Oh Five-0

[webbgirl]

So I've been rambling on Twitter about the episode tonight and what I found extremely problematic about it.  Let me start by saying that there were actually parts that I enjoyed.  In fact, the entire episode and story (other than Danny and Rachel) was one that I thought was done well (considering this is H50).

After thinking about it, I realized the thing that bugs me the most about the Danny and Rachel hooking up and deciding in an instant to leave Hawaii thing and surprisingly it wasn't the cheating or even the pregnancy. (Side note to fandom...can we PLEASE stop referring to Rachel as a whore or talking about them not using protection?  We don't know that they didn't and really I could live without the woman-hating stuff right now. Thanks.)

Anyway, my biggest issue with the Danny story is that there was absolutely no emotional payoff for it.  We never really see Danny struggling with the decision of whether to leave Hawaii or stay.  We don't see him struggling with the idea of the bad example that he and Rachel are setting for Grace or the idea that they're suddenly ripping her away from her newfound friends and family on a whim.  THAT would have made for an interesting story there.  I get why they couldn't cram that in with everything else going on in the episode, but that's exactly why they shouldn't have attempted it. 

I think what this episode suffered from was the writer's eyes being bigger than their stomachs.  I like to call it the X-Men 3 syndrome.  Throw every storyline you can think of in there and it must be great, right?

If they're going to have Danny making some sort of a "hard choice", I want to see him struggle with the choice.  Not have it be some 10 second decision.  Scott Caan is a good actor.  Give him some pathos to work with and I can buy that.

On the good side though? 
- Kamekona continues to be BAD ASS AWESOME!
- I'd like Jenna more if she was a bit less on the Sue side.  She does have potential.
- Steve looked totally hot at the end when he was getting booked.  RAWR!
- They will never find another Bad Guy as good as Wo Fat again.  LOVE HIM!
 

Comments

[kelly-girl.livejournal.com]

Wo Fat is an awesome bad guy. I agree with your Rachel/Danny stuff. There needed to be more angst or something between them.

To me Steve looked more like Alex O'louglin at the end than Steve. Like any minute it was going to turn into a photo shoot.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

That's a good point, there was no payoff for Danny deciding to leave. It all fell so flat. And yeah, it's a waste of a good actor. Rachel and Danny getting together without any fireworks is, well, kind of boring. As well as OOC for them both. It's like they turned into pod people.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I wanted to like the episode, really I did, but there were just too many plot point problems for me. I just couldn't extend belief/suspend disbelief to enjoy it.

They didn't kill off Wo Fat though, so at least he'll be back to menace again next season.

[penguingal.livejournal.com]

Yes! Thank you! I really needed someone to articulate it just that way. I loved the episode, I really did. (Though yes, I kind of wanted Danny to be talking to Steve while watching TV in bed, but that's just me.) ;)

I felt like we got TONS of emotional payoff for everyone BUT Danny. I hope that they come back next season and (since everything is on Danny's shoulders right now anyway) just nail us with it.