Magnum, P.I. - Television Tropes & Idioms

Airing on CBS from 1980 to 1988, Magnum, P.I. seemed at first glance to be yet another Action Series show, using the old Hawaii Five O 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 the Vietnam War background of Thomas Magnum and his friends. 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 Tom Selleck (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 The Voice of Orson Welles via telephone.

Creator Donald P. Bellisario became known for his darker, almost fantastical overtones (see Quantum Leap), and they were introduced slowly into Magnum, P.I.'s storylines by way of prophetic dreams, psychic connections, and ghosts.

A feature film adaptation is planned in the future. George Clooney, Matthew McConaughey, and even Selleck himself have been floated as possible big-screen Magnums.

This show provides examples of:

'80s Hair: Well, look at the production dates, but pretty much every female has big, BIG hair. Not to mention Magnum's perm.
Action Series
Actor Allusion: One episode is an Affectionate Parody of Raiders of the Lost Ark, a movie Tom Selleck was considered to do the lead in, but gave up to do this show instead.
Angry Guard Dog: Zeus and Apollo, Higgin's "lads." Although they're perfectly friendly to everybody but Magnum.
Aside Glance
Awesome Mc Cool Name: Thomas Magnum.
Band of Brothers: Magnum, Rick, and TC (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.
Black Best Friend: TC—who is the most normal and likable of the group. He is also Badass enough to pull a Scary Black Man on occasion.
Big Fancy House: Robin's Nest is a 200 acre beach front estate.
Brainwashed and Crazy: 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.
British Stuffiness: Higgins
The Charmer: Rick, who usually has some bikini-clad girl in tow.
Catch Phrase: Magnum narrating to the audience: "I know what you're thinking. And you're wrong/right."
Clear My Name: Magnum spends most of "Foiled Again" trying to clear Higgins of the murder of an abusive bully who'd married the woman Higgins loved.
Cliff Hanger: 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.
Cool Car: The Ferrari 308 (and the '29 Bugatti replica in Flashback).
Crash Course Landing
Cross Over: With Murder, She Wrote and Simon And Simon
Cultured Badass: Higgins
Cultured Warrior: Higgins
The Faceless: 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 Memetic Sex God wearing a loose shirt that shows off plenty.
Fake Brit: John Hillerman, a native Texan, playing a retired British Army Sergeant Major.
Food As Bribe: 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.
First Name Ultimatum: Higgins does this to Magnum a lot
Friend In The Black Market: Rick.
Friend on the Force: Lieutenant Tanaka
Friendly Enemy: Magnum and Higgins are constantly at odds, but gradually develop a genuine fondness for each other.
Gentleman and a Scholar: Higgins is this except when he is quarreling with Magnum.
- Which is a good deal of the time.
Gentleman Snarker: Higgins—very, very much.
Good Guy Bar: The King Kamehameha Club
Knowledge Broker: Icepick, by way of Rick, is Magnum's go-to guy for information that can't be acquired through legal channel.
Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Magnum's aforementioned Aside Glance to the audience whenever something ridiculous was going on.
Like Brother and Sister: 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 Will They or Won't They?, but if the show hinted at this at all, it was extremely subtle.
Long Lost Relative:
- 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.
Mixed Archetypes
The Munchausen: 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.
Near Death Clairvoyance: Also "Limbo"
One Steve Limit: TC's first name is also Thomas.
The Patriarch: Rick considers Icepick to be like a father to him.
Perpetual Poverty
Porn Stache: Magnum himself of course, but Higgins and TC too. A very high facial-hair quotient.
Private Detective
Private Eye Monologue: Magnum in every episode. Played with whenever Luther Gillis shows up and narrates his own adventures.
Quintessential British Gentleman: Higgins
Rancher: In one episode there is a teenage rancher who needs our heroes' help.
Recurring Character: A veritable arsenal of them. Carol Baldwin deserves special mention, being the closest thing the series ever had to a regular female character.
Red Oni, Blue Oni: Magnum is red, Higgins is blue.
Retired Badass: Higgins. Occasionally we get evidence that not everything about his stories is exaggerated.
Series Fauxnale: "Limbo"
Slobs Versus Snobs: Magnum versus Higgins, though usually rather lighthearted
Stepping Out For A Quick Cup Of Coffee: common on this show
This! Is! SPARTA!: Higgins's prayerful response to most of Magnum's activities: "Oh. My. GOD!!!"
Uncanny Family Resemblance: Higgins has three illegitimate brothers, all played by Hillerman
The Unreveal: In the final seasons, Magnum suspects that Higgins was the real Robin Masters all along. This is never proven (or disproven.)
Vigilante Execution: 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.
Vitriolic Best Buds: Higgins and Magnum.
The Voice: Orson Wells as Robin Masters.
The Watson: Rick.
Wham Episode: "Did you see the sunrise?"
What Could Have Been: 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.