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Everything you need to know about the crime procedural drama

Hawaii Five-0 is a highly successful crime procedural drama based around an elite police task force based in the State.

It is a reboot of the 1968 drama of the same name, which ran until 1980.

The series is led by partners Detective Steve McGarrett and Danny “Danno” Williams, who are surrounded by a key team of investigators and informants as they try to clean the streets of Hawaii for good.

Similar to other shows of the genre, Hawaii Five-0 works on a ‘case of the week’ format, with nearly every episode focusing on a different crime.

The core team remains as the constant factor, connecting the episodes together.

Premiering September 20, 2010 – the 42nd anniversary the original show debuted – Hawaii Five-0 was praised by critics for its original spin on the series.

It ran for 10 years, coming to an end with a two-hour finale in April 2020.

Who starred in Hawaii Five-0?

The leading cast members throughout the episodes were:

  • Alex O’Loughlin (Three Rivers, Moonlight) as Steve McGarrett
  • Scott Caan (Entourage, Oceans 11) as Danny Williams
  • Taylor Wily (Magnum PI, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) as Kamekona
  • Daniel Dae Kim (Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Resident) as Chin Ho Kelly
  • Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica, A Million Little Things) as Kano Kalakaua
  • Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies, I Robot) as Lou Grover
  • Dennis Chun (Magnum PI) as Sgt. Duke Luella
  • Masi Oka (Heroes, Bullet Train) as Max Bergman
  • Jorge Garcia (Lost) as Jerry Ortega
  • Ian Anthony Dale (The Walking Dead, The Resident) as Adam Noshimuri

How successful was Hawaii Five-0 and what awards did it win?

Hawaii Five-0 managed to acquire and maintain a strong viewership throughout its entire run.

At its height in season five, an average of 12.28 million people would tune in.

However, the show saw a steep drop in its final season - going from 10.01 million viewers in season nine to an average of 7.19 million in season ten. This is likely down to the decision to change its timeslot. But 9.59 million tuned into the series finale on April 3, 2020.

As well as being a ratings winner, Hawaii Five-0 also fared well when it came to recognition during awards season.

Over the course of the show’s run, they earned 23 nominations - including a Golden Globe for Scott Caan as best supporting actor in a series or miniseries, and nine Teen Choice Awards – and won 18 awards overall.

What is the age rating of Hawaii Five-0?

Hawaii Five-0’s official rating in the UK, as certified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), is 15 for the complete run.

There is no nudity at all in any of the seasons, and sex is always implied rather than being shown, however people are seen in their bathing suits including bikinis and swimming trunks.

In the case of Hawaii Five-0, depictions of violence is the biggest reason for the rating increase.

This includes frequent gun use in every episode due to the detective nature of the show, as well as fist-fighting and a small amount of blood.

However, gore is kept to a near minimum, as is blood spatter during violent fights.

How many episodes of Hawaii Five-0 are there?

Hawaii Five-0 (the reboot) ran for ten seasons – totalling 240 episodes overall.

Each season ran between 22 to 25 episodes. Season one ran for 24, season two was 23 episodes in length, season three upped back to 24, before season four was stripped down to 22.

After that, seasons five to nine ran for a stable 25 episodes apiece, with the final season ten being cut back again to 22 episodes.

The original Hawaii Five-0 ran for 12 seasons and 281 episodes between September 1968 and April 1980.

Will Hawaii Five-0 ever return for season 11 or a reboot?

No. CBS confirmed in February 2020 that season ten would be the show’s last, and there has been no discussion since about any further reboots, spin-offs or revivals.

However, there are multiple crossovers with Hawaii Five-0 and other shows - with ties to NCIS: Hawaii, JAG, MacGyver, and Magnum PI.

There were multiple factors regarding the decision to end the show - including ongoing medical issues from a shoulder injury Alex O’Loughlin acquired while filming season two.

Both O’Loughlin and co-star Scott Caan’s contracts were up at the end of the season, with O’Loughlin choosing not to renew.

There were reports CBS had considered continuing the show, with Caan as the main star wand his character Danno getting a new partner, but this never materialised.

In the official statement of the show’s end, Kelly Kahl, President of CBS Entertainment said: “It’s never easy to say goodbye to a hit franchise that carried on the legacy of the original with such distinction while establishing its own signature style.

“From episode one, Hawaii Five-0 has been a huge success for us. Thanks to the amazing talents of the producers, writers, cast and crew, it has played a key role for a decade on our schedule and helped establish our powerhouse Friday night. We cannot be prouder of its quality, longevity and are thankful for the passionate fan-devotion it inspired.”

Where can I watch Hawaii Five-0 in the UK?

Hawaii Five-0 is available to watch now on Sky Max and NOW.