The BEST episodes of Magnum P.I. season 1

Every episode of Magnum P.I. season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Magnum P.I. season 1!

Thomas Magnum, a decorated former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator in Hawaii taking jobs no one else will with the help of fellow vets T.C. Calvin and Rick Wright, and the former MI:6 agent Higgins.

Last Updated: 11/2/2024Network: NBCStatus: Ended
The Day It All Came Together
star
7.79
565 votes

#1 - The Day It All Came Together

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/1/2019

Hannah, Magnum’s ex and the fugitive responsible for him and his SEAL team brothers being POWs for years, shows up at his home with a gunshot wound, and wanting his help to find her missing CIA father whose life is in danger. Also, Magnum makes an earnest proposition to Higgins for her to become his private investigations partner.

Directors: Bryan Spicer
Watch Now:Amazon
Day the Past Came Back
star
7.77
609 votes

#2 - Day the Past Came Back

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/18/2019

Magnum discovers that his ex, who landed him and his friends in a POW camp, is on the island and planning to steal a fortune in gold.

Directors: Bryan Spicer
Watch Now:Amazon
Blood in the Water
star
7.77
590 votes

#3 - Blood in the Water

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/25/2019

When Magnum and Higgins get “yacht-jacked,” Higgins is shot and she and Magnum are stranded at sea, struggling to reach land before she bleeds out and the culprits return to finish them off.

Directors: Karen Gaviola
Writer: Gene Hong
Watch Now:Amazon
A Kiss Before Dying
star
7.76
608 votes

#4 - A Kiss Before Dying

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/11/2019

When the Dobermans dig up what appears to be a human bone, Magnum and Higgins help Katsumoto investigate the murder of his former mentor.

Directors: Bryan Spicer
Watch Now:Amazon
Black is the Widow
star
7.75
604 votes

#5 - Black is the Widow

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/4/2019

After a man is murdered, Magnum poses as a doctor on the same dating app the victim was using in order to find the killer who may be praying on wealthy men.

Directors: Kristin Windell
Writer: Neil Tolkin
Watch Now:Amazon
The Ties That Bind
star
7.73
664 votes

#6 - The Ties That Bind

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/19/2018

After a 16-year-old kidnap victim, Amanda, escapes her captors, her parents hire Magnum, who experienced similar trauma as a POW, to find who took her.

Directors: Ron Underwood
Writer: Ashley Gable
Watch Now:Amazon
Day of the Viper
star
7.73
636 votes

#7 - Day of the Viper

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/21/2019

One of Higgins’ former MI6 teammates shows up with a fresh gunshot wound and news that “the Viper,” the assassin who killed her true love, has surfaced on Oahu.

Directors: Bryan Spicer
Watch Now:Amazon
Murder is Never Quiet
star
7.72
620 votes

#8 - Murder is Never Quiet

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/25/2019

Magnum is hired by a woman to prove that her son didn’t kill his girlfriend and has only 24 hours to do so before the accused accepts a plea deal. Also, Rick and TC try to recover stolen appliances that were donated to a wounded veteran.

Directors: David Straiton
Watch Now:Amazon
I, The Deceased
star
7.68
587 votes

#9 - I, The Deceased

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/28/2019

A man hires Magnum to investigate his own murder before he is killed. Kumu reconnects with an old friend.

Directors: Krishna Rao
Watch Now:Amazon
Winner Takes All
star
7.67
591 votes

#10 - Winner Takes All

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/20/2019

Magnum has an emotional connection to a case when he and every other private investigator and bounty hunter on Oahu are tasked to track down a man accused of murder.

Directors: Amanda Marsalis
Writer: Gene Hong
Watch Now:Amazon
Death Is Only Temporary
star
7.63
728 votes

#11 - Death Is Only Temporary

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/2018

An aging tycoon, Henry Brown, asks Magnum to find his lost love who he says just recently contacted him – the only problem is she died 30 years ago. Also, Rick and TC meet a fellow vet who is having a hard time adjusting to civilian life.

Directors: Duane Clark
Watch Now:Amazon
Bad Day to Be a Hero
star
7.63
634 votes

#12 - Bad Day to Be a Hero

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/10/2018

Magnum must help Rick’s crush after her illegal poker game is robbed by masked gunmen.

Directors: Lin Oeding
Watch Now:Amazon
Nowhere to Hide
star
7.63
623 votes

#13 - Nowhere to Hide

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/14/2019

Higgins’ and Kumu’s lives are put in danger when Magnum get too close to a case involving a missing Russian fugitive.

Watch Now:Amazon
The Cat Who Cried Wolf
star
7.62
731 votes

#14 - The Cat Who Cried Wolf

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/2018

Magnum takes the case of a little girl’s missing cat and, in the process, stumbles upon another cat’s murdered owner who happens to be an FBI agent.

Directors: Eagle Egilsson
Writer: Neil Tolkin
Watch Now:Amazon
Die He Said
star
7.60
673 votes

#15 - Die He Said

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/12/2018

A man dying of lymphoma hires Magnum to find his estranged, bone-marrow-compatible brother who turns out to need Magnum’s help as well. Also, Magnum’s case brings back haunted memories for the guys of a past SEAL team mission that went sideways.

Directors: Peter Weller
Writer: Joe Gazzam
Watch Now:Amazon
Six Paintings, One Frame
star
7.60
863 votes

#16 - Six Paintings, One Frame

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/2018

A close friend of Higgins, an art connoisseur who recently hired Magnum to test his security, is murdered, and Thomas is arrested as the main suspect.

Directors: Antonio Negret
Writer: Ashley Gable
Watch Now:Amazon
Sudden Death
star
7.60
794 votes

#17 - Sudden Death

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/2018

TC asks Magnum to take on a case to help acquit the father of one of his young football players who is accused of murder.

Directors: David Grossman
Writer: David Fury
Watch Now:Amazon
The Woman Who Never Died
star
7.56
877 votes

#18 - The Woman Who Never Died

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/2018

Magnum takes a case from fellow private investigator Luther Gillis to find the true identity of a man’s comatose fiancée when he learns that she’s had extensive facial surgery.

Directors: Sylvain White
Writer: Joe Gazzam
Watch Now:Amazon
From the Head Down
star
7.52
909 votes

#19 - From the Head Down

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/2018

Magnum helps Dan, a struggling fisherman and fellow veteran, when his 300-pound tuna worth $350,000 is stolen, and he discovers that the thief needs Magnum’s help as well.

Directors: Karen Gaviola
Watch Now:Amazon
I Saw the Sun Rise
star
7.42
1156 votes

#20 - I Saw the Sun Rise

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/2018

A decorated former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator in Hawaii.

Directors: Justin Lin
Watch Now:Amazon