RARA-AVIS: Re: America's Top Sleuths

From: JIM DOHERTY ( jimdohertyjr@yahoo.com)
Date: 25 Jul 2006


Kevin,

Re your comment below:

"Magnum is bad enough."

I know you're not a fan of MAGNUM - P.I., but I really think you're selling the show short.

First of all, despite his good looks and considerable personal charm, Magnum was a lot more hard-boiled than you're giving him credit for. In one episode, he deliberately murdered an unarmed KGB agent because he knew it was the only way to get justice for a murdered friend. The friend was a regular on the show, and the episode ended witha freeze-frame of Magnum firing his
.45 at bad guy.

Strong stuff. And all the more strong because it contrasted so harshly with the lighter-hearted episodes the show had.

Aside from that, it was a very well-written show, with Magnum doing actual detective work, talking to witnesses and following leads.

The slowly unfolding story of Magnum's Viet Nam service and the trauma he suffered, the realistic and heartfelt friendships Magnum had with the other regulars, the family relationships back on the Mainland, all were elements marking it as a carefully characterized and well-crafted piece of work.

It may have seemed like a lot of gimmicks indifferently thrown together, but beneath the surface, it was a lot more than that.

JIM DOHERTY

 

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