Magnum PI: Was Higgins really Robin Masters?

[RogueRacer]

The Hallmark Channel is showing two episodes of Magnum PI each night. Yes, they are cheesy as can be, but I've always liked the first person narrative detective stuff. After watching some of these again, it brought up the old question I had in my youth. Was Jonathan Higgins really Robin Masters?

[rjk]

I don't think it was ever explicitly confirmed or denied. Magnum did think so, off and on, and I remember there was one episode where he thought he had proof, but IIRC Robin Masters showed up at the estate near the end of the show. Unfortunately, we never got to see him, so Higgins might have just arranged an impersonater.

(It is cheesy, but still one of my favourites, almost up there with The Rockford Files. Both are on here in reruns - on our local multicultural channel. )

[jsgoddess]

Oh, great. Now I'm jonesing for some "Magnum."

I love the show. Sue me.

And the Higgins/Robin conundrum was never resolved. Even when Robin allegedly showed up, I think the show made you think that Higgins was jerking Thomas around.

[mbh]

There was one episode in which Magnum asks Higgins if he is really Robin Masters. Higgins says "Yes."

At the end of the episode, Higgins reminds Magnum of the earlier conversation, and then says, "I lied."

So, it was deliberately left unresolved.

In one episode, you get to hear Robin's voice, as he is dictating a novel. When I first saw it, I was certain the voice was Orson Welles. Now, I wonder if it might have been the actor who played Higgins, just lowered by an octave and dropping the British accent. So I still don't know. D**n it.

[Mal Adroit]

I recall in the last episode Magnum pointing at Higgins and exclaiming, "You're Robin Masters!", and Higgins allowing only an enigmatic smirk.

I always figured he was after that (occasional Orson Welles voiceover aside). Wasn't Masters supposed to be a mystery novelist?

[Sampiro]

Originally Posted by mbh

In one episode, you get to hear Robin's voice, as he is dictating a novel. When I first saw it, I was certain the voice was Orson Welles. Now, I wonder if it might have been the actor who played Higgins, just lowered by an octave and dropping the British accent.

Orson definitely did the voice in at least four episodes and was seen from the back once. I don't think they ever exactly worked out how both he and Higgins could both be Masters, but they definitely implied Higgins was in the last few episodes. (Maybe they both were, ala Judith Michael.)

A major spoiler on the subject from the final season:

SPOILER:

In one of the final episodes, Higgins is reading to Magnum who is fighting for his life but expected to die in a hospital bed [I don't remember what put him there]. In this episode Higgins confesses that he is Robin Masters.

Later, after Magnum's recovery, he is standing at the altar about to marry [I believe this is the final episode]. Higgins whispers "Magnum, do you remember when I confessed that I am Robin Masters?" Magnum nods and Higgins says "I lied."

So it ends with a cliffhanger, but I subscribe to the Judith Michael theory.

Slight hijack, but did anybody ever count up how many children Higgins' father had? I know that on various episodes Hillerman (first cousin of Tony Hillerman in real life, btw- they actually look a lot alike) played an Irish half-brother, a Japanese half-brother, an Australian half-brother, and his own father, and there was reference to a Chinese half-sister.

[RogueRacer]

Oh, great. Now I'm jonesing for some "Magnum."

LOL! Awesome! It's almost as insidious as those annoying songs that work their way into your head.

Oh great, now I'm stuck with the Magnum theme song. Sigh!

[jsgoddess]

Originally Posted by RogueRacer

LOL! Awesome! It's almost as insidious as those annoying songs that work their way into your head.

Oh great, now I'm stuck with the Magnum theme song. Sigh!

Ha! Revenge is sweet.

[Mal Adroit]

Originally Posted by Sampiro

I know that on various episodes Hillerman played an Irish half-brother, a Japanese half-brother, an Australian half-brother, and his own father, and there was reference to a Chinese half-sister.

So... Higgins' father was Wilt Chamberlain?

[elf6c]

It is the sole reason to watch the Hallmark channel.

If anything, there is no Robin Masters, Higgins may have invented him due to his embarrasment over making is money with cheesy detective novels and the like. Additionally, it allowed him to do as he pleased without the baggage of Robin's stardom.

However, Masters was occasionally shown in the earlier seasons before they started getting tricky about the whole issue. Still, could be someone Higgins hired.

Besides, the real issue was why did Magnum ever lose a car chase? He had a friggin' Ferrari on a Island! And just how many informants did Rick have?

[mbh]

by elf6c
And just how many informants did Rick have?

Near as I can tell, when you have "Icepick", you don't need any others.

[Morbo]

Originally Posted by Sampiro

Slight hijack, but did anybody ever count up how many children Higgins' father had? I know that on various episodes Hillerman played an Irish half-brother, a Japanese half-brother, an Australian half-brother, and his own father, and there was reference to a Chinese half-sister.

And let's not forget about his Texan half-brother. (John Hillerman is actually Texan, so his bushy-moustachioed stereotype in that one was spot-on hilarious).


The story, in a nutshell. The 7th season of Magnum P.I. was supposed to be the last. In the supposed last episode, Magnum was being pursued by random bad guys, saw an exit from the warehouse, ran for it and was shot repeatedly. While in the hospital, he is a ghost, and revisits several characters from the show, including Mack, and his long lost love Michelle. He actually saves Michelle from some baddies, and appears to her and has a final farewell. As Higgins is in his hospital room, he confesses to being Robin Masters. Then we see Magnum walking into the coulds, his back to the camera. Higgins "orders" him to return, and Magnum turns around, smiles, then walks off in to heaven.

End of series.

Except that amid public outcry, they renewed Magnum for another season. In the first episode he recovers, moves on, etc. Then, in the last episode of the REAL final season, he marries Michelle Hue, and has that conversation with Higgins where Higgins says "I lied."

So, they resolved it when they were filimg what they thought was the real final episode, then decided to be ambiguous again when they filmed the season 8 real final episode.

[Beauty Personified]

Apparently, George Clooney may be taking up the role of Magnum in a big-screen version of the film. IMO, Clooney would make a pretty decent Magnum. (He looks good in with a mustache. I believe solo mustaches are about to make a comeback, too) Although I don't see why Tom Selleck couldn't resume the role. I doubt a Magnum P.I. film would languish in developmental hell for a long as, say, a new Superman film.

Anyhoo, that was a great series. I believe they were showing it on A&E recently. I haven't seen it lately, though. (Granted, I do get up very late.) Anybody know if it's still on anywhere?

[jimmmy]

If I ever get to Hawaii I'm going to Island Hoppers and fly in TC's Chopper.

I agree with Dukoo and Sampiro on the "yes he is/no he isn't" of the last two seasons.

Having said that, I think the Magnum 'canon' has a problem akin to the disappearing/reappearing cloaking device technology: In the really episodes we see Masters giving Higgins orders when they are alone and - also alone - we see Higgins getting orders he doesn't want to follow from Robin.

Tony Hillerman does the best Englishman to an American’s ears I have ever heard.

Minor highjack: Was Higgins lying about all his military & Combat experiences? I remember Magnum calling him on it once and Higgins going apesh^t, but don't recall the resolution.

[pilot141]

TOTBP it's on the Hallmark channel, every weekday at 6 PM EST. They also show two episodes in a row late at night (1 AM EST, 12 midnight where I am). The first is one from later years, and the second show is a repeat of what aired earlier in the evening.

jimmmy I don't think Higgins made up his military experiences. Many times what he had done came in useful ( I recall him weaving a hat out of palm fronds when they were stuck on a remote island). Of course while actually making the hat he was waxing poetic about some campaign in North Africa where the lads were suffering from poor morale and he came up with the floating zone defense for them to practice while playing basketball.

[StGermain]

Dooku - If I recall the final ep correctly, Thomas didn't marry Michelle, he went to Rick's wedding. He kept putting off getting his tux fitted, asying he had it in hand. He shows up for Rick's wedding in a naval officer's uniform with his and Michelle's daughter Lily in hand. The show wraps up with Thomas rejoining the navy and becoming a dad.

StG

[Beauty Personified]

Originally Posted by jimmmy

Having said that, I think the Magnum 'canon' has a problem akin to the disappearing/reappearing cloaking device technology: In the really episodes we see Masters giving Higgins orders when they are alone and - also alone - we see Higgins getting orders he doesn't want to follow from Robin.

Maybe we were seeing those scenes through the eyes of Higgins/Masters. Maybe he has some sort of split personality disorder. Actually, he could be downright insane!