This is not only one of the best episodes, but one that is pivotal that would have a rippling effect all the way through the very last episode of the entire series. Michelle would be a character who would only be in a handful of episodes, but each one of them is pure gold!
Most TV shows back then had largely episodic storylines during this time period. In other words, whatever transpired in an episode was rarely ever brought up again or even used to continue a storyline later on. TV shows were like one-act plays, or perhaps two-acts if there was a two-parter. To see how a storyline in this series would run from Season 2 and be periodically brought back through the final season was something a bit revolutionary. And when it is done well, it really does so much for the characters as we'd find out when season-long story arcs would become more the norm throughout television series.
We find out that Magnum was married-albeit briefly-while in Vietnam. As already pointed out, the story has some uncanny resemblance to Casablanca. However, despite the similarities, there are also some very subtle differences too. Michelle ends up being a key intelligence source for Colonel Buck Greene-another Magnum character expertly portrayed by Lance LeGault.
What makes this storyline so powerful throughout the rest of the series is that Magnum and Michelle only ever share very brief moments together. In many ways, it's a tragic love story, but Tom Selleck and Marta Dubois had such chemistry that you marvel at how well they are able to utilize it to the hilt; to get as much out of it so that each time these two have to part, it hits the viewer right in the heart. That some talented acting right there to be able to pull this off. This scenario probably mirrors some relationships in the world, where two people are only able to be together briefly and then part ways. The irony is that most of these stories tend to magnify and demonstrate that those "brief moments" can be more powerful than long years. Whether it's Romeo and Juliet, Jack and Rose, or Rick and Ilsa, we tend to find that moments are more valuable and inspiring than any kind of longevity.
Most TV shows back then had largely episodic storylines during this time period. In other words, whatever transpired in an episode was rarely ever brought up again or even used to continue a storyline later on. TV shows were like one-act plays, or perhaps two-acts if there was a two-parter. To see how a storyline in this series would run from Season 2 and be periodically brought back through the final season was something a bit revolutionary. And when it is done well, it really does so much for the characters as we'd find out when season-long story arcs would become more the norm throughout television series.
We find out that Magnum was married-albeit briefly-while in Vietnam. As already pointed out, the story has some uncanny resemblance to Casablanca. However, despite the similarities, there are also some very subtle differences too. Michelle ends up being a key intelligence source for Colonel Buck Greene-another Magnum character expertly portrayed by Lance LeGault.
What makes this storyline so powerful throughout the rest of the series is that Magnum and Michelle only ever share very brief moments together. In many ways, it's a tragic love story, but Tom Selleck and Marta Dubois had such chemistry that you marvel at how well they are able to utilize it to the hilt; to get as much out of it so that each time these two have to part, it hits the viewer right in the heart. That some talented acting right there to be able to pull this off. This scenario probably mirrors some relationships in the world, where two people are only able to be together briefly and then part ways. The irony is that most of these stories tend to magnify and demonstrate that those "brief moments" can be more powerful than long years. Whether it's Romeo and Juliet, Jack and Rose, or Rick and Ilsa, we tend to find that moments are more valuable and inspiring than any kind of longevity.