A Pretty Good Dancing Chicken (5.22)

[AmandaByNight]

I think I'm in the minority here, but this is one of my favorite episodes. I love the story as a whole and feel a gut punch when we originally think that guy left his girlfriend to die. I also like that she doesn't get out of her own mess and re-bonds with her father.

I don't know what I can add, except this episode always moves me. There's something there...

Maybe it's the gorilla in the background!

[erock308]

This is a great episode, my favourite part is when TM backs out of the parking spot in the Ferrari only to pull into the one with time still left on the parking meter. I laugh every time I watch this part :{)

[steveadl]

And, maybe it's just me, but you think that another guard would have noticed that the cons hit the yard guard over the head with a shovel.

You're telling me there were NO other guards around when a truck was stolen and driven through the gate, a guard gets beat over the head with a shovel, a fight and conversation take place for several minutes and then Magnum is allowed to just run away (presumably for several miles) until he gets back to Robin's Nest.

Watched this episode last night. Doc, whilst you're right to a degree - if you watch the scene again - you'll notice that at the same time the first guard gets knocked over the head, you can see in the distant background another guard getting hit simultaneously (perhaps even two background guards - can't remember off hand). So I guess the theory was it that it was planned well and there was at least one inmate on each guard ready to smack them out.

To be honest, the part I didn't understand was the big crook in jail agreeing to facilitate the guys escape even though he was disgusted that he left his girlfriend to bleed to death???

But you're right about the police asking to search the grounds and Higgins stalling them. They'd be there within 30 mins and I doubt they'd be asking politely for permission to enter the grounds to search for an escaped fugitive.

[nha trang]

While I do not consider this episode to be a nuisance as some of the worst MPI episodes can be (basketball willie), seeing Magnum in his denim prison uniform has a certain "jump-the-shark" quality to it.

I suppose it could have been worse if they wrote the story so that Magnum actually gets framed and goes to what I assume is the big "pen" (as we've already seen Mag in the slammer several times - including next to, you got it, "scrunge-O").

I agree with previous reviewers, story might have been a better two-parter, but again I would practically re-write the whole episode. In my book the premise of the episode wouldn't be worth revisiting anyway.

The episode has Carol in it so I wasn't overly surprised when I didn't like it. I think the only "Carol" episode I've liked so far is the episode previous to Torah Torah Torah.

In this episode, when she is walking on the beach next to Magnum and says "Magnum, I'm scared I need your help" I wished Magnum would say "Who cares?" just once...lol.

The character of Carol's uncle was quite unconvincing and poorly acted, we weren't introduced to the niece long enough (or at all) in order to actually care about her whereabouts, and it doesn't serve as a serious enough premise for Magnum to go undercover into the jail, other than as a favor to Carol...again.

I agree again with earlier reviews, in this episode and in several of season 5 episodes, there is a half-hearted quality. Take for instance, the scenes in the guesthouse which can sometimes be very enjoyable...the best part was Higgin's coming out of hibernation quip, but it's appeal is quashed due to the presence of grade B acting by Carol's uncle...lol The whole sequence where Magnum wakes up is half-hearted compared to how they approach waking him up in other episodes.

I find myself watching my Magnum DVD episodes rather quickly, getting some enjoyment out of average episodes, but really hoping there are more classic episodes coming, like "Home from the Sea." I do like the episodes where Magnum soul searches the best, and that show a lot of scenic shots, including the tidal pool. More to the point, I guess I enjoy the Magnum traditions/rituals and his soul-searching...maybe that's why I also really enjoy "Home from the Sea" because it combines all of these qualities along with the typical Magnum "never say die" attitude. Can someone please tell me if there are more classic episodes on the way? Just say yes or no, no spoilers please (please don't tell me the score on the Tiger's game, I taped it lol)



PS I don't think that is a rubber chicken in the Gorilla's mouth. In an earlier scene when they walk in you can also kind of see some yellow color by the gorilla, and it matches the chicken feathers on the dancing chickens....just a thought.

[Mark R.Y.]

There ARE more classic, "soul-searching" MAGNUMs to come. No worries!

[MaiTaiMan]

This one was decent...but only because it was Carol's neice and she asks Magnum to help. If it had just been some other girl or person, I probably would've rated this one "Average at Best."

I really don't like the "prison" episodes of TV shows...as they are all the same: one of the main stars has to go into a prison, under the guise as an inmate, to learn info or catch someone. Not that interesting or entertaining.

I like the character of Carol...and she, Agatha, and Lt. Tanaka are my favorite recurring characters in the show. However, despite a couple decent action scenes, and Carol actually looking fairly "hot" in the tropical/Hawaiian dress, this is probably one of my least favorite Magnum/Carol episodes.

[mandolabar]

I loved this one, if only because I laughed myself silly at Higgins in the topless bar. OMG.

[miltontheripper]

This one was decent...but only because it was Carol's neice and she asks Magnum to help. If it had just been some other girl or person, I probably would've rated this one "Average at Best."

I really don't like the "prison" episodes of TV shows...as they are all the same: one of the main stars has to go into a prison, under the guise as an inmate, to learn info or catch someone. Not that interesting or entertaining.

I like the character of Carol...and she, Agatha, and Lt. Tanaka are my favorite recurring characters in the show. However, despite a couple decent action scenes, and Carol actually looking fairly "hot" in the tropical/Hawaiian dress, this is probably one of my least favorite Magnum/Carol episodes.

Completely agree, as much as I like Carol, this episode doesn't do much for me. The circumstances that had TM going to a prison farm, pretty weak plot. And the actor playing Jack, Carol's uncle was pretty aweful as well. Not one of the worst but certainly a forgettable episode that I only watch when going in order. The lone bright spot would be higgins at the gentleman's club....HILARIOUS!! It was pretty funny to see Rick enjoying himself during his visit as well.

[Croix de Lorraine]

I loved this one, if only because I laughed myself silly at Higgins in the topless bar. OMG.

'What is your real name?'
'It doesn't really mattaaah'

[marlboro]

I loved this one, if only because I laughed myself silly at Higgins in the topless bar. OMG.

She's not bad...but she's no Agatha Chumley.

[Hawaii Winds]

However, Higgins at the topless bar was CLASSIC.

I can honestly say that I have never seen anyone look so put out at a topless bar.

The expression on his face is priceless!

Yeah, great scene! And he was watching "Halle Berry". Ok, her name is probably spelt "HOLLY", but still pretty funny! When T.C. mentioned her name over the phone, I literally laughed out loud!

I don't know if anybody else noticed this or not, but there is a weird, subtle little moment at the beginning of this episode that, if noticed, causes a die hard Magnum to do a double-take, then laugh hysterically. Towards the beginning, when Magnum first visits the "Anagrams" office, he strikes up a conversation with the manager. In the background a gorilla suit can be seen....


I just stopped my DVR to see this....WOW....back in the eighties, no one caught this!




The camera then cuts to the manager and then QUICKLY (in like 2 seconds) cuts back to Magnum...



Look at that, someone stuck what appears to be a rubber chicken in its mouth! LOL!

Only on MPI do you see stuff like this!

[Hawaii Winds]

I loved this one, if only because I laughed myself silly at Higgins in the topless bar. OMG.

She's not bad...but she's no Agatha Chumley.

No one, and I mean NO ONE is Agatha Chumley, I;m surprised Higgin's wasn't hittin that!

[KingKC]

Another weak season finale. Beauty Knows No Pain still holds the top spot for me.

KingKC

[ENSHealy]

EPISODE: 5.22 A Pretty Good Dancing Chicken

Famous guest stars:

Hawaiian shirts: 1

Tigers Cap: 1
Island Hopper shirts:
Shirtless Magnum:
OMG:
Higgins Organizations:
Higgins musings:
Negotiations:
Body Count:
Bullet wounds:
Little Voice:
I know what you’re thinking:
When I write HTBAWCPI:
Investigator corrections:
4th wall breaks:
Magnumometer: 2
Magnumometer Moments: https://vimeo.com/570668914

Over the years, there have been many over-the-top female guest stars that have irked the fans of our beloved show. Now, at long last, we have a male one. Matt Clark is grating to watch. He strikes me as a poor-man’s Harry Dean Stanton, but without the acting chops.

As season 5 has wound down, the Magnumometer scores have been low. Many episodes where really, the only thing to distinguish an episode from any other detective – er – private investigator, show is a Hawaiian shirt and a Tigers Cap. I know that over the years I’ve seen every episode of the show, but I don’t have any specific memories of Season 6 (unlike Season 7, which I have always thought may be show’s best season). It will be interesting to see, as I watch Season 6 again, if the show rebounds any from the low that was Season 5.

P.S. My feelings about Carol’s hair aren’t as strong as some here on this forum, but I do agree that there have been many occasions where the show’s stylists have done her no favors. In the last couple episodes she’s appeared in, however, I thought she’s looked much better. It does look like she’s colored her hair, which I’m often not a fan of, but I have to admit she’s looked better recently without the gray.

[Treadwell]

Found it on the high end of average.

Agreed on the improbabilities, but it kept me entertained.

He almost smacked that other car that was pulling out of the parking lot when he backed up to take the other parking space.

Rick and TC's embarrassment at being in a lingerie shop was perhaps the most improbable thing of all.

She healed from a upper torso bullet wound in somebody's apartment?! She would need reconstructive surgery for whatever muscles were torn up.

Tour jeté, tour jeté and cluck, cluck, cluck.