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Looks Like the Tides Are Turning for Mahina and T.C. on Magnum P.I.
Despite being Magnum's go-to pilot, T.C.'s relationship with Mahina has struggled to take off.
Magnum P.I. Season 5 has given fans a few relationship updates from their favorite couples. We've watched the union between Thomas Magnum (Jay Hernandez) and Juliet Higgins (Perdita Weeks) heat up, which has been adorably gratifying. Meanwhile, the slow-burn, maybe-relationship between Rick Wright (Zachary Knighton) and Suzy (Betsy Phillips) has become official. Plus, T.C. (Stephen Hill) has his own romance brewing with island firefighter Mahina, played by Emily Alabi
RELATED: Everything to Know About the Magnum P.I. Season 5 Cast
In an interview with NBC Insider, Hill described Mahina as “kind of a badass" and relished in the opportunity to see T.C.'s love life get the spotlight. “It took me five seasons. We really got to earn those moments, and I’m happy to have them now with an excellent actress, by the way," he said.
Below, we break down Mahina and T.C.'s relationship and where it stands currently. Read on!
Who is Mahina (Emily Alabi) on Magnum P.I.?
Mahina is a recurring character on Magnum P.I. who quickly stole our hearts as T.C.'s love interest and a dedicated firefighter on the island. Introduced in Magnum P.I. Season 4, Episode 16 ("Evil Walks Softly"), Mahina and T.C. were an instant dynamite pairing. However, trust issues have prevented the couple from thriving.
As for the talented woman behind Mahina, Alabi is an accomplished television actress and performer with an impressive lineup of credits, including Teen Wolf, The Rookie, and Joe Pickett.
T.C. and Mahina's awkward beginnings
With her Season 4 Magnum P.I. entrance, the beautiful Mahina instantly caught T.C.'s eye — but not for the reason viewers initially believed. T.C. was experiencing déjà vu after recognizing Mahina from a one-night stand years prior. Ultimately, T.C. ghosted Mahina after a former flame walked back into his life.
At first, it seemed Mahina didn't remember this when they crossed paths. After T.C. jogged Mahina's memory of the night and earnestly apologized, it became humorously obvious Mahina remembered their first date.
RELATED: Magnum P.I.'s Stephen Hill Talks Magnum-Higgins Romance
Mahina always has T.C.'s back
Magnum P.I. fans got an update on T.C. and Mahina's swoon-worthy connection in Season 5, Episode 4 ("NSFW"). After the Magnum trio's former Navy officer, Buck Greene was murdered, the group realized they all likely had targets on their backs. T.C. wasted no time setting up additional surveillance cameras around his property to increase security.
Abandoning a sleepy Mahina in bed on her rare day off to fortify his home, she quickly noticed his strange behavior, but he tried to play it cool.
T.C. continued to act jumpy while on a date with Mahina later that day, prompting her to ask what was up. T.C. came clean about the danger he was in, leading Mahina to ask him to trust her more and open up.
T.C. ghosts Mahina yet again
In the Midseason (Season 5) Finale it's revealed T.C. was left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot by Amherst's henchmen.
Despite this discouraging situation, T.C.'s made massive strides during his physical therapy sessions with the support of his friends. However, that hasn't come without its fair share of emotional hurdles. During the grim recovery process, T.C. pushed most of his closest friends and loved ones away, Mahina included.
We finally got some good news for T.C. in Season 5, Episode 14 ("Night Has a Thousand Eyes") after he was discharged from the rehabilitation center. As his friends wondered what T.C. would do with his newfound freedom, he was determined to follow up with Mahina. (Even though Mahina knew T.C. had a target on his back, he kept her out of the loop and never called her after entering rehab.)
RELATED: The Mystery of Captain Buck Greene's Murder Was Finally Solved on Magnum P.I.
So you can imagine that Mahina wasn't thrilled when T.C. rolled up to the firehouse with a beautiful bouquet of roses and an anxious disposition.
“Now you wanna talk?" Mahina exclaimed. "I've been trying to reach you for the last six weeks. If it weren’t for Kumu (Amy Hill), I never would have known you'd been hurt. You can't just show up out of the blue after blowing me off like that."
"I didn't want you to see me laid up," T.C. explained. "I didn't think you’d want to."
"You don't get to make those decisions for me," Mahina snapped. "Not when we were supposed to be in a relationship."
T.C. understood her frustration and asked to meet later to hopefully talk.
“There's nothing to say,” Mahina said. “I'm done.”
Later, Mahina visited T.C. at the airstrip for a more productive conversation about their relationship. She pointed out that T.C.'s recent hiccup wasn't an isolated incident; he'd pulled the same ghosting routine several times before.
"I was just afraid of how you might react to seeing me at my lowest," T.C. revealed.
"So you never even gave me a chance?" Mahina challenged.
"I just want to give you the best of me," T.C. said.
“That’s really sweet, T.C. But that isn't how a relationship works,” Mahina said, before ultimately deciding to break up with him.
“OK,” a stunned T.C. said. “Well, I'm sorry I couldn't be the man that you needed. I hope you find the love you deserve.”
T.C. later opened up to Higgins about the breakup. He explained he was "too little too late," but an optimistic Higgins said, "Sometimes the right person comes along at the wrong time. [But] You've got to have hope, T.C. You don't know what the future holds."
Mahina and T.C. romantically reunite
In Season 5, Episode 16 ("Run With the Devil"), T.C. found himself in an awkward predicament: without a date to the upcoming Marine Corps Ball. T.C. had intended to go to the event with Mahina, but with her claiming ex-girlfriend status in recent weeks, T.C. wasn't too keen to party. Rick, on the other hand, was thrilled about the chance to have a night out, so he committed himself to finding T.C. a date to the Ball.
Rick utilized his endless island connections to see which lucky lady might want to be T.C.'s date, resulting in a successful pitch to famed professional surfer and model Malia Manuel.
Impressive surfing aside, T.C. told Rick to call Malia back to tell her not to go. T.C. didn't want to go because the event would only remind him of how much he failed Mahina. Rick apologized for his hastiness, but T.C. finally put his guard down. It took some hefty convincing, but T.C. agreed to attend the Ball solo.
Everyone looked downright spiffy for the Marine Corp Ball, with Rick's girlfriend, Suzy, bursting with excitement for a rare night away from the baby. T.C. arrived stag as promised, looking clean-cut and miles above where he began the season. While T.C. held up his end of the deal, Rick couldn't help but bend the rules of their agreement a little.
"Excuse me, Major, I believe your date has arrived," Suzy was elated to point out.
"What'd you do?" T.C. asked as Suzy whisked Rick away. T.C. turned to see Mahina entering the Ball, looking drop-dead gorgeous.
"Wow," a delightfully awestruck T.C. complimented. "You’re here, and you look..."
"You don't look so bad yourself," Mahina mused.
"I'm really glad you came," T.C. said.
"Well, I’d already bought the gown, so…" Mahina teased before gently adding, "I'm glad I came too."
Later in the night, T.C. and Mahina shared a slow dance while going over T.C.'s many badges and honors. T.C. said he owed Rick a "big thank you" for getting Mahina to agree to be his date.
"True, but to be honest, it didn’t take much convincing," Mahina admitted. "I missed you, Theodore."
"I missed you too," T.C. said as Mahina nestled her head onto his chest.
To contribute to the relief efforts for those affected by the devastating wildfires in Maui, please visit Aloha United Way at UAW.org
Originally published Oct 25, 2023.
