A morning hangout on the beach almost turns deadly for a group of college kids when two of them get trapped in a collapsed sandpit. Sonny, Will and Laka race to rescue people stranded after a shark attack. During a rescue, Em catches the attention of Fire Captain Sean Harimoto. Will learns if he made the cut for the firefighter job he has been pursuing. Hina makes a move with Kainalu. Sonny attends Zion's memorial fundraiser and attempts to reconnect with his sister.
Em was much more concerned about the lawsuit than Sonny was. That's been true since the litigation first began. It stemmed from an incident in the premiere where Kainalu called in the wrong location. That delayed the response time and created more risk for further injury. The family sued. They needed to hold someone accountable for what happened to their son. Sonny shouldered the blame. That was partly him stepping up as captain. He's responsible for the actions of every lifeguard under his watch. It was mostly seen as him covering for Kainalu on his first day in order to stay in the good graces of his influential father. The system was set up to carefully manage the politics of this environment. The action is centered so squarely on the ground with the rescues. The characters spring into action when people are in need. Those in charge have to navigate other concerns as well. That shapes Will's attempt to join the fire department. It also informs the resolution of the lawsuit. It's perceived as pure projection from Sonny. He reaches out as a grieving father. He chooses not to keep everything bottled up any longer. That passionate appeal eases the pain enough to drop the lawsuit. It's still completely strange how Em is no longer concerned. She wants to just wing the deposition instead of seeking advice from a lawyer.
The North Shore is repeatedly mentioned as the most dangerous stretch of beach. The lifeguards have to be at the peak of fitness at all times. They have to always be aware of the situation. They can never afford to get distracted. That's when lives are in the most danger. It's also just as important to know the people who live in the district are some of the island's wealthiest citizens. Hina can't afford anything close to work. She doesn't want to live with her family any longer. Her mother and aunt expect her to carry the emotional burden of raising the family. She wants her independence. She was born in this community. She understands it. She strives for more. She sees the deceit while looking for apartments. The prices just aren't reasonable. Kainalu offers his spare bedroom for her to crash. She rejects the idea of living with him. She believes it would eventually lead to sex. And yet, she essentially does so. That's what Laka always expected. He tags along just to see the moment of realization from Kainalu. His space has been invaded. This isn't what he expected or offered. It's what is actually happening. That's painted way too broadly. It throws out any meaningful characterizations in favor of getting a laugh out of the situation.
That proves to be a pattern for Laka. He never thought Will had a chance of joining the fire department. It never mattered what his skills were. He was better than everyone else in his class. Instead, the roster was decided entirely by people within the system vouching for those outside it. Will doesn't have anyone advocating on his behalf. And so, he is destined to be stuck in a job with his ex-girlfriend whom his fiancée is incredibly jealous of. He has to make the most of that situation. That just creates a system in which Will is trapped somewhere he doesn't want to be in. If he doesn't want this, then there is no reason for the audience to want him here either. That disconnect makes it difficult to care about anything he is doing. Yes, new story potential is offered by Em going out on a date with a fire captain. Sean Harimato even believes Will has a strong chance of making the transition. Laka is the only figure who states things blatantly on how the system operates. He does so after Will put in the hard work to prove himself. It shows how Laka has low standards for himself. He never expects things to change. Yet he lives in a world where tourists are constantly threatening the livelihood of locals.
The lifeguards absolutely give preferential treatment to the locals. They believe they understand the water better. Yet it still doesn't take much for things to go wrong. The locals know how to respond in that situation. They still require saving. It's still dangerous for them to be out there after a shark has been spotted. That was an ominous tease introduced early on. It was mentioned a few times before an attack occurred. Even then, there was very little for Sonny and Em to actually do. They just had to replace a makeshift tourniquet with the proper materials. That was the extent of that story. Elsewhere, the lifeguards deal with tourists who try to argue with them about their athletic abilities. It doesn't matter how strong they are back home. This is a new environment. Local expertise should be respected. It rarely is because people are too often caught up in their own worlds believing they know what's best. They want to present as strong and smart. In reality, they only create more danger. That's a pattern too. It's all about these lifeguards saving people who act foolishly. Nothing occurs to change that system. It's just become a part of life. It's simply more devastating when a loved one actually dies. That amounts to all of the blame being placed on Sonny. He carries it. He feels Zion's loss personally. Others lash out too. His sister especially believes he should have listened to her concerns. He faces that. He doesn't get any comfort despite sharing his feelings through a completely different situation.
