Well, I thought the first episode was incredible! But this one pushed it even further. I must say, I’m really enjoying that this show is not hesitating with the relationships. It has me feeling hopeful and slightly confident that we will finally have a show that doesn’t have a six season long slow burn. I’m keeping my fingers crossed, anyway. This team is incredible and the way they work together and make saves i mind blowing. Even our newbies, Hina and Kainalu fit right in. Even if they still have some learning to do. It was also nice to see the team willing to break some rules to make the save. Especially with the support of their captain. And in the midst of Em being wrongfully named in a lawsuit. So keep reading for my Rescue: HI-Surf 1×02 review!
Risk and Reward
Is it wrong of me to want Will and Emily together when Will is engaged to Julie? Yes. Would I feel the same if they were actual people? No. But in fiction-land I need Will to break up with Julie and be with who he clearly is in love with. Maybe my attitude will change, or at least shift, if and when we meet Julie. But that hasn’t happened yet and this episode made it abundantly clear where Will’s heart lies. The amount of concern he had for Emily was more than you feel for someone who is just a friend. I know they have a history, but this seemed like a lot more than that. And Emily also seemed to naturally gravitate toward him even after they made the rescue and were back on shore. So, maybe it’s just me, but they definitely seem to be more than friends.
Going out to search for Amber, the missing girl, was definitely a risk. Especially when the team had to split up due to other calls. And Sonny didn’t wait for permission before rallying the team to do the search, which I can definitely appreciate. Sometimes there is too much red tape for a situation that needs to be handled sooner rather than later. This was definitely a situation with too much red tape. I fully stand behind Sonny and the rest of the team for going out and finding Amber. As Sonny said, they know the water best. He knew that his team would be able to find and save her. But I also understood Emily’s slight resistance in the beginning because of feeling a little hyperaware about the rules since she was being sued by the family of the kid they rescued in the first episode.
Gotta Earn It
I fully appreciated Hina and Kainalu doing some grunt work. You can’t just jump into the job and do all of the things you perceive as positive. There has to be the little things completed too. Something Hina clearly understood as she didn’t have any issues with doing the grunt work. Even when it included doing some babysitting for the day amid all the other tasks of the job. But Kainalu had some things to learn about that as he acted as if cleaning was beneath him. Which really goes back to my first thoughts of him not being a lifeguard for the right reasons. He wants all of the action and none of the rest of what comes with the job. Hell, it’s his fault that Emily is in trouble with this damn lawsuit in the first place. It was his mistake. But he isn’t facing the consequences.
I already knew that Emily was a take-charge woman. She has clearly earned her title of lieutenant and continues to do so. Sometimes that means you have to take risks and she doesn’t hesitate to do it. But I think even when she is taking risks, she is still keeping them as calculated as possible. Emily didn’t just jump in blindly. She kept her head on straight and made wise decisions for the entire rescue. Plus, she found Amber and kept both of them safe while the rest of the team came back for them. Even though we are only two episodes in, Emily continues to be an impressive character. I have a feeling that the rest of the season is only going to continue showing that.
More to the Story
This episode really left me wanting to know more about Hina. Even more than the first episode. Though while she was babysitting, they did let us in on a bit more about her. Apparently she spent a lot of time on her own growing up as her father was working. She understood why the kids had been dropped off at the lifeguard tower. And unlike Kainalu, she took the added responsibility in stride. Plus, she continues to handle herself like a complete badass. She doesn’t hesitate to jump in and do what is needed and she is constantly taking in everything around her to make the right decision. I’m ridiculously glad that she is part of the team. It’s exactly where she needs to be. And I can’t wait to continue learning about who she is. Along with watching her call out Kainalu on his crap.
So what did you think of Rescue: HI-Surf 1×02? Did you find it to be even better than the first episode? Are you as excited as I am about what the rest of the season is going to hold? What do you think is going to happen between Emily and Will? Do you think they will remain just friends as he remains engaged and eventually gets married? What about Kainalu? Do you think he is a bit more likeable now? Or do you think he has a bit more to go toward redemption? What about Kainalu and Hina? Do you feel like there is some tension between the two of them? Find and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Threads to discuss all things Rescue: HI-Surf 1×02! And be sure to check out our site for more articles, quizzes, podcasts, and more on all things Disney and beyond!
