Mad Dogs and Englishmen (6.14)

[Coops]

Sorry JJW, it was from Summer School, this scene:

[Doc Ibold]

Coops, are you sure that is from this episode? I didn't see it.

The Higgolution will not be televised, especially with comments such as that!

[J.J. Walters]

"Mad Dogs and Englishmen" is a Noel Coward song from the 1930s. I had no idea. I sort of stumbled upon this while reading an article about Noel. Here is Noel performing it in the 1950s.

Higgins is a big fan of Noel Coward, and is seen reading The Noel Coward Diaries in "Foiled Again".

[Jay-Firestorm]

Another great ep; after I’d written my review it was interesting to read that others also felt that this could / should have been a two-parter.

[rating=9.5]

Magnum is shocked when Higgins suddenly leaves his position on the Estate, supposedly having been fired over missing valuables belonging to Robin. With a ditzy actress taking Higgins’ position, Magnum is determined to find out what’s going on. A great ep…

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This review contains spoilers.

‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’ is an extremely good sixth season instalment of the series (and yet another strong example to convince me that I have been too down on the sixth season for all these years).

Although we all know that Higgins wouldn’t steal from Robin Masters, and that his abrupt departure must be down to something more, it is still interesting to see the story unfold. The episode is very well-rounded, and I found it engaging from start to finish.

One thing I did feel about this episode, was that it could have been made into a very good two-parter or feature-length outing. The story is definitely strong enough, and it would have allowed for more exploration into the military rebellion – with all the revelations of the episode, there was definitely more room to flesh the rebellion out more.

The leader of the rebellion is played by Michael Halsey, a regular TV guest star of the age, who often plays such slippery parts (check him out in the first season episode ‘Echoes From the Past’ of Bellisario’s ‘Airwolf’, for example). His performance in ‘Mad Dogs…’ is textbook Halsey, and it’s maybe a shame he didn’t have more to sink his teeth into (again supporting my feeling that this would have made a good two-parter).

Unless I am badly mistaken, this is the final time that we hear Robin Masters’ voice in the series. Orson Welles, who voiced Robin for most ‘appearances’, had passed away a few months before this episode was first broadcast, and after another performer, Red Crandall voiced the character in the feature-length ‘Deja Vu’ at the start of the season, here Robin is voiced by an uncredited actor.

Anyway, the story moves at a good pace, and builds to an explosive action. One of my main (of many) gripes about the previous season, was its almost complete lack of action. Thankfully, this season, while not being needlessly overblown, they started to include action in the plots again – and this surely stands as the most explosive story climax of the season. It feels a bit ‘A-Team’-ish at times (and that’s not a bad thing, speaking as a huge ‘A-Team’ fan), but for this one, it works.
(The episode’s opening trailer also heavily promotes the action element, so maybe they were starting to respond for the return of more action-based sequences).

All-in-all, this is a very decent episode, and not far from a perfect 10 in my book. One of the very best of the season.

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Other notes, bloopers and misc.:

* Well, I’m getting bored saying “the DVD version has the act breaks abridged”, ‘cos it seems to be the case for just about every episode. So instead…

* …Although we only see Robin from the back, it is obvious from the side of his face that his words do not at all match up with his mouth moving.

* When Magnum is talking to ‘the Chancellor’ on the computer, some of the replies come through far too quickly – one in particularly is a long reply that appears in a split second; no-one would be able to type that fast!

* When T.C. and Rick are flying to back up Magnum, lighting crew equipment can clearly be seen in the reflection of T.C.’s sunglasses.

[Jay-Firestorm]

Another note on this ep...

Although I don't often bother listing when stock of T.C.'s chopper is taken from the first couple of episodes (longer skids), it did stick out to me that when T.C. and Rick are on their way to give Magnum backup, all of the shots were taken from the Pilot - particularly noticeable is the shot where the chopper flies in from the bottom of the screen upwards.

[steveadl]

RC, I think you're right - the scene with Agatha was not filmed at the same place the establishing shot of the front was taken. You can see mountain range behind the house, when they're having their discussion - presumably in the backyard - they're facing the sea. PS Agatha must have a few $$'s to have a nice place like that.

I agree with the others, haven't watched this episode for a while so when I watched it the other night up until about 30min mark I was still expecting it to be a double episode.

May resemble A-Team (haven't really watched much of that show yet), but the final scenes with Higgins and Magnum taking down all the enemy soldiers looks so much like the final battle scene of 'Commando' with Arnie mowing down dozens of enemy troops.

Enjoyed the epsiode, but felt the second half may have been a bit rushed.

[J.J. Walters]

May resemble A-Team (haven't really watched much of that show yet), but the final scenes with Higgins and Magnum taking down all the enemy soldiers looks so much like the final battle scene of 'Commando' with Arnie mowing down dozens of enemy troops.

Indeed!

The only thing this episode needs is a Rae Dawn Chong.

[rubber chicken]

RC, I think you're right - the scene with Agatha was not filmed at the same place the establishing shot of the front was taken. You can see mountain range behind the house, when they're having their discussion - presumably in the backyard - they're facing the sea. PS Agatha must have a few $$'s to have a nice place like that.

Yep, that location was included in the last chicken guide update, as "6.14 - gazebo at Agatha Chumley's home". It took place here, at the (now demolished) Cannon Club, for Army officers. Not a bad place to have tea.

[MaiTaiMan]

Love this episode! Total shocker at the beginning...and it only gets more interesting with Higgins' reason for leaving and getting back into the action! Awesome!

This has superb plot twists, action scenes, and the perfect ending...with Higgins and the "Lads"!

Very good, and I rated it as such.

[Frodoleader]

This episode was fun, but more of a "silly" fun for me. It just seemed too improbable to me that this group was capable of taking over some island chain when they could not defend against one former SEAL and an elderly British Army veteran.
One thing I thought would have been cool was if the US Army made an entrance by way of helicopter. It would have been so Viet Nam-like with Magnum, TC & Rick (along with Higgy baby) on the ground with reinforcements coming in by chopper!

[J.J. Walters]

One thing I thought would have been cool was if the US Army made an entrance by way of helicopter. It would have been so Viet Nam-like with Magnum, TC & Rick (along with Higgy baby) on the ground with reinforcements coming in by chopper!

Oh man, that would have been just great! Still, exciting action scenes in this one! Gotta love it.

[miltontheripper]

I was intrigued with the beginning where Higgins was fired but his one was too unbelievable for me. Higgins being selected to be the "Chancelor" of some rebel army? Come on. Let's get back to the outstanding episodes of season 6. I can't say much for this episode!

[Mark R.Y.]

Very enjoyable ep! I was intrigued by Robin mentioning the possibility of Ian Mackerras flying in from England. That would have made a great episode with Peter Davison in Hawaii!

[runawayselleck]

I thought this was a good episode although the ending seemed a bit rushed when suddenly Magnum and Higgins are killing everyone in sight. In fact this is something which seems a bit odd with the series sometimes. TC is a pilot, Rick runs a bar, Magnum is a PI and yet all three with Higgins just easily slips back into character killing hundreds of people (at one point Magnum has a smile on his face!) and then they all get into the helicopter and fly back like nothing has happened. I know Magnum has his moments (Macs Back) when he struggles with all the killing, but he does seem to be a strange man, one who is very nice, and also someone who can kill lots of people and shake it all off with a quick swim!

Good episode though...

[Croix de Lorraine]

This episode is a welcome break after the very sub-standard Summer School. Intrigue, commando action and camaraderie - what else can you ask for?