10 episodes of a darker and smarter Magnum, P.I. than you remember

[TMC]

http://www.avclub.com/article/10-epi...u-remem-225251

It’s easy for a casual viewer—or one who has never even seen an episode—to write off CBS’ Magnum, P.I. as just another ’80s action show. It’s set in Hawaii! It has girls in bikinis and guns! There’s a Ferrari and probably many car chases! But even though all of those things happen to be true, Magnum, P.I. is a helluva lot more. It’s an “iconic” show that might have the reputation of being “fun,” but it rarely gets points for also being a solid drama.

The show’s premise is pretty simple. Private investigator (please don’t call him a “private eye”) Thomas Magnum, a Vietnam veteran, lives for free on the beautiful Oahu estate owned by mystery novelist Robin Masters. The estate is overseen by Jonathan Quayle Higgins (John Hillerman), a picky British ex-military man who clashes with Magnum’s laid-back, dress-in-shorts-and-have-a-beer attitude. Besides doing assignments for Masters, Magnum solves crimes with the help of fellow Vietnam vets T.C. (Roger E. Mosley), who owns a helicopter service, and Rick (Larry Manetti), who runs the King Kamehameha Club (though early on in the show he runs a Casablanca-ish bar named Rick’s Cafe).

For the most part, Magnum, P.I. fell right in line with co-creator and producer Glen A. Larson’s other ’80s shows like Knight Rider, The Fall Guy, and B.J. And The Bear. Maybe co-creator Donald Bellisario pulled him into more serious, straight territory or maybe it was a good combination. Maybe the show works so well and the darker moments stand out not in spite of these elements, but because of them.

You certainly can’t tell how rough and serious Magnum, P.I. can get from the opening titles (or from the more swingin’ theme the show used in the first season):

It’s as if the show wants you to know that, sure, it’s entertaining and the guys are fun. Sometimes they dress like clowns or accidentally scare each other. Sometimes they teach scantily clad girls how to swim, and maybe they even turn toward the camera and raise a fourth-wall eyebrow. But there’s also a lot of darker elements and thoughtfulness, because Magnum, P.I. is a well-written and -directed show, period. It even holds up well compared to some of the dramas on television today.

The 10 episodes below from the show’s eight-season run are a good place to start: