http://www.cbs.com/shows/hawaii_five_0/
In a lot of ways it's typical network stuff. Formulaic but attractive. Pretty girls and handsome guys who can kick ass and think, too.
One thing I like about the show, and what sticks with me, is the underlying attitude of the characters. I don't know what this is called. Theme? Meta-communication? Psychological underpinnings? Symbolic action? Whatever. It's definitely part of the audience appeal.
No matter what horrendous problem the 5-0 team faces--and some of them are extreme--the team girds up its loins and tackles the problem with all biceps flexing, pretty girls narrowing their eyes and frowning, everyone kicking ass, and all technology blazing.
The story problems--essential to any show like this--include one of our heroes in prison on wrong charges, a mysterious and deadly villain named Wo Fat, plus typical cop-show cases like kidnappings and witness protection.
I love Wo Fat as a villain. You want to say, Whoa, Fat! Reminds me of Chow Yun Fat, the famous Hong Kong action star.
This Wo Fat bad dude is handsome and seems to have his finger in every possible evil pie you can think of and some you can't.
The thing I like best about the show is the attitude of the characters. Reminds me of that kid's story "The Little Engine That Could."
No matter how big and hairy the barriers, these people think they can overcome them. You can almost hear them chanting "I think I can, I think I can" as they get shot at and knifed in the belly and misunderstood and lose their badges and girlfriends and wives and get them back.
I guess the reason this idea is so popular in pop-lit is that it makes us feel that we can overcome our problems, too. Not a bad thing in life.
Cartoonish? Maybe. But well done. The show could be called Well-Done Fun, a new Chinese name.
Should I be ashamed? Maybe, but we all have our guilty pleasures. I sure do.
-- Roger
Copyright © 2011, Roger R. Angle
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