Limbo (7.22)

[J.J. Walters]

This is the official MM thread for Limbo (7.22). All discussions and reviews for this episode should go here. If you wish to rate the episode, please do so with the poll. The avg. score will be the official 'community rating', which will be used on the episode page (updated monthly).

This thread is also linked in the episode page of the Episode Guide.

Original Air Date: 4/15/1987
When Magnum is trapped in a state between life and death, he struggles to save his ex-wife Michelle and break through to his friends before it's too late.

[Doc Ibold]

OK James, and fellow forumites....

On Season 7, Limbo is (from what I can tell) the ORIGINAL broadcast version.

(Sorry to spoil anything, but I had to log on and post)

Truly, truly, truly a great episode!

And honestly, had they ended the series on this fashion, it would have gone off well. Nice job of wrapping things up (Won't go into spoilers for anyone who hasn't seen it), and I especially liked the Higgins resolution. I thought Rick and TC could have had more time, but...

There's always Season 8....

Now, I assume Season 8 might open with the syndicated version to wrap up the continuity issues before Infinity and Jelly Donuts. THAT would be cool.

But we can only hope..

Damn, now I'm looking forward to Season 8 only 3 days after season 7 comes out.....



Who's got Universal's phone number?

[J.J. Walters]

[Shermy]

The great thing about this episode is that very few series could have pulled off such a stunt. But Magnum got away with it, because the show had always been willing to embrace topics like the supernatural, dreams, the "little voice", etc. "Mac's ghost" was even a returning character!

It's surprising to note how little screentime Magnum actually has with Rick, TC, and Higgins. But since the characters already have such a long history together, those brief moments pack a major wallop. My favorite part is Carol and Rick's realization that they're not going to see their friend again, seguing into Magnum's last helicopter ride with TC ("for a while at least"). And leave it to Higgins to not only get the last word in, but to state his demands right in the face of death!

What an incredibly depressing way to end the character's story...and yet, somehow it's oddly life affirming. Even in death, Magnum is casually strolling off to see what's in store for him. (I wonder if his beachwalk in the beginning was inspired by Warren Beatty's similar "I don't know I'm dead" strut in Heaven Can Wait?)

This one made a big impression on me as a kid, and it's an interesting one to revisit after 20 years. I still wonder if deceased loved ones get to say goodbye while listening to John Denver. I also still think Magnum's farewell to Michelle is one of the greatest breakup lines ever.

I'm not even sure I've ever seen the footage they added for syndication. To be honest, I never really had a problem believing that Magnum could've somehow been jolted back into his body. After all, he never did fade from view...perhaps all it really took was for someone like Lily to be able to break through to him?

[Doc Ibold]

I thought that was REALLY cool in that only Lily and the lads could actually "see" him, kind of like the popular notion that only children and animals can see ghosts.

And of course, Higgins taking care of Lily in the guesthouse was cool too, kind of like a godfather or something.....

[J.J. Walters]

Shermy, what wonderfully written episode review! Thank you!

[Shermy]

[lutherhgillis]

This one was a little strange for me. It was well written and well done but I hated the thought that the show was coming to an end so badly that it sort of tainted this episode for me.

I'm glad they made the decision to do another season. Magnum getting killed just wasn't a proper ending...

[Kahunagirl]

Finally got up the nerve to watch this episode and I sure was glad I did so when my husband and son weren't around to see the tears streaming down my face for the entire time!

It's funny, I have this remarkable "ability" to watch a show, totally enjoy it and then a few days later forget almost all the details, so it's almost like new when I watch it again. I guess I do the same with a lot of books I read. I'm totally in them for the moment, but then I purge the memory cells to make room for the other stuff that I'm forced to remember (mostly, government regulations!). While I didn't remember all the details of this episode (seeing as how I'd only watched it once, 20 years ago, since we don't get Sleuth or WGN), I did remember the overwhelming sense of sadness it left me with -- even after the show came back for the 8th season. I had a similar experience with the Echoes of the Mind episodes -- I refused to watch them on the Season 1 DVD and saved them til last when I got Season 5. I've since been able to watch those episodes a few more times. But I've only been able to watch the Ivan episodes once.

Memories are Forever and Little Girl Who were slightly different, because I actually did remember the basic storylines, along with the emotions they stirred up, but at least they did have somewhat happy endings.

Seems to me that the ability to stir up such emotions is the mark of good writing, acting and direction, so I've got to admit that I was surprised to see that of those episodes I mentioned, only Memories are Forever and Did You See the Sunrise were nominated for awards.

Kahunagirl

[J.J. Walters]

What a brilliant episode! It still seems fresh and new twenty years later. Best opening and most shocking ending I've ever seen! I still can't believe they tried to end the series with Magnum strolling off to heaven, however! I can still vividly picture my girlfriend and I chucking pillows at the TV when this originally aired!

I really wish Magnum had spent more time "saying goodbye" to Higgins. It just seemed way too brief for their level of friendship.

Also, "Mac" said you get to "reach" one person, but Magnum clearly "reached" several people - Edward Durant, Lily, Buck and Michelle. I guess "Mac" was wrong.