Paradise Blues (4.15)

[J.J. Walters]

I've removed the salute flub, Coops. Thanks.

Not only is the ending itself shocking, but it's also shocking to see Tom Selleck and Roger E. Mosley standing on the edge of a huge cliff! They are both right up on the edge. You can tell that they didn't use any stand-ins or stunt doubles either, because it's one continuous pull-out shot (starting close in) that never breaks away. I guess it's safe to say that neither Tom or Roger are afraid of heights! That would have scared the heck out of me!

[Coops]

Agreed J.J., I guess that's another reason why I liked this episode so much. There is a lost aspect to M.P.I. that, I think, has been lost in time is a lot of M.P.I.'s unique features, camera movement, cinematography, etc..., was very cutting edge at the time and made M.P.I. very fresh and original. Now it all seems sort of dated but I remember at the time M.P.I. really had a fresh look to it that no other tv show had. That last shot is an example of this. Man, I really miss watching this show when it first aired.

[J.J. Walters]

Indeed!

That last shot from this episode is one of my favorite of the series. You just don't see shots like that anymore on TV (at least not very often anyway).

[Doc Ibold]

I view this as the T.C. "Kona Winds" episode.

[Coops]

Just to clarify my comment about the salute, if one has their right arm in a sling or otherwise immobile it's perfectly within military protocol to salute with your left hand.

[No need to know!]

CONTAIN SPOILERS!! I am really trying to like this episode but i have to say that it might be the weakest one of the fourth season, and of the entire series. If you look how happily overacting Mosley is in the beginning to see her again you just knew that she would die in the end, and things like that ruin it a bit for me. I am certainly not a fan of Jazz music either so that doesn´t help one bit that you hear a slow playing trumpet every five minutes
It still has some good moments, that shot in the end where TC and Magnum stand on the cliff is nice until the trumpet comes in one last time

[308GTS]

Have to say that after watching this ep again (maybe 4 or 5 times in total) I dislike it even more than ever. I can remember watching it on TV in 1985 and not being too keen on it then. Some really hammy acting, except for TM and Higgins who are impeccable as ever. It's the rest of the cast, including yet another dumb turn by TC making a bad choice by falling in love with "the trouble magnet Anita Baker wanabee". And, that damn trumpet player, he almost comes across as a total looney tune, especially the scenes where TM is trying to talk to him in Alex's dressing room, every time TM talks to him he starts blowing on that damn thing like he's possessed by it.

All in all a very poor episode apart from the ending, which is great for many reasons!

[Styles Bitchley]

And, that damn trumpet player, he almost comes across as a total looney tune, especially the scenes where TM is trying to talk to him in Alex's dressing room, every time TM talks to him he starts blowing on that damn thing like he's possessed by it.

Ha ha. You crack me up Arun. Although I have to disagree on the Chuck Mangione scenes. Yes, they're weird, but they feel so good! They're so cheesy that I love it. They really wanted to bring in the flugelhorn master as a guest star but were obviously struggling to give him screen time. I don't know if they meant it to be funny, but that's how it turned out. And in the end, you have to admit that those scenes are some of the most memorable in the entire series.

[J.J. Walters]

LOL Arun!

And you're right Styles, it's really a great little "cheesy" scene. After every line Jimmy (Chuck) starts playing his flugelhorn again. Like Chuck himself, you get the sense that he never goes anywhere without his horn. I find it particularly funny when he belts out his first word to Magnum. "Charts". His voice breaks and he sounds like a frog!

Of course, we got cut the guy some slack. This was his very first credited acting role. He's obviously not a trained thespian. Very cool to see him in a Magnum episode, though. Fun and Games is a great record!

I'm betting that Mike Judge got some of his inspiration for the running Chuck Mangione joke on King of the Hill watching this episode........
Anyone else crack up when Chuck enters the Dressing Room playing his Flugelhorn.........

I finally saw one the King of the Hill episodes that he is in. The first one, I believe (the one where he lives in the Mega Lo Mart and plays "Feels So Good" all the time). Hilarious!

[nha trang]

(CONTAINS SPOILERS)I think the previous reviews pretty much sum up my feeling for this episode. I rated it an 8, and I thought about giving it an 8.5 due to the crash-ending. You have to admit, the end of the episode is pretty spectacular, and we know when MPI can be hammy, believe me, the ending is not hammy...really caught me off guard, and as has been noted, the camera work and that last shot is beautiful work. The episode is saved by this ending and also by the fact that it relates to TC's history and character development, ie the concert flashbacks and the pictures...this is a much better episode in my opinion than that crappy basketball kid episode I can never remember the name to...lol

[MaiTaiMan]

I remember watching this one when it originally aired, when I was growing up. I'll never forget the ending...where the car goes over the cliff and explodes! I did not expect Alex would die, and impact and shock that scene had on me still lingers in my mind today.

I thought this was a very heart-tugging episode for T.C., and the past that Alex, Magnum, Rick, and T.C. all had was very well played out! Everyone, especially T.C. and Magnum, gave outstanding performances and it was interesting to watch events unfold.

As a child this ending was so sad, and I hated the fact that Alex was killed and poor T.C. had to deal with that devastation. As an adult now, I can watch that ending and handle it much better and much more maturely. It was sort of that poor girl's fate, that something like that would eventually happen with the kind of life she led. Magnum was right...trouble followed her everywhere.

This was a somewhat sad, but also interesing and captivating T.C. episode to watch. I enjoy watching it when going through the series!

[AmandaByNight]

I remember watching this one when it originally aired, when I was growing up. I'll never forget the ending...where the car goes over the cliff and explodes! I did not expect Alex would die, and impact and shock that scene had on me still lingers in my mind today.

I thought this was a very heart-tugging episode for T.C., and the past that Alex, Magnum, Rick, and T.C. all had was very well played out! Everyone, especially T.C. and Magnum, gave outstanding performances and it was interesting to watch events unfold.

As a child this ending was so sad, and I hated the fact that Alex was killed and poor T.C. had to deal with that devastation. As an adult now, I can watch that ending and handle it much better and much more maturely. It was sort of that poor girl's fate, that something like that would eventually happen with the kind of life she led. Magnum was right...trouble followed her everywhere.

This was a somewhat sad, but also interesing and captivating T.C. episode to watch. I enjoy watching it when going through the series!

That was a really great synopsis. I agree, she was fated for something like this and it's sad. I always find this episode a little shocking and poignant. She gave her life to save T.C.'s and ultimately he knew she loved him, but then he lost her at the same time. I really like this episode.

[MaiTaiMan]

I remember watching this one when it originally aired, when I was growing up. I'll never forget the ending...where the car goes over the cliff and explodes! I did not expect Alex would die, and impact and shock that scene had on me still lingers in my mind today.

I thought this was a very heart-tugging episode for T.C., and the past that Alex, Magnum, Rick, and T.C. all had was very well played out! Everyone, especially T.C. and Magnum, gave outstanding performances and it was interesting to watch events unfold.

As a child this ending was so sad, and I hated the fact that Alex was killed and poor T.C. had to deal with that devastation. As an adult now, I can watch that ending and handle it much better and much more maturely. It was sort of that poor girl's fate, that something like that would eventually happen with the kind of life she led. Magnum was right...trouble followed her everywhere.

This was a somewhat sad, but also interesing and captivating T.C. episode to watch. I enjoy watching it when going through the series!

That was a really great synopsis. I agree, she was fated for something like this and it's sad. I always find this episode a little shocking and poignant. She gave her life to save T.C.'s and ultimately he knew she loved him, but then he lost her at the same time. I really like this episode.

Exactly! Shocking and poignant are perfect descriptions for this episode. It's bitter-sweet that Alex finally made the right decision...but sadly it was a little too late and she sacrificed her life to save T.C.

Each of the guys seemed to have a woman in their past or present that they're captivated by, but are femme-fatales from the start. I always sort of viewed Karen Teal in "Dream a Little Dream" as Magnum's "Alex". However, she didn't end up dead.

[AmandaByNight]

I remember watching this one when it originally aired, when I was growing up. I'll never forget the ending...where the car goes over the cliff and explodes! I did not expect Alex would die, and impact and shock that scene had on me still lingers in my mind today.

I thought this was a very heart-tugging episode for T.C., and the past that Alex, Magnum, Rick, and T.C. all had was very well played out! Everyone, especially T.C. and Magnum, gave outstanding performances and it was interesting to watch events unfold.

As a child this ending was so sad, and I hated the fact that Alex was killed and poor T.C. had to deal with that devastation. As an adult now, I can watch that ending and handle it much better and much more maturely. It was sort of that poor girl's fate, that something like that would eventually happen with the kind of life she led. Magnum was right...trouble followed her everywhere.

This was a somewhat sad, but also interesing and captivating T.C. episode to watch. I enjoy watching it when going through the series!

That was a really great synopsis. I agree, she was fated for something like this and it's sad. I always find this episode a little shocking and poignant. She gave her life to save T.C.'s and ultimately he knew she loved him, but then he lost her at the same time. I really like this episode.

Exactly! Shocking and poignant are perfect descriptions for this episode. It's bitter-sweet that Alex finally made the right decision...but sadly it was a little too late and she sacrificed her life to save T.C.

Each of the guys seemed to have a woman in their past or present that they're captivated by, but are femme-fatales from the start. I always sort of viewed Karen Teal in "Dream a Little Dream" as Magnum's "Alex". However, she didn't end up dead.

Oh, great theory. I will definitely have to revisit Dream a Little Dream!

[MaiTaiMan]

I remember watching this one when it originally aired, when I was growing up. I'll never forget the ending...where the car goes over the cliff and explodes! I did not expect Alex would die, and impact and shock that scene had on me still lingers in my mind today.

I thought this was a very heart-tugging episode for T.C., and the past that Alex, Magnum, Rick, and T.C. all had was very well played out! Everyone, especially T.C. and Magnum, gave outstanding performances and it was interesting to watch events unfold.

As a child this ending was so sad, and I hated the fact that Alex was killed and poor T.C. had to deal with that devastation. As an adult now, I can watch that ending and handle it much better and much more maturely. It was sort of that poor girl's fate, that something like that would eventually happen with the kind of life she led. Magnum was right...trouble followed her everywhere.

This was a somewhat sad, but also interesing and captivating T.C. episode to watch. I enjoy watching it when going through the series!

That was a really great synopsis. I agree, she was fated for something like this and it's sad. I always find this episode a little shocking and poignant. She gave her life to save T.C.'s and ultimately he knew she loved him, but then he lost her at the same time. I really like this episode.

Exactly! Shocking and poignant are perfect descriptions for this episode. It's bitter-sweet that Alex finally made the right decision...but sadly it was a little too late and she sacrificed her life to save T.C.

Each of the guys seemed to have a woman in their past or present that they're captivated by, but are femme-fatales from the start. I always sort of viewed Karen Teal in "Dream a Little Dream" as Magnum's "Alex". However, she didn't end up dead.

Oh, great theory. I will definitely have to revisit Dream a Little Dream!

LOL! Actually...now that I think about it, Diane DuPres (Sharon Stone) from 5th season's 2-part "Echoes of the Mind" is probably Magnum's "Alex" over Karen. But, both episodes dealing with troubled women in Magnum's life are excellent, and not only entertaining but interesting to watch!