This has been nagging at my mind lately....

[rogueslayer452]

I like Hawaii Five-0. It's a good show, it brings me delight seeing certain aspects of it and I love the family dynamic the entire team have with one another, as I certainly do love Steve and Danny's scenes together for sure. Although I would like to talk about some issues I've been having with this current season. Particularly with the character of Lori, the newest addition to the team.

My issue is more about how the show has been handling her character, making it blatantly obvious about the fact that she's going to be Steve's potential love interest this season, something that they have been shoving at us from the moment she first appeared on the show (when she walks in, the camera goes from her legs and up her body, and Steve glancing over at her constantly drawing attention to yes, he is nonchalantly checking her out) Of course now there's this constant back and forth thing and quite frankly, I'm not feeling it. It seems so out of place and more forced than anything. That moment when she is rambling to Chin about wanting to "get to know" her boss (Steve) better was almost cringe-worthy on how forced that was, only saved by Chin's expression through it all. My issue isn't the fact that she may be a potential love interest, but it's more of how the show is handling the approach. It comes off a little silly and unconvincing.

I also find the comparison of her being the "female McGarrett" kind of a stretch, in my opinion. Is she tough and competent in her job description? Of course. But I don't like that they are attempting to compare both her and Steve as if suggesting that means they are "meant for each other" by any means. I don't know, it just rubs me the wrong way.

Mostly because I would like Lori to be her own character. I like her, but the show is kind of pushing a bit much for this to happen and I'm just not feeling it, at all. She can be so much more than what they're attempting to setup, that's all.

(Never mind that, but isn't Steve already in an established relationship? Or a casual relationship really, and for that storyline to be explained away when she left and taking that "rain check" for their dinner date kind of says that they only did that because of Lori and that doesn't sit right with me, either)

Which brings me to my other point of Rachel. I liked Rachel last season, I liked the progression of Danny and Rachel's relationship went from being separated and aggravated with each other to slowly blooming back their romance that they once had. In a way, I kinda wanted them to work things out via the pregnancy and everything. But come the premiere of this season they explained it away again by saying that she found out the baby wasn't his and we don't see Rachel again. And now he's going out with another woman. I don't know, I don't know if the actress wasn't in the contract and isn't coming back for whatever reason or they are going to bring it up sometime later this season, but I felt like that whole storyline with Steve and Rachel was just dumped when it could have been something great, you know?

I do love this show, but these are the current issues I am having that I hope the show knows what it's doing in regards to this.


In saying that, I rather enjoyed Monday's Halloween episode. Now I hope the mention of Danny crashing at Steve's house becomes a reality after all that hoopla of him finding a place to stay. I mean, the show has officially stated this will happen, but after that episode I just can't not see that whole conversation taking place after the credits rolled.

Comments

[philstar22.livejournal.com]

I hate when writers add random female characters just to be love interests, make them only about being a love interest without being interesting characters to themselves, and then claim that the fandom doesn't like women when they complain. I mean sure, the fandom can be really sexist (I'm looking at you, SPN fandom), and it is frustrating when they hate on female characters who are interesting (I'm looking at you, Jo and Ellen-haters). But sometimes, the complaints are legitimate. Female characters who are only there for the male characters, not to be characters in themselves, are problematic because women don't exist for men. We exist because we exist, just as men do.

[thefreshchuff.livejournal.com]

when she walks in, the camera goes from her legs and up her body

This was in part why I had to stop watching Chuck, actually. Basically every female character was introduced with the slow pan from the (high-heeled) feet up past the shiny bare legs, lingering a moment on the cleavage, and then we see her face.

But the guys get to just wander into frame.

But more to your point, I don't know why shows have such a hard time writing female characters that are three-dimensional. By all means, bring on a girl that's meant to be a love-interest, but how is the audience supposed to care about her relationship with the hunky male main character if we know nothing about her outside of her wanting the guy/the guy wanting her?

[carameltrap.livejournal.com]

Because female characters exist solely to pander to the male characters and viewers. It's not the first time and it won't be the last. TV shows, movies and even anime do it. Even if the female character is a strong woman, she will inevitably end up being the romantic interest.

Your points are interesting and legitimate. I had never thought of them writing Lori that way. I was - still am - pleased that they got another woman in the team as the show could use another female to balance it out.

[chosenfire28.livejournal.com]

The show has felt off to me ever since Lori came on. I want to like her, she is beautiful and I love strong female characters so much!!!

But I just can't, I don't feel a connection to her at all and it does feel like she is being shoved down our throats as Steve's love interest.

Ever since she came on there was been:
- Less Steve and Danny interaction, actually, less Danny altogether. I don't approve of this. Steve and Danny are hilarious together, Danny is amazing on his own as well. It feels like he has been pushed to the side to make room for the Steve/Lori romance.
- Less team dynamic. Again more focus on Lori and her and Steve. I would love for more team dynamic that is Lori as a part of the team, her talking to them about things that do not relate to Steve at all.
- Weird unlikable Kono writing. It's like they complete ignored the badass awesome female character they already had. I hope its changing now that she's back with the team. I want more Kono!

Positive things:
- Lori is great if they drop the romance, she would be another awesome female to the very make 5-0 team. The actress is pretty awesome.
- Fandom might finally get some femslash with Lori/Kono. I'm not a femslasher much of the time but even I've seen this fandom is pretty sad for those that do.

[allodole.livejournal.com]

I just started watching this show and I love it and I love the main four so much and I'm reaaaally trying not to judge Lori's character before I actually see her (i'm still in the middle of S1) but from what I've heard (not just from you but from many, many others), I'm not liking the sound of her at all. Not just because of they seem to push her as Steve's love interest (and female McGarrett, really?) but because I really don't want another member to Five-0, especially if they're not written well. I'm just a fan of Steve and Danny and Chin and Kono too much to enjoy the thought of another member in their ohana.

BUT I've spoiled myself about S2 enough for now, so I'll be quiet and continue watching S1. :'D

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

The fact that she was introduced the way she was doesn't sit right with me, and I would much rather like Lori if she wasn't used in this way. They can introduce women characters without reducing them to possible romantic interests (ex. when they introduced Kono, she was surfing and then punched a guy, proving that she not only has her own hobby of interest and that she can take care of herself.)

I hope that despite this, it doesn't discourage you from continuing watching the show though. It's awesome and I love it, even with some of these issues. :)

[allodole.livejournal.com]

Yeah, exactly. I'd like to like her on her own merits, as her own character, not because she may be the ~love of Steve's life~ or the female-version of him (Steve being my second favourite character of the entire show).

Definitely not, I have watched 17 episodes and I'm not going to stop now. :D I love it~

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

A lot of things have been feeling a bit off this season, although I don't think it's directly connected to Lori being the newest addition to the team. I think the show might have added a little more than they can chew for the second season, and the family dynamic is less of a dynamic than the first season. Not that having different elements is a bad thing, but it should be balanced out and integrated into the whole team, you know?

Less team dynamic. Again more focus on Lori and her and Steve. I would love for more team dynamic that is Lori as a part of the team, her talking to them about things that do not relate to Steve at all.

Agreed, and I also agree with the lack of Kono and Danny, hell even Chin. They're an ensemble and yet the team hasn't really been together all that much this season so far. It was understandable at first given Kono having lost her badge right at the beginning, but now it's like, when are we gonna get them acting like a family again? Having Lori around shouldn't make that much of a difference, right? They were all a team together when Jenna was part of their group for a while, so why can't the same be with Lori?

Lori is great if they drop the romance, she would be another awesome female to the very make 5-0 team. The actress is pretty awesome.

Yes, this precisely. It would be even better if Jenna had stayed on the team, tbh. I still wanna know what was happening with her character. Perhaps we'll find out later this season. But there needs to be more women to balance things out, y'know. Besides, I would like there to be another women for Kono to interact with.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

It's depressing at how it has become more visibly used these days in the media than usual, at least from my observation. I wish this could be changed. :/

Oh, I'm pleased too, don't get me wrong. I actually wished that Jenna had stuck around too because that way we'd get at least a well-balanced out male/female cast.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

By all means, bring on a girl that's meant to be a love-interest, but how is the audience supposed to care about her relationship with the hunky male main character if we know nothing about her outside of her wanting the guy/the guy wanting her?

Precisely.

All we know about Lori is that she's a profiler, and she's a damn good one but that's all. We know nothing else besides that. I would like to know her as a person rather than the new girl who is being forced as the potential love interest for Steve, who is compared to him, etc. Sorry, I want her to be her own individual than the shadow of Steve/pining for Steve.

[allodole.livejournal.com]

So if you're interested in hearing my judgey judgement about Lori now that I'm in the middle of 2x06, here goes :D/

I quite like her. She's fine, she does her job, is not particularly pushy or annoying or anything else that usually makes me dislike a lady character. BUT. Buuuuuut as said before, I don't care to see her as a love interest to Steve. I don't see what's her role in the group, I don't understand why she's in the show, I feel like she's replacing Kono/Cath/Jenna which is not amazing. (There are little moments here and there where I feel like "No no, this guy or this woman should have been in this scene and not Lori" like her taping Steve's hand on the beginning of 2x06? I know, the scene's quite insignificant against the bigger picture but it rubbed me the wrong way that she was there instead of like, uh, Danny)

And I don't like that the Five-0 had to accept a new member, because Steve/Danny/Kono/Chin is the original ohana I fell in love with and I'm just not feeling connections/bonds between Lori and any of the others. That's my main pet peeve with her. As an individual, she's fine, I don't feel like she's hogging up (much) screentime from the original four or others I like, but when she's with others.. I'm just not feeling anything. :| Especially Steve. I guess it has something to do with the fact that yeah, we don't know anything about her. So, uh, she was/is a profiler and had a boyfriend once and holds a little crush on Steve (who doesn't lolol), and? I like her, but in the way I like those characters that come and go. I don't understand how a character like her elicits such strong feelings from the fandom. For me, she just kinda exists.

Regards to Rachel and Danny/Rachel: I liked them together, they were cute, she was fab, but but.. I just don't think they could have worked together again and if there was/would have been a choice between having Rachel or the Five-0, I would have liked for Danny to choose the latter. And that he kinda did. Maybe it's cruel to say I'm glad about it but. >__> Except, of course, Danny doesn't get to see Grace much now. (not that he got to see her much before, but you know.)

[allodole.livejournal.com]

oh and are they not going to bring Jenna back? I thought she was interesting and I really wanna know her reasoning for apparently working with Wo Fat. I wanna know if her fiancé is really alive or if she was faking that too and I don't know uh

I'm glad the Steve/Danny-moments in the car (when is Danny going to be able to drive his own car, I wonder..... :D) haven't gone anywhere, there are just a little less of them. Sadly.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I don't see what's her role in the group, I don't understand why she's in the show, I feel like she's replacing Kono/Cath/Jenna which is not amazing.

I think you hit the nail on the head, bb.

Her character just seemed to be randomly placed there without much reason other than to "babysit" Five-0, as the new mayor implies. Of course, this leads to the question how is she benefiting the team based on that alone? The show has tried to make it sound as though the new mayor will be keeping a tighter lid on the things the Five-0 team should be doing in conducting their cases, but so far we haven't seen much of that. I agree, Lori seems like the odd person out here because she hasn't interacted with the rest of the team, and the show isn't doing her any favors by having her only interact with Steve and if she's with another member of the team she's only asking about Steve. It really makes it clear that the sole purpose of her being part of the show is to benefit of becoming Steve's new love interest (as her character entrance implies), which is kind of insulting to her character that can become so much more than simply that.

(Never mind that some people in the fandom hated her immediately because of that, as fandom often does whenever a new women character enters the scene. But I would like Lori to be an individual and prove her worth to the team as a whole rather than just for Steve, you know)

One can only hope the show attempts to have Lori become her own character as the season progresses, but as I said I'm not feeling her participation as a member of the Five-0 family.

Regards to Rachel and Danny/Rachel: I liked them together, they were cute, she was fab, but but.. I just don't think they could have worked together again and if there was/would have been a choice between having Rachel or the Five-0, I would have liked for Danny to choose the latter.

Oh, I definitely agree it wouldn't have worked out as they would have hoped. They were kinda doomed, in a sense. But I just felt like after all that time re-building their trust and relationship last season, this season just dropped it rather abruptly. Even if it was inevitable of them not working out, I wished they could have handled that better.

Except, of course, Danny doesn't get to see Grace much now. (not that he got to see her much before, but you know.)

This is something I also upset about. I love Danny's relationship with his daughter, and during the first season when we didn't even see Rachel (only knew her as his ex-wife that he didn't really get along with), but at least we saw Grace enough to see the relationship between father and daughter, along with her relationship between Grace an the other members of the team. Now, I know the initial reason of him staying in Hawaii was because of Grace, and this season is more of him understanding that he belongs in Five-0, but that shouldn't take away from us seeing his relationship with his daughter, Rachel or no Rachel in the picture.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering this too, actually. She left so abruptly that I wonder if she'll pop back up again sometime this season as they continue to investigate into Wo Fat and Steve's father and how they were connected.

As a sidenote, Jenna fit more into the Five-0 team than Lori does currently. I don't know how to explain it, but I think it has something to do with being an the odd-man-out which made her fit right into the team with her investigation connected with Wo Fat. I think that's why I love the Five-0 team initially; they're all kind of outcasts in their own way. Which is why I don't think Lori fits in properly. At least with Jenna we understood why she was there and her relationship with the team. Does that make sense?

[allodole.livejournal.com]

Like, the new Governor-or-whatever sounds like he wouldn't be letting Five-0 having as much freedom as the former Governor, but I don't know, I haven't seen him doing anything to limit their freedom/benefits. It sounded like Lori was supposed to be his watchdog or something, but I haven't seen even the tiniest hint of that, so?? I just think she's taking space from the others, being with Steve in the scenes where I think another member would be better etc.

Of course I don't care about who Steve is seeing/sleeps with, I loved Cath and would have liked to see more of her (it sounded like they got rid off her because Lori needed to take her spot). And now that Kono is back, Lori seems even more unnecessary. :/

Well, already been 6 episodes and I'm still not feeling it, there just isn't a sense of ~comrades~ or ohana with her like there is with all the others.

Oh yes, I can agree with that the Danny/Rachel-thing could have been handled better, seen him maybe struggle with it a bit longer, but all in all, I'm kinda fine with it.

Exactly! I really miss seeing Grace and Danny interact, as well as seeing her interact with the other members too. He already got to see her like in every other weekend and now he doesn't get to see her at all. Him being a doting, protective dad is one of my favourite things about him.

[allodole.livejournal.com]

It seems kinda silly to just never bring her back, you know? I feel like there was a lot more going under the surface for her, I want to know her reasoning for doing what she did etc.

It does make sense, definitely. I have many problems with Lori but one of them definitely is that there is no reason for her to be there. She just doesn't fit in there, we don't even know anything about her. Well, anything significant. It doesn't help that I'm not really fond of the way her actress acts.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Well, already been 6 episodes and I'm still not feeling it, there just isn't a sense of ~comrades~ or ohana with her like there is with all the others.

Yeah. I mean, this could all change in future episodes, but if so far I'm not sold.

Exactly! I really miss seeing Grace and Danny interact, as well as seeing her interact with the other members too. He already got to see her like in every other weekend and now he doesn't get to see her at all. Him being a doting, protective dad is one of my favourite things about him.

I know! I love Danny when he's in full protective!dad mode. It's adorable, knowing he would do anything to protect his daughter. Seeing hardly anything of that at all this season makes me all sadface. :( But still, it's early in the season, maybe we might get more? It's hard to really tell at the moment.

All in all, I love the show but I think there needs to be certain adjustments.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have a feeling they're gonna bring Jenna back. Because they can't leave it open-ended like that. I have my own theories about what happened (Wo Fat threatening her with her fiance's life unless she gave him information is my strongest suspicion....) but yeah, I definitely think we're gonna see her again.