Is Hawaii Five-0 really saying goodbye to Jerry Ortega? The fan-favorite is missing from early Season 10 info, an alarming sign for what Jorge Garcia’s future on the show may hold. What is the cause of so much concern? Well, several things, actually. Here's what you need to know.
First off, Jerry is not mentioned in the synopsis for any of Season 10’s first three episodes. This, after having seen the startling portion of the premiere’s synopsis; in it, Hawaii Five-0 teases the Five-0 having to “say goodbye to one of their own.” If you pair that with last season’s cliffhanger finale, it's looking like there's potentially bad news for Jerry.
Fans will recall that Jerry was one of two characters involved in Hawaii Five-0’s cliffhanger ending -- the one that left fans wondering if it was Jerry or Steve who was struck and possibly killed by the gunshot that rang out. Take heart, though!
Hawaii Five-0’s showrunner, Peter M. Lenkov, told TVLine that the upcoming goodbye was not “not as ominous as it sounds," a hint that this departure may not come at the cost of a character’s life, although he also confirmed that a character “took a bullet.” He did not reveal if the results of taking it would prove deadly. So, is it Steve or Jerry that will be exiting?
To note, Steve (Alex O’Loughlin) is shown in promotional pics for the upcoming season. All signs that indicate he is among the living in Season 10, which is great news for Steve. Does it have to mean bad news for Jerry (and Jorge Garcia's TV gig)? Unfortunately, the synopses are not where the troubling tidings for Jerry’s future at the Five-0 conclude.
As if his absence from that promo material were not upsetting enough, Jerry is also missing from the promotional photos released for Season 10’s first three episodes. At least, the ones that have been shared so far. Theoretically, that could change or CBS could be tricking us with this early info. However, there is still reason to be concerned for the Hawaii Five-0 character.
There is a reasonable chance that if Jorge Garcia’s Jerry took the bullet, he survived. It is not like all TV departures have to be spurred by a character’s death. Could taking a bullet cause Jerry to strongly consider his mortality? Maybe it does, and Jerry decides it is time for a change of pace, leading to a decision to “say goodbye.” Having that occur would give Hawaii Five-0 the chance to leave the door open for Jerry to return someday.
For now, it is known that the long-running series will be welcoming an Arrow star in Season 10. With Katrina Law joining the cast as Quinn Liu, that could mean more casting changes are on the horizon.
All of this said, CBS has to know that fans are scanning for spoilers regarding Jerry’s fate. Revealing he is alive and well in synopses or promotional pictures would ruin the suspense. The only way to resolve this for sure is to tune in for Hawaii Five-0’s new season. Hawaii Five-0 will be back for its Season 10 premiere this Friday, September 27, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. The procedural’s return is another one of this fall’s premieres.
