A middle-aged Korean War Vet who is off his rocker comes to the condo of his former CO and demands to see him. When the police are called, the Veteran (Sergeant Jesse Cooper, played by actor Dane Clark) gets into a scuffle with a cop, a shot is fired, and of course it's the policeman who catches the bullet.
Sergeant Cooper then grabs a very attractive babysitter (20 year old Linda Purl) as a hostage, breaks down a door and takes up shelter in an unoccupied condo.
Lots of tension. McGarrett is having a particularly bad day, in a rare show of emotion he gets into a heated argument with a Honolulu Police Department Captain who is head of the SWAT Team (the writers made that Captain very, very unlikeable, which adds to the frustration). McGarrett also blasts an HPD undercover officer who is too eager to help.
Linda Purl, as character "Ruth Martin", plays her part well. Dane Clark also does a commendable job of playing the unstable Veteran.
There are lots of wanna-be "helpers" who get in McGarrett's way. We mentioned the HPD officer who volunteered to be a substitute hostage. Next up is an annoying news anchorman who drags in Cooper's abandoned wife and a sad excuse for a Priest. McGarrett has to dispense with them all.
There are a couple of plot holes, nothing serious. One flaw that we see in a lot of H5-0 episodes: there is no crowd control, no closing of the streets. Even when multiple shots have been fired at and into the bystanders, with bullets hitting police cars, the cops do not set up barricades or push the onlookers to a safe place. Only when the show approaches it climax, McGarrett finally says, "Get these people out of here!"
A very good "hostage story", well-written and well-played.
* * * * * * * * * 9 Stars for "The Hostage" * * * * * * * * *
Florida Fred.
Sergeant Cooper then grabs a very attractive babysitter (20 year old Linda Purl) as a hostage, breaks down a door and takes up shelter in an unoccupied condo.
Lots of tension. McGarrett is having a particularly bad day, in a rare show of emotion he gets into a heated argument with a Honolulu Police Department Captain who is head of the SWAT Team (the writers made that Captain very, very unlikeable, which adds to the frustration). McGarrett also blasts an HPD undercover officer who is too eager to help.
Linda Purl, as character "Ruth Martin", plays her part well. Dane Clark also does a commendable job of playing the unstable Veteran.
There are lots of wanna-be "helpers" who get in McGarrett's way. We mentioned the HPD officer who volunteered to be a substitute hostage. Next up is an annoying news anchorman who drags in Cooper's abandoned wife and a sad excuse for a Priest. McGarrett has to dispense with them all.
There are a couple of plot holes, nothing serious. One flaw that we see in a lot of H5-0 episodes: there is no crowd control, no closing of the streets. Even when multiple shots have been fired at and into the bystanders, with bullets hitting police cars, the cops do not set up barricades or push the onlookers to a safe place. Only when the show approaches it climax, McGarrett finally says, "Get these people out of here!"
A very good "hostage story", well-written and well-played.
* * * * * * * * * 9 Stars for "The Hostage" * * * * * * * * *
Florida Fred.