One of my favorite episodes on Hawaii Five-O: The Third Season is “Force of Waves.” After a boat explosion kills a wealthy businessman and seriously injures McGarrett, Danno (James MacArthur) is forced to take over the investigation. Danny discovers a similar string of incidents that involve rich men abandoning their wives.

In another standout, the two part “The Grandstand Play” a former major league baseball player brings his developmentally challenged son to Hawaii to start a new life after receiving death threats on the mainland. After the boy witnesses a murder at the ballpark, he is too scared to tell his father or the police.

While Hawaii Five-O doesn’t burn with the intensity of modern police dramas like N.Y.P.D Blue, Law & Order: SVU or C.S.I, considering it was the early 1970s Hawaii Five-O is to be commended for taking a serious look at issues such as drug abuse, revenge, and international politics.

Hawaii Five-O: The Third Season is a must have for fans of the series or fans of police drama. The scripts are first rate, the actors are top-notch, and the Hawaiian scenery is a bonus.

Hawaii Five-O: The Third Season is packed with notable guest stars including: Vera Miles, Hume Cronyn, Joan Van Ark, Ed Flanders, Andrew Duggan, Peter Bonerz, Simon Oakland, Anne Archer, and Monte Markham. I bet getting folks to come to Hawaii to shoot an episode or two wasn’t too difficult.

The Hawaii Five-O: The Third Season DVD set is presented in widescreen format. The sound is in Dolby digital surround sound 2.0. The picture is surprisingly clear for a show originally broadcast in 1970-71. Subtitles are available in Spanish, Brazilian, and Portuguese. The only special features are the episodic promos that were common for shows of that time.