The 'Magnum, P.I.' Reboot Gets Off To An Action-Packed Start

Fun fact: When the original Hawaii Five-O ended its 12-season run in 1980, the network decided to make another show set on the 50th state, a drama about a Vietnam War vet and ex-Navy Seal (Tom Selleck and his moustache) working as a private eye and live-in security guard for Robin Masters, a successful but mysterious novelist.

Now, 30 years after its last episode in 1988, Magnum, P.I. is back, with Suicide Squad’s Jay Hernandez as the titular gumshoe. The show is revived by Peter M Lenkov, the mastermind behind the Hawaii Five-O and MacGyver reboots. In other words, they’re all part of the same universe — imagine the crossover possibilities. (Let's not forget Hawaii Five-O and NCIS: LA had a mash-up before.)

As first episodes go, Magnum, P.I. is pretty exciting. It’s directed by Justin Lin, so it’s fast and furious. It’s got a HALO jump, a shoot-out in North Korea, more shoot-outs (a few involving Magnum’s signature red Ferrari), and a helicopter chase (also involving the Ferrari). Hope there’s more where that came from for the rest of the season and they're just not showing off for the premiere.

It’s too early to say if Jay Hernandez (and his goatee) will step out of Selleck’s shadow. But he’s an affable dude who marches to his own beat; give him time and he and co-stars Zachary Knighton and Stephen Hill (as Magnum's military buds) will get under your skin.

Elsewhere, Higgins, Masters’ property manager, was a guy in the original but in this version, an ex-M16 female agent (The Tudors’ Perdita Weeks). Lots of sexual tension there. There's bound to be an episode where they eventually hook up. It's Hawaii, man.

Is this a show I’d follow religiously? Er, not really. It’s easy to follow, easy to walk away from; it’s the perfect show to watch while doing housekeeping chores. You don’t really pay attention to the plot because you’re always distracted by the sun, the sand, and the really good abs. Just like Hawaii Five-O. Watch it for 10 minutes, you have an urge to look up Airbnb and Expedia. It's Hawaii, man.

Watch it on: Tue, Fox (Singtel TV Ch 330 & StarHub Ch 505), 9pm; Fox+

Photo: Fox