth with McGarrett (he never would have trusted that horse).

Was also funny the scenes when they were following him around the Island.

Good plan to get close to McGarrett in the hospital (don't forget the medical-alert bracelet Jovanko DOH!).

MPI: Jim Demarest, Edward Sheehan, Tommy Fujiwara