I have recently been rewatching one of my favourite shows from my youth: Magnum PI. I was expecting a nostalgic dose of epic cheese but instead I've been reminded about what it takes to craft a compelling series story - real characters. I remembered Magnum PI as car chases, shootouts, witty repartee, aggressive moustaches and gorgeous scenery (I'm talking about Hawaii). It has all that, but so much more that I'd missed or forgotten. What sets Magnum PI apart from other eighties action dramas is verisimilitude. Thomas Magnum isn't a cardboard cutout of an action hero. Sure, he lives an amazing life as a permanent guest in a luxury estate in Hawaii. But he's still scraping by trying to make a living -- he's always in debt to his friends and usually can't afford to repair the damage he's always doing to the borrowed Ferrari. He may be living the dream, but he's also hustling for beer money.