Here we have another perfectly serviceable episode of Five-O, this time, one of those with a Navy slant. As fans know, main character Steve McGarrett was a US Naval Reserve Officer, and here he once more he dons his commander's uniform to solve yet another glitzy law enforcement conundrum, this time, naturally enough, a caucasoid spy ring intent on stealing naval secrets. As noted in the credits, this episode wouldn't have been possible the way it is shown without the generous cooperation of the United States Navy, through its lending numerous personnel and some of its more fun Hawaii-based training training facilities to liven up this installment.
As a result, I gave this an 8 out of prejudice, even though it is probably more like a 7, because I was just beside myself with glee to be surprised to see not only a bit of a real damage control flooding trainer exercise but the old Pearl Harbor submarine escape practice tank in operation, through both of which they appear to have actually put the guest-starring actor at the center of this drama, but also the FBM Dive Trainer, where he also gets his feet wet as a Chief of The Watch (even though he was WAY too senior for that, but should have not been doing but standing there giving orders). Even so, it was great fun to relive a jam-dive casualty (of the stern planes) in the trainer after nearly 40 years. It was all the better because it came as a total surprise. One does not expect to see a real multi-million-dollar (roughly $1.5 million in 1964 dollars) submarine training device like that in an episode of even as glamorous a cop show as Hawaii Five-O. The end result is that this installment came off looking a bit like a "public affairs" (Navy for "P.R.") promotion, but so what. No viewer will be hurt by it, and it relieves the monotony of the usual retinue of sleezy-smooth organized crime bosses, lowly hoods and thugs, beach bums, and even spies that form the normal fare of this program.
And that's not all. Yet equally noteworthy was the leading female guest star. The rest of the show would be standard for what you normally expect from this series, except for the presence of a real-live genuine Bond Girl (yes, THAT "Bond"), Maud Adams of MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN fame, looking as striking as ever. I won't spoil things by going into any detail just what she does in this episode (although I see nothing wrong with divulging that she does get a beach scene in a bikini, and what else?).
Given these high points it is easier to excuse some of the usual kinds of of flubs endemic to weekly TV show production, such as overlooking that naval officers have their fingerprints on their Navy ID cards, the fact that no experienced submariner calls a submarine a "sub" (he would call it a "boat"), and the mysterious mid-episode promotion of Lieutenant Commander Harner to full Commander. I also still have to wonder about the admission of a pure civilian to a Navy or other military hospital; and I still have to wonder about the nurse's uniforms, which are not the way I remember them.
All that said, needless to say I highly recommend this episode to any other ex-submariners out there (as well as to all you "non-quals, too).
As a result, I gave this an 8 out of prejudice, even though it is probably more like a 7, because I was just beside myself with glee to be surprised to see not only a bit of a real damage control flooding trainer exercise but the old Pearl Harbor submarine escape practice tank in operation, through both of which they appear to have actually put the guest-starring actor at the center of this drama, but also the FBM Dive Trainer, where he also gets his feet wet as a Chief of The Watch (even though he was WAY too senior for that, but should have not been doing but standing there giving orders). Even so, it was great fun to relive a jam-dive casualty (of the stern planes) in the trainer after nearly 40 years. It was all the better because it came as a total surprise. One does not expect to see a real multi-million-dollar (roughly $1.5 million in 1964 dollars) submarine training device like that in an episode of even as glamorous a cop show as Hawaii Five-O. The end result is that this installment came off looking a bit like a "public affairs" (Navy for "P.R.") promotion, but so what. No viewer will be hurt by it, and it relieves the monotony of the usual retinue of sleezy-smooth organized crime bosses, lowly hoods and thugs, beach bums, and even spies that form the normal fare of this program.
And that's not all. Yet equally noteworthy was the leading female guest star. The rest of the show would be standard for what you normally expect from this series, except for the presence of a real-live genuine Bond Girl (yes, THAT "Bond"), Maud Adams of MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN fame, looking as striking as ever. I won't spoil things by going into any detail just what she does in this episode (although I see nothing wrong with divulging that she does get a beach scene in a bikini, and what else?).
Given these high points it is easier to excuse some of the usual kinds of of flubs endemic to weekly TV show production, such as overlooking that naval officers have their fingerprints on their Navy ID cards, the fact that no experienced submariner calls a submarine a "sub" (he would call it a "boat"), and the mysterious mid-episode promotion of Lieutenant Commander Harner to full Commander. I also still have to wonder about the admission of a pure civilian to a Navy or other military hospital; and I still have to wonder about the nurse's uniforms, which are not the way I remember them.
All that said, needless to say I highly recommend this episode to any other ex-submariners out there (as well as to all you "non-quals, too).