Magnum on Ice

A few days before "Magnum on Ice" debuted, Jessica Fletcher guest starred on "Novel Connection". Now, in "Magnum on Ice", it's a continuation of the story.

In the previous episode, it ended with Magnum shooting an assassin dead....and it looked as if the story was complete*. However, although there must have been many witnesses, bullets from BOTH guns and all, now suddenly the police are holding Magnum and charging him with murder. This isn't logical. What also isn't logical is the scene of the shooting is not exactly the same as the previous episode...and was slightly altered to fit the plot of episode two.

I really wish this had NOT been the second part and they'd just had Magnum on "Murder, She Wrote" on some other case. This is because the plot to "Novel Connection" was pretty bad...confusing and really not much fun to watch. Why exactly? Well, the people that Magnum was trying to help in the first episode were annoying...and Pamela, in particular, kept treating Magnum like dirty...which made no sense. As for Higgins, he wasn't much better...and I had no idea why. I also have no idea why the women who were potential targets of the assassin didn't do anything to protect themselves and went to a party...where the assassin was there to kill one of them.

Back to this episode. After the police arrest Magnum, Jessica decides to investigate the case. She finds a shell casing from the assassin's gun...which is odd since the police apparently didn't look very hard. Had they found it, they likely should have never arrested Magnum. Well, logic would seem to dictate this. Instead, when Jessica brings the shell casing to the cops, the lead detective is a jerk and thinks this has nothing to do with the case...which certainly was baffling.

Many things people say and do in the two episodes were baffling....as if they were written by folks who had never seen the shows nor consulted with each other on parts one and two. The characters are inconsistent, often annoying and it was a frustrating program. Overall, I really wish I'd just skipped both episodes. The stories weren't well written and the stars deserved better.

By the way, part of the episodes rests on the use of a gun with a silencer. Well, a silencer doesn't silence a gun...only makes it not quite as loud...so this portion of the show is, well, not great. But, with so many problems, this is very, very minor.

*According to IMDB: "In the Magnum crossover episode Magnum, P. I.: Novel Connection leading up to this episode, it showed that Paul Mayfield was shot in the chest. On this episode, it is repeatedly stated that he was shot in the back with the bullet hitting his spine.". Didn't anyone care about this and other details?!

This is the second part of a two part story that started On Magnum PI. JB Fletcher is a guest of her friend Jonathan Higgins at the Robin Masters estate along with others. A woman is being stalked by a killer and in the first part Tom Selleck shoots it out with a bads guy and the bad guy is killed. But no weapon is found and Magnum is arrested.

Continuing on MSW Angela Lansbury aided and abetted by John Hillerman tries to find who did it since it sure wasn't Selleck. Hillerman and Lansbury have a nice chemistry.

Honolulu PD Detective Ramon Bieri was one of the few cops not impressed with JB Fletcher. More fool he and he looks it too.

When the murderer is revealed it's a most ruthless individual Stiklkl a good lawyer could save the culprit.

Nice crossover story.

whereas American TV from the 70s was littered with "cross-overs" and guest appearances from other shows, it was a rare thing to see in the 80s, and was not something the world would see again until the 90s when shows like Friends and, to a lesser reliant extent Seinfeld, picked up on the concept. the reason for this could be the vast scales which both Magnum and Murder, She Wrote reached with this stunning climactic episode; a height which neither show would never, arguably, reach again.

whereas Angela gives a conventional, superb performance, it was in this episode in particular that Selleck really came into his own in embracing the character of Magnum. the performance he delivers was one he would not equal until the infamous prison sequences in An Innocent Man, and several keys to unlocking the later, more complex relationships Magnum had with TC and Higgins are latent within the subtext of this show. if you never really cared for Murder, She Wrote, you are nonetheless encouraged to bear witness to this episode if you wish to fully understand Magnum.

American television really didn't get as good as this particular episode again until the early 90s series of Doogie Howser, MD. this is must-watch viewing for anyone who sees a television set as something more than a background noise in their lives.

After Jessica Fletcher appeared in Magnum. Part 2 sees Magnum in a Hawaiian jail. It seems he shot the assassin twice and Captain Frank Browning does not like Magnum.

This leaves Higgins and Jessica Fletcher trying to get Magnum out on bail. Jessica also tries to get to the bottom of the case. Someone is trying to frame Magnum.

Just as soon as Magnum is out on bail, there is another murder and at the scene. Captain Browning finds Magnum's cap.

Higgins is horrified to find out that the gun used for the second murder was stolen from Robin Masters estate.

Well it was fun to see Higgins flirt with Jessica Fletcher. As a mystery though it really was not that interesting apart from a few of the actors chew up the scenery.

The recap at the start of the episode means you do not have to watch the preceding episode of Magnum.

Have always been quite fond of 'Murder She Wrote'. It is a fun and relaxing watch that makes you think as you try to unwind in the evening. If one wants more complex, twisty mysteries with lots of tension and suspense 'Murder She Wrote' may not be for you, but if you want something light-hearted and entertaining but still provide good mysteries 'Murder She Wrote' fits the bill just fine.

"Magnum On Ice" is actually the concluding half of a two part crossover, the first half being on 'Magnum P.I' and named (if remembered correctly, apologies if wrong) "Novel Connection". That half is the better half, despite everything being tied up and more than satisfactorily explained. There was just some gleeful creation of motivation and suspicion, which "Magnum On Ice" didn't for my liking have enough of, focusing more on explanation of what happened and reasons for how everybody is acting.

It's an entertaining enough watch, but it could have been more compelling considering the enormous potential it had. The exquisite location of Hawaii, two great characters in Jessica Fletcher and Magnum and actresses like Jessica Walter and Dorothy Loudon along for the ride. Potential not entirely lived up to. Particularly in the case of Loudon, who is far too subdued agreed in a dull role that she does nothing with. The others actually fare well.

Pacing could have been sharper in places and some of the Hawaiian music agreed sounds inauthentic, cheap-sounding and doesn't hold up that well.

However, the production values are high in quality as to be expected, with slick photography and the Hawaiian setting does look exquisite. Mostly, the music has energy and has presence but also not making the mistake of over-scoring, while it is hard to forget or resist the theme tune.

Much of the writing is thought-provoking and amiable and the second half of the episode where things especially get tied up and more happens is very engaging.

Angela Lansbury is great as always, as is Tom Selleck. Jessica Walter doesn't disappoint in her guest performance.

In conclusion, pretty good but could have been better. 7/10 Bethany Cox