The first episode of "Hawaii 5-0" is entertaining but routine. A murderous brother and sister, Victor and Nora Reese, prey of widows, swindle them out of their money, and then kill them with cold premeditation. Detective Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord of "Man of the West") leads a team of multi-cultural investigators of the Hawaii 5-0 task force to launch a search for a missing woman. There is a surprise or two, but the villains provide the only flavor here while the heroic cops are dull but buttoned down in their suits and ties. Lord delivers his usual commanding performance, with Richard Denning putting in an appearance as the Governor. This episode is believable enough, but doesn't generate sufficient suspense and a little action occurs until the bullet blazing finale on the dock as McGarrett and company close the net on the evil dastards. Kevin McCarthy is perfectly cast as a smooth operator with all the right moves.
"Full Fathom Five" opens with Victor (Kevin McCarthy of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers")and Nora (Louise Troy) celebrating at sea with their victim. She lives long enough to guzzle a glass of poisoned champagne before she keels over. Ironically, she claims that it is the best day of her life. After she dies, Victor prises a ring off her finger and tosses it into the ocean. Nora reprimands him. They could have recut the gem, but Victor refuses to ruin their well-laid plans. Callously, Victor stuffs the body of the woman into a barrel and dumps it into the drink. The next thing we know an attorney shows up looking for a woman. She is wealthy beyond imagination and has gone into hiding with a group of beach hippies when 5-0 find her. In the process of locating her, our heroes discover ten other cases about women who mysteriously vanished without a trace. McGarrett sends in an undercover police investigator, Joyce Webber (Patricia Smith of "The Bachelor Party"), to catch them. Joyce is on a cruise ship when Victor plunders her state room so he can meet her. What sly Victor doesn't realize is that McGarrett has assigned his right hand man, Danny (James MacArthur of "High'em High"), to shadow Joyce. While Victor is getting familiar with Joyce over a game of chess, Danny rifles Victor's room, finds a revolver, and a bottle with poison capsules. Danny objects to putting Joyce in harm's way, but McGarrett lets her masquerade as a widow. Victor convinces Joyce to marry him and furnish him with a bundle of cash so he can purchase real estate, but Joyce isn't taken in by either Victor or Nora. Victor plans to celebrate with Joyce and Nora aboard his boat Aloha Baby. Joyce drops her champagne glass with poison in it and Victor tries to kill her. Fortunately for Joyce, McGarrett moves in and Victor flees, only to die in a hail of gunfire.
Most of "Full Fathom Five" occurs in offices and boats. Director Richard Benedict keeps things moving along, but he conjures up only a modicum of suspense. The revelations are few and far between. The producers don't flaunt the island's scenic beauty, and you get the feeling that the entire show was lensed on premises far from Hawaii, despite the series use of actual Hawaiian vacation. Our heroes encounter few problems, and they get their man. Danny and McGarret has charisma and often disagree.
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