Let’s name a spade a spade: Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 had a tough begin.
On the floor, the collection wasn’t terrible, but it surely wasn’t very partaking. The characters have been simply there, the storylines have been underwhelming, and the rescues have been the perfect half concerning the early hours.
The present couldn’t work out what it wished to be or get out of its personal method, which left us with a really stale product mirrored within the dwindling viewership. However when the collection returned to complete its run in 2025, it discovered one thing, lastly changing into the present many have been hoping to see.
Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 ended on a excessive observe, and with the collection’ destiny nonetheless in limbo, you can make a stable case as to why the collection ought to get a second effort.
Whereas we await that information, we’re having a look again on the first season, from the perfect character to the worst romance and all the things in between.
We’ve got loads to speak about, Fanatics.
So, let’s dig in and talk about!
Greatest Character – Kainalu Emerson
You’re most likely considering, why would I select Kainalu as the perfect character of this season? And I’d say just because he was the character who most advanced and subverted early expectations.
The collection units up the son of the incoming Mayor as an annoying nepo child who floated his method via life and received all the things he wished on the expense of others. We noticed some flashes early within the season, particularly throughout Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 1.
However because the season progressed, it launched us to a person who wished to present again to his group. He wasn’t considering dwelling off his father eternally and strolling a path that others laid out for him, most likely earlier than he was even born.
After a rocky begin, Kainalu proved himself to be a reliable, headstrong lifeguard and somebody his teammates might depend upon.
His journey to assist home his fellow lifeguards within the yurt group was a beautiful solution to showcase that whereas he could have some traits of his business-like father, he was working daily to be an excellent higher model of himself.
Most Irritating Character – Will Prepared
Will wasn’t essentially the most irritating character solely as a result of he was a cheater; he was additionally a coward.
He floated between two girls with out a lot care in the long run for a way he’d be breaking the center of 1 and principally refused to speak successfully with anybody all the season.
One of many worst elements of the season was how little we truly received to know a few of these characters past their preliminary conflicts or the one factor the collection determined to hone in on.
With Will, there’s nonetheless a lot we don’t know, however all we might see was a grown man incapable of being decisive or emotionally conscious, which led to him hurting folks after which working away when issues received sophisticated.
Greatest Romance – Hina & Kainalu
I’ve written concerning the Hina and Kainalu romance advert nauseum, but it surely’s price repeating how fantastic they’ve been, contemplating this collection is bereft of stable ships to root for.
You might take into account Hina and Kainalu a slow-ish burn at this level, although the 2 did hook up throughout Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 9. Issues by no means took off for the pair, primarily as a result of Hina was in denial, however all the things modified in the course of the finish of the season.
Sadly, Kainalu was in a relationship with Hina’s pal Rosie by the point Hina was prepared to confess her emotions, which means the 2 ended the season as mates. Nonetheless, it’s greater than apparent there’s lots of love between the 2.
Rivals-to-lover storylines at all times hit when the couple has chemistry, and the emotional flip from hatred or indifference to real love and affection is definitely purchased.
Hina and Kainalu’s changing into roommates allowed their friendship to bloom first, placing them in a great place to succeed when the 2 are ultimately on the identical web page.
Worst Romance – Will and Em
Will and Em are the loves of one another’s lives, however they have no idea how one can be in a wholesome, practical relationship.
Once we met the pair, they have been finest mates and longtime exes, but it surely was apparent they nonetheless cared about each other loads, and issues got here to a head throughout Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 8, once they kissed and set forth on their mini-affair.
However even whereas partaking in stated affair, they didn’t speak a lot about their emotions or their future, and as issues grew to become an increasing number of undefined, you can inform it was going to finish badly for Em, who no less than had the foresight to inform Will that he wanted to decide.
If these two EVER need to give it an actual probability, they desperately want counseling as a result of they’ve horrible communication abilities. They take care of each other however don’t know how one can defend each other’s hearts like you need to with somebody you’re meant to like.
Greatest Episode – Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 13
The collection had an amazing run towards the tip of the season with stable episode after stable episode, however Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 13 was the beginning of them discovering their identification.
It was an attractive showcase for Kainalu, who confirmed how honest he’d come as a lifeguard. It additionally did the unattainable by making us really emotionally invested in a personality we’d simply met that hour.
The collection has by no means struggled with motion, and the underwater bomb explosion was one other nice rescue — possibly probably the greatest of the season.
This hour additionally pushed the daddy/son dynamic between Kainalu and the underused Mayor Emerson to the forefront, and the collection was all the higher for it.
Plus, we received an additional cute Hina and Kainalu hospital second, which was simply the icing on the cake for this one.
Worst Episode – Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 7
If I’m being sincere, you can insert lots of completely different episodes right here as a result of lots of them have been lackluster, particularly to start with.
However Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1 Episode 7 was one of many earlier episodes that attempted to hone in on the characters extra, but it surely simply didn’t work. As an alternative, the hour slogged alongside, and whereas it moved storylines ahead, it didn’t accomplish that with a lot aplomb.
At this level within the season, the collection nonetheless wasn’t positive whether or not it was an motion present or an motion present combined with soapy drama, and the hour suffered from stale storytelling at factors.
However once more, you can say that about a number of of the sooner episodes, although this one was the primary one which highlighted simply how out of types the collection was changing into.
Character Most In Want of Higher Materials – Laka Hanohano
Keko Scott Kekumano is an extremely charismatic actor; HI-Surf units Laka up as the marginally troubled, albeit kindhearted soul who simply wanted a little bit steering to interrupt unhealthy habits and change into a greater model of himself and, thus, an excellent higher guard.
However as an alternative, Laka was type of a jerk for a lot of the season.
He insisted on getting in between Will and Em, which was by no means his place, and he was lower than appreciative of Sonny mentoring him at first, although he did ultimately come round. Nevertheless it’s by no means felt just like the collection knew what to do with him regardless of his apparent path price following.
He received there in the long run, however the street traveled was stuffed with many frustrations for a personality that might have been a lot extra if the powers that be determined to present him extra to do.
Greatest Friendship – Sonny & Em
Sonny’s the rock for therefore many individuals in his life, and whereas the connection between him and Em did have some tense moments, their friendship is rooted in a deep respect and adoration for each other that shined via again and again.
Sonny is a good captain as a result of he at all times does what’s finest for the workforce, and if which means being powerful on Em, he’ll do it. Em was sincere when she wanted to be, which once more confirmed their respect for each other.
Their relationship was extra outstanding within the earlier hours than in the direction of the tip, but it surely was at all times there. The moments they checked in with each other have been at all times candy and mirrored simply how a lot they cared about one another.
A possible season 2 would do nicely to characteristic them extra, as their friendship was one of many brightest spots of the uneven first season.
Total Grade – C
It’s been a minute since I used to be in grade faculty, however a C grade at all times meant common throughout my day, and that’s an ideal solution to describe this primary effort.
The collection was by no means going to be Baywatch, and I don’t assume anybody ever wished it to be. Nonetheless, they struggled to search out their footing with lackluster plotlines and underdeveloped characters for therefore lengthy that audiences misplaced curiosity.
Nice motion sequences can solely take you to this point.
However there have been apparent indicators of development towards the tip, and so they discovered the successful system because the season wrapped.
Now, if FOX renews it, they should decide to it and broaden upon the issues that labored whereas leaving what didn’t far behind.
What Grade Would You Give Rescue: HI-Surf Season 1?
Now it’s time to share all of your ideas within the remark part!
What have been your favourite moments? Least favourite moments? Does the collection deserve a season 2?
Let all of it out under, and ensure to vote in our ballot!
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