Every week I will be posting a new topic titled "Episode Discussion". In this we will discuss an episode, what we liked about it, what we didn't like, etc.
Episode 83 - Unfinished business
While on a gold-panning expedition, MacGyver, Jack and Pete are stalked by a vengeful female assassin.
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votes from October 2006 Poor [ 0 ] [0.00%] Average [ 1 ] [8.33%] OK [ 3 ] [25.00%] Good [ 4 ] [33.33%] Excellent [ 4 ] [33.33%] Total Votes: 12
Archived comments Sheepy Posted on Apr 10 2006, 02:08 AM
QUOTE
Of course I voted excellent on this one. It has outdoor shots, suspense, Mack, Jack and Pete AND the b*t*h falls off a cliff.
Just excellent!
MacGyver Posted on Apr 10 2006, 05:27 AM
QUOTE
I thought this was an excellent episode. With most shows, the "flashback" episodes tend to fall short on the background storyline- but I think all 3 of these flashback episodes on MacGyver managed to keep an important and good storyline going in the background that prompted all those memories. In this case, we have the return of Deborah (making her one of the few recurring villians- and played by the same actress no less!) And I liked the way that it wasn't revealed that it was her until the end. There were lots of great clips used in this episode- particularly some of Mac and Jack misadventures as well as some of MacGyver's encounters with Murdoc. And there was even a MacGyverism of sorts at the end, with MacGyver using the fishing pole for a distraction. In fact, he, Pete and Jack all worked together pretty well there to stop Deborah. And Pete told an awesome story to bring home a good point at the end. The Scorpion and the Turtle- it's my nature! So I definitely thought it was an excellent episode and a great way to wrap up Season 4!
MacsChick Posted on Apr 10 2006, 02:14 PM
QUOTE
This one isn't as good as The Negotiator, but I still liked it, because it resolved the issues between Mac and Deborah. She told him she loved him, and that was why she found it hard to kill him. Pete's story is good, and I like how Jack's involved in it this time, too.
I remember trying to figure out who their mysterious assailant was and how surprised I was that it was Deborah. I thought it was going to be Murdoc or some other villain, too. I agree that sometimes the flashbacks can overwhelm the current story, but it does help us wonder, along with MacGyver, who the person is.
MacGirl Posted on Apr 12 2006, 04:05 PM
QUOTE
I voted excellent, because of the suspense. I was totally thinking it was Murdoc who was after them, and was very surprised when it turned out it was Deborah. Really liked Pete's story about the turtle and the scorpion... I wonder if it was his roundabout way of telling Mac that even smart people can get fooled by a determined psychopath, and not to beat himself up over it.
MacNymph Posted on Apr 14 2006, 04:13 PM
QUOTE
It's got Jack... gotta love it.
Didn't mind the flashbacks so much... because they had Jack.
But the episode story did seem a little weak... thrown together.
Deborah... talking about how she had to see if she could kill MacGyver because her emotions got in the way the last time? Uhhh... no they didn't. She was getting ready to kill Mac when he zapped her. She wasn't waffling in the least! Hate her.
Rockatteer Posted on Apr 14 2006, 04:27 PM
QUOTE
Um... yeah your right Nymph.
She was trying to kill him in "The Negotiator"!
She had no Hesitation at all... Only reason she falled was cos Mac Zapped her.
Hmm... the little minx is still lieing!
Sheepy Posted on Apr 15 2006, 08:25 PM
QUOTE
I agree Mymphy, I hate Deborah too. Some people on this planet deserve it to be thrown through a glass door.
My colleague Debbie for example (do you guys see the resemblance here) Deborah was one of those too. Even though it was only a character
MacGyverGod Posted on Apr 17 2006, 12:43 PM
QUOTE
I liked this episode and has one of three most memorable villains. Deborah... pretty and deadly as ever. If she wasn't a baddie she could've been a great partner for Mac. In this one she showed that she did had feelings for him. I wonder if she could've lived with it if she killed him. I love the link between The Negotiator and this one. Little time hole nitpick. There's no way she could've been in prison for two years while The Negotiator was set in 1988 en Unfinished Business in 1989. She could've only been in prison for a year, year and half at most. Also this was the last time we would ever see Nikki Carpenter showing up in the series. In flashback that is. Another plot hole is during the flashback of Partners you could hear Pete scream; It's Murdoc!! but in the actual footage of the episode Partners itself, he doesn't say it.
Toni Posted on Apr 19 2006, 09:07 AM
QUOTE
I voted OK as it was a FLASHBACK show. Im not to overkeen on flashbacks.
I liked the fact that Debaroh got her comeupance about time. I cant believe that Mac even tried to save her after she went over the cliff.
Me I would have just cut the vine and let her fall.
Well she did hurt MAC !!! what do you expect.
Toni
MacGirl Posted on Apr 20 2006, 04:52 AM
QUOTE
Well, we have seen Mac try to save people who have harmed him or tried, or who have done bad things. In Black Rhino, he told Ladysmith to "hold on" as they were dangling off that bridge. I think Mac's ethics are so strong that he wants to save a life whenever he can, regardless of how he might feel about that person or what they might have done.
MacsChick Posted on Apr 20 2006, 02:08 PM
QUOTE
That's a good way to be. Despite how tempting it would be to cream the bad guys, MacGyver does the right thing. It reminds me again of that scene in To Be A Man when the boy asks MacGyver why he didn't shoot the Russian soldier, and he tells the boy that he didn't have to, and "that should be reason enough for anybody." Good advice, Mac!
Old Fan Posted on Apr 22 2006, 08:20 AM
QUOTE
At the end of each season, for many TV shows, there is the dredded "Clip Show".
As most of these go, I thought this was well done. Not too many - overwhelming - clips, just enough to let us remember Mac and Deborah's history, and a very good way to finish up Deborah's "Thread".
I love seeing Pete - he's always so philosophical, and of course Jack who has a serious side we don't often see. I gave it - excellent.
MacGirl Posted on Apr 22 2006, 04:06 PM
QUOTE
QUOTE
QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ Apr 17 2006, 01:33 PM) Little time hole nitpick. There's no way she could've been in prison for two years while The Negotiator was set in 1988 en Unfinished Business in 1989. She could've only been in prison for a year, year and half at most.
I noticed that too, MacGod. I think one explanation could be that the show wasn't meant to be "seven years in succession" of Mac's life. I did notice that it jumped around a lot like that. I kind of think of it as more a series of "snapshots" of his life... a situation here, an episode there, a few moments somewhere else.
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This is one of my favorites of the 4th season.
Well, I think all of you have covered Deborah completely. She's a lying, treacherous, murderous woman who deserves what she gets. Point made.
I am watching it now, and at the part where she is in the mask (she we can't see that it's her yet) and she is taking Pete and firing off her gun. Then Mac and Jack find Pete's equipment and blood. I noticed the ID thing too after reading the nitpicks section.
I like the flashbacks myself. I may be the only one. I like too how Jack and MacGyver are so worried that it's Murdoc, after all with their experience with him, I can see how that would be a worry.
Question: Wouldn't Mac and Pete have been notified about the date of Deborah's release? Maybe it was decided that day, and they left a message for Pete and Mac at the Foundation? Maybe not. If had a crazy woman like that after me, and she had tried to kill and had gone to prison, I'd want a warning. Not a knock at the door. Or in this case a gun pointed at my best friend.
I love the interaction between Deborah, and Pete and Jack. The look that Jack gives her, and the rock in her back--perfect example of Jack's coming through in a clinch.
Pete's story at the end the scorpion and the turtle- great analogy and a little sad. Deborah's death is so pointless, stupid, ironic and yet fitting for a scorpion. I watched the pilot episode last night and I loved the line of Mac's "Did you ever see a scorpion sting itself to death?" I think that fits here perfectly.
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
Question: Wouldn't Mac and Pete have been notified about the date of Deborah's release?
Hmm.. is that standard practice?
I always thought that this episode didn't really feel like a clip show, because it had so much of it's own story going on, which is something I quite liked about this episode.
Question: Wouldn't Mac and Pete have been notified about the date of Deborah's release?
I don't think they paid much attention to the date. Afterall she was just another bad guy/gal they threw in jail, nothing more.
QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 18 April 2009 - 10:23 AM)
I always thought that this episode didn't really feel like a clip show, because it had so much of it's own story going on, which is something I quite liked about this episode.
This was a pretty good episode. I wish it wasn't a clip show, though. I think Deborah deserved a proper episode.
One problem with the episode is that there isn't much suspense for anybody who reads the opening credits. There are only two guest stars listed: Bruce McGill and Kristian Alfonso. So even if people don't remember the name of the actress who played Deborah, they'll still know that the villian is a woman, and certainly not Murdoc.
I kind of wish Deborah didn't die at the end. She would have been a good recurring villain. In fact, I could imagine a great episode in which she teams up with Murdoc.
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Watching this episode now. Kinda spoiled by the fact I saw the credits at the start and knew the villain was Deborah. Pretty silly to have them thinking about Murdoc when anyone watching knew it wasn't.
"You may not believe this, but there have been times when I've had a lot more fun in the back seat of a car." - MacGyver (Golden Triangle)
Although I suppose you could also argue that the viewer often knows more about whats going on because of the "eye of God" vantage point. We see what the bad guys are doing, we know what they are planning, but the other characters don't, so I suppose the writers treated this as one of those situations.
I have to say it did seem like they were trying to build suspense and get the viewers wondering who was after them, while all the time (as you pointed out) anyone who saw the opening credits would have a fairly good hunch it was Deborah.
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Mac, Pete and Jack together in the outdoors made this one good. When I first viewed this episode when originally aired you were trying to figure out who was after them. As a kid you did not pay much attention to the guest stars names in the opening scenes. The suspense was built by not showing you the assassins face, was it Murdoch? They made it harder to tell it was a woman by having her where heavy over sized clothes. I liked the interaction between Mac, Pete and jack some comical scenes such as Pete getting soaked by Jack working the panning pump. Pretty good episode overall.
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QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 20 August 2011 - 06:15 PM)
I have to say it did seem like they were trying to build suspense and get the viewers wondering who was after them, while all the time (as you pointed out) anyone who saw the opening credits would have a fairly good hunch it was Deborah.
Bear in mind, though, that MacGyver aired before the Internet era, and therefore before IMDB. It would take someone with a pretty good memory to remember the name of an actress like that, especially a year and a half after she first appeared in the show. I can see people thinking, "Hmm... OK, that name sounds kinda familiar..." but not remembering exactly who she played.
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I'm not a fan of the clip shows or the use of Deborah for that matter, but I did like seeing Jack, Pete, and Mac together. Jack is my favorite secondary character and I really liked the outdoor elements of this episode, just wish it had been fully fleshed out as an episode instead of so many flashbacks. I vote just OK.
Just watched this one again today. I'm not a fan of flashback shows either (like a lot of people on here), but this one worked pretty well and I voted good. To me the flashbacks illustrated how distracted our heroes all were - first because they were 'on holiday' and had no reason to think about danger, plots, roving assassins and so on and then later because they had no clue who the villain was and were taken off guard by Pete's being snatched. Breaking the story up with 'explanations' of why a particular villain might be responsible worked well. It would have been better not to credit Deborah at the beginning of the episode, because they did a really good job of making her anonymous - it wasn't even that clear whether our villain was male or female and that's usually quite hard to hide.
I thought it was a shame they killed her off too - Deborah and Murdoc paired up would have been awesome!
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A lot of ideas and thoughts haven been pondered but never used. I think it was John Sheppard who said he would've liked to team up Murdoc and Zito.
I think the poison that was used was applied to this knife, passed to the mutton when it was cut and then activated by the wine. - MacGyver. Sometimes you just have to die a little inside to be reborn and rise again as a stronger and wiser version of you. It's better to be a little sad than to be fake content.
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I actually wish they hadn't killed Deborah... She always seemed like she'd have an interesting origin story, and maybe even a good redemption story. It seemed like MacGyver had reached her to some degree... so maybe there was a reason she was who she was.
Deborah is just a very interesting character, for some odd reason. Such a bummer...
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QUOTE (Jediferret @ 19 January 2016 - 07:53 AM)
I actually wish they hadn't killed Deborah... She always seemed like she'd have an interesting origin story, and maybe even a good redemption story. It seemed like MacGyver had reached her to some degree... so maybe there was a reason she was who she was.
Deborah is just a very interesting character, for some odd reason. Such a bummer...
Me too! RDA and Kristian Alfonso had really good chemistry too.
She says it was great fun filming those two episodes, so yeah... opportunity lost there I think.
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I always like the flashback seen with the exploding bed. The expressions on Mac's face are priceless. He hardly says anything, yet communicates so much!
Jody~
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It was only season 4 and they were already trying to go back to the well with flashback episodes? It seems like a cop out, and writers being lazy. The plot would have been fine without the flashbacks....
Like many on here, I like the episode..but it's like 30 mins of flashbacks and 10 minutes original LOL
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The most interesting about this is, it happens every two seasons. Friends, Unfinished Business and Hind-Sight.
I think the poison that was used was applied to this knife, passed to the mutton when it was cut and then activated by the wine. - MacGyver. Sometimes you just have to die a little inside to be reborn and rise again as a stronger and wiser version of you. It's better to be a little sad than to be fake content.
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It just seems silly, they couldn't think of a complete episode so they just slapped together dialog to go together to go with the setup for the flashback.
I agree Denzien, yes, flashbacks were very common in the 80's , even shows like Seinfeld did it....
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I thought it was cool to have a look back on old adventures. Thanks to Hind-Sight, it made me hungry for older episodes. Wondering what those episodes where about, yet I didn't have them at the time. Children of Light: MacGyver with scruffy shoulder length hair or On A Wing And A Prayer: MacGyver with ponytail in the jungle. That was awesome.
I think the poison that was used was applied to this knife, passed to the mutton when it was cut and then activated by the wine. - MacGyver. Sometimes you just have to die a little inside to be reborn and rise again as a stronger and wiser version of you. It's better to be a little sad than to be fake content.
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I think this clip show handles the clips the best, little short interludes instead of 7 minute scenes, also the flashbacks are pretty entertaining, so I gave it a good. I'm always left wanting a little more with Deborah's character - she needed a little more dialogue or back story or wavering to make her a really compelling character. Also it would have been nice to see MacGyver try to manipulate her back a little bit in this one. I'm talking myself into "fair" now, but I already voted lol.
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I always felt Deborah was a missed opportunity. Her death was a bit... lame, in my opinion. =P
But Deborah telling MacGyver that he won because she couldn't find anything in him to hate is profound statement when you think about it.
Though I'm sure MacGyver has at least one annoying habit. Since RDA put so much of his personality into Mac, I bet ya it's excessive gas. lol
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QUOTE (Jediferret @ 30 October 2018 - 03:49 AM)
I always felt Deborah was a missed opportunity. Her death was a bit... lame, in my opinion. =P
But Deborah telling MacGyver that he won because she couldn't find anything in him to hate is profound statement when you think about it.
Though I'm sure MacGyver has at least one annoying habit. Since RDA put so much of his personality into Mac, I bet ya it's excessive gas. lol
Profound... but is it true?? It didn't ever show her hesitate, which would have been more powerful - she blew him up in a boat, and would have stabbed him if he hadn't electrocuted her!! Seems like she was defeated by a combo of luck (something about diver cables saving Mac after the explosion ) and Mac's resourcefulness.
There is an awful lot of talk of farting with the Stargate cast but I feel like Mac is a little more polite than RDA
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