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"Magnum P.I. the Complete Seventh Season"
Reviewer:
Quinn Blackburn
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Genre: TV -Series
Release:
October 30th, 2007
Special Features: See Below
Review:

This five disc boxed set gives viewers all 21 episodes of Magnum P.I.'s season seven. Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) is still tooling around in the Ferrari, paling around with Rick (Larry Manetti) and T.C.(Roger E. Mosley), marshaling security from the guest house on the mysterious Robin Masters' (voiced by Orson Welles) Oahu estate, generally annoying prim and proper Higgins (John Hillerman) whenever possible, while still managing to find time to solve a crime or two. Season seven includes some great episodes! The season opener, "L.A", is a popular one with fans of the show. Magnum is sent to Los Angeles to deliver lawsuit papers on behalf of Masters to a small film company. He befriends a budding comedienne who later turns up dead in his hotel room. With the help of an attractive lawyer, Magnum is sure to unravel the mystery. This episode is perhaps most unique because it is the first time we see Magnum without his home-court advantage or any of his usual backup. TC, Rick and Higgins only communicate with him over the phone for this entire episode. This is also the first episode to be co-produced by Selleck's company.

Throughout season seven viewers will see Magnum: struggling with a tax audit, playing bodyguard for a hearing impaired artist who is the only witness to a bank robbery, confronted by his ex-wife with the possibility of a daughter he never knew about, attempt to throw a party on the estate while Higgins is being chased around an island by three juvenile convicts, struggle through red-tape to renew his Investigators license, clear Rick of murder charges, loose his luck, his heart, and nearly his life! Some of my favorites. In the "Novel Connection" viewers were treated to a two-part crossover episode with Angela Lansbury and the equally popular Murder She Wrote, and in "Laura" Frank Sinatra appears in his last major acting role! While I'm not a fan of Sinatra, I thought Jessica Fletcher (Lansbury) made a uniquely interesting foil for the character of Magnum. I'm not always entertained by these crossovers shows, but here, it works. Their age differences and varied approaches to sleuthing made for some really entertaining viewing. I particularly enjoyed the surrealistic two-part finale from season seven entitled "Limbo", in which Magnum is apparently killed and we witness his struggle to ascend to a peaceful afterlife. It was assumed at the time that the series was being concluded, but Magnum P.I. was brought back for an eighth season; Leaving fans plenty to look forward to when Universal issues that final season! I think my personal favorite from this season though has to be the prank wars between Magnum and Higgins in "Paper War"!

This show was incredibly popular throughout the '80's, and it is easy to see why. The characters are fun, unique and engaging. The stories are a great blend of action, mystery and humor; wonderfully entertaining without being too heavy. The scenery is unbeatable! Who wouldn't want to sit around watching pieces of Hawaii float by in the background? Personally, I was most impressed with the consistently good writing on Magnum over the years. The final season was just as sharp and diverting as the first season, which is certainly not always the case. By this time of course, fans had 6 years of history with Thomas Magnum, his friends, enemies, and many adventures which makes a difference. When characters and stories continue to have you eagerly tuning in for eight years, viewers are dedicated, and it's not every show that can carry a devoted fan base for that long!

Special Features:

The interview with Angela Lansbury, while interesting enough, seems out of place here with no extras from Magnum P.I. to round out the Special Features of this set. In essence, this is a bare bones edition that counts on the interests of Magnum fans. It must be difficult to work up something interesting to include in a boxed television series set. Primary actors have long since moved on to other things and probably don't want to rehash, and any leftovers or outtakes have probably long since disappeared. I would have loved to pick the brains of the writers, director, and actors though; listen to what inspired various episodes or scenes, what influenced certain shots, and perhaps a deeper look into the action sequences so common on this show.

Final Words:

An entertaining television drama with plenty of action, mystery and humor... a winning combination! A certain purchase for fans and an interesting option for new viewers who enjoy these elements.

 

 
 
 
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