It’s been a month since a new episode of “Hawaii Five-0” has aired and fans are eagerly awaiting its return on March 2. Four weeks without a new episode is a long break after being at the top of the Friday night ratings race for most of the year. So while fans watched the Winter Olympics or tried to stomach watching a bunch of celebrities locked in a house full of cameras– many contemplated where we left off on February 2.

The last new episode, “He pūkoʻa kani ʻāina” (“A Coral Reef Strengthens Out into Land”), has us wondering about the future of McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) and Danno’s (Scott Caan) restaurant, as well as the fate of Adam (Ian Anthony Dale) and his organized crime division of Five-0. We’re also extremely curious to see how Jessie Nomura (Christine Ko) will work with Adam and if she will be able to infiltrate Hideki Tashiro’s (Aaron Yoo) Yakuza gang.

Some of our other questions have to do with McGarrett’s health and the new “kids” on the Five-0 Team. McGarrett is still dealing with the effects of radiation after disarming a dirty bomb last year, and Tani Rey (Meaghan Rath) and Junior Reigns (Beulah Koale) have brought with them more than a suitcase full of issues.

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So for those of you who have short attention spans, and perhaps need a bit of a refresher before we watch “O nā hōkū o ka lani ka i ‘ike ia Pae” (“Only the Stars of Heaven Know Where Pae Is”) next Friday night, here are some of the major plot lines and character arcs presented this season. There are ten episodes left in season eight, and that doesn’t give us much time to wrap up several important storylines, but luckily, it does seem as if “Hawaii Five-0” is headed into a ninth season. So perhaps some of these new stories will flow over into another year. We’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed.

McGarrett and Danno’s New Restaurant Adventure

So far, there is no restaurant, and even with the introduction of Danno’s “fixer” Uncle Vito (Vincent Pastore), there doesn’t seem to be much forward movement Really, until they buy some furniture and stop trying to sand the same countertop in every episode, there isn’t going to be a grand opening of McDanno’s Bar and Grill anytime soon. Hopefully, consummate businessman Kamekona (Taylor Wily) can work with Vito to talk some actual sense into them about either opening their doors or cutting bait. Otherwise, our boys are going to lose more than their handcuffs in this business venture.

Adam’s new Five-0 division and sidekick, Jessie

Adam and Jessie are a fun diversion this season. Adam is so cool playing a bad guy with a badge. And while some don’t trust Jessie, she seems to compliment Adam well and works as his partner– so far. But how she is trying to join Hideki’s Yakuza gang is so unbelievable. As a woman, she should not be trying to play with them on the same level. But other than that part of the plotline, the fact that their relationship is more of a partnership and not a romance– keeps it high in action and drama– which works so well. The last episode left us hanging in a creepy cliffhanger, with Adam chained in a rusted cargo container in the middle of nowhere. Let’s just hope that Jessie can help McGarrett and the team find Adam before it’s too late. If Jessie does help to save Adam, it could help us to trust her more.

Her brother’s keeper– Tani Rey

Tani melded into the Five-0 team rather well from the moment she received her badge. While she has been quick to action and full of confidence, it has also been her biggest weakness in certain moments. Her relationship with the veteran members of Five-0 is really what makes her rookie year so satisfying for us to watch. McGarrett is both boss and mentor, and Grover (Chi McBride) is more like a concerned, yet firm, Uncle Lou. Danno seems to realize that Tani is very much like his BFF McG– and he is often the voice of reason for her. But it is Tani’s relationship with her brother that shows us how deeply she loves and wants only the best for those she cares about. When Koa (Kunal Sharma) overdoses and almost dies, she realizes that he needs more help than she can give him. Hopefully, the rest of the season will allow Tani to find a happy medium between her family obligation to Koa and her work with Five-0.

The New Kid– Junior Reigns

Unlike Tani, it took Junior a little longer to officially join the Five-0 team. Perhaps it was the fact that Junior had not attended the police academy which made McGarrett take his time in offering him a badge. But it was probably more about the fact that Junior had just walked off a battlefield and straight to McGarrett’s front door that worried his fellow SEAL. While Junior is a trained special operative, perhaps McG worried that his military training would not transition so easily into police work. McGarrett started the task force, but it was Danny’s police and detective background that helped even out McG’s SEAL training to a realistic level. So maybe Steve recalls the Neanderthal zeal that caused him to use grenades to open doors and to shoot suspects just to question them. Perhaps this was the reason why he held Junior at bay until he could train with HPD and work a few cases.  

Other gaps that many are hoping the last ten episodes will fill, is more about Noelani (Kimee Balmilero) and Duke (Dennis Chun), as well as the status of Flippa’s (Shawn Mokuahi Garnett) part of Kamekona’s Shrimp Truck business. As his truck was blown up in the season premiere, “ʻAʻole e ʻōlelo mai ana ke ahi ua ana ia” (“Fire Will Never Say that It Has Had Enough”) the most we’ve really seen of him was during the Christmas episode. It would be great to see him working with Nahele (Kekoa Kekumano) in a new truck– or perhaps getting more involved with McGarrett and Danno’s up-and-coming eatery.

And perhaps it would be too much to ask for, but it would be great if the love story gap is filled for good. Either McGarrett has a girlfriend, who is obviously involved in his life and work, or he is just content to hang out with Eddie the dog and the rest of the team, run the task force, and then work at his and Danno’s restaurant at night. Sure, it’s less drama– but I think he has plenty enough to worry about right now.

Still, wherever “Five-0” takes us — we’re all going to be excited for the rest of season eight. We want to see where the road takes us, and will sincerely enjoy watching the gaps being filled along the way.

Wendie Burbridge is a published author, playwright, and teacher. Reach her via Facebook and follow her on Twitter and Instagram.