timm525 wrote:I didn't see this blooper mentioned in the reviews so I'll mention it here.
At index 2912 Higgins has walked into the girl's apartment to show Magnum the ballistics report he came up with. He says:
"This...is a 12 gauge double-ought shot gun shell."
"It contains 12 30-caliber pellets."
Now watch as he pour the pellets into the fish looking ash tray. Count the pellets and you come up with 14, not 12 pellets.
Oooops!
That's not the only error in that scene. 00 buck is .33 caliber, not .30 caliber as Higgins claimed. #1 buck is .30 caliber.
Higgins' claim of 12 pellets is correct for 12 gauge 00 buck (though 14 were shown on screen as you pointed out) because standard 2-3/4" 12 gauge 00 buck shells (the shotgun tied to the chair shown in the closeups was a Winchester Model 1897, which has a 2-3/4" chamber) are commonly available with 9 or 12 pellets.
I find it very out of character that Higgins would be a fan of David Norman's trashy B movies.
Although I found the acting tapes quite painful to watch this is a very good episode. Classic early Magnum complete with jungle shootout, and I love the final scene.
I find it funny that they call beach volleyball "two-men volleyball".
I liked this episode and in it you can see how the tone of the series was initially quite sombre and TM himself was not quite as jokey and light hearted as he would later become.
In fact the whole episode was rather dark with the off screen tragedy of the helicopter accident fatality adding to the poignancy of the story with the 'nam flashbacks.
Ian McShane only slightly hams it up as a washed out actor but the star of the show is, for me, without doubt Cathie Shirriff who is eye catching in every scene she is in.
Higgins is very stern at this stage and TC begining to emerge as more than just a tough guy who provides TM with some "muscle" to back him up in physical confrontations.
Last edited by charybdis1966 on Sat Nov 27, 2021 4:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
This was a very strong episode. I, also, thought it was really bizzare that Magnum went into the apartment of a suicide/murder victim and just hung out eating their food and watching their VHS tapes all night. It was a little bit of a stretch for me that the actress went from "jungle films" to being a huge star yet was in (apparently) a really normal apartment. I know it made some sense here, but I think Magnum was shot too often very early in the series. It loses the effectiveness if he's shot most episodes.
The comedy at the begining was great. Magnum having thought he'd only been asleep for a couple of hours instead of 14 hours was classic. Then Higgins implying he had the lads helping him with target practice to see if he'd buy it was classic Higgins. I loved the plot about Magnum refusing to accept the case initially and regretting that it may have cost a life. It was one of the times where it made sense that he was so focused despite not having a cooperative client. It was one of the greatest plot twists of all time when Erin was suddenly perfectly fine and not aware that anything was wrong. I didn't see that coming and I'm not sure Magnum really did when he started towards the island either. Erin being shot and Magnum using her as bait was also a really great aspect. It was highly risky since he was also shot and not armed and only a hope that TC would reach them in time. The Vietnam aspects were really, really well done as they normally are in Magnum. It set up the future references to Magnum having "delayed stress" at times as well as when Rick or TC showed it. The nod to Bellasario was also a great touch.
One of my top ten. All the things I love Magnum Pi for
It shows pathos and Tom's caring nature. I love the way TM immerses himself into the "victims" life. milk, yogurt, getting to know her. he is curious, dedicated and determined. I want this kind of Private investigator if I ever needed one! We get to know her thru Tom and feel her loss as well.
Humor- clay pigeons
Ian Mcshane_ the subtle way he acts when he is getting Higgins a drink -he nods deprecatingly - is just splendid. McShane stars in the great black on white - another excellent episode.
I can see Higgins as fan of his early work-which I believe were not skin flicks- Higgins does like the British after all.
I think this is a fabulous episode and gave it a 9. I consider it in my "go to episodes" meaning I can always pop this one on and enjoy it again and again. A few highilights:
-The portrayal and handling of the guys experience in Viet Nam was AWESOME! Along with many others, I thought the flashbacks and the terrific ending where Magnum asks TC if he ever thinks about Nam/has flashbacks and they both deny it really were exemplery. This really shows that as Vet's they were and would always be messed up internally from the horrific experience and always would be. Very powerful! And also sets the stage well for Viet Nam thread throughout the rest of the series.
-Love the McGarret reference! At 35 years of age I clearly never saw the initial run of Hawaii Five - 0 (and for that matter, was too young to ever watch/enjoy an episode of Magnum either. Was just something I remembered being on from time to time as as kid and I discovered it and fell in love with the show watching AMC reruns in my college years lol). Anyway, I love the new Hawaii Five 0 and thought this was cool! I'm assuming as they were both from the same network and on at that time that they were trying to show some realism to the Steve McGarret character by including it in a Magnum PI episode?
-I've got to respond to the beer drinking posts. I love the cheesy bottle used here lol. As far as TM being a beer drinker, I think it is a perfect fit. He's a jock and loves sports especially baseball and football and beer is the drink of choice for both of these (and that of yours truly:). I think it also shows the boyish charm that Selleck brought to Magnum. He's not sitting drinking brandy from a snifter like some old silver haired detective. He's always got that immature I don't want to grow up side that loves sports and rubber chickens and chili dogs. One of my favorite aspects of Thomas Magnum.
-The story was awesome! Right from the cliffhanging beginning with Erin supposedly blowing her own face off to the great island "hunt" at the end, this is a gripping, action packed episode with an outstanding twist! I remember seeing this one for the first time when the Season 1 DVD came out and being totally shocked when Erin turned out to be alive! And Ian McShane plays the scumbag porn producer to a tee! I thought he did a great job in both of his episodes on Magnum PI.
Milton Collins wrote:
-Love the McGarret reference! At 35 years of age I clearly never saw the initial run of Hawaii Five - 0 (and for that matter, was too young to ever watch/enjoy an episode of Magnum either. Was just something I remembered being on from time to time as as kid and I discovered it and fell in love with the show watching AMC reruns in my college years lol). Anyway, I love the new Hawaii Five 0 and thought this was cool! I'm assuming as they were both from the same network and on at that time that they were trying to show some realism to the Steve McGarret character by including it in a Magnum PI episode?
Actually Milton, Magnum was the show that replaced Hawaii 5-0 after Hawaii 5-0 ended its series in the spring of 1980 after running for 12 seasons. magnum began fall of 1980. but they were both filmed in Honolulu by the same studio. so ya, it was cool how they made reference to 5-0 once in a while.
Milton Collins wrote:
-Love the McGarret reference! At 35 years of age I clearly never saw the initial run of Hawaii Five - 0 (and for that matter, was too young to ever watch/enjoy an episode of Magnum either. Was just something I remembered being on from time to time as as kid and I discovered it and fell in love with the show watching AMC reruns in my college years lol). Anyway, I love the new Hawaii Five 0 and thought this was cool! I'm assuming as they were both from the same network and on at that time that they were trying to show some realism to the Steve McGarret character by including it in a Magnum PI episode?
Actually Milton, Magnum was the show that replaced Hawaii 5-0 after Hawaii 5-0 ended its series in the spring of 1980 after running for 12 seasons. magnum began fall of 1980. but they were both filmed in Honolulu by the same studio. so ya, it was cool how they made reference to 5-0 once in a while.
Thanks eltonsean, cool to know! I should have remembered that as I've read that many of the settings, props, etc from Five 0 were used for Magnum as well. And yes, very cool how they reference Five 0. There's an episode in one of the earlier seasons of the new Hawaii Five 0 where they are in a helicopter and Max (the doctor) starts comparing McGarret to Magnum PI and Danny says something about being compared to Rick lol. Pretty cool tribute for Magnum PI to be mentioned in a prime time show after being off the air for more than 25 years.
For a season one ep, this was pretty dark, especially given how gruesome the perceived suicide had to be to render the victim unrecognizable.
And Mort Metzger! Funny how his presence in Hawaii after someone's horrible death was more of a "paid vacation" for him than becoming sheriff of Cabot Cove
And while it was harder back then, nowadays it's a lot easier to guess Ian McShane as the killer, similar to Andrew Robinson on Kojak or Christopher Walken on the original Five-O.
And Cathie Shirriff, a Toronto native who left acting in 1985.
From what I've read, she's now a real estate agent working in Beverly Hills under her married name.
Of all the first season episodes and for that matter most of the other episodes, this one leaves little in my memory banks. Even after I read the synopsis and commentary and forum postings I still cannot remember much about it. It just did not affect me. Many people talk about how strong this episode was for the first season but I guess I will have to buy the DVDs or wait for another series of reruns to refresh my memories. All of my memories come from the original showings and summer reruns, a set of reruns in the mid-nineties and a set of reruns that just ended a few months ago.
AmandaByNight wrote:This episode is memorable to me for a couple of reasons, but one in particular.
When Magnum finally happens upon the actress and he's explaining what is going on, they use the word "lover" over and over again. I don't remember the exact dialogue, but it's absolutely hilarious. I always wanted to make that scene a drinking game.
I also quite like the way this episode opens. It's really dark.
Magnum: David hired me to find your lover.
Erin: I don't have a lover!
Magnum: David believes you do, because of all the weekends that you disappear.
Erin: I was here! Alone!
Magnum: David didn't know that. He figured wherever your lover was, that's where you'd be. That's why he hired me, to find your lover. And once I led him to your lover, then he'd kill all three of us.
Hehe, pretty funny!
LOL. This stood out for me too. It's what we youngins call "narm" now. Something that's meant to be serious but just comes off as unreasonably silly. I bet the writers from that episode on were careful to not write any Magnum dialogue with the word "lover" in it. (Especially dialogue being yelled by him XD)
timm525 wrote:I didn't see this blooper mentioned in the reviews so I'll mention it here.
At index 2912 Higgins has walked into the girl's apartment to show Magnum the ballistics report he came up with. He says:
"This...is a 12 gauge double-ought shot gun shell."
"It contains 12 30-caliber pellets."
Now watch as he pour the pellets into the fish looking ash tray. Count the pellets and you come up with 14, not 12 pellets.
Oooops!
That's not the only error in that scene. 00 buck is .33 caliber, not .30 caliber as Higgins claimed. #1 buck is .30 caliber.
Higgins' claim of 12 pellets is correct for 12 gauge 00 buck (though 14 were shown on screen as you pointed out) because standard 2-3/4" 12 gauge 00 buck shells (the shotgun tied to the chair shown in the closeups was a Winchester Model 1897, which has a 2-3/4" chamber) are commonly available with 9 or 12 pellets.
Also there are notably more holes than 12 or 14 in the second target presented by Higgins.
... Then I'm history... Walking history... I'll be just another chapter in one of those dumb books Louise Peardon makes me read: "Prince Danny Lin, assassinated July." ...
At the beginning of the episode-specific trailer this shot is shown:
It was used as the establishing shot to the KKC in the previous episode "No Need To Know". In "Skin Deep" it is not used at all.
In "Skin Deep" instead this shot is used as the establishing shot to the KKC:
... Then I'm history... Walking history... I'll be just another chapter in one of those dumb books Louise Peardon makes me read: "Prince Danny Lin, assassinated July." ...
When looking at the "beauty" of women, one always have to take into account, that this show is now 30 (!!!) years old, and that at the time there people just had a different idea of beauty (for example, it was the time of perms, whereas today someone is beautiful with long straight hair).
...
I´d say that the question what kind of hairstyle or fashion people prefer is object to the spirit of the age whereas the general preferences according the beauty of a persons body haven´t changed since the 80ies.
... Then I'm history... Walking history... I'll be just another chapter in one of those dumb books Louise Peardon makes me read: "Prince Danny Lin, assassinated July." ...
I bet the writers from that episode on were careful to not write any Magnum dialogue with the word "lover" in it. (Especially dialogue being yelled by him XD)
