Forty Feet High and It Kills!

For all of you Magnum PI fans out there, it's interesting to note that the second scene in this episode was shot at the mansion known as "Robin's Nest" in the Magnum series. This scene was taped in the mansion's front yard area, and filmed about 11 years prior to Magnum PI debuting on American television. I also found another interesting coincidence in this scene. When McGarrett first meets an acquaintance at the mansion, the acquaintance mentions that McGarrett was a retired naval intelligence officer turned cop. Thomas Magnum was a retired naval intelligence officer turned private investigator! I wonder if this really is a coincidence or an ode to Hawaii Five-O!

Wo Fat is back, and boy does he have an interesting plan. A group of his agents take over a station on the island and generate a fake tsunami warning--saying that there is a tidal wave heading towards Hawaii. Since tidal waves had caused serious catastrophes in the past on the islands (the last one in 1960), the locals and police are naturally scared. But, when this wave never hits, McGarrett is sure that the whole thing was a hoax. They don't realize that McGarrett's old nemesis has returned and that this fake warning is a chance for Wo Fat and his men to kidnap a top genetic scientist (Will Geer).

As for Geer, he is a great character in this episode. He is NOT just some passive kidnapping victim and his sharp mind enables him to mess with his captor's minds--like he's playing a mental game of chess with his captors. Using some quick thinking, he forces Mr. Fat to change his plan a bit...and that's enough to give McGarrett a chance...a slim chance...to rescue him.

Overall, a very well-scripted show. It's much more intelligently written and complex than most episodes and because of this, the viewer can ignore the fact that none of the Wo Fat episodes are believable. After all, why is one of the greatest Red Chinese agents ALWAYS battling against a local cop (McGarrett) for the fate of the free world?! Still, it's dandy viewing and Geer's nice guest appearance makes it more so.

Did they ever even make a BAD Wo Fat episode? I sure can't recall one.