Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) 'V' for Vashon: The Son (1972) User Reviews

Want to see how great television is written, watch this

[VetteRanger · 9/10 · 30 December 2022]

Hawaii-50 didn't last 12 seasons by accident. Great acting, particularly by Jack Lord, and some outstanding writing, carried this fine series ... and the Vashon trilogy provides a great example.

The Vashons are a generational crime family, and one which made so much money illegally they've bought their way into legal riches and respectability. However, the youngest male hates his father and decides to make his own name in the crime world. Unfortunately, he's not nearly as bright as he thinks he is.

5-0 figures out who is behind the string of hotel robberies immediately, and his last mistake is shooting at Steve McGarrett. Honore Vashon, his father, vows that McGarrett must die ...

A must see for fans of television history

[american7 · 9/10 · 8 January 2007]

This show, the only three-parter of the series, is one of, if not the best of the entire series. This three parter could have been on the big screen. The major actors (Harold Gould, Luther Adler, Robert Drivas, Don Knight) all give excellent performances, and many of the Five-O stock performers (Arthur Hee, Moki Palacio, Yankee Chang, David Espinda, Galen Kam, Robert Costa, Beau Vanden Ecker) are on hand as well. There are freeze-frames employed during a courtroom sequence in part one, and when McGarrett looks out his office to the building across the street in part two. Robert Luck plays Sullivan, who was "pushing junk to high school kids." During the final show, lawyer Harvey Mathieson Drew (John Stalker) is being blackmailed by the elder Vashon. Kwan Hi Lim plays the Vashons' very slimy henchman Tosaki.

The punk of the litter

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 1 October 2013]

This was one of a series of episodes where Jack Lord and his 5-0 team had to deal with a Corleone like crime family called Vachon. Patriarch Luther Adler is semi-retired, his son Harold Gould is running the family enterprises now which are somewhat legitimate and he'd like to make that even more so.

Then there is the grandson Robert Drivas who is spoiled and gets his kicks with a couple of pals in heists. Can you imagine if Al Pacino's son had decided to do that instead of opera? The kid is putting at risk the family operations.

Of course the Hawaii Five-0 team sees an opportunity and takes it. They miss once, but the second time ends in tragedy.

The Vachons are a frightening group. Check them out.

V for Vashon are the best 3-part episodes of Hawaii 5-O

[hhbooker2-1 · 10/10 · 7 September 2006]

Chris Vashon (Robert Drivas 1938-1986) plays the son of Honore Vashon (Harold Gould née Harold V. Goldstein 1923-) and grandson of Dominick Vashon (Luther Adler 1903-1984) in the first episode of the trilogy titled V for Vashon; The Son, The Father; The Patriarch. Chris Vashon is the scion of an old-line Hawaii crime family, goes on a robbery spree. When Five-O catches Chris, his father Honore engineers an acquittal by bribing or removing witnesses, then on the final fling, Chris is shot by Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord 1920-1998), Chris drives home and dies. McGarrett is absolutely furious in the last ten minutes of this episode. His gun fight in the stairwell with Chris Vashon, while yelling "Halt! Halt!" Chris Vashon had it all, but being spoiled led up to the events that made his father say "My son is dead McGarrett and you killed him!" "No, no Vashon, you killed him, you and his grandfather, a long time ago!" "No, Vashon, no ... " with the scornful shake of the head. The facial expression expression of Dominick Vashon was priceless. Sarge Booker of Tujunga, California

A must-see three-parter...plus one.

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 10 December 2010]

"Hawaii Five-O" did something very unusual during the 1972-73 season--they had a three-part episode. While each of the three shows was a self-contained episode, the three plots worked together and tell of the destruction of a crime family due to their own evilness...and stupidity. What also sets these three shows apart is that a few years later, one of these family members returned in an interesting episode set in State prison!

Chris Vashon is the youngest and stupidest member of his crime family. By the time he was born, the family had moved from begin petty thugs and mobsters to gaining a sense of public respectability. However, unlike his father and grandfather, Chris is dumb...really, really dumb...and cocky. He misses the excitement of the old days and being a pampered rich kid isn't enough for him. Plus, you feel that much of what he was about to do was a deliberate slap in the faces of his dad and granddad. That's because Chris begins staging petty crimes and deliberately leaves evidence--a 'V' stamped into the face of one of his victims! This was clearly a calling card of the Vashons and it's no surprise when McGarrett and the guys at Five-O investigate. But Chris is an idiot and doesn't panic in the least, as he knows his family connections will mean he won't serve a day in prison. And, for a while it looks like he's right. So, naturally, this makes him more bold--so bold that he can't help but get caught. Eventually, by the end of the film, Chris' father and grandfather blame McGarrett for his fate--setting the stage for the next two episodes of the series.

This episode has it all--interesting characters, a nice plot they were able to sustain throughout all the episodes and suspense. See this one and then, of course, see the next ones in the Vashon series--in particular the third episode--perhaps the best of all the "Hawaii Five-O" episodes. But, they all are grand entertainment.

The Vashons are the quintessential crime family

[wlmlbl · 10/10 · 24 August 2012]

This is the first part of the only 3 part episode of the series. Chris Vashon is the son of the Vashon family. Robert Drivas did an excellent job in the role. He acts like the typical rich kid that can do anything he wants, and doesn't have to pay any consequences for his acts. He robs a hotel, and punches the victim in the face with his "V" ring leaving a telltale sign of who he is, and puts McGarrett right on his tail. His dad Honory is played by Harold Gould. He is another great actor is his own right, and is perturbed that his son is acting so stupid. He has to try to curb his sons activities, and keep McGarrett off his back. Talking to his son does no good, and Honory wants his father, Dominic to intercede. Dominic is played by Luther Adler. He is an "old school" type of gangster who either bought or intimidated people into doing what he wanted. When Chris is arrested, Honory and his dad must do everything to get the case against Chris thrown out. When this happens, Chris, acting every bit the cocky son laughs and replies "so much for the pigs" to which his grandfather gives him a good whack in the face. Not to be deterred, Chris decides to pull off another job, with disastrous results. Watch for Honory's reaction at the end.

Tremendous Three-Part Episode

[ramsfan · 10/10 · 16 January 2024]

'V' For Vashon: The Son is the first episode in the trilogy which highlights the downfall of the Vashon Crime Family. Rebellious scion Christopher Vashon plans various nickel and dime heists on businesses in Hawaii much to the chagrin of his father Honore, who has segued into legitimate business ventures while surreptitiously continuing his criminal activity. The younger Vashon resents his father's hypocrisy and looks to make him "flip his wig" by committing petty crimes. Despite warnings to cease the burglaries, he plans the larger caper of robbing a hotel hosting a medical convention. Through court-ordered surveillance, the plot is revealed to the Five-O team, who confront Vashon and his cohorts in the act. Christopher is shot by McGarrett in self defense and flees to the family compound, where the gravely wounded son dies in his father's arms, setting up Part II.

The acting and guest stars are first rate. Robert Drivas had some good guest starring shots in series television before his untimely death. Here, he is convincing as the impetuous Christopher Vashon. Good too is Harold Gould as father Honore, who will play a more pivotal role in Part II. And distinguished actor Luther Adler is outstanding as family patriarch Dominick. Excellent opener to the Trilogy.