Customer Reviews

Magnum P.I.: The Complete Eighth Season

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Magnum P.I. is my favorite show of all time. Season 8 is the last season.

The original plan was that season 7 was to be the last season. "Limbo," the last episode of season 7, was originally broadcast as the last episode of the series. However, after that episode was broadcast, they decided to do one more season. When season 8 first aired, they broadcasted an edited version of "Limbo." Whereas the original version of "Limbo" closed up the storyline, the edited version sort of left things hanging.

Universal has announced that the season 8 DVD set will contain the episode "Limbo." I am guessing and hoping (but am not certain) that this will be the edited version, because the original version was already included on the season 7 DVD set.

For the record, I do not like the idea of changing something after it has already been officially released. For example, I love the original theatrical versions of the "Star Wars" trilogy, and I hate the changes that George Lucas made for the "special editions."

However, having both versions of "Limbo" is a good thing, because the edited version sets up the stage for season 8.

Here are the episodes from season 8:

Infinity and Jelly Doughnuts - It's hard to talk about this one without giving away any spoilers. So let's just say that this is a very heartwarming and moving episode. My only criticism is that in order for the plot to work, it requires rewriting the past history of what had happened in "Limbo." Some Magnum fans wonder if it's really fair to consider this episode (and all of season 8, in fact) an official part of the Magnum storyline. Some fans have suggested that the entirety of season 8 was just a dream. I guess if you analyze it too much, it can ruin your enjoyment. So I recommend that you try not to think about it too much. Anyway, this is a wonderful episode.

Pleasure Principle - The immensity of what had happened in previous episodes means that Magnum still needs some more time to recover, adapt, and adjust. So Magnum is still dealing with what happened to him. Also, Magnum and Higgins sort of switch personalities with each other. This episode has the most realistic depiction of a psychiatrist in any episode of any TV show that has ever been made. I love how Magnum imagines Mac eating so many pastries that he explodes!

Innocence, A Broad - One of the things that I love about this series is that the women tend to be quite intelligent and interesting. So I was disappointed that the writers decided to use an idiot bimbo in this episode. I really do not like this episode.

Tigers Fan - While this is certainly one of the better episodes of this season, I was saddened that the writers decided to kill off one of the recurring characters that I had come to love over the course of the series. I like this episode, but it kind of hurts to watch it.

Forever in Time - This is one of those episodes involving Magnum investigating someone who died a long time ago. But it's not as good as previous episodes of that type, such as "The Woman On The Beach" from season 2.

The Love That Lies - Magnum discovers that his friend Carol is adopted. This is kind of like one of those horrible "After School Specials."

A Girl Named Sue - Back in the season 4 episode "Rembrandt's Girl," Carol Burnett was the guest actress. Now I love Carol Burnett. But the script for that episode was way too cliched and unoriginal - Magnum and Burnett got locked in a bank vault! What were the writers thinking? Well now Burnett is back again in this season 8 episode, playing the same character. Fortunately, the writers did a much better job this time around. In this episode, Burnett now has a license as a private investigator, and she and Magnum unknowingly get into a shootout against each other. This is one of the better episodes of this season.

Unfinished Business - This is my favorite episode of this season. I really, really don't want to spoil the plot for you. Let's just say that this episode is a gift to the long term fans of the series - the ones who have really been paying attention. In order to fully understand this episode, you need to be familiar with quite a few previous episodes. Right off the bat, you need to know what happened in "Memories Are Forever" from season 2 and "Little Girl Who" from season 7. But beyond that, there are other things that are not necessarily so obvious. For example, take the relationship between the woman and her father in this episode, and compare it to the relationship between Magnum and his own father in the season 4 episode "Home From The Sea." Also, compare Magnum's decision at the end of this episode regarding Quang Ki, to Magnum's decision regarding Ivan at the end of the season 3 episode "Did You See The Sunrise." A lot of work went in to the writing of this episode, and it pays off in so many ways. This is a truly powerful, emotionally charged episode. There's a series of very tense scenes with no dialog, combined with a musical montage where Magnum uses his espionage and spying skills. Will Magnum get caught or not? It's quite nerve wracking to watch. The song playing during the montage is "The Brazilian" by Genesis, from their "Invisible Touch" album. There's also a humorous scene where Higgins reads Magnum's grocery list.

The Great Hawaiian Adventure Company - There are two plot points going on in this episode. In one of them, Magnum (unsuccessfully) decides to start his own tourist company. This is credible, as Magnum was always willing to try new things. The other plot line is like one of those awful "After School Specials." Over the course of the series, it has been well established, with plenty of realistic credibility, that even though T.C. didn't have any children of his own, he was still very good with kids. As coach of a Little League baseball team, T.C. was consistently an excellent role model, and always inspired the best in the children that he spent time with. But then during the season 7 episode "Missing Melody," the writers, who apparently couldn't think of any good ideas at the time, decided that all of a sudden, T.C. had two children who appeared magically out of thin air, and that one of them was kidnapped. Now in this season 8 episode, the writers, who are again apparently short of good ideas, have decided that T.C.'s son has joined a street gang. What were the writers thinking?

Legend of the Lost Art - Tom Selleck (the actor who plays Magnum) would have played Indiana Jones in the movie "Raiders Of The Lost Ark," except that he had already signed on to play Magnum. So in this episode, he finally gets to play Indiana Jones. This episode is a great parody of "Raiders Of The Lost Ark," with many scenes and lines of dialog making references to the movie. I love the movie, and I love this parody.

Transitions - The paper manuscript for Robin Masters's latest novel is stolen. Of course in the season 1 episode "J. Digger Doyle" we learned that Robin Masters didn't type out his manuscripts - he dictated them into a tape recorder. Luther Gillis also shows up, which can be good or bad, depending on your feelings toward him. In my opinion, this episode is largely filler.

Resolutions - This is the two hour series finale. You know I won't spoil the plot for you. I always enjoy watching this episode. Good night!

Season 8 uses the phrase "The complete season 8 of Magnum PI," on the packaging. Well...this is not entirely true. I found a few discrepancies with the final episode, "Resolutions." First off, when this episode ran in first-run trim back on May 1st, 1988, the infamous theme song intro and actor introductions that were synonymous with every prior Magnum episode were not used. On the DVD version it is...and oddly enough, they use the same opening theme intro from seasons 6 and 7, not the one that was used for season 8. Secondly, the beginning scene is edited from the original version. You can even notice how the music was dubbed over if you listen carefully. Third difference, in the first run of this particular episode...there was an ending credits tribute of scenes and music from previous season episodes that lasted close to 2 minutes at the conclusion of the final episode, followed by Magnum looking into the camera donned in his naval officer's uniform and saying, "Good Night." Magnum then pointed the remote in his hand at one's TV and clicked it to turn the TV show off for good. This very last image is included, but edited. I suppose the first-run version was only seen on it's original airing and I guess I'm fortunate to still own the tape. I would have thought the box set would have included this version instead of the made for syndication version that was included with it. Somewhat disappointed by this. I also would have liked to see both Rockford File episodes included in which Tom Selleck appeared as the character Lance White. Season 8 only includes one episode. The fact that there are only 3 discs (12 episodes) with this set and the price is still the same as past Magnum DVD seasons which were at least 20 episodes and 5 discs in total...left plenty of room to include the other Lance White episode. Oh well...some people do not think of everything, I guess. At least Universal Studios did one thing correct by Magnum fans. They released all 8 seasons on DVD. Some of the old Universal shows of the past like "Kojak" and "Simon and Simon" will not have all of their seasons released on DVD. I really do not understand as to why??? Luckily, us Magnum fans were not ignored and forgotten. At long last, the collection is complete.

Season 8 was added on for some reason and is a short season with only 12 or so episodes. I was highly disappointed in the ending in Season 7 and was happy the series was going to be continued, since to have it end the way it was presented in Season 7 would just be sad. Season 8 itself had a few decent episodes of Magnum with familiar characters and scenarios. The final episode is just...ok. It felt like they had a few funny and good ideas, but ran out of time or something. Still, after being a fan for so long and never being able to watch the show or the season 7 or 8 endings I'm happy to have now seen the entire series. The DVD set should have been discounted since this is a short season, but of course they charge the full price since people like me have to get it.

I was 11 years old when this show went off the air and I remember how captivated I was by the characters, the action, and the mystery of it all; Magnum P.I. was the coolest character I'd ever seen. Now that I'm 30, I began revisiting the shows on DVD. Once I got past the styles and became immersed in the stories again, I was surprised to discover that this show has held up well with age, far better than many of my other favorite 80's shows such as The A-Team, Knight Rider, or Miami Vice. The reason why is that this show had the perfect balance of comedy, mystery, and from time-to-time an unexpected touch of melancholy wistfulness as we discover the true characters beneath the surface, including Thomas Magnum, (spoiler alert), a boy who lost his father on the fourth of July when he died in the Korean War, lost his youth, his innocence, and his brother in Vietnam, lost his wife to another man, lost several of his best friends to more violence, and who never seems whole again, never finding anything that seems to work out. What made Magnum so appealing is that he didn't always ride off into the sunset with the girl and the money. He was a guy who'd had a tragic life, but who still tried to make the most of his life, trying to recapture the youth he'd never had. Magnum had far more substance beneath the surface than most shows of that era and was rarely given its due. Most of the depth is due to Tom Selleck himself; he was Magnum and still is. If Harrison Ford can still play Indiana Jones, then Tom Selleck should be Magnum if and when they finally get the film into theatres. Buy the entire series, grab your Old Dusseldorf, Magnum's favorite beer, and remember a time when we were all younger and the sun always rose over Robin's Nest and the tidal pool and the guest house with a sleeping private investigator back from an all-night case...just hoping that Higgins isn't ready to fly any more model planes or blow up gopher holes on his day off.

To end this series is to end it on a happy note instead of with the hero/good guy dying at the end of the series, there's always someone dying in this show the way it was showing alot of the Vietnam War is the reason why i loved the way it ended, when there's alot of people that didn't like the way it ended. I loved it so much that in certain episodes i was crying (esp. with the Michelle and lilly storyline). Plus the friendship that Magnum, Higgins, T.C. and Rick had for one another is the other reason why the show lasted as long as it did.

Season 8 is a tacked-on afterthought by the executives of CBS. Not cancelled, then cancelled, then movie deals made and broken and the series uncancelled again.... Well, let's say that I thought the first end-of-series show was brilliant (Season 7's "Limbo") and was skeptical that Season 8 would be nothing better than a redundant add-on to the series. Unfortunately, for much of the season, that is exactly what it felt like. Old friends/guest stars return for one more spin in the Ferrari, and many of the shows felt like they were done before, and better, earlier in the series.

Then comes the second end-of-series show and all is redeemed. It's rare enough that a series-ender is great (I'm looking at you, Seinfeld!), but Magnum ends up with two! Without giving anything away, it's a completely different bridge to the future for Magnum, but one that is equally satisfying to long-time fans of the series.

20 years later I'm able to rewatch the entire season on DVD and can appreciate all the shows in this season better. True, the season is still uneven, expecially compared to the polish of Seasons 5-7. There are some real stinkers here - another reviewer likened them to the old ABC "After School Specials", and the comparison is apt. On the other hand, there are some excellent shows that make the bad ones easier to sit through. The best (other than the finale and premier) is the melodramatic "Unfinished Business", where we see Magnum in full Navy SEAL mode hunting down Michele's killer through espionage, survellience, and stealth. "Raiders of the Lost Art" is also a favourite, which must exist somewhat outside true Magnum canon: Tom Sellick plays Magnum as Indiana Jones by donning a fedora and bullwhip and pursuing the Lost Art of the Ancients, in competition with nefarious villians who would use the Art for their own sinister purposes. Sharp fans will remember that Sellick was originally cast for the lead in Raiders of the Lost Ark, but CBS refused to allow his participation as it would interfere with the Magnum series filming.

Obviously, fans of the series will need this disk to complete their collections, and it is certainly worth a look for casual fans, but overall it's not as good a season as 6 or 7 (it also has fewer episodes). There are, finally, a few commentaries on this disk, but they are generally uninteresting even though they contain some interesting nuggets of information. More interesting is the Rockford Files episode that is included, in which Tom Sellick is a guest star (in a very un-Magnum-like role).

I've always been a fan of Magnum and I must say that Season 8 is the best one for me of all of them largely because it was a capstone season. As most fans know, Magnum traditionally was intended to end after Season 7 but fan and popular demand made for an 8th season.

This 8th Season to me brought together the best of Magnum. It had some great "traditional magnum episodes" while it also had Magnum playing a mock "Indiana Jones" part...for those of you who don't know Tom Selleck was originally considered to play Indiana Jones but Sellect was under contract to Magnum PI and couldn't take the role so this parody episode included on this set shows Magnum in Fedora and Indi Jacket and even with a whip --- hilarious. This season is worth buying just for this episode.

Additionally, you get the final episode, quite a few references and questions on who Robin Masters is -- could Higgins be Robin Masters? Watch this season to find out more.

Overall, there are plenty of TV shows from the 80s that are contextually irrelevant today or are simply unwatchable....Magnum stands apart. Even if you didn't grow up watching Magnum, you can still enjoy this series today. Albeit, there were quite a few more references to Vietnam etc -- a product of the Era that provides some good historical context. I miss some of that realism from many of today's TV shows that just take place in Generic America (Generica). Magnum had flavor, the show had flair, it had comedy, seriousness, fun, beautiful ladies, and very memorable characters.

I enjoy all the Magnum seasons but I must say, I only own Season 8 if that says anything.

Caution though, if you're a Magnum purist, the show is not presented 100% exactly as it was aired but the entire episodes are there with minor tweakings and enhancements.

Bummer that the producers (Mr. Selleck in this case??) chose to include an edited version of the series finale-- the Academy reunion is edited down to a lousy 10 sec scene at the bar, and it's obviously been cut-- not smooth at all.... What happened to the great lines about the classmate who discovered he didn't "like water all that much!" ?? Or the jibe from another out of uniform classmate who asks Magnum, "Another ascended soul, eh?" ?? I paid for the whole thing.... Why do they do this kind of thing?

I know many will disagree with my top show statement, but I have never come across a show that was so true to life, had such likeable characters, and had the right blend of comedy and drama. Today's shows are bland by comparison, told in a monotone, and the characters seem to service the story. I believe that if Magnum was on today, it would be the top drama, over all of the CSI and CSI clones that simply retread each others stories. I mean you basically have the same show 6 times with different characters in a different local. Magnum wasn't like that.

What made "Magnum PI" so great?

1.)Tom Selleck was born to play the part and never found another role that fit him so well.
2.)His supporting cast - particularly Higgins.
3.)The exotic Hawaii locale
4.)The Estate that much of the show is set on
5.)The Car baby!
6.)The quality of writing. Some of the Best shows were in season 8 - very few shows can make that same claim of consistant quality.

Season 8 Trivia
As has been mentioned previously, the show was supposed to end after Season 7 (The movies were calling Selleck), but the public reaction made CBS pressure Selleck to come back for one more season. He actually agreed to do close to 20 episodes that season, but the stress of both producing the show and being in close to every scene wore him out and they only did 10 episodes (sadly).

In the "Legends of the Lost Ark" episode, Selleck finally gets to play the role that probably would have changed his life and certainly his career. He was the first choice to play Indiana Jones, but had already committed to Magnum and CBS wouldn't let him out of his contract. I think he would have been good in the role - probably better than most of his other movie roles, but I'm still forced to objectively say that Harrison Ford would get the nod if I had to choose between the 2. Interestingly, there was a writer's strike that delayed the start of filming of Magnum and he could have filmed Raider's during the delay and still did Magnum if CBS would have been more agreeable.

Magnum was Tom Selleck's most natural role and his best by far. It is an outstanding series that holds up extremely well even 20 years later.

As a young child, I loved watching this television show with my dad...the series began a month before I was born. I was nostalgic when I purchased the first season, but it was my love for the show and its characters that kept me getting the seasons that followed as they came out on DVD. Anyone who is a fan of the show, or wishing we could go back to a time when there were more quality television shows available, this is a great purchase to make!