‘Hawaii Five-0’ Series Finale: What Did You Think of McGarrett’s Ending?
After 10 seasons, Hawaii Five-0 came to an end on Friday night, and while viewers got some answers about the fate of Steve McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) and the rest of the 5-0 task force, others were left up in the air.
The episode, appropriately titled “Aloha,” picked up directly after the previous week’s cliffhanger, where Danny (Scott Caan) was abducted by Wo Fat’s widow, Daiyu Mei (Eugenia Yuan), and her baddies, who also set his car on fire, giving the team a scare. They still managed to track their friend down and arrived on the scene just as Danny escaped his restraints and started shooting at his captors before being shot himself.
Luckily, Danny made it into surgery in time, and McGarrett stayed by his bedside throughout his recovery and was there when he woke up.
Meanwhile, Daiyu Mei and her crew attempted to raid Steve’s mom’s crypt for the millions left to her son but it was empty. This resulted in a shootout with the Five-0 team at the docks, and Steve cornered Wo Fat’s widow, ultimately opting to let her live which spurred Daiyu Mei to compare him to his father John McGarrett. This prompted a flashback to William Sadler‘s late character and revealed that John believed Doris (Christine Lahti) may have faked her death.
Karen Neal/CBS
The episode then jumps forward a week to show Danny and McGarrett lounging on the beach as Danny gushes over Hawaii’s beauty in attempt to convince his friend to stay. It seems to be no use as Steve is looking for “peace” that his island home can’t give him. And while Danny is heartbroken over his bestie leaving him, his parter-in-crime reassures him that his isn’t a forever goodbye. Steve also says goodbye back at the house to Lou, Adam, Quinn, Tani, Junior, Noelani, and newbie Lincoln Cole, whom he asks to “hold down the fort” while he’s gone.
The final scene of the episode sees Steve boarding a plane to a mysterious destination — but he’s not alone! He’s soon joined by Catherine Rollins, his ex and almost-fiancée, who shows up at his row and asks if she can sit next to him. She also reveals that she’s the one who cracked the cipher after being contacted by Lincoln for some help.
The two then exchange some jokes about Danno and his car and then she sits down next to him and asks, “you ready?” His response? “Yeah,” as he holds her hand and they smile. End scene!
And what an ending! The Wo Fat saga came to an end, the team bid McGarrett farewell, Danny and Steve had a final sweet moment, and Steve ended his journey on a trip somewhere mysterious with the woman he loved. Sure, we had some lingering questions, but at least there’s a good chance we’ll see some of the characters again on the network’s other Hawaii-set procedural, Magnum P.I. — should it get renewed for a third season, which Five-0 and P.I. executive producer Peter Lenkov feels confident will happen.
Karen Neal/CBS
“The plan is to keep the 5-0 task force alive,” Lenkov told TV Insider ahead of Friday’s series finale. “A lot of the actors that live [in Hawaii] and we’ll try on a regular basis to bring them in and can keep it alive and keep the idea of Five-0 always on the periphery of our storyteller.”
So until next time, 5-0 team! We’ll miss you on our Friday nights.
Conversation100 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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C
I will miss Hawaii five 0 I really hope the show come back please come back
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I want Hawaii five o to return to tv and I was sad when mcgarrett left
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O
I will miss the show so much. Loved it😘😘😘
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C
I don’t see any reason that the show can’t continue without McGarrett or even Danno. There us enough of a great cast to continue on its own not relying Magnum.
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I think if we see some crossovers on Magnum with Scott Caan and Chi McBride and they are well received, we might see some type of spin off. I guess time will tell.
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C
i don’t like this new Magnum at all (age show or the character). He has no personality and the rest if the characters are boring. And Higgins a girl? That was so dumb. Luckily I can watch the real Magnum on Hallmark it Amazon
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What does Magnum have to do with this article? And btw, the "original" Magnum show isn't all that great. People talk about it like it's a classic, but half the time the episodes are ridiculous and Magnum isn't always that likeable.
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G
I thought the ending was perfect - good thing I had my tissues handy!
However, I sure will miss the show. The camaraderie among the actors
was special.
8 1
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R
My husband and I loved this show and are going to miss it so much! I cried at the farewell scene. I liked the ending, Steve and Catherine finally get together. I hope they bring H50 back soon in some way shape or form. Thank you to cast and crew for 10 wonder Years of escaping to our favorite place in the world! Aloha.
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McGarrett and Danno ARE the show. The dynamic when they're on screen together is why they are the show's front-runners. The acting on Hawaii Five-O has always been D-rate at best, but they're the best part of it by far. Grover is fun but he's a supporting role, and the Quinn girl is as interesting as drywall. It's great the show ended. Stopping it when they did paid respect to both O'Loughlin and Caan.
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My husband and I LOVE this show and the cast and already miss it (and it has only been one day.) The cast has become like family to us and we would love to see them again and again, on a new Season 11 of Hawaii Five O. If McGarrett has severe back issues, perhaps he might remain on the series in a different capacity, such as commanding from the inside of Five O, where he doesn't further complicate his back injury.
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they also guest starred on NCIS LA in the past and it would be nice to see them there every once in a while as well.
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The Hawaii 5 0 cast even without Steve and Danny is stronger than the Magnum cast. Lincoln was a very positive addition and would have reinvigorated the series. There is not one actor on Magnum that is better than the Hawaii 5 0 ensemble cast. If they were set on canceling one of the Hawaii shows they should kept 5 0 and brought some of the Magnum cast over.
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Hoped Chin and Kono could have made it in the final.
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I didn't like that they left out so many pivotal characters. Let's start with Duke, Kamekona, Jerry, Danny's kids. Even Max. Kono and Chin were not going to show up as the actors were out of there. However, the rest were still in good standing.
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I'm sad it's over, but sure could see Lincoln stepping in and the team continuing.
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Here's what I don't understand. Can you have 5-0 without McGarrett, I think so. Without Danno, the original did. This was a great concluding episode, wrapping all of the McGarrett story lines (and, to a lesser extent Danny too).
So why not move forward with Grover the lead. You've got a new character to flesh out, and of course Quinn (whom I love) is just getting started.
It can be done. It should be done. So let's do this.
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O
They did not bring on that Lincoln character for no reason. I smell a spin off in the works. They like to keep those Oahu studios busy.
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Lincoln is cool. Handsome, etc. a good actor for a strong role. Love him.
4 2
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His arrival led me to believe there would be a very different ending.
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P
I loved Hawaii 5-0. Please bring it back. I could sit down for hours watching this show.
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G
I always like when a series actual has an ending rather than being just cut off. I f you had to end the show I did enjoy this ending. Sorry to see it leave. Great cast and will miss them. I do like Magnum PI so look forward to seeing the cast there.
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The ending appeared to try to wrap up too many things in one episode. I personally will miss Hawaii five 0. Also, in my opinion, the show could still have gone on. The cast was built well and I think that they could have continued. I heard that some of the characters would make appearances in Magnum, but the ones I've seen only have a quick appearance. I'd love to see Hawaii five 0 come back. But that my opinion.
3 1
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No I was not happy
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Could have been better. I mean, I cried a lot and all, but it could have been better.
I'll miss this program.
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ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS WHY?
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I understand the ending...but didnt like that it ended. I cried my eyes out. Please bring it back! We’re not Magnum fans!
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I cried it is one of my favorite shows
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I really liked "Hawaii 5-0," and will miss it now that it has ended its 10-year run, but ... the series finale last night was bizarre, to say the least.
McGarrett packs a duffel bag and leaves home for a flight to an unspecified destination on a trip of unspecified duration, apparently without making any provisions for who will take care of his home, his dog Eddie, notifying his creditors, putting a hold on his mail, etc., etc. 🤣😂😳
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B
Well, this is TV, not reality! I did wonder where he was going. He never told us. The dog was clearly staying with Danny. And the house.
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O
It was an utterly stupid ending to the series. I cannot believe Steve McGarrett walked out of his home, abandoned his dog, his life, his job...and got on a plane to be presented with the predictable reunion with Catherine. Yawn. She doesn't even look like herself! Bad plastic surgery. Took me a moment to realize it was her. Don't abandon your pets, people! Even if you need to find peace. Bad message to send to the world!
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It didn't follow true to the character.
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O
Hello no. A weak weak series finale. CBS is a clown run circus.
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B
not really I didn’t like the ending at all. Death to a main character would end a series. Worse ending I’ve ever seen.
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G
I was not thrilled with the ending. And why couldn't they let Danny have his happy ending with his wife and children? They just disappeared this past season. And McGarrett leaving to who knows where on a plane? Not in character.
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P
Meh it felt like a season finale and not a series one. You could tell this finale was going to give an intro to next season. No OG cast members, no jerry (Why wasn't HE the one to crack the code?)
Slightly disappointed.
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I wished they had addressed what Chin Ho and Kono were currently doing...
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I was happy with the ending, l find nothing worse than being left hanging with no answers after following a series for years.......
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I hate that the show ended...i cried so hard. I understand why McGarrett left, but why wasnt it just take a year off instead of its over? Not a Magnum fan, so i guess we wont see the 5’ O characters.
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C
It was a good ending tied up a lot unfinished business. Sorry to see the show coming to an end though.
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They should bring back H-50. Magnum is not a great show and should be replaced by a new Five-0. Let's do it again:)
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I want Five o to return to tv
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J
Eh. I think it pretty much stretched things beyond belief. Danny used to hate being in Hawaii, with Steve trying to tell him how great it was, and now the tables have turned and Danny is trying to convince McGarrett on how great Hawaii is, but McG just wants out. That just seemed stupid. (And btw, what was his plan? Did he say where he was going?? That just seemed very out of character for him.)
Also, it was telegraphed so loudly that even a fool could have seen that Catherine was going to make an appearance. Steve wouldn't have talked about her so much if she wasn't. (And now suddenly Lincoln is a BFF? That all just seemed rushed.)
Anyway, I thought it was kind of a silly ending. It didn't make sense AT ALL. And I agree, he should never have left Eddie behind.
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Even though Lincoln has been in only two episodes, he has proven his competency. Also, it's that military thing, so Steve trusts him. If HF-O was continuing, Lincoln would have been a great addition.
I was really angry at first that Lenkov brought Catherine back, but I think I will soften on that. The scene with Eddie broke my heart. I agree that Steve should have taken Eddie with him.
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Yes I was and I cried at the end
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Not happy the way it ended. Miss seeing the show I wish they would put the reruns back on like they do on ncis; law & order etc. Please put the reruns back on. Thank you very much
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B
No, I was not happy of the way it ended.It left you up in the arab, wondering what's going to happen with the two of them?Are they going to get married or what
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C
Ending was good but heartwrenching that H5-0 with these great actors ended forever !! Cast was perfect for H5-0 plus it was Hawaii !! I cried !!
That is the best tv show!! Now watching repeats is great but new ones would be incredible!! Love Alex & all the cast!! I was so saddened when I read Taylor Wily passed away!! My heart broke when I heard!! He was young still & the sweetest man & so adorable!! He wasn't acting, he was his own sweet self on the show!
Love to you Taylor Wily!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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B
Steve and Catherine HAD to get back together. It never worked with anyone else as his girlfriend. I'm so happy.
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K
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K
What I said why did you love you
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I wish we could've seen kinda how everyone was doing almost like 5 years later like js show like 5 second clips on everyone
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I will totally miss very one on the show I love from day 1!!!
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I will miss the show very much i love watching Hawaii Five-O my i wish that would bring Hawii five o back on Friday night
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Love this show ! BRING IT BACK !!
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I came late to watching this show. But fell in love with it watching it on ION starting the end of last year (which was 2020). I didn't know if the show was still running or if it was just reruns left. But after reading these comments I realized that it ended in April 2020. That's too bad cuz it's a really good show with a great cast. I love the chemistry among everyone. I love the humor between McGarrett and Dano. The location is beautiful. The cases are good. Not having any more new shows is too bad !!!! I totally cried watching the last episode. It was very touching McGarrett saying goodbye to everyone. And I love that he ended up with Katherine!!
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C
Didn’t see it as it was not on in our market. I have all episodes setup to record and there was none. I got Bluebloods though. Would like to have seen it.
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I think the show should come back, it will get great ratings. I love Hawaii FiveO. Please bring it back with the same cast. So many unanswered Story Lines.
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It continues on the TV show Magnum P. I. But of course a terrible episode without many of the characters from Hawaii five-o
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Is anyone else bothered by the plot hole prior to episode 17 (it might be E 10) where Jr is on the phone to Tani, making a date to meet for drinks. Then he hangs up and is ambushed by a cloaked and masked figure in the backseat. The implication is that he is kidnapped. But then the rest of team get messages that he's "deployed". I kept waiting for someone to figure out he wasn't really deployed, but no. Life goes on until E17 where he just reappears, getting picked up at the airfield from his "deployment". Since when does a deployment call involve getting kidnapped by someone in a hooded cloak, wearing an Anonymous (or similar) mask?
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I want this show back
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It was very good and who knows what the future will bring? Will miss Danno's stupid beaver pelt - get real - if you are losing your hair shave it off - the beaver pelt is ridiculous and very vain. Will miss the superb group of characters. Puzzled as to how Steve recognised Catherine she has changed so much.
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I stopped watching after they left. Kono's husband was a ridiculous addition to the 50 team
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I would truly love a spin off of the show one of the best Friday night shows on CBS it will be greatly missed please let there be a spin off the fans will love it
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Good show but the ending was poor. Should have showed more about Catherine wanting to live with McGarrett and not explaining where they were traveling to on the plane. Frustrating
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Loved Steve & Danno's goodbye -- very moving.
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I want Hawaii Five O return to TV. Hawaii Five O is my favorite show I love to watch it especially when I miss OAHU. Hope the show come back please please please
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This series finale almost ruined the entire show for me. Steve saying that the only reason he stayed was for his f father was a big insult to the ohana he made there. Also, the writers clearly did not know the history of the show. They clearly say that wo fat and John mcgarett never met in person. Season 2 episode 1 has a video of them meeting with Governor Jameson. If you're not going to respect the past, then don't write for the show.
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My Friday nights will be Very Empty now. I will MISS everything about the SHOW!! Hearing the MUSIC at the beginning of show always made me feel so good, even when I was Down! WILL MISS THE SHOW SO MUCH, Please Bring it BACK!!!
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R
This saddens me... I will really miss Hawaii 5-0...
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G
Sad to see it end. Thought the final was going to be 2 hours only was 1. Hope it comes back. Great program
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G
Please bring it back! I watch him as a Vampire and cop and really hope it comes back. I like the addition of new guy.
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G
it seemed crazy. Yes everything comes to an end. But how could someone up and leave their dog, their house and their friends who are like family...to go wander around because he feels lost in late 40s. Wouldn’t that raise flags to get him help? Sounds like a severe depression. The last show gave me a feeling of wanting the time i spent watching the series back. Guess it taught me a lesson. Do not become a fan of any tv show. Only Watch if i have a free min. No commitments. Spend my time wisely. And don’t expect writers to put effort into series finales for the sake of closure to its fans
1 1
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I cried. Tears of sadness and tears of joy for him and Catherine but tears again because I don’t want Steve to leave. I want him to be happy but ☹️☹️. I love my Five-0!!!
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R
I will miss this show, love the characters and actors.
please bring it back 💔. Brought me to tears 😭 so much emotion....
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C
The ending seemed rushed to me. I think they could have done at least 1 more season. Either way, fans will miss the show!
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R
Will really miss Hawaii Five O. Why are they taking the good shows off?
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NO WHY DID IT END? WHO WAS DRIVING THE CAR THAT RAN DANNY AND HIS NEW GIRLFRIEND OFFF THE ROAD AND SHE DIED WAS THERE FOLLOWUP ON THAT? MOST UNHAPPY U R CANCELING THIS SHOW?
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I love Steve and I am going to miss him so terribley. The other guys make a story but Steve is the man.
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The original Magnum ended up being set in Hawaii largely because CBS had the infrastructure in place from the original H5O. Now the Magnum reboot was made possible in Hawaii because of a rebooted H5O that has now closed. Funny how history repeats itself.
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O
Yes, Its a great show, one that should not be cancelled. it nor Magnum, We love both shows
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W
I thought it closed the loops that needed to be closed and provided a thoughtful ending to this good show. I thought I had read that Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park were going to appear in the finale. I'm fine that they did not as they left the show by choice and created acrimony the way they left. I think this closing is very near to being on par with the way the original series ended. Well done to the H5O team. Thanks for many great series memories.
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B
Yes! Saw the ending a mile away@
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I watched the original Five-0 and will miss them both. Aloha!
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aa
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i loved the ending i have always wanted catherine and mcgarrett together would love to see the show stay on.
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C
It ended exactly what I had hoped for...just didn't know how they were going to bring them back together. Very happy with the ending. I will very much miss Steve, but I think a spin-off will be coming.
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As series finales go, it was a great one. Tied up a lot of loose ends in a satisfying way that stayed true to who and what the characters were.
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G
I have been a huge fan of Hawaii 5-0, going back to the original series many moons ago. But this ending sucked.
It reeked of boredom on the part of the actors, and of course we all know that Catherine would show up at the end.
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C
Outstanding great end to this series.
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C
The ending was touching and will always remember. Please continue show on another network.
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O
The only thing that I was unhappy about, was Steve's kiss to Eddie. I think he should have taken Eddie with him!! It was sad, and I will miss it terribly. Guess I will have to watch Magnum.
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I liked Eddie too but McGarrett should have made him STAY OFF THE FURNITURE! I also got the feeling that Danny would stay at the house and take care of the dog...
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G
I thought the ending was terrible. First off all Cathrine does not deserve McGarrett. I liked her in the beginning but I don't like her because she keeps leaving him. First off all I was kinda really hoping that some crime series would be bold enough to kill the mane character. McGarrett is a person we all know takes crazy risk in doing things. And sometimes it is unbelievable that he keeps surviving. I was kinda hoping that McGarrett would die at the end. That one of the risks would kill him. Maybe of the radioactive poisoning. That it was more sever than first thought. And all the goodbyes we heard would be at his grave and Danny would be back with his ex and have another son and kall him Steve. I wish that they hadn't ended the restaurant thing that Danny would continue with the restaurant business. Because Danny wanted to be a chef long before Steve was his partner. Before all that Steve would have told as in the original to the new guy Lincoln Cole to take care of the team. Than hawaii five-o could continue with Cole as the new leader. That would be a way better ending in my opinion. I could continue watching hawaii five-o but only if Danny also was not in it. We all know he constantly went back to jersey. So don't see why Danny should stick around when McGarrett isn't.
Besides the best part was the good brother relationship that they two had. And without that I don't think I would have watched it with only one of them. I'll miss the show.
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I thought the ending was terrible. First off all Cathrine does not deserve McGarrett. I liked her in the beginning but I don't like her because she keeps leaving him. First off all I was kinda really hoping that some crime series would be bold enough to kill the mane character. McGarrett is a person we all know takes crazy risk in doing things. And sometimes it is unbelievable that he keeps surviving. I was kinda hoping that McGarrett would die at the end. That one of the risks would kill him. Maybe of the radioactive poisoning. That it was more sever than first thought. And all the goodbyes we heard would be at his grave and Danny would be back with his ex and have another son and kall him Steve. I wish that they hadn't ended the restaurant thing that Danny would continue with the restaurant business. Because Danny wanted to be a chef long before Steve was his partner. Before all that Steve would have told as in the original to the new guy Lincoln Cole to take care of the team. Than hawaii five-o could continue with Cole as the new leader. That would be a way better ending in my opinion. I could continue watching hawaii five-o but only if Danny also was not in it. We all know he constantly went back to jersey. So don't see why Danny should stick around when McGarrett isn't.
Besides the best part was the good brother relationship that they two had. And without that I don't think I would have watched it with only one of them. But take both out I would maybe.
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I miss Hawaii 5-0 already. I love Steve and his team; I was hoping that Catherine would return to help him find peace and come to terms with all of the losses in his life. I am so sorry that Alex McLoughlin needed for the series to end. I wish him well. I watched the old Hawaii 5-0 when I was a teenager; I have enjoyed every single episode of this series.
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C
I hope Hawaii Five-0 returns. But if not, Mahalo nui loa for many years of enjoyment. Good luck to each of you. Aloha!
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I think the ending was beautiful. I’m sorry that the show is over I really enjoyed it. Aloha, Steve
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Steve has been lost without Catherine since she left--peace found and perfect ending!
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I loved the ending...Steve and Cat belong together
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