Magnum P.I. Season 1 Episode 18 Review: A Kiss Before Dying
Lisa Babick
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Katsumoto is the real thing.
Katsumoto teamed up with Magnum on Magnum P.I. Season 1 Episode 18 to deliver one of the best and emotional episodes of the season so far.
Not only did we get to see a vulnerable Katsumoto open up to Magnum (that ending!), but we also got a treat when the OG T.C., Roger E. Mosley, made an appearance as Booky, the Barber!
Magnum P.I. made a great choice not having Mosley help the guys on a case because that would have just been weird and out of place.
Making him a barber worked quite well, and him trimming the new T.C's beard was kind of wonky cool.
Mosely didn't have a big role, but what he did do was offer Rick and T.C. a reprieve from the emotional case they were working which involved reuniting a mom with her daughter.
It's understandable that Kelsey was angry with her mom for leaving her so long ago, but Kelsey had no idea about the circumstances that led to her mom's leaving.
T.C. was able to connect with Kelsey and things turned around for the mother and daughter.
But it was still emotionally draining mostly because it brought up some painful memories for T.C. regarding his own mother.
But Booky fixed all that. He was right when he put on some funk music and started dancing in the shop.
There is no better way of getting yourself out of a funk than playing some music: funk, punk, or whatever your heart desires and dancing like a mad person!
It's just too bad that Katsumoto wasn't there breaking out his own moves, but he was busy doing something even better.
It was ironic that Zeus and Apollo were the ones who opened up the door for Katsumoto and Magnum to work together when the dogs found a human bone and dropped it at Magnum and Higgins' feet.
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In a way, the very dogs that hate Magnum with a passion gave Magnum a way to make a deep connection with a human who we thought might have hated Magnum as much as they do.
It's funny how things work sometimes.
After Magnum found the complete skeleton, he wasn't about to let the case go.
It wouldn't have mattered whose bones they were, but the fact that they belonged to Katsumoto's former partner made the case even more compelling for Magnum.
Magnum was surprised to see how outwardly emotional Katsumoto got after figuring out the bones were Stanley's.
Heck, I was surprised he got so emotional right at the scene in front of everyone.
But this case was personal for Katsumoto and while he tried to play the rule-following cop after he got pulled from the case, he wasn't about to step away.
He wanted to bring justice to his partner, and he wanted to be the one to do it.
He didn't need a push from Magnum, and that was the best part.
If Katsumoto would have had to rely on Magnum convincing him to investigate on the sly, it would have diminished Katsumoto's character and the whole ending of the hour.
Katsumoto has shown in the past that he doesn't always follow the rules considering he more often than not looks the other way when Magnum gets involved in HDPD cases.
We now know why.
Magnum reminded him of Stanley who was also a maverick and had a tendency to not follow the rules.
It took a lot for Katsumoto to admit that and it was annoying that Magnum made the connection between him and Stanley.
I would have smacked him in the head for being so cocky, but I bet that was one of Stanley's endearing traits as well which is why Katsumoto tolerated it.
What was even more moving was Katsumoto giving Magnum Stanley's badges as a thank you for helping him solve the murder.
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It wouldn't have happened without Magnum's help, but giving him the badges was a gesture that went beyond this particular case.
It was meant to show Magnum how much he appreciated him and his help on every level and maybe even for keeping Stanley's memory alive in his mind even if Magnum had no idea Stanley even existed before then.
Katsumoto and Magnum now have an unbreakable bond. The unfortunate thing is that Magnum knows this and is going to exploit it every chance he gets because that's the way Magnum operates.
Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.
Related: Magnum PI Renewed at CBS!!
Besides the emotional ending, one of the best parts of the hour was Katsumoto asking Magnum to put the Ferrari to the test when they went after the kid. I would have loved to have seen them flying down the highway.
It would have been an epic moment!
Over to you!
What did you think about Roger Mosely's appearance on the new Magnum P.I.?
Are Magnum and Katsumoto bonded forever?
Will Magnum take Stanley's badges out of the box and use them on a case?
Hit the comments and share your thoughts!
If you need to catch up, you can watch Magnum P.I. online right here via TV Fanatic!
