Hmm. Is that the only mention of the 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee to appear on non-news network TV? Could be.
The point is that Hawaii Five-0 was consciously progressive, not just unconsciously progressive. Not bad for a 1970s cop show. Sure, it was still a white male fantasy, but at least it questioned itself sometimes.
When it comes to Indians, today's TV shows could stand to be so progressive. Instead, we get a mix of the good (Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Wonderfalls, King of the Hill) and the not-so-good (Numb3rs, LAX, Smallville). I doubt the rate of stereotyping has decreased much since I began keeping track in the 1990s.
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I haven't seen that episode yet, but the shows often start unconventionally. The criminals and the bit players all get a substantial amount of screen time. In other words, it isn't a show about the "cult" (i.e., the star power) of the central character.
In today's episode of Hawaii 5-0, two old guys kidnap a child and hole up in a concrete bunker on a hillside. The show has used the bunker plot before--it may even be the same bunker--so that's lame. But McGarrett and company don't appear on the scene for a full 15 minutes.
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