tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post8447605736640265152..comments2024-03-27T00:26:22.316-05:00Comments on The MacGyver Project: Legend -- Episode 1: Birth of a LegendNicholas Sweedohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-49818937266308014962019-04-04T05:15:58.049-05:002019-04-04T05:15:58.049-05:00I remember watching one or two episodes of this sh...I remember watching one or two episodes of this show, but I barely remember anything. It's just the kind of show my parents would have loved, and I probably enjoyed it as well. I think I recall my father being upset at hearing it had been cancelled.<br /><br />-SvenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-19734877855572144632016-01-29T14:19:37.033-06:002016-01-29T14:19:37.033-06:00Good analysis, and I agree with it all. I'll ...Good analysis, and I agree with it all. I'll make a spot for your rankings on the main Legend page! Nicholas Sweedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-16079306052083798912016-01-29T07:41:07.399-06:002016-01-29T07:41:07.399-06:00I agree with everyone so far; its much too slow an...I agree with everyone so far; its much too slow and would have been better condensed but in some ways, because the whole concept and background is quite complicated, there would be too much to fit in to one normal episode.<br />Don't worry Nicholas, I did get that your 'MacGyver references' idea was a joke! But ironically, the show does, in some ways, perpetuate the Macgyver legacy; the heroes rely on inventions of a non-violent kind to defeat the villains, the 'hero'( albeit pretend) is clean-living, science is to the fore and the script references both science and literature throughout, including a speech from Shakespeare's Richard II 'to sit upon the ground and tell sad tales of the death of kings'. The only problem is I can't quite work out who the audience is meant to be; the science, the complicated concept and some of the surprisingly adult, innuendo etc might appeal to a grown-up, well-educated audience but not sure whether they would enjoy the numerous descents into hamminess and the almost slapstick aspects. I think the genre is Steam punk (wacky inventions, 19th century setting, Gothic lab) in a Western setting which may be too 'niche' for some.<br /><br />I like the running gag about Pratt and horses and I too enjoyed the scene where he persuades the gunfighter to take up writing instead. The early scenes with Pratt and his agent and in the barber's were also amusing.<br /> Ernest Pratt is obviously knowledgeable, literary and silver-tongued but it takes us a while to discover that - which I think is partly the point - being Nicodemus Legend gradually brings out the better qualities he has hidden beneath a mask of cynicism and dissolution. I quite enjoyed one of the slightly more serious scenes; in the bar where Bartok explains more about his background and Pratt becomes slightly introspective and fatalistic and felt it was a welcome relief.<br />There are some good ideas and lots of inventiveness but I do feel the execution is flawed at times and like you all, I'm lukewarm so far.Alnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-74987332735903121912016-01-27T07:31:27.759-06:002016-01-27T07:31:27.759-06:00The gang is getting back together! The gang is getting back together! Nicholas Sweedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-65301426296328380342016-01-27T04:44:10.519-06:002016-01-27T04:44:10.519-06:00My copy of the DVD's now been shipped so I'...My copy of the DVD's now been shipped so I'm looking forward to joining in soon!Alnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-53266103258072097842016-01-26T10:55:55.281-06:002016-01-26T10:55:55.281-06:00Regarding Pratt running away from the horse, Kate ...Regarding Pratt running away from the horse, Kate Ritter on the RDA forum said:<br /><br />Nicholas also wondered why Legend was running away from the horse at the end. It may not be completely clear in the beginning of the episode, but Pratt has a "thing" about horses. He doesn't like them, and avoids them. In the scene at Mr. Fat's restaurant, his explanation is "You know how horses feel about me," but it seems, both in that scene and at the end, that horses like HIM just fine. This is a running gag through the series, especially since Legend doesn't share the aversion to horses. That's why, when "Legend" appeared to the farmers and moved the river, Pratt remarks later, "Ah, riding a horse, was I?"Nicholas Sweedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-84654028688920421172016-01-25T18:48:41.017-06:002016-01-25T18:48:41.017-06:00I think that much as RDA loves being in Westerns, ...I think that much as RDA loves being in Westerns, it's not his genre. His voice and mannerisms in the two MacGyver Westerns were all over the place as well. Just seems like he feels compelled to ham it up too much.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04953380288384883179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-72249244979943981782016-01-24T22:59:01.099-06:002016-01-24T22:59:01.099-06:00What did you think of RDA's voice/accent? Was...What did you think of RDA's voice/accent? Was it me or did you also find it distracting and ever-changing?Nicholas Sweedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-88603556774260566802016-01-24T22:30:26.948-06:002016-01-24T22:30:26.948-06:00Ah yes...it appears your joke was wasted on my unr...Ah yes...it appears your joke was wasted on my unrefined sense of humor. And yes this is thus far my #1-ranked episode.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04953380288384883179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-6868938397837052812016-01-24T19:14:45.794-06:002016-01-24T19:14:45.794-06:00Glad to have you back on board -- feels like old t...Glad to have you back on board -- feels like old times! I guess I'll assume that this is your #1 ranked episode as of now? :) I will update the overall "Legend" page with your rankings as we proceed. Interesting that we agreed on everything. I wasn't actually serious about the MacGyver references (it was a joke that fell flat) - while it would have been fun for me (and probably only me) to see little things like that, I wouldn't have thought that they should actually do that for the reasons that you suggested. Nicholas Sweedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-72574806646463506292016-01-24T18:41:17.311-06:002016-01-24T18:41:17.311-06:00The only thing I didn't really agree with you ...The only thing I didn't really agree with you about was that I didn't think it would have served the show to try to include subtle "MacGyver" references. I suppose it would have been fun to sniff these things out for "MacGyver" obsessives but I think they'd have confused new viewers and probably wouldn't have been picked up on even by most casual "MacGyver" fans that were tuning in because of the RDA legacy. I thought the Ken Harrison music brought the only "MacGyver" legacy factor needed.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04953380288384883179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-44281194212805402592016-01-24T18:28:18.148-06:002016-01-24T18:28:18.148-06:00I read your review in full just as I finished watc...I read your review in full just as I finished watching the premiere and found that I agreed with most everything you wrote. Aside from the great and familiar Ken Harrison music, the best scene for me was also the scene where Pratt/Legend talked Coe into giving up gunslinging and becoming a writer. I kind of wished they'd have ended the episode there as the remaining half hour had a hard time holding my attention. I suppose they needed some action scene closing but it all kind of just plodded along. The pyrotechnics on the dynamite explosion were pretty impressive amidst the plunging budgets that weekly TV shows experienced in those lean mid-90s years. The hot air balloon work was a staple of this series as my limited memories of it seemed to include some sort of hot air balloon gimmick closing nearly every episode I saw.<br /><br />It wasn't without its attractions but I think a traditional and more condensed hourlong pilot (45-48 minutes excluding the commercials) would have served this series better as there were several scenes that dragged on rather aimlessly. I agree that the scene with Vera and her son was weird and undermined his villain potential. Maybe we'll see more of this dynamic in the episodes ahead that works better in terms of the storytelling dynamic. Looking forward to seeing if the series improves but thus far it's definitely in the "two-star" category that I remembered of my initial impression in 1995.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04953380288384883179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-27778823933079352532016-01-21T23:26:57.496-06:002016-01-21T23:26:57.496-06:00There might be Mac references in the show, but, I&...There might be Mac references in the show, but, I'd have to watch 'em all again to be sure. <br /><br />de Lancie is awesome and a really laid-back guy. Though, I was super busy doing staff things at the con he was at, so I didn't really get to talk to him much.<br /><br />W Morgan Sheppard shows up in lots of things. (I've met his son Mark, he was at DragonCon one year I was there and he's pretty cool!) W Morgan is in Star Trek (the 2009 one) as a Vulcan; and he and Mark play the same guy in 2 different parts of the timeline in a Dr. Who episode - that was pretty cool and when I realized that Mark was W Morgan's son. =)Highlander_IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12390532917085374247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-6775909974379862372016-01-21T23:18:30.420-06:002016-01-21T23:18:30.420-06:00I can understand why RDA would want to move away f...I can understand why RDA would want to move away from MacGyver after playing him for 7 seasons. I was mostly kidding about wanting MacGyver references (especially Danny holding a golden eagle), but if I was a writer on the show I may have tried to sneak one in. I'm glad to hear that some of the later episodes are better -- the fact that this one is 90 minutes helps contribute to the slowness factor.<br /><br />The Prestige is a great movie! Even features appearances from MacGyver villains Christopher Neame and W Morgan Sheppard. Nicholas Sweedohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00437092592253460266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5788875373841955612.post-70481559136537133712016-01-21T22:31:55.864-06:002016-01-21T22:31:55.864-06:00IIRC, the primary reason there's not a lot of ...IIRC, the primary reason there's not a lot of 'MacGyver' references or things that remotely resemble MacGyver in 'Legend' is b/c RDA wanted to get away from the squeaky clean image and do something different. Legend is pretty much the polar opposite of MacGyver... minus actually being evil. He's just mostly indifferent.<br /><br />From what I can recall the last time I watched Legend, the first episode is ridiculously slow. I love Bartok and, a few of the later episodes are better. (Though I can't say which ones, I haven't watched it in a few years.) <br /><br />Poor Thomas Edison though, he gets beat up a lot in pop culture. He takes a hit in "The Prestige" too, since Danton goes to see Tesla for his invention. Highlander_IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12390532917085374247noreply@blogger.com