I Watch TV: Magnum PI

Magnum PI

The reboot of Magnum PI is over now [UPDATE: No it's not!], so what have we learned? Firstly that if you have a charismatic cast then you can get four years of a heavily armed mercenary group terrorising the island of… I’m sorry, I meant to say that you can have four years of light-hearted detective adventures.

They move a few things on in this last season. The idea that these misfits are a found family is literalised. TC finds himself adopting a kid. Rick finds he’s going to be a father. And Magnum and Higgins finally, at the very last moment, very awkwardly admit to their feelings for each other. This annoys me much the same as in Private Eyes; we have a new status quo and immediately the show shuts down (though the Magnum people had the excuse that they hoped for another season). I’d like just one epilogue episode, showing how this new situation is shaking out.

Their adventures continue to have more murders and violent crimes than you would expect for a private investigator. Which is only to be expected. If there isn’t a fist-fight, gun-fight, car-chase, foot-chase, bit of parkour or some other stunt then what are we watching for?

We're watching for the characters. Oh, there’s some intrigue, and occasionally a clever bit of detecting. A few interesting crimes, the odd heist or con. As ever the lads are willing to go out of their way to help a veteran, whether it’s solving a convoluted problem, getting them help, or in one moderately interesting episode getting a dying ex-marine to reconcile with his brother.

In fact let’s move back a little. Magnum continues to be feckless, with little respect for the time or property of others. But he’s less casual about it, he recognises that he’s imposing, and he’s thankful, and more often there for them, because yes, he’s demanding a lot of his friends, but it’s really important guys. And, as ever, if you need someone to risk their life for you, he will show up.

Anyway did the show ever get anywhere? In the end I don’t think it matters. As it floats slowly away into the past I’m just left with some memories of fast cars, helicopters, fights, stunts – and a bunch of friends arguing and taking advantage of each other and then sorting it out and having a good time afterwards. And that’s something.

Watch This: Exciting adventures in the tropical paradise of Hawaii
Don’t Watch This: It’s just another law-breaking detective show
UPDATE: When I wrote this just after it finished showing here in the UK, it had been announced that it was cancelled though the producers were shopping it around to other channels. They always do that and usually nothing comes of it. But in this case it seems it got cancelled despite being a solid if not spectacular performer, and it was more to do with it being aired by a network who didn't own the show's other rights (I think, no one has come out and said it directly). So they were able to negotiate twenty new episodes with a new channel in the US.

My hope is that they will explore the new status of the characters, fatherhood and mixing romantic relationship with business, at least in the cracks the show leaves between spying on people, being lied to, having fist fights and car chases etc. against the spectacular backdrop of Hawaii. My expectation is that none of the characters will show anything other than surface changes, the safest way, especially bringing it to a new home. Still, there's always the chance of a dialectical synthesis, Higgins and Magnum both bicker and try to one up each other, while also learning to trust maybe; Rick screwing things up while learning responsibility; TC being uptight but giving people slack. Who knows? Guess I'll be back, eventually.