Critic’s Rating: 3.8 / 5.0
3.8
When a series starts to find its groove, you can usually tell.
Things click into place, and there’s a clear direction. You know what kind of show they want to be, and once they lean into that, everything comes easy.
We’re three hours deep into Rescue HI-Surf, and they still need to figure out what show they want to be.
We’re getting some somber moments mixed in with fun and then all the action. To this point, the action stuff is the one thing they’re hitting on every cylinder.
The rescues remain the best parts of every hour. They’re shot beautifully, and the one that began the hour was the kind of fast-paced action adventure you want from a show centered around lifeguarding on one of the world’s most dangerous beaches.
I enjoy the Will, Em, and Laka trio, and I like the pairs within that, even if you could see the friction between Em and Laka brewing from a mile away.
They’re all excellent lifeguards, but they’re also different people.
Em is a natural-born leader, something she displays throughout the hour when she steps in for Sonny, while Will seems to be extremely laidback and dependable but also the one most likely to keep the peace.
Laka is solid, someone who will do his job when called upon, but he also has a sense of defiance. It’s obvious that something is going on with him outside the job.
The initial rescue happened so fast, and I imagine that may be relatively common on many beaches, but terrifying nonetheless.
The two kayakers found themselves stranded on rocks, and the fearsome foursome of Sonny, Laka, Will, and Em got to them.
Still, the water around those rocks was wiping around, and the waves were cresting, and that rescue was seconds away from going wrong.
The rescues are a great way of building suspense, and watching them navigate the waves and the jet skis was one of the brightest spots of the hour.
There’s so much on the line every time those rescues have to be made because they’re there to save people, but they must also look out for themselves.
Sonny had a moment on the water where he was out of it, which culminated in his collapsing.
I thought there would be more here, like Sonny having some medical issue or something, but it seemed to be more or less a product of stress and the obvious grief he’s feeling. He was headed for a breakdown.
Sonny’s at an interesting crossroads because he knows he needs help. He knows he needs to deal with the pain and guilt he’s feeling head-on, but he’s not ready yet.
It’s cliché, but no one can help you if you’re not ready to help yourself.
I liked following Sonny along for a day outside the job, seeing him confide in Tommy, and then later, at the beach party. A lot is going on with Sonny, both on the job and outside of it, and things are getting worse for him.
He’s close to losing it, genuinely losing it, but he’s not ready to unpack everything. But what will it take to get him there?
It could be the upcoming lawsuit, thanks to that Kainalu botch during Rescue HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 1, or maybe there’s something worse coming down the pipeline.
Sonny’s story feels like it will get worse before it gets better, and with each passing week, I wonder more and more about the dynamic between him and Em because it’s slowly getting less and less strong.
I figured we’d have to wait a while to see Em in charge, but Sonny’s time off left Em as the captain, who was welcomed by most but Laka.
I knew it was only a matter of time before Laka did something to annoy me, though I still like the guy! He’s just a little too cocky, and he’s also clearly used to getting his way, at least as it pertains to work.
He comes in late and hungover, and it’s apparent it’s not the first time it’s happened, but he’s clearly not concerned about it because I’m guessing Sonny never puts his foot down about it.
But Em isn’t Sonny, and her first order of business was ensuring everyone knew that.
Em was in a unique position because she knew she couldn’t just be a Sonny stand-in, and she didn’t want to be. It’s not like Sonny’s a bad captain or anything, but he’s also revered in a way that means Em had to come in and command respect immediately.
Sonny said the job was about managing personalities, and while that’s true, it’s also about respect—respecting the water, respecting the job, and respecting your superiors.
And Em had to come in with a bit of a chip on her shoulder because she knew there would be at least one person pushing back. There always is.
I liked that Em even pushed back against Hina, who didn’t want to work with Kainalu, who admittedly needs to learn what he’s doing. Though, it’s not as if she’s a veteran who really has the cache to make that kind of request.
Pairing Laka with them was a little petty, but hey, he also should have shown up on time. Plus, the rookies needed someone to have their back, even though he was MIA when things went crazy.
Of course, when Hina brought up Kainalu’s incompetence, I knew she was due to make a mistake. And, of course, that’s precisely what happened.
This show can be predictable in many ways, but that’s also just the current state of television. And I don’t even say that to act like it’s terrible.
If I can see the plot coming from a mile away, I won’t stress about its lack of originality if it’s done well.
The rival-to-friends-to-lovers storyline between Kainalu and Hina can be seen from outer space, but there’s a spark there. I see it, and in a cast of underdeveloped characters to this point, it’s too early to say it won’t be a hit.
I continue to be more invested in that than all things Em and Will.
And that’s mostly just a knock on Will because he’s truly uninspiring. I’m just not getting enough from him because he’s so nonchalant that it borders on boring.
We finally met the elusive Julia, and those two aren’t lasting.
If I had to guess how this would go, it’d be Em pining from a distance until she meets someone, and then Will and Julia would split because Will has never gotten over Em, but he’ll be too late.
If they go the love triangle route or exes to lovers, they will need to spice things up big time. I buy Will and Em as best friends, but I am not seeing the love connection yet, and hell, maybe that’s the point since they’re not currently supposed to be in love.
Em and Will may be on great terms, but the hour ended with Em HOT!
We’ve already established Sonny needs to talk to someone, and it’s obvious it won’t be Em.
And the two of them are just not on the same page, and Sonny’s cavalier attitude about a freaking lawsuit that can majorly impact Em and her future must be infuriating for her.
Sonny can talk about not worrying about things he can’t control, which isn’t wrong, but he better stop acting like everything is fine at work when it’s not.
He could get away with that in his private life when he’s only lying to himself. But he has a team of people who depend on him and a whole beach.
He needs to remember that.
Extra Rescue Notes
- I still like Laka as a character, but he was working my nerves. Em had every right to be frustrated with him because those who think the rules don’t apply to them will always be on my crap list.
- Kainalu shooting his shot with Hina and then willing her to turn around was CUTE, I’m sorry.
- I have yet to catch the name of the EMS lady Laka keeps flirting with, but will they be a thing? I don’t see it.
We’re three episodes in now, and I want to hear how you guys feel about the series thus far!
Reviews have been mixed, and while they still need to grow into themselves, there’s still much to enjoy and root for.
Leave me all your comments below so we can talk it out.
You can watch Rescue HI-Surf on FOX on Mondays at 9/8c.
Watch Rescue HI: Surf Online
