Well, at least Dr. Madison Gray finally returned.

But whether it was for the last time is still up in the air at the end of Hawaii Five-0 Season 7 Episode 17.

Gray, first unveiled on Hawaii Five-0 Season 7, Episode 4, had been a Machiavellian, behind-the-scenes character, getting serial killers to kill for her.

So it was an intriguing change of pace to have her stumble into HPD with bloody hands, claiming to be a tourist from Wisconsin with amnesia.

This naturally fooled no one within Five-0, who knew her true identity. Especially McGarrett, who is probably still angry that she blew up his pickup. After all, cars are his to destroy.

The interesting twist is when the blood comes back as a partial match to Alicia Brown, the profiler that was kidnapped along with McGarrett by Gray.

Alicia was found alive, and clueless, by McGarrett and Grover. So the question became "What was Gray's end game"?

Alicia, who had been largely in isolation, knew that her hiding out wasn't the answer.

Alicia [to McGarrett]: There's one thing I've learned hunting monsters: you can't outrun them.

• Permalink: you can't outrun them.

Gray and Alicia are meant to be two sides of the same coin. They both seek to get inside the minds of kilers. But Gray wants to use them for her own ends, while Alicia wants to put them away for society's benefit.

Gray gets inside Alicia's head so badly that she can't see what's happening to her.

Having people kill for me, that was a good game, but not much of a challenge. Now you, on the other hand, moral, virtuous, spending your life putting killers behind bars, turning you into a killer would be something.

Gray [to Alicia]

• Permalink: Having people kill for me, that was a good game, but not much of a challenge. Now you, on the...

Having some of the climactic scenes filmed in a snow-covered region was a definite change of background, one that those of us in snow-bound states don't necessary appreciate.

After all, we watch in part for the sunny, tropical scenery, to transport us away from the mess outside our windows. We don't want that on our screens as well.

And it's obvious that McGarrett learned to drive in Hawaii. You don't punch the gas on a snow-covered road, if you don't want to end up wrapped around a tree.

But I digress. I was surprised to find Alicia's daughter Sienna alive, if not particularly well, as a captive of a flunky of a serial killer that Alicia put away. I thought Sienna was dead and buried, not just MIA.

The status of Gray also remains fuzzy. Gray taunted the gun-wielding Alicia, and a shot rang out just as the scene faded to black.

Since Alicia said she was calling to report a murder, that doesn't bode well for either, but nothing is concrete yet.

Now, assuming she is sent away to prison or an asylum, how about McGarrett and Alicia as a couple (even though she has an unbearable cackle)? Both have suffered losses and have similar lifestyle choices.

Alicia: I prefer it, the solitude. Since my daughter, and then my marriage fell apart. It's easy. Some days I don't even have the energy to deal with people.
McGarrett: Yeah, I liked it when I lived alone too.

• Permalink: Yeah, I liked it when I lived alone too.

The two have more chemistry than McGarrett and Lynn. Yeah, Catherine is a better choice than either, but I think that ship has sailed. 

Just something to think about.

My favorite scene came early, the unveiling of Flippa's Shrimp Wagon, the only comic relief of this episode.

It's always fun when they trot out their recurring, D-list celebrities, such as Dog the Bounty Hunter. No Larry Manetti or Al Harrington, but you can't have everything.

This time around, this include Max Weinberg of the E Street Band, which gave Danny a chance to babble on to a member of his favorite group. Why was Weinberg there? Who knows? Who cares?

Of course, as with any Kamekona venture, things didn't run smoothly.

Flippa: I'm showing some initiative, cuz. You did say my truck.
Kamekona: Yes, to manage and operate. Not to paste your ugly mug on it, diluting my brand.
Flippa: What brand? You got two trucks.
Kamekona: Exactly. They're buying the food because my face is on the truck.
Danny: I'm pretty sure they need to put 'in spite of his face being on the truck.'

• Permalink: I'm pretty sure they need to put 'in spite of his face being on the truck.'

Unfortunately, the Alison-Gray storyline doesn't promise to get resolved next episode, as instead Five-0 finds the missing uranium from Hawaii Five-0 Season 7, Episode 12. I forgot all about that arc.

To refresh your memory of that storyline or any others you've missed, watch Hawaii Five-0 online.

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