The Arrow That is Not Aimed (3.14)

[J.J. Walters]

Wow, very interesting MR! I was a teenager in the '80s, yet I somehow missed the "Ninja Craze"! I vaguely remember American Ninja, and I remember playing Shinobi in the arcade, but that's about it. That is, until the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arrived on the scene in the late 80s.... but I wasn't a fan of them.

In looking at the timeline of the "80s Ninja Craze", this episode would have been an early entry (filmed in 1982). It was a trend setter, not a trend follower. I like that.

[Styles Bitchley]

I'd say the ninja craze hit me around 1984. There was nothing cooler than homemade throwing stars (cut the tip of my finger off with one) and renting those newfangled VHS tapes of Sho Kosugi movies!

[rubber chicken]

Oh yeah, ninjas were huge in the 80s. I was big into that. In fact I could have been called a Winja - wanna be ninja.

I had and still have maybe a half dozen throwing stars that I would buy at the local military surplus store. I also had other weapons like butterfly swords. (Chinese, but what did I know?) A friend of mine would sleepover and we'd watch the American Ninja movies and others until we fell asleep.

Anyone remember Gymkata? It was the absolute pinnacle of ninjutsu meets gymnastics meets obstacle course films.

[MaximRecoil]

Wow, very interesting MR! I was a teenager in the '80s, yet I somehow missed the "Ninja Craze"! I vaguely remember American Ninja, and I remember playing Shinobi in the arcade, but that's about it. That is, until the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arrived on the scene in the late 80s.... but I wasn't a fan of them.

I never even really associated TMNT with ninja, aside from the name. In my mind, ninja were people wearing black (or sometimes other colors) hooded uniforms; period.

In looking at the timeline of the "80s Ninja Craze", this episode would have been an early entry (filmed in 1982). It was a trend setter, not a trend follower. I like that.

Yeah, this episode was between "Enter the Ninja" (1981) and "Revenge of the Ninja" (1983). The '80s ninja craze wasn't full force until the mid '80s. In the U.S. during the '80s, Kung-Fu movies (big in the '70s) were out, and ninja movies were in.

I got a jumpstart on the craze, because I happened to go visit my uncle in '82, and walked in as they were watching "Enter the Ninja" either on VHS or something like HBO. As a 7-year-old, I was enthralled with these "ninja" (it was the first I'd ever seen or heard of them). I thought the fight at the end between the white-suited American ninja and the black-suited Japanese ninja (Sho Kosugi of course) was the most awesome thing I'd ever seen.

That movie hasn't aged well BTW, but "Revenge of the Ninja" is still good B-movie fun.

Rubber Chicken and Styles Bitchley mentioned the throwing stars. Those were definitely the thing to have in the '80s. I got suspended for three days from school for buying throwing stars in Bar Harbor on a class trip (lol). I also had a ninja uniform that I ordered out of the back of a martial arts magazine in the mid-'80s for like $20, and I wore it for Halloween when I was about 10.

[rubber chicken]

I didn't care for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles either. Skateboarding turtles who learn the art of ninjutsu from a rat? Come on, what are the odds. To me, that show and everything surrounding it was a bit phony.

[Shermy]

Ah yes, the early 80s ninja craze. There was actually a store at my local small that specialized in ninja weaponry and Sho Kosugi posters. There was also a 1980 Chuck Norris film called The Octagon which helped usher the whole fad in. It didn't have the impact of Enter The Ninja, but it got the ball rolling. (Ironically, the plot featured Norris' character being skeptical about the possibility of ninjas existing in the 20th century.)

Anyway, this is one of my favorites from season three. I like the fact that both Magnum and Tozan lead an unorthodox lifestyle while sharing a similar code of honor. Samurai Magnum!

There's also a good balance of comedy throughout. I love Magnum's reaction when Fukuda reveals he previously visited Hawaii during the war...back in 1941.

Anyone remember Gymkata? It was the absolute pinnacle of ninjutsu meets gymnastics meets obstacle course films.

I actually saw that on opening weekend. Sadly, I was very excited about going to see it. When the action hero is played by John Boy's brother, you know it's going to be a good one.

[robspace54]

I did not remember much of the plot from the original airing in early 1983. But I did recall the discussion in the Ferrari when Tozan tells Magnum that he too is a samurai in his own way, the beautiful scene of the rising sun (did you notice how Rabbit Island looked like Mt. Fuji?), and the demonic wail of Higgins going after Magnum at the end.

The sentiment of the arrow not being aimed was an idea that stuck with me for a number of years. Being an R&D engineer there were many blind allys I went down and the thought of the arrow flying unerringly to it's target was a great vision - especially when one is stumbling over technical problems at work.

Rob

[firefly]

definitely a fun episode overall.

personal favorite bits; higgins with the sword at the end of the episode, magnum laying on the couch telling tozan a little more to the right (or whatever the exact wording was:-)), and best of all the scene with a hungover magnum and higgins using notes to communicate until he can not resist ring the bell.

the scene with magnum making reference to the cubs winning the series cracked me up. nearly three decades later and the cubs are no closer to winning.

one slight flub, after magnum jumps of the pier into the water. next scene magnum is back at the estate with higgins and he is wearing the same clothes? wouldn't he have changed out of the soaking with sea water clothes since he was home?

[All About the Stache]

The Mag hangs out with a Samurai Warrior! A Samurai played by the great Mako! Do you need to know any more? Of course this episode is good.

Pretty much exactly what I came in here to say. I really liked this episode. One of the best of the season. Mako is always a treat to watch!

[AmandaByNight]

I'm an idiot... I had NO idea that was Mako, yet I totally know who Mako is...

I actually saw Mako at a convention sitting next to Lorenzo Lamas (sp?) eating a sandwich! It was kind of an odd sighting.

I love this episode. Mako is terrific and I love the relationship between him and Magnum. It's so East Meets West 80s style!

[nha trang]

I can't believe no one mentioned this yet...

Higgins coming in to wake up a hungover Magnum with his little triangle and notes so as to be considerate, and then before he leaves ringing the ship's bell that we see in the periphery as he entered...

ahhhhhhhhhhhhh I can relate only all too well and they really captured the hideous noise!

Totally laughed out loud at that one - one of my favorite comedic moments in the whole serious so far...(up to 3rd season)

[MaiTaiMan]

Magnum and a Samurai Warrior...interesting and something different!

This one has plenty of action, Samurai traditions, and a pretty cool plot! My favorite part is actually when Magnum out-smarts Higgins and figures out the plate is a fake by too much grout!

However, in all honesty, this one is a little over-the-top and unbelievable. But, it's still entertaining.

[Little Garwood]

One of my favorite episodes as a kid. I was smitten with all things Ninja and Samurai back then, as I was an impressionable middle-school student.

The Arrow That is Not Aimed is reminscent of issue #39 (1980) of the Western comic Jonah Hex, called The Vow of a Samurai, which came nearly three years before the MPI episode. In it, Hex and a Samurai warrior are after the same man, one who kidnapped the (unnamed) Samurai's daughter and who is the leader of an outlaw gang. Hex is a bounty hunter, so he has a stake in this, too. Hex, like Magnum, serves as the Samurai's Kaishaku--yes, the term is used there, too, as is Seppuku.



*Comic Spoiler*

The ending of this issue is staggeringly powerful, all the more so considering this was 1980, where few comic moments could equal what happened here. You know darn well that this finale wouldn't dare happen in a super-hero book.

I think Hex was so disturbed about the Samurai's death that he wasted the outlaw without even collecting the reward on the guy.

Of course, the ending isn't the same as the Magnum episode, but the similarities are worth pointing out. [/img]

[MaiTaiMan]

One of my favorite episodes as a kid. I was smitten with all things Ninja and Samurai back then, as I was an impressionable middle-school student.

The Arrow That is Not Aimed is reminscent of issue #39 (1980) of the Western comic Jonah Hex, called The Vow of a Samurai, which came nearly three years before the MPI episode. In it, Hex and a Samurai warrior are after the same man, one who kidnapped the (unnamed) Samurai's daughter and who is the leader of an outlaw gang. Hex is a bounty hunter, so he has a stake in this, too. Hex, like Magnum, serves as the Samurai's Kaishaku--yes, the term is used there, too, as is Seppuku.



*Comic Spoiler*

The ending of this issue is staggeringly powerful, all the more so considering this was 1980, where few comic moments could equal what happened here. You know darn well that this finale wouldn't dare happen in a super-hero book.

I think Hex was so disturbed about the Samurai's death that he wasted the outlaw without even collecting the reward on the guy.

Of course, the ending isn't the same as the Magnum episode, but the similarities are worth pointing out. [/img]

Intersting...I wonder if one of the writers read the Jonah Hex comics and thought this one would be good for an episode??

My brother always thought all that Ninja/Samuari/Martial Arts stuff was cool too. Never was my thing, but it still made for an awesome and action-packed episode!

[Doc Fred]

To me, this was one of the best shows in the entire series. It was so very entertaining, mixed with drama and comedy.

Mako was great.

I loved Higgy waking up Magnum with the bell, and Magnum's reaction. ONe of the funniest scenes in those many years of Magnum PI.