Of course, McGarrett didn't make that mistake.

McGarrett's cowboy ways almost caught up with him on Hawaii Five-0 Season 8 Episode 7.

But predictability reigned supreme instead.

How many realized that McGarrett had shot a robber in the tunnel?

It made perfect sense that such a well-planned robbery would include the thieves changing into cop uniforms to blend in and make their escape.

It didn't, however, make any sense that another officer could have somehow gotten into the tunnel ahead of McGarrett. 

So, yeah, there was a lot of unnecessary angst. I mean, run the badge number or prints for the "cop" to figure out who he was. Don't depend on a rookie officer to make a discovery on video.

Yes, that would mean less dramatic tension. It would also have meant less of a head start for the robbers.

But let's talk about the fun part of the episode: Steve's backup.

Junior and Adam were an unlikely pairing. Still, they beat, say, Jerry and Eric.

Did McGarrett honestly think they were going to listen to him and stay with the truck, while he goes after four gunmen on his own?

That kind of cowboy stuff could get him killed. Or make for an eight-season run.

First, Junior broke into Steve's truck and borrowed his backup gun. Then Adam followed Junior in because 'You told me to keep an eye on him."

Then McGarrett handed admittedly reformed felon Adam yet another one of his guns. (With all the firefights McGarrett gets into, he can never have too many guns.)

I have to say both Junior, as a former Navy SEAL, and Adam, as a former Yakuza boss, must have been comfortable with firearms, so they would be suitable backup, if, you know, they weren't civilians.

Fortunately, McGarrett got saved by the vault explosion from taking crap for violating all kinds of protocol. After that, Junior and Adam got thrust back into support roles.

That truck must have had some kind of McGarrett cruise control, as Adam was able to drive just as recklessly as the man himself. Even battle-tested veteran Junior looked a bit concerned.

I've figured out how Adam will be worked into Five-0. He's going to be their organized-crime consultant. We got a glimpse of that in this episode.

After all, what else is an ex-con with too much time on his hands going to do?

I'm not keen on the way they've changed Kono's character to account for her absence. After earlier going on the run with Adam, now she's too obsessed with her mission to spend time with him on Oahu? Yes, she's doing important work, but it really doesn't jibe.

Chin taking on his own command in Abby's hometown makes much more sense.

I thought this would be the time that McGarrett would bestow a badge upon Junior. Maybe he has to flunk out first for missing tests while doing work in the field.

The introduction of his former girlfriend, Kayla, helped to humanize Junior. He ended up losing her while he served his country. Since she's pregnant with another man's child, I can't imagine that storyline going anywhere, but who knows?

I'm enjoying Tani being mentored by her teammates. This time, it was Grover, who can always be depended on for folksy wisdom. He was willing to cut her some slack.

It's clear that her little brother Koa is going to be trouble for her, hanging out with the wrong crowd. Maybe they should get Dog to scare him straight.

Tani rescuing him just before the ICE raid could come back to bite them in the ass eventually if any of those scooped up know that she works for Five-0.

I was good to see her call McGarrett, to meet and confess to what went down that morning. It was unnecessary to see the actual meeting; it was the thought that counts.

It was just as well that Danny had another episode off. A police cadet and an ex-con providing backup and a rookie saving her brother from a crime ... his head would have exploded. Still, I could almost hear him kvetching as Adam drove wildly through Honolulu.

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There's more to come from this episode. It can't be a coincidence that a former Five-0 detainee was among the robbery crew. Also, it was never established which organized-crime syndicate got ripped off for $10 million. I doubt FDIC covers that kind of deposit.

With no new episode next Friday, you can watch Hawaii Five-0 online instead to watch the new characters develop.

Are you enjoying Tani and Junior? What will be Adam's role, if any? Was this robbery leading anywhere?

Comment below.

Dale McGarrigle is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow him on X.