This is the first Christmas-themed episode of the series, involving a Gauguin painting and a precocious group of Vermont schoolgirls who hire Magnum to find their missing teacher. I was afraid this might be too cutesy and tedious an episode, but no worries. These young actresses were up to the task and surprisingly good.
Higgins has tightened security at the Masters estate since the arrival of a Gauguin painting worth $2 million. Of course Magnum breaches security almost immediately by taking in five stranded schoolgirls. Even Higgins finally relents and lets the girls stay over night, in the spirit of Christmas. Of course these girls are more clever than they let on.
The girls send Magnum chasing after a red herring with a story of how their teacher had hooked up with a Hawaiian guy in a dive bar the night before. Magnum and T.C. visit the infamously sketchy Hotel Street in downtown Honolulu and naturally get into a tussle. Their inquiries set off a series of coincidences that lead to future misunderstandings.
Magnum eventually rejoins the teacher with the girls and their complicated plot to swap a forgery for the real Gauguin unravels. But Higgins once again is feeling generous and lets the teacher off: no harm, no foul.
Then the girls are kidnapped by real art thieves. Higgins generosity is once again tested when he must decide whether the lives of the girls are worth trading for the real Gauguin.
There are some notable location shots throughout this episode: the statue of Father Damien in front of the State Capitol building, where Magnum first meets the girls; Diamond Head; the War Memorial natatorium at Waikiki.
There is no body count and no love interest between Magnum and Miss Booten. I only mention this because I thought the title implied romance of some sort. The title comes from the movie "Gigi," which is French. Gauguin was also French. Gauguin did his best work on islands. Magnum lives on an island. So it all fits. I found this episode to be cute without being too cute, funny, and definitely worth seeing. 6.5/10.
Higgins has tightened security at the Masters estate since the arrival of a Gauguin painting worth $2 million. Of course Magnum breaches security almost immediately by taking in five stranded schoolgirls. Even Higgins finally relents and lets the girls stay over night, in the spirit of Christmas. Of course these girls are more clever than they let on.
The girls send Magnum chasing after a red herring with a story of how their teacher had hooked up with a Hawaiian guy in a dive bar the night before. Magnum and T.C. visit the infamously sketchy Hotel Street in downtown Honolulu and naturally get into a tussle. Their inquiries set off a series of coincidences that lead to future misunderstandings.
Magnum eventually rejoins the teacher with the girls and their complicated plot to swap a forgery for the real Gauguin unravels. But Higgins once again is feeling generous and lets the teacher off: no harm, no foul.
Then the girls are kidnapped by real art thieves. Higgins generosity is once again tested when he must decide whether the lives of the girls are worth trading for the real Gauguin.
There are some notable location shots throughout this episode: the statue of Father Damien in front of the State Capitol building, where Magnum first meets the girls; Diamond Head; the War Memorial natatorium at Waikiki.
There is no body count and no love interest between Magnum and Miss Booten. I only mention this because I thought the title implied romance of some sort. The title comes from the movie "Gigi," which is French. Gauguin was also French. Gauguin did his best work on islands. Magnum lives on an island. So it all fits. I found this episode to be cute without being too cute, funny, and definitely worth seeing. 6.5/10.