Magnum Mania!

Let the Punishment Fit the Crime

Episode ID: 80
Episode Number: 4.17
Air Date: 2/23/1984
Writer: Robert Hamilton
Director: Bernard L. Kowalski
Producer: Reuben Leder
Exec Producer: Donald P. Bellisario

Recurring Characters

Gillian Dobb (Agatha Chumley)

Guest Stars

Kay Lenz (Sally DeForrest), Christopher Mitchum (Eric DeForrest), Hermione Baddeley (Bernice), Terence Knapp (Sir Cedric Brooke), Olga Marr (Sylvia)

Episode Brief

It's music and mayhem when Higgins plans a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado for a visiting British dignitary. Meanwhile, Magnum becomes involved with Sally DeForest, whose brother has disappeared under unusual circumstances.

Rating

8.3 (24 votes) Rate Episode

Notes

¹ The name of this episode is taken from Gilbert and Sullivan's "A More Humane Mikado", Act II of The Mikado, which we see Higgins directing a performance of in this episode. Also from The Mikado, the song "Three Little Maids From School" is seen and heard.

² Because of Agatha's increased screen time in this episode, Gillian Dobb is billed as a guest star in the opening credits. Typically, she is not billed until the closing credits.

³ The rarely seen wine cellar at the estate is seen at the beginning of the episode.

⁴ This episode features an awesome one-on-one fight between Magnum and Eric DeForrest (Christopher Mitchum). The fight lasts for a good two minutes and ends with Magnum, hurt and dazed, taking out Eric with his backup gun (his seldom seen or used Detonics Pocket 9). (Handgun ID'd by Jeff Schroeder)

⁵ During an address check, Magnum pulls up to a building where a sign reads "Jan Kona Real Estate". Jan Kona was a character played by Jill St.John in Season Two's "Three Minus Two" (2.22). The camera pauses briefly on the sign and Magnum appears to recognize the name. (Noted by N1095A)

⁶ The location where Sir Cedric Brooke is having his meeting is none other than Omega Station, the building that was "Lazeronics" in "J. "Digger" Doyle" (1.17), the site where Magnum and Digger daringly rescued Higgins. (Noted by N1095A)

⁷ Magnum is again seen picking a lock without a tension wrench. It is impossible to pick most locks without a tension wrench, and for others it is very difficult and time consuming. (Noted by N1095A)

⁸ Higgins is a self-taught pianist and plays at the rehearsal level.

⁹ Magnum mentions having an Uncle named "George".

¹⁰ Terence Knapp (Sir Cedric Brooke) previously guest starred in "Letter to a Duchess" (4.6).

¹¹ At the very end, Rick amusingly sings a few lines of "I am a Pirate King!" from Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance.

¹² When Higgins was a student at Eton College in the early 1930s, he directed a directed a production of The Mikado.

Quotes

¹
Higgins: Since 1885, when Gilbert and Sullivan's immortal Mikado was first presented, the Three Little Maids have performed this song exactly as how I have taught it to you. In your hands ladies is a tradition stretching back to the glorious days of the empire. You too will uphold it, yes, even cherish it!

²
Rick: I am the Pirate King! It is, it is, a glorious thing to be the Pirate King! It is, it is, is!

Flubs

¹ After killing Eric, Magnum is trying to find a ride back to the estate to stop Sally from killing Sir Cedric. Why does he need to hitch a ride when he followed Eric to the location in the Ferrari? (Noted by N1095A)

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