As compelling as it is, it’s not the case of the kidnapped private school kids that holds our attention long after the 42 minutes and 3 seconds allotted to “Pahele (Trapped)” have passed, but rather it’s the latest twists and turns in the Wo Fat/McGarrett storyline that continue to intrigue – and plague – us.
Joe White (who, incidentally, certainly does a dress uniform justice and then some!) has to pay for the team’s North Korean escapade with an honorable discharge from the Navy and now has a lot of time on his hands. You could say it’s proof that no good deed goes unpunished, but McGarrett’s former trainer and CO doesn’t seem all that put out by the latest turn of events. And someone had to be held accountable, although you would expect McGarrett himself to catch more flak from the governor, who so far has seemingly been all bark and no bite.
While Five-0 races against the clock to find the South Shore Academy kids and their teacher being held for ransom, “Funky Joe” has been doing some kidnapping of his own. The shocking closer on Tantalus Drive has everybody’s tongue wagging in speculation and although Steve doesn’t know what we as viewers know, the Joe White he did get to witness on the mountain was enough to leave him stunned speechless.
Joe’s methods are just as unorthodox as Steve’s are, but that shouldn’t really be a surprise to anyone.
The folks who think that Joe is being unmasked as a villain can put that thought out of their heads. Peter Lenkov has tweeted that making Joe evil “would be too easy” and even without that confirmation, it would appear that Joe is continuing to do what he has always done and that is to look out for the McGarrett family. And the person he was talking to on the phone before the screen faded to black was very likely a member of that family, and quite possibly “Shelburne” him- or herself.
Who Shelburne is will be revealed to us in episode 2.14 promises Peter, and that won’t air until the New Year. Meanwhile, read this week’s recaps, do some more speculating and feel free to share your thoughts about Shelburne and who you think Joe was talking to!
Yes, I’m a little bitter that Joe has become another character who seems to be turning the corner toward treachery, but if we’re keeping track, we have gotten a few back in the past. Kono came back from playing little girl lost in the sea of ex-cops gone bad, and Jenna seemed to redeem herself with her death, which in the end wasn’t for nothing. Perhaps with this track record, maybe even Joe can slip out of this noose.
And I think the key to him finding a way out is in answering the question, who is Shelburne? And why is Wo Fat so afraid of him? Only then will we perhaps feel the noose loosen for not only Joe, but McGarrett and the rest of the team as well. And I can almost guarantee the ending will not be as happy as this week’s episode was, because no good seems to come to those who cross Wo Fat. Especially when they play for the good guys.
Overall I found this to be another great episode where the team worked together as, well, a team. Everyone had their parts to play and things they had to do, and they did them perfectly. I couldn’t ask for anything better than that.
Writers Melissa Glenn and Jessica Rieder delivered an incredible episode last night with ruthless kidnappers, a case of mistaken identity and a good balance of team work and guest stars.
Aimee Garcia (“Dexter”) played the gorgeous but deadly kidnapper perfectly. I watched the twitter feed light up with less than complimentary comments about her character. Don’t let her evercatch you taking a cell phone call in the middle of a movie at the theater. Also in the episode was Rick Gomez (“Band of Brothers
“) who played the cartel boss Castillo masquerading as a lowly drug runner. His maniacal Joker-esque transformation in the interrogation room was exceptional. Equally brilliant was the twist that he was the cartel boss pulling the strings all along. The ruthlessness of his cartel and the strength of his performance hopefully brings about another appearance. Rounding out the guest stars, Ingo Rademacher (“General Hospital”) played the concerned dad. Unfortunately, Masi Oka and Taylor Wily were missing in the episode, but I think the writers achieved a good balance between the guest stars as well as the Five-0 members.
I’m not a big fan of mysterious entities known only by a single word, in this case the innocuous sounding “Shellburn,” but I’m willing to wait a few more episodes to find exactly what, or as we learned in this episode, who this is. “H50″ is doing a great job of hitting the Wo Fat storyline while maintaining its episodic feel. While not the most exciting or inventive episode this season, ‘Pahele’ did a nice job of keeping the over-arcing story afloat while delivering the kind of in-and-out episode viewers expect of CBS procedurals. We can’t expect to get Jimmy Buffet flying a helicopter in North Korea every week, now can we?
If Steve watching Joe drive away with a hostage was not strange enough, Joe then called someone and said Steve was getting too close and they might have to be moved. When did Steve get too close? Didn’t he spend the entire episode dealing with a hostage situation and only got info on Wo Fat when Joe called him directly? Anyone else confused? Yeah, me too.
That won’t stop us from having some fun and making a game out of it. Post who you think Joe called or who you think needs to be moved (and why you think it’s that person) in the Comments below. My guess is going completely off the map sideways: I’m saying it’s Steve’s mother who’s been in hiding from Wo Fat.
Joe calls Steve to meet him, and reveals Hiro in his trunk. It seems that this Shelburn thing is actually a person and has Wo Fat scared out of his perfectly tailored pants. Joe drives off with Hiro in his trunk, and makes a phone call to tell someone that “Steve is getting too close. We may need to move you.”
Who is he talking to? Is Joe evil? My answer is no, he’s not evil, he’s simply trying to keep two Steps Ahead of Steve for his own good. I also have a theory that Shelburne and all that has to do with Steve’s mom. But I could be proven wrong.
Thanks for all the fantastic reviews and recaps. I love how the creative writers have put some twists to Steve McGarrett’s and Joe White’s story lines. I certainly would love to find out more about Joe’s background and whether he is helping Steve or covering something up for Wo Fat. Yes, I have also wondered whether Joe could be Steve’s biological father. I would love to find out who Steve’s mother real husband was.
Wow – you guys have rich imaginations!
No one’s mentioned the possibility yet of Joe being Steve’s real father, so I’ll throw that one in.
I thought about John McGarrett possibly still being alive, but am ruling that one out as Steve would have had to ID the body, and if for some reason he didn’t, he would still have demanded to see his dad. Plus, Hesse – who of course shot McGarrett Sr. – was working for Wo Fat, so for him to have been in on the conspiracy to fake John’s death would be a little OTT.
I hope they’ll throw us some more clues before 2.14 airs. Love the suspense!
I thought that too. That Steve’s mom and Joe were an item and then she married John. As far as who Joe was talking to. My first thought was it was Steve’s dad. That he really didn’t die at the hands of Victor. This thing is getting really mysterious. Poor Steve… if he did alreay have “issues” now we can understand why he does.
Peter just loves to drive us crazy, doesn’t he?
If he didn’t already have issues, he would certainly have them by 2.14!
Joe knows about the whole thing….Steve’s father was stationed overseas had a fling-thing before he met S & M’s mother and the rest is history. The overseas family was really wealthy and papa didn’t approve of the relationship. But Steve’s father did the honourable thing and has been supporting “Shelburn” ever since. Joe stepped in to take over when Steve’s father was killed in episode 1.
Hope I’m right…..
Wow! Even IF this is not what happens, Peter Lenkov would be very proud of your brainstorming skills!!!!!
Very good conspiracy theories- something to ponder.
I also have been thinking that McGarrett and Wo Fat may be half-brothers. Wow wouldn’t that be something to talk about.
‘Shelburn’ is most probably the person who originally send most of the stuff in the ‘Champbox’ to Steve’s dad. If that is so, that person seems to be from Japan or somewhere in the East (Either living there or hiding there…..)
?
(and too much like Chuck and Prison Break….but it can create some nice new story lines if they chose that route)
One thing that keeps me wondering….I have never seen any pictures of Steve’s mother (don’t know if I’ve missed it) Why did the producers choose not to show her face
I hope it is not her, because it will be the cruellest thing that has ever happened to Steve in my eyes
One other totally way out idea, and the only reason I thought of it, is because of the earlier NCIS LA crossover, that ‘Shelburn” might be the character ‘Hetty Lange’ ( I don’t follow that show, but from the little I’ve seen, she seems to know everybody and has a lot of old contacts and influence!)
I thought that this was a great episode. I like the fact that there were consequences for their actions in going into North Korea. Especially after Joe let them know just how serious it could be….
I have also thought that Steve’s Mother is still alive. I thought so since the season 2 opener and Steve’s conversation with Makoto. (also another hint from Joe in 2.4) One of the many things I love about this show is the small clues to the arcs. Watch and listen carefully and they are there….
I usually have one line or moment from each episode that sticks with me. This one has to the “I hate Heroes” moment. Perfect!!
I have 3 guesses of who Shelburne could be:
1. Steve’s dead mother- who isn’t really dead.
2. Catherine
3. Joe White, himself (maybe he was talking on the phone to someone else involved?)
Can’t wait for 2.14!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe Steve’s evil twin???????????
BTW- I had thought of the dead mother idea before I even read this article……
Anyone else have any conspiracy theories?