Magnum, P.I. (TV Series) Mr. White Death (1982) User Reviews

Ernest Borgnine brings extra gravitas to this emotional episode

[DVD_Connoisseur · 8/10 · 25 November 2018]

When the legendary Ernest Borgnine appears in the opening credits of a show, chances are, it's going to be solid entertainment.

Borgnine delivers a moving performance as an ageing wrestler who's visiting Hawaii in search of his long lost son.

Margie Impert is excellent as the emotional Ms. Jones at The Hall of Records in one of the series' best comedy sequences.

Rick suffers a lot more than usual this episode. With three blows to the head during the proceedings, he starts to resemble a hamburger long before the end titles roll.

8 out of 10. More of Higgins' backstory is revealed, much to the joy of Magnum.

This episode started it for me

[billnich-1 · 9/10 · 6 January 2019]

I saw the pilot and one or two episodes in Season 2, but this is the episode that got me started watching Magnum, P.I. as a solid fan (better episodes preceded it but I saw those in re-runs after watching this one).

I remember one of my biggest laughs watching TV was in this episode at the climax with the bad-guys (won't spoil it, but it involves poor Rick, who gets more than his share in this one).

Ernest Borgnine was an unknown to me until this episode (I was a novice then).

Not my "favorite" of Magnum episodes, but it's up there because this is the one that got me hooked.

Ernest Borgnine is the special guest star

[safenoe · 8/10 · 20 October 2023]

Strangely and surprisingly, Ernest Borgnine (who plays pro wrestler Earl Gianelli) does not receive a 'Special Guest Star' billing for this episode, which is quite disrespectful to Mr Borgnine. Seriously, if Frank Sinatra could get special guest star treatment, then what about Mr Borgnine please.

Anyway, I liked the professional wrestling aspects of Mr. White Death, and this was the prelude to Wrestlemania in the 80s with Hulk Hogan and Mr T reigning supreme and bringing order to the wrestling world against the likes of Rowdy Roddy Piper and the other bad guys. Lots of sun in this episode that's worth watching.

Magnum and McHale's problem

[stones78 · 1 August 2017]

This entertaining episode stars the great Ernest Borgnine as a "professional" wrestler, who enlists Magnum's help to help locate his son, who he hasn't seen in over 30 years. I question "professional" because he performs in flea bag halls to wrestle, but there's a reason for that, and you'll have to find out for yourself why. A big reason why I enjoyed this is because Rick, T.C., and Higgins are all involved, and that adds to any episode, and don't forget the lads! Poor Rick takes several beatings too. Wrestling fans will probably enjoy this episode more than some other fans of the show, but Borgnine is worth the price of admission. An odd surprise has Higgins and Earl(Borgnine)having more in common than you'd think, and there's even a funny nickname involved, which I won't spoil here. Add in the mob angle, as their chasing after Earl, and a touching moment at the end with his son, and overall, what we get is a solid episode with added star power in the great Ernest Borgnine.

This episode is kind of lame, but watchable.

[mm-39 · 6/10 · 14 August 2021]

Mr. White Death episode is lame, but watchable. What work is there is a mysterious start in Miami 30 years earlier. Then Magnum has a job which gets Rick and T C suckered into and Mr. White Death saved the day. Magnum is on a case for a missing person for White Death. Because Magnum owes the wrestler a solid. Ernest Borgnine does a melodramatic role with humor and sappy sentimental story. Higgens gets alone with Mr White Death which makes for humor, and the fight with T C and Rick if funny. There is a story turn around with Borgnine characters past which fill the story. Sappy but likeable ending. 6 stars.