Out of all of the series regulars on “Hawaii Five-0,” Dr. Max Bergman, played by Masi Oka, has added a level of consistency to the show, as well as to the close knit ʻohana that the team has developed over the years. Oka’s character has helped McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) and Five-0 since season one, when he was a delightfully quirky recurring character. By season two, Oka was elevated to series regular, and many fans fell in love with the “Star Trek” loving and “Star Wars” quoting Max from the moment he stitched up escaped convict McGarrett in “Haʻi ʻOle” (“Unbreakable”).

The first “Hawaii Five-0” series regular I ever interviewed in person was Oka. I spoke to him on the red carpet at the season two premiere during “Sunset on the Beach.” I asked him if he was similar to his eccentric character and he was honest in his answer about bringing a piece of himself to his role. “Max is definitely a lot more eccentric than I am, but there’s still a piece of that in it.” I followed up by asking him if he too was a comic book fan, and he said he was, but more of a “Japanese manga fan, than American comic books.” I love how sincere he is when I talk to him, about his life as well as about playing Max.

It’s interesting to me that as I looked back at the different episodes where Max’s character and personality was revealed more and more, it becomes obvious that only Oka could play this part, and make it as original and unique as Max has become.

Both the actor and the character are beloved by fans. This is in part because many Five-0 fans loved him in the television show, “Heroes.” Oka had played the space-time manipulator, Hiro Nakamura, on the popular science fiction drama. The show ended a few months before Five-0 began shooting in 2010. Fans also loved the fact that Oka shared pictures and behind the scenes details from the Five-0 set on his Twitter and Instagram accounts. Not to mention, that he is very generous and kind to fans. His positivity and smile is infectious and he’s a big hit at the Sunset on the Beach premieres. Oka will often step out into the sand to take pictures and sign whatever is put in front of him.

At the season three premiere red carpet event, I got to spend a while talking to him about how he felt about living part time in Hawaiʻi, and if, like Max, he enjoyed having all-you-can-eat pancakes at Wailana Coffee House. He was quick to say he did like eating at Wailana, but he also enjoyed breakfast at another popular Waikīkī breakfast spot, Eggs ʻN Things on Saratoga Road. He also spoke fondly about hiking around Oʻahu and enjoying the beauty of Hawaiʻi.

We also talked about Max’s backstory, as during season two we got to see the medical examiner helping Five-0 at several crime scenes, and we also found out how a Japanese Max has a Jewish last name. In “Haʻalele” (“Abandoned”), the story about Max being abandoned as a baby and adopted by a Jewish family (thus his surname Bergman) is revealed when he discovers that the serial killer who murdered his natural mother, “The Trashman,” seems to have returned. Max is crucial in helping the Five-0 team catch the murderer, almost being killed himself in the process.

Besides his dramatic backstory, I also talked to him about gaining a love interest, which actually happened for Max during season three. In “Hā‘awe Make Loa” (“Death Wish”), Max meets Sabrina Lane (played by future “Dancing with the Stars” 2015 Champion, Rumer Willis). The story of Sabrina and Max seems to have continued into season six as she was mentioned in the Valentine’s Day episode, yet the last time we’ve seen Sabrina was in the season four Halloween episode, “Kūpouli ʻla” (“Broken”) when she and Max danced “The Time Warp” on Waikīkī Beach. I bet that helped Willis win that mirror ball. I’d love to see her return to the show — perhaps next Halloween?

It seems as if Max’s favorite holiday is Halloween, and I think it’s Oka’s expanded role on the show that started the fervor that surrounds the yearly “Five-0” Halloween episode. It started in season two when Max unveiled his penchant for dressing up as various Keanu Reeves film characters. The first Keanu costume came in “Ka Iwi Kapu” (“Sacred Bones”) when Max dressed as Neo from “The Matrix.”

The trend continued in “Mōhai” (“Offering”) from season three, when Max dressed as Ted “Theodore” Logan from “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” and in “Kūpouli ʻla” (“Broken”) from season four, Max dressed as Prince Siddhartha from the Bernardo Bertolucci film “Little Buddha.” In season five, Max charmed us in “Ho’omā’ike” (“Unmasked”) as a version of Reeve’s Johnny Utah character, a former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback, from the 1991 film, “Point Break.” And in “Na Pilikua Nui” (“Monsters”) this last season, Max decked himself out as Reeve’s character Le Chevalier Raphael Danceny from the 1988 film, “Dangerous Liaisons”).

Max’s dressing as various Keanu Reeves characters, his odd hobby of studying serial killers, his love of “Star Trek” action figures, as well as daytime talk shows, are details of a character that reinforces what a talent Oka is as an actor. Only a special kind of player could pull this kind of person off — with realism and without creating a character that is more weird than likeable. Max is likeable, we more than just like him, we adore him — we cheer for him, we laugh at his humor and his quirkiness, but we’re laughing because we are entertained and because we simply enjoy him — not because we think he is ridiculous.

Perhaps another actor would play him for cheap laughs and sarcastic humor — not as a real person whose eccentric behavior makes him special and great fun to watch. I think we should all be thankful that Oka brings Max out of the realm of weird and makes him as real and as much of a hero as the rest of the Five-0 team.

REDUX SIDE NOTE

As more information about season seven continues to be released from the Five-0 set, fans have been treated to many filming and fan pictures of the “Hawaii Five-0” cast and crew hard at work. Fans love it when guest stars share their behind the scenes pics, and special guest star Claire Forlani has been busy sharing her own personal pictures via her Twitter feed.

Forlani shared two selfies with Five-0 stars Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan. Forlani will star as Alicia Brown, a retired criminal profiler who works with MacGarrett to hunt down a serial killer threatening Oahu. Forlani will be a recurring character starting in the second episode of season seven.

Forlani is best known from her recurring roles in “CSI: NY” where she played Medical Examiner, Dr. Peyton Driscoll; and from “NCIS: Los Angeles” where she played Hetty’s temporary replacement, and adopted daughter, Lauren Hunter; as well as Brad Pitt’s love interest in “Meet Joe Black.”

Fans might recall that executive producer, Peter Lenkov, helmed “CSI: NY” before he rebooted “Hawaii Five-0.” This is the second “CSI: NY” cast member who has guest starred on Five-0. Melina Kanakaredes was last seen in season five when she played ATF Agent Kathy Millwood who helped McGarrett catch serial arsonist Jason Duclair (Randy Couture) in “Nānahu” (“Embers”).  

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Wendie Burbridge is a published author, playwright and teacher. Reach her via Facebook and follow her on Twitter  and Instagram.