‘Magnum P.I.’ Episode 2 – “From the Head Down” | TV Recap

After the shenanigans in last week’s premiere, Thomas Magnum (Jay Hernandez) is broke, his Ferrari is being repaired, and to make matters worse, Higgins (Perdita Weeks) has changed the gate code to stop him cavorting on the exotic tropical estate where he consults on security for the famed novelist Robin Masters. It’s safe to say that in “From the Head Down”, things aren’t going well for Magnum P.I.

But things are looking up. Magnum’s latest case looks like it might provide a hefty fee – even if he does agree to take the job pro bono. The client is a Vietnam vet and fisherman named Dan Sawyer (Carl Weathers) whose latest catch, a 30-pound tuna that looks like an extra from Jaws, has been fishnapped. The thing’s worth a cool $350,000 and Sawyer promises Magnum a cut of the sale, providing he can get it back in one piece – which is easier said than done.

Luckily Magnum has access to Rick (Zachary Knighton) and his plot-convenient local connections, and Higgins’ ex-MI6 ass-kicking credentials, so all will inevitably be well. The buddy-romance at the heart of Magnum P.I. continues to be an enjoyable throughline, even if Perdita Weeks has Jay Hernandez severely outmatched in the charisma department.

It’s also nice to see Sebastian Nuzo (Domenick Lombardozzi) make another appearance, albeit in a flashback where the iconic Magnum ‘stache makes a brief cameo, and his death last week continues to have at least a minor impact on the characters. The show’s sunny backdrop and laidback tone are a winning combination, and the plot – this one was silly, but had the good sense to touch on economic anxiety for a bit of human contouring – moved along at a good clip. “From the Head Down” wasn’t a great episode of television by any means, and I don’t imagine any of the others will be either, but Magnum P.I. is a lot of fun, and a welcome diversion. Sometimes that’s all you need.