Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

[TigersFan#35]

Think I'll start posting here after Watching each episode on Netflix.

Well I gave this episode an 8.5, I pretty much love episode where Higgy-baby plays a larger role and this one was awesome, it was good to see Higgins and Luther bond and Higgins cowboy act was hilarious.

*Minor Spoiler*

When Luther told the guys inside the boat that Magnum was behind them Magnums facial reaction was priceless!

Anyways just like the majority of peeps here, I didn't like ol Luther Gillis at first, but he does sorta grow on you!

[MaximRecoil]

"Who cares? Why don't you go dust the fish for some prints?"

One of many lines that had me laughing out loud. Luther Gillis was a riot; he should have had his own spin-off series.

[Doc Fred]

The plot of the story?.... Not too good in my view. I thought so much of it was hokey and I was uncomfortable with it. Unlike the previous Luther episodes, many of the lines seemed manufactured and totally lacking in humor.

As others have said, and I felt this way watching the show, I was very disappointed that Magnum's reaction to Higgins' problem wasn't more positive. I guess whoever wrote this episode didn't have the real feel for Magnum, who had shown great concern and empathy for Higgins' plights in the past.

With all that said, and I didn't like the story line very much, what I really liked so much was the character development of Higgins and also Luther. We saw a completely different side of Higgins, and saw the great depth to his quality as a man. I thought this was the highlight of the show, and was very moving to me. To a lesser extent, we saw into Luther, and that was good, too. Without the great character development, I'd have rated this as one of the weaker episodes in the entire series.

The show was saved by Higgins... I gave it an 8.5 score. Yes, I'm someone who very much enjoys knowing what makes up the characters, and not just the superficiality of the story line... although I truly love many of the stories. But, this series is more about the people than the "adventures" they live.

[.45caliber]

Agree with everything Doc Fred said. Not the best Luther Gillis episode, but the guy cracks me up. Cowboy bar scene was awesome, great brawl. File#001 Luther's maiden voyage to banana land:)

[marlboro]

Lt. Tanaka: What were you doing at the waterfront?

Higgins: It was late, and we were hungry.

Lt Tanaka: I want answers! What about Walter Brummer?

Luther: I think he was working for scale.


I firmly believe that if Bellisario had produced "Higgins & Gillis" instead of "Simon & Simon" the series would still be on the air today and have have ratings higher than the last episode of MASH, the last 3 Super Bowls and the Apollo moon landing combined.

Well, maybe not - but it was still a pretty good episode. Hillerman and Roche worked very well together.

[charybdis1966]

I quite liked this one as, contrary to the consensus, I find Luther quite entertaining and non-annoying. His narrations are an effective counterpoint to TM's.

Funniest bit, when Luther disrupts Higgins' pool hustle he breaks from his Elmo Ziller impression to his trademark "Oh my god!"

[EZiller]

After lurking around the board for a couple weeks, catching this episode recently compelled me to sign up. This has about everything for a lighter MPI episode. I love Higgins, especially when he gets a bit out of sync and Luther is my favorite recurring character. Putting them together is an inspired plot idea, since they have few similarities except age and that they are rarely intimidated. What makes this so good is that after they start working together they begin a grudging admiration for each other and they realize they have more in common than they thought. Plus, we also have Mr. Welles as the voice of Robin on the answering machine (and having ROSEBUD as the password for the computer-great touch!) and Higgins doing some Elmo Ziller, plus finding out about his past romantic tyrst with the lady of nobility, possibly the future PM.

I see it was already noted in the flubs, Luther mentioned that in 1954 he was at the STL Browns spring training camp in St. Petersburg, however the Browns moved to Baltimore after the 1953 season. However St. Pete was the spring training home of the Cardinals in 1954 and till the 90's, I believe. Maybe Luther was just confused-again.

[Milton Collins]

Not sure if you'd call this a flub or anomaly.

When Higgins recounts his time in Kenya during 1954 to Luther he says that he was the youngest one in his platoon. In 1954 Higgins would have been 36, it is hard to believe that he was the youngest, especially when you consider that in 1953 he was a Sergeant-Major leading troops aged 20 or less (Episode Black on White) against the Mau Mau.

Wait a minute, if Higgins was 36 in 1954 wouldn't this have put him at around 65 in this season 5 episode which is WAY too old for John Hillerman/Higgins? Not trying to argue but just curious as to how we know Higgins was 36 in 1954 as I don't think it's possible that he could have been, something doesn't make sense?

[Milton Collins]

This is a completely fun episode!!! Luther is hilarious and a great character in my book. I love the cowboy bar scene lol. Higgins going in and out of Elmo character was great:) Also cracked me up how Robin had to tell Magnum to wear a tie and polyester suit as I've always loved Magnums casual sometimes sloppy style. Just seems to fit his "boyish" character all the more. And the end fight with John Hillerman's stuntman painfully obvious in the scene was pretty funny too! I like the silly and less serious episodes for a change of pace and gave this one an 8.

[MaximRecoil]

Not sure if you'd call this a flub or anomaly.

When Higgins recounts his time in Kenya during 1954 to Luther he says that he was the youngest one in his platoon. In 1954 Higgins would have been 36, it is hard to believe that he was the youngest, especially when you consider that in 1953 he was a Sergeant-Major leading troops aged 20 or less (Episode Black on White) against the Mau Mau.

Wait a minute, if Higgins was 36 in 1954 wouldn't this have put him at around 65 in this season 5 episode which is WAY too old for John Hillerman/Higgins? Not trying to argue but just curious as to how we know Higgins was 36 in 1954 as I don't think it's possible that he could have been, something doesn't make sense?

Higgins was born in 1920 according to the Higgins Timeline here on this site, though I don't know how consistent the show was about his age. That would have made him 34 in 1954. Hillerman was born in very late 1932, so he's playing someone 12-13 years older than himself. That's not as bad as Carolyn Seymour, the second actress who played Lady Ashley, who was engaged to Higgins in 1939. She was born in late 1947; making her younger than all of the regular cast members (almost 3 years younger than Selleck). She was 36 years old playing someone who should have been over 60 years old.

[eagle]

we also have Mr. Welles as the voice of Robin on the answering machine (and having ROSEBUD as the password for the computer-great touch!)

I was wondering if anyone else would catch that. I'm watching season 5 right now, and this is my current episode. I immediately caught the reference as I heard the answering machine message!

[K Hale]

This is IMO the only watchable Luther Gillis episode. He's toned down and not so over the top cartoonish.

Pool hustle is the best part... why couldn't JQH just let it go?

[Mad Kudu Buck]

What ruins this episode for me is Magnum's attitude when seeing Higgins and Luther with bruises all over their faces. He should have been concerned and upset and asked them if they're OK, but instead Magnum just laughs like a hyena.

[K Hale]

What ruins this episode for me is Magnum's attitude when seeing Higgins and Luther with bruises all over their faces. He should have been concerned and upset and asked them if they're OK, but instead Magnum just laughs like a hyena.

This bothered me too, to be honest. He explained it by saying that he was giddy from staring at the computer screen too long, which seemed like a pretty slim pretext for laughing at somebody's obvious injuries.

[Mad Kudu Buck]

Of course, Higgins usually wasn't too concerned about Magnum being beat up, but Magnum was a young tough guy who got into fights regularly. Magnum's bruises didn't look nearly as bad as the bruises on Higgins and he's a much older guy who rarely got into fights.

I suppose it could be a makeup problem. I think the scene would have worked if Higgins hair was all out of place and he had small bruises and scuff marks on his face and his clothes were a bit ripped and crumpled.