It’s no surprise that the best hour of Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 was an hour centered around Kainalu Emerson.
At times, Kainalu is a forgotten character, which is not what you would have thought when the series began — a nepo baby with a superiority complex making a colossal mistake right out of the gate and an ambitious political father pulling strings.
It had the makings of a classic redemption story, but things didn’t pan out that way.
Kainalu didn’t have a big, explosive rescue that showed all his peers that he was actually a competent lifeguard and an even better person, all while sappy music played in the background.
Instead, Kainalu has proven his worth over time.
He’s proven capable of accepting criticism, learning on the job, showing compassion, and doing his part to help his neighbors. Seeing his growth throughout the season has been nice to watch, especially as it relates to his dynamic with his co-worker and roommate, Hina.
But before we get into their cuteness, Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 13 was dominated by an underwater bomb found on the ocean floor by some guys snorkeling for gold.
I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of anything like this happening in real life, and I was not aware of the protocol for it. Still, when the Navy came in with their underwater bomb squad team, I chastised myself for not realizing that’s exactly what should happen.
In the brief moments we spent with him, Kenny seemed like a really lovely guy. He detailed the mission as if it were simple, and in some ways, it was. But they obviously didn’t plan for the bomb to detonate while they were still in the water, sending the whole crew and Kainalu into peril.
Kainalu probably shouldn’t have been out there in the first place because he’s not certified to be on the rescue skis yet, but he’d been training hard to get the opportunity, and I was glad to see Sonny allow him to go out there on what should have been a routine assignment.
Neither Sonny nor Kainalu thought he’d have to use the skis to rescue anyone, and that was correct in the end. However, that was due to the explosion rendering the ski useless and injuring Kainalu severely.
At this point, I sound like a broken record lauding the action sequences in this series, but it is the one thing they consistently do well. The rescues are shot magnificently, and they feel real.
You’re in those waters and those waves alongside the guards making those saves. They take you into the moments and don’t let you out of their grip.
It was chaos in that water after the bomb went off, and Kaianlu was in bad shape, but he stepped up to help Will, and he saved a life, all while fighting for his own.
Okay, so maybe Kainalu did get his big heroic moment after all.
We haven’t seen much of Mayor Clayton Emerson this season, but he made his presence known after Kainalu was seriously injured.
The father-son dynamic here is intriguing, but it’s not exactly breaking the mold. You can tell the mayor loves his son, but he’s not all receptive to the idea of listening to him much.
Sure, he helped him get his job, but it was somewhat begrudgingly and done in a way in which he thought by doing this one thing, Kainalu would get it out of his system and then fall back into the life his dad planned out for him.
I don’t doubt that the elder Emerson wants what’s best for his son, but it was sad to see Kainalu just waking up after a traumatic injury in the hospital. His father immediately went in on what he should be doing with his life instead of just providing comfort.
Sure, he was probably scared, and he felt like he was doing his part to protect his son, but his refusal to hear his son out will only drive a wedge as Kainalu continues to move forward and forge the path he wants for himself.
Kainalu loves his job and is good at it. It’s dangerous but also rewarding and necessary.
He’s proving himself, but he’s also doing good work for his community. He’s no mayor, but his job is integral to the island.
Kainalu had a speedy recovery, but when he was still in the hospital, we got perhaps the cutest Kainalu and Hina scene ever when she visited him.
Hina had her own struggles during the day dealing with an influencer played by guest star Olivia Culpo, who was ready to do anything to get content on the beach, including putting her people in jeopardy.
Like Kainalu, Hina has also found herself learning on the job and becoming a better lifeguard. She showed that when she skirted the rules, she did it to protect the people on her beach.
The relationship between Hina and Kainalu has been fraught from the start, and Hina had every reason to doubt Kainalu at the beginning. But as they learned more about one another, they developed a deep respect between them and a lot of affection.
We know they (well, Hina mostly) decided to stay friends and not pursue anything after their tryst during Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 9, but it’s certainly not like they aren’t together because they don’t like each other.
We were robbed of seeing Hina’s reaction to learning Kainalu was in the hospital, but her visit to see him was ridiculously sweet and tender, and while brief, it was filled with so much warmth.
Giving him the treats, regaling him with what the island said about his bravery, and giving him the cutest little kiss on the cheek. THIS is the ‘ship we should all be rooting for!
I’m all about a slow burn, and seeing these two continue to build their friendship on the way to romance will be a nice treat for those of us who love a little romance in our action dramas!
Speaking of romance, Will and Em are still on the outs, and that’s how it should be. These two need a break from each other, and since they won’t get it at work, they need it outside of work.
Do they need to talk? Of course, they need to talk. They have to see each other almost daily, and for that reason alone, they can’t pretend that nothing has happened if they want to survive each day.
But they do not need to have that conversation yet. They can let their emotions continue to calm themselves and have a level-headed conversation when they’ve had some more space from being back in one another’s orbits after Will’s sabbatical.
There will be plenty of time for the conversation they need, but let them get back to what they do best right now: saving lives.
All the drama can wait for another high-tide day.
Extra Rescue Notes
Was this the best episode so far?
I’ve told you what I think, but I’m ready to hear from all of you about the hour!
What are your thoughts on Kainalu after his rough start at the beginning of the series?
Which couples are you rooting for?
Drop all your thoughts down below so we can discuss them!
You can watch Rescue: HI-Surf on FOX on Mondays at 9/8c.
Watch Rescue HI: Surf Online
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The post Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 13 Review: Depth Charge appeared first on TV Fanatic.
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