I was floored when they dumped Chen's body on the steps of the headquarters. Knowing how close Steve was to his men and especially Chen, I knew this was going to be an exciting episode. When they attempted to assassinate Steve I was so out done. This to me was one of the best episodes. I have watched all of them on Netflix and am coming down to the home stretch. I love the scenery of Hawaii and the people emit a sense of loyalty for culture and family. These have been some of the most exciting story lines and I am glad I had an opportunity to be a part of it's viewing audience. I read a lot of the history of Mr. Lords love for the island and the people. He left a major legacy to the institutions and culture of the island.
7 Reviews
Slight correction to another poster's comment
midnight_raider200130 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Without taking away from another poster's comment on how heinous the murder of Chin Ho was (along with three other people killed by a bomb in the middle of the show), I meed to point out that Hawaii doesn't have a death penalty and hasn't since statehood in 1959. Johnny Rego and his two renegade hirelings would face multiple murder-one charges all right, but they would face life imprisonment. I don't know if Hawaii had life imprisonment without possibility of parole as they do now, but a cop killer and vicious mobster wasn't going to get out any time soon unless he broke prison (which happened in a couple of episodes). I don't think CBS policy at the time would have permitted the show to do a death-penalty episode anyway, and they probably had serious qualms over the 16 gunshots and a bombing (not to mention McGarrett beating up Rego and shoving a gun in his face and threatening him with everything). At the time, I'm told, there was an average limit of three violent acts (gunshots, punches thrown, etc.) per episode. It was no wonder that CBS started liking Barnaby Jones, the mildest of all the cop shows (and the most successful) over Five-O and others at this point.
Only Fair
samwa-2731120 September 2019
The most important part of this, of course, for the audience, is the surprise loss of our beloved Chin Ho.
Few shows in history, have had a legendary character removed in this way.
But, by this season, things were getting stale.
The scripts were not as good, and the music was less interesting and more.
I've seen all 281 episodes .
Please: Chin Ho, undercover, and at, that, to major syndicate?
Come on.
Steve... " Chin was too well known... Maybe I should have not have assigned this to him....
Duh.
A short while later, he carries out the investigation with no viable grief or remorse.
He forbades Ho's daughter from amateur detective work, then we she disobeys that, he isn't concerned.
Fight scene between McGarrett and the main villain, looked so phony, like Abbott and Costello.
In Season 10, most crooks give up way to easily.
Almost no chemistry between the two leads, Steve and Williams.
But still, good to watch for true fans.
Few shows in history, have had a legendary character removed in this way.
But, by this season, things were getting stale.
The scripts were not as good, and the music was less interesting and more.
I've seen all 281 episodes .
Please: Chin Ho, undercover, and at, that, to major syndicate?
Come on.
Steve... " Chin was too well known... Maybe I should have not have assigned this to him....
Duh.
A short while later, he carries out the investigation with no viable grief or remorse.
He forbades Ho's daughter from amateur detective work, then we she disobeys that, he isn't concerned.
Fight scene between McGarrett and the main villain, looked so phony, like Abbott and Costello.
In Season 10, most crooks give up way to easily.
Almost no chemistry between the two leads, Steve and Williams.
But still, good to watch for true fans.
Well-Done Presentation
ellisel15 July 2006
In "Hawaii Five-O's" twelve-year tun, the episode "A Death in the Family" was the most interesting episode of its time. Chin Ho Kelley was undergoing a sting operation. The trek was meant to be a drug ring. The problem: Chin Ho Kelley had no idea that the mastermind of the ring was James Rego. The mastermind to the trade (unfortunately) resulted in the fatal ambush of Chin Ho Kelley after his cover became compromised beyond recognition. Steve McGarrett (obviously) found out the killing involved cocaine trafficking and extortion -- not to mention racketeering. McGarrett sought justice for this vicious murderer. He slugged James Rego until he could not take anymore beatings from the ruthless ambush of Chin Ho Kelley. Nobody -- but nobody -- ever called McGarrett a pal when a mastermind into the killing mortally wounded a peace officer. "Hawaii Five-O" should have aired a two-hour special episode titled "Hawaii Versus Rego" to start the 1978-1979 Television Season (aired September 28, 1978). The reason: the District Attorney would have sought the death penalty for James Rego on the charges of first-degree murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping, and racketeering. Any Questions?
A very good "season finale" of Hawaii Five-0, with a disappointing ending and a plot hole.
FloridaFred10 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is a heart-breaking episode where a major character of the Five-0 Team is killed off by the Bad Guys. Lots of tension, plenty of action. McGarrett and his boys are focused on only one thing, and that is finding the person who whacked Chin Ho Kelly.
One major plot hole is Kelly's daughter, "Suzy" (actress Jean Marie Hon) being best friends with the Syndicate head's daughter "Kini Pahoa" (actress Elissa Dulce Hoopai). Are we supposed to believe that the Syndicate would not know that Suzy is the daughter of the slain cop? There is no way they would let Kini pal it up with a cop's daughter, knowing that Five-0 is trying to tie them to the murder.
The ending is disappointing. CBS TV was on an "anti-violence" crusade; they wanted less murders and killings in the Police dramas and Western shows. When McGarrett catches up with the killer, he just beats him up, then handcuffs him. Come on! A real cop, whose number one partner was murdered, would have shot this guy dead. And he would have been justified here; the killer was shooting at McGarrett with a high-powered rifle. But we can't have too much violence (even the punches McGarrett throws are hidden by a tree). The bad guy gets to live.
Compounding that, is that the Syndicate head is exonerated, he is not taken down (maybe the writers were saving him for a sequel in the next season?).
A good episode. Because of the plot hole and the lousy ending I ding it one star. 9 stars for "A Death in the Family".
Florida Fred .
One major plot hole is Kelly's daughter, "Suzy" (actress Jean Marie Hon) being best friends with the Syndicate head's daughter "Kini Pahoa" (actress Elissa Dulce Hoopai). Are we supposed to believe that the Syndicate would not know that Suzy is the daughter of the slain cop? There is no way they would let Kini pal it up with a cop's daughter, knowing that Five-0 is trying to tie them to the murder.
The ending is disappointing. CBS TV was on an "anti-violence" crusade; they wanted less murders and killings in the Police dramas and Western shows. When McGarrett catches up with the killer, he just beats him up, then handcuffs him. Come on! A real cop, whose number one partner was murdered, would have shot this guy dead. And he would have been justified here; the killer was shooting at McGarrett with a high-powered rifle. But we can't have too much violence (even the punches McGarrett throws are hidden by a tree). The bad guy gets to live.
Compounding that, is that the Syndicate head is exonerated, he is not taken down (maybe the writers were saving him for a sequel in the next season?).
A good episode. Because of the plot hole and the lousy ending I ding it one star. 9 stars for "A Death in the Family".
Florida Fred .
I was NOT looking forward to seeing this one...and it didn't leave me very satisfied when I finally did.
planktonrules7 June 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Up until a few years ago, I thought I'd seen every episode of "Hawaii Five-O". However, when my wife and I were talking about the show some time back, she mentioned that she really hated seeing Chin Ho get murdered on the show. Get murdered?! I'd never heard about that and no idea that they'd killed him off in the series. Because I loved the show and his character, I really did NOT look forward to seeing "A Death in the Family"--even if it would help me to finish seeing every episode of the show. Sadly, the episode turned out to be a rather weak one--at least if you are a huge fan, like me.
The show begins with some Five-O raids on various mob (the 'Kumu') activities on the islands. While the boss of the Kumu insists that everyone lie low while the crack downs occur, his hot-headed (and rather stupid) soon-to-be son-in-law, Jimmy Rego, decides to do things his way. Instead of backing down, he ramps up his protection racket and even has the nerve to murder Chin Ho (who is on an undercover investigation). Then, he rubs it in McGarrett's face by dumping the body on the palace steps! Not surprisingly, McGarrett is determined to get the killer--and when the head of the Kumu finds out, he's more than happy to give the jerk to the police!
While the general plot is pretty good and I like the idea of killing off a main character (it does add realism that is lacking in most cop shows), the finished product left a bit to be desired. For a purist like myself, I was surprised at the lack of continuity in this episode. In earlier shows, Chin Ho had a HUGE brood of kids. Here, they only talk about his daughter! What about her sibs?! To make matters worse, she was a super-annoying character! She decided, against McGarrett's advice, to investigate the case herself and nearly gets herself killed. I HATE the 'dumb woman investigator' plot--and it seemed like a big cliché--a big dumb cliché. Had they eliminated her character completely, the show would have been a heck of a lot better--even if I did hate to see Chin Ho die.
The show begins with some Five-O raids on various mob (the 'Kumu') activities on the islands. While the boss of the Kumu insists that everyone lie low while the crack downs occur, his hot-headed (and rather stupid) soon-to-be son-in-law, Jimmy Rego, decides to do things his way. Instead of backing down, he ramps up his protection racket and even has the nerve to murder Chin Ho (who is on an undercover investigation). Then, he rubs it in McGarrett's face by dumping the body on the palace steps! Not surprisingly, McGarrett is determined to get the killer--and when the head of the Kumu finds out, he's more than happy to give the jerk to the police!
While the general plot is pretty good and I like the idea of killing off a main character (it does add realism that is lacking in most cop shows), the finished product left a bit to be desired. For a purist like myself, I was surprised at the lack of continuity in this episode. In earlier shows, Chin Ho had a HUGE brood of kids. Here, they only talk about his daughter! What about her sibs?! To make matters worse, she was a super-annoying character! She decided, against McGarrett's advice, to investigate the case herself and nearly gets herself killed. I HATE the 'dumb woman investigator' plot--and it seemed like a big cliché--a big dumb cliché. Had they eliminated her character completely, the show would have been a heck of a lot better--even if I did hate to see Chin Ho die.
A BLACK EYE to Five-O fans
fbm727515 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This episode should NEVER have been made. I know it's just a television show but nearly 43 years later I still get quite worked up about it. I saw the telecast when it originally aired and haven't seen it since & never will again. Chin Ho was part of my television life for ten years from when I was a teenager to young adult. He was one who spiced up Hawaii Five-O and made it what it was and still is.
While watching that original airing I nearly shut the TV off four times but my inner sides said to go ahead and finish watching to see Steve get him. Unfortunately the culprit lived to be booked rather than get cut down by a hail of bullets. Rene Santoni gives a good performance but the face of Jimmy Rego still makes me seethe. And him rubbing McGarrett's nose into it after the killing makes one hate this guy more. Why could they have it that Chin was maybe badly beaten to the point of a coma and come out alive in the end to retire instead? I love a number of episodes of this show but some were just too kill crazy.
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