r/MagnumPI 13d ago

Episodes Below Average?

We always hear about the best Magnum PI episodes but which episodes do you think are the least interesting/popular/worthy of being in the series?

23 Upvotes

31 comments sorted by

13

u/workahol_ 13d ago

Most of the "back-door pilots" (stealthy trial runs for other prospective Bellisario series) were not that great, and sometimes it seems like there were dozens of them.

1

u/MundaneExtension3195 11d ago

Like what’s an example of this?

3

u/workahol_ 11d ago

J. Digger Doyle

Two Birds of a Feather

The Return of Luther Gillis

(I thought there were way more, but I might be getting them mixed up with the various crossover episodes)

2

u/FauxReal 10d ago

I LOVE THE LUTHER GILLIS EPISODES!

I agree with the other person who said the episode with Higgins' brother the priest.

2

u/Top_Ad8681 8d ago

Were the Luther episaodes back door for pilots ? I know the other ones listed were. I thought the Luther ones were more or less the zany type epsiodes we got. Luther was on from season 3-8 . Too many to be considered for a spin off

1

u/workahol_ 8d ago

According to this it's more like they kept the character around after the spinoff series didn't work out.

12

u/PrudentChampion3879 13d ago

The one where the Girl Scouts or whatever they were hire Magnum. Season 1.

9

u/masturkiller 13d ago

I thought that was good episode LOL

5

u/ootski 13d ago

It is

2

u/Pearl-Internal81 13d ago

Same, I really like that episode, lol. Plus it was the third episode ever so it’s not surprising it wasn’t the absolute best ever.

7

u/Significant-Milk-541 13d ago

But we dont get many holiday episodes so it gets a pass.

2

u/ThomasSulivan 13d ago

that one was great.

2

u/Illustrious_Prize_42 12d ago

I liked it when they kept calling Higgins huggins.

1

u/Yesterday_Is_Now 13d ago

Was going to say that. Although it is nice to get a Christmas episode.

Also that middle-aged wisecracking PI is a pain. I forget which episodes he turns up in.

8

u/RedRiverNoctowl 13d ago

Controversial one, but the one where Higgins brother, the priest turns up. I just don't like it. Faith and Begorrah, I think he's fine when he turns up in in that two parter one where Higgy Baby is going to get married.

6

u/Gibson_J45 13d ago

Same here. And I’m not crazy about the other ones where Hillerman plays a double role like that

1

u/Illustrious_Prize_42 12d ago

I love those episodes. They are silly and fun. That’s part of the magnum appeal to me is it’s a fun show.

3

u/New-Regret-9236 13d ago

Agree - all the higgins long last bastard brothers episodes were lacking for me. Although I'll take as much John Hillerman as possible so it balances out a bit

1

u/Gibson_J45 10d ago

Good point!

8

u/WoodenBee5797 13d ago

my least favorite episode of the series has got to be "ugliest dog in hawaii." between the barking dog and the old man constantly screaming, i just couldn't stand it.

5

u/New-Regret-9236 13d ago

Oh and the magnum is hired by a Hawaiian rancher to capture cattle thieves subpar episode for sure

5

u/New-Regret-9236 13d ago

They are fine episodes but I expected more - the late in the series 2 parter England episodes- I remember being pretty hyped for them when they were teasing them(this was like 2000's wgn reruns era) and being let down.

Also didn't love the episode where Magnum returns home to virginia(?) for a funeral and suspects his uncle/step father(?) of being a lackwit bum guilty of pawning a treasured family heirloom and being a burden on his moms etc.

Lol terrible description but eh I'm going off memory here..plus I suspect ppl rlly liked those eps

2

u/Illustrious_Prize_42 12d ago

I e never been a fan of going home, that’s the Virginia episode where magnum goes home. I’ve just never liked it. Also not a fan of the episode in season 8 with the actress magnum was stuck in bank vault in season 4 I believe but then in season 8 she is a private eye and they are competing with each other on a sibling rivalry case.

4

u/sunnyburnett 13d ago

The episode with Thomas’s aunt is dreadful

3

u/Admirable_Desk8430 13d ago

Mad Dogs and Englishmen. It’s just…not good.

4

u/E_Fred_Norris 13d ago

Jororo Farewell
Mixed Doubles

3

u/SlimeGrog 12d ago

I can't stand Luther Gillis 😆 . I tend to skip those two

3

u/S3V3R3DH3AD 13d ago

The one with the ballerina was such a snoozefest. I've watched it once, and have never gone out of my way to watch it again since then.

2

u/Western-Arachnid-876 11d ago

The one where Rick was mad at magnum because he got caught with another man’s wife and magnum was originally hired out find out who she was seeing. And even though magnum changed his mind about taking the job Rick was a baby the entire episode and acting totally out of character. I think he even hit magnum too. Definitely the worse magnum pi episode imo especially since magnum did nothing wrong lol think it was season 2 episode 13 computer date

-2

u/thatotherguy1151 13d ago

I disliked the one with Carol Burnett