H50 1.24

[thegrrrl2002]

Many issues. Mainly with the Danny/Rachel storyline, which was an annoying distraction to the main plot. Granted, I ship Steve/Danny, so I'm never going to be thrilled about Danny and Rachel getting back together. But still, I wouldn't have minded a season or two of 'will they/won't they' between them, because they are very cute together. But this, this I did not like. Danny agreeing without hesitation to leave Hawaii (and his 5-0 team, which is supposedly his family, too) after making a life there for himself? In order to get stay with his ex-wife who had left him and married another man, then moved halfway across the world, and later threatened to withdraw his child custody rights? (Please, no Rachel bashing in comments--I like her, I just don't like how this story played out). Without any nod to the issues that drove them apart in the first place? Bad, bad writing. Especially with the pregnancy. I mean, I get that it happens, but story-wise, it's just piling things up way too high.

Granted, Danny didn't leave, he was too busy trying to save Steve from himself (oh, Steve). And unless SC is leaving the show (and I don't think he is) eventually Rachel is going to come back to Hawaii. Maybe because Grace wants to? And then they're either going to be a big happy family, which is sweet but kind of a dead end story-wise. Danny as a single father is way more interesting to me. Or they don't stay together, which would be rather sad and would leave me wondering how poor Grace feels about all this, but that would be unlikely considering the pregnancy anyway.

Gah. Do not want. I hate when shows mess with a good thing.

Anyway, the main storyline--I loved that the governor was dirty. Her admitting to killing Laura was such a great moment, and I totally did not expect it. I was so sure she was being set up! And Steve, going completely off the rails, eeep! Kono being arrested (seriously, they just left the burnt money there? bad, bad writing). And Chin, going back to the force. I can see him doing it so that he can work from the inside to clear Steve's name. I have complete and utter faith in his loyalty to Steve.

There were some really good moments in this, and some really nice Steve/Danny scenes--I loved Danny trying calm Steve down. But it was all overshadowed in my mind by Danny being so OOC (IMHO, of course!).

Comments

[kelly-girl.livejournal.com]

I agree on the bad writing with the Danny/Rachel line. I also don't like that Rachel is still married to Stan and just...gahh, they're doing this crap over on Justified with the main guy getting back with his ex-wife and just like with Danny/Rachel none of the things have changed.

I mean Danny will just be a cop in NJ again and I thought that was part of their problems though I don't think the writers have come right out and said why Rachel and Danny split.

I like her too and agree on the season or two of will they/won't they but it felt like they just threw in their whole hand last night with the 'i'm pregnant and i'm going back to Jersey' stuff.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

The ep would have worked just fine without the Danny and Rachel drama, actually, it would have worked much better without cramming that stuff in there. It just felt so OOC for both of them. And kind of soap opera-ish, not in a good way.

And yeah, the bit about her still being married to Stan--that bugs me, too. And no mention of the effect of all this on Grace.

For a show that was doing such a good job with characterizations, I just don't know what the writers were thinking.

[sheafrotherdon.livejournal.com]

I'm working with the theory that Rachel was being blackmailed by Wo Fat, as a way to make sure that Danny was distracted / gone from the island / couldn't help Steve when it mattered.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Man, that's about the only theory that would work for me right now. I'm so disgruntled, I don't know what to do with myself. None of the Danny/Rachel stuff makes any sense in my head. ::clings to you::

[destina.livejournal.com]

I have the same issues, OMG. So many issues with this ep, and they were all unnecessary. So much bad writing crammed into 41 short minutes, UGH. I was reassured to wake up this morning and see more people posting about the big flaws, most notably Danny and Rachel, what the hell. (I love to love my shows, but I don't see the harm in expressing ISSUES, you know?)

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

It really does help to commiserate with other fans. I woke up this morning feeling all kinds of out of sorts about this. It's like someone brainwashed my favorite characters.

What kills me is that the basic story of Steve vs Wo Fat in this could have been truly awesome. Gah.

[eretria.livejournal.com]

Ahah, but do we really know if it's Danny's baby?

Also, someone mentioned in a comment in another journal that Rachel's getting out of Hawaii was so head-over-heels that it seemed a bit suspicious. Also, why was she leaving at all, and why so quickly. The same person mentioned that maybe it was a clever ploy of Wo Fat to get Danny off the island in order to make him abandon Steve.

I would buy that, if maybe Wo Fat was threatening Grace and Rachel did it, maybe even lied about a pregnancy because of that.

I doubt they'll be this clever on the show, but I do still have hope that the baby is really Stan's and that would clear things up pretty quickly.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

The Wo Fat angle is the only thing that would make sense for Rachel's insistence that they leave right away. But it seems unlikely. I just don't know what to do with any of that stuff, it makes no sense whatsoever.

I just really hate the fact that Danny would leave without a second thought.

[elandrialore.livejournal.com]

Yes to everything you said.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

What have they done to my show!!! ::weeps::

[delicatale.livejournal.com]

If they have a happy little family, it's so totally ruining any good chances for drama, I just can't see it. There has to be something else, I really hope. I agree on your thoughts, I wish they'd developed it further, made it make more sense. All the other storylines, we get hints all through the season, but this gets tacked on top in the last two episodes. I don't get why.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I really don't get it, why the Danny/Rachel stuff was shoehorned it, unless they wanted to provide an out for SC. But I haven't heard anything to indicate that he's leaving, despite the discontentment he generally voices in interviews. He's always made it sound like he's willing to stick it out.

[delicatale.livejournal.com]

Question - DID THEY JUST WANT TO GET RID OF RACHEL? Hey, why not *shrugs*.

God, I have so many thoughts, so many thoughts.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I thought about that, but I can't see how they can get rid of Rachel this way without removing Grace from Danny's life. Which is not an option.

Ugh. I hate this so much.

[galadriel34.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. But I have a question. How does she do who is the bay's father? How can be so sure it is Danny?

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I'd say by the timing of it, although we have no idea how long they've been having the affair. I'm guessing that she and Stan haven't been having sex, since she's been unhappy in the marriage for sometime, apparently.

[gyri.livejournal.com]

I really think the whole infidelity and pregnancy thing is just a story that Rachel was forced to spin because she's being blackmailed by WoFat.

Danny's actions are more questionable, but it wouldn't be the first time his big, broken heart got him into trouble. I was saddened that he appeared to be so willing to just leave Steve and his other family and go back to NJ with Rachel and Grace, just like that.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I think Rachel being blackmailed is the only thing that would save the show for me at this point. Sorry to be so grumpy about it but I feel like the writers did a hackjob on my favorite character! And not just because of the infidelity -- that doesn't make him a bad person or anything.

And yes, Danny being so willing to leave, without a second thought--I just don't get that.

[bhayling.livejournal.com]

I think what threw me more than anything else was the fact that Danny was so totally on board with the whole "let's hop on a plane tomorrow night and flitter away to Newark!" No discussion, no weighing of the pros and cons, and thing is...? The decision to do so isn't driven by anything other than, apparently, a whimsical desire for other pastures.

Maybe I'm more of a Steve-centric fan than I ever realized, but I keep coming back to Alex O's assertion that for Steve, his relationship with Danny is the most important one in his life since returning to Hawaii, and we've certainly seen evidence in action and word (and heart-eyes) ;-) that Steve loves Danny very much, even if it's fraternal, and will do anything for him. (Lie to Feds; pay for high-end hotel weekends; get the Gov to exert pressure to keep Danny's visitation rights intact).

Thing is, Danny as presented last night didn't bat an eye about hopping on that plane -- that comes across as Danny meaning way more to Steve than Steve means to Danny. (Not to mention their little 5-0 Ohana that has been home and hearth and support system for them all).

If the frame-up hadn't gone into overdrive, Danny would have been on that plane, with no more talking to Steve than what was evidently intended from the couple six-packs of Longboards Danny had with him when he went to Steve's place.

Now, I don't think Steve would try to talk Danny out of leaving even though he wouldn't want him to go; Steve would, as he always does, say "take care of your family; family first, I get that." Still, I think knowing Danny was that quick to just up and hop a flight outta Dodge would gut-punch Steve no end.

Something I thought of about Danny being all pissed off with Chin's being back at HPD (even though Danny was there when Chin bolted out of HQ saying something about not standing by and doing nothing) -- in some ways, Danny and Chin have parallel stories in that they're rekindling relationships that caused them untold pain and misery in the past. Danny's anger at Chin about what I guess he sees as Chin abandoning Steve in his hour of need seems a bit, to me, like guilty conscience causing him to project a tad, as he was about to haul ass outta Dodge himself.

Eh. All that and a dollar...

[alamo-girl80.livejournal.com]

Still, I think knowing Danny was that quick to just up and hop a flight outta Dodge would gut-punch Steve no end.


There's fix it fic in that right there.

And Ditto. At least they made it look like Danny was going to tell Steve with those Longboards, otherwise it would have been "See ya!' and nothing?

No, Show. I don't buy that.

[alamo-girl80.livejournal.com]

Well, if your read Lenkov's twitter posts, he's crab walking like a mofo trying to salvage people's image of Danny right now. Should have thought of that before, dude.

I mean, really, I don't like them screwing but Danny just saying "Oh here's my bed lets get in " and never ones saying, "This isn't a good idea long term for Grace or whatever b/c it didn't work before..."...just, what?

Jean Smart's face when she says Laura wasn't "loyal"? *shivers* So awesome.

And Steve and his eyes and his breaking voice just fucking killed me dead.

Is anyone fixing this in fic yet? *shifts nervously* I need this to be fixed. *clings to Gyri's theory*

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I checked out some of those posts--I guess we're not the only ones perturbed by this, then?

Jean Smart is really tremendous, too bad she couldn't stick around as a villain. ::sighs::

So very disappointed!

[sobelle.livejournal.com]

I'm still clinging to the "WoFat is the master mind and is threatening everyone" theory and that come this autumn it will all be explained. I believe that I read somewhere that Mark Dacascos is listed as cast so maybe it'll take all of the 2nd season to do it... until then (or even after) I will be depending on all my favorite writers to make it right. =)

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I would love for Wo Fat to be behind the Rachel situation! It's really the only thing that makes sense at this point.

[reddwarfer.livejournal.com]

Everything you said. I don't even otp Steve/Danny. (my otp is Chin/Danny) and half the time, I don't even like Steve and I was still WTF about it. I hated it from the first minute of the show til the end. I was like... it took three minutes of air time for them to completely ruin my favourite character on the show. I don't even know if they can redeem him in my eyes. I don' think they can. I don't think I can watch next season.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Right now, I'm feeling like that too, that I don't even want to see how they resolve this stuff with Danny. But I'll probably mellow out over the next couple of months. I do want to see Steve get out of jail, at least.

[gunslingaaahhh.livejournal.com]

this is a fierce realness post, ok, because you said pretty much everything i wanted to say but was so ENRAGED about i couldnt type/think clearly, so thanks for that.

i genuinely like rachel, too. she isnt a bad character, which only adds to the WTF-ness of this entire episode.

yes, this is totally OOC for danny and i just... i cant wrap my head around it at all. peter lenkov has been tweeting that danny would never go that route unless he knew rachel/stan were officially over... but hi, when did we ever hear/see that being the case? last we knew, they were WORKING ON IT. so im sorry, peter/other writers, there are huge holes in your story. everything contradicts everything else and its giving me a headache.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I've been reading the tweets, and they don't help explain things at all. It's like we were watching a different Danny. The whole thing was shoe-horned in so sloppily and then the baby--WTF? The whole idea makes me cringe.

::joins you in the headache::

[fuflowers.livejournal.com]

I wonder if maybe they wrote Rachel leaving back to Jersey and Danny agreeing to go with her as a set-up for the future/an out for Scott is he decides he doesn't want to continue past next season? He is one of the actors who's not exactly excited about living in Hawaii, right?

I mean, it's thinking quite a bit in advance, setting up something which would have to be a major event in season 2 (Danno leaving!) at the end of season 1 already, but if Scott is still on the fence about working on a televison show, not directing movies for a living, living in Hawaii away from family and friends, well, at least they've set up a plot point for future use rather than throw it at us in episode 10 next season. They may never use it, but at least it's there is they need it.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I wondered about that too. Although I truly feel there wouldn't be a show without SC. It's an ensemble that really works right now.

SC seems to be on board with staying with the show, despite his grumblings, though. At least that's my interpretation of his grumblings. :D

[jule1122.livejournal.com]

I loved the final scene between Steve and the Gov. She was really awesome at being evil and it worked well emotionally as a shock for him and the audience I think. Now the logic of him taking down all that security and confronting her right then is another story:)

The Danny/Rachel stuff bothers me on so many levels that have nothing to do with my OTP of Steve/Danny because I know that is not canon and there will always be women in their lives. But considering how bad things were between them when the show started and how it impacted Grace, as a parent I can't see risking her emotional well-being to try something that failed so badly before. In general I am not big on infidelity, but it happens a lot on TV, but when there are children involved it's different.

I get Danny agreeing to leave immediately because it fits what he always says-he's in Hawaii for Grace and he goes where she goes. It seems like a big fantasy to him, step back to before Rachel left him, go back to jersey and in never happened. But when push comes to shove, he doesn't get on the plane because he may have come for Grace but he does have family in Hawaii now too.

I don't hate Rachel, but this whole storyline makes her look bad. She and Danny split, she takes their daughter across the country, resents him for following and regularly threatens to withdraw his right to see her. Things go bad with Stan, she starts sleeping with Danny, they are both careless enough to get pregnant, and her answer is she and Grace must immediately leave Hawaii. Isn't Grace in school? Where will they live? How do you keep uprooting your daughter like that? I found it odd that initially she didn't expect Danny to come. Why else go back to Jersey? He wouldn't be separated from Grace before so why would he want to be away from her and a new baby? I despise pregnancy being used as a plot device and this whole set-up makes me cringe.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I can buy that Steve kind of lost his mind when he went to confront the governor, considering the level of betrayal he must have felt. But then again, he is a SEAL, so he really shouldn't be that much of a loose cannon, you know? Huh. I'm torn on that now.

Nothing about Rachel insisting she has to leave Hawaii makes sense. Especially with yanking Grace around. Bad enough Grace is loosing Stan, who seems to have loved her wholeheartedly. You're right, it one thing when adults mess up their lives, but when there's children involved, you'd think they'd be a little more cautious.

Gah. It's all so wrong! For everyone involved!

[d_odyssey.livejournal.com]

Thank you - succinctly put and 100% in line with my thoughts. Loved, loved, loved seeing Steve lose control - such intensity and raw emotion, particularly with the Governor was riveting. Also, the fear and worry in Kono's eyes as she handed in her gun and badge and the guilt in Steve's when he saw her. Oh my heart. Thought Alex O'Loghlin really shined last night.

Did not see the twist with the governor. Can't wait to hear the backstory/explanation for her turning to the dark side. I am looking forward to see how all the pieces fit together. Never doubted that Chin's foresight caused him to join HPD, to work on the inside to help his team, his family.

The pregnancy story line is truly awful. Agree if they showed Danny and Rachel establishing a new relationship and teased with the will they/won't they - I could buy that. This is too much, too fast and WTF. I just don't see that the situation has changed - Danny is still a cop and Rachel couldn't handle being a cop's wife. The pregnancy is just a cheap soap opera ploy. I really hate that the writers used it here. And that Danny so easily agreed to leave his life and go back to NJ. What the heck was the hurry. Danny was the moral compass for the team and it was disappointing to think of him sneaking around with a married woman, even if it was Rachel. Totally OOC in my mind, too. Do not want to see this soap drawn out through the second season. "I hate when shows mess with a good thing." - Word!

Loved Kamekona - they should make him a regular! Great scene in the surplus store with Danny telling Steve "your idea of heaven." Also, I feel cheated that we never got to see Danny make eggs for Steve. Meaning breakfast in bed! Loved Danny running up to Steve at the end and yelling for Chin to let him go and then telling Steve he was going to get him out. I'm hanging on to the good parts.

I look forward to season 2, but seriously wondering how the heck they're gonna fix the Danny/Rachel mess. I'm hoping two words - false positive! I can't wait for more carguments and bromance and H50 re-united.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

AOL was amazing--he totally sold me on Steve's desperation, that he would lose his mind like that. I wish this ep could have been all about Steve, without the dopey subplot! He deserves it.

And yeah, to everything you said. So much wrong in this ep, but there was good stuff, too, like Kamekona and Danny making eggs for Steve. :D

Honestly, I'm in it for the carguments and the banter and the pretty pretty team chasing bad guys. Enough of the angst! I hope the Danny/Rachel thing is wrapped up quickly and we get back to the fun.

[begiled.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the ep yet, but from what I've read (recap posts, comment threads, etc.) weird stuff happened. And we all know what it means when weird stuff happens, when characters suddenly start acting OOC and there is random wish fulfillment as result of OOC. That's right folks: drug-induced fantasy fic storyline.

I'm thinking this: danny is still in the hospital (as a result of his sarin exposure) and is unconscious. His sub-conscious is using the "down" time to piece together the bits of the Wo Fat case, but tossing in some of Danny's daydreams for fun. Hence, Danny/Rachel playing happy families, as well as Evil!Jameson, Steve on vendetta, etc. Heck, it even explains Danny wearing that oh-so-familiar t-shirt while in the hospital.

I prefer to think that, come September, Danny will come to, and the only thing he takes from the dream (besides the t-shirt) is whatever Wo Fat lead he was able to pull together during this dream-scape.

What? It's better than what the suits think we should believe.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I like the way you think. :D I want the season 2 opener to be Danny waking up in the hospital, scratching his head and saying "Jeeze, what a weird dream."

[holsbells99.livejournal.com]

I don't think Scott is leaving and that is not the impression I get from Lenkov. He did a radio interview that some of the guys on some fan boards listened to. He said that no way is Danny running off to Jersey to be happily married again to Rachel. That is NOT where they're going with this and that a 'happy Danny doesn't make for good drama'. Whatever that means! (Please don't spend weeks though having Dannyfamilyissues show, I'll stop loving you).

I've also done my own take on Monday on my own journal because it is quite different from what a lot of people seem to be feeling about the finale and the show. The main point is that I think we're not meant to see Danny as a douche who would just cut and run. He's ALWAYS said he would go where Grace went. She's ALWAYS been the most important thing in his life. And I've always thought he'd take Rachel back if he could, ever since the ep with the carjacking. More because he wants his family back than because it will work (cause it won't). But I don't see him as acting all OOC.

Re the pregnancy thing. I actually think the writers wanted to show us that Danny had LOTS OF REASONS to leave. That he really needed to be on that plane. Re-connection with his ex-wife, getting Gracie back full time, back to Jersey AND if all that wasn't enough - oooh there's even possibly a baby.

But.....HE DOESN'T GO. Yes he is going to go but once Steve is in trouble he stays. Danny's love for Steve and TEAM is so great he turns away from everything he's ever wanted and he STAYS.

It's explained in more depth in my journal. But that's kind of how I see it. It might be lazy writing and timelining a bit but I really don't think they've 'ruined' Danny. I really don't. They've just tried to set it up to show what Steve means to him by showing what Danny can't have by staying and clearing Steve.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Okay, that comment from Lenkov made me feel so much better, thank you for letting me know about that. I feel mean saying it, but it's very true--if things are all happy and settled between Danny and Rachel, we lose a lot of what makes the character interesting to watch. I LOVE Danny as a single father, I love to watch him struggle with the situation. Although I agree that if we get a whole lot of angsty family issues with them, it would really drag the show down. But in the end, the show is a procedural so hopefully it will only be touched on now and again. Yes, I'm shallow, I'm in it for the carguments and the banter. And the pretty. So much pretty.

While a lot of Danny's actions in this ep felt OOC to me, I do think a lot of it was due to lazy writing and bending the character to fit plot contrivances. And in my frustration, I tend to overlook the fact that in the end, Danny didn't leave. Because Steve needed him. I need to focus on that.

[bellalaine.livejournal.com]

Yes. All of this.

When Danny told Rachel he had nothing there on Hawaii to keep him there, I thought how rude. Then, he goes to Steve's house with two six packs of Longboards, only to find Steve unglued...what, have a beer and see ya?

Of course, the epi ended without Steve knowing Danny was going to bounce...but Rachel standing at the gate waiting for Danny...yep, sister. Pregnant or not, the job came first. AGAIN.

I don't hate Rachel, it takes two to tango. I was a bit put off Danny slept with her but oh well, tacky yes, human nature? For some. What sliced into me the most was Danny just leaving because he had nothing. Wow. Just Wow.

It WAS good, now the dust has settled. The Gov was bad, poor Laura, poor Kono, and Steve was walking the fine line of what was left of his sanity. Loved how Danny calmed him down the first time.

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I know, right? Nothing to keep him in Hawaii? That kind of hurt. That was just another big WTF in a whole series of WTFs.

So you're thinking he didn't tell Steve about leaving? I wasn't sure what happened at that point. It was nighttime, and then the next scene takes place during the day, and I have no idea what happened in between.

[guy-hacini.livejournal.com]

I left (or tried to) a comment, but LJ said 'no!'. Anyway I had to laugh as I was leaving your journal and actually looked a little closer at your icon. I'd always, always assumed it was John and Rodney (that just looks like such a Rodney moment from SC!). Imagine my amusement...

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

Oh no! So sorry you had trouble commenting. LJ has been a bit fussy today.

I guess I really like boys who bicker. :D

[pollitt.livejournal.com]

I'm a week behind on commenting on this, but YES the reconciliation storyline didn't work for me (cheating! no! That's not my Danno, he doesn't do that :() I hope they figure out a way to make the story flow and we can go back to closer to the way things were (Steve/Danny shipping aside, I really liked the single-father storyline).

I have faith that the team will get back together. And thank goodness for a summer of fix-its!

[thegrrrl2002.livejournal.com]

I know, the cheating had me all WTF too.

You're right, the team will get back together, but I feel like they tried to put everything they could think of into the finale and it just way too much. Bleh.

I think we'll end up with Danny still being a single father, though. The producer has said that a happy danny doesn't make for good drama. And I wholeheartedly agree. Not that I want him to be miserable, but you know, it's just a whole lot more interesting.