NCIS: Hawai’i is the latest addition to the NCIS franchise and has been fairly well-received since its premiere in 2021. The series follows the agents of the Pearl Harbor field office in Hawai’i as they investigate military crimes and offenses relating to national security in the Aloha State. The series continues the network’s list of crime shows set on the islands, which includes the concluded series like Hawai’i Five-0 and Magnum P.I.
NCIS: Hawai’i recently began airing its third season and has shown fans many pulse-pounding island adventures during the show’s young tenure on television. NCIS: Hawai’i had big shoes to fill in a franchise of established, multi-season series’. The ratings suggest that these franchise expectations have been met. 10 episodes represent the best of NCIS: Hawai’i, at least so far.
10. “The Tourist” has the Agents Hunting a Kidnapper
- Season 1, Episode 6
- IMDB Rating 7.4/10
- Episode Aired Nov. 2021
“The Tourist” sees the Pearl Harbor team investigating the kidnapping of a celebrity from her husband, both of whom aren’t who they appear to be at first glance. While the team tries to untangle this web of secrecy, they must also attempt to cut through the red tape with DIA Agent Whistler. Agent Whistler is also revealed to have her own agenda when it comes to this case.
“The Tourist” has an intriguing plotline that employs some smoke and mirrors when it comes to the motivations for the kidnapping, and even the true identity of the kidnapped celebrity. Occasionally, the amount of secrets in this episode get a tad frustrating. This is partially because they are coming from both the victims and Agent Whistler, who is meant to be on the same side as the NCIS team.
9. “Rescuers” sees the Agents Protecting a Sailor
- Season 1, Episode 7
- IMDB Rating 7.3/10
- Aired Nov. 2021
“Rescuers” puts the NCIS: Hawai’i team on the defensive as they must protect a Navy sailor from a threat after her fellow sailor and close friend is murdered. The episode demands the best from the Agents as they must both solve their case and protect another Sailor from the killer’s crosshairs.
“Rescuers” tends to skew more toward the action element of the series as they take an active role in protecting the sailor instead of delegating it to another team and investigating the case. The episode is infused with a dash of personal moments instead of being investigation-heavy in order to raise the emotional stakes. This challenging task of protecting a potential victim from harm requires the team to be on their A-Game.
8. “Breach” is a Chase to Prevent a Deadly Cyber Attack
- Season 1, Episode 17
- IMDB Rating 7.5/10
- Aired March 2022
“Breach” sees the team attempting to remedy a devastating ransomware attack causing a local dam to begin malfunctioning. This malfunction threatens the safety of those who call Hawai’i their home, as well as those who work to protect it. The agents and their intrepid tech whiz Ernie must race against the clock to shut down the virus before Hawai’i loses water and power.
The pressure is on in “Breach,” and it shows with the personal and professional plotlines in this episode. With the team relying on Ernie, which puts intense pressure on him, and the romantic tension between Agents Whistler and Tara, who are forced to partner together, the team is feeling pressure from all sides.
7. “Switchback” has Massive National Security Implications
- Season 1, Episode 21
- IMDB Rating 7.5/10
- Aired May 2022
“Switchback” sees Navy Captain Joe Milius, an ally of the NCIS Hawai’i team and a romantic interest of Agent Tennant return to Hawai’i. The Captain asks for her assistance with a top-secret prisoner exchange that is a highly sensitive matter of national security. Tennant must rely on her extensive CIA and NCIS backgrounds to get the job done.
The stakes are incredibly high in this episode, and that keeps fans glued to the screen, along with the return of a fan-favorite recurring character, which also helps with viewer engagement. This episode is the first part of a two-part season finale storyline that requires every agent to be on their A-game and demonstrates why this new series deserves a place in such a storied franchise.
6. “Ohana” Continues a Pulse Pounding Plotline
- Season 1, Episode 22
- IMDB Rating 7.6/10
- Aired May 2022
“Ohana” continues the plotline from the previous episode, “Switchback”; Captain Milius and the team continue to work together to figure out how details of their prisoner exchange were compromised, which led to the poisoning death of a Navy Commander. This episode keeps the energy high from the previous episode with a high-stakes case but adds layers of intrigue and pushes the stakes even higher than thought possible from the prior episode.
“Ohana” is also the season finale and ends the inaugural season on a celebratory note filled with positivity. This is displayed by a team party where Whistler makes a bold romantic gesture to Lucy, and the two restart their romantic journey once again. This episode was a fantastic finale and the right way to send off Season 1 of the series.
5. “Money Honey” has Everyone in a Frenzy
- Season 2, Episode 17
- IMDB Rating 7.5/10
- Aired March 2023
“Money Honey” sees the return of the popular recurring character Captain Milius for another Hawai’i case. The team is put on the hunt to arrest a high-value target of dangerous proportions and wrangle a high-value but complicated witness. This case tests the skills of everyone on the team, especially Agent Kai Holman, as he develops a complex connection with this difficult witness whose case hinges upon.
This case has Tennant wrangling complex situations on both fronts, with a complicated case and also a complicated personal matter involving her son, her ex-husband, and her paramour, Captain Millius. The family drama element paired with such a complex case puts Tennant to the test.
4. “Stolen Valor” is a Complex Undercover Case
- Season 2, Episode 3
- IMDB Rating 7.7/10
- Aired Oct. 2022
“Stolen Valor” puts Agent Whistler in a tough and potentially deadly situation as the NCIS: Hawai’i team investigates the supposed death of a Navy officer in a car wreck, but in a twist, the officer is still alive, and the victim was masquerading as her. The case gets more complex from there, as they must now solve a murderer and deduce a case of military impersonation, which could have implications relating to national security.
The episode puts Whistler’s skills to the test as she goes undercover in a situation with many missing pieces and with not much more than the support of her team. This episode also serves as a window into Whistler herself, who started as a very icy character who thawed out and opened emotionally with the help of her newfound team and girlfriend.
3. “Cabin Fever” Takes a Team Member to Space (Kind of)
- Season 2, Episode 19
- IMDB Rating 7.4/10
- Aired May 2023
Ernie, NCIS: Hawai’i’s resident tech whiz, takes center stage in this NCIS: Hawai’i episode that sees a murder occurs in a closed Mars Space-Force simulation. Ernie must enter the astronaut training area and uncover how the murder occurred in this secretive, closed simulation.
Ernie is a fan-favorite character, and he carries the plotline extremely well, given the tough spot he is in. Ernie is the team’s tech genius and often stands out from the team with his eccentric personality and quirky habits. This episode is his time to shine, and he does it well. The crime scene is a real-life simulation of the planet Mars and provides an intriguing platform for not only the case but also the episode itself. Solving it requires an out-of-the-box thinker, and Ernie is the right man for the job.
2. “Bread Crumbs” Sees Tennant in a Perilous Situation
- Season 2, Episode 18
- IMDB Rating 7.8/10
- Aired April 2023
“Bread Crumbs” sees Agent Tennant stranded after a helicopter crash where a prisoner escapes, and she must tend to wounded allies and recapture the deadly prisoner suspected of murdering a fellow NCIS Agent. This episode uses the perilous situation as a vehicle to explore Tennant’s character and build on Jesse’s as he is a de facto leader in her absence.
The episode expertly uses a dangerous, life-threatening situation to explore the raw nature of Tennant’s identity. Taking this creative route shows how her being a protector and crusader for justice are key parts of her personality. These aspects of her personality shine bright, even when her life is in danger, and she is relying on raw instincts.
1. “Curtain Call” Keeps Fans on Their Toes
- Season 2, Episode 8
- IMDB 7.6/10
- Aired Nov. 2022
“Curtain Call” sees a wacky case turn into a potentially deadly breach of national security, which is one of the best formulas for an NCIS franchise case. When a Navy sailor and hobbyist actor is killed, the case turns bizarre. It only becomes even more terrifying when they realize what the killer is truly after.
“Curtain Call” finds the perfect blend of investigation and action. This is a hard task to complete for police procedurals that involve military-action elements. The episode perfectly exemplifies all the best qualities of NCIS: Hawai’i and displays why the show is so popular.
