With Resolutions, Magnum adheres to the overall poor standards of seasons 7 and 8, which, despite some gems of episodes, have not had nearly the same quality as those preceding them.
Even if I were someone who wrote synopses, I would find it impossible to do so for Resolutions because there quite simply is no major plotline running through it. It's merely a collection of disparate sub-plots, some of which aren't given enough time and just abruptly begin or end, and some of which shouldn't have been given any time at all.
The search for Lily would have been worthy of a two-parter all by itself. Instead, she just turns up and it's instantly happy families. No mention of any continuing threat to her life, the legal procedures Magnum would have to go through to become her legal guardian, problems with adjustment to her new situation, etc. All the feeling is removed from what should be a hugely emotional occasion. (Incidentally, now that she lives in the US, hasn't anyone ever thought it might be a good idea to teach Lily English? In fact, her vocabulary has shrunk to just two French words - "Ma poupée" - which doesn't exactly help in establishing an emotional connection to Magnum or us, the viewers)
Reporter Linda Lee Ellison is back and being stalked. She and Magnum renew their romance. It seems the series will finish with a matured Magnum not only having a daughter but also settling down with one woman - even if I still think Dana Delaney's Cynthia would have been the best choice. But no. He sleeps with her then dumps her. After he catches one of her stalkers (Linda has TWO knife-wielding maniacs after her! Funnily enough, Magnum himself also semi-stalked her in her previous episode) they have a chat and then she disappears. We don't see her again even after he catches/maybe kills the principal stalker.
The appearance of Magnum's previously unmentioned grandfather seems like it's going to be significant, at least sentimentally, but it isn't. He appears, Magnum is cold towards him, he talks about being a wanderer or something, he disappears. He doesn't even get to meet his great-granddaughter. What was the point? That was running time that could have been better spent elsewhere.
And don't even get me started on TC's out-of-the-blue airport kiss with his ex-wife, the is-Higgins-Robin-Masters routine, Magnum reenlisting in the navy despite making it clear for as long as we've known him that he would never go back - and this at just the time that he becomes sole parent to a little child, or the "cliffhanger" ending in which Rick might not be able to say "I do" at his wedding.
One of the previous reviewers mentioned something about a writers' strike. I'll cling onto that idea as some kind of justification for ending the series with such a mess of an episode. And, looking on the bright side, we'll always have the great first 6 seasons and some choice titbits scattered here and there during these final two. Anyway, so long, Thomas and friends. By and large, it's been a blast.
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