Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) The Finishing Touch (1973) User Reviews

Another clever criminal plot

[VetteRanger · 8/10 · 14 February 2023]

Not many spoilers here, the plot is laid out very early in the episode. One of the premier document experts in the world is in Honolulu, and he's going blind. He won't have a useful career left after that.

So he concocts a plot to not only produce bearer bonds, but to have the authorities bring authentic bearer bonds to him so he can replace them with forgeries of his own making, and right under the nose of the police!

There are two problems with this plan. He commits two murders so there are no witnesses against him, and he has McGarrett and 5-0 trying to solve the case. He makes one critical mistake, which of course Steve homes in on.

Fascinating episode.

The Finishing Touch

[ringfire211 · 8/10 · 30 June 2021]

Here's another one that gets better on rewatches. Normally I'm not into "financial" episodes - stocks, bonds, certificates, etc. But unlike the previous ones that were either confusing or boring (Odd Lot Caper, Percentage) this one actually has a cool premise. You still have to follow the story pretty closely to keep up with the scam involving the certificates but Norman Cargill (first of two appearances by George Voskovec - one of the original 12 ANGRY MEN) is an interesting character. He's a rarity in that he's both sympathetic and despicable at the same time. You understand his plight but he resorts to murder. He not only kills a fellow forger but a completely innocent woman as well. As McGarrett tells him "Forgery is one thing but murder... murder??!!". No deals. Murder one. Two counts. Classic ending! McGarrett won't let a friendship stand in the way of justice. Right is right and wrong is wrong. No room for gray areas here.

This was the first music score by Bruce Broughton (who was Oscar nominated for SILVERADO and scored a bunch of other movies too) and he composes a really cool lengthy track that plays for like 7 minutes or something while Cargill is forging those documents while being under surveillance. Broughton will do many more Five-O scores. My three favorite Five-O composers are Morton Stevens, Richard Shores, and Don Ray. But Broughton is up there too!

What a great and intricate plot....

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 1 April 2011]

I really like this episode of "Hawaii Five-O", as it has one of the most imaginative and literate scripts I can remember seeing. It has a a plot that really gets you thinking...and a very interesting criminal.

The show begins with an older and very well-spoken gentleman meeting with a printer. It seems the printer has made some very authentic-looking municipal bonds--and his reward is getting killed by the nice-looking old man! You then learn that this man is a documents expert who is world-famous for his authentication skill. So how will this man with his skills and some phony bonds come together in this episode? Well, I'd tell you--but it might ruin the suspense--and the well-integrated plot.

Overall, I have no complaints about this episode. You've got nice writing, acting and originality--this one has all that you're looking for in a cop show.