#114: On a Wing and a Prayer

Season: 4

Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:

MacGyver and Jack Dalton fly to Latin America to rescue a wounded Pete and a nun who have been kidnapped by rebels.  Their plane is shot during the escape attempt, and they are forced to make an emergency landing where one of the rudders gets damaged.  As the rebels discover their location and head towards them, MacGyver must fix the plane to escape so Pete can get medical attention and so they can warn the country's president about a palace bomb. 

Memorable Quote:

"MacGyver!  What's happening?" ~Jack
"Your slip knot's not slipping!" ~MacGyver

Highlight:

I like the scene in the beginning in the sea harbor where MacGyver approaches Dalton and sheepishly asks him for a favor.  Always enjoy the interplay between the two of them, and this one is a reversal of the more typical bit where:

1. Dalton asks MacGyver for help.
2. MacGyver complains and gets frustrated.
3. Jack continues to press.
4. MacGyver relents and agrees to help.

To Jack's credit, he does not need any convincing--he happily jumps at the chance to help MacGyver.

Lowlight:

There's not one jumping out at me--I guess I'll go with Pete getting shot. 

Best MacGyverism:

In order to seal the gash in the rudder, MacGyver heats up some rubber and nylon mixed with pieces of a life jacket in order to make a waterproof seal.  

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

• In this episode, Pete gets shot in the shoulder.  This is the first episode we've covered where either MacGyver or Pete gets shot.  I think we need to add a "shot chart" to keep track of all the times MacGyver and Pete get shot, so I'll add it to the rankings page.  At this point, you're thinking, "that's a little weird."  Let me explain.  When I was a kid, I played a game with my sisters that I called "Dodge the Bullet."  I liked to dodge things, and I was impressed with MacGyver's ability (or luck) to dodge bullets that were frequently whizzing by.  So when I was watching MacGyver with one of my sisters, we would play "Dodge the Bullet" during the commercials.  The rules of the game were that my sister had to sit on the sofa while holding a balloon.  Meanwhile, I would jump and dive around the room.  She would whack the balloon with her hand (like overhand hitting a volleyball) and try to hit me with the balloon, and I would try and dodge it.  As soon at the balloon hit something (like the floor, the window behind me, or the coffee table), the bullet was dead, so to speak, and I was free to pick it up and give it back to her.  Each time the balloon hit me first, however, I was "shot."  My goal was to get shot fewer times than MacGyver had gotten shot all-time in the series--if that happened, then I "won."  If I got hit greater than or equal to the number of times he got shot, then I "lost."  There were many times where it was very dramatic as I was on my last life and waiting for the commercial to end while having to dodge the balloon like my life depended on it.  Back then, there were still new episodes coming out and I was seeing older ones for the first time, so if there was a new one where he got shot, it was actually a good thing for me in the game, because it meant I got an extra life. Although of course I didn't like to see MacGyver get shot.  There you go. See, no weirdness at all.  
• Good shake at 21:21--we'll add it to the list. 
• Who knew Central America had so many evergreen trees?  I know, that's the tenth time I've made that joke. 
• If Rafael (the rebel leader) wants to take power after the palace bomb goes off, wouldn't he be in town rather than in the middle of nowhere?  

Final Analysis:

This episode is ok--no real highlights or lowlights.  The rebel band is contrived and more silly than menacing.  But at least MacGyver has to do something creative--it's been about 4 episodes since we could say that.  Happy Memorial Day everyone! 

#115: Thin Ice

Season: 3

Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:

MacGyver is in Minnesota to coach a college hockey team in the state finals while the full-time coach is recovering from a health problem.  The team's star player, Derek Kirby, is conflicted between playing the game the right way versus playing dirty to impress the NHL scouts whom his father is courting.  After severely injuring an opposing player, Derek must decide which direction he will go in, once and for all. 

Memorable Quote:

"When I played for Turk back in high school, he used to read this at the top of every season.  It's the Olympic oath.  I think he'd appreciate it if I read it now.  In the name of all competitors, I promise that we will take part in these games..." ~MacGyver

"...respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of the sport, and the honor of the team." ~Kirby (interrupting MacGyver and finishing the quote)

"Let's play some hockey." ~MacGyver (followed by the sound of triumphant trumpets).  

Highlight:

See Memorable Quote.  I must admit, it was a little goose-bumpy. 

Lowlight:

Hard to watch the part where the opposing player hits his head on the goal post and is knocked out cold and put in a coma. 

Best MacGyverism:

Takes a spring from a flashlight to fix a compressor.  

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

• Always good to see MacGyver back in Minnesota
• This episode wins the award for longest time we see MacGyver in a suit
• The hockey scenes are really good and filmed well
• The father does a good job as the unenlightened, super-serious sports parent
• I don't know RDA personally, and I've often wondered how similar he is to the character and how much of his acting is him playing himself.  In this episode he says some things like "every time I lace up the skates, I wonder if I could have made it or not." Makes me wonder how much of that is really the actor himself talking.
• "All right, we’ve got 20 minutes left to do it.  Let’s go!" ~MacGyver's intermission speech.  Not winning any awards as far as motivational speeches go.  
• It's clearly stated multiple times that this is a college tournament, though MacGyver says that Turk was his high school coach.  And the whole thing has more of a high school feel with the meddlesome father, and I've never heard of a state championship for college sports. 
• Wouldn't Kirby have been suspended for the last game, or would the other kid have had to die first? 

Final Analysis:

All in all this is a good episode and better than I remembered.  The acting is solid and there are a lot of good scenes with well-written dialogue.  It's a little gloomy and not all that fun to watch which is why I had it lower on the list.  

#116: Hearts of Steel

Season: 5

Synopsis in 3 sentences or less:
Lisa Woodman (aka Blossom) is back, and this time she's kidnapped by steel workers who are mad at her father for closing their steel plant.  Mr. Woodman enlists MacGyver's help and gets 5 million in cash to trade for Blossom.  During the exchange at the plant, MacGyver convinces the head kidnapper that the unemployed steel workers wouldn't want blood money and that no one has to die in order for the plant to reopen.

Editor's note (as also seen in Twenty Questions): Lisa is played by Mayim Bialik of Blossom fame so I’ll refer to her as “Blossom” for the rest of the post.  Why?  Because it’s a great name.  How come there aren’t more Blossom’s in the world?

Memorable Quote:

"Look, kidnapping me isn’t going to change anything.  Just let me go.  I’ll ask my dad to give all those jobs back, I promise." ~Blossom
"A Woodman promise isn’t worth the powder it’d take to blow him to Hell." ~Travers

Highlight:

Near the end, MacGyver forgoes descending some stairs like a normal person and instead puts his legs over each railing and rapidly slides down to the bottom.  Given the relatively small number of steps and his stumble and roll on the ground afterwards, it's doubtful that his maneuver saved much, if any time. Nevertheless, it's a pretty sweet move and one that I'd be tempted to try if I found the right staircase and wasn't worried about breaking any bones.  

Lowlight:
Every scene with Mr. Woodman.  Just a total sleaze from beginning to end.  And we know from Twenty Questions that Mrs. W. isn't much better either.  One wonders where Blossom got her charm and sweet disposition - maybe from the grandparents.  

Best MacGyverism:

MacGyver hangs a rope on a big hook and swings on the rope to kick one of the bad guys.  Not really a MacGyverism but there's nothing else to pick from.  

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

• When MacGyver prints out the kidnapper's portrait from the facial recognition software, we see printer paper with holes on each side.  That takes me back to childhood right there. 
• How does Travers know to tell his henchmen that Blossom will be wearing a purple leather jacket?
• Once they realize the kidnappers got the wrong girl, shouldn't they place Blossom under maximum protection under the assumption that the kidnappers also realized their mistake?
• So MacGyver convinces Travers to put the gun down in exchange for Woodman's promise to reopen the plant.  After Travers is hauled away by the cops, MacGyver asks Woodman when the plant will be re-opened.  Woodman hesitantly double backs on his promise, to the dismay of Blossom, who scolds him for lying.  He changes his mind and says he'll open the plant, and Blossom gives him a hug and says that she loves him.  I don't like Travers being rewarded with his initial objective by using coercion, but somehow Mr. Woodman seems the sleaziest of all.  

Final Analysis:
I didn't remember this one too well (since it's not too memorable), but it's great to see Blossom again. We'll see her once more in the countdown, but that won't be for a while.  Next up, get ready for some hockey!