'Hawaii Five-0' Recap: Season 10 Episode 21 — Does Steve Want Out?

Summary:
In the intense penultimate episode of Hawaii Five-0, Steve McGarrett faces both a mysterious new case and inner turmoil about his own future. As a new hero enters the scene and a kidnapping case unfolds, McGarrett is forced to confront a decade's worth of burdens, leading to an emotional cliffhanger just ahead of the series finale. The story skillfully interweaves action and heart, posing the big question: is Steve ready to walk away from his life as head of Five-0?

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1. The Mystery Begins

The episode opens on a dramatic and mysterious note. Steve receives a hand-delivered, coded letter—called a cypher—which he later finds out is from his mother, Doris. Not long after, things take a dangerous turn elsewhere in town. A group of bank robbers, having just pulled off a heist, forcibly enter a woman's home with her young son, looking for a place to hide.

Just when things look hopeless for the pair, a busboy from a diner—Lincoln Cole, played by Lance Gross—shows up to return a forgotten item. Sensing something is very wrong, he leaves, only to come back through the back door and heroically beat up the robbers. One of the criminals manages to escape, and after the commotion, Cole vanishes before the police arrive.

2. Chasing the Hero

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Danny, ever the dedicated detective, tracks down Steve at his father's grave. Nearly a decade has passed since Steve's dad died, and Steve has had an especially tough year, especially with everything that happened with Joe and Doris. Steve, frustrated about the mysterious new cypher, mutters:

"Last thing I need right now is another mystery."

But as Five-0 investigates the robbery case, Tani and Quinn share the curious details of the busboy hero. Digging deeper, the team discovers this "busboy" was living under a fake identity. Thanks to Adam, who uncovers DNA evidence, they realize their mystery man is Lincoln Cole—a decorated Marine Gunnery Sergeant from an anti-terrorism unit, who has been missing in action since earning a Purple Heart.

3. Cat and Mouse — The Lincoln Cole Case

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Steve and Junior visit Sergeant Major Phillips (a fun cameo by Chuck Norris!), looking for clues. Phillips pretends he knows nothing, but as Junior snoops around, he catches Cole slipping out the back. This leads to an intense chase and a showdown between Cole and McGarrett, filled with punches, kicks, and classic Five-0 action. Junior's warning gunshot ends it, and Cole is brought in for questioning.

Cole keeps quiet, but Steve eventually gets him to open up about his past. Haunted by regret, Cole admits he lost his men during the mission that gave him his hero status:

"I let my squad walk into an obvious ambush because I was too eager for a win."

The situation escalates when masked men air a ransom video, demanding Cole in exchange for the kidnapped woman and her son. Steve and team ponder whether to hand Cole over or use him to outsmart the kidnappers. The plan unfolds fast and furious: Cole, ever the Marine, breaks free from custody, heads straight for the meet-up, and bravely trades himself for the hostages. As things heat up, Junior takes out the main villain with a sniper shot, and the rest of the Five-0 team storms in to save the day.

Danny, impressed by Cole's wild courage, quips:

"I think this guy might be crazier than you."

4. Steve's Crossroads

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Back at headquarters, Steve tells Cole he's free to go—the authorities are busy, and no one really wants to go after a hero who just did the right thing. In appreciation, Cole offers to help Steve decode the pesky cypher.

Meanwhile, Danny—always the good friend—asks Steve for a heart-to-heart at their usual beach spot. Danny tries to get Steve to finally open up, pointing out that something seems different this time.

Steve confesses:

"Something changed… For ten years I've been protecting everybody except myself."

Danny suggests Steve should just take a break from everything, but Steve admits it's not that simple. He reflects on how he thought opening a restaurant would bring some balance to his chaotic life, but with that plan stalled, he's considering other ways to find normalcy.

Danny asks:

"Do you think you're capable of being done?"

Steve replies:

"Maybe. With Five-0, I hit the ground running, and have been running ever since. Now I'm considering time away to get perspective."

Danny jokingly suggests that New Jersey might be just the place to gain that perspective, and Steve laughs:

"It'd be full of people like you!"

But even as they share this light moment, it's clear Steve is seriously thinking of leaving his old life behind.

5. A Cliffhanger Ending

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The episode ends with one last jolt. Danny goes inside to grab more beers, only to stumble upon a masked burglar ransacking Steve's office! A struggle follows, and after a gunshot, the thief disappears. Steve realizes the target was the mysterious cypher, but only the empty envelope was stolen.

The tension lingers, as the episode closes with a classic To be continued…, leading into the much-anticipated series finale on April 3.

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Wrapping Up

In this action-packed and emotional episode, McGarrett is forced to choose between his unwavering duty to Five-0 and finally finding some peace for himself. With the arrival of a new hero like Lincoln Cole and a dangerous new mystery brewing, the stage is perfectly set for a gripping series finale. As Steve wonders what's next, fans are left asking: after ten years, could the unbreakable McGarrett really be ready to let go? 🌅