As far as first-responder dramas go, the new Fox series “ Rescue: HI-Surf ” is pretty by-the-book. The respected leader is haunted by trauma beneath his stoic surface; the plucky newcomer serves as the viewer’s entry point into a tight-knit crew; not a single cast member has an ounce of extraneous body fat.

The leader of District 7, the unit of Oahu’s Ocean Rescue squad which mans the North Shore, is Harlan “Sonny” Jennings (Robbie Magasiva), and his lieutenant is Emily Wright (Arielle Kebbel); they have a close working relationship and friendship whose vibe has filtered down to the lifeguards who work under them.