Some episodes of “Hawaii Five-0” are better than others, except for one that clearly stood out above the rest. This was a special rebroadcast aired on a Friday night, instead of its usual Monday primetime slot, in mid-March. Viewers in Tampa Bay with Bright House Networks saw it on WTSP, channel 10. “I Ka Wa Mamua” or “In a Time Past” was the perfect title for this roller coaster of ride story that delved into Danny “Danno” Williams life in New Jersey. Scott Caan as Danno consistently delivers week after week the comic relief and sometimes political commentary in the show. This time he did not disappoint viewers, even in dangerous situations past and present.
It opened unexpectedly to industrial pollution, grey-like buildings of New Jersey in 2001. Virtually every “Hawaii Five-0” episode opens with lively music, endless sunshine, beautiful bathers and surfers, and of course the crystal clear beaches. This was the ultimate contrast. As we’re introduced to Danno in New Jersey and his partner, Grace (Sydney Tamiia Poitier and real-life daughter of Sidney Poitier), there is a gritty song by The Rolling Stones titled “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" as the perfect theme. They’re in a meat packing warehouse where they get lucky in finding one of the drug dealers, only to be held up from behind by two mobsters, played brilliantly by Terence Howard and rapper Tip “T.I”. Harris.
Now it's present day in idyllic Hawaii with the usual stunning sights and sounds while hearing One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful.” Danno pauses during his memoir moment in Jersey, while McGarrett pleads for more on what happened to him and his partner. They are interrupted when they eventually uncover the head of a terrorist cell, who later tried to blow up Pearl Harbor a second time. Danno shoots the terrorist only to realize he’s a suicide bomber wearing a sensory device. That means no one in close proximity can move under any circumstance. During this crucial time we get to hear the rest of his NJ tale of his most terrifying case. Danno refuses under the most trying circumstances to give them the name of their informant. He even adds some humor to help the situation, only it makes the thugs more enraged. Shortly after he states the entire New Jersey PD will be coming to the warehouse, sirens are heard in the background on cue. Danno breaks away and in the melee one of the drug dealers shoots his partner, Grace. After killing off all of the gang members he runs outside for help. You see a deluge of police cars and fire engines racing by without stopping. It is then viewers see smoke arising from a tall building across the Hudson River in New York City. The date is September 11, 2001.
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