When I watch “Hawaii Five-0,” I often dare to think about how I’d like a certain storyline to turn out. Sometimes I’d like the outcome to be different that what is happening, but I suppose I’m not alone.

That’s not to say I don’t enjoy how each episode is written and executed, but a girl likes to dream. And dreaming up a different storyline for some of our favorite characters has been on my mind the last few weeks. After blogging about the show for five seasons, I think it’s time I get a chance to re-imagine how I’d like things to turn out for our Five-0 crew.

Remember, these are my thoughts and ideas — not my submissions to the writing staff. This is just me hoping for some happier times for a few of our favorite characters, plus a few storyline suggestions I wish could be explored in the upcoming season.

I expect nothing to come from my musings, except perhaps further confirmation of my affinity for certain characters and actors. You can agree or disagree with me, or share your own opinion (respectfully, please), in the comments below.

MCGARRETT’S MOM COMES CLEAN

In my dreams for McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin), one thing I’d like settled would be his momma issues. Doris (Christine Lahti) needs to return, sit her son down and confess. I really want to know what her true relationship was with Wo Fat (Mark Dacascos) and why she left her blood son and daughter to raise another woman’s child.

It would also help to bring Steve some closure for killing Wo Fat. While he was not Steve’s favorite person, shooting him between the eyes after finding out their family connection probably doesn’t sit too well. SEAL or not, he still has a conscience, and the entire Wo Fat incident left him emotionally damaged.

While the closing of the Momma McG story would end a good storyline for the writers, they could delve into McGarrett’s emotional journey dealing with finally knowing the story about his mother and Wo Fat. That would be very interesting and far less frustrating for us to watch. Focus on McGarrett and his emotional issues, and end the way-too-dragged-out Doris storyline.

This could also help to clear up the awkwardness between Steve and Joe White (Terry O’Quinn), as they are still having issues no matter how many times Joe has come through for Steve and his team. If only they could clear the tension and move on. But only Doris has the key to unlock that wall of secrets, and so my hope is that she comes home real soon.

DANNO SETTLES DOWN

I know, I know, Rachel (Claire van der Boom) lied for three years and kept a huge secret from Danno (Scott Caan) — but, man, I want them to be together. I like Amber/Melissa (Lili Simmons), but Rachel is the mother of both of his children, and you can tell she was his first true love.

I’m hoping Danno will find it in his heart to forgive her. Maybe a good heart to heart with Gracie (Teilor Grubbs) will put him on the road toward reconciliation.

While I’m not a fan of her lying, I am for Danno being able to be in his children’s lives as much as possible, and that would happen for sure if he and Rachel were back together for good. There would, of course, be a lot of drama created for this to happen, and fans would definitely stick around to watch it all unfold.

This would be the real reason I want them together, so that Danno can have a family. Plus, Gracie would get more screen time, and she’d get to watch Daddy Danno connect with Charlie (Zach Sulzbach).

Fans want to see a happy Danno, settled and content, leaving the drama in his past and not at home. And that would be worth getting over Rachel’s misdeeds if Danno can be happy with his children in his daily life.

PUTTING MALIA TO REST

I love Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), so I want him to be happy. Yet, I can’t see him finding happiness with Leilani (Lindsay Price), or anyone else for that matter, until he finally puts Malia (Reiko Aylesworth) to rest in his heart. Like Steve, he needs closure on his love for Malia and his guilt over her death.

While it seems as if he faced some of his past with Malia and got a bit of closure on who killed his father, yet Chin still seems to be harboring some emotional baggage when talking about or chasing his conniving ex-relative, Gabriel Waincroft (Christopher Sean). I know Chin hates Gabriel because he’s a murderer and a criminal, but there’s something more behind Chin’s feelings.

Maybe he just needs to duke it out one last time with Gabriel to punish him for tormenting him last season. Just no killing Gabriel, please! Fans like him as Five-0’s new nemesis.

But an all-out fight, with Gabriel giving in and perhaps weeping for his past deeds and his dead sister, could give Chin the final closure he needs. It would also leave Gabriel alive in order to continue to give Five-0 a reason to stay in business, while allowing Chin to shed some of his guilt and hopefully find some real happiness.

KONO AND ADAM LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Some say happiness is boring, but I think it would look good on these two. That being said, if they get too happy, then something might happen to Adam, but I at least want them to have some sort of contentment in their newly married life.

Judging from the spoilers released, they might have a terrible honeymoon, but let’s just keep it at that for our resident love birds. If nothing else, let’s have the drama stay with trying to maintain Adam’s business and not in their relationship. These two have endured enough drama to last them a lifetime.

So let’s just allow at least one other couple, besides Grover (Chi McBride) and his wife Renee (Michelle Hurd), in the Five-0 team to be relatively happy in life.

GROVER GETS HIS MAN

While Grover’s marriage is fine, he still has some drama going on in his personal life. I suppose suspecting that your former partner and best friend of murder would be conflict enough in anyone’s world.

There would be nothing I’d like better than to have Grover’s instinct be proven right, so he can arrest Clay Maxwell (Mykelti Williamson) for killing his wife (Kim Wayans). I really hope Grover gets that satisfaction this season. It would be worth some of the heartache he has experienced because of the break up of his friendship with someone he once trusted and relied upon.

I guess not every working relationship is as strong as the Five-0 team. Grover at least has experienced that kind of good in his life.

JERRY GETS HIS SHOT

I can’t forget Jerry (Jorge Garcia), who is so perfect as an overly helpful consultant to the Five-0 team. I do love when he gives McG and Chin a new way of looking at different aspects of their investigation, but as someone who has never been in the military or is a cop, he can’t really officially work with them.


But perhaps he could be their office manager? He definitely knows how to keep files and documents. And while he may not trust technology, he does know how to use it, so he could definitely be an asset to the team.

If nothing else, he does offer a unique viewpoint, and for the most part, that has often paid off well for the Five-0 crew.

DIVING INTO DUKE’S PAST

Don’t we all want to know where Sgt. Duke Lukela (Dennis Chun) came from and how his past coincides with Chin Ho and John McGarrett (William Sadler)? I really think it would be a stellar episode to flashback into Duke’s life and give us more insight into his life as a cop, as well as more of Chin when he was a patrol officer. It would give Duke more weight as the Five-0 team’s connection to the uniformed officers, as well as allow John McGarrett to return again.

I know we saw a bit of his past in “Hookman,” when our beloved Duke was shot by Curt Stoner (Peter Weller). We also saw how he worked with John McGarrett on the original case that caused Stoner’s amputation and need for his bionic hands, but that’s about all we know about Duke, besides the fact that he is a veteran police officer and is always willing to aid the Five-0 team, no matter what drama they bring to him and his men.

MAX MEETS KEANU

Max (Masi Oka) has to meet his Halloween hero. It just has to happen. And Keanu is part Native Hawaiian. He would fit right in.

Plus, that might just be one of the coolest things to happen to Max, beyond getting attacked by real-life zombies. Right?

A NEW GIG FOR KAMEKONA

Last but not least, give Kamekona (Taylor Wily) a more grown-up professional job and set up Flippa (Shawn Mokuahi Garnett) as his house musician. Garnett is an excellent singer and guitarist, so it would be great to see Flippa gcrooning away as the Five-0 team got their grind on with beers and garlic shrimp. Jerry could take his turn singing as well.

Besides, since Kamekona beat Chef Sam Choy in a cooking contest (with help from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto), he should be ready to tackle a restaurant, right? Plus, it would give the Five-0 team a safe place to unwind and relax after battling the bad guys and cleaning up the streets.

If nothing else, it would give Kamekona and his cousin a more permanent home. Perhaps that’s my biggest dream; that they would find some permanency in their lives. It’s what we all wish for, if we dare.
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Wendie Burbridge is a published author, playwright and teacher. Reach her via Facebook and follow her on Twitter.