Hi all,

Can someone help me in listing all the episodes in which MacGyver uses a computer please? And also what he does with it...

Off-hand I can remember the following:

Ugly Duckling: To guess the student's password
Phoenix Under Siege: To locate the explosive device
Fire and Ice: To gain access to private data about diamonds and to crack the encrypted code

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

The Eraser (I just watched this again last night). He hooks into the Phoenix mainframe to get info on Jimmy Kendall aka: The Eraser or maybe it's Michael Simmons.

Thanks uniquelyjas

It would be nice to have a section about these curiosities... What do you think?

Off the top of my head...

Enemy Within: Mac is using a Commodore, I believe, while talking to Viktoria in his loft.
Fraternity of Thieves: Mac is using a computer at Phoenix and, I believe the database he was trying to access was encrypted.
Jenny's Chance: Mac has an impressive computer setup while under cover as Dexter
Deep Cover: I think he was using a computer, again, as Dexter just before he was found out.
Obsessed: Mac was using a computer to track a number

If someone wants to double check those for me, please do. I don't have access to Season 2-5, yet. lol And that's all I can remember at the moment, so I may have missed some.

in "The Wall" - He's seen playing Nintendo "Blades of Steel" at the office near the end of the episode. Nintendo is a computer, albeit a more dedicated, specialized design.

The Prometheus Syndrome and Blow Out.

You are all terrific

Thanks a lot for your help in this

I will make sure to find some time to watch the episodes you mentioned and compile a proper list.

In the meantime, if anything else comes to mind, please update the thread.

Rather ironic that Mac/RDA avoids them nowadays, while Murdoc/MDB(did we ever seem him near a computer?) is accessible via computer almost 24/7!

Yep Joe SAKic... thinking about it, you are absolutely right.

MacGyver is an expert at computers. One example: "You taught me all I know about computer hacking." (Fire and Ice) while Murdoc is never seen using a computer throughout the show.

Then it is the opposite in real life with MDB being reachable via computer quite often and RDA avoiding it as much as possible...

Thanks for your input.

Don't know if this counts, but he did run in with a computer in "The Human Factor"...

Hi Sanguine,

By running in with a computer, do you mean sort of competing with it?

Excuse me asking but I am not sure I have understood you well

Sorry about that!

Yes, you're right! In that episode, MacGyver was doing a security test for a research facility that was basically controlled by a special supercomputer. Obviously, the computer malfunctioned, not knowing that it was a test, and MacGyver and one of the scientists were trapped inside with the computer trying to kill them. Eventually, with a little help from Pete, they managed to escape and defeat the computer.

Hope this helps!

So. he was not really "using" a computer .... the computer was essentially "using" him!


I think it definitely qualifies, but it would be interesting to go throught the transcript and see his
reasonng/mindset after he realizes what he is up against and how his computer savvy mind interprets
and anticipates how to go about and defeat the "programming" of this adversary. "Program" is the key word
to look for because it shows that he understands the language and thus computer literate.

@Sanguine: I understood you well then... cheers

However, I have to also agree with @Joe SAKic since "The Human Factor" is ultimately showing MacGyver facing traps and enemies controlled by a computer. So it is like the computer was chasing him.

The word program is mentioned 14 times during the episode:

1. Laser drones programmed.
2. The simulation program is up and running.
3. It looks like a program response error.
4. All we have to do is override the program.
5. I am programmed to defend STRADA.
6. She was never programmed to do that.
7. She's programming her own responses.
8. The control program's in place, but I haven't activated it yet.
9. Now would you be willing to admit there's something wrong with your program? - This was said by MacGyver
10. The system is programmed to defend.
11. This is programmed to 280.
12. You can't program that.
13. And that shoots down our only chance to override Sandi's program.
14. Well, then if we overload the wires, we override the program. - This was said by MacGyver

Double check me please on the above but I am quite sure I am right.

So I guess the episode also qualifies as showing MacGyver's computer skills. Right?

The word program is mentioned 14 times during the episode:

1. Laser drones programmed.
2. The simulation program is up and running.
3. It looks like a program response error.
4. All we have to do is override the program.
5. I am programmed to defend STRADA.
6. She was never programmed to do that.
7. She's programming her own responses.
8. The control program's in place, but I haven't activated it yet.
9. Now would you be willing to admit there's something wrong with your program? - This was said by MacGyver
10. The system is programmed to defend.
11. This is programmed to 280.
12. You can't program that.
13. And that shoots down our only chance to override Sandi's program.
14. Well, then if we overload the wires, we override the program. - This was said by MacGyver

Double check me please on the above but I am quite sure I am right.

So I guess the episode also qualifies as showing MacGyver's computer skills. Right?

Yes, this rings loud and clear that he is literate in "whatever" language (Basic, C, C++ etc.) that this rogue computer was
programmed in. In hindsight, it would have been cool to see him confront it with a keyboard and some coding in order to alter it's "thinking",,,,,,

...just watched the episode and I perfectly agree

Interestingly we forgot about Silent World and Hearts of Steel.

In Silent World Mac uses a computer to find the lake Carrie saw in her dream and in Hearts of Steel he uses a program called the Face Finder with Lisa Woodman.

And maybe it doesn't count but you can see his computer in Rock The Cradle as well.

Just curious why so interested in Mac using a computer?

I think the compelling allure of the emerging technological revolution
played a major part of the MacGyver success story.

Gadgets and computers were at a premium back in the '80s and there was
a definite star struck atmosphere about it all. Then ... you had this techno-savvy,
ultra cool, agent who knew all about them and could improvise, fabricate,
and basically perform "technical alchemy" when faced with the most life
threatening forms of adversity.

How fun to look back at not only computers, but also early forms of GPS, biomed,
communications and other technologies that piqued our curiousities within the
episodes. This in direct contrast/comparison to today's life - where every
grade school student has a communications device infinitely more cool than those Star Trek
communicators. A daunting task for the new series where the techno shock n' awe is long, long
gone!

Makes it actually kinda sad the Mac-reboot needs a computer specialist like Riley. While I do like Riley actually our own Mac knew his way around them and knew more about them then he let on when he was Dexter.

I think it's more about he can't do everything himself and she spends a lot of time finding schematics and information for him while he's doing other stuff. So I don't really have a problem with them having a tech expert on team to free them up to concentrate on the mission.

That era was the perfect setting for a series like MacGyver. It was like tech's own "wild west". Hard to recapture that collective magic!

@MacGyverGod - Thanks for your feedback as regards pointing out Silent World and Hearts of Steel.

Well, nothing in particular but I thought it would be nice to become aware that in a time where computers were still in their early stages, we have our MacGyver, an expert in them and in the technology they use, who also uses his computer skills to help him out in certain situations.

Personally I do not like the reboot that much for the exact same reason you mentioned.

@MacGyverOnline

For me, the reboot is too dependent on modern technology which shifts the focus from the main actor, thus losing the main purpose of the show (an agent being able to come out of a situation using his brains and what he finds on the spot). The original MacGyver was more independent, intelligent and tech-savvy given the technological limitations of that time.

@Joe SAKic

You couldn't have said it better

Personally I do not like the reboot that much for the exact same reason you mentioned.

There was an article from 2016 comparing the two shows that made the same point, but more broadly/generally than on just the computer thing (https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/09/macgyver-2016-review/501284/). The relevant parts -

I admit, I've only watched two episodes of the new show, at random. But this seems basically right to me.

Sorry.... had to be done.





Attached Image

Cool. His own computer program.

@MacOnline - LOL! You're not sorry....

Would be kinda funny to see someone cosplaying as Agent Smith meeting RDA and be like... Mr. Anderson!

Just me? lol