Television is filled with first-responder shows. From paramedics and firefighters to police officers, these procedural dramas have become a staple on network TV.
The formula is often simple: a group of professionals—usually a mix of seasoned veterans and fresh-faced rookies—faces various daily emergencies, all while showing personal challenges.
This formula has been successful in shows like 9-1-1, Chicago Fire, and Law & Order. Now, Rescue HI-Surf follows this familiar path but focuses on a unique set of first responders: open-water lifeguards patrolling the dangerous waters of Oahu’s North Shore.
Created by Matt Kester, known for his work on Animal Kingdom, Rescue HI-Surf takes viewers into the lives of these lifeguards as they battle unpredictable waves, intense rescues, and their personal lives.
The show sheds light on a profession that often goes unnoticed in the show of first responders. However, despite this fresh perspective, Rescue HI-Surf struggles to stand out among its competitors.
The Challenges of Being a Lifeguard Are Front and Center in Rescue HI-Surf
The last lifeguard-focused show to leave a significant impact was Baywatch, which ran for 11 seasons and became a global sensation.
However, Baywatch was not known for its realistic depiction of lifeguarding. Instead, it focused more on its cast of beautiful people running in slow motion across the beach.
While the characters saved lives, the show was more famous for its glamorous portrayal of beach life, thanks to stars like David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson.
In contrast, Rescue HI-Surf moves far away from this glamorous image. The show aims to depict the true physical and mental challenges lifeguards face every day.
Sure, the characters are still good-looking, but they aren’t just there to look attractive. The series emphasizes the demanding nature of their jobs, from intense ocean rescues to their rigorous physical training.
One of the key elements that makes Rescue HI-Surf feel real is its setting. The show is filmed on location in Hawaii, specifically on the North Shore of Oahu. The North Shore is known for its gigantic waves, some reaching heights of 30 feet or more.
Even experienced surfers find these waves challenging, so it’s no surprise that the lifeguards who patrol these waters must be highly trained and physically fit.
Watching the lifeguards in action, running across soft sand, paddling through powerful waves, and performing rescues in dangerous conditions, gives viewers a view into the true intensity of their work.
Still from Rescue HI-Surf (Credit: Fox)
The cast underwent intense physical training to prepare for their roles, and it shows in the episodes. These aren’t actors merely pretending to be lifeguards; they’ve worked hard to understand the physical demands of the job. This authenticity is one of the show’s strongest aspects.
The characters are more than just beach eye candy—they are tough, skilled first responders who are ready to go into dangerous situations at a moment’s notice.
Character Storylines in Rescue HI-Surf Need Improvement
While the show succeeds in portraying the lifeguard profession, it stumbles when it comes to developing compelling character arcs. The series primarily revolves around the team’s captain, Sonny, played by Robbie Magasiva.
Sonny is a seasoned lifeguard dealing with the grief of losing a family member—a person he couldn’t save, despite all his skills.
This tragedy weighs heavily on him throughout the season, and the show frequently returns to his struggles with this loss. Magasiva’s portrayal of Sonny is heartfelt, and his more serious moments are some of the highlights of the show.
However, where Rescue HI-Surf falters is in building chemistry between the other characters. Em, played by Arielle Kebbel, is an experienced lifeguard who serves as Sonny’s right hand. Will, portrayed by Adam Demos, is an Australian lifeguard with a complicated relationship with Em.
Will is currently thinking about leaving the beach to pursue a career as a firefighter, but his past with Em complicates things.
The dynamic between Em and Will is a classic “will-they-won’t-they” relationship, but unfortunately, Kebbel and Demos struggle to bring the necessary spark to their scenes. Will is engaged to someone else, but the tension between him and Em lingers.
However, their interactions lack the emotional depth that viewers might expect from such a storyline. Without strong chemistry, the relationship feels forced, and the scenes between Em and Will don’t have the impact they should.
Meanwhile, Laka, played by Kekoa Kekumano, is a carefree lifeguard with a wild party lifestyle. Though skilled at his job, his reckless behavior off-duty hints at potential problems down the line.
The show also introduces two rookies: Kainalu, played by Alex Aiono, is the son of a powerful politician on the island, while Hina, portrayed by Zoe Cipres, is a talented female lifeguard who graduated at the top of her class.
Hina and Kainalu are set up as rivals, both excelling in their training but coming from very different backgrounds. Hina grew up near the North Shore in a family that struggled financially, while Kainalu comes from a privileged upbringing.
Still from Rescue HI-Surf (Credit: Fox)
Their rivalry is a classic “opposites attract” setup, but the show spends more time pitting them against each other than developing their individual stories or relationships with the rest of the team. More focus on their growth as lifeguards and as part of the team could help Rescue HI-Surf find its emotional core.
Rescue HI-Surf Has Potential but Struggles to Stand Out
Despite being one of the few shows about lifeguards currently on air, Rescue HI-Surf doesn’t feel groundbreaking. Shows like 9-1-1 and Chicago P.D. often feature over-the-top emergencies that stick in the viewer’s mind.
For example, it’s hard to forget when a baby got stuck in bathroom plumbing on 9-1-1. In contrast, Rescue HI-Surf offers more realistic emergencies, but they tend to be forgettable. While this may be a growing pain that the show will overcome as it develops, the lack of memorable rescue moments could hurt its long-term success.
The series needs to find a better balance between the action-packed rescues and the personal drama of its characters. Sonny’s grief storyline is compelling, but it feels jarring at times, especially since viewers haven’t had enough time to get emotionally invested in his character.
Similarly, the show begins after Em and Will’s relationship has already ended, which might have been a good idea if we could see more of why their relationship matters. Instead, the show needs to convince the audience that their connection is worth caring about.
For fans of procedural dramas, Rescue HI-Surf offers more of what they expect. The show follows the traditional format, complete with season-long character arcs and weekly rescues. However, it still lacks that “spark” that makes viewers want to return week after week.
It’s a shame because the show embraces Hawaiian culture and includes a strong cast of Asian and Pacific Islander actors, something not often seen on network television. Additionally, filming on location in Hawaii brings authenticity to the setting and helps boost the local economy.
Though Rescue HI-Surf is still trying to find its footing, it could improve as the season progresses. Many shows take time to fully develop their tone and character dynamics, especially when they balance weekly emergencies with deeper storylines.
Still from Rescue HI-Surf (Credit: Fox)
It’s possible that with more time, Rescue HI-Surf will grow into a show that can stand alongside other successful first-responder dramas. For now, however, it remains a show with potential that has yet to fully deliver.
Rescue HI-Surf premieres Sunday, September 22, on Fox and is available to stream the next day on Hulu.
In Pachinko Season 2 Episode 6, the show shows the problems of living in a society ruled by men. Sunja (Minha Kim) tries to meet society’s expectations. Solomon (Jin Ha) struggles to succeed in finance.
All the characters feel trapped in a system that does not help them. Sunja’s family has a hard time surviving during World War II. This war is a result of conflicts created by men.
In this episode, many male characters show toxic masculinity. They manipulate those around them and sometimes use violence to get what they want.
While this might be human nature, the most tragic part is that the female characters, especially Sunja and Naomi (Anna Sawai), suffer because of the men’s actions.
The episode starts with the 1989 Sunja (Youn Yuh-jung) on a date with Kato (Jun Kunimura) at a Mexican restaurant.
Sunja tries a margarita for the first time and learns what salsa is. It is clear that Sunja and Kato have met several times since she contacted him in Episode 4.
Then, the story shifts back to 1950. In this earlier timeline, Sunja works hard selling noodles in the market, which is different from her future self enjoying a meal. The family waits anxiously to see if Noa (Kim Kang-hoon) has passed his entrance exam for Waseda University.
In 1950, Mr. Kim (Kim Sungkyu) goes to a rally where Koreans protest against their rights being taken away in Japan. Their schools are closing, and all Koreans must sign a public registry. This forces them to feel isolated from the Japanese people.
Still from the show (Apple TV+)
The Koreans argue that they are fighting for their survival, even though the war is over. Mr. Kim does not seem excited about the rally and looks very worried. He has lost the hope he once had while living in the countryside during the war.
Later in the episode, Mr. Kim acts on Hansu’s orders. He beats one of Hansu’s workers and uses intimidation tactics for Hansu (Lee Min-ho). Hansu questions a worker who claims there are rumors about him pulling out of the black market.
Mr. Kim holds the man until he admits that someone named Yoshii Isamu wants to take over the black market. This sets up a future conflict for Hansu. Hansu knows Mr. Kim wants to leave his job.
He tells him, “You won’t just be my fists for much longer.” These violent actions go against Mr. Kim’s gentle nature. He wonders how much longer he can live this way. He still lives with Kyunghee (Jung Eun-chae), whom he loves, while her husband, Yoseb (Han Joon-Woo), watches their stolen glances. There is a lot of tension in Mr. Kim’s life, and something will eventually explode.
The story shifts to Solomon, who plans to open a golf club on some land. However, his life changes when a work associate tells him that his business partner, Yoshii-san, has a message. The associate gives Solomon pictures of Naomi with another man, looking very close. Solomon tries to say the man is just an old boyfriend, but the associate insists the pictures were taken recently.
He warns Solomon that Yoshii-san will do anything necessary to get the business deal, saying fighting for what you want is just “called human nature.” If Yoshii-san doubts Solomon, he will cut him off and may harm him. Now, Solomon must find a way to secure the deal.
Solomon follows Naomi and sees her having dinner with the man in the pictures. He realizes she might be cheating on him. When Naomi comes to his apartment later, she explains that the man is someone she has known since childhood, and their parents want them to marry.
She feels trapped by her parents’ expectations and should have told Solomon earlier. He tries to save their relationship by asking, “Can you promise me you’ll never look away again?” Naomi responds with, “I want to try.” Solomon understands that this weak answer means their relationship may not last.
Still from the show (Apple TV+)
Before letting Naomi leave, Solomon makes one last request. He asks her to call in Abe-san’s loan so he can finish his project and prove his worth. He says, “I need everyone to know that I’m here.” But Naomi knows that this will harm her career and give her a bad reputation.
In a heartbreaking moment, Solomon says, “Then I’ll find a way, you know I will.” Naomi responds angrily, “And I will have no choice but to stop you.”
We have not seen adult Mozasu (Soji Arai) in a few episodes. He is not the hero in Episode 6. He struggles with debt from his pachinko parlor but instead of focusing on it, he worries about his mother’s happiness. When Sunja tells him about her outing with Kato, he questions who she is spending time with.
Solomon receives a phone call from Tom Andrews (Jimmi Simpson), who confirms that Naomi will not give up. Solomon says, “We have to get rid of her then.”
He tells Tom that they will frame Naomi for financial misconduct in her current business deal with Yotsuba Finance. Solomon is now willing to do anything, even ruin Naomi’s career, to get what he wants.
In 1950, Noa gets accepted to Waseda University. The family feels excited about Noa’s bright future until he learns about extra fees of 2,400 yen.
Sunja reassures Noa that they will find the money without asking Hansu for help. She stays up late making candies to sell, putting her dreams of opening a restaurant aside until Noa finishes school. She will not ask Hansu for help.
Hansu also deals with family issues. He meets with his father-in-law, who tells him he has arranged for Hansu’s daughter to marry. Hansu feels hesitant but his father-in-law warns him, saying he has never mentioned Hansu’s secret son or hidden life.
He firmly states, “I have never touched that family. Do not make me consider otherwise.” This is a clear threat to Hansu to stay in his place and follow the arrangements made.
The scene reminds viewers that there are always people in power above you, even if Hansu seems to control others.
After thinking about the financial impact on his family, Noa decides not to attend Waseda University. He tells Sunja that he does not want to go to school at the cost of her dreams.
She encourages him, saying the restaurant idea is a “fool’s gamble.” Noa feels he must take care of everyone as the eldest son. Sunja reminds him that a better future will benefit the whole family.
Still from the show (Apple TV+)
Noa still refuses, so Sunja swallows her pride and asks Hansu to help convince him. Hansu insists it is not an option for Noa to skip school. He tells Sunja to “pry his eyes open.
Make him see what the world really looks like.” In the spirit of all the threats happening in this episode, he adds, “If you can’t convince him, I will.” Sunja does not want Hansu near Noa, so she tries one last time to change his mind.
Sunja takes Noa to eat tofu at the shop where his crush works. She opens up to Noa, saying she never thought she would stay in Japan so long.
She explains that she came because Isak asked her to. She did not understand how the world worked or Isak’s faith until he talked to her about heaven.
She tells Noa that when she thinks of heaven, she pictures her home in Korea. Sunja reminds Noa that they have faced painful experiences in Japan, saying, “If you stay here…the memories will burn in your soul.” She admits that she promised Isak to help Noa and Mozasu succeed, and she wants to keep that promise.
The girl at the shop praises Noa for leaving to attend university. Noa tells the girl, “When I’m there, I know I’ll miss this.” It seems Sunja’s heartfelt speech finally worked, and there is a touching moment where Sunja feels she has done something to help Noa find his future.
It shows her compassion and that she can win Noa over without anger or violence. She speaks from the heart to achieve her goal. Despite the damage done by patriarchy, Sunja is determined to lead her life with kindness and love.
Episode 6 sets the stage for future conflicts, but it seems the discrimination and violence linked to patriarchy will continue to affect these characters for a long time. New episodes of Pachinko Season 2 come out every Friday on Apple TV+ in the U.S.
In addition to Sunja’s heartfelt conversation with Noa, the episode hints at deeper family tensions simmering under the surface.
Solomon’s ruthless decision to sabotage Naomi’s career, and Mozasu’s growing distrust of Kato, reveal how far-reaching the consequences of male dominance are, affecting every aspect of their relationships and ambitions.
These characters are constantly weighed down by personal and societal expectations, creating an emotional atmosphere of both love and betrayal.
