Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) The Pagoda Factor (1978) User Reviews

Pretty good except for one insane scene!

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 10 January 2014]

Season 11 of "Hawaii Five-O" was pretty awful. The quality of the scripts went way downhill--perhaps the product of the show just having run its course. Fortunately, "The Pagoda Factor" is a pretty good show--at least by season 11's very low standards.

The show begins with Joey Lee escaping from prison. The reason it seemed so easy is that it was arranged with McGarrett. That's because some sort of heavy-hitter Chinese mobster is coming from the mainland to organize the Chinese gangs and McGarrett needs an inside man. Apparently Lee has had enough of gang life and wants out--and wants to take the organization down. However, Joey is a cocky guy and after a while you aren't sure just how committed he is to his task. Watch this one to see what's next.

Apart from an insanely stupid and ridiculous scene where McGarrett fire NEAR a group of mobsters using automatic weapons, this show is very good. Yes, I did say automatic weapons (one appeared to be an M-15 or an AR-15 rifle)! This never would occur...at least on this planet! But, if you look past it, the show is otherwise well written and a HUGE relief from the crap in prior season 11 episodes! Worth your time.

If you do see this one, look for the tall rival gang leader--he looks almost exactly like an Asian Joey Ramone!! Seriously!

Slightly simplified but still very well done ep

[bobforapples-40146 · 9/10 · 8 October 2023]

McGarrett gets a young, former Kowloon member named Joey to escape from prison and do espionage work for Five-O. McGarrett does this without even telling the governor about it. Will the plan work?

The ep sticks to many scenes of very young gang members. Very atypical of this generally mature show. A beautiful lady plays Joey's love interest. Though she's badly finks on him when she discovers he is now with Five-O. Was this a pilot for another show that did not sell? That is a thought. Very good rp all the same. Do not miss it. One of the best eps of the eleventh season ) James MacArthur's last one in the series!

One of the better episodes of otherwise mundane Season 11

[FloridaFred · 8/10 · 23 January 2024]

Improbable story where McGarrett helps a young gang member break out of prison. In exchange for a potential pardon, said gang member will be the ultimate informant for an upcoming mob takeover .

Yet another Mob story... but at least this one doesn't involve Italians. Rather, it's a bunch of Chinese youngsters acting tough, planning to sell junk (heroin) all over the U. S.

The character "Sergeant Riley" (actor Dane Clark) adds a nice touch to the story. When an execution is planned, Riley knows exactly where it will happen.

As another reviewer mentioned, there is one very unlikely scene. McGarrett and the team fire fully automatic weapons at the side of a downtown building. Scores of pedestrians and bystanders could be hit by the ricocheting bullets, not to mention the damage to the buildings. No police officers would do something this dumb!

Old school cop Sergeant Riley makes a nice sidekick for McGarrett. They should have used that character more often.