Death and Taxes (7.6)

Rate, review & discuss the episodes from the seventh season

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How Would You Rate This Episode?

10 (Perfect!)
53
35%
9.5 (One of the Best)
58
39%
9.0 (Excellent)
23
15%
8.5 (Very Good)
7
5%
8.0 (Pretty Good)
4
3%
7.5 (Decent)
3
2%
7.0 (Average at Best)
0
No votes
6.5 (Not So Good)
0
No votes
6.0 (Pretty Bad)
1
1%
5.0 (Just Awful)
1
1%
 
Total votes: 150

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ConchRepublican
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#81 Post by ConchRepublican »

Carol the Dabbler wrote:
lutherhgillis wrote:I still think that Milton Collins had to have known Magnum from Vietnam. He had a 'team ring', he knew about Felipe being Le Boule, and he knew that Magnum had worked the case that ended with La Boule being killed. How could he have known this and how did he get the ring?
I kept thinking the killer had to be someone from Magnum's "team" in Vietnam, because that handful of men were the only ones with The Ring. But the more I thought about it afterward, the more I figured that was just another manifestation of the killer's obsession with Magnum -- witness his driving a similar (maybe identical) car, dressing like Magnum, etc. We know that he had seen Magnum in person at least twice, and had an extensive collection of photos of Magnum -- so he could very easily have had a "team ring" made for himself.

As for knowing about Philipe, maybe he had been able, with his service connections, to talk with some members of the team, just swapping old war stories. They might not have had a clue that they were feeding the obsessions of a psychotic. And Philipe's death was probably in the newspaper.
I agree Carol. To me what makes the point is the little differences. Take the team ring - all of Magnum's team had the same style Cross of Lorraine ring. The Ripper's was different. Just like the shirt, and the shoes, and even the laugh, they were all copies, and not good ones, of what our guy Thomas Magnum is known for.
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308GUY
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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#82 Post by 308GUY »

Watched this one again the other day. Wow. They got it right here. Everything fit just the way it is supposed to. Some of the "mystery" never was solved, just like in life. The mounty (TM) got his man, the mood fit the story, as did the cast and cinematography and overall production. The music has already been mentioned enough, but I'll just say it worked for me too. Don't know that this is my all time favorite episode, but it is right up there near the top. We get to see Magnum being an investigator and get to kind of watch his mind work behind the scenes to figure out where to be next, what to look for and expect, and what to be prepared for. Not "perfect" by any means, but very good television, especially considering it aired over 27 years ago. Very suspensful and holds your (at least my) attention start to finish. A solid 9 for sure.

Oh and
Carol the Dabbler wrote: But the more I thought about it afterward, the more I figured that was just another manifestation of the killer's obsession with Magnum -- witness his driving a similar (maybe identical) car, dressing like Magnum, etc.
It was a Pontiac Fiero! :magnum:
"C'mon TC...nothing can go wrong!"

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#83 Post by SignGuyHPW »

I thought this one was really excellent. It did remind me of Miami Vice also, but when Magnum was dramatic the shows were very similiar. It made sense to not have a lot of the regular cast in this one so Magnum had to rely strictly on his own investigative skills instead of the regulars helping him with the grunt work or jumping in to help with the final confrontation. Despite never having the answers to a lot of the questions (why would he do these crimes, why did he become so fixated with Magnum, how did he know Fellipe was LaBoule, etc) it seemed appropriate to not have them answered. It also left the door open for them to be answered in a future episode if they chose. My own personal theory was that The Ripper was related to Fellipe and thus would be aware of the entire story behind Fellipe and Magnum. It could also explain his getting a Team Ring if it was actually the one belonging to Fellipe. The favor he felt he owed Magnum may have been due to Magnum taking the life of a relative that had caused him some kind of torment. All in all, this was one of my favorite episodes.

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#84 Post by Milton Collins »

I LOVE this episode (hence my screen name!!!). I think the Milton Collins character was fantasticly creepy yet creative and rather funny at the same time. I've always had so many questions regarding Milton's knowledge of Magnum's past and as I read many of the posts on here it gives some good insight into how he knew about certain things. Certainly he could have read about Laboules death and even his past military exploits as it all would have most likely come out when Magnum shot him. But how did he know that Philipe had served with Magnum? I have to think the ring, the car, and all the other Magnum likenesses were simply done from character study as he was clearly obsessed with Magnum and idolized him. Any thoughts anyone?

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Steve
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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#85 Post by Steve »

Milton Collins wrote:I LOVE this episode (hence my screen name!!!). I think the Milton Collins character was fantasticly creepy yet creative and rather funny at the same time. I've always had so many questions regarding Milton's knowledge of Magnum's past and as I read many of the posts on here it gives some good insight into how he knew about certain things. Certainly he could have read about Laboules death and even his past military exploits as it all would have most likely come out when Magnum shot him. But how did he know that Philipe had served with Magnum? I have to think the ring, the car, and all the other Magnum likenesses were simply done from character study as he was clearly obsessed with Magnum and idolized him. Any thoughts anyone?

To me it's the greatest mystery of the entire series, much more so than is Higgins Robin Masters....(One of my top three episodes as well)

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#86 Post by Milton Collins »

I agree, what a frustrating but great way to leave things unexplained!! I would have like to have seen this story revisited somehow and some answers given, maybe Milton wasn't working alone and his partner returns to plague Magnum? Or something to that effect. Oh well, I guess Milton was just your not so average nutball who was privy to some information and had a real "case" on Magnum.

"A wise old owl, lived in an oak, the more he saw, the less he spoke, the less he spoke, the more he heard, why can't we all be like that wise old bird?"

Brrrr, what a creepy dude to say that as he's dying, perfect ending to the perfect episode!

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#87 Post by .45caliber »

"I'm press! I'm press!", I couldn't stand that little weasel! I loved this episode, top five no doubt. Great characters, Spangler, the Ripper and Lt. Page. The Rippers voice was so creepy, "I because they're whores! Liars, cheaters, theives!". Great touch with the riddles and the Genesis song.
I liked the part when Spangler says he hasn't worried about the police since he read the first ammendment and Magnum says "don't wrap yourself in the bill of rights". I also like how they left so many unanswered questions although I would have liked to know how Milton knew about Lebuelle and his connection, I think it was brilliant because in real life we seldom get all the answers.
Finally, great shot TM took with the .45, killing the Ripper. Then in weasel fashion Spangler lies about keeping Magnums name out of the paper. That POS deserved to die for being stupid enough to try and meet the Ripper at the war memorial for an interview. This episode is a 10!

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#88 Post by Dave Anderson »

Best Magnum episode of all time. I have nothing more to say about it. Amazing episode.

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#89 Post by Milton Collins »

Dave Anderson wrote:Best Magnum episode of all time. I have nothing more to say about it. Amazing episode.

Agree completely!!!

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#90 Post by Turkey »

Amazing episode - I've used this to discuss camera & editing before, that scene with the dumpster->the hotel room, amazing
Make it two weeks.

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#91 Post by J. Rickley Schneider »

Who is the more formidable antagonist in this episode, the Ripper or the IRS?

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#92 Post by Milton Collins »

A wise old owl lived in an oak,
the more he saw the less he spoke,
the less he spoke the more he heard,
why cant we all be like that wise old bird!

A poem by Milton Collins

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#93 Post by Sperry »

One of my favourite and memorable episodes. Like so many have mentioned on this thread, the dumpster scene to Genesis 'mama' is truly epic.
It is a particularly gritty and dark episode but as usual there is a moment of hilarity..the scene when Thomas appears driving the pizza delivery van. comical !!

I have heard it said that this episode was a nod to Miami Vice. With regards to the pacing, editing and general atmosphere, I would agree there is some similarity.

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#94 Post by KingKC »

Boy, for intensity this episode was it. It bordered on frightening. I don't really care much for the dark and pure violence depicted but objectively speaking this was a top notch episode. A lot of members compare this episode in some ways to Laura but the violence here was by the bad guy, not the good guy seeking justice, even though Sinatra/Doheny was intending to administer street justice and may or may not actually have. It is not out of the realm of possibility that a sociopath would taunt TM. Think Zodiac and the taunting of his cryptic letters to the newspapers and/or police. I think that added to the suspense and mystery. Almost a top ten but not a favorite due to the sick violence. I know it isn't real but I still don't really care much for it.

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Re: Death and Taxes (7.6)

#95 Post by MaximRecoil »

I hated Miami Vice, so I didn't like this episode either. Also, the killer had an incredibly annoying voice, annoying laugh, and annoying style of talking; not to mention he had an annoying face with an annoying gap between his teeth that the annoying camera man decided to constantly zoom in on. I didn't like his shoes either, but I guess the camera man did.

I'm not a fan of Phil Collins / Genesis, or music of that style in general. It sounded like something Stan Bush might have sung for an '80s Cannon Group movie soundtrack. All those '80s soundtrack singers/bands, e.g., Stan Bush, Kenny Loggins, Survivor, Frank Stallone, John Farnham, John Parr, Larry Greene, Mark Safan, Robert Tepper, and so on, had that same singing style, i.e., singing with "passion" (lol).

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