With the Season 7 finale of “Hawaii Five-0” set to air Friday at 8 p.m. on CBS, we asked show recapper Wendie Burbridge to pick some of the highlights of the season. Find her “Five-0 Redux” blog at staradvertiser.com.
BEST ACTION SEQUENCE
Parkour foot chase, “Makaukau ‘Oe e Pa‘ani” (“Ready to Play?”); Sept. 23
“Hawaii Five-0” is not the type of show to shirk its duties as an action-drama. Each week viewers can count on a powerhouse stunt, and usually it is several different kinds of stunts rolled up into one exciting sequence. The Season 7 opener was no exception, with an epic foot chase between Five-0 and suspect Pierre Shaw . The action is intense as Shaw runs, jumps, springs and slides across Chinatown rooftops, balconies and stairwells until his last leap ends the chase — and his life.
BEST USE OF LOCAL SUPERSTITION
Kaimuki haunted house, “Ka Hale Ho‘okauweli” (“House of Horrors”); Oct. 28
The season’s Halloween episode was based on one of Hawaii’s favorite ghost stories to be told around a late-night beach bonfire. The spooky tale originated from a 1942 newspaper article headlined “Police Called to Shoo Ghost From Kaimuki,” which describes how HPD witnessed strange and paranormal occurrences at a home, much like the opening scene of the episode.
BEST USE OF LOCAL SCENERY
USS Arizona Memorial / USS Battleship Missouri Memorial, “Waimaka ‘Ele‘ele” (“Black Tears”); April 14
One element of “Hawaii Five-0” that makes it incredibly special is how it treats and honors the military and its veterans. This episode deals with the hit-and-run death of a USS Arizona survivor, Leonard Patterson, played by the venerable Hal Holbrook.
As McGarrett’s own grandfather, Ensign Steven McGarrett, died on the Arizona, the episode takes on even greater meaning. As with many Arizona survivors, Patterson’s last request is to be laid to rest with his shipmates. The last shot of the episode is McGarrett standing on the USS Missouri pier watching as Patterson’s ashes are taken down to the Arizona wreckage.
The aerial shot of the sunken remains of the battleship, with the white USS Arizona Memorial shining against the blue-green water of Pearl Harbor, is quite breathtaking. And McGarrett saluting the scene, dressed in “choker” dress whites, the Mighty Mo behind him, makes for a perfect tribute.
BEST NEWBIE
Dr. Noelani Cunha
At the start of the season, Dr. Max Bergman (Masi Oka) is out on sabbatical. Dr. Noelani Cunha (played by Hawaii actress Kimee Balmilero) stepped in to fill his white lab coat. While Max is quite literal and quirky, Noelani is straightforward and seems to take McGarrett’s (Alex O’Loughlin) unusual requests in stride. Hawaii fans are pleased, as Balmilero is a true local girl. She graduated from Castle High School, where she studied with beloved drama teacher Ron Bright.
BEST CULTURAL REFERENCE
Hawaiian sovereignty, “Ka Laina ma ke One” (“Line in the Sand”); Jan. 20
While “Hawaii Five-0” has always worked hard to incorporate the culture and heritage of Hawaii into its storylines, this season has been especially strong in that regard. This episode helped to bring forward the painful story of the sovereignty movement and the fight of many Hawaiians to re-establish the kingdom of Hawaii.
Not too many outside of Hawaii are familiar with the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy and the growth of the sovereignty movement. The episode was fascinating, featuring real-life Nation of Hawaii activist Bumpy Kanahele (who played himself). The sovereignty group is probably the most active in seeking to establish an independent Hawaiian nation, which makes the issue quite appropriate for a show with “Hawaii” in its title.
BEST VILLAIN
Dr. Madison Gray
After the death of Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos) and Gabriel Waincroft (Christopher Sean), the role of series villain seemed difficult to fill. Yet this season the team faced HPD psychologist Dr. Madison Gray (Elisabeth Rohm), “The Chess Piece Killer,” a serial killer of serial killers. Over several episodes Gray terrorized McGarrett and former FBI profiler Alicia Brown (Claire Forlani), finally dumping them into a cave to die as the tide rises. She returned later in the season in order to persuade Alicia that she has the name and location of the man who killed the profiler’s daughter. As wily as she is, Gray underestimates Alicia’s conviction to find her daughter and protect her at all costs — even if that means shooting an unarmed, yet clearly insane, Gray.
BEST PAIRING
Duke and Jerry, “Ua Malo‘o ka Wai” (“The Water Is Dried Up”); April 7
More often than not on “Five-0,” McGarrett and the team swoop in to save the day. So it’s nice when an unlikely duo — Sgt. Duke Lukela (Dennis Chun) and Five-0 consultant Jerry Ortega (Jorge Garcia) — arrives with the cavalry in order to do the same.
Chun, a Hawaii actor well loved by fans, is the son of the late Kam Fong, who played Chin Ho Kelly from 1968 to 1978 in the original “Hawaii Five-0.” Garcia is better known as Hurley in ABC’s “Lost,” another Hawaii-filmed series.
The two work together in this episode to save the Five-0 team after they are captured by the “yakuza” and try to escape from a remote part of Lanai. With Jerry’s help, Duke lives up to his name, flying in on HPD choppers and bringing SWAT to rescue the team.
BEST BAD-GUY TAKEDOWN
McGarrett and his Chevy Silverado, “Wehe‘ana” (“Prelude”); April 28
As our hero, McGarrett often gets credit for taking out bad guys on a weekly basis. When his BFF Danno (Scott Caan) is cornered by a group of killer baddies, McGarrett reacts with perfect precision, driving his huge Chevy truck into the two gunmen, saving Danno.
I suppose all you need to save the day is a big truck and a lot of aloha. Especially if you are part of the Five-0 team.
