In my semi-humble opinion, the two episodes that make up "ONCE UPON A TIME" are the two best shows of the first season of "Hawaii Five-O". The shows are about a very unscrupulous "doctor" who promises miracle cures using a lot of electronic machines that do nothing to cure anyone. However, because this lady (Joanna Linville) is such a convincing huckster, she has a strong following who see her as a saint and not a con-woman--which she clearly is. McGarrett becomes involved in this case because his sister (who lives in California) has just placed her faith in this quack--and he is furious that Linville is taking every penny his sister and brother-in-law has to give them false hope of their son's cure--though he is dying of inoperable stomach cancer.
In part 2, the case against this 'Doctor of Naturology' has finally come to court and it appears that the lady might go free. In addition, even IF she is a quack, the penalty for stealing and lying to her patients is minimal. So McGarrett works hard to create a case for murder because she had prevented patients from getting life-saving treatment by using her 'miracle machine'.
Surprisingly, the show is among the best of the series because McGarrett works hard and he DOESN'T wrap everything together well. In fact, by the end of the show, you never even know if the lady is even convicted. Yet, despite this lack of clarity, the show is terrific because it draws attention to a problem STILL present today---lots of quack herbal and other treatments that tout amazing cures or alleviation of pain despite no clinical trials and only dubious anecdotal evidence. Sadly, there are more and more people in recent years who seem to eschew statistical evidence or scientific research---just like this episode from 1969.
In addition, the show is also excellent because it allowed Jack Lord a much greater emotional range and depth. Too bad this was rather atypical for the series--this was powerful, intelligently written and compelling from start to finish.
By the way, most of the episode takes place around Los Angeles. While in L.A., McGarrett runs wild--breaking two or more laws. At one point, he throws litter out his car window. Later, he parks at a meter and never puts a coin in the slot--and the machine shows the violation flag has been triggered. Also, his kissing the lady at the hall of records is quite probably sexual harassment--though this is a bit iffy. McGarrett, you are a wild man!
In part 2, the case against this 'Doctor of Naturology' has finally come to court and it appears that the lady might go free. In addition, even IF she is a quack, the penalty for stealing and lying to her patients is minimal. So McGarrett works hard to create a case for murder because she had prevented patients from getting life-saving treatment by using her 'miracle machine'.
Surprisingly, the show is among the best of the series because McGarrett works hard and he DOESN'T wrap everything together well. In fact, by the end of the show, you never even know if the lady is even convicted. Yet, despite this lack of clarity, the show is terrific because it draws attention to a problem STILL present today---lots of quack herbal and other treatments that tout amazing cures or alleviation of pain despite no clinical trials and only dubious anecdotal evidence. Sadly, there are more and more people in recent years who seem to eschew statistical evidence or scientific research---just like this episode from 1969.
In addition, the show is also excellent because it allowed Jack Lord a much greater emotional range and depth. Too bad this was rather atypical for the series--this was powerful, intelligently written and compelling from start to finish.
By the way, most of the episode takes place around Los Angeles. While in L.A., McGarrett runs wild--breaking two or more laws. At one point, he throws litter out his car window. Later, he parks at a meter and never puts a coin in the slot--and the machine shows the violation flag has been triggered. Also, his kissing the lady at the hall of records is quite probably sexual harassment--though this is a bit iffy. McGarrett, you are a wild man!