When a flash flood sweeps a young tourist away from her family and out to deep sea, Sonny, Em and Will race into action to save her. Going against Sonny's wishes, Em takes a bold risk and places her own life in danger in hopes of rescuing the lost-at-sea tourist. Laka supervises rookies Kainalu and Hina's first day on the job.
Em has her eyes set on becoming captain. She's loyal to Sonny. However, she questions his judgment following his nephew's tragic death. Sonny and his family are absolutely grieving. They are largely dealing with the burden by themselves. That isn't going to change any time soon. Sonny reaches out for grief counseling. He ultimately hangs up. That's not something he is willing to commit to right now. Instead, it's better for him to be out in the field. He and his team continue to roam the ocean and protect the people who get trapped out there. They have contempt for the foolish tourists who find themselves in dangerous situations. A family completely misses the sign that their hiking trail covers dangerous terrain. People don't see the variety in their immediately environment. A surfer believes he can enter the ocean at any spot on the beach. As a result, he gets knocked around by the water. This is dangerous. Lifeguards are present for a reason. They are responsible for running into action to save lives. They are trusted to do so much more than that as well. Some of that extra burden is manageable. It also has the potential to overwhelm those who sign up for this work.
Em sees the importance in following the rules. She believes that is the only way of advancing in her career. She doesn't have the luxury of prioritizing her personal life. So much could derail her ambitions. She could have started a family with Will. That would have required her to forego all of her career dreams. She choose her own priorities. That hasn't resulted in animosity between the two. They still have a playful banter. Em at least has a personality. She has a clear set of goals and ambitions. Will remains nothing more than an attractive man with an accent. He provides another body to assist with the various rescues. He's not the one leading the charge or coming up with creative solutions. In fact, he's presented as someone with one foot out the door already. He's leaving. Yet no inherent drama comes from that. It lingers in a way that robs the character of agency. And so, he's reduced to nothing more than part of a romantic trope that will inevitably be acted upon at some point in the future. In fact, it's rather annoying how the show reduces its characters down to their romantic interests. That isn't the only type of story that can be prioritized in their lives.
Despite that, Em and Will have a sexually charged possibility every time they talk. Meanwhile, Laka is nothing more than the guy who talks about dating and sex. He complains about only ever meeting the wrong girls. He asks for advice but nothing solid is presented. So, he's left flirting with any woman who comes close in proximity. That's true even when Jenn should be focused on her work. That too establishes a familiar character dynamic where the two will act upon that intrigue at some point. It's just the suggestion of a narrative choice though. It's not earned in the slightest. The same applies to the dynamic between Kainalu and Hina. They come from different worlds. The story highlights that at every possible moment. It's mostly built around Kainalu being the son of the next mayor. That's how everyone views him. He has a past with Hina. They hope to put that behind them to focus on the job. She is far more skilled. She doesn't make mistakes in the field. She is trusted with actual responsibilities on her first day. They are left alone and still make a rescue. They know how to do this job. They are meant to be the entry into this world for the audience. Yet they need to be compelling characters as well. Right now, information is still slowly being delivered. It's not particularly exciting because it's nothing more than what was shared in the premiere.
The rescues still showcase the intensity and high-stakes nature of this work. They are effectively conveyed too. Sonny leads Em and Will into the ocean in search of a missing girl swept out to sea. The locals know just how dangerous the sudden change in weather can be. Constant rain is enough to completely alter which trails are safe. A family made a mistake while trying to bond. The daughter is safely rescued. For a moment though, Em is missing too. She took a risk. She didn't do so in pursuit of glory and recognition. She simply saw the benefit in breaking the rules to achieve her preferred result. Will cautioned her that as long as the girl was rescued it wouldn't matter what actions were taken. Sonny doesn't ask for permission before beginning the search in the ocean. He doesn't care about any potential ramifications. He's already being sued. He and Em were served papers in the morning. She freaks out. She wants him to be more concerned. That isn't his style. That's not the effective way to lead either. Mistakes were made. No consequences were delivered. Sonny carries the burden himself. He has a stern talk with his daughter. He can't punish her too severely because she is grieving too. Everything is too complicated. It's better to relax with a beer. That's comforting even though it doesn't solve the underlying issues.
