Because of all the unpleasantness that surround this subject, I just want to clearly state, that we do not either have a special love for, or any form of hate towards either Catherine Rollins OR Michelle Borth. We are just silly fangirls adoring Alex and enjoying his work. Hawaii Five-0 is Alex’s job at the moment and the present showcase of his talent. We take it as it comes, because it belongs to the Network and the creative talents of the producers, writers and actors. The show might entertain us on the one hand or on the other hand disappoint us on many levels, but our support lies with Alex and his career.
Personal relationships in a procedural cop show like Hawaii Five-0, is not the highest priority. As soon as it takes up too big a part of the show or mess with any romantic couples that are shipped, some cynical, disgruntled and fanatic fans will quickly scream “Soap Opera”. Having said that, the whole set-up for Hawaii Five-0 is built around family. Steve returns to Hawaii to solve his family’s mysteries. Danny followed his ex-wife and daughter to Hawaii from Jersey. Chin lost his job as policeman and also his fiance, while protecting his uncle. Kono followed Chin and the family tradition and joined the police when she lost surfing as a career option. Family (Ohana) and close friends are very important to all of them.
I think that is why we love the characters so much, they are very human and have real lives. And what can be more human than love and passion? Although the show we follow are fiction, those characters are played by real people. Because of that, characters can only be used as part of the story when those actors are contracted and available to be in Hawaii for filming……….
Season 1
We meet Lt. Catherine Rollins for the first time in Episode 1:04 when Steve phones her for some help tracking the car of an escaped convict. What their relationship was supposed to be, we did not know at that stage (I wonder if the writers even knew? 😀 ) But we did not have to wait long to find out a bit more about their connection, because in the next episode we see that they are lovers who miss out on a lot of meals, because they can’t keep their hands off each other 😛 . The spring in Steve’s step and the foolish grin on his face during the rest of that Episode 105, tells a story of delight and what she means to him.
Apart from a few references for the rest of the season from the rest of the team and asking her to help them with their investigations, we only get to see Cath once again in Episode 115. This time Steve and Cath are in such a ridiculous set-up scene – storming down the stairs, getting dressed to answer their phones to hear about the Tsunami. My question is, who puts on their clothes first to answer their cell phones – REALLY? (It makes me laugh every time I see it 😆 ) But although the scene is silly, we see the playfulness and also care between these two.
From Season 1 we therefore know that Steve has a lover, who on occasion can provide him and the team with information, acquired with Navy resources, to help them solve their cases. It is nice to see Steve interact with somebody outside the team, and a connection from his past, who obviously knows him well and cares about him. Steve McGarrett is human after all. 🙂
According to what I understand from an interview with Mike Gordon, Michelle Borth was asked by Peter Lenkov, to join the team on a more permanent basis for a bigger role, but she declined it at this stage, because she was offered a leading part in ‘Combat Hospital’.
Season 2
In Episode 205 we kind of get the feeling that Cath is on her way out of Steve’s life, being posted to the Gulf and doing one last favor before saying goodbye. With Michelle starring in another show and not available at the time, that was most probably the best way the writers could deal with her absence and maybe the possible permanent departure of her character, if Combat Hospital succeeded. Of course Combat Hospital only lasted for 13 episodes and Michelle was once again available to play Catherine. This is also maybe why we see her emerge in Episode 216 (the Valentine’s day episode) again. They were reintroducing the character as a factor in Steve’s life in order to bring her back to the show for Season 3, on a more permanent basis as Steve’s love interest.
With all the scenes it is visible that Steve and Cath has an easiness with each other and that there is a special bond between them. Bravo to Alex and Michelle for creating this feeling, with just a few scenes up untill now, between them.
Michelle’s comment to Officer 808 from Five-0 Undercover:
We genuinely do have that connection that people see that Alex and I have. We really do work like that, we get along really well, we have a kindred spirit. I’m grateful for that, and I think it shows when we work together.
During hiatus 2012, it was announced that Michelle was being cast as a season regular for Season 3 of Hawaii Five-0…..
Season 3
Alex to IGN about Steve and Cath at the beginning of Season 3:
“Michelle is now a part of our full-time cast, which is terrific. From the beginning, McGarrett hasn’t had a steady girl, and you know, Michelle’s been in and out. But she’s the obvious one that he has love for and a potential future with. So that’s going to open up a side of McGarrett that we haven’t really seen. Hopefully, we’ll tap into a softness and an accessibility that we haven’t seen that much of with this military sort of guy.”
In Season 3, Catherine lands in the hot seat pretty quickly, having to babysit Momma McG (aka Shelburne). Up until this time the character of Catherine had not been explore much further than being Steve’s former colleague, lover and friend for a number of years. In Episode 302 she shows her skills, when Steve needs to find the whereabouts of his mother, so soon after he sends her away for her own safety. From the very beginning Catherine’s character is shown as a very competent person, having great skills in looking after herself and to obtain information. In Episode 303 she helps the cousins to find evidence of what happened to Steve and Danny, when their boat gets jacked.
Michelle talking with The Jakarta Post – January 2013
“It’s kind of an ongoing joke because we both refuse to say that we’re boyfriend and girlfriend”
At this stage, although she had her own place, it seemed as if Cath was spending more and more time at Steve’s house, because in Episode 304 we find them in bed, with Doris surprising them with some breakfast. In the Halloween Episode 305 we see the wonderful playfulness between Steve and Catherine. It was great to see how much fun they still have with each other, even after all these years of being together. In Episode 306, Cath is once again useful to the team while they need to track down terrorists who are threatening the Island with bombs.
Michelle Tweet – 5 Sept 2012: McRoll Screencap 🙂
Michelle Tweet – 13 Oct 2012: McRoll Screencap 🙂 ox
Michelle Tweet – 13 Oct 2012: McRoll Sexy time….Michelle about Steve and Cath in January 2013 to The Jakarta Post
“Just by bringing me on, it’s a vehicle to get to know McGarrett better. When he’s with Catherine, he smiles in a way you’ve never seen him smile. He’s vulnerable in a way that you’ve never seen him in action. So it doesn’t make it into a soap opera; what it makes is a really good drama.”
In Episode 308, the past came back to visit Cath, when the agent who she used as a mark in Episode 302, to get information about Doris’s whereabouts, came back to tell her that a bad guy from Doris’s past emerged on the Island. The two of them together with Doris set out to expose this person (Mandosa), while Steve is busy with a case that is affecting him a lot personally. At the end Doris begs Cath to keep the things surrounding this event from Steve. 😦 And against her better judgement Cath agrees to keep it from Steve. Even after he did tell her that he hated being played ……
In the Christmas Episode 311, we get to see more of Steve and Cath actually being a couple and working together. They start off with breakfast at a roadhouse, get car jacked and end up helping a boy locate his father. Cath shows her skills of looking after herself and of protecting the boy under her care and defending them against a criminal. In the end we see Steve carry her off in his tuxedo, for what we can only hope to be a romantic dinner – not that they have a good reputation of actually making it to dinner ……….. 😛
In Episode 316, the wonderful playfulness between Steve and Cath continues. When she sees him longing for the “wonderful” army food, she suggests them playing out a “foxhole fantasy”, just to be interrupted by mom Doris again 😦 . In Episode 317 she playfully shows the boys that she and Kono can actually have some great fun without them. It is clear that Cath has the ability to enjoy her life with and without Steve. And by that I mean that she is an independent woman who does not need a man to define her. She might be doing him a lot of favours for the plot of the show, but she is her own person …..
In Episode 318 the relationship was tested when Doris got burgled and attacked in her own home. Cath tells Steve the truth about Mandosa and Steve is devastated by her betrayal. But lucky for her he also knows his mothers’ ability to persuade people and gets all his facts straight by confronting Doris. He also acknowledges to her what Cath means to him and in the end in a beautiful scene he shows Cath that he understands the situation and does not hold it against her.
Because of the many thoughts I have about Steve and Cath in Episode 320, I will not repeat all of it here, but you are welcome to read my review on it here. For me the biggest thing that I took away from that episode, is how competent Steve believes his lover is and that he would not hesitate to lean on her for help when the chips are down. Her being with him, also did not affect him in negative way, in being capable to do his job in the most dangerous circumstances. What a great compliment to her that he does not feel the need to protect her, but see her as a partner in combat. I ❤ ‘d it!
Freddie: Thanks brother.
Don’t think you’re not going down next, Smoothdog. I’ve seen you with Lt. Rollins. That’s the real deal man. Try not to mess it up.
Steve: Roger that.
For the rest of the season she is there as support for him. In Episode 323, she shows her loyalty once again, by warning Steve that his mother might be in some sort of trouble. It is clear that the team also sees her as one of them, because she visits Kono in the hospital with all of them, even without Steve being present.
In the last episode of Season 3, we meet Billy Harrington ……..
Cath: I’m seeing someone.
Billy: McGarrett?!
In Amsterdam, you told me that was over.
Cath: It was. What happened between you and me was real and I will never regret Amsterdam or working together in Kabul. But it’s been five years Billy. Things change.
Billy: Well if things change again, I’ll be staying at the Ilikai.
From this conversation, it looks like Steve and Cath had something going on for a long time already and then they broke up before Cath and Billy had an affair five years ago. We also know from Steve and Freddie’s conversation in Episode 320, that Steve and Cath were already seeing each other again by 2010.
Sidenote: Just an observation from me about Season 3 – from BTS pictures and tweets from various people, it seemed that the cast had lots of fun amongst themselves on the set during this time. Their interactions onscreen seems to reflect it as well.
Here are just some of Michelle and DDK’s tweeted pictures for Season 3
DDK Tweet 31 Jul 2012
Michelle Tweet: 26 Feb 2013 (The man in deep thought)
Michelle Tweet : 26 Feb 2013 (Ohana)
If only Grace an Michelle would have more fun on set.
Michelle Tweet: 15 Nov 2012
Season 4
Michelle on working with Alex in her interview with Mike Gordon:
But what I realize working with Alex is he is in this 100 percent all the time. He is never phoning it in. For me that makes me work harder and brings me in the moment and allows me to go to different places I wouldn’t have before. We would have gone out there and said our lines and made it look natural. But with him it goes a little bit deeper and I think that’s why so many people really love the relationship because with what we can show on a network I think people buy it. I think people really love it and believe it. He kind of brings that out in me. We have these little moments that are really genuine and really sincere.
In Episode 401, we see just how much Cath means to Steve, as he is willing to do everything in his power to get her from her abductors. He even takes on the SWAT team and pissed Grover off big time, by intercepting them transporting the terrorists and at gunpoint freeing them, because of the demands by their leader in order for Cath to be freed.
Steve: I lost my dad dealing with people like this. I’m not going to lose Catherine too.
In Episode 402, Billy Harrington offers Cath a job in his new security firm. Even with all Danny’s doom prophesies Steve encourages Cath to take the job with her old lover. Cath is in doubt about her decision, but in Episode 403 Steve promises her that she is not doing it alone and that he will be with her every step of the way …..
Michelle in May 2013 to The Star Online:
“Long distance relationships are always like a honeymoon. You don’t see that person for months at a time and then you see them in one weekend, it’s a honeymoon. That’s kind of what season one and two were about. In my opinion, with Rollins moving in, it’s only going to make things difficult. To have to put up with each other all the time while working in a high-pressure situation makes things complicated.
“But you never know, hopefully it ends with them walking down the aisle” .
In Episode 404, Cath does not hesitate to cash in on all the favours she has done for the Five-0 team. She and Billy is looking after a VIP and she asks to use Five-o resources for some information. She comes back home late……..
Steve: I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to make sure you got home okay.
In Episode 405, on a seemingly harmless stake out, Cath and Billy lands in the middle of an assassination and Billy is mortally wounded. This sad event, effectively kills her new career with Billy and she is now jobless after leaving the Navy. In Episode 406, with encouragement from Steve to get her mind away from the tragedy of loosing her boss and friend, Cath starts to gather information to find the whereabouts of Adam and the people who took him. She wants to help Kono to find him and to get them both back home safely. (Obviously Grace Park had her baby by then and was ready to come back to the show 😀 )
With Steve’s semi approval, Cath goes undercover in Episode 407, to try to get some information about Sato (Adam’s abductor) via his “money man”. To help give her some form of ‘protection’ and authority, Steve gives her a Five-0 badge to make her actions more official.
The moment it all changed?
……..Cath becomes part of the Five-0 team……
Episode 407
In Episode 408, Catherine shows her worth in the team, by using the information she could gather from her old colleagues in Naval Intelligence. They are dealing with a very intelligent but also dangerous cyber criminal and only the most advanced technology can help them stop him.
Thanksgiving – Episode 409
Deb: Dear Catherine, I’ve got a feeling you’re gonna be sticking around for a while. So can I ask you a favour?
Cath: Of course
Episode 409
Deb: Well you know Steve has that tough guy act now, but underneath it all he’s still that vulnerable little guy who thought he lost his mom and had to grow up too soon. And Mary, she’s the only one who really gets that about him, because she lived that too. Once I’m gone, they’re going to need each other more than ever, although they both won’t want to admit it – stubborn kids. So, maybe you can see to it that they stay close.
Cath: I will. I promise
Somewhere between Cath promising Aunt Deb in Episode 409, that she will be there for Steve and Mary, and the rest of Season 4, the independent character of Catherine Rollins loses all sense to me. She is just hanging around with the team, doing odd little things, helping to solve their cases. It also seems like she no longer lives with Steve. During the course of Season 4 it also looks as if the writers as well as the two actors (Alex and Michelle) lost all direction or will to portray the characters of two lovers, which they have built over the past three seasons. With no reason given in the story line, they act as if their characters merely know each other as colleagues. All the playfulness of Season 3 and the affection from the beginning of Season 4 is gone. They were never overly affectionate inn public or clingy to begin with, but now they barely touch or even smile at each other. Now they only give each other pecks on the cheek and hugs only when there has been danger – acting out the bare minimum of affection.
I know the characters needed to show some sort of professionalism, as they are now working together at Five-0. And that Catherine did go through a lot of trauma that affected her, but for me long time lovers will have a special way of looking at each other, shooting glances, smiles and small little things in the way they touch and interact with one another, as they used in earlier seasons – even at the workplace. My thinking is that writers also do not always write every movement or small actions of the actors and their characters, but leave it up to them to fill in. What happened to the easy playfulness and lovers’ affection on their faces and in their eyes? ……. I am sorry, but their portrayal just does not make sense to me at all.
And for now, this is how far Steve and Barry White came……….
The tweets of Michelle from the set, send from Michelle, DDK and Jeff Hunt for Season 4
Michelle Tweet 11 July 2013: And it begins!
Michelle Tweet 11 July 2013: Blessing
Michelle Tweet July 2013: LoVe
DDK Tweet 19 Aug 2013: Say hello to the Birthday Girl
Jeff Hunt tweet – 20 Aug 2013: With cast today
*****
Most of you will already know by now, that Michelle Borth’s contract as a regular was not renewed for Season 5 of Hawaii Five-0. We therefore will have to say goodbye to Catherine Rollins as a regular character in tonight’s Episode 421. She will from now on, not be around in Steve’s life on a regular basis (and I doubt if she will be back any time soon or ever). C’est la vie ………
This is our tribute to Steve’s lover and friend.
– Fair Winds and Following Seas –
Alex O´Loughlin ~ An Intense Study 
Lovely tribute to her character while being honest with your feelings. I appreciate the thought you ladies put into your posts.
I really think I watch other shows differently now and am always comparing their writing and character development based on what I see on H50. I’m super nervous about tonight’s episode and this one changes the show like no other. Hoping we come out the other side loving the show and supporting Alex all the way. Mostly hoping to keep all the ugliness out of my head because it just makes me so sad.
I’ll keep “Steve singing Barry White” as my mantra. Thanks for that. Plus I’ll keep the tissues nearby.
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It is kind of difficult when you spesifically follow the career of the actor in the show. As you say, I definitely watch H50 maybe differently to any show before and frankly I do want to do it with other shows. It gets complicated when you look at the person behind the character and you want the best for them and their careers
I think Barry and Steve will sadly seperate paths tonight………. for a long time to come 😦
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I can´t wait to see tonight´s episode, I want to see if the writers did a good job. This latter part of season 4 has killed the connection between Steve and Cath. Will we be given an explanation before the summer hiatus….no high hopes there I think.
One thing is for sure, Alex will be brilliant 🙂
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No hopes either, to get some answers! The writers just don’t think it is necessary! Maybe we want too much!!
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Thank you for an intelligent and well thought post 🙂
I am curious to see how the writers portrayed Cath’s departure. It has been a very strange season where the relationship McG/Cath was concerned, hopefully they will wrap it up in a way that will give more sense to the previous weirdness.
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I kind of feel it will be a clean cut goodbye – with no real explanations of anything at all. It should be easy to leave out all the unpleasant detail with such an action packed episode as we can expect tonight.
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Excellent post! You girls have really outdone yourselves! Thanks so much♥
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Thanks dear ♥
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That’s an epic write-up! A dignified and honourable good-bye to Cat. ❤
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It was not an easy delivery at all – feels like the baby was born dead after all the suffering. 😉
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Nope. Trust me. The baby is live and kicking. I’m a great admirer of your write-ups! 😉
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Wonderful job outlining the character developments and the relationship paths. Thank you so much for interspersing the interview quotes throughout the years – it so very well illustrates what the actors believed they were portraying onscreen.
I don’t know if we will ever know what happened or why. I only know that for me, it is a relationship that I WILL MISS – simply for the characterization of Steve.
Great piece FOYeur!!!
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Thanks Kim
It is always bad to see something good being the victim of something bad – whatever that bad might have been….. 😥
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This was truly an amazing and beautifully thought out piece of writing and an absolute pleasure to read. Very fair and very very sad to those of us who loved McRoll. Can’t wait to see the episode FOYeur. I really hope it will be as fair and moving as your blog. Thanks for some REALLY great Memories \XOOX
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Thank you so much for this post! What a beautiful, and complete, tribute. I looooved this relationship, not so much for itself as for what it did to deepen Alex’s portrayal of McG. So who knows if tonite they can, or even care to, make sense out of the bizarre mess they’ve recently made. Tho whatever happens, I will miss the McG that Cath made. He was just an amazing, delightful, surprising man. Sigh.
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I think sadly some part of Steve will be laid to rest tonight – but I think the writing has been on the wall for a long time to come already – the victim of a lot of cruel circumstances …….. *double sigh*
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A really good recap here, you’ve made a fantastic job.
Thanks for the memories of this romance that I’ll miss.
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Steve in happier playful times, was fun to watch …….
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Enjoyed your recap. For me I saw the writing on the wall in episode 7. Alex and Michelle did not seem to gel together especially with that kiss. To me Alex seemed surprised by it. I’m hoping TPTB stay away from another romance for Steve.
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What kiss, the one after they were trapped in the building? Please clarify and who/what is TPTB?
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Episode 407 was when Steve came out of the shower. And in an inteview Michelle actually said that the kiss was improvisation from her and Alex – it was not written (although as I said above, those type of things does not need to be written in my opinion – lovers kiss when they say goodbye, where I come from).
Coming out of the building where he was trapped (in 419), they only hugged and did not kiss.
TPTB= the powers that be, in other words the producers
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I find it odd that they didn’t kiss in 419…it was a life & death moment. I don’t think Steve will be in a serious relationship….but I think they might add a few temptresses along the way. I also found it real interesting when “Steve” told (Jorge’s character) that he preferred to live alone.
We will see how they “leave” tonight’s episode…do they “kill” her off? Does she leave knowing she put Steve in danger? Does she re-enlist and get an assigned over seas allowing the possibility of her returning sometime…we shall see.
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For me the hug in 419 rescue was more appropriate than a kiss. Somehow I picture that after a severe scare, life-threatening moment, a kiss is not what you would do….but this could just be me.
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I think the producers and writers will keep Steve celebate for the rest of the run of H50. Don’t see them ‘flogging that dead horse again’.
In my opinion it is sad that that part of his life will also be taken away from him. He has lost almost everything else in his life – and still he stays positive. 🙂
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just as long his real shelia doesn’t come into it that would fuck the hole show up completely
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Thanks for the recap. I did have to agree that season 4 wasn’t well written with the Steve/Catherine relationship. I am excited to see how they are going to “end” the show tonight. I wanted to say I don’t (hate/dislike) Michelle at all I just felt her character and the relationship seemed forced especially as her “joining” H50 as a cast member. (I hope that they don’t do the same with Chi or Jorge). Anyway I hope Season 5 will show some more characterization of Steve in a way we haven’t seen before.
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Thanks for the synopsis of a relationship that I will sorely miss. I have a feeling I will be heartbroken tonight. I’m hoping the writers won’t make Steve ALL ninja and no softness in the future. It’s very sad.
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I do not think they will be able to make Steve to hard – it is after all Alex being the character and he will always rock the softer side of any character I feel.
You can’t keep a good man down 😉
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I honestly didn’t see any connection from the start of season 4, i mean ok, there were some moments like in the hospital bed/him looking at her in the pub after the funeral/checking her wound in the office/shouting “catherine, paramedics, now”! But the real connection was gone! Nothing like the light-hearted realtionsship they had in 1/2/3.
I always wondered if the feeling changed btw the real persons or if it was my imagination of “wanting to much”!! But they could have made a good-working hot and sexy relationsship with a few eps every season! A few 3.18 would have made some hot mcroll scenes, a bit tension and then happy ever after mcroll!
For now, the time stands still and i still can’t believe she goes! I still hope it’s a bad joke and we will see her again, but somehow i think the actors didn’t connect anymore! Although the sneak peek and the looks he gives her tell me otherwise!! Also the dinner they planned in 4.19 – i’m just totally confused at the moment!
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Buttercup…I wondered about the “relationship” change myself. It seemed so forced…especially when she joined 50…it was like…well we made her full time let’s place her somewhere.
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Buttercup, I think it is easy for any good actor to play the scenes, where it is well scripted about what the emotions of the scene should be (like giving that glance you talk about) – and like in the beginning of S4 (whether the RL people get along or not, if the script tells them to be loving, they will turn it on)
It is when it comes to the normal day to day working scenes, where I place my question mark of what happened to the couple? (I hope what I say makes sense?)
I am sure with tonight’s episode it will be well scripted of how they should act and they will rock all the emotions of actually caring pretty well. I can only see it looking real and honest tonight! – they are good actors after all.
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I forgot to say thank you FOYeur and Paula for this wonderful and interesting post! You two are incredible, such wonderful writing, so clevery made! Thanks! I’m glad, i have a place to be in the summer drought!
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My contribution to this story was>>I told FOYeur to delete a smiley from a very critical point of view. It would have “ruined” this study…. 😉
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Thank you so much for this tribute to my most favorite relationship on TV. I loved Steve and Cath from the very first moment. I always imagined them together for a long time, long before Five-0 and that seems to be the case actually.
I totally loved them in season 3 and the beginning of season 4. And have NO idea what happened after 4.10. It was like there was a different couple on the screen. Like they were cloned or something. Very strange.
I actually loved their reaction in 4.19. After that ordeal you just want to hug the stuffing out of your partner, their hug was more intense and intimate than any kiss could ever be. I thought it was perfect.
That said, I’m kind of dreading tonight. I’m sure it will be a brilliant episode and I will love it. But the outcome will devastate me.
Of course I will watch this episode, I can’t understand how people can ignore this one and make up their own world. But everything their own, whatever floats their boat.
This is where the show is going, so I will follow. I don’t like it, but I can’t ignore or change it. Only thing I can do is support Alex and be happy that he’s still there. As long as they stay true to Steve’s character I will watch the show.
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All true!
Although in retrospect the episode did disappoint me more than I wanted it to. I think it was well done, but the story not.
Just watched it for the 4th time and again got blown away by Alex and his Steve!
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Thank you for this post. I really love it but at the same time I feel so sad and disappointed in what has happened this season with Steve and Cath. I just know I am going to need alot of tissue.
FOYeur, if you’re right about them keeping Steve celebate for the rest of the run of H50 that they are taking a wonderful side of Steve away and wasting some of Alex’s talent by not using it. Not sure how well I am wording things as I am overtired.
Kim
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I think by keeping Cath alive, they are kind of keeping Steve from being interested in somebody new…..
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Great recap, interesting to see how their romance evolved
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Thanks Caroline
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Well done! I very much appreciate the analysis that went into this. As we’ve noted in the past, Show doesn’t really know what to do with female characters besides Kono, so they always seem to start strong and then fade away. Lori was billed as a female McG, but that never materialized. Mary is a great character, but she’s used sparingly. (Taryn Manning crushed it on “Orange is the New Black!) Christine Lahti eats every scene she’s in, but she wasn’t around much. Danny’s love interests come and go. As does Chin’s. Even though we knew that Grace Park would return, I really thought that Cath’s character had some staying power, but Show just couldn’t make it last. Unfortunate, but not surprising.
My guess is that she’ll get some amazing offer to work at the Pentagon or something. Who knows… maybe they both get offers and Steve turns it down. Maybe that’s the “heartbreaking” decision? To not go with her to the mainland? I’m grasping at straws, but it seems to me like the easiest thing for Show is to have her fall back on the fact that she’s never been able to adjust from being out of the Navy and this at least gives Show an option to bring her back here and there.
I am curious to see how Steve is affected moving forward. From the moment we saw him, they had some kind of long distance thing going on and we never really got a taste of him as a truly single guy. Personally, I’m ready for some dark and twisty Steve. 😈
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Thanks Spursy, wonderful to see you are still around 🙂
Interesting to see what route they chose in the end – sounds like a suicide mission to me.
Not sure that are really planning on ever bringing her back (even for short glimpses) – only time will tell.
I think we will have some suffering for Steve in the 1st part of S5
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Let him suffer off work, on the beach, shirtless. I will be happy watching that 🙂
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Such a fabulous recap of their relationship! You can tell you put your heart into this one and I bet your tongue may be a little sore from holding back on some personal opinions. 😉 There is no doubt your loyalties lie towards Alex/Steve, and I too, may not like the writing all the time and the character development, or lack there of, but as long as Alex is on the show, I will be on my couch every Friday night watching H50! I agree with you that Alex will always shine through Steve and I don’t think he will allow him to become cold and ninja 24/7. We may not see the goofy, soft side of Steve from a woman, but I am sure with Danny, Grover and now Jerry, we will get some great faces! I am looking forward to tonight’s episode and I’m sure Alex will not disappoint. Again, incredible post, FOYeur! ❤
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Thanks LG ♥
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it really sucks the michelle borths contract was not renewed I was just wondering if someone out 5-0 had something to say about who close cat and steve had become maybe she thought it might be real to bad its not
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I’ve only sneak peeked the end, and i’m glad they didn’t mess up their relationsship (spoiler, sorry!!!)!
I had this thought: the writers realizied bringing cath in as a regular was a mistake (because they didn’t know what to do with her) or the writing was bad, and now they tried to fix it with writing her out. That would make bring her in again, and make a fresh start possible! Just some thoughts, i’m glad od the outcoming, maybe a became to close with the show and it blinded my judgement 😆 !
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(SPOILER) My personal opinion is they should have “killed” her off rather than have her ride off into the sunset. Maybe she was on a suicide mission? We know she can handle herself but she isn’t a BAMF like Steve and is a lot more vulnerable.
I know the way they ended it leave it open for her to return but I think that was a mistake. I think he needs to grieve properly (maybe have that be a part of the show) and it takes his team to help him get back. After all he has had significant loss and I think it would add a depth of character.
I was glad he said those three words and that means that he is (human and) capable of love…a new interest would be great and have it be awkward because it is so unfamiliar to both of them. I would hate to see Steve be the only one w/out someone.
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I agree that killing Cath would have been felt more powerfull, I think this was a lame way to have Cath exit the show. Also now leaving Steve to be sort of ok to continue, and no need for him to grieve over his love. Easy way out for the writers
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I just dont see him doing okay at all. Her odds aren’t good, and I think they played it that they both knew it.
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That’s how,the actors played it, but then they know their characters and try to ground them in reality. The writers on the other hand….
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I have a habit of really getting into the characters, i’m a roleplayer, acting/writing out scenarios in an online roleplaying game, but I get what you mean. I don’t trust the writers either.
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(More Spoilers)
I read this review on the episode this morning and I have to say I really like it and agree. http://www.tvfanatic.com/2014/05/hawaii-five-0-review-a-heros-mission/
I too see how they both were at the end, that they knew it was a suicide mission, and her odds are not very good at all. Those I love you’s were like saying goodbye. I feel so teary-eyed thinking about it.
The mission itself was too much a gamble for them to both go with just the two of them to begin with. I really see now the significance of that poker game with all their friends at the beginning.
I just hope that they deal with all this later, that we see how much this has affected Steve, and how much he needs his friends to get through it. It’s already been made clear he is having a hard time dealing with other losses.
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And as my daughter just reminded me, along with those I love you’s, was the Hawaiian word for Goodbye.
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That’s right she did say “goodbye.”
I wondered something…I understand “loyalty” and keeping ones promise but if you really and truly love someone wouldn’t that override anything else? I guess, by her choosing “loyalty” over love she drew the line in the sand.
Kim I agree I hope they play out his dealing with her “death” in the next season. I think we have gotten to the point of seeing him “vulnerable” and I think it would add a bit…let us see the kink in his armor. I also think it will be a good thing to see how his team helps him cope…he’s helped all of them.
As hard as the episode was hard to watch (the beating especially) I was glad that there was some resolution…at first with her riding off I thought great she’ll bee back but after your comment and the synopsis of the article I think her chances of returning are slim. They could bring her back in flashbacks as they did on the goodwife but I think for her to “return” alive at one point might be a bit far fetched…even for TV. I could be wrong.
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Barb, I understand your wondering about her choosing to do this. And it seems that Steve just really understands it, even as devastated as he was.
What an opportunity the writers have now to use more of Alex’s talents, to show us so much more depth in Steve. I’m going to try and have faith in this, as they have recently shown us, before this happened, that Steve is struggling.
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I agree about his talent. I think they can do so much with this as he has suffered loss before but now he can’t “seek & destroy” as he did with Hess.
I was glad he was able to say those three words as it showed that he is “more” human than others think and there is also no regret…”I should’ve said…”. I will look forward to Season 5 and see how this all plays out.
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Excellent job on this post! Your thoughts and attention to detail are so useful in helping me remember the past seasons. Thank you!
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Thanks Andr3a
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I’m a bit late to this post (was away) but thank you FOYuer for this. It is a thoughtfully written tribute. I’ve read so much about why she’s leaving, her contract expired, she was fired, she wanted a larger role and they wouldn’t give it to her – its confusing. We’ll never know the truth but one is certain, the fun and the chemistry just disappeared between Alex & Michelle especially and with the others as well. I do think the fans feel they had a lot to do with her departure because of the firestorm on twitter. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had that much power! I will honestly tell you that I always liked her and the relationship and am guilty of disliking the character because of the actor due to the recent events.
This episode was about Steve – and to a degree Catherine – and not Danny, the case of the week or the team. Steve will change, he has to – another person he loves has left him alone, lonely and vulnerable. There was a definite resignation in his tone and his body language while this scene was playing out. Will it make him more aggressive, more passive? I hope tptb don’t sweep this under the rug. It would have been better to have killed her off because Steve needs closure (as do the fans) so he can move on with his life. There are so many ways the writers can run with this and tap Alex’s powerful acting skills.
Does anyone know if in the original H5-0 Steve had a girlfriend? I know Mary existed, though she had a son who died, rather than daughter, but I can’t recall anything about a gf and can’t find anything about it either.
Thank you for all your hard work!
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I grew up with the original 5-O, and I don’t recall him having a steady girlfriend. Its been so long but I do remember he did have a way with the ladies, would occasionally be flirtatious. I had a teen crush on him, lol.
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Me too Kim, I had a big crush on Jack Lord! I’m old now and still have a crush on the new Steve! There’s a cable channel that shows the original 5-0 epis and when I was out on a disability I was able to watch them. How funny and super out-dated they seem now! The movements, the (lack of) technology, even the color! Thanks! I didn’t remember/recall a steady girl either!
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You’re welcome. 😀 A crush on the new Steve…oh yeah, I have it bad.
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Karen: (and others) I will probably get slammed for this but I personally didn’t like Catherine’s character, the same way I felt about the character of Lori, etc. These (full-time) characters took away from the Fab 4 dynamic and I guess, as stupid as it sounds, I am “protective”/invested in these core characters. That being said…I agree I think they should have killed her off…something that would allow him to get closure but after some mourning be able to move on. We all saw her “ride off into the sunset” and if that meant committing suicide so to speak…it should have been made much more clear. ( I didn’t know.) It opens it up to the possibility that “Steve” could pine away for her. If they did “gracefully” kill her off a definite “Catherine dies/died” should have been noted.
I guess I am not making much sense except that I hope to see Steve cope with her “death” (maybe we’ll get work at the end of 4 or beginning of 5). He already struggles with PTSD re: Freddie’s death, hence calling Grover, maybe this will add to it and it’ll be up to his team to help him out. I think Alex can play it well so we will see what Season 5 has in store for us.
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Barb – Believe me, I won’t slam you! I didn’t like Lori either and Jenna was so bland that she almost didn’t exist. While I did like her character the first 3 seasons, I found the relationship changed a lot after the Pearl Harbor episode this season. I love the core4 too and still feel s1 was the absolute best season yet. But I also like to see the different sides of them that a peek into their personal lives shows us. I would love to see Steve have a woman worthy of him – but not military. Someone who’d give him a run for his money but accept him for what he his, loving, driven and intense and be there to help him thru it all. Danny is the one constant in his life and we know the team will be there to help him too.
I do hope the writers/producer will do s5 justice and close this storyline down quickly so everyone can move onwards & upwards!
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Thanks for remind me why i love this couple. For me they are soulmates.
But the writing changed after 4.11 and messed with their relationship. For what purpose? We all suspect, but we will never be sure.
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I couldn’t have imagined a more ideal partner for Steve than Cath!
I love seeing them together. My heart ached when they said goodbye to each other. But everything is fine if it ends well! They start a new life together and hope they have found happiness in each other! ❤
I discovered the H50 last year, so this post is new to me now. Thank you so much for your work! 🙂
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