| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| How Would You Rate This Episode? |
| 10 (Perfect!) |
|
26% |
[ 20 ] |
| 9.5 (One of the Best) |
|
48% |
[ 36 ] |
| 9.0 (Excellent) |
|
6% |
[ 5 ] |
| 8.5 (Very Good) |
|
10% |
[ 8 ] |
| 8.0 (Pretty Good) |
|
6% |
[ 5 ] |
| 7.5 (Decent) |
|
1% |
[ 1 ] |
| 7.0 (Average at Best) |
|
0% |
[ 0 ] |
| 6.5 (Not So Good) |
|
0% |
[ 0 ] |
| 6.0 (Pretty Bad) |
|
0% |
[ 0 ] |
| 5.0 (Just Awful) |
|
0% |
[ 0 ] |
|
| Total Votes : 75 |
|
| Author |
Message |
firefly
Commander
Joined: 10 Jun 2010
Posts: 36
Location: connecticut
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Carol the Dabbler
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 280
Location: Indiana, USA
|
 Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 6:14 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| firefly wrote: | | in the dvd that i have he doesn't say "kill him", he tells him when he finds him to "shoot him". |
Thanks for the exact wording, firefly, and thanks for confirming that it's on the DVD.
I believe I've heard, though, that military trainees are taught that it's hard enough to just hit a distant or moving target, let alone hit some specific part of it, so don't attempt any of this fancy shoot-the-gun-out-of-his-hand stuff like the Lone Ranger -- don't shoot at someone unless you're intending to kill him.
In other words, in military parlance, there's no practical difference between Buck saying "shoot him" and "kill him."
_________________
Carol
|
|
| Back to top |
|
AmandaByNight
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
Posts: 238
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 11:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I think this is one of the most moving episodes of the series. The choices he makes at the end are heart-wrenching. In some respect, it works out (with at least Lily), but to have to make that decision. I dunno. This episode truly affected me. I get chills thinking about it.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
MagnumsLeftShoulder
Captain
Joined: 30 Mar 2011
Posts: 58
Location: Hot Springs National Park
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 1:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Mindblowing is the only way to describe this episode! The first time I saw it 10 yrs ago, I had not seen Memories are Forever or DYSTS. This time, I am watching in order and its much more powerful. I love the hallway scene where Thomas is just daring someone to attempt to stop him. I think the title, Unfinished Business, implies that the end of the episode is not the end of Thomas' "business." I know the phrase was used a couple of times leading up to this episode, but if it had been the end of the Michelle, Lily, Quang Ki storyline, it should have been titled "Finished Business."
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Tuan Vu
Commander
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Posts: 44
|
| Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 2:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
Today was the first time I had viewed this great episode. Boy, after the light-hearted and very funny "A Girl Named Sue" in the previous episode, we are hit with a profoundly moving and intense episode like "Unfinished Business"! I can't recall any show in history with range like that (although I suppose there must have been one or two).
I kind of knew (well...hoped, anyway) that Magnum would not shoot Quang Ki. To do so would jeopardize possible future MIAs from returning home, and in addition, Magnum is not one to take revenge. This is not like the case of when he shoots Ivan, who would have gone on to attempt further assassinations if Magnum had let him go. In that case, he was justified (IMO) in killing Ivan. Besides, to shoot Quang Ki would probably have set off all the Vietnamese soldiers and Marines into a gun battle (they all had their rifles out) and the POW and his daughter would have got caught in the crossfire.
By the way, Jay-Firestorm, I really enjoy your reviews and critiques on this website. I was wondering what your top 20 list is. If this episode would not even crack your top 10, then I would be curious as to what could top this episode! 
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Carol the Dabbler
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 280
Location: Indiana, USA
|
| Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| "J.J. Walters (Episode Guide, Quote 1, end of first paragraph) wrote: | | Somehow, I know I will see you again. I hope that you and your mama are well and happy. I think of you everyday. |
Minor quibble: The word "everyday" is an adjective, meaning ordinary (e.g., "everyday clothes"), whereas the phrase "every day" is an adverb meaning daily (e.g., "I eat breakfast every day"). So from a pedantic point of view, Magnum's voice-over should have been transcribed as "I think of you every day."
Of course, if we actually see those words written in his letter, then they'd have to be quoted as written. (I don't believe we see the letter, but can't recall for sure.)
By the way, this (mis)use of "everyday" is becoming so common that it will undoubtedly become the standard sooner or later. Perhaps the Episode Guide is merely ahead of its time!
_________________
Carol
|
|
| Back to top |
|
J.J. Walters
Site Admin
Joined: 02 Jan 2007
Posts: 3470
Location: Suburbia, USA
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Carol the Dabbler
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 280
Location: Indiana, USA
|
| Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 1:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
| J.J. Walters wrote: | | More than likely the update was made late at night, so I could blame it on fatigue. |
Been there, done that! I once ruined an entire joke by getting the punch line backwards.
_________________
Carol
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Jaybird
Admiral
Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 174
Location: California
|
| Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 12:00 am Post subject: |
|
|
| maggiepoole wrote: | This is such a powerful episode. Very heavy! I remembered it (from seeing it when it was originally on), after I watched it again last week. But, the videotape scene was still a surprise. I knew what was coming, but still didn't prepare me for it. Even watching it again, I jump! It is such a compelling episode, but hard to watch at the same time. Your heart just aches for Magnum, can't imagine going through that. Have to say that Tom Selleck is one of the most incredible actors. No one can cry like he can!
Just a few things I am puzzled about though. The report Magnum finds in Buck's house says transport to Ile Debonnevie. I am assuming that is in France? Is it? I tried to google it to find the area, but nothing came up. My French and French geography are lacking, but I am wondering if that is a real place? If it was France, Magnum took a boat from Hawaii to France?? Was he in Hawaii when he got the boat? That area didn't quite look like Hawaiian geography?
I was also wondering what Magnum was writing on the ammo box.
I guess he was trying to figure out the maximum capability of his gun? Not a weapons expert either.  |
Magnum is shooting a Steyr SSG 69, Model P 1 made in Austria, and is an very accurate rifle used by police and military around the world as their go-to sniper rifle. It fires the 7.62 x 51 NATO round, civilian version is the 308. He already knows the ballistics for a 308 caliber, 168 grn bullet, muzzle velocity +/- 2600 fps. So if he is sighted in say at 300 yards, he knows how much the bullet will drop at 400 yards, 500 yards, 800 yards...whatever. And he knows how high it will shoot at say, 200 yards. Hawaii can be windy and he has his data on wind drift. Figuring wind drift, the velocity and direction at various ranges is what separates the really good marksmen from everyone else. Anyway, his scope is probably a Kahles 6x with mil dots or mil marks. Usually there is a dot every 5 mils and a small line every 10 mils. You look through the scope and note the number of mils that is bracketing your target. Then you input into the formula a known height, same range and multiply x 1000 and you get your distance to the target. A human, belt to head, is very close to 36" so this becomes your known height. This is how it was done in Vietnam before laser range finders that are used today. At longer ranges the trajectory is pretty radical. If he was thought his target was 880 yards, as an example, and it actually was only 800 yards, his bullet would impact about 42" higher than his point of aim! If he is sighted in at 300 yards and his target was 100 or 200 yards he would only have to hold a few inches low and past 300, say to 350, he would hold on the head to hit the torso. Past that, you have to know the range. Snipers will use known heights on buildings, cars, tanks or perhaps the person to get that "known height or width". Today's snipers are a team, with a spotter and a laser range finder on a spotting scope. They'll be able to see the air disturbance caused by the bullet and call the shot so the rifleman can adjust his aim. I believe the longest" confirmed" is about 2500 meters, Afganistan, by a Canadian soldier, Rob Furlong, using a 408 Cheytac. The round Magnum was using is effective to perhaps 1000 yards. In any case, if he took the shot that burlap on his muzzle would have done nothing but cause him to miss. Had he used a suppressor his round would have to be subsonic and that would have ruled out any long range shot.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
Buck
Captain
Joined: 07 Jun 2009
Posts: 70
|
| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Jaybird wrote: | | maggiepoole wrote: | This is such a powerful episode. Very heavy! I remembered it (from seeing it when it was originally on), after I watched it again last week. But, the videotape scene was still a surprise. I knew what was coming, but still didn't prepare me for it. Even watching it again, I jump! It is such a compelling episode, but hard to watch at the same time. Your heart just aches for Magnum, can't imagine going through that. Have to say that Tom Selleck is one of the most incredible actors. No one can cry like he can!
Just a few things I am puzzled about though. The report Magnum finds in Buck's house says transport to Ile Debonnevie. I am assuming that is in France? Is it? I tried to google it to find the area, but nothing came up. My French and French geography are lacking, but I am wondering if that is a real place? If it was France, Magnum took a boat from Hawaii to France?? Was he in Hawaii when he got the boat? That area didn't quite look like Hawaiian geography?
I was also wondering what Magnum was writing on the ammo box.
I guess he was trying to figure out the maximum capability of his gun? Not a weapons expert either. |
Magnum is shooting a Steyr SSG 69, Model P 1 made in Austria, and is an very accurate rifle used by police and military around the world as their go-to sniper rifle. It fires the 7.62 x 51 NATO round, civilian version is the 308. He already knows the ballistics for a 308 caliber, 168 grn bullet, muzzle velocity +/- 2600 fps. So if he is sighted in say at 300 yards, he knows how much the bullet will drop at 400 yards, 500 yards, 800 yards...whatever. And he knows how high it will shoot at say, 200 yards. Hawaii can be windy and he has his data on wind drift. Figuring wind drift, the velocity and direction at various ranges is what separates the really good marksmen from everyone else. Anyway, his scope is probably a Kahles 6x with mil dots or mil marks. Usually there is a dot every 5 mils and a small line every 10 mils. You look through the scope and note the number of mils that is bracketing your target. Then you input into the formula a known height, same range and multiply x 1000 and you get your distance to the target. A human, belt to head, is very close to 36" so this becomes your known height. This is how it was done in Vietnam before laser range finders that are used today. At longer ranges the trajectory is pretty radical. If he was thought his target was 880 yards, as an example, and it actually was only 800 yards, his bullet would impact about 42" higher than his point of aim! If he is sighted in at 300 yards and his target was 100 or 200 yards he would only have to hold a few inches low and past 300, say to 350, he would hold on the head to hit the torso. Past that, you have to know the range. Snipers will use known heights on buildings, cars, tanks or perhaps the person to get that "known height or width". Today's snipers are a team, with a spotter and a laser range finder on a spotting scope. They'll be able to see the air disturbance caused by the bullet and call the shot so the rifleman can adjust his aim. I believe the longest" confirmed" is about 2500 meters, Afganistan, by a Canadian soldier, Rob Furlong, using a 408 Cheytac. The round Magnum was using is effective to perhaps 1000 yards. In any case, if he took the shot that burlap on his muzzle would have done nothing but cause him to miss. Had he used a suppressor his round would have to be subsonic and that would have ruled out any long range shot. |
Thank you for explaining that! It makes it much more enjoyable to know the details.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
