I was too big a fan of the original series to miss this Monday night’s reboot of Hawaii Five-O. I’ll be watching with limited expectations, however, because I realize it won’t be the same show. The network, CBS, is calling it a “reimagining,” which I interpret as a warning to fans of the original that creative license will be exercised and liberties taken. As was the case with the first Mission: Impossible movie, any similarities to the show we grew up watching in the ‘60s and ‘70s will likely be in the title and very little else. I’m ready for that going in.
Hawaii Five-O, the original version, is one of my all-time favorite shows. Its strength was in its perfect combination of dramatic elements: strong, inventive storylines (at least during the first eight or nine seasons), a solid cast, an exotic backdrop and a magnificent theme song. How big a fan was I? From the second season (1969) until the time I went off to college (1976) I never missed an episode. The titles of my favorite episodes are also etched in my brain:
“Hookman” (Real-life detective and amputee Jay J. Armes plays Curt Stoner, an armless sniper who targets cops with deadly accuracy.)
“Singapore File” (McGarrett and Nicole Wylie evade assassins on a treacherous journey from Singapore to Hawaii.)
“Highest Castle, Deepest Grave” (Five-O investigates a murder cover-up involving an industrialist played by Herbert Lom, his late wife and his daughter.)
“Death is a Company Policy” (Organized crime plants a mole, played by West Side Story’s George Chakiris, in the DA’s office, leading to a frame of Office Duke Lukela.)
“A Matter of Mutual Concern” (Often cited as one of Five-O’s most violent episodes, with a dismemberment shown in graphic detail, it also features a host of racial slurs toward various Asian ethnicities.)
“The Jinn Who Clears the Way” (A classic episode featuring arch villain Wo Fat with a memorable kicker in the finale.)
I don’t fault CBS for resurrecting the show. As strong a brand as Hawaii Five-O still is thirty years (!) after its final original episode aired, frankly I’m surprised it took them this long. But, even sight unseen, I can tell you right now it will be a very different Hawaii Five-O. I might even end up being a fan, but it’ll always remain inferior to the original. This isn’t a major criticism, considering the high standard set by Jack Lord and company with the original series back in the ‘70s.
Here’s a link to a fantastic site devoted to the original series. It’s one of the best sites I’ve ever come across on a vintage television series.
(By the way, actor Harold Gould, who played the memorable villain Honore’ Vashon on the original series—along with countless other roles in a remarkable career spanning five decades—died at the age of 86 this past September 11.)
Tags: Harold Gould, Hawaii Five-O
