Magnum, P.I.: Season 05  (1984)

Theatrical Release Information:
Magnum, P.I.: Season 05

Season five of Magnum, P.I. opens with the two-part episode "Echoes of the Mind," in which Hawaii-based private eye Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck), tackles a decade-old missing-persons case; this episode features an early guest appearance by Sharon Stone, and also serves to strengthen the relationship between Magnum's boss-by-proxy Higgins (John Hillerman) and Higgins' longtime lady friend Agatha Chumley (Gillian Dobbs). Subsequent episodes find Magnum dividing his time between his security duties at the lavish Oahu estate of elusive author Robin Masters (for whom Higgins also works as a manservant-of-all-trades) and his usual P.I. gigs in and around the rest of the island. In a surprise development, Magnum's old buddy Mac Reynolds (Bruce MacKay), presumed killed at the beginning of season three, suddenly reappears, apparently none the worse for wear. Before long, however, we learn that this Mac is actually a lookalike impostor, a con artist named Mac Bonnick. Among the season's best episodes is another of Magnum's genre spoofs, "Kiss of the Sabre," in which most of the series' characters show up in different guises in a fantasy sequence; this time it's a mystery novel, wherein Magnum morphs into dashing international investigator "Sebastian Sabre," with Higgins as his loyal servant "Boris," and Magnum's friends T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) and Rick (Larry Manetti) respectively cast as "Winston" and "Swift" (with the same jobs they hold down in real life!). Another top-notch episode, "Compulsion," finds British actor David Hemmings doing double duty as guest star and director. The season's final installment is a prison yarn, "A Pretty Good Dancing Chicken," based on a story by Anthony Pellicano, a genuine private detective and forensic expert. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide