I think it is a very good episode indeed. I like Sam Hunter and his feelings for his family. The dialogue between Higgins, Magnum and Sam after the plane crash is priceless:
- You can't land your aeroplane there.
- Didn't have much choice. You see, this fella was running on the beach.
- I knew it!
- What? I was running on my own beach?
- It's not yours, it's Robin Masters' beach.
(even though we know that there are no private beaches in Hawaii)
The director Virgil W. Vogel did an excellent job with the "Nam" set, the war bombing explosions and, most of all, the plane crash into the tidal pool. It looks real. Maybe it is or maybe they used some small rocks to make it look bigger.
And it looks like it is flying very very close to Tom Selleck. The star of the show!!!
Vogel has also directed the episode 'Distante relative' that features the outstanding chopper chase scene. Great work.
So sad to read that Chad Lee Sheets (Kip Hunter in this episode) died at the age of 26, following a battle with cancer (
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cg ... d=15619195).
Unfortunately it reminds me the story of Dana Hill (Willie the Weapon in the 'Basket Case' episode, one of my faves), another unlucky guest star of this season.