ELYSSA DAVALOS IN 'HAWAII FIVE-O: THOUGH THE HEAVENS FALL'

Elyssa Davalos and William Smith on Hawaii Five-0 episode THOUGH THE HEAVENS FALL Year: 1979

The best episode of the maligned final season of HAWAII FIVE-0, when Jack Lord had stopped saying "Book 'em, Danno" for two reasons. First, there was no more Danno as James McCarther had left the series the year before...

Second, the cement-haired Lord took more of a backseat... perhaps because of his underling's departure, replaced twofold by female detective Sharon Farrell, whose cop husband died on the third episode, and William Smith, who'd made waves as the villain's villain Falconetti in RICH MAN POOR MAN, as  Det. James 'Kimo' Carew...

Elyssa Davalos and William Smith on Hawaii Five-0

It's been said that Smith might've taken over the show from Lord, which seems farfetched, and the source is flimsy. Either way, he does a fine job here, and is more alpha male than Danno, even going undercover at a plush country club where Elyssa Davalos plays the gorgeous trophy daughter of rich Dennis Patrick...

Meanwhile, not-so-random deaths turn up throughout the islands, and each victim had had their own victims as in, they're all criminals. The DEATH WISH theme, combined with the good old MOST DANGEROUS GAME standby plot (humans hunting humans for sport), were alive and kicking as a backroom meeting of executives, led by BRADY BUNCH dad Robert Reed, plans their next "guilty" target...

Elyssa Davalos and Dennis Patrick on Hawaii Five-0

The best scenes have the suit-and-tie vigilantes bringing forth justice THOUGH THE HEAVENS FAIL in tense and difficult situations... one seeming impossible on a 5-0 guarded/secured hilltop...

With frustrated, office-set Jack Lord a phone call away, Smith's budding relationship with Davalos (intentionally igniting at an archery range) gives him someone to learn things from, and to inevitably protect. She'd have made a worthy co-star if there were a Smith-led HAWAII 5-0, but "Book 'em, Kimo" didn't have the same iconic ring. Then again, with "Big Bill" in charge, no one would dare tell him anything.

William Smith and Elyssa Davalos in Hawaii 5-0 Though the Heavens Fall

William Smith and Elyssa Davalos in Hawaii 5-0 Though the Heavens Fall

William Smith and Elyssa Davalos in Hawaii 5-0 Though the Heavens Fall

William Smith and Elyssa Davalos in Hawaii 5-0 Though the Heavens Fall

Guest star Elyssa Davalos in Hawaii 5-0 Though the Heavens Fall

William Smith as Kimo in Hawaii 5-0 Though the Heavens Fall

William Smith as Kimo in Hawaii 5-0 Though the Heavens Fall

Guest starring Elyssa Davalos in Hawaii 5-0 Though the Heavens Fall

Guest starring Elyssa Davalos in Hawaii 5-0 Though the Heavens Fall

William Smith as Kimo and Moe Keale as Truck in Hawaii 5-0 w/ Robert Reed

Elyssa Davalos on Hawaii Five-0: Though the Heavens Fall

Elyssa Davalos and Jack Lord on Hawaii Five-0

Robert Reed on Hawaii Five-0: Though the Heavens Fall

Sharon Farrell and William Smith on Hawaii Five-0

Elyssa Davalos on Hawaii Five-0: Though the Heavens Fall