China Doll (18 Dec. 1980)

Magnum is hired to protect "The Soul of Soong," an ancient Chinese vase, until it can be delivered to its owner.

Director:

Donald P. Bellisario

Writers:

Donald P. Bellisario (creator), Glen A. Larson (creator),

Stars:

Tom Selleck, John Hillerman, Roger E. Mosley

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Tom Selleck	...	Magnum
John Hillerman	...	Higgins
Roger E. Mosley	...	TC
Larry Manetti	...	Orville 'Rick' Wright
Susie Elene	...	Mai Ling (as Suesie Elena)
Lee de Broux	...	Duffy, the Sailor (as Lee DeBroux)
George Cheung	...	Choi (as George Kee Cheung)
Yankee Chang	...	Han Ling, Mai Ling's Uncle
Lee Woodd	...	Koko
Lee Gaber	...	Tourist husband, in helicopter
Marvin Wong	...	Ho Ling
Alice Lemon	...	Tourist wife, in helicopter
Roland Nip	...	Pin Ling, Mai Ling's Cousin
Remi Abellira	...	Moki

Storyline

Magnum is hired to protect "The Soul of Soong," an ancient Chinese vase, until it can be delivered to its owner.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 December 1980 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Belisarius Productions, Glen A. Larson Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Later in episode sound effects heard in The six million dollar man / The bionic woman can be heard. These effects mentioned for both previous shows were primarily to show bionic strength was being used. In Chinia Doll it was just a musical effect.

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Goofs

During most of the episode, the characters refer to Ho Ling as Mai Ling's cousin. But in Magnum's voiceover during his entrance into the antique shop, he calls Ho her uncle.

User Reviews

"You Have Unsual Friends"

This episode is one of many "Damsel in Distress" cases Magnum takes on. Basically a woman, Mai Ling, must honor her family and their charge in guarding a sacred vase called the "Soul of Song". There is a Tong warrior/assassin pursuing her from China as the vase has great value to the communist/nationalists. Mai Ling enlists Magnum to protect her and the vase until her cousin can take the vase to a new safe hiding place. Of course the thug assassin catches up to them, gets the girl and demands the vase in return. In the end Magnum and his pals all work together so that the girl and the vase are saved and the bad guy is dead.

I liked the episode, didn't love it. Particularly the way the beginning was handled. We see Magnum in TC's chopper and Magnum is complaining in his voice over about TC going on and on about finding this "China Doll" and starting in on Mai Ling again. Wait a minute...what China Doll? Who is Mai Ling? What the hell is he talking about? The premise is just kind of dropped in the viewers lap and it really didn't make much sense. I mean we can catch up pretty quick but it seemed like they started without us.

Some good parts to the episode - 1) Higgins genuine disappointed look when Magnum 1st arrives at the estate and the dogs are not attacking him. He meets up with Magnum only to find that Mai Ling has charmed the "lads". 2) This is the 1st appearance of the iconic Detroit Tigers baseball cap. 3) At one point Mai Ling says "You have some unusual friends". The importance of friends is a theme that runs through Magnum's life, previously in the Navy and now in civilian life. Same guys, just different environment. Instead of running missions, they're now working on "cases" and Magnum couldn't and can't have successful outcomes without his buddies.

Some odd parts - 1) The Tong assassin drugs Mai Ling and leaves her on the beach. OK, I get that. But really, are we to think that nobody, on a crowded beach, would think to check on a bikini clad-woman who has been lying in the sun, unmoving for 9 hours? 2) Why, out of nowhere, in the cemetery scene do we hear the "6 Million Dollar Man" sound effect not once but twice? You know....the background music when Steve Austin would start to run or throw or jump. Just odd is all.

Episode Body Count: Women kissed = 1, Bad guys shot & killed by Magnum = 1

Running Body Count: Episodes = 3, Women kissed = 2, Bad guys shot & killed by Magnum = 2