The essential episodes of Magnum P.I.
Watch these 15 in order and you've got Magnum P.I. — each pick states its reason.
- 01
When Oahu-based private investigator Thomas Magnum's childhood friend and Naval comrade, Dan Cook, turns up dead, Magnum is adamant that the official cause of death, a burst bag of smuggled cocaine, is bogus. He enlists the aid of Dan's sister, Alice, in taking on the Navy to uncover the true nature of the top-secret assignment Dan was working on before his death.On original broadcast, episode aired as a pilot movie.
- 02
Magnum is hired by a Supreme Court nominee to find the woman he married on the eve of the raid on Pearl Harbor. He was a young Navy Ensign, she was a prostitute, and after their marriage they subsequently became separated in the bombings, with the Judge presuming her dead, until recently, after he started receiving blackmail threats relating to an incident 40 years ago.
- 03
The Curse of the King Kamehameha Club
Rick is organizing a surf-ski competition to be held at the King Kamehameha Club (much to the disapproval of co-committee member Higgins) when a Kahuna appears and places a "curse" on the club and all who use it. Magnum and others are skeptical, but it seems there may be something in it when one of the competitors suddenly collapses and dies, fire breaks out in the kitchen, and Rick falls ill. Magnum investigates to try and find if there is a more logical explanation behind the events, but his inquiries aren't helped by a hounding news reporter, who sees the series of strange incidents as a chance for a big news story.
- 04
A bubbly young woman hires Magnum to find her father who, after being missing for over ten years, had sent her a postcard from Hawaii. But her father is involved in some rather shady business, and Magnum isn't the only one looking for him.
- 05
A woman hires Magnum to protect "Norman", who is facing kidnap unless she pays a ransom, but the case has some unexpected turns when Magnum finds that her uncle is an old Vietnam comrade who is against him being hired, and that Norman is none other than a prized racehorse.
- 06
Magnum has been hired by a woman to act out some of her rich, bored sister's fantasy dramas, concocted from 1930s Dashiell Hammett films, but soon finds himself involved in a real mystery.
- 07
Billy Joe Bob, a hotheaded Texan, engages Magnum's services when his sister, Carol Ann, goes missing. Magnum has his hands full trying to keep Billy Joe from beating up every local who gets in their way and trying to find Carol Ann, who has gotten in over her head with the wrong crowd.
- 08
As Magnum, T.C. and Nuzo plan to get to Ivan before he kills them, the Navy - in particular, Colonel Greene and Admiral Hawkes - have their own concerns and questions regarding Mac's death. But things are not as previously thought about Nuzo, and not only is T.C.'s life in great danger, but many other people's too, namely a Japanese prince.This episode originally aired as a movie, it was later split into two parts for syndication.
- 09
Magnum's tradition of spending the Fourth of July alone at sea turns to a life-and-death battle when his surf ski capsizes from a reckless boater and a strong current takes him further and further from land. Forced to tread water for hours in shark-infested waters, Thomas uses his memories of his mom and dad to keep himself alive while Higgins, T.C., and Rick begin a frantic search for him.
- 10
Diane's suicide triggers memories of others that Magnum has loved who have been killed, sending him into a spiral of depression. Magnum's sanity comes into question when he thinks he has seen his old friend Lt. MacReynolds walking down the street. But "Mac" is dead, so who did he see?
- 11
While Magnum and Higgins are in London setting up Robin Masters' new estate, Robin's Keep, Magnum looks into a war buddy's death, and Higgins wonders if he should visit his father.
- 12
1940s San Francisco: Private Investigator Thomas S. Magnum investigates the murder of newspaper tycoon William T. Maxfield. The case involves characters that strangely bear a strong resemblance to the "modern day" Magnum, T.C., Higgins and Rick.
- 13
Rick persuades Thomas to take a high-reward, supposedly simple missing person case, but the person paying for the case is actually New York City cop Michael Doheny, who has his own reasons for wanting to find the man in question. Doheny has come to Hawaii to track down those responsible for the rape and murder of his young granddaughter on the night of his retirement dinner, a hunt in which he asks Magnum's help.
- 14
Still healing from his near-death ordeal and experiencing Mac's ghost, Magnum is surprised when Higgins hands over his Estate duties to be able to take some time off. In a bizarre twist, Higgins starts living the fast and loose life, wears loud Hawaiian shirts and becomes irresponsible, while Thomas assumes Higgins' stuffy personality and ways, going so far as to wear a suit. Curious about Higgins's sudden change in personality, Thomas investigates and discovers that Higgins is seeing a woman on the sly, and becomes concerned that she is taking Higgins for a ride.
- 15
As Rick's wedding looms ever closer, Magnum continues his surveillance on Linda to try and catch the psychopathic killer who is stalking her. T.C. faces a reconciliation with his estranged wife. And Magnum gets some surprising news about his theory that Higgins is really Robin Masters, as well as the true fate of Lily.
Shows like Magnum P.I.
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Drama·Action·MysteryThe essential episodes of Blue Skies2026–present·UP Faith & FamilyBlue Skies is an all-new procedural series blending mystery, action, and emotional storytelling, centered on the powerful bond between a detective and her canine companion.Set in the stunning Crystal Ridge National…
- 02Drama·Action·MysteryThe essential episodes of Magnum P.I.2018–2024·NBCMagnum P.I. returns with all-new sun-drenched adventures as our hero takes jobs no one else will with the help of fellow vets T.C.
- 03Drama·Action·MysteryThe essential episodes of A Shop for Killers2024–present·Disney+
Set in modern-day Korea, A Shop For Killers sees college student Jung Ji Ahn diving for cover in her childhood home after a series of highly skilled assassins get her in their sights. - 04Drama·Action·Science-FictionThe essential episodes of Arrow2012–2020·The CWAfter a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific.
- 05Drama·Action·Science-FictionThe essential episodes of The Flash2014–2023·The CW
After a particle accelerator causes a freak storm, CSI Investigator Barry Allen is struck by lightning and falls into a coma. - 06Drama·Action·SupernaturalThe essential episodes of Supernatural2005–2020·The CW
This haunting series follows the Winchester brothers as they crisscross the lonely and mysterious back roads of the country in their '67 Chevy Impala, hunting down every evil supernatural force they encounter along the…
