Who doesn't know Tom Selleck's iconic moustache? In the 1980s he played the role of his life as Thomas Magnum. For eight seasons, series fans have been able to enjoy his adventures as a private detective. His charming, laid-back yet determined personality made him a beloved character. Magnum, P.I. (1980) has become an enduring classic partly because of this. A series that many will say you should never touch. Yet production companies thought differently. 2018 saw the remake of Magnum, P.I. the daylight. The approach of this remake was experienced as controversial by fans of the original.
After his last assignment in Afghanistan, former Navy SEAL Thomas Magnum tries to use his skills as a private investigator in Hawaii. He takes on cases rejected by others, to help those who are helped by no one. At his side are his former military buddies Theodore “TC” Calvin and Orville “Rick” Wright. The trio is completed by British MI6 agent Juliet Higgins, who has fallen into disgrace with her government.
As mentioned, controversial decisions were made for this remake. First of all, the leading role is not played by an American actor: this time the Mexican-born Jay Hernandez takes on the role of Magnum. But where has that iconic mustache gone? In addition, the makers wanted to move more with modern times, so the character Jonathan Higgins from the original has undergone a transformation. In the remake, Higgins is a woman, Juliet Higgins, played by Perdita Weeks. These choices initially caused little enthusiasm among loyal viewers of the original. Even before the series started, the remake was already under fire. The first episodes were also not immediately positively received. However, a change took place during the first season. Newcomers who did not know the original were enthusiastic, and some of the loyal fans also started to change their opinions. Ultimately, Magnum, P.I. – with a change from CBS to NBC in between – lasted five seasons.
This positive turnaround was because strong elements had also been added to the remake. Because Higgins is now a woman, it created a different dynamic. The chemistry between the actors ensured that this change worked out well. In addition, the remake uses modern technologies and advanced gadgets that were not available in the 1980s. This changes the way crimes are solved and creates exciting and visually impressive action scenes. A nice touch was the crossover with another remake, Hawaii Five-0. The collaboration between characters from both series was a nice extra for series fans.
Magnum, P.I. has caused quite a stir. There will be plenty of people who still think this remake wasn't necessary. The fact that a character in a remake is suddenly played by a woman is typical of this time, but for me personally it does not necessarily contribute to my enthusiasm. Yet in this case it turned out surprisingly well. The remake has managed to attract a loyal fan base over the seasons. The reviews have become increasingly positive. Magnum, P.I. scores pretty darn well among the members of MySeries. Therefore, I conclude that Magnum, P.I. has become a successful remake.
