Ua Hopu - 2.22
This scene - this special scene. I need to talk about it. I’ve always loved this long, heart-warming welcoming scene after Steve’s breakneck version of how to bring in Wo Fat, bloody and beaten up in a stolen helicopter at night, with the Yakuza holding him at gunpoint and Five-0 wrestling their way into the moment to take over. Because this scene was also the very first scene where the task force, Steve’s ohana, was back together after Steve just left to go for a manhunt, leaving a letter on Danny’s desk, without saying goodbye, without informing anyone - Steve just left.
But...(damn, and I never realized this!) but, this is also the very first scene for Alex with his whole team after he was back on the show after he’s returned from rehab. So - where do I go with this? I’ve collected the pieces of the big puzzle that is H50 and Alex and Scott and everyone else on the go. And that’s the reason it never occurred to me that Alex had to leave the show to seek help in a clinic and that everyone was worried sick. And that’s why they created a possibility for Alex to leave.
First, his friends and Scott didn’t know if he’s gonna make it and second, when would he return? Sure, I know there must have been a deadline and everything was covered. But only Alex and Scott, and Peter Lenkov and DDK and Grace knew how bad it was what was really going on. And for sure some other people knew, too. Alex looked gaunt at the end, with his cheek sunken and this haunted look in his eyes. Everyone knew something was off. And damn, I admire his professionalism and his strength and this iron will to get back on track. Gosh, this man, really.
Alex was absent for two episodes (2.20 and 2.21). I missed him something awful and I only realized on my rewatching marathon why Alex/Steve has missed those two episodes.
So, again, this scene. That’s the scene right there and I want to talk about how Steve greets everyone. It’s uncharacteristically sweet, intense, loving and every moment screams at me with how much Alex is relieved to be back, to be together with his friends, to be whole after months of pain and meds and addiction.
And the way Steve and Danny meet shows me how much they are in love. If everyone can remember how it was when you had this epic crush on a guy/girl and you aren’t together yet but you know it’s mutual and you dream about that moment every second of the day and then this person shows up and you are kind of shocked to see this person and your heart goes ‘boom’ under one second flat and your palms are sweaty and you can’t swallow anymore and you’re a nervous wreck. And do you know what I mean? And I talk about Alex and Scott here too.
So that’s why I need to talk about this scene because it freaking shows! Because this is not Steve hugging Kono and Chin and Danny - nope - in this scene, it’s Alex hugging Grace and Daniel and Scott. Especially Alex hugging Scott.
Steve’s first moments together with Danny. They play it cool, both of them. Steve’s look is so questioning, insecure but at the same time, he doesn’t want to show how much he’s afraid of Danny’s speech because he left without informing Danny, without so much as a word, showing trust to let Danny know what’s going on.
And Steve goes: “Book him Danno.” and Danny answers “You just could have said hello. (Not before he shouted ‘I knew it: Cargo pants’) So they banter to disguise their true feelings, playing it down, keeping distance. But Steve can’t do without touching and his hand clamps down on Danny’s shoulder lingers there and slides down only because Danny escorts Wo Fat to the nearest police car before he turns to look at Kono and at Chin.
Kono walks up to Steve after she has shot Adam’s lawyer.
Kono: “You don’t write. You don’t call.”
Steve: “Come here.”
Steve laughs and pulls her in.
(When did Steve close his eyes, hugging Kono after he had returned from a mission?)
Kono: “We missed you.”
Steve:” It’s good to be home.” (I mean look at his face!)
Steve is so overwhelmed, relieved and very needy for contact, to assure himself that everyone is still here, that everyone is doing fine and they are all there, waiting for him, missing him and all of them only feel whole again after Steve’s back in their inner circle, completing their ohana.
Steve even cups Kono’s head! I mean...my heart hurts, okay?
And then there’s Chin and it’s even more special how Steve greets Chin.
Okay, it begins like... come here, nice to be back and let’s not lean in too far. Chin seems hesitant because it’s Chin. Zen and distant and cautious and all this. But Steve just goes for it.
Chin: “It’s good to have you back.”
Tight, tight hug, almost grabby hands, not wanting to let go.
Chin: “You all right?”
Steve: “I’m good.”
And then this uncharacteristic question follows the hug and look at this wide and wild happy grin from Steve:
Steve: “You miss me?” (playful, teasing voice)
(And Chin laughs so freely and a tad surprised.)
Chin: “Ha-ha-ha.”
And Steve’s just so happy and handsy and somehow touch-starved. He cups Chin’s face!! He’s so damn happy to be back, to have all of his friends right there with him. When has Steve EVER asked if Chin is happy to have him back, touching his face? Jesus, so many emotions are exploding like a supernova right before my eyes.
Meanwhile, Danny’s watching how Steve greets Kono and Chin. Jesus. And how he’s watching, how his body language gives him away. Ah, dear God, have mercy.
Danny rubs his hands, repeatedly. He has his eyes on Wo Fat but he also tries to calm his wild hammering heart. And the best detail that gives him away how damn nervous he is, is the way he blows up his cheeks, pursing his lips. He’s a mess and he tries to cover it up. And he always casts his looks over to where Steve stands, knowing he’s next to say hello after all that has happened. He’s angry with Steve, he was worried sick, he’s deeply in love and he tries to steel himself for the moment where Steve’s arms will wrap him in a tight embrace after such a long, damn time.
Okay, first comes this nonsense bro-hug with Danny’s usual back patting. Danny approaches Steve with the sentence: “What a mess.” And Steve goes: “Yeah, yeah.” Those morons, seriously before they hug like this.
But the feelings rush over them like a tide and they can’t hold back and Steve and Danny kind of cling to each other, but they try to cover it up by joking and laughing but there are SO MUCH love and devotion floating around between the guys that I can’t. Honestly. This scene overwhelms me.
So, yeah, I really see Alex in this scene and next to him Scott, Daniel and Grace, and the dialog is almost too perfect. It also relates to the long weeks where Alex was absent and away from the set. This special scene shows a deeper reunion than just the one from the getting back together with the Five-0 task force members.
