Magnum P.I. is my
favorite TV show of all time. Season 3 is my 2nd favorite season.
(Season 2 is my favorite.)
Here are the episodes from season 3:
Did You See the Sunrise? - This 2 hour episode is my favorite
episode of this season. This is a complex tale about the Vietnam
War, a POW camp, physical and psychological torture, brainwashing,
and assassination. This episode helped to define the intensity and
seriousness of the series. Magnum has some very traumatic flashbacks
to the Vietnam War. This is the episode that introduces the Maggie
Poole character. This is also the episode where Higgins constructs
his model of the Bridge On The River Kwai. We find out that Magnum's
favorite movie is Stalag 17. This episode is classic Magnum all the
way through.
Ki's Don't Lie - This is the first part of a crossover with the TV
series Simon and Simon. Morgan Fairchild also appears. An old
Hawaiian statue brings trouble to anyone who possesses it. The
complete story, including the Simon and Simon episode, appeared as
bonus material on the season 1 DVD set.
The Eighth Part of the Village - Magnum goes to the loading dock to
pick up a package for Higgins. The package contains a surprise.
Past Tense - T.C. is forced at gunpoint to fly into a prison and
help one of the prisoners escape.
Black on White - This wonderful episode creates some humorous odd
couple type moments as Magnum and Higgins are quarantined together
in the guest house because they may have been exposed to "African
Hemorrhagic Fever." Meanwhile, Higgins is being targeted for
assassination by an African Mau Mau who is sneaking around the
estate. We hear some fascinating stories about Higgins's military
experiences in Kenya. Hearing that handheld Pac-Man game always
cracks me up. Bibi Kiamini is such a babe!
Flashback - Magnum wakes up in the year 1936. Other than that,
everything else is the exact same as it always is. This fantasy
episode is highly enjoyable.
Foiled Again - Higgins enters a fencing competition. During the
competition, Higgins kills his opponent. Oops!
Mr. White Death - Ernest Borgnine appears as a professional
wrestler.
Mixed Doubles - Magnum is the bodyguard/babysitter for a spoiled
brat teenager who also happens to be a professional tennis champion.
Her character is so deliberately awful that the episode is kind of
fun, in a cheesy sort of way. Just don't take this one too
seriously, and I think you'll enjoy it.
Almost Home - Magnum has to clear the name of a World War II soldier
who was wrongly court martialed.
Heal Thyself - Magnum has to help an old military friend who has
been falsely accused of murder.
Of Sound Mind - Roscoe Lee Browne appears as Magnum's butler. Yes,
Magnum has a butler, because he just inherited $50 million dollars.
This crazily fun episode is a wonderfully humorous satire. The
masquerade party is quite interesting.
The Arrow That Is Not Aimed - Magnum befriends a Samurai warrior,
who is trying to protect a valuable ancient porcelain plate from 6
ninjas. This is a wonderful tale of friendship, action, adventure,
and humor. I love the way that Magnum finds out which plate is the
real one. This is a great episode.
Basket Case - Magnum acts as social worker for a teenager who lives
with foster parents. (Yeah, yeah. I know. Not every episode is a
winner.)
Birdman of Budapest - In this relatively bad episode, a guest on the
estate is driving Higgins crazy. (And no, I'm not talking about
Magnum.)
I Do? - In order to solve a case, Magnum pretends to be married.
Forty Years From Sand Island - Magnum tries to find out what really
happened at a World War II Japanese internment camp.
Legacy From A Friend - Magnum has to solve a murder case.
Two Birds Of a Feather - This horrible episode was to be the pilot
for a new spinoff series. Fortunately, the new series was never
made.
By Its Cover - Magnum helps protect an old friend from a corrupt
police officer.
The Big Blow - This is a cheesy satire of Key Largo. With a
hurricane in progress, several guests are trapped at the estate. All
the usual cliches are there, including a woman who is 9 months
pregnant.
Faith and Begorrah - This masterpiece of an episode continues a
running joke that was started in "The Elmo Ziller Story" from season
2: around the time of World War I, Higgins's father served in the
British military. As a result, Higgins has many illegitimate half
brothers and illegitimate half sisters scattered all over the world.
Naturally, this causes much embarrassment for Higgins. This time,
the half brother is an Irish priest. Note how Zeus and Apollo react
when Higgins tells Magnum, "He's... illegitimate." The desk clerk at
the hotel is played by Donald P. Bellisario, the guy who created the
Magnum P.I. series.
