Rescue: HI-Surf Episode 1 Preview: Fox’s New Lifeguard Drama

Fox’s fall 2024 primetime lineup includes the new action drama Rescue: HI-Surf, premiering on Sunday, September 22nd at 8pm ET/PT. Set on Hawaii’s North Shore, the lifeguard drama’s lengthy season one teaser promises viewers will get a real look at what lifeguards experience while protecting one of the world’s most dangerous stretches of ocean.

New season one episodes air on Mondays at 9pm ET/PT beginning on September 23rd.

The one-hour drama stars Robbie Magasiva (Wentworth) as Harlan “Sonny” Jennings, Arielle Kebbel (Midnight, Texas) as Emily “Em” Wright, Adam Demos (Sex / Life) as Will Ready, Kekoa Kekumano (The White Lotus, Aquaman) as Laka Hanohano, Alex Aiono (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin) as Kainalu Emerson, and Zoe Cipres (Roswell, New Mexico) as Hina Alexander. Sea Shimooka (3 Body Problem), Shawn Hatosy (Animal Kingdom), and Ian Anthony Dale (The Resident) guest star in recurring roles.

“Em” Plot: At Oahu’s North Shore, captain Sonny Jennings and his core team of lifeguards — his lieutenant Em Wright and veteran lifeguards Will Ready and Laka Hanohano monitor the dangerous Hawaiian waters. Meanwhile, new lifeguard recruits Hina Alexander and Kainalu Emerson have a flirtatious dynamic with one another as they compete to join Sonny’s district.

Between diving headfirst into difficult and life-threatening conditions to rescuing injured and in need of help beachgoers and surfers, the lifeguards are also dealing with their own personal issues. Sonny and his family are currently grieving after the loss of his nephew Zion in an accident that Sonny feels responsible for while Em reveals a romantic shared past with Will, although Will is now engaged to another woman.

And Native Hawaiian lifeguard Laka is intrigued by his new colleague Jenn, a smart, capable and beautiful EMT. In the series premiere, the elite North Shore lifeguards face saving the lives of inexperienced tourist surfers and local teenagers while managing their own personal dilemmas.

Matt Kester created the series and serves as a co-showrunner with John Wells and Daniele Nathanson. Executive producers include Kester, Wells, Nathanson, and Erin Jontow. Kester and Nathanson are the season one writers, and Wells directed the first two episodes.

Rescue HI-Surf Series Description, Courtesy of Fox

Rescue: HI-Surf follows the personal and professional lives of the heavy-water lifeguards who patrol and protect the North Shore of O’ahu—the most famous and dangerous stretch of coastline in the world. Each episode will feature these dedicated, heroic and adrenaline-seeking first responders saving lives in the difficult and often life-threatening conditions of Hawaii’s Seven Mile Miracle.