Of Sound Mind (3.13)

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All About the Stache · Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:41 pm

One of the best episodes of the season, no doubt! I gave it the highest grade possible. I wouldn't stop laughing at this one.

The episode did have a somewhat anticlimactic end though. Magnum didn't even do a proper investigation, yet he was confident no one would have killed the man? And the rich guy accepted it just like that? Feels a bit far-fetched.

Also, why was his nephew, the accountant, so worried over his spending He was good for 50 million dollars! No reason to panic yet, one might think.

If someone would have done that to me, believing I just inherited 50 million dollars then take it away from me I would have shot the bastard.

#47 Post by **J.J. Walters** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:43 pm

All About the Stache wrote:Also, why was his nephew, the accountant, so worried over his spending He was good for 50 million dollars! No reason to panic yet, one might think.

If someone would have done that to me, believing I just inherited 50 million dollars then take it away from me I would have shot the bastard.

LOL!

#48 Post by **J.J. Walters** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:39 am

steveadl wrote:Great episode! The scene with TM & Higgins in the study is just hillarious! The scream before he runs at the door, the delayed yell of pain, then the second scream at his next run - just brilliant!

Don't suppose there's a chance of having this scene put on the MM pages is there JJ?

A little late, but I added the entire Masquerade Ball scene to the Video Clips page. The whole scene is just great - the costumes, the music, Magnum clanking around in a full suit of armor, Higgins ("I recall reading about this knight in the Crusades who was chasing this Saracen woman. It seems he tripped and fell on his back while amorously aroused and eventually starved to death."), the Grim Reaper who looks like Darth Sidious, Roscoe Lee Browne.

Jean-Claude Fornier wrote:Absolutely. On today, a french TV was broadcasting an episode of "Murder she wrote" and it stroke me too. This episode (Test of Wills, season 6, ep. 9, 1989) was a bit similar to Magnum's "Of sound mind".

A bit similar? The plot is almost exactly the same! Eccentric multi-millionaire fakes death and will, Jessica is lead to believe she will inherit $50 million dollars, squabbling wealthy family members... They left out the masquerade ball, so I guess that's something.

The MSW episode also features one Cassie Yates.

Sam · #49 Post by **Sam** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 7:10 pm

I just now realized that the "Masquerade Ball" scene was filmed at St Andrews Cathedral.
It would be used 4 episodes later in "I Do" as the reception area.

#50 Post by **Styles Bitchley** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 1:52 pm

Sam wrote:I just now realized that the "Masquerade Ball" scene was filmed at St Andrews Cathedral.
It would be used 4 episodes later in "I Do" as the reception area.

Nice catch Sam!

#51 Post by **J.J. Walters** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 7:53 pm

Oh, nice Sam! I assumed it was a set, but the windows certainly match up with the building at St. Andrew's!

Sam · #52 Post by **Sam** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:44 pm

Styles and JJ,

It came to me when I watched the Masquerade Ball scene.When TM and Carlton are greeting the guests,I noticed the arches in the passageway which I know are at St Andy's.

nha trang · #53 Post by **nha trang** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:16 am

I really love this episode. I think it is escapism at it's finest, and I don't mean that in a bad way. Part of the draw of Magnum PI is the escapism element for the viewer, hot car, mansion, great friends, excitement etc. This episode takes it to another level, because the story unfolds as TM (temporarily) lands a windfall of his own. Something most of us can relate to who dream of winning the lottery and well...errr...buying Robin's nest..hahah.

I think it's episodes like this that helped build this Magnum PI world, the archetype, that we all enjoy.

Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:33 am

Sam wrote:Styles and JJ,

It came to me when I watched the Masquerade Ball scene.When TM and Carlton are greeting the guests,I noticed the arches in the passageway which I know are at St Andy's.

Wow Sam. Some people just have an eye for those details. Unfortunately, it all seems to blow right over my head! I love finding the discoveries you and RC are able to make in your viewing. Kudos!

miltontheripper · #55 Post by **miltontheripper** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 4:46 pm

Have to say this is one of my favorite episodes not only of season 3 but of the entire series. Laughed the whole way through! TM in the armor is outstanding.

wilko · #56 Post by **wilko** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:55 pm

Noticed this flub

When Magnum catches the Grim Reaper closing the safe after removing the will, he tells him to put it down which he does, on the mantle. The Reaper refuses to move away from the safe and then shortens Magnum's walking stick before knocking him over and leaving the room............without picking up the will from the mantle!

MaiTaiMan · #57 Post by **MaiTaiMan** » Wed Jun 08, 2011 1:59 am

This was a pretty good episode...somewhat bizarre or strange, and something different. But, enjoyable just the same.

Some of the supposed dead man's relatives were a little over the top, and the ultimate plot twist of the guy faking his death was somewhat predictable...but there were some decent spooky moments when Magnum knew someone else had been in the house, and I loved the very end when Magnum and Carlton freak the guy out and he thinks they're going to shoot him.

Seaver41 · #58 Post by **Seaver41** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 4:23 pm

always liked this episode....and Donnelly Rhodes from his days on 'Soap'.

Bes · #59 Post by **Bes** » Tue May 29, 2012 2:12 pm

A classic episode which subverts the staple 'famliy inheritence murder mystery' plot by inferring there was no murder plot! Very funny and Roscoe is a legend; he was also great in The Cowboys and the excellent '80s cartoon Visionaries.

RocketMan · #60 Post by **RocketMan** » Wed Jan 16, 2013 3:21 pm

First post!

I am surprised by all the love for this episode. Having just watched the first three seasons in their entirety for the first time, I rank this one near the bottom of the barrel. Only the awful backdoor pilot Two Birds of a Feather "rises" below this one, in my book.

When the plane took off in the beginning, I thought: "Okay, it's going to explode." Yep, it did.

Then I thought: "He isn't dead, he's trying to find out who of his relatives would off him for the inheritance." Strike two.

Usually, Magnum episodes are really surprising and confound all my expectations, but this was just so predictable and boring.

Even at the very end, my thoughts were: "They're not going to shoot him, they just want to scare the living daylights out of him." Strike three, you're out. Lame.

The three greedy relatives were shallow, cardboard cut-out characters instead of fully fleshed out ones.

Even the humour in this one didn't tickle me. Usually, Magnum is rather clever and subtle, with much of the laughs springing from wonderful character interplay and delightful dialogue - but this one had low-brow slapstick (enough with the armour already, take it off!) and cheap sight gags. It seemed to me that Rick's and T.C.'s outlandish costumes were just there for one quick laugh. Once they had arrived at the party, they didn't do much to further the plot.

Don't get me wrong, Magnum's a near-perfect series, and I'm glad you all liked this episode - I'm just a bit surprised that I seem to be the only one who felt seriously let down.

Of Sound Mind (3.13)

How Would You Rate This Episode?

Classic episode!