Magnum, P.I. Season 3 Episode 20

'Two Birds of a Feather' is a backdoor pilot for a proposed spin-off series that did not sell. William Lucking (who many will recognise as Colonel Lynch from 'The A-Team') had already played a very similar character, Grady Dancer, in two of Donald P. Bellisario's one season wonder, 'Tales of the Gold Monkey' (1982-83), 'Legends Are Forever' (where the character met his demise), and 'Honor Thy Brother' (where Grady was seen in flashback).





Bellisario obviously liked the character enough to try and spin him off into his own series. The character was updated to the 1980s ('Tales of the Gold Monkey' was set in the late 1930s) and fleshed out, but is very much Grady Dancer mark II, complete with cowboy hat and interest in ancient ruins.





Anyway, this episode, being a pilot for a series revolving around Lucking as Sam Hunter, features very little of Magnum and co. The opening trailer features Magnum heavily, no doubt to try and hook the regular viewers who tuned in to see Thomas Sullivan, but the story itself more revolves around Hunter and his family and associates.


It is the first of just a few 'Magnum-lite' episodes of the series (in terms of the character), with Magnum and Higgins only seen in a few scenes. T.C. and Rick are only seen in flashback in the opening 'Nam sequence (T.C. is mentioned in the present, but not seen).





The bulk of the episode sets about giving background to Hunter's character. His boss is played by 'Shaft' actor Richard Roundtree (who deserved to be used in a better and more prominent MPI story).





The climatic jet chase is quite exciting and well shot, and is probably the highlight of the story.


Lucking is likable enough as Hunter, and one can only wonder what it would have been like if he got his own series, but people who tuned in to see Magnum, Higgins, T.C. and Rick may be disappointed.





The pilot for a series set around Sam Hunter did not sell, but Bellisario did take the very basic notion of an ace combat pilot, and worked it into 'Airwolf' (1984-86). As a fan of both 'Tales of the Gold Monkey' and 'Airwolf', I find these connections to MPI fascinating. One can only wonder what the series would have been like, if it had ever emerged.