Magnum, P.I.

...By Its Cover - S3-E20

Stupidity: Magnum and the policewoman do the stakeout and tailing for the drug deal using TC's chopper. A crooked cop that can't spot a helicopter on a nearby roof, a helicopter following his car, and most importantly, a helicopter landing right on the top of their apartment house building, should consider a career change or a hearing aid.

Sammo

Forty Years from Sand Island - S3-E17

Stupidity: Magnum just assumes that the accident that happened to Higgins is an attempt to Higgins' life due to the earlier meeting, without even remotely considering the (he believes) drug dealers Magnum just messed with and that saw him drive away in that same car that gets sabotaged. Higgins never takes the Ferrari, so a sabotage aimed specifically at him is incredibly unlikely - as it's in fact the case. Just one of those things to keep the plot going.

Sammo

I Do? - S3-E16

Stupidity: Marsha and Magnum have staged an elaborated (and expensive, even involving a rented cottage and a wedding ceremony) cover-up to suss out a money leak from the company. Despite that, they are screaming about their scheme with an open door and the airhead secretary right there.

Sammo

Birdman of Budapest - S3-E15

Stupidity: After much buildup about the necessity to approach cautiously the KGB agent because she'd kill on sight, she does nothing of the sort; despite having intent to kill and putting her hand on the gun, she does not shoot Higgins or her assassination target, making the subplot about the infiltration pointless.

Sammo

Basket Case - S3-E14

Stupidity: For the episode to happen as shown, Magnum and Higgins must have had replicas of every knick knack in the house - a fact that never happens during the series. They can't know with precision the plan of the evil parents, but they are perfectly prepared for it.

Sammo

Of Sound Mind - S3-E12

Stupidity: The whole episode has heavy farce tones and shouldn't be taken seriously, because the main plot point does not make sense; unless somehow he was able to produce remains of a body in the plane wreckage, Mr. MacLeish would have never been legally declared dead.

Sammo

Heal Thyself - S3-E11

Stupidity: The villain of this episode has absolutely no business being at the final showdown, and Magnum has no evidence against him (just the rumor that he cheated on his wife!), nor to desculp Karen. He just shows up for no reason and with no explanation whatsoever, and shoots at them.

Sammo

Foiled Again - S3-E7

Stupidity: Magnum hears from Carol that she's "sorry" and turning to the left he witnesses Higgins getting dragged in court. The two policemen who are escorting him stop at distance from the building, no obstacle or pressure, no reason other than providing a dramatic shot. (00:23:50)

Sammo

Ki'is Don't Lie - S3-E2

Stupidity: Magnum saves Higgins from a scheme that was amazingly poorly planned to begin with; forgetting for a moment that as estate manager, Higgins should be very well aware of the closing time of 'the bank' (as if there were just one in Hawaii) even more than Magnum, Catherine could have not just relied on Higgins being this ignorant.

Sammo

Mr. White Death - S3-E8

Stupidity: Earl Gianelli is a man on the run and can't ever show up as himself or the Mafia is gonna try and kill him, so he fights as a masked wrestler. However, for being a masked wrestler he removes his mask very casually backstage with no particular problem, unlike many masked wrestlers of his era who merely needed to keep their character and kayfabe, much less stringent reasons for them to do so than a permanent mafia death sentence pending upon them.

Sammo

More mistakes in Magnum, P.I.

Of Sound Mind - S3-E12

Higgins: How fiendishly deceptive of you, Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent. To my great surprise, I see the sounds are emanating from what I thought was a harmless musical instrument.
Magnum: Cute Higgins, real cute.
Higgins: Why Magnum? Why do this terrible thing?
Magnum: Higgins, I'll have you know I used to be very good. I was the second best sax player in my High School band!
Higgins: Well, how many sax players were there?!
Magnum: ...Anyway. I just saw this in a pawn shop window and thought I'd like to try and get my chops back.
Higgins: May I suggest that your "chops" are irretrievable.
Magnum: Higgins, did you come here just to abuse me!?
(00:05:25)

Sammo

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