Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) The Ransom (1970) User Reviews

Aside from a goofy ending, a pretty good episode.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 15 February 2010]

Andrew Duggan is the brains of a kidnap scheme and he tells his two flunkies what to do throughout the episode. Duggan, not surprisingly, is a bad guy--something he often played on this show. Also, one of the flunkies is Peter Bonerz--famous for his role in "The Bob Newhart Show" as well as for directing tons of TV shows.

The show begins with McGarrett coming to visit a rich guy. It seems earlier that day he withdrew $250,000 in small bills from the bank--a giveaway that he's collected ransom money. However, the man doesn't want the police involved and refuses to cooperate. Despite this, Five-O follows him as he goes to deliver the money--and in a fluke, a total stranger ends up ruining the drop. At this point, Five-O gets involved and Kono gives chase. In the process, however, Kono is kidnapped! What happens next is something you'll need to see for yourself.

Overall, this is a good episode except for the very end. While it was credible and well-written, the end required a "saved by McGarrett moment" where the chief of this organization goes in single-handedly to fight both baddies AND rescue Kono--not exactly a realistic situation. Still, the show was taut and exciting and worth seeing.

A classic 5-0 type episode

[shakspryn · 8/10 · 3 December 2021]

There were a lot of great episodes of the original series over the years, and for my money, this is one of them. It's one you remember; it stands out; and you can enjoy watching it more than once.

A big part of what makes it stand out, is that it gives Kono one of his best episodes of all the four seasons he was in! Hawaii 5-0 could be a hard-edged show (think of all the creepy pyscho killers Steve had to put out of business!) and this is a tough episode. The bad guys here are not raving nuts like our team sometimes encounters, but they are three bad dudes, without question. There is a lot of dramatic tension in this outing, and some excellent action scenes. Highly recommended. And a must for fans of "that big Kanaka," (as Steve calls him) Kono.