10 years of exciting, heart-centered stories with people I came to care for. Alex O'Loughlin is perfect in every way as the hard-charging Navy Seal who becomes the leader of the 5-O task force. Scott Caan is the perfect rival/eventual best friend who can be obnoxious and endearing at the same time. Great supporting cast too - from the first season to the last season. There just isn't anything I didn't like about this series except that it ended. Sometimes funny, sometimes heroic, sometimes sad, sometimes all three - and always engrossing. And the locations - incredible! Season One is so good! Eventually I'll own them all. I miss you guys!

This was a pleasant surprise. The original series ran for twelve seasons and was the longest running cop show of the time. At its heart was Jack Lord as McGarrett, who took over the reign's when the series creator died around the fifth season. His no-nonsense approach to fighting crime was enhanced by tight shows that demanded your attention. Even after all these years, the shows still hold up and engage my attention.

The new series, which has been running for a number of years at this point, provides a great backstory that is missing from the original series. The producers were smart to keep the theme song and mimic to a fascinating degree, the intro sequence of the original. The cinematography is outstanding and in many cases, could double for postcard shots that a typical of the Island paradise. Even more important is the fact that the plight of the natives and their traditions are presented in a respectful manner.

The cast of characters have the same names as the first season of the original series and the famous (missing for a major part of the original series' first season) line, "Book him, Danno" starts with the first episode. The original no nonsense approach is replaced by stronger character development, something that is common to today's television series.

The show is high-octane all the way and it isn't unusual to find the same kind of "tight" story telling that was featured in the original. It is also very violent at times, but doesn't dwell on the violence or feature it. It is rock-solid in suspense and action and most of the stories are somewhat unpredictable. The Hawaiian setting offers a real change of story potential from most of today's cop shows and is used effectively.

I highly recommend this for anyone who likes a good mystery cop show that has well-developed characters that often have a sense of humor that doesn't turn into slapstick comedy.

And watching this new iteration of the show does not diminish the intense entertainment value of the original series.

On September 20, 2010, 42 years to the day that the original “Hawaii Five-O” police procedural TV show premiered on CBS, an all-new version (with the slightly altered title of of “Hawaii Five-0”) made its debut, also on CBS. Now, over the years, I've developed a healthy skepticism for remakes of older, "classic" TV shows. They have usually proven themselves poor imitations of the originals. I figured this remake of “Hawaii Five-O” would very likely be no different, although I was (begrudgingly) willing to give it the benefit of the doubt... for the time being.

As it turns out, the all-new “Hawaii Five-0” is much better than I expected. The new show is still built on Leonard Freeman's original premise of a four-person team of investigators, appointed by the governor of Hawaii, that investigates that state’s toughest and most high profile crimes. Steve McGarrett, (now played by Alex O'Loughlin) leads the team. McGarrett is once again ably assisted by Danny Williams (Scott Caan), Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), and Kona Kalakaua (Grace Park).

All four of the lead characters in “Hawaii Five-0” are much more fully developed and complex than they were in the original show. We learn that Steve McGarrett is the son of Jack McGarrett, a former Honolulu police officer who is murdered by terrorists. Danny Williams is a transplanted New Jersey cop who follows his now remarried ex-wife and young daughter to Hawaii so that he can maintain his relationship with his daughter. Chin Ho Kelly now has a secret in his past that he wants to keep hidden; and Kona Kalakaua is now a beautiful young female rookie cop who's also a champion surfer.

From the outset, “Hawaii Five-0” Season 1 makes one thing abundantly clear: this ain't your parents’ “Hawaii Five-O.” Today’s Steve McGarrett is no longer a straight-laced, buttoned-down "top cop" with slicked-back hair and an immaculately tailored suit. Now he's a modern day "action hero" with “attitude” to spare, dressed in cargo pants, pullover shirts, and athletic shoes. He and Danny share an especially strong chemistry that’s readily apparent from their light-hearted and often humorous squabbling. The scripts delve more deeply into the personal lives of every character, making the show a finely balanced combination of character-driven crime drama and technology-driven police procedural.

The original “Hawaii Five-O” is still a great police drama, even though it has not aged particularly well. The new “Hawaii Five-0,” now (as of this writing) entering its seventh season on CBS, takes the very best that its predecessor had to offer - an original concept, excellent story lines, and Hawaii's magnificent scenery - and transfers them all into a show with great appeal for 21st century viewers. Highly recommended.

(Review updated August 31, 2016)

For ten years I wondered what became of Alex O' Laughlin, my favorite vampire P.I. Mick At. John, of Moonlight. That's what I get for watching nothing but Dvds of old T.V. series on my laptop. I'm glad I finally took a chance on something newer. I love this show, and Alex is even better at playing Mc Garrett. This is now one of my all-time favorite shows, and I'll soon be purchasing DVDs of every season. I also have all 16 episodes of Moonlight, and especially like watching Sophia Miles. I wonder what show she's in. I'll definitely buy that from Amazon, too.

[[ASIN:B000LE16VC The original version of Hawaii Five-O]] was regarded as one of the great police dramas ever. It ended its twelve-year run in 1980, and three decades later CBS brought the series back as a 'reboot.' This DVD set contains all 24 episodes of the first season of the new version of the series originally broadcast from September 2010 to May 2011.

In this version of the show Steve McGarrett is a former Navy Seal played by Alex O'Loughlin. After his father is murdered, Steve is joined on the Five-0 team by Danny Williams (Scott Caan), Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), and Kono Kalakaua (Grace Park). There is great rapport, banter, and humor between Steve and Danny, and the series portrays side issues like Danny's relationship with his ex and battles for custody of his daughter. The team is based in Honolulu and solves the crimes of murder, kidnapping, gang war, jail break, robbery, and piracy, and also chases arch-villain Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos).

The series incorporates high tech into the forensics that the team uses to solve crimes, and the writing in these episodes is great--it is so tightly written that if you let your mind wander for even a minute or two you can lose track of important parts of the storyline. In many series today men are portrayed as buffoons, but the new "Hawaii Five-0" is old school in that the lead character embodies the traditional masculine traits of toughness, courage, competence, honor, and decisiveness. The music is also good, and recognizable guest stars this season include Greg Germann and Rick Springfield. Season One even has a great finale/cliffhanger.

Special features on this DVD set include promos, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and features on the show's theme song, on life in Hawaii, on comparisons to the original show, and on the production of the series.

It seems that most of the time (we can all [[ASIN:B0080GTA0M think of examples]]), when a network remakes a show it is far inferior to the original version. But with its great writing, technology, action, and superb cinematography of Hawaii, this new iteration of "Hawaii Five-0" is even a little bit better than its predecessor, great as it was. One thing both versions have in common, though, is the best theme song in television history.

I'm old enough that I remember watching the original series back in the 70's but it's been so long now since I've seen it that I can't remember enough to compare then with now- but I have a feeling that I'd judge this version to be better.
This, the first season, may be the best of the four broadcast to date- and is about the only "cop show" I make any effort to watch. Most TV series remakes are bad- this one is not.
I missed a few episodes when it was broadcast- now I can catch up.

The camera work is great, the writing not bad and the producers really seem to put a lot of effort into production. The episode notes are inside the cover meaning you'll either have to remove it or 2 of the DVDs to read them (you'll get broadcast date and title- in Hawaiian & English- along with a couple of lines of episode description…you might or might not be told who guest starred). You'll also get a few, too few, words about whatever extras are on each disc. The extras are among the best I've ever seen on a series set with the usual "gag reel" and deleted scenes and a few featurettes about the show (I had no idea so much of some of the action stuff was "faked" in a computer). Grace Park's Hawaiian tour is the only worthless extra in the set- you'll learn almost nothing.

Good set, I hope the others are as good.

Even in paradise there are snakes in the grass. When Navy SEAL Lt. Commander Steve McGarrett is lured back home to O'ahu in pursuit of his father's murder, he's tapped by the governor to head up a newly established task force assigned to take on Hawaii's nastiest crimes. Never mind that McGarrett, at first, only goes along with it because it expedites his ongoing investigation. McGarrett's persistent digging into his father's murder proves to be a recurring sub-plot that threads thru all of Season One. But this hyper reimagining of HAWAII FIVE-O is so much more than about one man's obsession.

Still, one decider is that the governor promises McGarrett full immunity and no red tape. McGarrett, you'll quickly observe, is like a bull in a china shop. It's what makes him fun. He's an intense, unapologetic man of action even more so than he's an investigator. Episodes are often fueled by McGarrett's wild, headstrong impulses, and this, along with his dynamic physicality, adds an electrifying element that's very much absent from the other, more plodding police procedurals. It's a good thing the Commander runs into his new partner, Danny Williams. Danny, six months out of Jersey PD and flaunting that abrasive, smart-alecky Jersey 'tude, is actually the more by-the-book detective. Danny (or "Danno") and McGarrett immediately get on like pork sausage and a Vegan.

Apart from the unforgettable, driving theme song and "Book 'em, Danno!" and Jack Lord's glorious hair and that it originated a slang word for "cop," I don't remember much about the original series. I certainly don't remember the original McGarrett and Danno sharing this same tremendous chemistry. In every episode, this McGarrett and Danno engage in awesome banter and bickering and mocking, lots and lots of mocking. The scenes between Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan are what truly sells the show for me. They are so much fun and dictate the tone of the show. But, no worries, HAWAII FIVE-O trots out other elements that compel you to tune in like an addict. And I don't just mean the snark and the swagger and the laugh-out-loud funny.

Daniel Dae Kim (LOST) and Grace Park (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) make fantastic additions to the show, respectively playing disgraced cop Chin Ho Kelly and sexy ex-pro surfer and now rookie cop (and Chin Ho's cousin) Kono Kalakaua. Yeah, Kono is now a girl. Just like Boomer is now a girl. I love that the show explores Chin Ho and Kono's family ties and personal lives. In fact, the personal lives of all four characters comprise huge chunks of the episodes, something that didn't happen in the original series. And I'm a sucker for Danno's sweet interactions with his young daughter Monkey- er, Gracie. But, for Chin Ho Kelly, yeah, it's a pretty painful backstory.

HAWAII FIVE-O is in large part forensics and police procedural. What elevates it above the rest of its genre competition is that it's an explosive action-adventure series as well; McGarrett tends to shoot first, ask questions later, and then shoot some more. Each episode also doubles as a lush travelogue reel of Hawaii, with each exterior shot serving as an inviting postcard. I wouldn't at all be surprised if tourism has shot up in the Aloha State since HAWAII FIVE-0 premiered. The gorgeous backdrops lend a vibrancy, inject an energy. You could say the state of Hawaii is the show's fifth major character.

Although this incarnation separates itself from the original and rapidly constructs its own mythology, familiar names and themes crop up. Looming large is the presence of Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos), a remorseless crime lord who once more becomes the show's big bad. And don't be surprised if actors from the original show surface here.

There's always that striking disconnect that hits you whenever you watch shady stuff going down in bright, sun-drenched environs. The Five-O unit routinely navigates paradise's underbelly, tangles with the more exotic sorts of crooks (high seas pirates, Samoan gangs, the Yakuza). There's that one case the Five-O had to solve while under the duress of an impending tsunami (in "Kai E'e"). And how about the charred corpse that was uncovered in the fire pit of a luau ("Mana'o")? "Ke kinohi" is a volatile episode which provides impetus to McGarrett's ongoing investigation of his father's murder. "E Malama" isolates and showcases each member of the Five-O unit even as a federal witness, hunted by the cartel, races against the clock to testify at the courthouse. As a comic book fan, I always appreciate these shows' stabs at featuring comic cons, and "Ne Me'e Laua Na Paio" is a good 'un. "Oia'i'o" is the highly charged season finale that sends shockwaves rippling thru the Five-O team.

This show has raked in such good buzz that A-list guest stars have flocked in. James Marsters (Spike from BUFFY and ANGEL), Kevin Sorbo, Dane Cook, Masi Oka (HEROES), Rick Springfield, and a surprisingly good Sean "P. Diddy" Combs are only a few of the recognizable names. And so why don't you catch the wave as well, brah? In what other detective show can you eyeball crimesolvers solving crimes in shorts and flip flops? If you're tired of the old forensics cops and robbers programming, give this a try. Thomas Magnum would want you to. So would his mustache. So would Jack Lord's hair. And Scott Caan's mousse.

HAWAII FIVE-O - THE FIRST SEASON set has all 24 episodes on six discs with the following bonus features scattered throughout:

- "Shore Lines: the Story of Season 1" (00:30:26 minutes)
- "Aloha Action" focuses on the show's hi-octane action stunts (00:15:14 minutes)
- "Grace Park's Hawaiian Tour" - On O'ahu, Grace samples local cuisine, takes a hula lesson, goes stand-up paddle surfing, and scarfs down delicious shaved ice (00:05:25 minutes)
- "Legacy" goes into the casting of the show and the cast & crew talk about updating the series while paying homage to the original show (00:11:38 minutes)
- "Picture Perfect: The Making of the Pilot" (00:27:07 minutes)
- "Re-scoring the Theme Song" - clip snippets of the orchestra recording the theme song from the Eastwood Scoring Stage, Burbank on June 16, 2010(00:01:43 minutes)
- "Inside Comic-Con" - Months before the show's debut, the cast & crew visit San Diego Comic-Con and receive a warm reception (00:06:22 minutes)
- "Inside the Box" explores the case evidence inside McGarret's dad's tool box (00:06:47 minutes)
- CBS On Air Launch Promos / Eye Lab Online Launch Promos
- Cast & Crew Commentaries on 2 episodes: "Pilot" (with Peter Lenkkov, Len Wiseman & Roberto Orci) and "E Malama" (with Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Grace Park, Daniel Dae Kim, and director Brad Turner)
- heaps of Deleted Scenes
- Gag Reel (00:07:32 minutes)

Hawai'i is my spiritual and physical home. The views of the aina...and the kai, are spectacular and occasionally leave me in tears...home sickness, gratitude for the time spent in that place of so many faces, all touched, warmed, shaped by a cultural that is at once Polynesian, cosmopolitan and glabal. The visuals alone, for a homesick kamaaina are a gift. The language used to title each episode and the care given to the values of the people and the place is another gift. Some of the plots are a bit thin, others overdrawn, but...it's Hawai'i, home of my body, spirit and heart. The re-drawing of the characters is tasty: Jack Lord's cool, urbanity becomes Alex O'Loughlin's man of action and passion, Scott Caan makes a sand burr out of James MacArthur's dutiful and agreeable Dan'o, and the shape-shifting of Chin Ho from chubby Chinese policeman into a lean, Kung fu warrior but most of all turning the humble, sometimes bumbling Kono into a passionate surfing, law and order vixen, completes a blending of a detective show sited in paradise, into a global girdling drama that pounds out echoes Tom Selleck's Magnum, P.I., the original 5-0, 007 and more. Scripts that comment on American adventures or mis-adventures in Afghanistan, Cambodia and Vietnam beat drums of humanitarianism, patriotism and compassion.