‘Rescue: HI-Surf’ Canceled — What Would Have Happened in Season 2
Well, it doesn’t look like Em (Arielle Kebbel) and Will (Adam Demos) will find their way back to each other, at least onscreen. Rescue: HI-Surf will not be returning for a second season.
The Fox drama follows the personal and professional lives of the lifeguards who patrol and protect the North Shore of O’ahu, the most famous and dangerous stretch of coastline in the world. Read on for everything we know about the show’s future and what would have happened in a second season.
Is Rescue: HI-Surf renewed for Season 2?
No, Fox canceled the drama on Wednesday, May 7.
When TV Insider spoke with creator Matt Kester in March 2025 about the Season 1 finale, he’d been hopeful the show would continue.
“I feel good. I’m always positive, and we have a ton more stories to tell. I think people are finding the show. I’m really heartened that a ton of people watch the show with their family. That makes me really happy. That was one of my goals, that people can watch the show and enjoy it as an adult, they can enjoy it with their 10-year-old, with their 6-year-old, with their teenager, and there’s kind of something for everybody,” he said. “There’s not a lot of programming like that. And I really feel grateful to Fox, Hulu, [and] Warner Brothers for allowing us to create that kind of show. I think people are still finding it and the people who do find it love it. So hopefully we’ll get a chance to keep going on it.”
Will Rescue: HI-Surf find a new home?
While shows have, in the past, been saved by other networks or streaming services, that won’t be the case here. According to Deadline, studio Warner Bros. Television doesn’t plan to try to do just that.
How did Rescue: HI-Surf end?
Em was offered a job working for a social media platform and tried to get Will to join her, but instead, he decided to head home to Australia. (To be fair, he’d been through a lot, including the end of his engagement due to his affair with Em.) Meanwhile, Sonny (Robbie Magasiva) forced Vince (Moronai Kanekoa) to resign after learning he’d been dealing drugs out of the tower but had to turn to someone shady for help. Plus, Laka (Kekoa Kekumano) was promoted to lieutenant.
What would have happened in Rescue: HI-Surf Season 2?
Creator Matt Kester told TV Insider that they’d “definitely” have had Demos back in Season 2 after the finale aired in March.
When it came to Em and Will’s future, however, that would have been more complicated. “We’re going to have to figure out, what is the special sauce that makes this relationship that they clearly both want, that they clearly both would love to work, how’s that going to happen for them? What’s going to be the thing that forces them together and forces them and everyone else to say, ‘Okay, this is a couple, this is a partnership, and they can make this work together both professionally and personally’?” Kester explained.
He also expected taking that job to have changed Em. She would “be able to come back in a place where she’s feeling a little bit transformed, a little bit empowered, and she’s had some time and a break from Will and time to settle herself a little bit that I think will put her in a new head space when she’s thinking about her relationship with Will,” he shared.
Kainalu (Alex Aiono) and Hina’s (Zoe Cipres) relationship would have also been complicated. “All the cards are out on the table. They realize that they both have feelings for each other and so where’s that going to go?” Kester wondered.
Sonny also would have faced the consequences of what he did regarding Vince.
“What we see in that is this hint that Sonny had to call in a favor from an unsavory character, somebody that he knew from his past,” said Kester. “I think there’ll definitely have to be some kind of, not comeuppance for him, but that’s going to come back. He called in a favor to somebody that you don’t want to owe something to. And so that’ll be something that in Season 2 likely comes back to bite him in some way.”
The creator had also wanted to bring in new characters that would “not only round out the dynamic that we have but complicate it in a way that’s interesting and give some challenges for our characters.”
Who was in the Rescue: HI-Surf cast?
The Fox drama starred Robbie Magasiva (as Sonny), Arielle Kebbel (as Em), Adam Demos (as Will), Kekoa Kekumano (as Laka), Zoe Cipres (as Hina), and Alex Aiono (as Kainalu).
Conversation59 Comments
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T
I loved watching Rescue: High Surf loved the characters in the show, I'm very disappointed that the show want be coming back on for a Season 2 was really hoping it was going to be back on and hope they figure it out and bring it back please!!!
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G
Why do they always cancel shows that are exciting and take place in beautiful sunny places. I am tired of shows that are so dark you can hardly see them! I hope they change course and bring this show back!
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I loved this show and even downloaded a live TV app during the last few episodes to watch them live so my viewing could be counted in the viewership ratings!! I am GUTTED this show is canceled - truly! I am hoping for a miracle and really don't understand why they're not at least shopping it to other networks! Netflix doesn't have any shows like this in a tropical setting at all. Netflix should pick it up!!!
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C
I was afraid that this might happen. The premise was interesting, the show was educational, the scenery was fantastic (Hawaii of course), the cast was appealing, the stories held my interest, etc., etc. Naturally, a show like this that was different and had potential couldn’t continue. I am very disappointed
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B
Sad. It was a fun show and loved the scenery.
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G
I really enjoyed the show especially because I really love Hawaii. It’s too bad that it got canceled. Hopefully another network will pick it up.
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Leave it the network to cancel good shows in order to bring in reality or a cooking show.
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R
It makes me mad when networks cancel my favorite shows😡
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G
Love this show!! I watched this show from the very first episode with no interruptions. I love the cast, the scenery and the writing. Whoever decided to cancel this show bit the big one. This will be the year 2025 where all decent shows died so channels could bring on more trash like game shows, cooking shows, reality like Masked Singer, Survivor and the Amazing Race just to name a few. Guess FOX doesn't care about the fans either.
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P
I'm so sad, I lived the show. I loved all the characters and their storylines. Please bring it back
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O
Great show! What is Fox thinking? Finally a show that is not filled with the dread of horrific homicides, or focusing on the apocalypse, which is basically happening in our country today. Promotes healthy living, no one stuck playing videos indoor all day addresses drinking issues, team building & how those not blood related are the epitome of a family. I am a fan! Strong acting & a great escape in a beautiful setting. Poor choice on Fox’s part. Renew!
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T
Fox, what a terrible move! Please don’t cancel Rescue Hi Surf! Knowing that I would watch on every Monday, really makes Monday worth it! This is a fantastic show that my family watch’s together! Great actors and storylines! Wow! Awesome! Please don’t take this show away!
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P
I think the decision to cancel was insane. With all the garbage they have on tv, one comes along that’s different and interesting and they cancel it. Oh great, another murder show. Hoping cable or another station picks it up. One can dream
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O
Sick of good shows getting canceled .
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G
I think you should give it another chance!! do you just cancel arbitrarily or do you actually ask for fans opinions?
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O
That’s totally disappointing!! It was a great show and just starting to really develop the characters!! 😡
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O
Very disappointed the show wasn’t even given a chance and then to just end it with no closure episode. The show was good a change from all the cop shows with rape, murder etc. Bad call
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O
What they don’t understand is we watched this show as a group! My friends got together to watch so we waited and took turns going to each others places. Did they count how many of us watched it together??? We always had 4-5 people! And we never watched it live bc we promised to save it until we were experiencing it with the group. They are a bunch of damn fools making these decisions. Fools.
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G
Ah man, what a bummer. Another actual/scripted show is gone. What's going to replace it is the question? Hopefully some OTHER scripted drama and NOT some lame-o "reality" show.
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Can't believe that this is canceled. What are networks thinking? Show was amazing from the characters to the story lines and the scenery. So disappointed. Hope another network sees the possibilities and brings it back, please.
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IM HEARTBROKEN 💔!!! PLEASE BRING RESCUE : HIGH SURF BACK!!!!! I need it in my life!!! I am hooked on the show. I love the storyline, the characters and the scenery!! If you won't bring it back then at least let a streaming service have it. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE 😭😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏😭😭😭
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Bummer really liked this show.
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Rescue: High Surf was my favorite show and I am sorry to learn that it was not renewed. The show has energy, a beautiful locale, and interesting stories.
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D
Unbelievable that Fox would cancel such a fantastic show! This is SO disappointing! Fox really should ask the people who watch their network what they think before a show like this is cancelled! It was so nice to see the beautiful scenery and ocean during the cold winter months, and we are fans who would definitely watch all year. The cast and characters were great and the storyline was just developing! Ugggh! Please reconsider keeping this great show or at the very least, let another platform like Netflix continue the show!
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I absolutely loved this show! I can’t believe it was cancelled when Fox network has so many lackluster offerings. I hope another network picks it up!!
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O
sad to see an interesting show with such beautiful scenery get cancelled. Probably be another reality show on now instead of something interesting to watch.
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We hate Fox for canceling all the good shows.
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G
This was my favorite show. I loved it. I would watch it with the entire family, 11 and up. We were all saddened to find out it was cancelled. We should all start a petition to bring it back. It was family friendly and had lots of good morals
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No reason to watch anything that Fox has on TV now. They absolutely do not want any shows that appeal to the general public and would rather show game shows, etc. This is why so many people are going to streaming and Fox and the like have no one to blame but themselves. Hopefully their advertisers will wise up as well.
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So upsetting when networks do this. This was such a good show and so entertaining. I hope another network can pick it up and keep it going!
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O
I wish Rescue Hi Surf would make a comeback I have watched all 19 episodes season 1 at least 5 times It always seems when you find something you like it always gets cancelled
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O
Show was decent and deserved a second season. Probably they didn't add enough woke bs or didn't kiss the right ass like captain did.
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Boooooo!!! We were so excited to find that show. So disappointing. The cast was so great!
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They should reconsider. That show was amazing. Fox get your shit together. Even if you played it during the summer. Come on be bette
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G
So sad there won’t be a season 2 this show was amazing
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G
I feel exactly the same!
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G
Yes! There are so many shows that would never have been the big hits they were if they had axed them after 1 season- even classics like Dick Van Dyke and I Love Lucy - not so great that 1st season. It is really hard for audiences to find shows now, with viewership divided amongst all the different streaming services and networks. I didn’t hear about this one and find it to try til much later in the 1st season. By the time word-of-mouth has a chance to do its magic, the networks have already cancelled a great show. It was probably the only show in a long time, that I couldn’t wait to watch each week. So sad and disappointed!!
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G
I think you were looking for the wrong demo. Thus show probably skews 25-54. The spenders. It’s really good. Somebody needs to pick this up!!
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R
This is crazy! This was an excellent show! Every show I liked has gotten the Ax! What a shame! Great cast, great scenes, realistic and fun to watch.
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I really enjoyed this show. It is very unfortunate that Fox cancelled it. Extremely disappointed.
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I loved to see this show. I recorded every show so i didn't mis a episode.
Still hope for a second season🙏
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O
Well i really liked Laka's story and was interested in it... He was the heart of the group and lately have been given more responsibility i was really looking forward to see what he will do with it, how he will maybe put the characters back together as a team, cause he proved he knows how to do it. Idk he really had some deeper story evolving around him as a kind and thoughtful guy and he started to be a little less recless. I have to say, that other storylines like Will and Em got me only annoyed, but Hina and Kainalu was fine too, those two had a great potential and Sonny being a little father figure to Laka was also pretty damn good story line... Shame they cancelled it, but not something i didnt expect... ppl hated it on youtube, the ratings are sad and us, who actually liked it isnt that much.
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We are HEARTBROKEN!! Its our favorite show and we have watched the first season at least 4 times and were so excited about season 2!! Got us through the cold winter with amazing beach scenery and was such a tribute to the heros that do this for real!!! Why why why would you cancel the best show in years!! 💔😭
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I for one enjoyed the show and watched every episode! I think networks with a lot of low-rated shows should keep the shows that are popular with even smaller groups of people. Many times, the shows audience grows in the second season. The scenery was beautiful, and the casting was great.
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G
Not shocked it was canceled. I kinda of liked it though. So Minor bummer for me.
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G
Just saw this on a flight to Italy. Enjoyed the first few episodes and decided to watch the entire 19 episodes. Spend lots of time in Hawaii and loved the locales, stories, pacing and character development. Very disappointed wasn't renewed for Season 2.
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J
Loved that show! They always cancel the good ones!
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P
NO!!!!!!!!!! YOU NEED TO BRING THIS ONE BACK!!!
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O
This is gone but Fear Factor and getting snakes dumped on your head is still there. I blame the viewers. They have no class and they have no taste. Hi Surf was a great show. It showed real life problems in a setting of paradise.
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R
I am so disappointed! It was a great show!! I'll never understand how good programs get canceled in some of the stupid stuff on TV continues
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P
They should not have canceled Rescue Hi-Surf. Don’t understand why they cancel the better shows. Bring it back.
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Bring it back loved that show!
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O
Leave it to FOX to cancel a show that focuses on family, friendship, education and values. Most surprising and disheartening is ABC/Disney’s recent failings in a poisonous, sadistic, narcissistic & cruel Trump era of carnage. I pray the bravest of networks will stand strong against such political carcinogens and bring Americans shows that reflect our true values long before our votes at the ballot box speak for us and enable our country to live up to & beyond its so admired & achievable potential.
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P
Everytime there’s a good show they cancel it!!! They keep the boring ones!!! ALWAYS!!!!!
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G
I loved that show!
Especially because it wasn't hateful, violent drama that this society thrives on...which was it's ultimate demise.
Sorry to see it go & hope peeps can get on board with less toxic variety or we will keep losing good healthy content like this due to poor judgement.
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G
Been waiting 4 the new season 2 start only 2 find out this was cancelled. Can't believe it had low ratings it was a great show, I think that was BS. Instead they keep shows like DOC which is boring as hell. Someone needs to wake up the network because they're keeping crap shows and canceling good ones.
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R
So disappointed that this show is not coming back. We enjoyed it and looked forward to watching it every week.
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Why they not coming back loved it
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While it was an ok show, really not shocked at the outcome.
Of course the scenery was beautiful though
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