Hawaii Five-O: Eighth Season
February 20, 2010 by admin · 5 Comments
Comments
5 Responses to “Hawaii Five-O: Eighth Season”Speak Your Mind
Tell us what you're thinking...and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
 |
There’s nothing wrong with your television set!! You just need better shows to watch. You need Great TV on DVD!!! |  |
||
|
||||
Copyright © 2004-2012 · GreatTVonDVD.com - All Rights Reserved · Log in
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Hmm. A smiling McGarrett on this cover? After seven consecutive “I’ll bite your kanakas off” snarls, this looks WAY different.
Rating: 5 / 5
Nothing lasts 12 years without having something going for it. In the case of Hawaii Five-O, it easy to dismiss it as a typically television crime drama that got lucky by finding its audience and keeping it. The same could be said for Law and Order. Except, in television years, luck usually runs out after two or three years. Gimmicks get old, the formula is figured out, and sharks are jumped so often they don’t even complain.
But shows that last five years, much less 12, have to have something besides luck, gimmicks, and great scheduling. Hawaii Five-O had a number of things going for it. First of all, let’s be honest. The setting was, and still is so lush and exotic that it is easily intoxicating. Hawaii is beautiful, and most people either live there or want to live there. Filming on location has always been a blessing when it’s been done, and probably no more so than on this series.
Next, Jack Lord, playing Five-O chief Steve McGarrett, was one of a long line of no-nonsense law enforcement figures. The strength, integrity, and dedication of these kinds of characters cannot be overstated, and these characters will always have lots of fans rooting them on, not unlike Law and Order’s Jack McCoy.
Finally, watching shows like this is always a treat because you see so many stars that were either big stars enjoying a working Hawaiian vacation, or lots of up and coming stars before they got their big break. Hawaii Five-O was a natural draw for both categories, and it’s fun to watch them and remember when.
It’s also fun to remember when you could look forward to hearing one of the best and most recognizable theme songs in television history. Not a small thing when you add it with the other factors. Hawaii Five-O had a lot going for it then, and it has a lot going for it now.
Rating: 5 / 5
I must admit, Season 8 was the season that I started to tune out of Five-0. I’m a big fan of the first six seasons – for me, these seasons represent superb escapist television at its very best. In these early years, Jack Lord was coolness personified and the show was a no nonsense gritty AND entertaining drama.
Unlike in the latter years, in those early seasons, McGarrett’s anger never appeared contrived or forced – you really felt this man’s rage! Circa 1974 this changed and McGarrett’s spontaneous outburst against life’s injustices became elongated rants to whoever was within ear shot.
Additionally, the big attraction of the show was how one week you could see a light-hearted episode and the next you’d see a hard hitting thought provoking instalment – season 4 demonstrates this nicely, `Odd Man In’ and then `Skinhead’ could hardly be more different, but they were encompassed together within the same season. This kind of contrast was rife in the early years and, more importantly, superbly executed. With Season 7 there were signs of wear and I’m afraid that this increased with during season 8. It’s really a paradox that the earlier episodes seem fresher and less dated than anything post 1974. What’s the saying, quit whilst you’re ahead, sadly this wasn’t heeded, however, that said, there are still some very good episodes within this eighth season.
The opener, `Murder – Eyes Only’ is a feature length special and is pretty good – this is how i’d have liked to have seen the show continue, i.e. as two hour long specials, maybe 6 or 7 in a season – that way we’d have kept quality over quantity. Unfortunately this wasn’t to be and the remaining 22 episodes are the usual 50 minute affair. Other good episodes are `McGarrett Is Missing’, `Termination With Extreme Prejudice’, `The Case Against McGarrett’, `Retire In Sunny Hawaii – Forever’. As I say, good episodes, but nothing truly outstanding – and IMO, this season is nowhere near the quality of Seasons 3;4;5 and 6.
At the time of writing I can’t pass comment on the remastering of these episodes as this is a pre release review. I’ll update once this season is actually available!
Rating: 3 / 5
Get ready Five-0 fans and those not to
well versed in this great show. The best
four man lineup in Hawai’i Five-0 history
was: McGarrett, Danno*, Chin Ho and Duke!
No disrespect to Frank, Nick, Ben, or Kono,
but things just go better with Duke! My fav-
ourite fourth Five-0 guy. Also look in this
season for the lovely Sandi Welles, played
by Amanda McBroom! She’s in three episodes
and one more in the Ninth seaon, which is
even better!!
The Series goes a bit downhill after season
eight, though I liked season 9 a bit better
than eight. And season 11 a bit better than
season 10 [remember Chin Ho gets bumped off
then]!
[*Danno was James MacArthur and 'Dano' was Tim
O'Kelly, in the T.V. Pilot.]
Looking ahead, I wish they would release the
12th season as McGarrett! They bring Nick back
for a couple episodes in season 12, but Carew,
Lori, Kevin and the constantly disappearing
Truck are somewhat disappointing! A real jem
in season eight is the fourth Vashon episodes:
“The Case Against McGarrett”. Pick Up on this
winner – I’ve already got mine preordered!
Aloha, reviewers and readers of these amazon’s!
Rating: 4 / 5
Jack Lord had a work ethic of the highest standard. He demanded the best effort out of everyone and he got it. James MacArthur was the best second in command as Danno that could ever be. Just loved how the team put their game plan together in such detail. Shows like this come along once in a lifetime, glad to have it in my collection
Rating: 5 / 5