Reviewer Rating: 4/5.0
4
Welcome to the North Shore!
You have to admit, it’s not as dynamic as “Welcome to the OC, bitch,” but I’m still glad to be here because there’s something refreshing about Rescue HI-Surf.
In an age of countless reboots and spin-offs, we have something fresh and fresh. There is a difference. It’s unlike anything else on television right now. This is something to celebrate.
If you thought you were in the same stratosphere with Baywatch (the only real-life show to compare it to) when it aired, then you weren’t paying attention to the marketing push, which needed to be heavily focused on drama about the rescue.
This isn’t exactly a shade to “Baywatch.” Personally, I used to be a huge fan of the series because it was silly and light-hearted, and the swimsuits were adorable.
I’d also like to know which lifeguards are on AFK at any given time! Sue me!
Sure, there’s some personal stuff involved, like entanglements, exes, family dynamics, etc., but it’s mixed in with a lot of actual lifeguarding, a profession that doesn’t always get the credit it deserves.
Being an open water lifeguard is a tough job, and on the North Shore, it’s a necessity.
The first hour is more of a scene than anything else, which is what a pilot should be. It’s not overly informative or difficult to follow, but keeping things relatively simple resulted in an hour that felt like it was missing out on something.
However, it does give you a sense that there is potential there. Once they find their footing and decide what kind of show they want to be, there’s no reason this show shouldn’t be popular.
The show starts off on the heavy side with a bit of levity here and there, but sometimes seems unsure of what kind of show it wants to be. But this is just a pilot. There is still room for growth.
Sonny, referred to throughout as “Captain” and “Uncle,” is the North Shore’s captain, who seems a bit battered and beaten down by the job, but respected by those around him.
Maybe it was Em, who was apparently Sonny’s protégé and lieutenant.
There’s clear respect there, and maybe some blurred lines, as Will and Laca might feel more comfortable confronting him about things that she might not feel comfortable with.
But Sonny was the heart and soul of that beach, and perhaps most importantly, he wanted everything and everyone there to succeed.
He’s an all-around good guy, but maybe a little evil as well. You know, the typical captain tendencies in this type of show.
Sonny is fun to watch, but what stands out most in the first hour is the trio of Will, Em, and Laca, who work together, hang out together, and have a very interesting friendship with one another.
Arielle Kebbel is no stranger to primetime television, and she’s perfect as the hard-working Em, who seems to be the only female lifeguard on the North Shore and Sonny’s right-hand man.
She comes off as standoffish, and the friendly rivalry between her and Sonny threatens to lead to an epic disagreement at some point.
When the two have a small argument about Sonny being paid off by a politician (hi, Sean Hatosy!), you can tell Em is disappointed in Sonny but unwilling to pursue the issue.
How long will this last, though, especially considering Sonny’s emotional state?
Will clearly doesn’t fit in well with the world of lifeguarding, as he wants to trade in his flip-flops for boots and become a firefighter. It’s so cliche that he and Em worked so closely together as exes and I love it!
I’m not going to lie and say these two set the screen on fire in their scenes, because if they hadn’t made it clear that they were once a couple, it wouldn’t have been given away in their interactions.
But you can tell there’s something beneath the surface, especially on Will’s side. His eyes sparkle every time he looks at Em, and his decision to quit his job because his fiancée wasn’t comfortable with him working with his ex is sure to end badly.
I’ve seen this movie before.
Or maybe I’m not seeing clearly enough.
I understand why the fiancée might feel threatened—or perhaps upset. But we don’t know enough about the fiancée or Em and Will’s relationship to see more than just jealousy in her.
They hang this subplot in there as a little thing to keep you hooked on the pairing (every show needs a ship!), but it’s so underdeveloped right now that it’s hard to think too much about it.
The real star of the pilot is Kekoa Kekumano as Laka, a firefighter who is easily one of the most charismatic guys I’ve seen on a series in a long time one.
Laca is a comedian, and he’s used here as a playboy who says everything the audience is thinking.
While the character is easy to hate (and frankly, I hope I end up being), Kekumano exudes charisma and makes you see beyond the boundaries of hate.
It was dripping seriously from his pores. Every time he’s on screen, I’m more invested in what he’s saying, and it’s usually a mild joke or an incredibly scary flirtation.
But hopefully his story will mature eventually, because unfortunately I can see this gimmick getting old sooner or later, no matter how charming they are.
The three fellow lifeguards and their interactions are the best part of the entire opening sequence, along with the rescue and the little rivalry between Hina and Kainalou who, like Em and Will, have enough banter to keep you wanting more .
In the ridiculous test you have to take to become a lifeguard on the dangerous butt beach, Sheena smokes Kainaroo, but loses her spot to Sean Hatosy’s MP Emerson.
I like the idea of introducing a corrupt politician into things and figuring out how Kenaloo is going to affect everything, because he doesn’t seem like an evil kid. Still, he was reluctant and let his nerves get the best of him, which is pretty much the last thing you can do when your job is to save people.
Emerson was very brave to step in and exert himself, and you have to imagine it won’t be the last time he does it. This puts Sonny in an awkward position, but he ultimately does what he thinks is best for the whole group.
But Sheena should have been part of the team from the beginning and it’s a good thing she finally got there, otherwise we would have had problems.
The show is going to rely on these beach rescues all season long, and it has to be, because there are as many people who enjoy the drama and soap opera antics of a show like this as there are as many, if not more, people tuning in to watch this action movie.
There are two large rescues here that were beautifully filmed.
I don’t know much about the lifeguards, but the way they film it here makes the rescue on this beach, with its explosive waves and rough water, feel larger than life.
The underwater shots are clear and terrifying. I know the point isn’t necessarily to scare you, but it’s absolutely terrifying to see how these waves come crashing down and knock you down and pull you down.
You could see Kainaru botching the rescue from a mile away. Still, it didn’t lessen our pain to see the team members having to rush down the sand and carry the body to the ambulance, exhausted and unsure whether that crucial extra time would mean the difference between life and death.
It makes sense that everyone is rescued in the premiere, but there’s definitely going to be some tragedy along the way, and I wasn’t ready for that kind of pain.
“Rescue HI-Surf” has a lot going for it, from its stunning locations to its solid cast and engaging storyline. Things start a little slow, but the potential for action and drama is definitely there.
We can do great things with this.
Additional rescue instructions
- Sheena has some issues at home, and it will be interesting to see how that translates into her ability to do the job. I’m also here solely to transition from rivalry to friendship with her and Kainaru.
- Sonny has lost his nephew and his sister (sister-in-law?) won’t talk to him. His daughter was wandering the streets in the middle of the day, having fun, while he barely passed his recertification. Oh, Sonny.
- My anxiety was at its peak in the beginning when all these people were surfing the waves. How can you possibly pay attention to everyone? Is this really what it’s like?
- Hawaii is beautiful and this pilot does a great job of highlighting the reality of the island.
There’s a lot to discuss about this; honestly, they can only go up from here! So please leave all your comments below so we can talk about it all.
You can watch Rescue HI-Surf every Monday at 9/8c on FOX.
