After a “Hawaii Five-O” hiatus of one episode for Thanksgiving weekend, November 30 brought the return of Season 9 and a new episode 9 with “Ma ka po mai ka ‘oia’I’o” (Truth Comes from the Night). Most faithful fans of these elite crime-fighters feel like they are already the nearest thing to superheroes, with valor stretching from Navy Seals to seasoned detectives, with a kick of female ferocity and nerd magic thrown into the mix.

When “Hawaii Five-O” is called to solve the murder of a neighborhood vigilante, they are drawn into a father-son legacy of leaving their corner of the world a better place.

Steve and Danny (Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan debate their own views of what makes a superhero, as does the rest of the team, while still in hot pursuit.

Comic books are a lot more than kid stuff in this story, and those on the side of the law get it all wrong.

Adam exonerated

The proceedings open on an ominous note, with Kimura (Dana Lee), the Yakuza “banker” who offered Adam (Ian Anthony Dale) a measure of protection as he was paying back his father's debt under the cloud of his sister, Noriko’s death, goes before the Japanese mafia’s board. He presents his case, but ultimately, in light of his service, is given the choice of “Yakuza justice” or “Five-O justice,” and Adam emerges to take him away to his fate in a prison cell rather than to face the brutal mob’s punishment.

Thus, with this fell swoop, Adam is out from under the criminal judgment in the death of his sister. He has walked the line between law and order and organized crime for a long time, often showing steel will, and sometimes getting his hands dirty, but he deserves this weight lifted, and so do future storylines for “Hawaii Five-O.” Tani (Meaghan Rath) and Adam close this chapter on

Moving on, Gene Wahele (Kalae Chung) is a neighborhood protector, a renegade for the good, who patrols the local areas of congregation, making citizen arrests and keeping drug deals under control.

He intercepts a sizable drug exchange, with this perpetrator pulling a gun on him. He doesn't live too turn in the weapon to the police or provide details because a car pulls up, and a shooter takes him down first.

Wahele doesn't exactly walk the line, but his intent is solidly proactive, and he is admired by the local residents, and by Jerry (Jorge Garcia) who has a personal connection with this vigilante and opens his team to the world of YouTube stardom in busting criminals.

The conspiracy guru and everybody's favorite nerd is crucial to this case. Jerry understands Wahele and defends his motives.

Superhero superiority

Inspection of Wahele’s abode reveals that it has been ransacked, proving that whoever was there knew just what they were after. Jerry notices immediately that items of value are not disturbed, like a first edition of “The Martian Chronicles” and several highly-prized items from Ultraman, a Japanese superhero series. The discovery sparks a lively conversation with Adam. Tani uncovers computer wires, to indicate that Wahele’s computer was the designated target. There are only 100 videos posted by The Night Sentinel, but many more are archived.

Jerry elaborates on how Wahele’s videos of his arrests create a social following and a steady stream of income.

Wahele is known as The Night Sentinel. There are other contenders out there, one of whom, The Guardian (Wyatt Nash), is a confirmed poser, he says he can go back to his job as a personal trainer any time.

All the superhero-speak and “nerd-fu” (as Jerry refers to his gift) trigger debate between Danny and Steve about the best superhero. Danny defends his choice in becoming a detective as the most truly heroic but asserts that Superman would be his choice. Steve selects Bruce Wayne’s Batman as the top contender, citing that he is a mere mortal who honed his best human attributes to save the world. Steve does credit Danny for his superpower “to irritate people to death.”

Even though the newest members on "Hawaii Five-O" are millennials, it would have been nice to hear a younger and female perspective on superheroes.

When Danny and Steve intercept The Guardian in the middle of a posed crime, even using the same actor as the perpetrator, they playfully toy with him before he takes off. Steve takes aim at him with a beanbag rifle, asking his partner “Can Superman do that?”

Jerry does a fine job in his first true interrogation. The Guardian does tip off the team that Wahele has sold his $30,000 comic book collection, and Jerry’s follow-up with that news breaks open the case. Captain Grover (Chi McBride) has curated a substantial comic book knowledge through his son. On the way to the Other Realms comic shop, Lou and Jerry discuss their superhero picks. Lou insists that Walter Payton, “Sweetness.” Is the best approximation of a real superhero.

Jerry surprises with his choice of Batgirl as the groundbreaking ruler.

A lead on comic books’ buyer from the shop leads the team to an inner sanctuary at Wahele’s home, and a trail to a story that his father, a news reporter, was also a crime-fighter in his own way, righting injustice wherever he found it. As a young boy, the younger Wahele witnessed his father's death.

Conversation with the police detective who was present and his lawyer gets more than testy, and the blustering, high dollar attorney (Matthew Arkin) brings the interview to an end, even though it is obvious that the detective knows more.

Eddie, the wonder dog, gets to be the hero in another episode, tracking a scent to the location of the real killer.

The team takes care of business, and the story closes with Danny, Steve, and Jerry at the comic shop. The manager/owner shared with Jerry that Gene Wahele wanted the money to complete his own comic series, that already had three installments. Jerry took on the task of completing the unfinished fourth in the series and starred McGarrett and the others in “Hawaii Five-O” as the heroes.

Danny didn't mind buying a copy of that new edition for his boy, Charlie (Zach Sulzbach) because he was “a kid” after all.
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