Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

Rate, review & discuss the episodes from the fifth season

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How Would You Rate This Episode?

10 (Perfect!)
5
6%
9.5 (One of the Best)
7
9%
9.0 (Excellent)
11
14%
8.5 (Very Good)
27
35%
8.0 (Pretty Good)
8
10%
7.5 (Decent)
7
9%
7.0 (Average at Best)
7
9%
6.5 (Not So Good)
3
4%
6.0 (Pretty Bad)
1
1%
5.0 (Just Awful)
1
1%
 
Total votes: 77

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charybdis1966
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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#21 Post by 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!"

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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#22 Post by 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.

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Milton Collins
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#23 Post by Milton Collins »

wilko wrote: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?

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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#24 Post by 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.

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#25 Post by MaximRecoil »

Milton Collins wrote:
wilko wrote: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.

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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#26 Post by eagle »

EZiller wrote: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!

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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#27 Post by 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? :lol:
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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#28 Post by 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.

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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#29 Post by K Hale »

Mad Kudu Buck wrote: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.
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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#30 Post by 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.

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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#31 Post by K Hale »

The problem with it is that it's out of character for Magnum, who is protective or even overprotective of JQH when it comes to safety issues. Consider these examples:

* "You better not drive the Ferrari, it might get out of control"
* "You shouldn't be climbing trees to trim them, it could be dangerous"
* "You should have had me move that lawn roller out of the truck, you could have hurt yourself"
* "Agatha is lying on the floor of the Vanagon with a couple broken legs, but are YOU all right?"
* "Stop putting bombs in the mongoose holes, you'll hurt yourself"
* "Are you bombing the mongooses again? This is how you got hurt before!"

Etc... so, for Magnum to snicker at obvious injuries rings a fairly false note IMO.
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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#32 Post by Mad Kudu Buck »

Yes, I agree. That's why I don't really watch this episode.

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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#33 Post by ☨magnum.t »

I was never bothered by the injuries thing, I think them walking and moving of their own volition was enough for Magnum to know neither were serioisly hurt or injured. And I think TM being concerned with Higgins' welfare was more of a way to poke fun at him, kind of like a child calling their parents old but not meaning anything other than a joke to get a rise out of them. Also TM has been SHOT before and nobody seemed to pay him much mind lol
That reminds me of the time....

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Re:

#34 Post by K Hale »

MaiTaiMan wrote:I almost rated this "Not So Good"...as once again it's a Luther Gillis episode. :? I can't hardly stand him or the Fake Mac.

However, I ended up rating it "Average at Best"...just because some of the scenes with Gillis and Higgins working together were somewhat hiliarious. :lol:

However, once again...it's still Luther! :roll: He still mostly annoys the crap out of me. :x Also, I wasn't real pleased with Magnum and how cavalier he treated Higgins and his case. :? I realize that he felt an obligation to Robin Masters, but...it was Higgins! Higgy Baby had never hired Magnum personally before...hello! :shock:

Out of all the Luther Gillis episodes, this is one I can somewhat stand to watch and be entertained...but it's still not really one I love watching when going through season 5.
I will watch the pool hustle at any time any day until the crack of doom. One of my top 5 favorite scenes in the entire show.

As for Magnum blowing off Higgins' problem, you have to remember Higgins himself told Magnum it wasn't a big deal and to give Robin's case all the priority. Naturally Magnum would have behaved differently if he had understood just how personal the connection was.
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Re: Luther Gillis: File #001 (5.10)

#35 Post by KingKC »

If any character annoyed me it was Susan Johnson played by Carol Burnett. Carol Burnett is iconic but not in that role.

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