The latest episode of Rescue: HI-Surf begins with a warning of impending big waves which means only experienced surfers are allowed out (and even as an experienced surfer - it’s best to be cautious).
A father and daughter learned very quickly just how rough the waters will be when their small boat capsizes. Luckily Laka, Hina, and Kainalu were close by and were able to assist. The father said he’s been in these waters for years and never experienced anything like it. This interaction, to me, sets up the tone of the episode perfectly. Laka even tells the rookies “it doesn’t matter what you think you know, the ocean is not playing today”.
“XXL” - RESCUE: HI-SURF - Pictured: Robbie Magasiva Harlan “Sonny” Jennings. Photo: Zach Dugan/FOX. ©2024 FOX Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The team gets their assignments and as they’re ready to head out, Kainalu gets a call from his father. It doesn’t look like it was a pleasant one and we come to find out his father wants him to take the rest of the day off. As busy as the day will be for them, I’m shocked when he goes to ask Sonny for this time off and it’s approved. There was no hesitation either which to me feels like he’s still going soft with Kainalu. Would he let Will or Laka get away with that? (ABSOLUTELY NOT).
When Kainalu meets with his father, it turns out it’s not much of an emergency: his father wants him to show some folks that could be good for his campaign a tour around the island. If that wasn’t enough to irritate me about his father, he just stood there as this woman butchered Kainalu’s name and then decided she’s not even going to try and just shortened it (the audacity of this one).
“XXL” - RESCUE: HI-SURF - Pictured: Kekoa Kekumano as Laka Hanohano. Photo: Zach Dugan/FOX. ©2024 FOX Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The team heads to the beach to continue monitoring and keeping folks off the beach. If you’re not an experienced surfer (this statement feels so repetitive, but it needs to be emphasized) or at least known by some of the rescue folks, you will get turned away. As Sonny gets his team ready for the crazy day ahead, two kids attempt to head into the water. He stops them, saying they'll need his approval to go in. It isn’t until his daughter, Ocean, comes by (why is she never in school?) that he realizes they're her friends and eases up on the two teens; he lets them get into the water.
As the day progresses, surfers are dropping left and right - thankfully nothing too bad (yet). Emily and Jenn are riding the waves as well; it’s good to see them relax a bit and enjoy themselves. We all know Emily is more than capable of handling herself in the water, right, but I can’t help but notice how Will is always worried about her. Will, who is engaged by the way, can’t help but care for her wellbeing at all times. Hmm… interesting.
“XXL” - RESCUE: HI-SURF - Pictured: Arielle Kebbel Emily “Em” Wright. Photo: Zach Dugan/FOX. ©2024 FOX Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Noah, Ocean’s friend (maybe boyfriend?), is getting ready to take on a wave and he does pretty well. As the waves pick up, Hina is called in to assist with some rescues. She’s visibly nervous and it’s great to see how Sonny isn't that hard on her. So maybe it wasn’t just him being easy on Kainalu.
Speaking of, Kainalu is still stuck on tour guide duty. I don’t like his father - he's clearly throwing back all the things he’s done for Kainalu means he didn’t do them out of love for his son. But then again, Kainalu did accept them, so maybe it’s time to stop letting daddy pay for everything. The switch up was crazy though when his father basically let him know he’d have nothing if he didn’t comply with his request.
We’re back in the ocean with Noah, but this time around? He’s not doing too great; a huge wave knocked him down and he’s hurt. Sonny and Hina head out to rescue and manage to bring him to safety. Poor kid got a broken nose and two teeth knocked out (at least Ocean wasn’t too phased about this).
“XXL” - RESCUE: HI-SURF - Pictured: Zoe Cipres as Hina Alexander and Robbie Magasiva as Harlan “Sonny” Jennings. Photo: Zach Dugan/FOX. ©2024 FOX Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Kainalu’s father is the worst; it’s like he has no respect for the working class (taking Kainalu away from shifts means they’ll be short staffed which was the problem they were trying to fix). This is the second week I’ve said this now, but I’m proud of Kainalu; standing up for himself with his father couldn't have been easy for him (since we saw how easily he folded earlier). I didn't think he had it in him since he complied with his father's orders earlier.
The last ten minutes of this episode was so hard to watch and brings us back to what Laka said earlier, "it doesn’t matter what you think you know, the ocean is not playing today". Rocky is an experienced surfer, but he was no match for these waters; he gets knocked down by an insane wave. When Sonny and Hina go out to look for him, they find him and Hina grabs him but he slips from under her and they lose him. A rescue doesn’t happen the second time around. Hina, despite Sonny’s orders, goes back in and tries to find him, and now needing a rescue herself. Rocky was never recovered.
I could only imagine what this is doing to Sonny. He completely loses it on Hina (understandably so - Hina was reckless) but even though his reaction was valid, we all know that it had more to do with losing Zion. Emily calls him out on it (and it’s about time someone does) and I hope this is Sonny’s sign to get some real help. I’m nervous about how everyone on the team will recover from this loss.
What’d you think of the latest episode of Rescue: HI-Surf? Share your comments below or connect with me on X/Twitter @chenfordhugs
