#128: There But For The Grace

Season: 6

Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:

Father Jim, a priest and an old friend of MacGyver’s, is mugged in a dark alley and later dies in the hospital.  MacGyver goes “undercover” in the homeless community to gain the trust of Danny, a witness who is mute.  MacGyver learns that Father Jim had discovered a scam that took advantage of the homeless, and with Danny’s help, they catch the crooked businessman behind it all.    

Memorable Quote:

The only difference between you and me is a little bit of luck.  That’s all.  Aside from that, we’re both people.  We’re made from the same stuff. ~MacGyver 

Highlight: 

Slim pickings here.  I’ll go with MacGyver taking down a goon and then looking for a way to tie him up.  He finds a nearby staple gun and immobilizes the goon by stapling his jacket into the ground.  Not sure how that’s possible but it’s cool.

Lowlight: 

Everything from minute 8 to minute 24.  Let’s set the scene.  The police have come up empty on finding Father Jim’s killer.  MacGyver reasons that the homeless talk to each other, so maybe they might know something.  When night falls, he dresses up like a homeless person and goes to their community under a bridge.

For the next sixteen minutes, he meets several homeless people and tries to get information  while talking in a voice that I can’t accurately describe, almost like a bastardized New York City accent.  Glaciers formed Lake Michigan faster than this scene unfolds.  It’s one minute of plot that somehow turned into sixteen minutes of actual show.  

Best MacGyverism: 

See Highlight.

Other thoughts, observations, and questions I didn’t ask when I was in fourth grade:

• Not too many thoughts to offer here.  My mind has been numbed by watching this episode.
• There’s something about hearing Danny’s voice at the end (saying “Thank you”) that’s a little jarring.  Is it too high-pitched?  Does it sound too normal?  I can’t put my finger on it.
• Like Twenty Questions, this is a Season 6 Issue Episode where the plot centered on a social issue (in this case, homelessness).  Preachy dialogue is in abundance this season.  
• MacGyver:  I still can’t help but wonder about those people out there that fall through that so-called (pause) safety net. 
• Rachel:  It’s just a sad fact of life today.  What can you do? 
• MacGyver:  Refuse to accept it.  
• One thing all these weak episodes have in common: lousy villains.  A quick check of the Top 5 and somehow Samad from The Mountain of Youth is still number 1.  Just goes to show how bad these episodes have been. 

Final Analysis:

This is probably the slowest, most boring episode of the series.  They could have had MacGyver paint the houseboat and watch it dry and it would have been more exciting. 

Only two more episodes to slog through and then things take a definite turn for the better!