If you're looking for an action police series that's both thrilling and heartwarming, Hawaii Five-0 is the answer. This series is not just a reboot of the 1968 classic; it elevates entertainment with explosive action scenes, a cast with perfect chemistry, and breathtaking Hawaiian scenery. Over 10 seasons airing from 2010 to 2020, the story of the Five-0 task force led by Steve McGarrett has become one of the most successful police series of the 2010s.
Plot Summary (No Spoilers)
Hawaii Five-0 follows the Five-0 special task force, equivalent to the FBI but operating only in Hawaii. The team leader is Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin), a highly skilled former Navy SEAL who returns home to hunt down his father's murderer. He assembles a team of elite detectives, including Danny Williams (Scott Caan), a detective from New Jersey who just moved; Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), a former Hawaii police officer who was wrongfully dismissed; and Kono Kalakaua (Grace Park), Chin's cousin and a rookie officer. Each episode follows the Five-0 team solving various crimes, from murder and drug trafficking to national-level cases involving the mafia and foreign spies.
Acting and Characters
The heart of this series is the strong chemistry among the main characters. Alex O'Loughlin effectively portrays Steve's decisiveness and inner pain, while Scott Caan adds color with Danny's humor and complaints, making this duo one of the most entertaining police partnerships on screen. Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park add dimensions of family and loyalty, while later cast members like Meaghan Rath (Tani Rey) and Ian Anthony Dale (Adam Noshimuri) seamlessly step in and establish their own identities. Every actor shows clear development, especially in later seasons when characters face loss and major changes.
Direction, Cinematography, and Music
The series makes excellent use of real locations in Hawaii. Wide shots of beaches, volcanoes, and tropical forests make every episode look like a living postcard. The action direction is fierce, whether it's vehicle chases, shootouts, or hand-to-hand combat, using modern and realistic filming techniques. The score by Brian Tyler and Keith Power powerfully enhances both thrilling and emotional scenes, especially the main theme adapted from the original 1968 series, which resonates with older viewers.
Editorial Analysis
As an editorial team, we see Hawaii Five-0 as a series that understands the formula for success in the action police genre but also takes risks, such as changing main characters in later seasons. While this upset some fans, it kept the story fresh and allowed for several more seasons. A clear strength is balancing case-of-the-week episodes with long-running character arcs, especially Steve's family issues and Danny's relationship with his daughter, which gradually develop throughout the series. However, the series has weaknesses: some episodes have repetitive plots and rely too often on deus ex machina solutions. Overall, Hawaii Five-0 is an enjoyable series suitable for those who like non-stop action with heartwarming family drama.
Verdict
Hawaii Five-0 is a complete action police series with both excitement and drama, perfect for those who enjoy long-running series with lovable characters and beautiful scenery. If you're not too concerned about realism, this series will surely entertain and immerse you in solving cases with the Five-0 team.
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👍 Pros
- +Excellent chemistry among main cast, especially the Steve-Danny duo
- +Beautiful action scenes and Hawaiian locations, realistic filming
- +Characters develop over 10 seasons, creating emotional attachment
👎 Cons
- −Some episodes have repetitive plots and rely on deus ex machina
- −Changing main characters in later seasons may alienate longtime fans
Top Cast
FAQ
Hawaii Five-0 has 10 seasons with 240 episodes, airing from 2010 to 2020.
Each episode is about 42-44 minutes (without commercials). The entire series takes about 160 hours to watch.
Hawaii Five-0 is a reboot of the series of the same name that aired from 1968 to 1980, with updated characters and storylines.
Currently, there is no direct sequel, but a spin-off series 'Hawaii Five-0: The Next Generation' has been proposed but not yet produced.
