CBS' Magnum P.I. reboot is more about corporate synergy than creativity

Indiewire

Magnum P.I. isn't just a reboot -- it's part of the CTU, or CBS Television Universe, which includes Hawaii Five-0's reboot. "The sheer fact that the crossover pieces are built into the pilot spoils a lot of the joy in seeing how the two Hawaii-set police procedurals could somehow come together," says Ben Travers. "And a lot of that joy has already been sucked out by the machine making the new Magnum. For a pilot to begin with a man skydiving from outer space and end without a trace of distinguishing personality points to two problems: a) It’s meant to be generic enough for mass appeal, and b) Creativity isn’t driving this series. Reboots, remakes, and revivals are usually inessential, but even the ones with the least motivation to come back can work with the right cast (Will & Grace) or intentions (Queer Eye) can work. Magnum P.I. is a reboot coasting on the name of its predecessor that’s trying to ensure success in the ratings by tying itself to another reboot that’s already successful. There’s no natural imagination involved, just fiscal obligation."

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• Jay Hernandez isn't bad as Thomas Magnum, but he isn't Tom Selleck -- Magnum P.I. exposes how much heavy lifting Selleck did on a thin premise
• Magnum P.I.'s Thomas Magnum is a cipher in every sense, and that's a problem because there needs to be something behind the smile
• Hernandez brings a certain amount of charm to the role, but he doesn't have Selleck's charisma
• Average, inoffensive and reliably amusing, the new Magnum P.I. is a serviceable entry in CBS' slate of peppy procedurals
• The original was inspirational portrayal for Vietnam vets, while the reboot mostly glosses over the war in Afghanistan
• Magnum's existence is cold and cynical, merely a piece of content placed between commercials
• The lack of a native Hawaiian or Asian-American character in the show’s core cast is a glaring problem