User Reviews

'Home from the Sea' is high in the running for my favorite episode of "Magnum P.I." and it's as low key as they come. Magnum is stranded at sea, treading water to stay alive, while no one knows where he is (turns out July 4th is a holiday he likes to spend in solitary). But he's the star of the show, so we know he's not actually going to drown. But while his friends start to worry, we're treated to flashbacks: Vietnam, his wedding to Michelle, childhood time spent with his father. Blanks are starting to be filled in even as the situation grows dire and fatigue is setting in.

What I really liked is how everyone - TC, Rick, Higgins - collectively feel a sense of dread, a cosmic connection between friends that spurred them on the hunt. A big part of this show is Magnum's support network and . . . I dunno, it's kind of a comforting knowing a supernatural alarm goes off in your friends when you're in danger.

Above all, this is a character study, and Magnum's earlier life and motivations become clearer. It also turns out to be very sad (just try not to get misty when you hear "Taps" being played at the end.

What a way to kick off a new season!

Because Magnum isn't about red Ferraris and the case of the week, it's about the inner character of our hero and the friendship of the quartet. Magnum is lost at sea and Higgins, Rick and TC gradually work out he's in trouble and come to rescue him. That's the barebones of the story but its' heart is Magnum keeps himself going by taking his inspiration from his father, who taught him how to swim before he left for the Korean War and never returned. The most emotive line is Higgins casually mentioning Magnum to Agatha and suddenly having the inexplicable sensation that he is speaking ill of the dead, gives you chills.

Warning do not read unless seen episode.

This is one of my favorite episodes of the show and it's strangely the most special to me, I watch this episode every Forth of July if you can believe that.

It's a different kind of episode for Magnum because this time it's a survival situation; it's really scary because this is the kind of situation that can happen to anyone. I'll admit I was deeply concerned for Magnum's life, granted Magnum has been in life and death situations time and time again, but in those situations it was usually fighting off or evading bad guys. Here this is a force of nature he's dealing with, and nature usually wins because there no real way to fight it.

I remember there were some really intense moments like the one involving the Shark which really gave me a chill. But then there was a moment when Magnum was singing some sort of old naval song and then somewhere near the end he then says, I can't make it dad. I remember at that point I got really worried and thought and almost said out loud "Somebody help, somebody do something!" From how dire things were getting for Magnum it just all the more makes you hope that his friends will come to his rescue on time. I really like that there seems to be some sort of psychic phenomena happening with Rick, T.C. and Higgins. This to me makes the episode all the more touching showing how strong friendship truly is, no matter how far away they are they are never far from your thoughts.

That in a way correlates with the theme of the episode which is about remembrance. Throughout the episode we see Magnum flashing back to the times with his father. I really like that there is a element of mystery to this because we sort of have an idea of what may of happened to his father but we're not sure how or even when. But the flashback with the time of Senior Magnum were really touching as we actually got a good feel for Senior Magnum and from some of his person we can see part of what made Thomas who he is now.

It then comes down to a finale which I found heartbreaking, Thomas has fought his war for survival, won and is coming home but his father lost his and didn't come home. This really put tears in my eyes and it also acknowledges one of the true meanings of the holiday which is the honoring and remembrance of the solders that fought for us, to the ones that have came home and ones that haven't.

Rating: 4 stars

(Magnum, P. I.) is a great TV show. I selected it as number one in my list for the best 10 TV shows ever, and that was for objective as well as subjective reasons, knowing that these shows, which can fulfill it both ways, are quite few.. very few.

(Home from the Sea) was the first episode of the fourth season; aired for the first time on 29 September 1983. It's perfect example for this show's quality, its hero's uniqueness, and the immortality of them. Let's see why..

Firstly, the plot was so new. (Magnum) was locked up in the sea, after his fall over the waterskiing board, while nobody knew anything about his place, or what was happening to him. Then, he got carried by the sea's current, suffering the absence of any boats near him, and living the danger of a shark so close to him too. So he should swim and swim with no sleep at all, otherwise would be drowned or eaten. WAW, this is "new" for TV or even Cinema!

Somehow it seems affected by Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, but while having its own characters, structure and meaning. And even if you want to question its originality, you have to admit that the mere idea of mixing the shadow of that memorable short novel, with what's supposed to be another diverting detective show makes the latter something else another diverting detective show. Namely something higher and better.

Secondly, I was impressed by the sudden worry of the lead's 3 friends about him, and the way it was embodied as a telepathic relationship between them; where they sensed, every one by his own way, the unseen danger around (Mag). I won't forget the moment in which (Higgins) felt strange while the sunset. That was incredible scene, and as romantic and transparency as their friendship.

Thirdly, the way how the script utilized its basic situation to make thrilling time, and review some sad sides in (Magnum)'s life as well. Sides that maybe were out of his depth. And that was done through very touching and smart flashbacks. Like the story of (Magnum)'s late wife as his sole love, and how the Vietnam war murdered her, scaring him emotionally, to hate war altogether. But there were deeper wounds, like the story of his beloved father, who taught him swimming and fearlessness. And that father's death in Korea as an American soldier on 4/7/1951, when (Magnum) was only 6 years old. That reveals why (Magnum) always lives the fourth of July alone in seclusion.

Moreover, how (Magnum) finds out, during his crisis, that while feeling sorrow over his late father, he must live with that father's soul and instructions. To remember the life of the man, not his death. And that was part of the main message of the whole (Magnum, P. I.) concerning solemnizing life itself as the designed innermost meaning behind the show's fine entertainment. So the breathtaking story wasn't about drowning into the sea, or being eaten by a shark; that was the good surface. It was essentially a story about a man who should face his problems to know about himself, and challenge his own torments, so he wouldn't be drowned by his heartaches, or killed by his fears.

Fourthly, in what seemed as just flashy pastime show, there was a satire for the American policy, through the death of the lead's father in the Korean war, then the lost of his love in the Vietnam war, which - both - played big part in the lead's psychological deformation. The very deformation which led him - as an early episode referred - to sanatorium for psychotherapy right after his returning from Vietnam. So as you see, it was all because of war. Therefore, the choice of The Fourth of July as the hard memory of his father was not random at all!

That specific day is the American Independence Day, where the American citizens celebrate their ascendants' revolution against the British occupation. Hence that choice condemns America's policy after this independence anyway, especially - and how ironic - when it went to occupy other places in the world, and fought for more power in nations like Korea, Vietnam, or else.

Further than that, look at the ways of celebrating the day, which differ according to every character: watching a baseball match (TC), playing a polo match (Higgins), and a night with a girl on a yacht (Rick). But on the other hand, you'll see (Magnum)'s inclination to a spiritual solitude with the sea, only to cry alone out of sorrows that this day excites. This shows us - even in implied way - the ugly face of the American history to decry it, and shows us - also - the other painful side of the lead character / hero to balance him as a human being who had too many dimensions just like its series. In my opinion, this serious side was one of (Magnum, P. I.) most important secrets of success, charm, and immortality.

SO, we have thrilling time, romantic moments, psychological dimension, and political satire.. Actually who needs more than that?! Putting in mind that it managed, in the same time, to have a good intro for the fourth season, which presented - for any fresh viewer - a lot about the title character, and the show. And really, what a character and what a show.

PS: I wrote a review about the entire show entitled (I've Always Believed That Happiness Was All About Watching "Magnum" Continually Without Commercials!). You can find it on the show's IMDb page.

This episode is unique for taking place mostly on the open ocean, where Magnum is stranded on the 4th of July after being knocked from his surfski by a "turkey" driving a powerboat. From here it becomes a simple tale of survival, with Magnum treading water for hours and tapping into memory and psyche in order to keep from drowning.

Glimpses of Magnum's backstory are revealed through flashbacks to childhood scenes with his father and mother. We are also shown flashbacks of the fateful relationship with his late wife.

Magnum battles against the elements and fatigue, and then of course a shark shows up. Judging by the size of the fin, this shark was easily twice the "8 feet" length estimated by Magnum. The special effects here bordered on comical: a rigid gray fin dragged into impossibly tight circles around a floating Magnum. Magnum is unarmed and completely helpless against the shark, and at this point can only utter prayers to his father for divine intervention. It is quite a powerful scene. The helplessness of his situation is palpable as the camera zooms out, revealing the vastness of the ocean around him.

But Rick is cruising around in the Kamehameha II not far away and he, T.C. and Higgins all somehow sense something is amiss and converge upon Magnum just in the nick of time.

This is an atypical but especially moving episode in the Magnum P.I. series and I highly recommend it. 8.5/10.

The main drawback being after Magnum finishes the treading water task, the reveal his father died. It seemed almost like a sucker punch after the very compelling story and triumph.

A more minor but glaring one is Rick lying to his date about the boat engine so she has to stay all night. Rick was always drawn as rather lecherous, which it was even in day, but it's still off putting.

Great story though, and perhaps the best psychic bond stories of these four men. Higgins was particularly great here and I absolutely loved him jumping into the water without hesitation to save Magnum. He proved in that one act that he wasn't just a phony blowhard.

What an amazing and enthralling episode of Magnum, P. I., with Magnum treading water after a couple of idiots ran Magnum over whilst he was on his 4th July water adventure. Anyway. It's only until the end, when the tension is built up big time, and ratcheted and all, that the Scooby Gang realize Magnum is missing and in trouble big time for sure and his life is very much at stake.

The flashbacks featuring Magnum's father (played by Robert Pine, the father of Chris Pine) and mom were very moving and kept Magnum alive by treading 24/7. I'm enjoying watching these episodes as I hadn't seen them before.

Home from the Sea is a character development story of Magnum's life. Magnum the health enthusiast is paddle boating and hit by some jerks wake, due to dangerous boating. Has to guess where the boat is and guesses wrong and has to paddle. The viewer learns about Magnum's father and what makes Magnum tick. There is a funny feeling that something is wrong and a connection between friends so! Rick, T C, and Higgens must figure where Magnum is. A memorable episode. 7 stars.

I'm truly puzzled by the high ratings for this episode, so it seems I'll be the contrary voice. This was a terribly weak story. Right out of the gate, during the opening teaser clips, I asked, "Why is he not wearing a life preserver?" And then it went down hill.

First, the setup: I get that Magnum likes to spend July 4 alone. But why would he paddle a surf ski three miles out, alone, in an area where he knows the ocean currents would make it impossible to swim back to shore (and likely difficult to paddle back, by the way), not wear a life preserver and not even tell anyone where he would be? Magnum is neither stupid nor suicidal, so this makes no sense.

They gave us a glimpse of Magnum as a boy, with his parents, and I'll give the episode credit for that, but even so, how many times do we need to see his father pushing him to tread water? I get it--you don't have to beat me over the head. About halfway through, my wife suggested, "OK, so he's just going to tread water between repetitive flashbacks until he's rescued. Why don't we just fast-forward to see who picks him up?"

Now, I had to mark this as a spoiler, but it really isn't. The instant his father said he was shipping out to Korea, I knew he wouldn't come back alive. It couldn't have been more obvious. So even that didn't add any suspense to the story.

Next, the shark shows up. Now, the flashback shows that a good way for a child to handle his fear of an imaginary monster is to give it a funny name and laugh at it. Sounds good, but somehow this turns into repelling a real shark by closing your eyes and counting to ten. Seriously?

Now he's in a situation where there is no plausible way he could survive, so how do the writers get him out of it? By coming up with something completely implausible. For some reason, Higgins, TC and Rick all develop psychic powers and decide Magnum must be in trouble, so they start a search. Across 1,000 square miles of ocean, as Higgins put it. At night. There is zero chance of them finding him like that, but Rick manages to run right past Magnum and stop within a couple hundred feet of him. Because he "heard something". He couldn't possibly have heard Magnum's shouts under those conditions, so presumably this is another psychic episode. He tells his girlfriend to turn off the radio so he can hear, but then leaves the engine running. Once again, Rick just isn't stupid enough for this to make sense.

In summary, the premise made no sense, the resolution is pure deus ex machina, and most of the episode is simply filler.