3.16 - Lidar + Rogues + Duty

Airdate: Feb 22, 2019
Writer: Don Perez
Director: Stephen Herek

Guest Cast: Levy Tran (Desi)

Guest Cast: Billy Baldwin (Elwood) , Chad Michael Collins (Reese) , Rya Meyers (Rose) , Tierney Smith (Cassie)
David Alexander Kaplan (Kyle) , Alec Rayme (Agent Spencer) , James Devoti (Agent Paxton) , David Diaz (Lead Soldier)
Carl Kennedy (Phoenix Tech) , Carl H. Riedel (SWAT # 1)


The Phoenix must recover the body of a pilot whose plane crashed while testing an experimental laser mapping system that
MacGyver designed. Also, Riley tries to identify the hacker who tricked a SWAT team into arresting her and Elwood.

Well, the robot came back. Yay...

Something I have been noticing for a while now with this reboot, although I am just choosing to bring it up in the thread for the newest episode. I notice that actual science in the reboot is lacking very much, like tonight's episode with jet engine. It takes a lot more than jimmying a lever and a lot longer to start a jet engine and get it up to high speed (and that's one that's not damaged).

I know it's TV so you're supposed to suspend disbelief, and I know the original had it's "seriously?" moments too. But I remember the science actually making sense and connecting more in the original.

Could it be a difference in the leadership and visions of the two shows (Lee David Zlotoff vs Lenkov

I feel you

While I don't like the robot anyway, I really felt it took away precious airtime from the main storylines. I'd rather have seen more of Mac/Desi in the field and scenes between Elwood and Riley/Matty. Maybe even Elwood meeting Bozer. I think the screentime is wasted on Sparky; there wasn't any character development for Bozer or Desi and Sparky certainly doesn't need it anyway...

Here's the blog post by Rhett Allain - Technical Consultant for the Reboot - about the "MacHacks" used in this episode:
https://rhettallain.com/2019/02/23/macgyver...ar-rouges-duty/

I usually prefer one narrative but the Riley/ Elwood arc worked well, especially how it tied in to the end. I love a mystery Has to be a mole, right?

Liked Mac's relationship with the pilot. He has a life apart from the team.

Desi is growing on me. While I did like the bromance she adds her own flair.

Also liked how the lidar was Mac's and that his value in the lab is important (tho I don't understand how Bozer went from making films to robots. must be the years hanging around Mac )

Preliminary Ratings: http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/the-...-2-22-2019.html

Interestingly, "Last Man Standing" seems to lose steam faster than the Reboot. LSM still wins in demo, but lost from last week's 1.1 demo and also quite a bit in audience. "MacGyver" keeps winning the timeslot in audience and also gained a bit in demo.

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the whole transformation of Bozer suddenly being all tech savvy bugs me a bit.

It feels like they make him whatever he needs to be this week to give him something to do for the episode. Doesn't seem to be any real consistency to the character.

I am curious as to who it'll turn out to be. Elwood? Desi?

...Murdoc?

Its riley, see Mac's expression at the last scene

Yeah, he discussed the jet topic precisely how it happens and what I was saying, that's why "jimmying a lever" wouldn't work.

But that was one example about a broader observation though.

Riley? A snitch? NO!

I'm a bit disappointed about that plot twist. A mole at the Phoenix or Phoenix being breached? Again? So theoretically, all main characters would need to move because villains know where they live and they would have to pack shop and re-locate Phoenix (after re-naiming it)? Again? (Which they won't, of course.)

It does seem a weird coincidence just after Desi joined. But of course, they won't make Desi a traitor because otherwise they would have to add yet another regular character. Of course, they could use it to get rid of her character if it hadn't been received well by the audience but after Thornton, I doubt they go that route again. Unless they want to get rid of Leanna? But that too seems too reminiscent of Nikki being a "traitor" while dating MacGyver.

Someone had accessed the system in the Season 1 finale. It could have been Walsh and/or Murdoc; holding onto the information until needed to be leaked. Murdoc organized the Zito infiltration while being in prison so he could have done this as well. And the Walsh storyline really needs to be adressed soon. It's been neglected since Episode 3x05 and since Tate Donovan has been on set for at least 2 episodes, they might get onto that to gear up for the Season 3 finale.

Since MDB as Helman comes back in 3x18, he could be involved as well.

Since MDB as Helman comes back in 3x18, he could be involved as well.

^ Wait, Helman is actually coming back?? This may have renewed all my complete interest in the show!

Yes, he's in Episode 3x18 titled "Murdoc + Helman + Hit".

They filmed about a month ago so you can either scroll back in the Season 3 thread for photos or read my 2 or 3 recent blog posts

Apparently, they have let MDB keep his character's trait of not dying on MacGyver in the reboot as well and I think that's pretty interesting and a nice Easter Egg, even though he's playing a different character now.

I'm a bit disappointed about that plot twist. A mole at the Phoenix or Phoenix being breached? Again? So theoretically, all main characters would need to move because villains know where they live and they would have to pack shop and re-locate Phoenix (after re-naiming it)? Again? (Which they won't, of course.)

It does seem a weird coincidence just after Desi joined. But of course, they won't make Desi a traitor because otherwise they would have to add yet another regular character. Of course, they could use it to get rid of her character if it hadn't been received well by the audience but after Thornton, I doubt they go that route again. Unless they want to get rid of Leanna? But that too seems too reminiscent of Nikki being a "traitor" while dating MacGyver.

Someone had accessed the system in the Season 1 finale. It could have been Walsh and/or Murdoc; holding onto the information until needed to be leaked. Murdoc organized the Zito infiltration while being in prison so he could have done this as well. And the Walsh storyline really needs to be adressed soon. It's been neglected since Episode 3x05 and since Tate Donovan has been on set for at least 2 episodes, they might get onto that to gear up for the Season 3 finale.

Since MDB as Helman comes back in 3x18, he could be involved as well.

Desi and Leanne are certainly good theories. I don't think Murdoc or Walsh as this would be too obvious and I think Peter wants to surprise fans.

It does surprise me this happens after Desi joins and could be a way out if she didn't work out, but Peter has time to change this if fans really like her. I know many miss the bromance, so maybe he may want to add a male to the cast as well? I am curious why Leanne isn't around much. From what I can tell from her IG, Reign appears available.

Given Riley was the one named, I wonder if it is someone associated with her. This may be out there, but what about Billy? We haven't seen him in a while.

Should be interesting to see...

Much like last week's episode, I'd rank this one as perfectly fine and enjoyable, but not a highlight of the season for me. I could have done without the Bozer & His Robot scenes, but the main story was good. Riley's side story was okay, and if it leads to something bigger (as it seems to be doing), then I'll like it more.

As for the complaint about the science being a bit iffy in this reboot... eh, I don't mind. The original took plenty of liberties, and at least we're still getting a decent number of MacGyverisms per episode. In the original, the writers pretty much gave up even trying after a while. I remember episodes where Mac would do only one MacGyverism, and it sometimes wasn't even a good one (in the Christmas episode, he used dumbells as wheels. In an episode about teen drinking, the only thing I remember him doing was using a lamp to make a shadow to distract the bad guys.) Of course, to be fair, this reboot is only in its third season. If it gets to seasons 5, 6 and 7, the writers may run out of ideas here, too.

My favorite part was when Desi and Reese got caught and Mac had to work on his own. Something at the heart of the original show and I loved seeing it. Even though it didn't last long. I would kill for just one episode where Mac was solo.

I agree with previous posts about not liking the twist at the end. Not really a fan if everyone has to move and Phoenix changes locations. Although, Murdoc knows where Mac lives (as he did in the original) and he hasn't moved yet, so maybe they wont? Since it leaked on the dark web its worse so they probably are moving.

I can live with a Phoenix location change as long as they keep the name Phoenix. That is a super important Easter egg that I hope they don't do away with.

Final Ratings are in: http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/show...-2-22-2019.html

They actually got to keep the 0.8 demo - and won a bit in audience. Must be a first

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This is the third time in four episodes, that we're in the woods. We're getting so spoiled.

Anyway, nice to see Elwood again.

Just curious, did we just had our first recycled location? When Mac, Desi finds Reese in that house, wasn't that location used before in another episode in season 1 or something? The surroundings seemed real familiar.

Again there was one point when Desi's coldheartedness showed when Mac was telling about Reese and she coldly tells him to get over his emotions. Seriously? Wow. Another moment our Mac wouldn't stand for.

A very good episode and a nice touch about using a raft to fill it with water to blow a door out. Reminds me of the hose and the beam in the Pilot episode.

Also the effect of the lasers on everyone was a nice touch.

Now about Riley and Elwood. It was such a nice scene but damn… that was a brutal arrest. I on the other hand liked the twist. Does Mac knows something we don't? Is Riley a snitch…?

Yet she seemed as surprised about the news as they were. I think she's being setup.

What about Elwood? Is he in the clear or is he not telling something? Why would he insist on Matty to protect Riley? Sounds odd maybe from a guy who tries to get his life back together.

It might be strange for Leanna to do something like that but it would give them an angle to write her off like that.

I don't see what's so bad about it. Of course there are other hackers like Riley with less noble intentions and so what if they're hacked or hacked again. I really don't see them pack up and go or move because their files were compromised. How many times have the bad guys find out where our Mac lived, been to houseboat or into his houseboat? In Blind Faith they pretty much had his file. Yet, Mac always stayed at the houseboat.

I'm curious how this goes.

I wouldn't say that. By the time we reached The Madonna there was a whole other team of writers. MacGyver is more then science class.