Thanksgiving episodes on “Hawaii Five-0” hold a special place in the hearts of fans and in the police drama’s history. Every faithful viewer recalls the tender turkey day when Aunt Deb (Carol Burnett) turned up on Steve's doorstep to save the day and the bird for Steve (Alex O'Loughlin), his sister, Mary Ann (Taryn Manning) and baby Joanie. Just as memorable is the passing away of Aunt Deb and her family’s loving fulfilment of her last wish for her ashes

Holidays are the bonding times for the “ohana” of “Hawaii Five-0,” and Chi McBride steps up to the plate, literally, in writing this November 16 family Thanksgiving episode, the eighth of Season 9, "Lele pu na manu like" (Birds of a Feather).

While Steve heads up the traditional football game, with Tani (Meaghan Rath) taking over Danny’s coaching duties while he visits New Jersey, McBride’s Captain Grover is preparing to host his family in Hawaii with a gargantuan, gourmet feast. I also wanted to share a recap of the last episode.

From the opening scenes of the Chicago cop singing in the shower, lathered up to shave, before being drenched with ice water by his older brother, Percy (Clifton Powell), fans were in for a treat and it only got better from there. When Lou Grover let out a scream that woke his whole family, the renowned talents, Louis Gossett, Jr. and Gladys Knight make their entrance as Lou’s parents, Percy Sr. and Ella.

Just like in the football game, the food preparation in the family kitchen is hotly contested, and the close-knit brothers forget for a time how they really feel about each other. The rest of Hawaii Five-0 catches a case of death by safe and a coveted baseball card.

A bad call and strange bandits

Tani definitely has the competitive edge over any of the guys playing football, and she aims her verbal attack at Lt.

Commander McGarrett, playfully attacking his advancing age and eyesight. The game is about to be tied when she vehemently argues against a bad call, but not before a call comes in about a victim killed by a safe, which he was trying to wrangle downstairs. At the scene, Tani deduces that they are dealing with two different teams of burglars, both of whom were leaving very valuable items, like Rolex watches and silver, behind.

They also discover that shavings around the save indicate that someone had “drilled” the safe while it was on top of the victim's body.

Getting back to the kitchen, Lou and Percy get into feuding early, with Lou making omelets and his brother preparing delicate French pastry. The disagreement soon turns into something from “Hell's Kitchen” with flour, eggs, and dough flying. Mrs. Renée Grover (Michelle Hurd) and her mother-in-law soon demand order and a cleanup. Renée raves over Percy's pastries, and he tells her that he is in talks with a bank about a business loan for his own bakery. Here is a recap of a "Hell's Kitchen" episode from 2017 that relates to the episode.

Lou dismisses the possibility, declaring that no one would give money to a man who doesn't get out of bed until afternoon, based solely on “a conversation.” Ella Grover urges her sons to “cook dinner together” as a symbol of what Thanksgiving really means.

They make a side bet that squelches the goodwill out of their gourmet efforts. If Percy wins, Lou will cosign his loan for the bakery. If Lou prevails, Percy agrees not to come to dinner for two years. Renée makes no secret that she wants no part of this family division.

Among the priceless exchanges in this keepsake episode is a scene between Lou’s son, Will (Chosen Jacobs) and his grandfather. While they are assigned to peel potatoes, Will tells granddad that he knows his dad is afraid of his mom, and essentially, the women in his life. In a masterful turn, the senior Percy, explains the strength and devotion of both ladies in caring for the men in their lives, along with their whole family.

He agrees that the men are afraid, afraid of “not measuring up” to what these mothers and wives deserve, and his wisdom totally changes the grandson’s perspective.

Stan Musial and a messed up meal

Deeper investigation reveals that the only item taken from the safe was a highly-prized mint condition baseball card from magnificent St. Louis Cardinals hitter, Stan Musial. The idea that “cardboard” would be insured for $60,000 completely baffled Tani, but Jerry (Jorge Garcia) was the perfect man to give her an education and go undercover with Adam (Ian Anthony Dale) to trace the whereabouts of the card. After the team discovers that the card was sold for $10,000, they know desperation is involved.

In another fun interplay, Adam tells Jerry not to try to play “Bob” and mention the Stan Musial card on the same day it’s sold. Adam prefers to play a Japanese tourist, with money to spend regarding his love for American baseball. The plan never pulls off, because the shop owner runs, with Adam in close pursuit. The trail leads to an Oahu mission to feed the homeless, and a man who confesses that he was responsible for taking and selling the card. His intentions, however, were altruistic. The wealthy homeowner and collector had agreed to fund the Thanksgiving meal annually, and naturally, get his public kudos for kindness.

All of a sudden, the benefactor decided he wanted more bang for his bucks, and pulled out of the charitable effort, saying “that’s your problem,” to the dedicated provider.

Tani and Junior remind their goodhearted suspect that he still broke the law, and would have to be arrested, but only after he feeds the people. They pitch in and spend the day serving, too.

After Lou has to cover the cost of all the food for the day, since his sibling “forgot money,” the brothers secure turkeys. Lou has his on reserve from the store, Percy has to engage Kamekona, and gets a “live” bird, and pays, per Lou again, to have it properly “dressed” to serve. Will begins to see his dad and his uncle in a different light as the family looks through photographs. The grandparents remind him that Percy was Lou’s protector and defender all through his school years, and Lou listens in, out of sight.

When Lou smells something burning, he starts to burn himself, thinking that his brother turned up the oven on purpose, and the brothers start to all-out brawl on the lawn, where Percy is frying his offering. The situation becomes so bad that Renée, Ella, and Percy senior refuse to watch, shielding Will away, and the father reminding that he didn't raise sons like that. Suddenly, Lou realizes that the house is on fire, and summons everyone out.

Fortunately, the fire is contained to the kitchen, and the brothers come to the truth in a forgiving embrace. Percy relates that he kept every accomplishment in his brother’s police career, and Lou insists that Percy inspired him to be a police detective, defending people without a voice, just as his brother defended him.

Pops admits he was the culprit in the kitchen, and not wearing his glasses.

The family makes a last-minute reservation, welcomed at the restaurant that Steve is officially signing over to Kamekona. A taste of his pastry is enough to get Percy a job as a baker. Gratitude takes its centerpiece at the table, where, as Adam says, the members of Hawaii Five-0 give thanks for what they have. This moving episode well deserves to become another Thanksgiving keeper in the “Hawaii Five-0” chronicles.
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