The Taking of Dick McWilliams - S2-E9
Revealing mistake: During the various scenes in flight, TC's shades reflect a still landscape with hills even when he makes wild maneuvers or flies over the ocean.
The Taking of Dick McWilliams - S2-E9
Revealing mistake: In the shot meant to show TC's chopper coming near the tunnel exit, the movement is not consistent with the handling of the chopper, not even within the maneuverability of it. (00:18:00)
Revealing mistake: Magnum just set foot in the bar, and finds TC and Rick there. Buck puts the crutch against the back of the couch, but it won't stay still, so Darren McGavin tries again. This time, a stagehand just out of frame catches it and draws it out of frame. (00:19:40)
Revealing mistake: When he trades some punches with the big guy in the bar in a fast paced sequence, back to the camera, "TC" is a good 20 pounds lighter. (00:23:05)
Revealing mistake: Mad Buck lands on Higgins' beach croquet course, and right on him and Agatha. The two are replaced by obvious stunt people, though. Higgins' definitely has more hair than John Hillerman, and the woman is younger than silver fox Gillian Dobb. (00:07:20)
Wave Goodbye - S2-E7
Revealing mistake: Magnum finds the trap the veteran put in the plantation. When he walks past it, the camera pans to the left following him, and hits and moves a branch with a very noticeable and unmistakeable effect, not simply the rustling of the wind. (00:25:45)
Revealing mistake: When the bad guys show up at the main door surprising Higgins, the background (save a couple plants at the side of the door) is matte painting. (00:42:50)
Revealing mistake: Magnum finds inside of the mysterious woman's villa a folder about Higgins. On the right side, there is some insurance document stuff that is pure filler. On the left side (but that one fades fast so you may need to pause for that) you can see that truly she has him scouted thoroughly, because it contains information about not just Higgins, but...John Hillerman and his acting career. (00:30:10)
Revealing mistake: When Magnum shoots the agent in front of Bully's Tattoo Shop, he gets propelled in the air at impossible distance in a very fake trajectory with obvious wirework. (01:31:50)
Revealing mistake: To make his escape from the church, Magnum turns the Mercedes around. You can distinctly see at the driver's seat the driver, which is not Tom Selleck but someone who seems to be wearing fake moustache. (01:10:50)
The Woman on the Beach - S2-E3
Revealing mistake: Rick just got shot and Magnum asks him if he's OK. When he answers, you can see that Larry Manetti is not lying in a random spot on the lawn, but on a rug the same color of the grass. (00:44:55)
The Woman on the Beach - S2-E3
Revealing mistake: Lisa is hiding from Ellison inside the potting shed; the camera is following him, and you can see him move his head avoiding a big leaf that the camera itself pushes, showing its presence. (00:44:00)
Revealing mistake: When Magnum socks the detective, The Turk starts going down with the punch almost before Magnum swings. (00:33:35)
Revealing mistake: In the wider shot, the dead body the police covers has much more of a receding hairline than in the close-up. (00:23:55)
Revealing mistake: When the masked Hawaiian hits Magnum in the back with the club, for a second you can see distinctly Tom Lupo (stunt double) 's face instead of Tom Selleck's. (00:22:25)
Revealing mistake: In the photo Billy Joe shows Magnum, his sister's image appears superimposed on a background - which is also quite unlikely from anyone near Shamrock, TX, and more like a lush Hawaiian scenery. (00:04:30)
Revealing mistake: Billy Joe Bob steals the Ferrari, but the interior shot of the car with him switching gears is stock footage; the person in it has sneakers on like Magnum, not James Whitmore Jr.'s cowboy boots. (00:37:00)
Revealing mistake: When Billy Joe Bob downs the 3 Japanese goons hitting them with the skid of the chopper, only two (at most) are hit and on the chest, the other (again, at most) gets the impact of the other two knocked against him, and all of them land on soft grass. Yet of course they are unconscious and KTFO for good. (00:43:30)
Revealing mistake: Magnum is back from his meeting with Ito. When TC from his seat reaches for the heli door, you can spot he's someone else wearing a ski mask. (00:33:45)
Revealing mistake: The chopper lands and an upset Billy Joe Bob disembarks. A low standard for body doubles is set when you realise that TC has been replaced by some white dude wearing a bandit scarf on his face and sunglasses. (00:15:00)