Compulsion (5.14)

Rate, review & discuss the episodes from the fifth season

Moderator: Styles Bitchley

How Would You Rate This Episode?

10 (Perfect!)
2
3%
9.5 (One of the Best)
5
7%
9.0 (Excellent)
10
14%
8.5 (Very Good)
20
29%
8.0 (Pretty Good)
10
14%
7.5 (Decent)
12
17%
7.0 (Average at Best)
7
10%
6.5 (Not So Good)
2
3%
6.0 (Pretty Bad)
0
No votes
5.0 (Just Awful)
2
3%
 
Total votes: 70

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Frodoleader
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#16 Post by Frodoleader »

I liked the Sandhurst side story, especially when Higgens comes home to find Magnum the butler, Rick the chef and TC his personal helicopter pilot. :lol: Great stuff that saves this episode.

"last one in the copter is a rotten egg!" :D
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Danno
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#17 Post by Danno »

I agree with you guys. It's pretty obvious who the bad guy is from the start.

That being the case I greatly enjoy this episode from a character driven point of view. To me, it's more a series of vignettes than a complete episode as, honestly I didn't find the 'Carol has a stalker' idea very interesting. The characters keep it engaging and so much so, I'd give it a 9.
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Shermy
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#18 Post by Shermy »

I've been revisiting season five and found this one to be better than I remembered. Tonally, it kind've reminds me of a companion episode to 'Fragments'.

It also includes a good example of something TS mentioned in a recent Parade Magazine interview: The fact that Magnum often tried to avoid fights.

Consider the finale, in which Magnum discovers Steve has Carol tied up in a small cabin. Steve then goes outside to retrieve water from a pump, essentially providing Magnum with a perfect opportunity to ambush him and end the whole charade. (Seriously, is there any reason to think that Tom Selleck would not have been able to knock out John Pleshette with considerable ease? :? )

Instead, what does Magnum do? He first attempts to run away with Carol, then ends up trying to carry her through the woods, before ultimately deciding to use her as bait (opera-singing bait, no less!) so he can jump out of a tree and land on Steve. :lol:

I know what you're thinking, and you're right. A lesser show would have simply let the hero KO the bad guy and be done with it. But this is Magnum, p.i., in which the hero will soon find himself fending off Yakuza henchmen by using a large bowl full of lemons... :D

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#19 Post by AmandaByNight »

I feel bad saying it, because I'm sure actor is a really nice guy, but John Pleshette ALWAYS creeped me out. No matter what role he was in, there's something so sleazy about him! So he was perfect for the part!

I like this episode. Can't say I love it, but it's quite good!

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Styles Bitchley
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#20 Post by Styles Bitchley »

AmandaByNight wrote:I feel bad saying it, because I'm sure actor is a really nice guy, but John Pleshette ALWAYS creeped me out. No matter what role he was in, there's something so sleazy about him! So he was perfect for the part!
I don't think you should feel bad. As an actor, he's doing his job well! He really is a good creep!

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Sometimes actors can do too good a job at playing a creepy character. I can never see Glenn Close as anything other than a psycho after Fatal Attraction...just a bit too convincing!
"How fiendishly deceptive of you Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent."

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J.J. Walters
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#21 Post by J.J. Walters »

Shermy wrote:I know what you're thinking, and you're right. A lesser show would have simply let the hero KO the bad guy and be done with it. But this is Magnum, p.i., in which the hero will soon find himself fending off Yakuza henchmen by using a large bowl full of lemons... :D
LOL!! :D

Note: As I was typing my post, the Maybelline mascera commercial that uses the Magnum P.I. theme song began playing in the background! Bizarre!
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MaiTaiMan
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#22 Post by MaiTaiMan »

As I've mentioned a couple times before...I love episodes that are spooky, bizarre, suspenseful, psychological, etc...

"Compulsion" has all of that...and it's all about Carol! Double awesome!! I really like her in this episode and how she handles being stalked/terrorized. Pretty freaky! :shock: One of my favorites of season 5! :)

This is my favorite Magnum/Carol episode...and I even liked the subtle hints that maybe they could end up having a "thing". :wink: But, they are wise and decide against it. If Kathleen Lloyd had gotten rid of her 80's frizzy perm-job (which was in style back then) and straightened it somewhat, she would have been even better looking. :lol:

I think this episode should have been the season finale...instead of "Dancing Chicken"...my least favorite Magnum/Carol episode. :?
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#23 Post by Coops »

Wow, I can't believe I didn't post this when I first joined the forum but the actress that plays "Sunshine", Susan Swift, was a friend of one of my brothers when they were in high school. I met her quite a few times and then she went off to do The Chisholms tv show. I'm going to see if my brother is still in contact with her and see if I can do an informal interview with her regarding her time on the show.
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Coops
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#24 Post by Coops »

Wow, no sooner do I ask him if he is still in contact with her he sends her an email asking if I can ask her some questions about M.P.I.

Awesome.
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miltontheripper
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#25 Post by miltontheripper »

[quote="MaiTaiMan"]As I've mentioned a couple times before...I love episodes that are spooky, bizarre, suspenseful, psychological, etc...

"Compulsion" has all of that...and it's all about Carol! Double awesome!! I really like her in this episode and how she handles being stalked/terrorized. Pretty freaky! :shock: One of my favorites of season 5! :)


I agree! This episode is very good and probably the best Carol episode. Not to mention that the Higgins/Sandhurst subplot was also very good. Pretty funny seing TM, Rick, and TC as "servants" of Higgins when his friends arrived.

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#26 Post by Sisophous »

Coops wrote:Wow, I can't believe I didn't post this when I first joined the forum but the actress that plays "Sunshine", Susan Swift, was a friend of one of my brothers when they were in high school. I met her quite a few times and then she went off to do The Chisholms tv show. I'm going to see if my brother is still in contact with her and see if I can do an informal interview with her regarding her time on the show.
Susan Swift really caught my eye in the role of Sunshine, looking like a flower child from the 60s era. I had never seen her before. She doesn't smile at all, seems serious and doesn't have a big role. She does have an unusual, fresh look, wears provocatively skin tight jeans and is very petite.

Her acting resume is pretty short and wikipedia says she has 7 children and practices law in downtown LA.

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Styles Bitchley
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#27 Post by Styles Bitchley »

Sisophous wrote:Her acting resume is pretty short and wikipedia says she has 7 children and practices law in downtown LA.
How in the world does someone have seven children AND go to law school AND have a legal practice? That's crazy.
"How fiendishly deceptive of you Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent."

- J.Q.H.

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#28 Post by Sisophous »

Styles Bitchley wrote:
How in the world does someone have seven children AND go to law school AND have a legal practice? That's crazy.[/quote]

I was thinking the same thing. Obviously she must have been getting a lot of help along the way and it doesn't say she is the biological mother. If you think about it anything is possible if you prioritize what means the most to you and the finances are there. Children are expensive as is Law School.

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#29 Post by Sam »

Styles Bitchley wrote:
Sisophous wrote:Her acting resume is pretty short and wikipedia says she has 7 children and practices law in downtown LA.
How in the world does someone have seven children AND go to law school AND have a legal practice? That's crazy.
She keeps busy..Here is her blog and a youtube from a call in to Rush two years ago.

http://www.susaninglendale.com/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-S0J9vvRYs

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Styles Bitchley
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#30 Post by Styles Bitchley »

Sam wrote:
She keeps busy..Here is her blog and a youtube from a call in to Rush two years ago.

http://www.susaninglendale.com/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-S0J9vvRYs
Wow! That's one passionate woman! :shock:
"How fiendishly deceptive of you Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent."

- J.Q.H.

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