Magnum P.I. Boss Talks Series Finale ‘Cliffhanger’ — and What Season 6 Would Have Looked Like
The following contains spoilers from the Magnum P.I. series finale, which aired Wednesday night on NBC.
The CBS-turned-NBC Magnum P.I. reboot wrapped its five-season run on Wednesday night with a pair of episodes that certainly hinted at Thomas and Juliet’s romantic destiny… yet stopped just short of checking off a box or two for the couple’s always-patient ‘shippers.
The first of the final two episodes, “Ashes to Ashes,” had #Miggy investigating a seemingly deadly case of arson for which a pal of Mahina’s had been named the prime suspect, while Kumu masterfully handled a delicate situation while working phones at the veterans crisis center.
Then, in the actual — if unplanned — series finale, “The Big Squeeze,” Thomas and Juliet found themselves forced to do the bidding of the nefarious Sam Bedrosian (Patrick Fabian’s villain from the Nov. 15 episode), all whilst a bit distracted by Juliet’s episode-opening discovery of an engagement ring stashed in Thomas’ dresser drawer.
Said bling in fact was being held for Rick, who wound up proposing to baby mama Suzy. Juliet meanwhile made clear to Thomas, in the series’ very final moments, that “just for the record… if in the future you did ask me to marry you… I would say yes.”
So are Thomas and Juliet for all intents and purposes canonically engaged to be wed? And what might the Season 6 that eluded Magnum P.I. fans have looked like? TVLine emailed a few final Qs for showrunner Eric Guggenheim. This is (some of) what he shared with me….
TVLINE | What stories are you most glad you got to tell during what would be the show’s final season?
Episode 5.09, which Jay directed, was a story that had been knocking around in my head for a while, even going back to last season. [Ed. Note: Magnum and Higgins took on a case that sent Higgins inside a psychiatric hospital.] I pitched it to Jay before we started production on Season 5 and he really connected with it. That was a fun episode for everyone, for every department, and I’m glad we go that one in.
There were unfortunately a number of other ideas we didn’t get to. The veterans crisis center story in 5.19 was another story I’m happy we got to tell. We were actually going to do a slightly different version much earlier in the season — it was even in an outline — but I pulled it out because the episode it was in was overstuffed. So it was held in abeyance for a bit. Thankfully, we were able to get that one in under the wire. Amy [Hill, as Kumu] gave a lovely performance.
TVLINE | When you first went to break down Season 5, did it always end with Thomas and Juliet not quite engaged?
We actually didn’t have a clear ending in mind for Magnum and Higgins in Season 5. There were a lot of ideas for them as a couple and a lot of things we wanted to explore, but we weren’t building to anything specific. I was happy leaving room for discovery. It wasn’t like Season 4, which we knew from the very start would probably end with them kissing.
TVLINE | In that same mindset, how soon into a possible Season 6 did you see their actual engagement happening? Or did you have fresh drama to throw at them?
There was no timetable. And yes, there definitely would have been fresh drama. Season 6 was going to have some pretty big stakes, and everyone was going to be affected — especially Magnum.
TVLINE | Are there any other Season 6 beats you care to share?
Rick and Kumu were obviously going to be in business together [as co-owners of La Mariana]. But unlike TC, Kumu wasn’t going to be a silent partner. She’d have opinions. So there was going to be a bit of friction there.
With Cade enlisting, TC was going to have to transition into the role of being a military parent. He was also going to pass up getting a second chopper and get a tour boat instead.
TVLINE | What would your ideal, planned series finale have looked like?
I’m going to respectfully pass on that question for now, Matt.
TVLINE | Do you have a final message for the show’s fans?
On behalf of everyone involved with Magnum, I would say “mahalo.” This show had more than its fair share of challenges over the years. It got knocked down quite a lot but kept getting back up. I think we were able to persevere and continue to do the work because the show had such a loyal and energetic following. That passion gave us the fuel to keep going and keep pushing ourselves. For that, we’re eternally grateful and really hope you’ve enjoyed this season.
it suck if i saw this episode on rerun i would have no damn clue it was a series finale yet even a season finale. i pray they get to do some kind of finale movie to actually wrap up the series cause i was very very disappointed. know they film thus awhile ago not knowing it was the series finale but it didn’t even feel like a season finale, so thanks for screwing over the fans that rescued the show.
Disappointed in NBC, disappointed in CBS, just all around disappointed that Magnum PI isn’t continuing.
I totally agree!! This show should Not be canceled. Someone truly needs to reevaluate this decision.
I cannot believe the “powers that be” canceled this series. It had action, comedy, clean sexual tones and has been one of the best shows. Couldn’t believe CBS canceled and now here we go again. I just don’t understand and I want the show to continue!!!
Would like to see NBC decide to have a season 6, or CBS take Magnum PI back.
Very sorry to see this show ending!
This would be to ERIC, NO your hype of the finale did not even touch on what the fans wanted. A lot of people are disappointed but you did it. We have fought hard to keep this series and you couldn’t even end it with a proposal for TM or Higgins. You played the 1980 playbook ending, we’re not living in 1980. It never felt like an ending as there was so much that could have been given. I hope another network can see that in 25 countries and millions of fans this series is more than just entertaining it’s a flower blossoming that lets you see what loving something means. The fans. Our fight will go on and we will always be honored by what this series gave. Sadly being in the top 5 best shows on network TV even the executives cannot deny it means more to viewers than the franchise shows. Or maybe we should ask Dick Wolf he has a huge monopoly on TV series.
GET IT BACK FOR SEASON 6
Everyone loves that show!
Not everyone or they wouldn’t have canceled it. I could nevr get in to it for many reasons that I will keep to myself.
I didn’t
I watched it all but when the first 10 eps earlier did not have great ratings, figured it was doomed… Money is money… As much as the fans of the show loved this version, I heard a local radio show talk about it as something new not realizing it had been on for 5 seasons and about to have series finale… stuff like… Higgins is a female… geesh no wonder it didn’t last longer…
Networks treated the show (and subsequently us fans) like crap, was always obvious we wouldn’t get a proper ending that we deserved :(
I’m sorry but ending beloved series on cliffhangers is total B-S lazy writing. Other seasons ended wrapped up & this should’ve been no different. Leaving their ‘engagement’ status up in the air would’ve been fine but not leaving a bad guy out there!!! Really chaps my arse(intentional)!! Other comments are correct, going into reruns this will S-U-CK!
PLUS the show held a .42 demographic in the 18-49 when the average for the 138 other shows on TV are .18…..numbers don’t lie so what reason are we cancelling it again? Also this 3 day watch delay being calculated into the decision is B-S too! EVERYONE I know doesn’t watch live anymore and NOT within 3 days either!! We watch multiple episodes at a time! People watch a lot more shows than back even a decade ago or prior to 2010 because of cable, satellite & streaming so 3 days is just not done anymore. Saying Hawaii is too expensive is also a copout because NY & LA are NOT cheap but you have series running into their 10th to 20th seasons & having salaries that are frankly ridiculous!!! There is no longer a golden era of TV to be had no matter how good a dhow may be because their getting axed before people can get into it! Look at M*A*S*H, in an era when there were less than 50 shows on the air, they weren’t being watched when it first came out but the execs believed in it & let it get a following & it became one of the best if not the best show in TV history! The powers that be don’t have faith in their projects to actually stick their necks out & support them. They have to only appeal to 18-49 demos but their mostly streaming now it’s those of us over 45 that are the steady fans that steadily support these shows. It’s that the networks refuse to run ads that sell to us. They have no vision in keeping focus on those of us who are home & avid watchers! They shoot themselves in the foot because they’re short sighted. M*A*S*H is still watched by the 45+ crowd & it’s we who bring in the next generation to watch NOT your advertisers!
You forgot one little thing: Magnum is not MASH. Magnum scraped by with small, but loud audience and poor ratings, while MASH was a ratings juggernaut with award recognition and is nowadays a well respected classic. There is simply no comparison between the two.
thank you, that was a very ridiculous comparison. fact is the fans didn’t show up even with the extended viewing numbers.
Also, MASH made it to the top ten in ratings by treason 2. Magnum had 5 seasons to gather steam and failed.
5 seasons was enough of a chance
Please bring magnum Pi back for season 6 I really love that show. It was one of my best
It makes me very, very sad to know that Magnum, PI has now ended! We can only hope that another streaming service might decide to pick it up and continue on with it! PLEASE! In this crazy world, Magnum and his buddies has helped distract us from the insanity! We NEED Magnum!!
I found the next to last show very interesting. I was impressed how they realized the veteran was in Chicago and set 2 teams out to 2 different men to hopefully help the one!!! I was so proud that volunteers took the necessary steps to safe a stranger that joined the Army to give freedom to strangers!!! Great writing and plot.
I don’t understand why they have to take off the best shows which we all watch for shows that are never watched. Magnum PI WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS. So sorry the network couldn’t let it continue. Would love to see Peacock or some other network continue it.
My heart is broken over the loss of this amazing show. I truly believed you all would see the value of keeping this awesome cast and show together. With that being said, I wish all my amazing friends from this show Mahalo. You were amazing and will forever be my favorite. To NBC, may all your new endeavors be complete failures. You are all jerks. You had a gem and you let it go. You deserve no less.
His unwillingness to disclose his intended series finale plans, with such detailed season 6 plans, makes me suspicious/hopeful he knows something we don’t.
That was my thoughts exactly. Maybe they will do a TV movie to wrap things up better.
I had no idea that was the last show! Going to miss this one!
What a disgrace! Such a good show and it’s gone. But we still have the drivel of Survivor, Big Brother, and so many others. Shame on NBC!!
I was surprised how dark the last two episodes were. It’s also a shame that, knowing it might be the series finale, they didn’t bring back the recurring characters (e.g., Cade, Shammy, Jin) for that final toast. But all in all, it was a decent series as remakes go, and I’ll certainly miss Perdita Weeks.
Hated the fact that after all that has happened between Higgins and Magnum over the years ,she was still not able to say ” of course I will marry you ” right then and not overthink about it.They were made for one another .How frustrating is this to the fans of the show,bring us to the end and then another ,well wait a minute Give me a break! The world situation is bad enough, we need some mental escapism and happy endings.I am 83 years old and I can’t wait to much longer. Since Gunsmoke ended I need it now Ha!
I wish Magnum PI was not cancelled as I thought the shows’ Plots have been really good. The way it ended would be great if it continued. All the comments I have read have been positive so not sure why it was cancelled? I will say the game shows that have been on because of the strikes are not nearly as entertaining as Magnum PI. To be honest, TV has been turned off.
While the finale sort of works as one, you can tell it wasn’t planned to be one with how many open threads they’d left, important recurring characters being left out and how Guggenheim had already thought of episodes for a potential S6. Disappointing that NBC didn’t give it a proper final season due to the strikes.
So disappointed how it ended, hoping they would get married, frankly it stunk, praying a network will pick it up.
There are always opportunities to make some “made for tv” Magnum PI movies. My husband and I are sad that the series is over. We enjoyed it very much!
Robin Masters would have passed on this White Night book.sorry, I am a total fan but was disappointed in the Finale. It was more Days of our Lives than Magnum PI. I wish them well and hope they’ll be back with better scripts. 🙏
This show should not end! CBS needs to renew this series. We deserve a finale that is worthy of this show.