Categories: Television

Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 14 Review: Ripple Effect

After one of their brightest hours, Rescue: HI-Surf was a step in the wrong direction.

On the surface, nothing was wrong with it, but it didn’t move the dial either.

Too much Will and Em drama, not enough Kainalu and Hina, and Laka still doesn’t know how to mind his own business. So, basically, it was what’s become a typical hour in Rescue: HI-Surf land.

(Zach Dugan/FOX)

The thing about Will and Em is that their relationship isn’t all that interesting. They will eventually get back together because that’s how these stories go, and even if they throw us a curveball or two, this story feels like it has an inevitable conclusion: these two find their way back to each other.

Since Will’s two breakups during Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 11, we haven’t checked in with him too much, and the series still doesn’t appear to want to do much processing with either Will or Em.

Both were struggling, which was evident by Em throwing herself into working out and starting something casual with Sean. And Will.

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Will was apparently putting himself back out there by taking women out on dates?

Yeah, I was just as confused as I’m sure you were when that development dropped because there’s a rebound, and then there’s actively dating.

Even if it wasn’t leading anywhere, why are you bringing a new woman into the twisted and complicated emotional minefield you just stepped out of and haven’t even attempted to navigate through yet?

I could understand the idea that Will’s a guy who longs to be in a relationship, and Laka was attempting to get him out of that cycle and into something a little more low-risk, but why couldn’t he take Will to play pickleball or something?

Laka’s been working on himself, and you can see that in certain areas, but he’s still an instigator and lacks a healthy amount of emotional intelligence.

He’s also constantly inserting himself into situations where he does not belong.

When Em and Sean showed up at the same restaurant as he and Will, he had no right to try and shoo Em away because it wouldn’t be good for Will to see her there, but that’s not his place.

Laka is Team Will all day, every day and that’s perfectly fine, but he had no right to stop Em from living her life. He and Em may not be close, but they’re co-workers and friendly enough that his complete disregard for her feelings at every turn is getting very old, very fast.

Will going home with the woman he saved felt like he was trying to embrace Laka’s teachings, if only for a night, but that’s not who he is at his core. He’s not the guy who’s looking for a one-night stand, and that’s okay.

But he probably needs to take some time away from women and work on himself. Has he fully worked through the fact that he was going to marry someone he wasn’t in love with?

Has he worked through the fact that he broke the hearts of two women who loved him?

It certainly doesn’t seem like he’s done much of anything besides escape to his hometown and avoid having any meaningful conversation with anyone.

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On the flip side, Em also decided she wouldn’t talk to anyone about how she was feeling, but she was using Sean to distract herself, and Sean was a willing participant until he wasn’t.

I have nothing against Sean, but he should recognize that the way this situation is currently constructed is a lose-lose. Em hasn’t even scratched the surface of getting over Will or dealing with the pain of everything that happened.

She was the other woman in this scenario, but she also had Will first, and they had a bond post-breakup that was irrevocably changed when Will made his decision.

She had every right to spend some time wallowing in that, but she’s brought Sean in now, though he’s a grown-up who knows the situation and can make his own decisions.

The ending shot of Em cautiously putting her head on Sean’s shoulder for a bit of comfort was probably meant to be sweet, but I couldn’t help but think their whole arrangement is destined to end badly for both of them.

Outside of the romantic drama, Hina had some drama at home, and it’s been a minute since we’ve seen Hina’s family. We don’t know a whole lot except they were close, in a multi-generational household, and that Hina needed to get out so she could start living her life.

It was tough seeing her mom so cold towards her, but there’s a lot of their relationship that we’re missing. It felt like her mother was hurt when Hina moved out and, in her mind, forgot about them.

I’m sure that’s not the case, but that’s easy to say from the outside looking in.

Hina was never wrong to get out on her own and start living her life, but when you come from a family that’s close and lives together, expectations are placed upon you. And those expectations only increase when you’re one of the older kids.

Hina and Kainalu continued their run of great moments when Kainalu followed Hina to the bar (not in a creepy way!) and gave her some good advice regarding the icy reception she got from her mom.

As I’ve been saying about this pair, they come from different worlds but have much in common. Hina likes to think they don’t, but there’s a lot they could learn from each other, and we say that in moments like the one at the bar.

Hina may think boundaries are a rich people thing, but it’s an important thing nonetheless.

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Going back home and lessening the load on her mother the best way she could was a kind gesture, and it was important for her to show her cousin that family still shows up for one another.

And speaking of family showing up for each other, Sonny and Ocean are at that point where Sonny has to realize that Ocean’s growing up. Ocean must recognize that her parents aren’t trying to ruin her life and are more knowledgeable than they’re given credit for.

Sonny was right to shut down the idea of Ocean traveling the world solely to follow her boyfriend, no matter how she tried to spin it because that has long-term regret written all over it.

When she’s old enough to fund something like that all by herself and doesn’t need her parent’s permission, then it would be on her to make that choice for her immediate future.

She may no longer be Sonny’s little girl, but she’s still dependent upon him, and I believe Sonny would support her deserve to travel and get off the island if she so chose, but it should be to follow her own goals and no one else’s.

Extra Rescue Notes

The girl who pushed her friend off the cliff obviously couldn’t anticipate what would happen, but let this be a lesson to never push someone off of anything. It’s stupid and dangerous.

I love that Laka trusted Kainalu to ride the skis out. Yes, it did make more sense for Laka to get in the water with his experience, but all things considered, he could have easily pulled rank because Kainalu is still a rookie.