Christmas cheer is in the air as the lifeguards prepare for their annual holiday toy drive. Sonny tells Laka he is not ready to become a lieutenant. Chief wants Kenji to replace Sonny as Captain, but Sonny is stern on recommending Em and calls in a final favor with Mayor Emerson. Will and Em almost get caught in the act by friends.
Sonny has used up all of his political capital. The majority of it went to benefitting the entire district. He provided much needed improvements in supplies and personnel. However, he was still hoping to use that influence to get Em promoted to captain and serve as his replacement. His luck has run out. He wants Em in the role. The Chief wants Kenji. He's simply following the words Sonny used to describe his lieutenant. She is a hothead. He meant it as a compliment. He views himself the same way. It was still used to detract from her qualifications. Em doesn't want the job simply because she is a woman. She recognizes the historic nature of her potential promotion. That shouldn't be the only reason she gets the job. She has wanted to make captain no matter what. That has destroyed her past relationships. She is singularly focused on this objective. And now, she is realizing how much political gamesmanship is required of the position. She wanted the title largely to be in charge. She had to be the best. To achieve that, she needed this role covering the most dangerous terrain in the world. She didn't know what the actual demands of the job were. She has worked alongside Sonny. She knows how to command the team. Being captain is more than that. She has to reckon if her life aligns with that reality. She isn't given much time to do so. Instead, she has to fit herself into the narrative Sonny wants to sell to the world. He has been effective using his influence to better his team. In this situation though, sheer power may not be enough.
Em deserves to receive accommodation for her heroic actions. She took a risk no one else would. Sonny is willing to go to the bat for her. Even though he previously stated she would grow into the job, he knows she is ready for this responsibility. The same cannot be said for Laka. Sonny's retirement will rearrange leadership in the district. Em moving to captain creates a vacancy for lieutenant. Sonny exerts control over the top decision. However, he wants to leave it to Em to make other personnel decisions. He figures she will promote Will. He is perfectly fine with that. He trusts Will and Laka in the field. He worries Laka doesn't have the maturity to lead effectively. The narrative has suggested Laka is capable of growth and change. He quit drinking for a month. He wanted a relationship with Jenn and not just a casual hookup. He has a relaxed, carefree lifestyle. He believes he should be treated seriously too. Sonny gives him his blunt assessment. He doesn't have the authority to deny his request. He just doesn't see it happening. Laka spiraling after that underlines the point further. Will is always there to bail him out. This time Laka just happened to be an easy target for scammers. At work, he warns people about danger. He's upset when they don't listen. He's just as volatile outside of that element. That invites more pain and embarrassment.
Em is being reckless too. She has casually started things up with Will again. They are trying to find moments to sneak away together. It's fun and exciting. She completely dismisses his engagement. She no longer takes it seriously. It can't be because he has only been with Julie for six months. He made that commitment though. He is now cheating. Em is fully aware of that. Her friends are disappointed in her. She decided to end things previously. She wanted to prioritize work. Things were always messy because she worked alongside Will. Julie was right to be concerned about their dynamic. Will tried to join the fire department. After his rejection, he put no effort into trying to address those concerns. Instead, Julie's fears were confirmed. The show always hinted at Em and Will inevitably getting back together. It was no surprise when it actually occurred. Now, it's being presented as a possible red flag to derail Em's promotion. She has taken her eye off the prize. Moreover, she's questioning whether it's all she wants it to be. She analyzes her life and what she wants. That self-reflection is good. It's just coming in some areas and not others. That inconsistency makes it difficult to track what's going on with her. All of this may be meaningless if Sonny doesn't ultimately leave. He clashes with the Chief to get his chosen successor. He knows how to get what he wants. He suddenly has clarity. He burns bridges because he no longer has to be the responsible one in charge.
The shift at the beach is chaotic for one family in particular. The grandfather has a heart attack while surfing. The lifeguards are responsible for looking after his grandchildren while he receives treatment at the hospital. He survives. Everyone is grateful for that. They don't want this family to suffer a tragedy during the holidays. And then, one of the kids gets stuck in a drainage gate. It requires Hina and Kainalu working from separate sides to get him out. The danger is escalated because the tide is coming in. The two of them work together well on the job. And now, that is being transferred to their personal lives. That romance was teased heavily too. As such, it also isn't a surprise when they take that step. It's something new worth exploring. It became inevitable once they moved in together. They acknowledge that now. It all comes from Kainalu making a big deal out of Hina seeing him naked. It reflects his need for boundaries. He doesn't want to cross this line. She doesn't view it as a big thing. That makes him feel more comfortable. Their attraction also comes from seeing each other excel at work. That's exciting and character affirming. Their bond builds naturally. Yes, it has incredibly forced moments. Many of the plots do. No guarantees are offered that things will last. The job is dangerous. Anything can turn tragic in a second. The characters want to enjoy the fun while they can. They can't ignore the responsibilities of living. They have to reckon with those choices and be at peace with them afterwards. Otherwise, they only invite suffering in.
