Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Hawaii Five-0: The Third Season Blu-ray Movie Review

The best season yet earns a polished and thoroughly enjoyable Blu-ray release.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 29, 2013

Hawaii Five-0's season two cliffhanger forever altered the series' landscape, removing from and adding to the character roster in bold, even unforgettable, ways. The shift in series tone may have been subtle -- season three, on its surface, plays with the same spirit as its predecessors -- but the change in series dynamic cannot be missed. Considering the relentless human drama, surprise revelations, daring action, emotional sorrow, and commanding narrative that shaped season two's final hour, season three's opener had a lot of promise to fulfill, plot lines to resolve and continue, questions to answer, and truths to reveal. Add to that the challenge of working through the unbearably emotional character arcs and season three certainly had the unenviable task of figuring out not necessarily how to move forward but how to reshape its characters into the new realities of life and death while still maintaining the series' core values of smart and gripping escapist adrenaline entertainment. Suffice it to say, season three succeeds beyond expectations and cements Hawaii Five-0 as, arguably, the best thing going on network television. Sure it lacks the grittiness and toughness and unforgettable single-story flow of cable's finest programs, but for sheer guilty pleasure television that does't betray its core, pander to its audience, fear to leave the safety of predictable arcs, and ever evolve while maintaining its basic structure, Peter Lenkov, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci's show cannot be topped.

Reflecting.

Rather than offer a summary of the season arc, which would invariably constitute spoiling some of the best surprises of, or at least spoil some of the setup from, the end of season two and the beginning of season three, it's best to dive straight into some of the generalities and specifics both that make Hawaii Five-0, and this season in particular, such a great television experience. As with the previous seasons, season three intermixes several elements into one cohesive and coherent entity that ofttimes looks like any number of other television shows on network but, when taken together, create a fully unique and usually exhilarating experience. It takes the best of the classic "crime lab" show and pieces that together with hard action and honest and oftentimes intense character development, all of which fall under the protective umbrella of superb acting, cast camaraderie, and a huge, cinema quality scale that's obvious in every episode. Hawaii Five-0 masterfully offers the best of situational drama with its underlying continuous arcs, both of which help grow the characters and mature the show but allow for some added diversity that the lesser programs that strictly follow one style or the other cannot often achieve.

It's often said that shows and films incorporate their settings so well that they "become a character" in said show or film. That adage holds true in Hawaii Five-0, and is perhaps one of the best representations of it. It's not merely that the setting features so prominently as to be in the title or that the show makes the most of its exotic setting from a purely visual perspective. Instead, it's how smartly Hawaiian culture is interwoven into every episode. There's a very real sense of location spirit in every episode, evident by the way tradition and custom are so smartly integrated into the show, almost like a soul or a lifeblood. Never is Hawaii a pretty pop, at least not exclusively. Better, it never feels like the show milks its location or overstays its welcome. Few others so expertly bring a location to life as this show, and that attention to detail cannot help but rub off on the characters as they grow together, stronger through even the most challenging adversity and vulnerability and unexpected twists and turns, all of which pulse through season three with every heartfelt moment, joke, action event, or dramatic turn. Every primary faces unique challenges and lives through unexpected circumstances through the season. Often, the show is at its best in its most reflective moments, when a reassuring pat on the back and quiet word of confidence -- even with a humorous overlay -- helps move the characters forward from the most difficult moments. One of the season's finest such scenes comes in a perfectly scripted and executed moment between Chin and Danny at the end of episode two. It's touching, funny, and fits the moment beautifully. In many ways, it defines the series' very core, even beyond the gunfights and explosions and crime solving, all of which are fine but rightly give way to the best of the human elements the show so often musters.

Though not quite the season's best episode, season three's most notable is most certainly the charmingly "misnamed" "Hookman," an oftentimes near shot-for-short, line-for-line remake of a classic Five-0 episode of the same name, slightly modified for this era and marginally trimmed down for current network television time constraints that were a little more lenient in 1973. The misnomer comes courtesy of an update to the story in which the title character no longer possesses hooks for hands but rather advanced, 21st century robotic prosthetics. It's one of the strongest episodes of the season, due in large part to excellence of the source material. Its quality is a testament to the original's style and story but also the update team's ability to so precisely repurpose it for modern audiences without sacrificing the integrity of the original. The episode even features the classic bold and yellow titles, certainly a temporary shock but a welcome nod to the classic show beyond the normal references and classic guest appearances that populate the entirety of the Five-0 series update. One such guest star, Peter Weller, not only plays the title villain in "Hookman" but also steps behind the camera to direct the episode, too. He's one of several notable names and faces scattered throughout season three, including William Baldwin, Ed Asner, Summer Glau, Craig T. Nelson, Jimmy Buffett, and Carlos Bernard. One of the season's -- and the series' -- best treats is spotting and enjoying the plethora of surprise stars that appear throughout.

Hawaii Five-0: The Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Hawaii Five-0: The Third Season arrives on Blu-ray with a bold, bright, and exciting high definition transfer. The show oozes vibrant colors, capturing the sun-baked Hawaiian terrain, showcasing sparkling blue waters and lush, deep natural greens contrasted with big city color diversity. It's an endlessly beautiful palette with opportunity to sparkle, and sparkle it does whether on the water, in dense jungle, or within trendy urban areas. The palette is sometimes so hot it's practically on fire, but even with the heavy, hot push there remains a good, even balance within the series' cinematographic process. Details are highly impressive, too. Although there's a slight HD video sheen and flatness to the image, there's no mistaking the ease with which the transfer showcases complex skin textures, Hawaiian vegetation, and other natural and manmade objects. Image clarity is superb in nearly every shot, with only a handful of them looking anything less than perfectly defined. There is some light aliasing to be seen, at times, as well as some noisy low light images. Otherwise, this is a bright and bold and very well put together transfer from Paramount/CBS.

Hawaii Five-0: The Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Hawaii Five-0: The Third Season features a potent and exciting DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. While there are some quality and well integrated subtleties scattered throughout the season -- oceanside ambiance, city atmosphere, and crowded interior location din -- nothing compares to the season's energized music and action effects. The classic theme reworked for the new show explodes out of the speakers with an aggressive posture but rich clarity. Spacing is natural, surround support is constant and heavy, and the experience energizes the listener every time, no matter the episode's, or the season's, dynamic feel. Action effects are superb and the track's bread-and-butter away from the theme music. In several instances, gunfire erupts from very speaker and tears into another across the stage. It's full and completely immersive, with the mayhem not only spilling through every channel but doing so with incredible clarity and heft in support. Listeners will enjoy several such instances throughout the season, in addition to some dramatic car chases and other actions with more specific and well-defined pieces. The track also enjoys precise, center-focused dialogue. The end product is one that constantly impresses through every episode.

Hawaii Five-0: The Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Hawaii Five-0: The Third Season contains numerous supplements across all five discs. All deleted scenes and audio commentaries play with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound.

Disc One:

• Deleted Scenes (HD): Numerous scenes from "La O Na Makuahine" (4:16), "Kanalua" (2:31), "Lana I Ka Moana" (1:37), and "Mohai" (7:07).

Disc Two:

• Deleted Scene (HD): Extra footage from "Huaka'I Kula" (1:09).

Disc Three:

• Deleted Scenes (HD): Excised scenes from "Kapu" (2:51) and "Olelo Ho'Opa'I Make" (1:14).
• Alternate Ending (HD): Two different finales for "Kapu" (15:32).

Disc Four:

• Classic Episode (HD, 4x3, Dolby Digital 2.0, 50:02): When selecting the episode "Hookman," viewers are given the opportunity to select the new series episode or the classic series episode. Video quality is excellent; here's hoping the original series makes its way to Blu-ray.
• Audio Commentaries: Director/Actor Peter Weller, Writers Glen Olson and Rod Baker (original episode), and Writer Joe Halpin (new episode) for "Hookman" and Executive Producer Peter Lenkov and Actors Alex O'Loughlin and Grace Park for "Pa'Ani."
• Deleted Scenes (HD): Extra scenes from "Hookman" (0:34) and "Pa'Ani" (0:46).

Disc Five:

• Shore Lines: Season 3 (HD, 24:11): A look at season three's new elements, including the arrival of a new character in Steve's life and the subsequent dynamics and building relationship; the role of Alex's girlfriend Catherine; Kono's new relationship; stories behind the shooting of various scenes; Kamekona's role in the series; special effects creation; making the "Victoria's Secret," George Takei, and Aisha Tyler episodes; re-imagining and creating "Hookman;" and the season finale.
• Aloha Action! Season 3 (HD, 20:27): A detailed look at the season's stunts and action. Included are focused segments on fight choreography, the complexities of the season premiere's visuals and action scenes, the actors' and their characters' fighting styles, episode two's driving stunts, recreating "Hookman" and making some of the episode's most dangerous stunts, and shooting some of the season's most complex and daring moments. The supplement concludes with a few minutes of fun from the Hawaii Five-0 stunt team.

Disc Six:

• Deleted Scenes (HD): Cut Footage from "Ho'Opio" (3:45), "He Welo 'Oihana" (3:33), and "Aloha, Malama Pono" (0:44).
• Script to Screen (HD, 8:20): A supplement that looks at the scale of the show, the short amount of time from episode conception to finished product, and the lengthy and demanding scriptwriting and episode detailing processes. The supplement also examines the editing process, color correction, visual effects insertion, sound mixing, and more. Note that this supplement is accessible under both the episode "He Welo 'Oihana" tab and the "Special Features" tab.
• Hawaii Five-Over the Whole Wide World (HD, 4:39): A brief look at the show's broad appeal and worldwide success, with emphasis on its popularity and early airing in Hawaii. It also looks at dubbing and publicity in Asia.
• Gag Reel (HD, 8:55).

Hawaii Five-0: The Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There might not be a more complete program running on network television. Hawaii Five-0 gets it all right, and season three's arcs and dynamics only further demonstrate the program's mastery of modern entertainment. Blazing action, crime scene intrigue, incredible depth of character, evolving arcs, big movie technical dynamics, and endless fun make the show more than a hit but rather an event that's best enjoyed on Blu-ray. Paramount's Blu-ray release of Hawaii Five-0: The Third Season features standout video and audio, complimented by a thorough selection of extra content. Very highly recommended.