Television series

NCIS: Hawaiʻi

Name: NCIS: Hawaiʻi
Genre: Drama, Action, Crime
Released: 2021
Cast: Vanessa Lachey, Jason Antoon, Noah Mills, Alex Tarrant, Tori Anderson

Police procedural

A procedural crime drama set in Hawaii where an NCIS team investigates cases involving military personnel and national security. It's solid, efficient television—the kind where you know what you're getting and the setting actually matters. For fans of ensemble crime shows who want competence, warmth, and occasional island scenery alongside their case-of-the-week stories.

TVMaze rating

3.9

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you like a procedural where the case-of-the-week sits alongside a team whose personal lives carry real weight, and the island's landscape does half the storytelling.

Skip it if you want a gritty, serialized thriller; this is a polished, conventional procedural with a sun-warmed tone that keeps its violence at arm's length.

What it asks of you: Hour-long episodes with a case that wraps inside each one, and a long run of fifty-four installments that rewards patience with the team's private lives.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

NCIS2003

The DNA original. Establishes the procedural template, the bureaucratic humor, and the ensemble dynamic that makes these shows work. Mark Harmon's Gibbs is the blueprint for lead investigators everywhere.

But Nineteen seasons deep and still running—the show can feel repetitive if you're not already invested in the characters. Early episodes show their age technically.

The Equalizer2021

A strong female lead heading a competent field team, solving high-stakes crimes with real consequences. Queen Latifah anchors it with authority and charm. Cases matter; character moments land.

But It's earnest and occasionally wears its heart very visibly on its sleeve. Not everyone wants that sincerity in their procedurals.

FBI2018

Slick, energetic crime procedural with genuine stakes and an ensemble that feels like they actually like working together. Cases escalate smartly from investigation to resolution.

But It prioritizes plot momentum over character depth, which means people sometimes feel like vehicles for the story rather than fully lived-in humans.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from NCIS: Hawaiʻi

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

JAG1995

NCIS: Hawaiʻi is the direct descendant—same institutional setting, same balance of procedure and character, same sense that military hierarchy creates real dramatic tension. JAG built the language these shows speak.

The spiritual ancestor to all modern military/government procedurals. Established the template NCIS would perfect: ensemble, rank-based hierarchy, legal stakes alongside investigation. Holds up remarkably well with smart humor and real character work.

But It's a 1990s network show, which means some dated references and occasional clunky exposition. Ten seasons is a commitment, though each episode works standalone.

Criminal Minds2005

Team-based crime solving with actual character arcs across seasons. The ensemble dynamics—the banter, the found-family element—are genuinely well-executed and earned over time.

But Sixteen seasons means tonal inconsistency and some repetition. Later seasons dilute what made the early run special. Also: criminal profiling has its limitations as drama.

Magnum P.I.2018

Set in Hawaii. Features a charismatic lead, a capable team, and actually uses the setting as something beyond wallpaper. Cases are varied; character relationships deepen smartly.

But The reboot divided fans. Some find it derivative and too polished compared to the original's charm.

Blue Bloods2010

Procedural with real ensemble warmth and the sense that these people have actual history and stakes beyond the case. Family dynamics matter as much as investigation.

But Fourteen seasons in and it can feel like watching a very well-made routine. The formula works but doesn't surprise. Also: very New York, if that's not your thing.

Manifest2018

Mystery-driven ensemble drama with genuine twists and mythology that builds. Characters grow and change across seasons. The mystery keeps you theorizing between episodes.

But Cancelled on a cliffhanger. The final season feels rushed. Committing means sitting with an incomplete story, which some find maddening.

The Rookie2018

Surprisingly thoughtful police procedural where a middle-aged rookie learning the job gives the show actual perspective. Cases connect to character growth. Nathan Fillion anchors it with genuine warmth.

But It can lean sentimental. Some cases resolve too neatly. Early seasons are stronger than recent ones.

S.W.A.T.2017

High-energy tactical procedural with solid action sequences and an ensemble that works well together. Cases escalate meaningfully. Pacing is tight.

But Character development gets sacrificed for plot momentum. You're here for action and competence, not deep emotional arcs.

Halt and Catch Fire2014

Both are ensemble shows where the setting (military hierarchy, tech industry pressure) shapes how people relate to each other. Both understand that the best drama comes from competent people under real constraints, not from chaos.

An ensemble drama about brilliant people building something together against odds. Character arcs are earned across seasons. The setting—1980s computing—becomes a way to explore ambition, loyalty, and what we owe each other.

But It's a prestige drama about technical industry history, not a procedural. If you want cases solved weekly, this won't deliver that. Pacing is deliberate and sometimes slow.

The Good Wife2009

Both understand that the best procedurals aren't about solving the case—they're about what the case reveals about the people solving it. Both trust their ensemble and give everyone real material to work with across seasons.

Legal procedural with genuine intelligence. Cases matter and connect to larger themes. The ensemble is sharp. It treats its audience like adults—complex morality, no easy answers, characters who grow and change their minds.

But Seven seasons is substantial. Some arcs meander. The show's shift in focus midway through divides viewers. Also: very talk-heavy, which some find exhausting.