Thomas Magnum, Hawaii’s private investigator extraordinaire, reconnected family tiesin the Magnum, p.i.episode“Going Home,” a story with the rarity of takingplace outside the 50th state.
Returning to his childhood home of Tidewater, Virginia to attend his maternal grandfather’s funeral, Magnum enjoys familial surroundings populated by his cousin (Karen), mother (Katherine), and best friend (Don Eddie Rice). He also manages a thaw in the frosty relationship with his stepfather, Frank. After Magnum’s father died, Frank married Katherine.
Frank had a son with Katherine. Magnum’s stepbrother, Joey, died in the Vietnam War.
“Going Home” does not have theMagnum, p.i. trademarks of the red Ferrari, luscious scenery, or distressed clientsthat Magnum attempts to help in his work as a private investigator. But it does have a poignancy.
Magnum, played by Tom Selleck, reveals emotions in “Going Home” not usually seen when he tails bad guys, battles with Higgins about use of the amenities on the estate of Robin Masters, or enjoys the privileges of the King Kamehameha Club.
Delivering the eulogy at his grandfather’s funeral, Magnum offers solace to his fellow mourners by praising the departed. In the episode’s final scene, Magnum, also a veteran of the Vietnam War, finds closure to his stepbrother’s death by going to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Joe co*cker’s provocative interpretation of Bob Dylan’s songI Shall Be Released sets the mood nicely. Watching Selleck’s slow walk alongside the memorial sets off a tearjerking response.
The memorial, a V-shaped structure made from black granite, is America’s tangible symbol of the sacrifice made by nearly 60,000service members who died protecting freedom. Each arm of the memorial extends toward the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. At the memorial’s dedication on November 11, 1984—Veterans Day—President Reagan said, “The men of Vietnam answered the call of their country. Some of them died in the arms of many of you here today, asking you to look after a newly born child or care for a loved one. They died uncomplaining. The tears staining their mud-caked faces were not for self-pity but for the sorrow they knew the news of their death would cause their families and friends.”
Airing on October 31, 1985, “Going Home” provided a national platform for millions of television viewers to see the memorial as the first step towards a national catharsis of the emotional wounds created by the Vietnam War. Not even a year old, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was novel, though powerful.
In addition to the iconic wall with the names of dead soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen carved into the granite, the memorial has a statue consisting of three soldiers looking at the wall, perhaps searching for the names of their comrades. Frederick Hart sculptedthe statue.
Maya Ying Lin, 21 years old, won the competition for the memorial’s design. An architecture student from Yale University, Lin’s written statement for the submissionexplained her vision of the wall. Lin wrote, “Walking through this park-like area, the memorial appears as a rift in the earth, a long, polished black stone wall, emerging from and receding into the earth. Approaching the memorial, the ground slopes gently downward and the low walls emerging on either side, growing out of the earth, extend and converge at a point below and ahead.
“Walking into this grassy site contained by the walls of the memorial we can barely make out the carved names upon the memorial’s walls. These names, seemingly infinite in number, convey the sense of overwhelming numbers, while unifying these individuals into a whole.”
Airing from 1980 to 1988 on CBS, Magnum, p.i. was one of the standout hits in the prime time television’s private investigator genre, which faded by the end of the 1990s.
As a passionate enthusiast and expert in the realm of television and cultural impact, particularly with a focus on Magnum, P.I., I can delve into the details of the episode "Going Home" and its profound connection to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
First and foremost, the episode "Going Home" diverges from the typical Magnum, P.I. storyline by taking place outside of Hawaii, the usual backdrop for Thomas Magnum's investigative escapades. This departure is a unique feature that showcases the versatility of the show's narrative.
In this episode, Magnum, portrayed by the talented Tom Selleck, returns to his childhood home in Tidewater, Virginia, to attend his maternal grandfather's funeral. The narrative weaves a complex tapestry of Magnum's familial relationships, introducing characters such as his cousin Karen, mother Katherine, and best friend Don Eddie Rice. Of particular emotional significance is Magnum's relationship with his stepfather, Frank, who married Katherine after Magnum's father passed away. Magnum's stepbrother, Joey, adds a layer of poignancy to the story, having lost his life in the Vietnam War.
"Going Home" stands out by not featuring the trademark elements of Magnum, P.I., such as the iconic red Ferrari, breathtaking Hawaiian scenery, or distressed clients seeking Magnum's investigative expertise. Instead, the episode delves into Magnum's personal emotions and relationships, offering viewers a rare glimpse into his character beyond the usual action-packed scenarios.
The turning point of the episode comes with Magnum delivering a heartfelt eulogy at his grandfather's funeral, providing solace to fellow mourners and revealing a vulnerable side not commonly seen in his character. The final scene, set against Joe co*cker's rendition of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released," sees Magnum finding closure for his stepbrother's death at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a V-shaped structure made from black granite, serves as a poignant symbol of the sacrifices made by nearly 60,000 service members during the Vietnam War. The episode aired on October 31, 1985, and played a crucial role in bringing national attention to the memorial, offering a platform for millions of viewers to witness Magnum's emotional journey and contributing to a national catharsis of the emotional wounds caused by the Vietnam War.
The memorial itself, dedicated on Veterans Day in 1984, consists not only of the iconic wall with names of the fallen but also features a sculpture by Frederick Hart depicting three soldiers gazing at the wall, searching for the names of their comrades. The design of the memorial, conceptualized by Maya Ying Lin, a 21-year-old architecture student from Yale University, is described as a rift in the earth, a long, polished black stone wall that emerges and recedes into the earth, conveying a sense of overwhelming numbers while unifying individuals into a collective whole.
Magnum, P.I., airing from 1980 to 1988 on CBS, marked an era of prime time television's private investigator genre. The episode "Going Home" serves as a testament to the show's ability to transcend its typical format and tackle deeply emotional and socially relevant themes, leaving an indelible mark on television history.
