my thoughts on H50 S4
I was asked in story comments what I thought about S4, and for the first time I was able to put it into words that I actually felt expressed my feelings well (apparently steroids and lack of sleep help me think...who knew?). So I thought I'd share it here, with a little adding in here and there. Feel free to skip, but if you read, be aware, there's no bashing below, just rational thought and writing analysis. (There are also spoilers through ep 408, just to warn you)
I actually really like the season so far. As a writer, and a huge fan of writing, I like how they're telling the story, assuming it's going the places I suspect it's going. And so far they've done a good job of going the only place that made sense to me each season, even if the story seemed to not quite make sense in the middle. Given that they've had to adjust the plans I'm sure they had in their heads to accommodate the needs of the actors (which I admire greatly--not every employer is so kind, especially in a major 24 ep a year TV series), they've done a solid job of creating interesting storylines around it. Kono and Adam on the run, Danny going home for his dad's birthday (which I suspect is setting up his mom's appearance later), the (temporary, is my suspicion) addition of Cath because, let's face it, they need an extra person right now.
And I have a feeling Cath's storyline is going to be an interesting sideline. The invite to join 5-0 was kind of awkward, and she was kind of awkward there, and the fact that she went there in regular clothes in the morning and then changed into something like a uniform and put her hair up suggests that she's still missing the structure of military life. She's floundering, and I think that's an interesting story to tell.
Leaving a career in the military can't be easy--Steve has yet to give his up entirely. He's kind of straddling both worlds. She just jumped ship, almost literally. My hope is that she figures out that 5-0 isn't the kind of structure she needs, and that Steve 24/7 is a bit much, and finds a work life that doesn't revolve around Steve, since her personal life kind of does.
The show is never going to be first season, because that story of them gelling as a team, of Chin redeeming himself, of Kono getting through the rookie phase, of Steve trying to adjust to a different way of doing things while starting down the mystery of his parents' lives and deaths (or fake deaths, as the case may be), and of Danny learning not to hate Hawaii and Rachel, and getting past his residual feelings for Rachel--all those stories have been told.
You can't go back. Can a person go back in real life and be the person they were 4 years ago? No. People learn, change, and grow from their experiences (at least I hope they do). A show has to go forward and let the characters develop if they want the show itself to keep going. So they're telling new stories and I admire them for that--too many shows won't do it, afraid of the backlash. These characters have grown from their experiences--mostly for the better, occasionally not as much, and they're building on them. And as a storyteller, I approve. :)
I actually really like the season so far. As a writer, and a huge fan of writing, I like how they're telling the story, assuming it's going the places I suspect it's going. And so far they've done a good job of going the only place that made sense to me each season, even if the story seemed to not quite make sense in the middle. Given that they've had to adjust the plans I'm sure they had in their heads to accommodate the needs of the actors (which I admire greatly--not every employer is so kind, especially in a major 24 ep a year TV series), they've done a solid job of creating interesting storylines around it. Kono and Adam on the run, Danny going home for his dad's birthday (which I suspect is setting up his mom's appearance later), the (temporary, is my suspicion) addition of Cath because, let's face it, they need an extra person right now.
And I have a feeling Cath's storyline is going to be an interesting sideline. The invite to join 5-0 was kind of awkward, and she was kind of awkward there, and the fact that she went there in regular clothes in the morning and then changed into something like a uniform and put her hair up suggests that she's still missing the structure of military life. She's floundering, and I think that's an interesting story to tell.
Leaving a career in the military can't be easy--Steve has yet to give his up entirely. He's kind of straddling both worlds. She just jumped ship, almost literally. My hope is that she figures out that 5-0 isn't the kind of structure she needs, and that Steve 24/7 is a bit much, and finds a work life that doesn't revolve around Steve, since her personal life kind of does.
The show is never going to be first season, because that story of them gelling as a team, of Chin redeeming himself, of Kono getting through the rookie phase, of Steve trying to adjust to a different way of doing things while starting down the mystery of his parents' lives and deaths (or fake deaths, as the case may be), and of Danny learning not to hate Hawaii and Rachel, and getting past his residual feelings for Rachel--all those stories have been told.
You can't go back. Can a person go back in real life and be the person they were 4 years ago? No. People learn, change, and grow from their experiences (at least I hope they do). A show has to go forward and let the characters develop if they want the show itself to keep going. So they're telling new stories and I admire them for that--too many shows won't do it, afraid of the backlash. These characters have grown from their experiences--mostly for the better, occasionally not as much, and they're building on them. And as a storyteller, I approve. :)