Reviewer Rating: 4.2/5.0
4.2
Power struggle. sad. Stressful rescue. Old feelings. Kainaroo made a mistake.
If this was what Rescue HI-Surf had to offer each week, I would sit down.
Part of a two-night premiere, the second hour contrasts with the first, continuing to introduce the characters and their dynamics and setting up many future storylines as the series finds its footing.
Focusing on rescue seems like a given for an action movie about lifesaving, but a show like this could easily lean more toward drama than action. So far this has not been the case.
The hour, which focuses mostly on rescuing a young girl who is stranded at sea after a hiking trip goes wrong, is a great showcase for action and character dynamics, especially the action between Sonny and Em, and Em and Will and character dynamics.
We still get to know these characters, and they choose to reveal their backstories slowly rather than throwing all the explanation at us at once.
Sonny was a well-respected man, both as an individual and as a captain. The fact that he was only known as Uncle Sonny tells me that.
But Zion’s death left him deeply disturbed. But it’s unclear if he always acted on his feelings and did whatever he wanted, or if his nephew’s death pushed him to a place where he was willing to do whatever it took to ensure people were rescued and put his people in a good position to save them.
A fascinating power struggle is unfolding between Sonny and Em, and it’s only a matter of time before things explode.
In the case of the missing teenager, Sonny breaks protocol, but it’s hard to find fault with his decision-making when his decision ultimately turns out to be the right one.
If they wait for fire and rescue, they’ll be behind the eight ball.
But from Em’s perspective, she’s already been sued for a situation she was not at fault for, and now she’s thrown into another situation that could reflect poorly on her.
I would be frustrated too!
I can only imagine what she had to do to get promoted to Lieutenant in a male dominated field. She doesn’t have the same luxury as men do in terms of what she can and can’t get away with.
There’s a cute scene between her and Will as Em’s concerns are addressed, and it was the first time I looked at them and thought I could see them as ex-lovers.
It’s not that there’s no chemistry, but the vibe between them and Raqqa brings more to the siblings than anything illegal.
But there’s a past there, and the series once again chooses to dole out little information so we don’t know what went wrong for them or what sacrifices they had to make.
I wonder if they simply can’t work together and build relationships. Or if things are more complicated than that.
The rescue team had zero luck as they entered the high seas, and the sight of nothing but the ocean in front of them as they headed out on a motorboat didn’t look promising. But considering this is only the second episode, it should be expected that they’ll find a way to make the impossible rescue possible.
Em’s decision to wade out into the water with just a rescue tube and her radio feels like the worst idea in the world, and her avoidance orders feel like they’re as much about saving Amber as they are about giving Sonny a Showing that she can also break the rules when it suits her.
How this situation could go wrong, and almost go wrong, should be examined. Not only did Em lose her radio, but luckily she managed to find Amber and kept them conscious and afloat until Raka happened to spot them through her binoculars.
This rescue was a real mess from start to finish, but at such an early stage, Rescue HI-Surf shows the complexities of lifeguards and how they don’t always get it right.
They may cover some of the world’s most dangerous waters, but they’re also human. The series is highlighting that.
Case in point: Kainaroo.
I think we misunderstood Kainaroo. Maybe he was just a sheltered young man who was given something because of his father and didn’t know any better, but as an adult he wasn’t content to continue living in this ignorance.
Did he show anything that made me think this was true? Absolutely not, but he still has time to get there!
If we’re going to compare ships from earlier in Season 1, why not? Then again, I was more invested in any rivalry/flirtation that started between Hina and Kainalu than anything that happened with Em and Will.
Sheena has every reason to be frustrated with Kainaru, and he hasn’t done anything to win her over. His apology may not have been forced out of his mouth, but it was overdue and it felt like he just felt he should say it.
Maybe I’m being too harsh on him because I want to like him, but he makes it so hard when he’s just such a basic lifeguard.
As if messing up the location and triggering a lawsuit wasn’t enough, he spent an hour complaining about the kids and then forgot basic necessities while rescuing someone.
Don’t get me started on him trying to drive away a thoughtful citizen who happens to be a doctor. What would have happened to the surfer if Sheena hadn’t been with him?
Sheena is clearly a capable and compassionate lifeguard. That’s not to say Kainaru doesn’t like it, but we haven’t seen his love for lifeguards yet.
He goes against his father’s expectations of him, but for what? The glory of rushing into the ocean and being praised for saving the world? Or is he really trying to help others?
We learn a little more about Sheena’s life here, and it’s clear that her life is far removed from Kainaru’s. She’s not asking for pity, she’s just telling it like it is. Again, she’s compassionate and empathetic, and when she got her chance to shine, I knew she’d have an incredible story worth telling.
Things wrap up as the team is interviewed and recognized for their heroics, which helps set the stage for Sonny in a way.
He made the save. He made sure both parents couldn’t sleep that night without their children safely in bed.
We may not know much about Osha, but she certainly felt pain after Zion’s death. But she and her father didn’t appear to be discussing it. There are disagreements there, and there’s a lot we don’t know about their relationship and the whole family dynamic.
Once again, they decided to slowly roll out information about these characters, which piqued my interest. However, I worry that if you put something off for too long, people will become frustrated and lose interest.
This is especially true when viewers feel like they have to piece together their own backstory to understand what they’re watching.
We’re not there yet and hopefully we never will be, but let’s start filling in some of those gaps! I already love these characters and I want more!
Additional rescue instructions
- So, will we meet the elusive Julia? Her name has been removed from the past two episodes, but we can’t have her go to headquarters and shoot Em?
- As Raqqa’s biggest fan, I didn’t get enough of Raqqa this hour.
- I squealed with joy when Sonny called to ask about grief counseling, but I understood why he wasn’t ready to take that step. He’ll get there, but I sincerely hope it doesn’t get worse for him.
So, how do you feel about the start of this season?
Which roles are you most excited about?
What do you want to see next?
Drop all your thoughts in the comments section below!
You can watch Rescue HI-Surf every Monday at 9/8c on FOX.
