S07.E05: Ke Kū Ana (The Stand)

[BW Manilowe]

When a cache of guns is stolen from a gun range, Five-0 discovers the culprit is intent on making a dramatic and potentially deadly statement on gun violence. Also, Kono and Adam are finally reunited when he is released from prison.

Original Airdate: October 21, 2016

SOURCE: https://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/shows/hawaii-five-0/releases/view?id=46176

[BooksRule]

I found this episode to be okay, but kind of lackluster.  Nothing really new happened (except that maybe having the guy's son be someone who was  the shooter in a mass killing instead of being one of the victims was maybe a little bit of a twist).  I did like Grover saying as they approached the gun collector's house:  "The door is open.  I hate it when the door is open.  Nothing good ever happens when the door is open."  

[anna0852]

It was nice to see the armored bulldozer was not the centerpiece, the way the promo monkeys kept showing.

Glad Adam is out of jail. He and Kono are just so cute and happy.

I though the dialog about gun control was pretty heavy-handed but I'm glad it was said. I do agree with Danny's outlook but since this isn't a political forum, I'm not taking it futher.

The whining was kept to a minimum this week and Danny for the win, talking the guy down. I can't imagine being the parent of a mass shooter and the pain that guy must have been living in. It's not an excuse for anything but I can see how the guy is desperate to find some outlet for his grief and guilt.

[blackwing]

The armoured car was interesting.  I found the rest of the episode to be really boring.  I get that they wanted to make a statement about guns, but I watch TV for escapist entertainment.  Not to be lectured about the evils of guns.  Of course Hawaii 5-O has lots of guns on it.  It's a cop show, one of many currently on the air.  I don't think everyone who watches cop shows necessarily glorifies guns.

One positive, I agree the Danny whining was fairly minimal this episode.  And another win with the complete absence of Jerry Garcia.

[preeya]

Political message, with tearjerker at the end. Wasted hour.

[dwmarch]

1 hour ago, preeya said:

tearjerker at the end

That is what keeps me watching this show. Everyone once in a while they hit an emotional beat that is just incredible and in this episode they did it twice. First with the father remembering his son from better times and a few moments later with the inmate and his unexpected reunion with his daughter. I don't expect to be near tears watching an action-adventure-comedy-shoot-em-up but this episode knocked it out of the park.

Although it is difficult to pack all the nuances of the gun argument into 42 minutes of television I liked how it was handled here. Of course Danny is going to be of the school of thought that less guns equals less problems. And of course, Steve the super SEAL is going to believe in the benefits of a well-armed citizenry. The episode seemed to come down on the anti-gun side of things: the judge who was packing got shot for his trouble and completely failed to resolve the situation while the suspect was eventually brought in by a conversation rather than a bullet.

I was also surprised to note Danny's use of "on accident". I Googled (or Binged as this show would have it) this term and was surprised to find it is somewhat controversial in usage. But why? Why is it "on purpose" but "by accident"?

[Trey]

I guess this was our "feel good" episode for the year. No wild chases, hardly any dead bodies. Danny talks down the crazy guy and Adam reunites a father with his daughter. Sniff. I really did get a little bit teary eyed.

[Princess Lucky]

7 hours ago, dwmarch said:

That is what keeps me watching this show. Everyone once in a while they hit an emotional beat that is just incredible and in this episode they did it twice. First with the father remembering his son from better times and a few moments later with the inmate and his unexpected reunion with his daughter. I don't expect to be near tears watching an action-adventure-comedy-shoot-em-up but this episode knocked it out of the park.

Although it is difficult to pack all the nuances of the gun argument into 42 minutes of television I liked how it was handled here. Of course Danny is going to be of the school of thought that less guns equals less problems. And of course, Steve the super SEAL is going to believe in the benefits of a well-armed citizenry. The episode seemed to come down on the anti-gun side of things: the judge who was packing got shot for his trouble and completely failed to resolve the situation while the suspect was eventually brought in by a conversation rather than a bullet.

I agree the episode seemed to favor Danny's anti-gun position, which I found shocking. I'd expect the culmination of the episode to prove Steve right, i..e a good guy with a gun (that judge) would take out a bad guy with a gun. I was pleasantly surprised when that totally backfired (because that's way too realistic of an outcome for H50) and when Danny's calm, reasonable approach worked.

I think they've toned down Danny's complaining this season, and it's doing wonders for the character. And Scott Caan is a good actor, so when he gets something more grounded and real he always delivers. I think that's part of why I've been enjoying this season.

As always, it was good to see (so much of) Adam. He's a sight for sore eyes. At first I thought I'd find his b-plot boring, but all the actors (Ian Anthony Dale, Grace Park and especially the two guest stars) made it work. That final scene made me tear up too, the daughter especially was so good.  That's a b-plot I can live with. Much better than Kono's old surfer buddy from the other week. Oh, the difference good acting makes.

That said, I didn't appreciate the fact they had to drag Kono back into the main plot just to wear a cute pink dress and pose as a reporter. Why couldn't they have sent in Chin? Or Danny? Then he could have delivered his speech in person. I'd have liked to see SC and Brent Sexton (who is amazing) one-on-one. To me, it seemed that Danny was pretty gentle with him as he was being arrested (the way Danny took his arm, or shielded his head) which I thought was a nice acting choice, especially on this show, where they bodyslam the perps for no reason.

Another solid if unspectacular episode. This season is a winner for me.

[Clanstarling]

8 hours ago, dwmarch said:

I was also surprised to note Danny's use of "on accident". I Googled (or Binged as this show would have it) this term and was surprised to find it is somewhat controversial in usage. But why? Why is it "on purpose" but "by accident"?

Well, here's what the dictionary has to say (though I'll admit it's a little convoluted. I quoted what I think are the relevant definitions (mileage may vary)

Quote

  ON  —used as a function word to indicate reason, ground, or basis (as for an action, opinion, or computation) <I have it on good authority> <on one condition> <the interest will be 10 cents on the dollar>

So "on purpose" would work here, because it's a reason for an action. But "On accident" is not a reason, ground or basis, imo.

Quote

 BY a :  through the agency or instrumentality of <by force>

 By accident seems to work here. I'm sure there are better grammarians who can comment. "On accident" sounds wrong to me - I grew up saying "by accident." But language does evolve.

59 minutes ago, Princess Lucky said:

That said, I didn't appreciate the fact they had to drag Kono back into the main plot just to wear a cute pink dress and pose as a reporter.

When she showed up in glasses, I thought the guy would immediately realize she wasn't what she seemed to be. When's the last time you saw on air female talent wear glasses?

11 hours ago, anna0852 said:

I though the dialog about gun control was pretty heavy-handed but I'm glad it was said.

I could have done without it - or at least - would have liked a more deft touch. The motives were interesting, but I got tired of the positional dialogue. It's been said, many times, in better ways. (whichever position you take) It felt like watching a debate - and goodness knows, I've had my fill of that.

[Twilight Man]

I'm just sad that Max is still "doing Doctors Without Borders".

I guess we won't see him next week either.

The only reason I was still watching this show was to see which Keanu Reeves character he was going to dress up as this time.

(Every year I kept betting on "Babes In Toyland")

Edited October 22, 2016 by Twilight Man

[BW Manilowe]

1 hour ago, Twilight Man said:

I'm just sad that Max is still "doing Doctors Without Borders".

I guess we won't see him next week either.

The only reason I was still watching this show was to see which Keanu Reeves character he was going to dress up as this time.

(Every year I kept betting on "Babes In Toyland")

You should probably watch next week. Masi Tweeted from the set during filming of the Halloween ep, so Max & his Keanu Reeves character-inspired costumes will be back this year.

https://mobile.twitter.com/MasiOka/status/768286536781619200?p=v

Edited October 22, 2016 by BW Manilowe
To confirm info I wasn't positive of when I originally posted.

[JessDVD]

Danny bickering with Steve about gun control - BOOOOOOOOOORING. It's like whenever anything vaguely political/controversial happens, and my FB feed is filled with the same people every time, with the same view they have every time, posting the same support for their personal views, on both sides. It is boring and predictable.

Danny talking down the guy - extremely compelling and a much better use of Scott Caan, who actually does have talent and value on this show when he's not who knows where.

I was filled with an unexpected amount of feels at the guy having flashbacks to his son's young years, as my older kids are around the age that the kid was in those flashbacks.

I'm not looking for political statements in my crime dramas but I did feel it was reasonably well handled, minus the aforementioned predictable and boring cargument.

[HurricaneVal]

Well, that was pretty lecture-y and preach-y.  Danny's opinion on guns and gun nuts is pretty clear at this point, and Steve having a different opinion is not unexpected given his background and history.  But I don't think Alex O'Loughlin shares Steve's opinion, since his defense of gun culture seemed a bit lack-luster and without passion.

I did like Lou's soliloquy on the open door at the rich gun-guy's house.  He's like the greek chorus of this show.  However, I have to say it was pretty foolhardy of them to rush into a known gun nut's house waving their own guns around.  They got pretty far in before they started announcing that they were "5-0," and that could have gotten them shot by the homeowner.

But I did like the little character details that Caan brought to Danny's dad-to-dad conversation with the bad guy, and the extra care he took escorting him into the back of the patrol car.

Not my favorite episode, but I do like that Adam is out of jail, and how happy he and Kono were together.

[torqy]

On 10/21/2016 at 11:25 PM, dwmarch said:

I was also surprised to note Danny's use of "on accident". I Googled (or Binged as this show would have it) this term and was surprised to find it is somewhat controversial in usage. But why? Why is it "on purpose" but "by accident"?

Why is it that I stand "in line" to buy tickets, but folks in New York are "on line" to buy tickets?

I believe one needs an Exhorter's License to preach in my state. Joking aside, I've met many law enforcement folks who definitely don't like the idea of armed citizenry.

[Lovecat]

On 10/22/2016 at 9:55 AM, Princess Lucky said:

That said, I didn't appreciate the fact they had to drag Kono back into the main plot just to wear a cute pink dress and pose as a reporter. Why couldn't they have sent in Chin? Or Danny?

Well Danny would have looked ridiculous in that dress ;)  Chin Ho may have been able to pull it off, though...

[ganesh]

On 10/24/2016 at 10:00 AM, HurricaneVal said:

Well, that was pretty lecture-y and preach-y.  Danny's opinion on guns and gun nuts is pretty clear at this point, and Steve having a different opinion is not unexpected given his background and history.  But I don't think Alex O'Loughlin shares Steve's opinion, since his defense of gun culture seemed a bit lack-luster and without passion.

I wouldn't have minded if they brought something new to the issue. This was mostly two people trolling on FB. How about something like as a cop, Danny can't tell the good guys with guns from the bad guys with guns? And maybe he's afraid of shooting an innocent person. Not entirely fresh, but something more personal from the characters' pov would have been better. 

I thought the hostage situation was ok though. I can't say I minded Danny talking on the phone to the guy either. Steve is always the one doing ridiculous stunts and shooting everything all the time. It's actually a nice change of pace that Danny solved the situation by talking to him. 

Edited November 25, 2016 by ganesh

[Jobiska]

I'm not as sick of Danny as most, and my whole family got a big laugh out of him saying "I bet you sleep with your gun.  I bet you'd marry your gun" (paraphrased) because it is sooooo exactly the playground taunt "why don't you kiss it and marry it?"  Ha!