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* EmbarrassingFirstName: Orville Wright. He much prefers to go by his nickname, Rick.
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* WhatCouldHaveBeen: They planned to reveal Orson Welles as Robin Masters at some point, but Orson's death changed their plans.
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** T.C. is so likeable that even Higgins doesn't seem to mind him always referring to him as "Higgy-Baby".
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* {{Crossover }}: With ''Series/MurderSheWrote'' and ''Series/SimonAndSimon''.
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* {{Crossover }}: {{Crossover}}: With ''Series/MurderSheWrote'' and ''Series/SimonAndSimon''.
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* {{Crossover}}: With ''Series/MurderSheWrote'' and ''Series/SimonAndSimon''.
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* {{Crossover}}: {{Crossover }}: With ''Series/MurderSheWrote'' and ''Series/SimonAndSimon''.''Series/SimonAndSimon''.
** A proposed ''Series/QuantumLeap'' script had Sam Beckett leaping into Thomas Magnum, but never reached the filming stage.
** A proposed ''Series/QuantumLeap'' script had Sam Beckett leaping into Thomas Magnum, but never reached the filming stage.
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* SharedUniverse: With ''SimonAndSimon'' (which followed the show on CBS's lineup), ''HawaiiFive-0'' (which Magnum replaced in CBS's lineup and is continually referenced throughout the show's run), and ''MurderSheWrote''.
to:
* SharedUniverse: With ''SimonAndSimon'' (which followed the show on CBS's lineup), lineup and by extension a OneSeasonWonder show called ''Whiz Kids'' that crossed over with ''S&S''), ''HawaiiFive-0'' (which Magnum replaced in CBS's lineup and is continually referenced throughout the show's run), and ''MurderSheWrote''.
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* BrokenRecord: "Work the lock, don't look at the dogs, work the lock, don't look at the dogs, work the lock, don't look at the dogs, work the lock, don't look at the dogs" ..... Looks up at Zues and Apollo getting nearer .... "Damn it you looked at the dogs."
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* OneSteveLimit: T.C.'s first name is also Thomas.
** Actually his first name is Theodore
** Actually his first name is Theodore
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* BigNo: in the two part episode that started off season 5, Echoes of the Mind, Thomas lets out one of these after the Dupre Sisters (Played by SharonStone), with whom he is in love with, kill themselves off screen just before the freeze frame.
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* SplitPersonality: The Dupre Sisters, played by Sharon Stone in the episode ''Echoes of the Mind''.
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* TheWatson: Rick
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* TheWatson: RickRick, a former TropeNamer.
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* SharedUniverse: With ''SimonAndSimon'' (which followed the show on CBS's lineup) and ''MurderSheWrote''.
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* SharedUniverse: With ''SimonAndSimon'' (which followed the show on CBS's lineup) lineup), ''HawaiiFive-0'' (which Magnum replaced in CBS's lineup and is continually referenced throughout the show's run), and ''MurderSheWrote''.
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Added the trope \"Delivery Not Desired\"
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* DeliveryNotDesired: Magnum writes a letter to the daughter he thinks is dead, in a plot about why he [[spoiler:doesn't kill her murderer]].
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* ChangedTheThemeTune: "Don't Eat The Snow In Hawaii" (the pilot movie) had a light jazz piece by Ian Freebairn-Smith that was used for the first nine post-pilot episodes; the show didn't have the Mike Post and Pete Carpenter theme we all know and love until "Thicker Than Water."
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* ReplacedTheThemeTune: "Don't Eat The Snow In Hawaii" (the pilot movie) had a light jazz piece by Ian Freebairn-Smith that was used for the first nine post-pilot episodes; the show didn't have the Mike Post and Pete Carpenter theme we all know and love until "Thicker Than Water."
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* ChangedTheThemeTune: "Don't Eat The Snow In Hawaii" (the pilot movie) had a light jazz piece by Ian Freebairn-Smith that was used for the first nine post-pilot episodes; the show didn't have the Mike Post and Pete Carpenter theme we all know and love until "Thicker Than Water."
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** Season four's "The Return Of Luther Gillis," dealing with an old-time St. Louis PI tangling with Magnum was another show planned as a spinoff. Unlike J. 'Digger' Doyle above, however, Gillis did make several appearances as a DropInCharacter - the [=PDP=] was a sequel to the same season's "Luther Gillis: File #521," the first of five episodes featuring him.
to:
** Season four's "The Return Of Luther Gillis," dealing with an old-time St. Louis PI tangling with Magnum Magnum, was another show planned as a spinoff. Unlike J. 'Digger' Doyle above, however, Gillis did make several appearances as a DropInCharacter - the [=PDP=] was a sequel to the same season's "Luther Gillis: File #521," the first of five episodes featuring him.
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* SharedUniverse: With ''SimonAndSimon'' (which followed the show on CBS's lineup) and ''MurderSheWrote''.
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** Season four's "The Return Of Luther Gillis," dealing with an old-time St. Louis PI tangling with Magnum was another show planned as a spinoff. Unlike J. 'Digger' Doyle above, however, Gillis did make several appearances as a DropInCharacter - the [=PDP=] was a sequel to the same season's "Luther Gillis: File #521," the first of five episodes featuring him.
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* YouWouldntShootMe: Ivan in "Did You See the Sunrise?" He's spectacularly wrong.
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* TheOtherDarrin: DA Carol Baldwin was played by Patty [=McCormick=] in the character's first appearance and by Kathleen Lloyd in twenty episodes.
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* PoorlyDisguisedPilot: Model/actress Erin Gray appeared on first-season episode "J. 'Digger' Doyle" as a security expert hired by Robin Masters to evaluate Magnum. It was supposed to lead to a spinoff series for Gray, but the series never came to pass.
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A [[TheFilmOfTheSeries feature film adaptation]] is planned in the future. George Clooney, Matthew [=McConaughey=], and even [[YoungerThanTheyLook Selleck himself]] have been floated as possible big-screen Magnums.
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A [[TheFilmOfTheSeries feature film adaptation]] is planned in the future. George Clooney, Matthew [=McConaughey=], and even [[YoungerThanTheyLook [[OlderThanTheyLook Selleck himself]] have been floated as possible big-screen Magnums.
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A [[TheFilmOfTheSeries feature film adaptation]] is planned in the future. George Clooney, Matthew [=McConaughey=], and even [[TomSelleck Selleck himself]] have been floated as possible big-screen Magnums.
to:
A [[TheFilmOfTheSeries feature film adaptation]] is planned in the future. George Clooney, Matthew [=McConaughey=], and even [[TomSelleck [[YoungerThanTheyLook Selleck himself]] have been floated as possible big-screen Magnums.
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Mac doesn\'t die until later.
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* BandOfBrothers: Magnum, Rick, and T.C. (not to mention poor, blown-up Mac) all served together in the same SEAL unit in Vietnam. What they went through over there is precisely why Magnum would die for either of his friends, and they for him.
to:
* BandOfBrothers: Magnum, Rick, and T.C. (not to mention [[spoiler: poor, blown-up blown-up]] Mac) all served together in the same SEAL unit in Vietnam. What they went through over there is precisely why Magnum would die for either of his friends, and they for him.
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Well, they ARE tiny.
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* {{Fanservice}}: Not just the unending stream of women who want Magnum, this was Tom Selleck as a MemeticSexGod wearing a loose shirt that shows off plenty.
to:
* {{Fanservice}}: Not just the unending stream of women who want Magnum, this Magnum. This was Tom Selleck as a MemeticSexGod MemeticSexGod, wearing a loose shirt and tiny shorts that shows showed off plenty.
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* OnlyKnownByInitials: T.C.
to:
* OnlyKnownByInitials: T.C.C.
* ParanormalEpisode:
** The episode "Rapture". Magnum ses the ghost of a young boy, leading him to investigate the boy's death.
** Another had Thomas in an extended NearDeathExperience after he got shot and seriously wounded. This almost was the SeriesFinale until the series got renewed at the last minute.
* ParanormalEpisode:
** The episode "Rapture". Magnum ses the ghost of a young boy, leading him to investigate the boy's death.
** Another had Thomas in an extended NearDeathExperience after he got shot and seriously wounded. This almost was the SeriesFinale until the series got renewed at the last minute.
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Moving a trivia bit.
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* CliffHanger: The memorable seventh-season finale "Limbo," in which Magnum apparently dies from a gunshot wound; originally intended as the series finale.
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* CliffHanger: CliffHanger
** The memorable seventh-season finale "Limbo," in which Magnum apparently dies from a gunshot wound; originally intended as the series finale.
** The memorable seventh-season finale "Limbo," in which Magnum apparently dies from a gunshot wound; originally intended as the series finale.
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* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The producers actually planned to reveal Orson Welles as Robin Masters when the series ended. Unfortunately, though, Welles died in 1985 before the storyline could materialize.
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Creator DonaldPBellisario became known for his darker, almost fantastical overtones (see ''QuantumLeap''), and they were introduced slowly into ''Magnum, P.I.'''s storylines by way of prophetic dreams, psychic connections, and ghosts.
to:
Creator DonaldPBellisario became known for his darker, almost fantastical overtones (see ''QuantumLeap''), ''Series/QuantumLeap''), and they were introduced slowly into ''Magnum, P.I.'''s storylines by way of prophetic dreams, psychic connections, and ghosts.
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Moving to Namespace.
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[[quoteright:210:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/magnum_pi.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:210:[-[[ChickMagnet Women just love]] the [[BadassMoustache moustache]].-] ]]
Airing on CBS from 1980 to 1988, '''''Magnum, P.I.''''' seemed at first glance to be yet another ActionSeries show, using the old ''Series/HawaiiFiveO'' production facilities in Hawaii, with a handsome lead actor talented in comedic schtick and the usual buddies helping him solve his case-of-the-week. But it soon revealed its more dramatic plotthreads by alternating the comically-toned episodes with those concentrating on TheVietnamWar background of Thomas Magnum and his friends. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7vW1oEKP1k The concluding scene]] in the Season Three two-part premiere "Did You See the Sunrise" was the key moment that illustrated Magnum's darker side. It remained the most unexpected and controversial scene of the series' entire run.
These deeper character-developing episodes became fan favorites, and helped to spur the series to a five-year stay in the top-20 rated shows on television between 1981 and 1985. Also, both TomSelleck (Magnum) and John Hillerman (Higgins) won multiple awards for their work.
Magnum was assisted ably by his friends TC and Rick, and alternately helped and hindered by Higgins, the manager of Robin Masters' estate where Magnum lived. Masters was only occasionally heard as TheVoice of Orson Welles via telephone.
Creator DonaldPBellisario became known for his darker, almost fantastical overtones (see ''QuantumLeap''), and they were introduced slowly into ''Magnum, P.I.'''s storylines by way of prophetic dreams, psychic connections, and ghosts.
A [[TheFilmOfTheSeries feature film adaptation]] is planned in the future. George Clooney, Matthew [=McConaughey=], and even [[TomSelleck Selleck himself]] have been floated as possible big-screen Magnums.
----
!!''Magnum, P.I.'' provides examples of the following tropes:
* EightiesHair: Well, look at the production dates, but pretty much ''every'' female has big, ''BIG'' hair. Not to mention Magnum's perm.
* ActionSeries
* ActorAllusion: One episode is an AffectionateParody of ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', a movie Tom Selleck was considered to do the lead in, but gave up to do this show instead.
* AngryGuardDog: Zeus and Apollo, Higgin's "lads". Although they're perfectly friendly to everybody but Magnum.
* AsideGlance
* AwesomeMcCoolName: Thomas Magnum
* BandOfBrothers: Magnum, Rick, and T.C. (not to mention poor, blown-up Mac) all served together in the same SEAL unit in Vietnam. What they went through over there is precisely why Magnum would die for either of his friends, and they for him.
* BigFancyHouse: "Robin's Nest" is a 200-acre beach front estate.
* BlackBestFriend: T.C. -- who is the [[OnlySaneMan most normal and likable of the group.]] He is also {{Badass}} enough to pull a ScaryBlackMan on occasion.
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: TC, during part of "Did You See the Sunrise?" Brainwashed by a brutal, Soviet officer during the Vietnam War to later become a sleeper killer.
* BritishStuffiness: Higgins
* CatchPhrase: Magnum narrating to the audience: "I know what you're thinking. And you're wrong/right."
* TheCharmer: Rick, who usually has some bikini-clad girl in tow.
* ClearMyName
** Magnum spends most of "Foiled Again" trying to clear Higgins of the murder of an [[AssholeVictim abusive bully]] who'd married the woman Higgins loved.
** In "Thicker Than Blood", Magnum and Rick do the same for T.C., who's TakingTheHeat for another fellow soldier.
* CliffHanger: The memorable seventh-season finale "Limbo," in which Magnum apparently dies from a gunshot wound; originally intended as the series finale.
** The actual series finale did end on a cliffhanger, albeit a much lighter-hearted one. Rick is getting married, but hesitates when it comes time for him to give his vow. Magnum, T.C., and Higgins all prompt him, "I do," and finally he opens his mouth and says, "I..." and the credits start rolling.
* CoolCar: The Ferrari 308 (and the '29 Bugatti replica in "Flashback").
* CrashCourseLanding
* {{Crossover}}: With ''Series/MurderSheWrote'' and ''Series/SimonAndSimon''.
* CulturedBadass: Higgins
* CulturedWarrior: Higgins
* DisappearedDad: Magnum's father died in Korea when Magnum was ten.
* ExpansionPackPast: Higgins
-->'''Magnum:''' Higgins, what did you do with your life? Is there anything you haven't done, anywhere you haven't been?
* TheFaceless
** Robin Masters, only seen onscreen once, and most definitely not from the front.
** Icepick was only mentioned and never actually seen for the first few seasons.
* {{Fanservice}}: Not just the unending stream of women who want Magnum, this was Tom Selleck as a MemeticSexGod wearing a loose shirt that shows off plenty.
* FakeBrit: John Hillerman, a native Texan, playing a retired British Army Sergeant Major.
* FilmNoir: Other than the bright sunshine in Hawaii, and the fact it's in color, the series follows the rest of this trope pretty straight.
* FirstNameUltimatum: Higgins does this to Magnum a lot.
* FoodAsBribe
** To Lt. Tanaka, when he's on a diet. At other times, Magnum just has to pay him money.
** Also used shamelessly with Mac whenever Magnum needed a peek at classified military documents.
* FriendInTheBlackMarket: Rick
* FriendlyEnemy: Magnum and Higgins are constantly at odds, but gradually develop a genuine fondness for each other.
* FriendOnTheForce: Lieutenant Tanaka
* GentlemanAndAScholar: Higgins is this except when he is quarreling with Magnum. Which is a good deal of the time.
* GentlemanSnarker: Higgins -- very, ''very'' much.
* GoodGuyBar: The King Kamehameha Club
* HeroicBSOD: Each of the guys had at least one of these:
** Magnum after the deaths of [[spoiler:Mac]] and [[spoiler:Michele]].
** Rick after the death of [[spoiler:his sister]].
** T.C. when his friend gets killed [[spoiler:getting him a soda]].
* IJustKnew: Magnum spends most of "Home from the Sea" trying to stay afloat in the ocean; T.C., Rick, and Higgins all have a bad feeling about him despite having no reason to think anything is wrong. When they acknowledge it and start looking, T.C. tells Rick -- who turns out to be only a few hundred feet away from where Magnum is treading water -- to stay right where he is until dawn, but can't explain why he does so.
* KnowledgeBroker: Icepick, by way of Rick, is Magnum's go-to guy for information that can't be acquired through legal channel.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Magnum's aforementioned AsideGlance to the audience whenever something ridiculous was going on.
* LikeBrotherAndSister: Magnum and Carol Baldwin. She logged more time with Magnum throughout the series than any of his numerous love interests. Could possibly be seen as WillTheyOrWontThey, but if the show hinted at this at all, it was extremely subtle.
* LongLostRelative
** Over the course of the series, we come to learn that (a) Magnum met and married a woman in Vietnam, (b) she's still alive, and (c) she has a daughter.
** Higgins's series of half brothers.
* MixedArchetypes
* TheMunchausen: Higgins is always telling stories about all his adventures. They annoy his companions despite the fact that some of them are quite interesting. They are also all quite true.
* NearDeathClairvoyance: Magnum in "Limbo", as he lies dying in the hospital.
* OneSteveLimit: T.C.'s first name is also Thomas.
* OnlyKnownByInitials: T.C.
* ThePatriarch: Rick considers Icepick to be like a father to him.
* PerpetualPoverty
* PornStache: Magnum himself of course, but Higgins and T.C. too. A very high facial-hair quotient.
* PrivateDetective
* PrivateEyeMonologue: Magnum in every episode. Played with whenever Luther Gillis shows up and narrates his own adventures.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Higgins's prayerful response to most of Magnum's activities: "Oh. My. GOD!!!"
* QuintessentialBritishGentleman: Higgins
* {{Rancher}}: In one episode there is a teenage rancher who needs our heroes' help.
* RashomonStyle: "I, Witness"
* RecurringCharacter: A veritable arsenal of them. Carol Baldwin deserves special mention, being the closest thing the series ever had to a regular female character.
* RedOniBlueOni: Magnum is red, Higgins is blue.
* RetiredBadass: Higgins. Occasionally we get evidence that not everything about his stories is exaggerated.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Magnum wasn't above simply running away from the bad guys if he got what he wanted or things got too hairy.
* SeriesFauxnale: "Limbo"
* SlobsVersusSnobs: Magnum versus Higgins, though usually rather lighthearted.
* SteppingOutForAQuickCupOfCoffee: Common on this show.
* TwistedEchoCut: The scenes in "Home from the Sea" are constantly cutting to these; for example, T.C. saying that he doesn't want to be out here all night cuts to Magnum, who's been out in the sea all night, which cuts to Rick saying he and his date will have to stay all night on his boat.
* UncannyFamilyResemblance: Higgins has three illegitimate brothers, all played by Hillerman.
* TheUnreveal: In the final seasons, Magnum suspects that Higgins was the real Robin Masters all along. This is never proven or disproven.
* VigilanteExecution: Magnum, at the conclusion of season 3's two part premiere "Did You See the Sunrise?" One of the most memorable moments of the series.
* VitriolicBestBuds: Higgins and Magnum.
* TheVoice: Orson Wells as Robin Masters.
* TheWatson: Rick
* WhamEpisode: "Did You See the Sunrise?"
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The producers actually planned to reveal Orson Welles as Robin Masters when the series ended. Unfortunately, though, Welles died in 1985 before the storyline could materialize.
----
[[caption-width-right:210:[-[[ChickMagnet Women just love]] the [[BadassMoustache moustache]].-] ]]
Airing on CBS from 1980 to 1988, '''''Magnum, P.I.''''' seemed at first glance to be yet another ActionSeries show, using the old ''Series/HawaiiFiveO'' production facilities in Hawaii, with a handsome lead actor talented in comedic schtick and the usual buddies helping him solve his case-of-the-week. But it soon revealed its more dramatic plotthreads by alternating the comically-toned episodes with those concentrating on TheVietnamWar background of Thomas Magnum and his friends. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7vW1oEKP1k The concluding scene]] in the Season Three two-part premiere "Did You See the Sunrise" was the key moment that illustrated Magnum's darker side. It remained the most unexpected and controversial scene of the series' entire run.
These deeper character-developing episodes became fan favorites, and helped to spur the series to a five-year stay in the top-20 rated shows on television between 1981 and 1985. Also, both TomSelleck (Magnum) and John Hillerman (Higgins) won multiple awards for their work.
Magnum was assisted ably by his friends TC and Rick, and alternately helped and hindered by Higgins, the manager of Robin Masters' estate where Magnum lived. Masters was only occasionally heard as TheVoice of Orson Welles via telephone.
Creator DonaldPBellisario became known for his darker, almost fantastical overtones (see ''QuantumLeap''), and they were introduced slowly into ''Magnum, P.I.'''s storylines by way of prophetic dreams, psychic connections, and ghosts.
A [[TheFilmOfTheSeries feature film adaptation]] is planned in the future. George Clooney, Matthew [=McConaughey=], and even [[TomSelleck Selleck himself]] have been floated as possible big-screen Magnums.
----
!!''Magnum, P.I.'' provides examples of the following tropes:
* EightiesHair: Well, look at the production dates, but pretty much ''every'' female has big, ''BIG'' hair. Not to mention Magnum's perm.
* ActionSeries
* ActorAllusion: One episode is an AffectionateParody of ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', a movie Tom Selleck was considered to do the lead in, but gave up to do this show instead.
* AngryGuardDog: Zeus and Apollo, Higgin's "lads". Although they're perfectly friendly to everybody but Magnum.
* AsideGlance
* AwesomeMcCoolName: Thomas Magnum
* BandOfBrothers: Magnum, Rick, and T.C. (not to mention poor, blown-up Mac) all served together in the same SEAL unit in Vietnam. What they went through over there is precisely why Magnum would die for either of his friends, and they for him.
* BigFancyHouse: "Robin's Nest" is a 200-acre beach front estate.
* BlackBestFriend: T.C. -- who is the [[OnlySaneMan most normal and likable of the group.]] He is also {{Badass}} enough to pull a ScaryBlackMan on occasion.
* BrainwashedAndCrazy: TC, during part of "Did You See the Sunrise?" Brainwashed by a brutal, Soviet officer during the Vietnam War to later become a sleeper killer.
* BritishStuffiness: Higgins
* CatchPhrase: Magnum narrating to the audience: "I know what you're thinking. And you're wrong/right."
* TheCharmer: Rick, who usually has some bikini-clad girl in tow.
* ClearMyName
** Magnum spends most of "Foiled Again" trying to clear Higgins of the murder of an [[AssholeVictim abusive bully]] who'd married the woman Higgins loved.
** In "Thicker Than Blood", Magnum and Rick do the same for T.C., who's TakingTheHeat for another fellow soldier.
* CliffHanger: The memorable seventh-season finale "Limbo," in which Magnum apparently dies from a gunshot wound; originally intended as the series finale.
** The actual series finale did end on a cliffhanger, albeit a much lighter-hearted one. Rick is getting married, but hesitates when it comes time for him to give his vow. Magnum, T.C., and Higgins all prompt him, "I do," and finally he opens his mouth and says, "I..." and the credits start rolling.
* CoolCar: The Ferrari 308 (and the '29 Bugatti replica in "Flashback").
* CrashCourseLanding
* {{Crossover}}: With ''Series/MurderSheWrote'' and ''Series/SimonAndSimon''.
* CulturedBadass: Higgins
* CulturedWarrior: Higgins
* DisappearedDad: Magnum's father died in Korea when Magnum was ten.
* ExpansionPackPast: Higgins
-->'''Magnum:''' Higgins, what did you do with your life? Is there anything you haven't done, anywhere you haven't been?
* TheFaceless
** Robin Masters, only seen onscreen once, and most definitely not from the front.
** Icepick was only mentioned and never actually seen for the first few seasons.
* {{Fanservice}}: Not just the unending stream of women who want Magnum, this was Tom Selleck as a MemeticSexGod wearing a loose shirt that shows off plenty.
* FakeBrit: John Hillerman, a native Texan, playing a retired British Army Sergeant Major.
* FilmNoir: Other than the bright sunshine in Hawaii, and the fact it's in color, the series follows the rest of this trope pretty straight.
* FirstNameUltimatum: Higgins does this to Magnum a lot.
* FoodAsBribe
** To Lt. Tanaka, when he's on a diet. At other times, Magnum just has to pay him money.
** Also used shamelessly with Mac whenever Magnum needed a peek at classified military documents.
* FriendInTheBlackMarket: Rick
* FriendlyEnemy: Magnum and Higgins are constantly at odds, but gradually develop a genuine fondness for each other.
* FriendOnTheForce: Lieutenant Tanaka
* GentlemanAndAScholar: Higgins is this except when he is quarreling with Magnum. Which is a good deal of the time.
* GentlemanSnarker: Higgins -- very, ''very'' much.
* GoodGuyBar: The King Kamehameha Club
* HeroicBSOD: Each of the guys had at least one of these:
** Magnum after the deaths of [[spoiler:Mac]] and [[spoiler:Michele]].
** Rick after the death of [[spoiler:his sister]].
** T.C. when his friend gets killed [[spoiler:getting him a soda]].
* IJustKnew: Magnum spends most of "Home from the Sea" trying to stay afloat in the ocean; T.C., Rick, and Higgins all have a bad feeling about him despite having no reason to think anything is wrong. When they acknowledge it and start looking, T.C. tells Rick -- who turns out to be only a few hundred feet away from where Magnum is treading water -- to stay right where he is until dawn, but can't explain why he does so.
* KnowledgeBroker: Icepick, by way of Rick, is Magnum's go-to guy for information that can't be acquired through legal channel.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: Magnum's aforementioned AsideGlance to the audience whenever something ridiculous was going on.
* LikeBrotherAndSister: Magnum and Carol Baldwin. She logged more time with Magnum throughout the series than any of his numerous love interests. Could possibly be seen as WillTheyOrWontThey, but if the show hinted at this at all, it was extremely subtle.
* LongLostRelative
** Over the course of the series, we come to learn that (a) Magnum met and married a woman in Vietnam, (b) she's still alive, and (c) she has a daughter.
** Higgins's series of half brothers.
* MixedArchetypes
* TheMunchausen: Higgins is always telling stories about all his adventures. They annoy his companions despite the fact that some of them are quite interesting. They are also all quite true.
* NearDeathClairvoyance: Magnum in "Limbo", as he lies dying in the hospital.
* OneSteveLimit: T.C.'s first name is also Thomas.
* OnlyKnownByInitials: T.C.
* ThePatriarch: Rick considers Icepick to be like a father to him.
* PerpetualPoverty
* PornStache: Magnum himself of course, but Higgins and T.C. too. A very high facial-hair quotient.
* PrivateDetective
* PrivateEyeMonologue: Magnum in every episode. Played with whenever Luther Gillis shows up and narrates his own adventures.
* PunctuatedForEmphasis: Higgins's prayerful response to most of Magnum's activities: "Oh. My. GOD!!!"
* QuintessentialBritishGentleman: Higgins
* {{Rancher}}: In one episode there is a teenage rancher who needs our heroes' help.
* RashomonStyle: "I, Witness"
* RecurringCharacter: A veritable arsenal of them. Carol Baldwin deserves special mention, being the closest thing the series ever had to a regular female character.
* RedOniBlueOni: Magnum is red, Higgins is blue.
* RetiredBadass: Higgins. Occasionally we get evidence that not everything about his stories is exaggerated.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Magnum wasn't above simply running away from the bad guys if he got what he wanted or things got too hairy.
* SeriesFauxnale: "Limbo"
* SlobsVersusSnobs: Magnum versus Higgins, though usually rather lighthearted.
* SteppingOutForAQuickCupOfCoffee: Common on this show.
* TwistedEchoCut: The scenes in "Home from the Sea" are constantly cutting to these; for example, T.C. saying that he doesn't want to be out here all night cuts to Magnum, who's been out in the sea all night, which cuts to Rick saying he and his date will have to stay all night on his boat.
* UncannyFamilyResemblance: Higgins has three illegitimate brothers, all played by Hillerman.
* TheUnreveal: In the final seasons, Magnum suspects that Higgins was the real Robin Masters all along. This is never proven or disproven.
* VigilanteExecution: Magnum, at the conclusion of season 3's two part premiere "Did You See the Sunrise?" One of the most memorable moments of the series.
* VitriolicBestBuds: Higgins and Magnum.
* TheVoice: Orson Wells as Robin Masters.
* TheWatson: Rick
* WhamEpisode: "Did You See the Sunrise?"
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The producers actually planned to reveal Orson Welles as Robin Masters when the series ended. Unfortunately, though, Welles died in 1985 before the storyline could materialize.
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