Rescue: Hi-Surf is the latest action drama making a splash this fall.
The hi-octane series sets up the action on the North Beach of O’ahu Hawaii, the world’s most perilous stretch of surf, as we are both told and shown in the show’s opening moments.
Here, Captain Harlan “Sonny” Jennings (Robbie Magasiva) manages and mentors his core team of lifeguards, including his ambitious second in command Lieutenant Em Wright (Arielle Kebbel), and the charming but shallow Laka Hanohano (Kekoa Kekumano) who would probably be fired from his job for tardiness, fraternising with the locals, and disobeying orders if he wasn’t such a good lifeguard. There’s also the good-natured Will (Adam Demos), who happens to be Em’s ex.
When we first meet our capable quartet in the pilot episode, they are about to welcome a fresh face to the team, but will the new rookie turn out to be the stuck-up mayor’s son Emerson (Alex Aiono), or the working class Hina (Zoe Cipress)? Meanwhile, as Sonny battles PTSD resulting from a personal tragedy, Em and Will must decide if they are friends or lovers.
The show doesn’t linger on personal drama for long though. We quickly see that the role of a lifeguard on the North Beach involves a LOT of rescuing stupid tourists (and the occasional local) from any number of mishaps: jellyfish sting to the groin, shark attack, surfing in adverse conditions, drowning, and getting lost at sea to name just a few. There’s plenty going on in the first handful of episodes we’ve screened, but what jumps out is the sheer physicality of the show. This is not your parents’ Baywatch. With the camera often neck deep in the churning water, there’s no way for the actors to fake their fitness or their immersion. One scene sees Arielle Kebbel’s Em submerged under 10 feet of water, and running along the sea bed with a boulder in her arms as part of her fitness regime.
But it’s not just Kebbel who gets to show what she’s made of. Every episode sees the gang hauling bodies onto surfboards, battling thundering waves, or being battered against the reef. The camera is just as happy under the water as above. The show is from executive producer and showrunner Matt Kester, who grew up surfing in Hawaii. It’s clear he’s done his homework around the work real lifeguards do, the kind of rescue operations they carry out, and the stories he wants to tell.
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Rescue: Hi-Surf is also undeniably beautiful to look at. Set in O’ahu, not a single sunset, sudden storm shower, or ray of golden light is wasted. Cinematographer Anka Malatynska (who also worked on NCIS: Hawaii), we salute you. Your framing is majestic!
The cast puts in a pleasing performance too, with Magasiva and Kebbel pulling most of the dramatic weight with their respective storylines. While the pilot establishes several emotional story beats for its various characters (Em’s ambitions for the top spot, Em and Laka’s power struggle, Will clearly being engaged to the wrong woman, Emerson and Hina’s love/hate relationship, and Sonny battling personal demons), it’s clear these struggles are intended to play out slowly over the season ahead. In fact, the emotional tone could be considered low-key overall, with the focus often on the rescue of the week instead. It took 4 episodes for me to feel I had a strong handle on the various characters’ personalities. Sidebar: I would love to see Will given a little bit more to say and do as ‘being Australian’ is not really a personality trait in itself.
On the surface, Rescue: Hi-Surf may look like a sudsy Baywatch-style melodrama. However it shares more in common with First Responder dramas such as 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star. This carefully constructed procedural drama aims to be, if not exactly light-hearted fun, then certainly a riveting thrill ride. The show squarely places its focus and budget on big set pieces that make maximum use of its dramatic location, the physical prowess of its cast, and intimate knowledge of its subject.
The show will surely find its audience among those who enjoy the genre. With 9-1-1 moving home to ABC, and 9-1-1:Lone Star now entering its final season, FOX is likely betting on Rescue: Hi-Surf to be its next big thing.
It is.
The series stars Robbie Magasiva (Wentworth, Bad Behaviour), Arielle Kebbel (The Vampire Diaries, John Tucker Must Die), Adam Demos (Sex / Life,UnReal), Kekoa Kekumano (The White Lotus, Aquaman), Alex Aiono (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Doogie Kameāloha M.D), and Zoe Cipres (Roswell, New Mexico).
Sea Shimooka (3 Body Problem, Arrow), Shawn Hatosy (Animal Kingdom) and Ian Anthony Dale (The Resident) appear in recurring roles.
The show is created by Matt Kester and co-produced by Warner Bros. Television and FOX Entertainment Studios. Kester, John Wells, and Daniele Nathanson are executive producers and co-showrunners.
Rescue: Hi-Surf premieres Sunday, Sept. 22 immediately following the FOX NFL doubleheader (8:00-9:00 PM ET/5:00-6:00 PM PT, live to all time zones) on FOX.
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