Carol the Dabbler wrote:
Can anyone verify either theory, and/or prove us both wrong?
Your husband is correct. In "Did You See The Sunrise?", when TC is telling Nuzzo that Magnum is a PI he calls him Thomas Sullivan Magnum. AFAIK this is the first time dialogue on the show confirms TSM's middle name.
The scene with Higgins, Mioshi and later Magnum eating on the balcony I think 'encapulates' (for want of a better word) a great deal of the appeal of Magnum P.I for me.
Its about the lifestyle: relaxing, enjoying fine cuisine, eating in the balmy summer evening and generally enjoying life! - I want it!
As 'Island Hopper' mentioned at the top of this post - the scene offers a great view of the beautiful estate grounds and a rare and breif look at the upstairs layout of the main house.
I love that the dogs are up on the balcony with them - its all just so perfect. What great direction, casting, lighting, everything.
No wonder the show has so many fans, and this forum/site has so many members. Great job all!
Friday’s first review. I’ve always liked this episode since the first time I saw it. Echoed some other posters thoughts in this review, it seems lots of people like the same thing.
[rating=9.5]
A fortune cookie motto has convinced Magnum to start paying back some debts to his friends. But when he goes to collect a crate of books for Higgins, he finds it contains a Japanese stowaway supposedly fleeing from her power-mad father. A great episode…
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‘The Eighth Part of the Village’ is a great episode of ‘Magnum, p.i.’, that for me sums up the high quality and well roundedness of the third season. Like all good MPI entries, it has the perfect mix of comedy, drama and action.
…And comedy is one of the key ingredients that makes this story so likable. From the first moment we see Magnum, dressed as a Chinaman, trying to mow the Estate lawn, we are in for a number of great moments. Maybe more could have been made of his debt repayment to T.C., of being his chauffer for a day, but the story was so packed that it didn’t really need this.
The story is well shot, with some lovely locations (the zoo, for example, and the rare shot on the Estate on the balcony). One of the things I like about the series is the sheer feel of it – the relaxed, easy-going feel, with some great scenery, but still a good story to hold things together.
We are given more about Higgins’ past, and I really liked the depth given to his wartime encounter with Sato Osawa, played by Danny Kamekona, who has such presence. The whole thing is pulled of with such feel and dignity, and is the sort of thing that raised the series above the average detective / adventure offerings of the era.
Without giving anything away, the climatic revelation comes as a real twist, and I was really surprised the first time I watched this episode. Again, it is pulled off so well.
All-in-all, this is a terrific episode. Very close to a perfect 10 for me.
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Other notes, bloopers and misc.:
* Although he has used similar, variant phrases before, this is the first time Higgins mentions one of Magnum’s “Tawdry divorce cases”. This would become a recurring detail (sometimes being “sordid” instead of “tawdry”).
* Magnum’s narration for this episode sounds very ‘boxy’, and almost has an echo, harking back to the Pilot.
* The DVD version has all of the commercial breaks in this episode abridged.
Higgins: For some reason you're being intentionally obtuse! Magnum: Obtuse?! Higgins: Vague! Magnum: I know what it means Higgins!
"Obtuse" doesn't mean "vague". In this context it means "stupid". It is very much out of character for Higgins to make an English language error like that.
IslandHopper wrote:
This episode also includes a scene which takes place on the balcony of the estate’s main house, which offers a rare look at the grounds below. I may be mistaken, but I don’t recall any other scenes shot from this balcony. This balcony offers a beautiful vantage point, I’m surprised it wasn’t used more. The scene on the balcony takes place right after Magnum and TC search Roy Chambers’ apartment and get interrupted by the apartment manager.
Yes I watched this episode again the other day and was quite excited when I saw them shooting from on the balcony itself. Usually we only see it from the grounds with Higgins or a guest talking from it. This time we get to see the balcony, the furniture set up close (you can often see the wicker chairs on the balcony during shots of the main house), and even the extension of the balcony that goes behind the wall and not visible from the ground shots (when TM goes to walk away) - from memory just some chairs and a table. Screenshot anyone?
Such a beautiful view, can just imagine the lifestyle sitting out there having dinner and drinks etc. Shame they didn't use the balcony for more episodes.