Character Relationship Map: Groundswell

Characters

• Emma (played by Lacey Chabert) — protagonist

  Emma is a talented professional cook whose dream is to own her own restaurant. She takes creative risks at Garrett’s restaurant and competes with Frankie on South by Southeast, while learning to surf...

• Ben (played by Ektor Rivera) — supporting

  Ben is Emma’s surf instructor and gradually becomes her romantic partner. He patiently helps her overcome her fear of the ocean, shares the meaning of a ho’ailona during a hike, and struggles with whe...

• Frankie (played by Omar Bustamante) — supporting

  Frankie is Emma’s teammate on South by Southeast in the island cooking competition. Frankie works with Emma to create a rum-based pineapple trifle, improvises with her when the cake sticks to the pan,...

• Katie Lee (played by Katie Lee Biegel) — supporting

  Katie Lee is one of the judges in the island cooking competition. Alongside the other judges, she evaluates South by Southeast’s desserts and savory dishes, praising their texture and flavor while urg...

• Aunt June (played by Tracy Yamamoto) — supporting

  Aunt June is a trusted family figure in Emma’s life. She listens when Emma speaks about her dream of owning a restaurant, reminds her that Oahu remains a home away from home, and encourages her to tru...

• Garrett (played by Darren Darnborough) — supporting

  Garrett is connected to the restaurant Emma works in and is involved in her professional hopes. He prepares to introduce Emma to Sheridan after her successful family-style meal, while Emma’s history w...

• Sheridan (played by Walter S. Gaines) — supporting

  Sheridan arrives unexpectedly to review Garrett’s restaurant and becomes an important professional audience for Emma. Emma serves a creative family-style meal to demonstrate the establishment’s distin...

• Lee Anne Wong (played by Lee Anne Wong) — minor

  Lee Anne Wong is one of the judges overseeing the island cooking competition. She assesses the dishes prepared by Emma, Frankie, and South by Southeast, contributing to the feedback that the team shou...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Lee Anne Wong → Frankie (Power Competition Judge) — Lee Anne Wong helps evaluate Frankie's team's dishes and progress.

  Lee Anne Wong is among the judges who assess the cooking competition involving Frankie and team South by Southeast.

• Katie Lee → Frankie (Power Competition Judge) — Katie Lee holds evaluative authority over Frankie's team.

  Katie Lee is among the judges who assess the cooking competition involving Frankie and team South by Southeast.

• Lee Anne Wong → Emma (Power Competition Judge) — Lee Anne Wong participates in judging Emma's competition performance.

  Lee Anne Wong is identified as one of the judges of the island cooking competition in which Emma competes.

• Katie Lee → Emma (Power Competition Judge) — Katie Lee evaluates Emma's team's competition dishes.

  Katie Lee is identified as one of the judges of the island cooking competition in which Emma competes.

• Sheridan → Emma (Professional Evaluator) — Sheridan's positive response gives Emma hope that her talent may receive recognition.

  Sheridan enjoys the family-style meal Emma serves after she takes a creative risk in the kitchen.

• Sheridan → Garrett (Professional Restaurant Reviewer) — Sheridan evaluates the restaurant associated with Garrett.

  Sheridan arrives unexpectedly to review Garrett's restaurant.

• Emma → Garrett (Romantic Painful Former Relationship) — Garrett represents a painful relationship pattern that influences Emma's choices.

  Aunt June encourages Emma not to repeat the painful pattern of her relationship with Garrett.

• Emma → Ben (Romantic Developing Romance) — Their connection grows from instruction into an uncertain romantic relationship.

  Ben begins teaching Emma to surf, and their lessons gradually become connected with a deeper emotional relationship. The story ends with their relatio...

• Emma → Aunt June (Family Aunt And Niece) — Aunt June provides family support and perspective as Emma considers her future.

  Emma tells Aunt June about her dream of owning a restaurant. Aunt June reminds Emma that Oahu will always be her home away from home.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Aunt June → Ben (Social Relationship Observer) — Aunt June recognizes Ben's importance to Emma and comments on their connection.

  Aunt June notices the growing connection between Emma and Ben and encourages Emma to trust herself.

• Emma → Frankie (Alliance Competition Teammate) — Emma and Frankie collaborate under pressure during the cooking competition.

  Emma joins Frankie as part of team South by Southeast. They work together to improvise after their cake sticks to the pan.

Story Analysis

Emma balances culinary ambition, personal healing, and a developing relationship while facing an unresolved future.

Plot Progression

1. A Chance to Be Seen — Emma works in Garrett's demanding kitchen when Sheridan arrives to review the restaurant. Her family-style presentation earns Sheridan's approval and briefly raises hopes of professional recognition.
2. Entering the Culinary Trial — Emma joins Frankie on team South by Southeast for an island cooking competition. Their rum dessert suffers a technical failure, but quick improvisation allows them to present it successfully.
3. Learning to Trust the Elements — Ben teaches Emma to surf as she confronts her fear of the ocean. Their lessons and hike through a sacred landscape create a deeper emotional bond.
4. Survival Under Judgment — The team presents taro mofongo, Creole mojo sauce, and hibiscus-mint tea, but the judges again demand more personality and risk. Despite the criticism, South by Southeast advances to the finale.
5. Dreams Without Answers — The approaching finale coincides with uncertainty about Emma and Ben's future. Ben says he will not obstruct Emma's dreams, and the film ends before Emma makes her next decision.