Parents' Guide to

Magnum, P.I.

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

1980s heartthrob solves cases in Hawaii.

TV Syndicated Drama 1980
Magnum, P.I. Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 1 parent review

Lowe's man
Lowe's man Adult
December 16, 2016
age 11+

A good "starter" detective series for kids of an appropriate age, particularly if they're already interested in detective series.

Even with the presence of guns this series is tame and nongraphic, and blood is rarely shown. All that is good all by itself. Magnum also solves very difficult cases, often with the help of TC and Rick. Solving cases is good all by itself. Even better is that teamwork is shown. But the show's most important quality is that it puts Vietnam veterans in a positive light without taking a stand on the actual war. This forces viewers to see that those who served in the Vietnam War are good people who wanted to help the country, regardless of their actual view on the war.
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What's the Story?

MAGNUM P.I. stars Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum -- a Vietnam veteran/former naval intelligence who's hired as a security consultant for unseen British writer Robin Masters (voiced by Orson Welles) in exchange for room and board. Magnum builds his private investigation practice from the guesthouse on Masters' beachfront Hawaiian estate. Living in "Robin's Nest" has its benefits, including a stocked wine cellar, high-end electronics, and the unlimited use of a bright red 308 GTS Ferrari. Unfortunately, Magnum's luxurious lifestyle is cramped by the nagging presence of the estate's custodian, rather priggish ex-British Army Sergeant Major Jonathan Higgins (John Hillerman), and his two well-trained Dobermans. But with the help of his Vietnam buddies, particularly helicopter pilot T.C. Calvin (Roger E. Mosley) and slightly shady beach club manager Rick Wright (Larry Mannetti), Magnum solves just about every case, no matter how odd. (And, naturally, success often comes hand in hand with securing the affections of a former female client or victim.... )

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (4 ):

With its combination of drama, humor, action, and sex appeal, is it any wonder that MAGNUM P.I. was a mega hit in the '80s? The Hawaiian setting -- combined with Magnum's tight jeans, short shorts, and unbuttoned Hawaiian shirts -- makes for an ideal tropical fantasy that plays up the private eye's sex appeal. The splashy series also reflects the longing for economic excess that characterized the '80s.

But Magnum's biggest cultural contribution may very well have been its willingness to openly examine some of the troubling long-term issues that Vietnam veterans faced as they transitioned back into civilian life after the war.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the staying power of TV icons like Magnum. Which other characters have stood the test of time? Who are some of today's popular media icons? What do they represent? What will people say about them 20 years from now? Families can also talk about how Magnum's Vietnam veteran status affected both his character and the show.

TV Details

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