It's a crisis of faith and conscience for Magnum as a long-buried body is discovered and his dear, departed friend Nuzo is the prime suspect.
Tropes:
- Armor-Piercing Question: Twice, both from Magnum's imaginary Nuzo.
- He asks why Magnum withheld information from Katsumoto if he really doesn't think Nuzo did it.
- After the real killers are brought to justice, he calls Magnum on his guilt for not being able to save him, and asks if that's why Magnum's "one not living."
Magnum: What do you mean?
Nuzo: You know what I mean. Since I died, everybody else has been living. Rick's got a baby on the way. T.C.'s fostering a kid. And as far as Higgins goes, well, let's just say the ice has thawed. [...] A lot has changed. But you're still the same. And here you are, with a chance to be happier than you've ever been, and you won't take it. Every day is a gift, Magnum. Don't let it slip through your fingers. All you have to do is go over there... and tell her how you feel. - Artistic Licence – Military: Magnum and Rick attend Bob Braddick's funeral in dress whites, but remove their hats, which is not permitted while outside and would show major disrespect to Bob.
- Blackmail Backfire: After finding the cargo container full of drowning victims, Fletcher tried to blackmail the people smugglers and was murdered.
- Call-Back:
- The episode opens with the funeral of Bob Braddick, Magnum's veteran friend from last episode. His brother thanks him for reuniting them, and gives him a gift from Bob; a bottle of whiskey, which the gang drink in his honour.
- Higgins is in a relationship with Ella's father Cole. Although she points out it's just texting.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: The people in the cargo container that was dumped in the ocean.
- Dead Person Conversation: When Nuzo is implicated in a murder, Magnum starts discussing the case with an imaginary version of him. This is presumably just illustrative, as no one asks Magnum who he's talking to.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: Magnum is uncomfortable remembering this side of his old buddy Nuzo, which apparently Rick and T.C. never saw. Combined with Nuzo having beef with the victim, Magnum is very uncomfortable.
- Joggers Find Death: The plot of the episode is kicked off when hikers find the body of Bruce Fletcher buried just off the trail. Nuzo's number is on the guy's phone and Magnum knows they had trouble.
- Minor Crime Reveals Major Plot: Played With as murder isn't a minor crime, but it turns out Bruce was killed by people smugglers he tried to blackmail after finding a cargo container of people who drowned after they dumped the container to avoid a surprise inspection.
- Revealing Cover Up: Higgins realises there's something hidden in Oscar Woods' shed when he glances there when they ask if Fletcher left anything with him.
- Spotting the Thread: Nuzo's problem with Fletcher revolved around some equipment he lent him to search for a wreck, but Magnum realises Fletcher was looking on the wrong side of the island. Searching the first unchecked grid on Fletcher's map leads Magnum to the shipping container.
