User Reviews

As the eighth and final season was nearing the end of the series, this episode concludes the story regarding Magnum and his former wife. From the first episode of the eighth season, the same villain reappears to exact a tragic event upon Magnum. The story line also involves a MIA/POW being held in a Vietnam prison. The villain's court trial is abruptly dismissed as a result of a prisoner trade deal between the USA and Vietnam to obtain the release of the MIA/POW veteran. Magnum then decides to kill the villain during the prisoner exchange, but after a meeting with the veteran's child, has a change of heart.

The plot had a similar backdrop of an episode from "Hawaii Five-0" when Steve McGarrett finally captured his nemesis, Wo Fat, but had to release him as a result of a prisoner swap between the USA and China.

Definitely an emotionally charged episode as we get close to the end of the series that re-defined Hawaii for sure. Here Magnum is out for revenge and he wants blood. Anyway, there are some emotional moment in this episode, as Magnum seeks to bring down the guy who tried to kill him, on the heels of Michelle tragically meeting a tragic end.

The issue of American POWs is treated sensitively and reminds me of Rambo: First Blood Part II and the Chuck Norris as well where American POWs are brought home after spending ages in Vietnam in cane cages.

I must admit I haven't watched the Magnum reboot and I really have no interest in doing so.

I still recall with perfect clarity when this episode aired. You have understand how rare it was in television in those days to kill off characters. It simply wasn't done very often. However, this one was easily the most poignant of the 60s, 70s, and 80s shows that I'd watched. And it was also the most provocative and disturbing.

I remember feeling numb after Magnum watches the video tape for the first time. As the viewer, I could partially grasp what must have been going through Magnum's mind during that first viewing. I simply couldn't believe it; Michelle AND Lily?

When Magnum is running his guts out on the beach in sheer and utter agony, I felt it, even after he collapses on the beach, only to see his expression of despair immediately transform into rage and the desire for revenge. Not justice. Revenge.

The episode asks the viewer to ask the hard questions: would you be able to hold back if you just saw your wife and daughter killed? Honestly, would you? We'd all like to think that we'd have that in us, just as Magnum realized in the very last moment. However, I'm not sure if anyone would have held it against him had he decided to pull the trigger. Of course, in hindsight with what we know will happen in the series finale, NOT pulling the trigger paid dividends, even though Magnum could not have have foreseen this.

We've seen a few episodes where Magnum is forced to face and deal with his "darker" side. Everyone has it. And despite being a man of noble character, everyone has a line drawn somewhere; a line that we resolve never to cross. At least, that is what we tell ourselves until faced with that line in our own lives.

I still remember talking to people the next day. The episode had completely blindsided most Magnum, P. I. fans. Nobody saw it coming, which only made its effect all the more powerful. And, like I said, this occurring in this era of television made it even more effective. There's a reason why (in many ways) this is one of the most memorable episodes, not only in this series, but in television history.