This had one plot twist after the other. Went far and beyond the usual. Perhaps the best episode I've seen from Seasons 1-3. Recognized some great actors from the Twilight Zone episodes in here. Both of them were superb as former war prisoners dealing with the return of the Japanese war criminal responsible for wrecking their lives. And I'm glad a man of Asian descent actually played the Japanese prison leader! He came off as innocent and sweet when he had to making us think "Is he really who they're claiming him to be?" but twisted his person around to be maniacal and vicious at the end. I really thought the dude was innocent until he bopped Chin Ho! The ending was gripping and emotional with one of the former prisoners refusing to exact revenge with gun in hand. Again, his acting was killer.
4 Reviews
Perhaps a bit too extraordinary to be believable, but very entertaining and with some nice plot twists.
planktonrules16 February 2010
The show begins with a visiting Japanese businessman receiving threatening photos. And, after a visit from Five-O to investigate, the car the guy is about to drive away in blows up--though it's obvious whoever was responsible did not want to kill the guy but perhaps scare him.
Shortly afterwords, as Danno is walking through a hotel with this same Japanese man, a crazed WWII vet (Simon Oakland) sees them and begins beating the Japanese guy with his crutches! It seems that during the war Oakland was tortured and crippled...and he thinks this man is the one who was responsible! Oakland is naturally arrested but he insists he's right--the guy IS a war criminal. Two other vets who knew this Japanese officer are brought in to i.d. the man--one (who's obviously suffering from severe PTSD) recognizes the man, too, but another insists it's NOT the war criminal. So is this Japanese guy an evil war criminal? And who is responsible for the attempts on his life? Tune in and see.
In addition to the show having many nice plot twists (which I won't talk about--I'd hate to spoil the suspense), the show starred one of my favorite character actors of the era--the perennially angry Simon Oakland. While he's a crazed and obnoxious guy here, considering what he went through AND how this Japanese man might be responsible, you can understand. He was great here and the plot so cool you could forgive it all for being a bit hard to believe if you really think about it.
By the way, I watched most of the episodes when I was a kid and hadn't seen this one since I was about 10 or so. Yet, it made such an impact on me that I clearly remembered the show and was excited to see it once again.
Shortly afterwords, as Danno is walking through a hotel with this same Japanese man, a crazed WWII vet (Simon Oakland) sees them and begins beating the Japanese guy with his crutches! It seems that during the war Oakland was tortured and crippled...and he thinks this man is the one who was responsible! Oakland is naturally arrested but he insists he's right--the guy IS a war criminal. Two other vets who knew this Japanese officer are brought in to i.d. the man--one (who's obviously suffering from severe PTSD) recognizes the man, too, but another insists it's NOT the war criminal. So is this Japanese guy an evil war criminal? And who is responsible for the attempts on his life? Tune in and see.
In addition to the show having many nice plot twists (which I won't talk about--I'd hate to spoil the suspense), the show starred one of my favorite character actors of the era--the perennially angry Simon Oakland. While he's a crazed and obnoxious guy here, considering what he went through AND how this Japanese man might be responsible, you can understand. He was great here and the plot so cool you could forgive it all for being a bit hard to believe if you really think about it.
By the way, I watched most of the episodes when I was a kid and hadn't seen this one since I was about 10 or so. Yet, it made such an impact on me that I clearly remembered the show and was excited to see it once again.
Pretty Good
rizzojj9 May 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Nice suspense episode regarding a group of World War II guys getting together in Hawaii for their 25th anniversary. This group was involved in the Pacific side of the war and a trio of guys in particular have some deep-seated hatred for their Japanese captors. They see a businessman that looks just like the man that was charged with breaking them through torture. Is he or is he not the guy becomes the mystery throughout the episode? The bitterest of them all becomes the advocate for taking care of this guy and lends plenty of emotion to the feature. The twists and turns in this episode highlight the action and McGarret is on top of his game, as usual.
Incredibly moving. The memories that haunt us forever. But.. ever.
kindofblue-782216 September 2021
I've just watched this episode. It's very moving as it domonstrates how our pasts will slowly destroy us. But only if we allow them to do so.
I can relate to this episode as I've got memories of injustice and abuse that went unpunished.
They haunted me until I could finally let them go.
This episode is well acted and never gets gratuitous or sentimental. It accurately shows the pain and anguish victims feel as they battle with their demons.
A brilliant episode and one of the best of the whole series.
A some point we have to somehow find peace or the perpetrators of abuse will always win.
I can relate to this episode as I've got memories of injustice and abuse that went unpunished.
They haunted me until I could finally let them go.
This episode is well acted and never gets gratuitous or sentimental. It accurately shows the pain and anguish victims feel as they battle with their demons.
A brilliant episode and one of the best of the whole series.
A some point we have to somehow find peace or the perpetrators of abuse will always win.
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