['Hawaii Five-0'' - 'Ohana']

When you've got a huge budget and a feature film director, it's often easy to make a pilot episode that's not representative of the episodes that follow. In the case of 'Hawaii Five-0,' the follow-up edition, entitled 'Ohana,' traded some of the flash for a smaller, but in many ways better, episode. This show will never reinvent the wheel. Rather, its success lies entirely on how smoothly that wheel spins. For the second straight week, it spun in an energetic manner.

"Really? Is that gonna be a thing now?" With those words, this reboot sought to stake its claim in the ground. "Book 'em, Danno!" is part of the old version of this show, not the new one. Having this iteration of Danny Williams cut off that line of dialogue was a small but important step in trying to establish its own voice and rhythms. 'Ohana' essentially ignored the overarching story of corruption within the Hawaii Police Department in favor of getting its strike force fully assembled.

That's a good thing, because the weakest aspect of the pilot was its sudden, jarring montage that showed the four members drinking beer and trying to come up with cool names for their collective. Not only was it tonally off, but it didn't feel earned. This week sought to justify a question many might have asked by the end of the show's pilot episode: Why, of all of the available officers at his disposal, would McGarrett choose to include the inexperienced Kona Kalakaua as part of his inner circle? It seemed like a fairly poor choice, both within the world of the show (where it slightly reeked of nepotism) and from the comfort of one's couch (where it slightly reeked of eye candy).

Rather than wait to explain her inclusion, or feel that satisfactory reason had already been given,'Hawaii Five-0' instead pulled a bait-and-switch on audience expectation, turning what seemed like a perfunctory, stereotypical baby-sitting role into the key for cracking the week's case wide open. Kona's fight with the Serbian girlfriend? Completely killer. Straight-up 'Alias'-esque, which is high praise indeed. But more than just being a buttkicker, Grace Park's Kona also showed calmness under fire, and intelligence as well. Those with any doubts about her competence going into this week should have found those concerns quelled by the end of the hour.

And yes, that end of the hour: Far more compelling than anything involving the rather rote case of the ex-NSA agent kidnapped to exploit his cyber skeleton key was the impromptu graduation ceremony held by the three male members of the strike force. By building up a "will she, or won't she?" around Kona attending her police academy graduation, the show snuck in other option: Her compatriots bringing the graduation to her. In this moment, the title's true meaning came forth. The word "ohana," after all, means "extended family." And by honoring Kona's contributions by displaying their full dress uniforms, the four became one in a truly meaningful sense.

Then again, this ohana wasn't only important for Kano on a professional level. It's clear that each member needed this surrogate family on some level. McGarrett needed it in the absence of his father. Danno needed it in the prolonged absences from his daughter. And Chin Ho needed it in lieu of a place on the police force. Given the thin blue line against which they will inevitably battle, 'Hawaii Five-0' had to establish this unit as rock-solid and interdependent. Mission accomplished.

A few coconut-shaped thoughts about tonight's episode:

-- 'Freaks and Geeks' fans, rejoice! That was Martin Starr as stoner hacker Adam. Usually the hacker character is a boring plot device who types, but Starr's laconic style should bring some added pep to the show in future weeks. (Assuming he's returning to the show. Which he should, as anyone from the late, great 'Party Down' deserves to be working constantly.)

-- That elevator scene was far funnier than it had any right to be. Honestly, Alex O'Loughlin's genetic inability to be consciously funny had more to do with it than Scott Caan's God-given timing.

-- McGarrett's dangling of the Serbian gangster did two things: 1) it established that he has an instinctive ability to know how to break down a crime scene and employ the best method available, no matter how extreme, and 2) it established that beneath Danno's bravado lies a man with strict adherence to police procedures. Showy storytelling that also imparted character insight. Perfect. More, please.

-- The tape recording of McGarrett's father felt far too close to John Teller's manuscript on 'Sons of Anarchy' for comfort. Let's hope the show tones down any beyond-the-grave narration pushing Steve forward as the season progresses.

What did you think of the show's second outing? Leave your thoughts below!

'Hawaii Five-0' airs Mon., 10PM ET on CBS.