Common Sense Media Review
By Will Wade , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 15+
Lots of guns, gore in violent remake of classic cop show.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
Well-trained commandos frequently take on equally well-trained terrorists and criminal gangs using automatic weapons, attack helicopters, and some intense martial arts moves. Lots of gun battles, and people are shot and some die (albeit generally quickly and fairly bloodlessly). There is also sexually tinged violence: A woman in a tight, short Halloween costume is chained to a workbench begging a killer to let her go; he ignores her pleas and begins doing something terrible to her face that splatters him with blood. There are dead bodies shown, bloody and mauled.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
Plenty of women in bikinis. An undercover officer must take off her dress, ostensibly to prove she isn't carrying a wire, but the bad guys take the opportunity to leer at her in her underwear. Unmarried adults talk about sex and seduction, and kiss before the camera cuts away and implied sex takes place offscreen. The camera sometimes pans slowly up the bodies of female victims as they beg for mercy or scream in terror.
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Products & Purchases
a little
The characters often use iPhones and iPads, and the show promotes the U.S. Navy enthusiastically, with characters often making statements like serving in the Navy was a father's "duty to his country."
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
Characters often relax with beers at the end of the day, though they are careful to avoid alcohol when on duty.
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Language
a little
Words include "fricking" and "son of a bitch."
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Positive Messages
very little
The show is about fighting/stopping crime, but the characters don't like following regulations: The Hawaii Five-0 unit was formed to take out the worst criminal elements, apparently without regard for due process or constitutional rights. Search warrants are unnecessary, and when in doubt, the characters shoot first and ask questions later (that is, if the suspects survive).
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Positive Role Models
very little
Steve McGarrett is brave, loyal, daring, and willing to put his life on the line to bring down the bad guys. He's true to his pals and willing to give good people the benefit of the doubt. But criminals and terrorists should beware of making him mad, because McGarrett will shoot with little provocation. He's a character who works best in a world where everything is black or white, good or bad. The show's cast is diverse overall, and much has been made of the fact that co-star Grace Park was cast in a role that went to a man in the original series.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Hawaii Five-0 is an often-violent cop show -- and a more intense remake of the classic TV series -- that focuses on an elite unit of crime fighters who are tasked with bringing down the worst elements of Hawaii's underground, with very little in the way of rules or regulations (or regards to civil rights) to get in their way. There's a lot of shooting first and asking questions later -- though not everyone survives the shooting part. Expect lots of gunfights, often using automatic weapons, and some deaths. As the series has progressed, it's grown more violent, and more likely to focus on murder than other crimes. Viewers will see car accidents, scantily clad women in jeopardy, serial killers, dead bodies, violence that causes blood to splatter everywhere, and so on. There are also autopsies with bloody, gory dead bodies on a table, and graphic photos of their injuries displayed above. Beach scenes are often an excuse for the camera to leer at women in bikinis. Other than the name, the location, and -- of course -- the theme music, there's little connection between this series (which, like most contemporary crime shows, also includes some drinking, language, and skimpy outfits) and the original.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hawaii Five-0
- Parents say (9)
- Kids say (25)
age 15+
Based on 9 parent reviews
keen M. Parent of 15-year-old
January 12, 2023
age 15+
stingray1965 Adult
May 13, 2020
age 15+
Lots of action, lots of heart, lots of laughs
The remake of Hawaii Five-O is fantastic.While paying modest tribute to the original, it stands as its own series. The story telling is spot on and will keep you at the edge of your seat. The characters are relatable and the chemistry is great. However, this is not a TV series for younger audiences. There are several episodes that are very intense and sometimes the violence is very graphic. There are also some sex scenes thrown in. No nudity, just a little awkward and not vital to the story. But these occurrences are pretty few and far between. Language is pretty mild. No f-bombs. The language that is used is pretty mild and rare. Overall, if you want a good action filled show with laughs, twists and turns, and heart. This is your show! You will love the heroes, hate the villains, the stunts are amazing, the sights of the Oahu island are gorgeous, and not to mention it has the amazingly catchy theme song from the original show, you will love Hawaii Five-O!
Rate TV show
See all 9 parent reviews
What's the Story?
Steve McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin), a former Navy SEAL, returns home to Hawaii to bring down the terrorist who killed his father in HAWAII FIVE-0. When he arrives, the governor (Jean Smart) offered him a job: heading up an elite new crime-fighting unit designed to bring down the worst offenders in the islands. "Your rules," she promised him, "my backing, no red tape." In other words, McGarrett had free rein to hunt down the bad guys with no regard for standard cop procedure. He could shoot first and ask questions later. But McGarrett's carte blanche was cut short when the governor was murdered, and the new governor had much less patience with his freewheeling ways. Now McGarrett acts more like a traditional cop, chasing down clues in each week's case with the help of his team: Danny "Danno" Williams (Scott Caan), a New Jersey expatriate who's no fan of the beach; Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), who was caught up in a corruption scandal and forced out of the Honolulu Police Department; and Kono Kalakaua (Grace Park), Chin Ho's cousin, the least experienced team member who's eager to make a name for herself. Other recurring characters include Dr. Max Bergman (Masi Oka), the chief medical examiner who performs autopsies under the direction of the Five-0 team, Lieutenant Catherine Rollins (Michelle Borth), Steve McGarrett's sometimes-girlfriend and Navy intelligence officer, and Kamekona (Taylor Wily), a shave ice truck owner and informant who's chummy with McGarrett.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (25):
Don't look for realism here, as this show is all about the action, and there's plenty of it. Hawaii sure seems dangerous these days. The bad guys are all packing automatic weapons, and spooky serial killers are on the loose. Good thing the Hawaii Five-0 unit is there to stop this unprecedented crime wave. There isn't really much connection to the original series, either. The names are the same, and the location, and -- of course -- the music. But otherwise, this is just another cop show, albeit one with particularly choice casting, particularly for guest stars and recurring minor characters.
In this cop show (a remake of the classic TV series with one of the best-known theme songs ever), McGarrett treats law enforcement like a military engagement: Shoot first, and shoot to kill (and thanks to his deal with the governor, there are no pesky reports to fill out afterward). As the show has progressed, it's gotten more violent than ever, more like CSI than a shoot-em-up cop show, with violent, gory, and bizarre murders committed on comely young female victims.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Hawaii Five-0's cops go about their business. What do you think about the idea of "good guys" who aren't obligated to follow standard procedure? Is this a good way to eliminate the worst criminals, or a slippery slope where rights are involved?
How does this series compare to the original? What's similar and what's different? Why do you think producers opted for a remake?
What's the impact of the show's violence? How does it compare to that in other crime/cop shows you've seen?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 22, 2010
- Cast: Alex O'Loughlin, Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park, Scott Caan
- Network: CBS
- Genre: Action
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: November 25, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Hawaii Five-0
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