The fall broadcast season on the NBC network has started with a bang, as after much anticipation, the fifth season of beloved crime and action drama Magnum P.I. finally started airing its remaining ten episodes last week on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 9/8c, which are being treated as a second part of the 20-episode final season. It is the only season of the series to air on NBC after it was canceled by CBS following the conclusion of the previous season.
The official comeback of the show has been welcomed with a lot of love from die-hard fans as the 11th episode, “Hit and Run,” which is directed by David Straiton and written by Gene Hong, was viewed by a total of 3.57 million U.S. viewers, which is pretty great as speculation has been rife about whether the show’s unexpected end with the fifth season will leave viewers hanging on a suspenseful cliffhanger or if the creator’s taken note of the cancelation and end the series with a proper farewell.
To address this burning question, in a recent interview, the showrunner stepped forward to put an end to this subject, which has been helpful in putting fans’ minds at ease. With an air of confidence and a hint of mystery, showrunner Eric Guggenheim assures loyal viewers that there will be enough closure and not leave things with a cliffhanger that would leave fans clueless as to what happened next, as the series will end its run for good after five seasons.
“I actually think it’s quite satisfying. I’m really proud of the finale,” Guggenheim told TVLine. Further adding, “There are a couple of threads left dangling that would have been picked up in a Season 6, but I didn’t want to end on a cliffhanger.” He continued, “If I’m being honest, I guess I wanted to play it safe. Too many shows have gotten burned with cliffhangers that were then left unresolved in the wake of cancellation.” Guggenheim also added that this is not how he wanted the show to end, but given the circumstances, the last episode of Season 5 would work as a series finale.
This heads-up was necessary in order to avoid outrage from the fans, as it helps to assure them that even though Magnum P.I. is ending its run on NBC with Season 5 Part 2, the creators have done everything in their power to include a proper sendoff, which is quite necessary as there are many shows that get canceled and don’t get to give closure to the characters on screen, and viewers are left with unanswered questions when the series ends with a huge cliffhanger. Hopefully, this time around, the fans will understand the abrupt end and draw their own conclusion about the series’ overall plotlines and character arcs, which they would have got to see in the sixth season if it was granted approval.
Magnum P.I. Season 5 Part 2: When will the next episode premiere on NBC?
The 12th episode from Magnum P.I. Season 5 Part 2, simply titled “Three Bridges,” is directed by David Straiton and written by Barbie Kligman. It is scheduled to air this week on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at the same time slot of 9/8c on NBC and later available to stream anytime on Peacock. The official synopsis of the episode states: “Magnum and Higgins try to help Zhao, a close friend of Kumu, recover her life savings that were all lost to a scammer; TC becomes increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress in his recovery and pushes everyone away.”
The main cast includes Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum, Perdita Weeks as Juliet Higgins, Zachary Knighton as Orville “Rick” Wright, Stephen Hill as Theodore “T.C.” Calvin, Amy Hill as Teuila “Kumu” Tuileta, and Tim Kang as suspended Honolulu Police Department (HPD) Detective Gordon Katsumoto. The recurring cast includes Michael Rady as HPD Detective Chris Childs, Bobby Lee as Jin Jeong, James Remar as Captain Buck Greene, Michael DeLara as M.E. Gabriel Santos, Lee Anne Kuper as HPD Officer Lee, and Christopher Thornton as Kenny “Shammy” Shamberg.
last night was fun! see you next wednesday for episode 12. pic.twitter.com/au9UYhDPQS
— Magnum P.I. (@magnumpi) October 5, 2023
The series is a reboot of the original series of the same name created by Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson, which aired from 1980 to 1988. Magnum P.I. is an American action drama television series developed by Peter M. Lenkov and Eric Guggenheim. Additionally, Magnum P.I. is a marquee title in Universal’s TV library. It is also a rare broadcast drama with a Latino lead. The series is a co-production between Universal TV and CBS Studios, which have split rights, with Universal TV handling international and CBS spearheading domestic off-network sales.
You can watch all the prior seasons of Magnum P.I. on NBC (official website and app after it’s broadcasted), Peacock, and FuboTV. The series is also available to rent or purchase on Amazon Instant Video or Vudu, with various subscription tiers based on the viewer’s region and preferences. The series is also able to stream for free on Pluto, based on the selective location of the viewers. In conclusion, it’s time to renew your membership plans and immerse yourself in the exciting world of Thomas Magnum, who solves mysteries with his business partner, Juliet Higgins.
In the meantime, check out the teaser for Magnum P.I. Season 5 Episode 12 “Three Bridges” to get an idea about what will happen next in the final season.
Let us know in the comments if you have been streaming the final season on NBC or not.