When Fox's Rescue: HI-Surf premiered, Baywatch comparisons took center-stage in discussions by critics and fans on social media. Both series' feature lifeguards patrolling the beach, dealing with rescues that rise up to and beyond life-and-death situations, while flaunting sun-kissed bodies against breathtaking seascapes.
Sure, both series share those thematic elements, but between the sounds of a real rescue and melodramatic music, or between the narrow stretch of beach and the whole shore from Mexico to California, or between the lavish sets and extensive storylines of Baywatch, things don't quite tie-up in similar skins.
With a better understanding of both their similarities and differences, the matter of whether Rescue: HI-Surf is actually like Baywatch can thus be answered. Below are the details of the important elements of both shows and where they overlap with the lines of divergence.
We will examine three critical similarities between the two shows: lifeguard-centered action, the visual appeal of their beachside settings, and how each differs in three more important ways that can be seen as unique about Rescue: HI-Surf.
Similarities between Rescue: HI-Surf and Baywatch
1) Lifeguard focus and rescue scenarios
Both Baywatch and Rescue: HI-Surf operate based on a theme of lifeguards performing dramatic rescues. Baywatch popularized the idea by using slow motion in scenes where David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson run up the beach to save stranded swimmers.
Similarly, Rescue has pulse-pounding rescue scenes-lifeguards fighting rogue waves, stranded hikers, and the like, as a review from Variety's Alison Herman framed it:
"The missions assigned to Sonny's crew aren't substantial enough to fill 43 minutes of runtime, but they play into lifeguards' dedication and competence".
While the concept is familiar, the execution is different. Rescue: HI-Surf tends to focus more on a lifeguard's daily lifestyle than in Baywatch.
2) Beautiful beach settings
The sun-soaked beaches are central to both series. Baywatch is synonymous with California’s beaches, and Rescue: HI-Surf capitalizes on the picturesque and dangerous North Shore of Oahu.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox's new show is full of zing for the state's staggering scenery, and this reviewer notes how the show can "plunge deep into the Pacific" as lifeguards spend much of their day "zipping around on jet skis."
These locations contribute in defining the visual aesthetic of both the series', thus luring viewers into an impression of escape.
3) Physicality and team dynamics
Much like Baywatch, Rescue: HI-Surf highlights the physical prowess of its cast. The characters in both shows are fit, agile, and consistently engaged in physically demanding tasks.
As Variety’s review pointed out,
“Not a single cast member has an ounce of extraneous body fat”.
More importantly, teamwork in rescuing people is an underlying theme found in both series, as Rescue lifeguards must work together to overcome specific tough conditions.
Differences between Rescue: HI-Surf and Baywatch
1) Tone and realism
Where Baywatch embraced campiness and exaggerated drama, Rescue: HI-Surf takes a more grounded approach. The latter's tone is more serious, as it dives into issues like local Hawaiian politics and economic challenges.
The Wrap's Liam Mathews describes Rescue as “an old school broadcast drama that values efficiency and immediacy,” avoiding the more soapy excess of Baywatch in favor of a more workplace drama feel.
While Baywatch often thrives on sensational rescues and romantic entanglements, Rescue: HI-Surf tries to strike a balance between realistic lifeguard scenarios and interpersonal issues, particularly the local challenges unique to Oahu.
2) Depth of storylines
Rescue (literally) dives into deeper storylines than Baywatch ever did. As noted in a review from Variety, the show touches on sensitive local issues such as the housing crisis and tourism’s impact on the Hawaiian community.
The Hollywood Reporter also comments on the efforts to show how the North shore is both the prime tourist destination as wll as a place where locals are trying to cope with the many challenges of rapid development.
Baywatch, in contrast, didn't focus on the escapist fantasy of lifeguards' heroic deeds. It rarely touched upon the political or economic implications of its beach setting.
3) Character development
Baywatch characters were often larger-than-life and followed archetypical narratives, whereas Rescue: HI-Surf attempts to create more human characters.
For example, Captain Sonny Jennings is a leader with hauntingly traumatic grief over the loss of a nephew. That dynamic powers his storyline and adds some emotional texture.
Baywatch; so campily beloved for characters usually wouldn't dig this deep into leads' backstories or inner conflicts.
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You can watch Rescue on Fox, with episodes airing weekly on Mondays at 9:00 PM ET.
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