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MacGyver Online Forums > Episode Discussions > 1-4-Wire Cutter


Posted by: MacGyverOnline 7 October 2016 - 02:44 AM
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1-4 Wire Cutter

Airdate: Oct. 14 2016
Writer: John Turman
Director: Joe Dante
Guest Cast: Aina Dumlao (Andie Lee), Elya Baskin (Alexander Orlov), Olex Krupka (Victor Levkin)
Yorgo Constantine (Sevchenko), Selena Anduze (Agent Bannister), Bianca Malinoswki (Penny Parker)
Angela M. Davis (Staff Member), Andre Pushkin (Big Spetsnaz), Serdar Kalsin (Lead Guard)

MacGyver and Jack partner with a Russian bomb programmer and his estranged handler, to shut down a Soviet-era warhead in Moscow. But when the antiquated computer needed to disable the warhead becomes inoperable, MacGyver must find a way to fix it to prevent a new Cold War.

Posted by: Miasma 14 October 2016 - 05:31 PM
Sigh.

Here we go again... I know I mentioned it before, and maybe it's nitpicking, but the music in this show drives me nuts. For example, during the exposition scene with the old Russian guy, there was no need to have ANY music at all, but for some reason, they had some fast tempo synthesizer music behind it. WHY? It didn't fit the scene at all and actually detracted from it. But this show does that all the time-- it constantly feels busy because there's always some frenetic synth music behind every scene, regardless of whether it's appropriate or not.

Also, I'm seeing now that the show is extremely formulaic. Every episode, we get an opening gambit, followed by a pointless scene with Bozer, followed by exposition at the Phoenix Foundation, and then Mac, Jack and Riley head off on their adventure of the week. I hope they start varying this a bit soon.

So Mac won't use a gun, but he no problem creating a massive fireball to burn his pursuers to death? Okay, I give up trying to figure out his thinking.

The biggest problem is still the simple fact that Mac just isn't a compelling character to watch. There's nothing particularly charismatic about him, I still don't get any sense of passion from him about anything, it's like he's just there because it's his job. As I watched this, I kept thinking how the original Mac would have given some impassioned speech about the lunacy of trying to blow people up to make Russia powerful again, but here, we get nothing.

I know I was one of the more optimistic people after the first episode, but sadly, that optimism has worn off. (Am I just in a lousy mood tonight? lol.)

Posted by: Walter 14 October 2016 - 06:42 PM
QUOTE (Miasma @ 14 October 2016 - 09:31 PM)
Am I just in a lousy mood tonight?

Nope, you've just come back to reality.

This show has everything wrong. Maybe they need to get some of the H5O writers and directors on board and forget about the "only hiring people who were fans of the show" thing. That clearly isn't working.

I'd be willing to forgive the crappyness of the end product if they had kept the characters and universe as we know it in tact. But the producers clearly haven't given any thought (or don't care about) the fact that the fans have known this show for so long and know the characters so well they are like friends to us and that doing a complete change to these characters is essentially saying that they don't care about the original show or the fans.

I'm trying to think of a reboot which has made such drastic changes to as this one. Even the Knight Rider reboot kept the timeline in tact. Even had the Hoff do the handover in the pilot and the new "Mike" was Micheal Knights son.

Unless there's some big changes I think I'm done with this reboot now. I gave it 4 episodes and all of them are crap. I'm out.




Posted by: InVader 15 October 2016 - 12:12 AM
I think I actually enjoyed this one a bit more. I agree the music is still terrible. However, gone are the annoying words on screen while making a macgyverism, and the flour thing actually seemed very much like something he would have done in the original. Penny Parker did remind me a bit of the Penny from the original, I was just disappointed she wasn't a bit more involved in the story this week. I do hope they pay attention to the complaint on the music. I think it is really holding back the episodes and making them feel cheap. I do wish we could see a bit more from Lucas. He has potential but he plays it so safe. I'd like to see him Own it a little bit, add some character to it, right now he feels quite flat.

Posted by: MacDawn 15 October 2016 - 03:25 AM
I thought there were some bit that were a bit silly, the bomb looked like a toy, and that keyboard repair... I don't believe.

And I would hardly think that for someone that did clandestine activities, MacGyver would leave his laptop unlocked and lying around for his roommate to get into. Duh.

But I am rather excited to see Elya Baskin, cos he was in the original series, as Yuri Demetri from Soft Touch (aka 'Biff'....hahahahah). I recognised him immediately, and was really happy to see him in the new one. A familiar face is always nice, though I am not sure if that was because they wanted to pay tribute to the original, or they didn't have many russian men in Hollywood? wink.gif

Definitely, the Penny Parker was a throwaway character, I barely noticed her.

Posted by: Miasma 15 October 2016 - 03:45 AM
QUOTE (InVader @ 15 October 2016 - 08:12 PM)
However, gone are the annoying words on screen while making a macgyverism, and the flour thing actually seemed very much like something he would have done in the original.


True. Aside from the overly violent nature of that MacGyverism, it did feel like something from the original series, and you're right, the on-screen text is gone. That's an improvement, definitely.

QUOTE

Penny Parker did remind me a bit of the Penny from the original,

Yeah. In fact, I'll go so far as to say she seems like the character who's most true to the original (yeah, I know they changed her backstory with Mac, but I don't care.) I wonder if we'll see more of her.


On a negative note: One other thing this show gets wrong are the moments that are supposed to carry emotional impact. I THINK the final scene with Bannister's mailbox was supposed to be sad, but it wasn't. We never knew anything at all about Bannister, and never had any hint of the characters' relationships with Bannister, so it was hard to care. It was like trying to make us feel sad about some random extra. And the fact that the show was being goofy and playing Salt N Pepa music two minutes earlier didn't help.

Posted by: KiwiTek 15 October 2016 - 05:13 AM
QUOTE (Miasma @ 15 October 2016 - 11:45 PM)
I THINK the final scene with Bannister's mailbox was supposed to be sad, but it wasn't. We never knew anything at all about Bannister, and never had any hint of the characters' relationships with Bannister, so it was hard to care.

Wonder if that was a nod back to the original http://www.macgyveronline.com/database/Craig-Bannister


Posted by: Miasma 15 October 2016 - 05:26 AM
QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 16 October 2016 - 01:13 AM)
QUOTE (Miasma @ 15 October 2016 - 11:45 PM)
I THINK the final scene with Bannister's mailbox was supposed to be sad, but it wasn't.  We never knew anything at all about Bannister, and never had any hint of the characters' relationships with Bannister, so it was hard to care.

Wonder if that was a nod back to the original http://www.macgyveronline.com/database/Craig-Bannister

Yeah, I think that's a safe assumption. They were both Phoenix field operatives with the same name.

Posted by: tvero 15 October 2016 - 06:10 AM
Don't be too harsh on us (Europeans ) who can't watch the episodes unless we resort to...(I only watched the pilot).
Are spoilers allowed here ? Could Miasma (or anybody else ) explain what he said about the 'different backstory of Penny with Mac' ? Please ? We are family... unsure.gif

Posted by: MacsJeep 15 October 2016 - 06:30 AM
If Miasma didn't like it, I'm not even bothering watching this week! I think I'm out of this now. It has no feeling, no compassion, no nothing, and its obvious that atmosphere isn't going to come back now. I realized it more last week after watching an original.

I am sorry to say this, but give me the Knight Rider reboot any day of the week, and that had its flaws, but heck, I still knew what I was watching!

Posted by: Macgyver12186 15 October 2016 - 06:39 AM
QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 15 October 2016 - 09:13 AM)
QUOTE (Miasma @ 15 October 2016 - 11:45 PM)
I THINK the final scene with Bannister's mailbox was supposed to be sad, but it wasn't.  We never knew anything at all about Bannister, and never had any hint of the characters' relationships with Bannister, so it was hard to care.

Wonder if that was a nod back to the original http://www.macgyveronline.com/database/Craig-Bannister

totally missed that easter egg untill just now going to rewatch it with the wife (long story as to why she didn't watch it but)

a few thoughts

first to walter etc Mac did explosions all the time in the original seriously the bamboo thing from family matter the chemical bomb in grrr episode names are escaping me

anyways I still don't get the complaint that the characters are nothing like the orioginal because ok a few back story elements changed but since this is a reboot i guess I can accept that far more then anyone else ( much like the line from Casino Royale where bond doesn't care if he has his martini shaken or stirred I get why bond is young not in control of his emotions but the fan community...never mind)

this may be my favorite episode the only negative I can honestly think of (the music is cheesy but not horrible hey considering they used hip hop to push the show this past summer I will take weird electronic and orchestral music over the *censored* in the trailers ANY DAY) is the whole angus thing but the way Penny uses it is in the same way my wife uses Daniel no one calls me daniel unless i am in trouble it's always Danny or Dan or for 2 glorious years of my life Mac or Macgyver.

Honestly Penny is annoying but hot and to be fair so was the original (rewatch Cleo rocks one of these days Teri is nearly painful to watch in the opening)


I do worry Till might be playing it too safe at times I feel he is living in Anderson's shadow and i suppose that is where Jared had some freedom over Lucas (comparing this to Macgyver 2003 which before you say you mean young macgyver uhm watch the leaked boot I think young would of been dropped by the time it got picked up) Lucas I feel in this episode is a little trapped in anderson's shadow but I still feel he did fantastic


As an IT guy the keyboard tick I can tell you is 110% accurate. as is the Y2k thing

anyways as always

Negatives

1. I agree with other posters and would hope Penny gets in a bit more trouble and if I am being bluntly honest would it kill her to sleep with Mac we no longer have the women will only watch if mac is single nonsense the show was saddled with in the late 80's early 90's let penny and mac have what was forever hinted at in the original show

2. Angus again

3. where are they going with Nikki isn't she supposed to be the overarching enemy???
Postives

1. Wilt was in like 5 seconds
2. great plot
3. great macgyverisms
4. Till was good
5. Thorton was more human
6. I loved Mac questioning Thorton in front of everyone something the original Mac would do
7. Dalton is always great and like Iron Maiden he refences Yes (my favorite band) once and he may be my most beloved character


Posted by: Jediferret 15 October 2016 - 08:30 AM
QUOTE (KiwiTek @ 15 October 2016 - 08:13 AM)
QUOTE (Miasma @ 15 October 2016 - 11:45 PM)
I THINK the final scene with Bannister's mailbox was supposed to be sad, but it wasn't.  We never knew anything at all about Bannister, and never had any hint of the characters' relationships with Bannister, so it was hard to care.

Wonder if that was a nod back to the original http://www.macgyveronline.com/database/Craig-Bannister

I just finished the episode off the CBS website... and that named bugged me because I couldn't remember where I heard it before in the original. I did a quick search and came across Craig... and I was like... aahhhhh... that's it. lol

I would assume it was an easter egg.

I have to agree with Miasma that the emotional impact is lacking... I think it's because we really haven't had a chance to connect with any of the characters just yet.

I mean, that little emotional section in Metal Saw with Jack was just awkward...

Other than that, it's still continues to be amusing... But if they don't step up their game, this show isn't gonna last the first season.

@tvero - The backstory with Mac and Penny was that Penny was Mac's first date and first kiss. There's a foggy flashback of them kissing as youths as he talks about having an ex-girlfriend as a friend.

Posted by: tvero 15 October 2016 - 09:23 AM
Thanks ,Jediferret. I thought it might be something like that .
So, Nikki is hot, Riley is hot, Penny is hot .
Unfortunately Jack and Mac aren't ...too bad.

Posted by: DXS 15 October 2016 - 09:45 AM
I see where they are going. The episode names are the main ingredient in a MacGyverism. Whatever, I wish they would title them differently.

Ok, I haven't read the comments yet, but to start off with, TELL ME IT AIN'T SO AND I'M DREAMING! They put PENNY PARKER in this one? And redid the history to where she was a former girlfriend? TELL ME IT AIN'T SO!

Ok, I loved the fact that they included a former guest start from the original series (name is escaping me now) in this show.


Oh man, LOVING IT! Right before the keyboard MacGyverism, he did "the look" as he gazed around to see what he had to work with.

Other than Penny Parker, I liked this episode.

Even though they completely redid Jack Dalton, I want some "nod" to Bruce McGill. Another Fly By Night Airline, some get rich quick scheme....... something. If they just do ONE nod to Bruce McGill, I'll accept George Eads.

I never thought Bruce McGill himself would get any work after MacGyver, but I have been impressed with how steadily he has been working! LOVED him in "Sum of All Fears."

Posted by: Macgyver12186 15 October 2016 - 10:07 AM
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/daily-ratings/tv-ratings-friday-october-14-2016/

grr it went down a bit more sigh

Posted by: shadowrider 15 October 2016 - 10:28 AM
That's it for me. This abysmal episode was the last nail in the coffin.
Bye bye MacGyver 2016.

Posted by: Walter 15 October 2016 - 12:36 PM
QUOTE (Macgyver12186 @ 15 October 2016 - 10:39 AM)
first to walter etc Mac did explosions all the time in the original seriously the bamboo thing from family matter the chemical bomb in grrr episode names are escaping me

When did I say anything about explosions??!


Posted by: Frog 15 October 2016 - 05:17 PM
Everyone who is saying they're done with it.....I'll see you here next week, discussing the next episode. smile.gif

C'mon guys! It's a fun show. Sure, it's not the same. And for me personally, I don't want it to be the same as the old MacGyver.If I want to see that, I'll throw in a dvd. It's just nice to be tuning into a TV show called MacGyver in 2016.

And you know the producers of the show are scouring the web for all this feedback. On this site and others. So if they get renewed for a second season, I'm pretty sure they will be listening to us and coming up with things that will be a little more true to the original.

Posted by: Miasma 15 October 2016 - 05:37 PM
QUOTE (Frog @ 16 October 2016 - 01:17 PM)
So if they get renewed for a second season, I'm pretty sure they will be listening to us and coming up with things that will be a little more true to the original.

I believe that's true. IF the show gets renewed, I fully expect an overhaul. There is no way that the showrunners can not be aware of the most common complaints such as Bozer being pointless, Mac having too many co-stars, MacGyverisms being rushed, too much gunplay, etc, etc. And that's the reason I hope the show remains at least successful enough to get a second season.

Posted by: Miasma 15 October 2016 - 06:05 PM
QUOTE (MacsJeep @ 16 October 2016 - 02:30 AM)
If Miasma didn't like it, I'm not even bothering watching this week!

Hey, you're making it sound as if I liked all the previous episodes! I enjoyed the first episode, but I think that was largely because the novelty of having a show named MacGyver back on the air had me excited. If you look back at my comments about the second and third episodes, you'll see I wasn't impressed with either of them. I was able to find a few decent moments in each, but overall, I found more things to fault than to praise.

Posted by: KiwiTek 15 October 2016 - 08:02 PM
QUOTE (Frog @ 16 October 2016 - 01:17 PM)
And you know the producers of the show are scouring the web for all this feedback. On this site and others. So if they get renewed for a second season, I'm pretty sure they will be listening to us and coming up with things that will be a little more true to the original.

I think you mean "we hope" they are.

The only place I've seen any interaction with fans is on Twitter and there is very little negativity in the MacGyver channels there, it's mostly positive feedback.


Posted by: themacgyverproject 15 October 2016 - 08:44 PM
Here are http://themacgyverproject.blogspot.com/2016/10/macgyver-reboot-episode-4-wire-cutter.html on the episode. Miasma, great minds think alike on the overabundance of background music. smile.gif

Posted by: angus20 15 October 2016 - 10:04 PM
just finished the episode, don't get me wrong but i don't have any positive impressions, this was like a low budget movie...Let's recap- they managed to get 2 Russians who were able to create a bomb like 60 years ago, both living in the US-- how convenient, but one of those guys still has a house in Russia... that btw preserved a copy of the old computer in working condition (man I think I chose the wrong career I like to have that life) but the bad guys don't have any resources in this modern world that we are living, like they were stuck in the 60s....

in my own opinion the episode lacks of structure, i hate the fact that the whole team is involved by traveling, shooting and joking like it their missions were just a game (i know it's acting but shouldn't be like close to real life? they could die at any moment) maybe I expected more considering the producers they have- but it's so frustrating going back and just remember the first 4 episodes of the original but well... ohhh got it, the only positive thing was Jack's car, but that's all!


Posted by: KiwiTek 16 October 2016 - 02:31 AM
Penny called him Angus??!! WTH!!!!??????

NO-ONE CALLS HIM ANGUS!!!!!

His names MACGYVER! Just MacGyver. On it's own. No first name needed because he HATES IT!

blowup.gif


I've also noticed that for a show about a guy who chooses not to use guns so it can promote brains over brawn... there sure is a lot of guns and shooting... lots of brawn not much brains. dry.gif


Posted by: MiracleMac 16 October 2016 - 03:22 AM
Does the show see a daylight after season 1?

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 16 October 2016 - 04:48 AM
QUOTE (InVader @ 15 October 2016 - 10:12 AM)
I do wish we could see a bit more from Lucas. He has potential but he plays it so safe. I'd like to see him Own it a little bit, add some character to it, right now he feels quite flat.

I actually liked this one the best - there was definitely some improvement: Gone are the annoying words trying to explain to us what a paperclip is *halleluja*.

Also, Lucas' performance has really improved although I still don' t really feel him; but that could be because everyone else on the team gets so much screentime and funny one-liners that there isn't much time left to let Lucas shine. Even if CBS insisted on the team aspect (or Lenkov and the writers think it wouldn't sell otherwise), the show is still called "MacGyver" and not "Team MacGyver or "CSI: MacGyver".

While I'm really glad that I could finally "feel" Thornton as a real human (guilt-ridden with tears and maybe a dark side), I think the episode shouldn't have ended with 2 final scenes on other team-members and even a non-member (Riley and Elya's character vs. Thornton and Jack). It should have ended with MacGyver.

Posted by: MacsJeep 16 October 2016 - 04:49 AM
QUOTE (Frog @ 16 October 2016 - 01:17 PM)
Everyone who is saying they're done with it.....I'll see you here next week, discussing the next episode. smile.gif

C'mon guys! It's a fun show. Sure, it's not the same. And for me personally, I don't want it to be the same as the old MacGyver.If I want to see that, I'll throw in a dvd. It's just nice to be tuning into a TV show called MacGyver in 2016.

And you know the producers of the show are scouring the web for all this feedback. On this site and others. So if they get renewed for a second season, I'm pretty sure they will be listening to us and coming up with things that will be a little more true to the original.

You won't, because I haven't even watched this episode. I came in here to get an overall reaction before I even bothered, and what everyone has posted merely confirmed what I suspected. So I didn't waste 45 mins on it.

This Mac has a moral compass that goes where it likes. He IS NOT the character I still love from the original, and I don't think at this point he is ever going to be. The writers clearly don't get what Mac was about, and they don't even get the fact he hated Angus as a name.

I love action, I really do, Die Hard, Terminator etc, but that was NOT what Mac was about, and yet every week its still all about the violence. It doesn't matter that its not Mac doing it, he doesn't seem to care when his "Team" is. A team which gets on my nerves anyway. Mac should have fewer people around him.

Oh, and the episodes are like watching the same thing every week. I liked the unpredictability of the original - like Forrest Gump's chocolates, you never knew what you were going to get. (Sometimes that was also a bad thing, I know, but as a whole it worked) With this revamp its like they throw in the same ingredients every week. And it bores me.

So, no I won't be watching any more, and I'm not shocked the ratings are slowly, ever so slowly dipping.






Posted by: DashboardOnFire 16 October 2016 - 04:57 AM
QUOTE (MiracleMac @ 16 October 2016 - 01:22 PM)
Does the show see a daylight after season 1?

I guess since CBS was willing to...
...greenlight a pilot without a script
...later picking it up as a series without actually having a pilot to show and a crew/cast to work with (if you remember the Unaired Pilot that shall not be named)
... AND setting a release date for Fall Season instead of waiting some more to set the rebooted reboot up,
they're probably willing to go on with it even if the ratings are lower then they usually would allow.

They seem to regard MacGyver as a bankable franchise that they intend to keep alive.

So I actually think it's possible that the Reboot gets a full season order and maybe even a second season. I wouldn't mind that if they start improving other stuff as well; the most important being the character and core of MacGyver himself.

Posted by: Miasma 16 October 2016 - 06:15 AM
If the ratings keep dropping, I wonder if there will be a mid-season hiatus to give them time to retool the show. I've seen that happen with other shows. The problem is that by then, the damage is already done, and the people who abandoned it usually aren't willing to come back and give it another shot, so the show usually gets cancelled soon after that.

I do think the show is salvageable if they do the following:

1. Make Jack a recurring guest star, and let Mac have more adventures on his own. Hopefully that will force them to develop Mac's personality a bit more, too.

2. Vary the adventures and the show's formula. Not every adventure needs to start with a briefing at the Phoenix Foundation. Let Mac occasionally stumble into an adventure just by chance while trying to help someone.

3. Slow down the MacGyverisms, even if it means fewer per episode.

4. Completely change the style of the music, and get rid of it in scenes when it's not needed. Go for something more orchestral. Even if it's a fake orchestra because of budget and time constraints, that's fine. Sean Callery did a great job on 24, for example, creating powerful orchestral-style music on synths. Come up with some memorable themes.

5. Stop relying on guns so much. I'm not saying the show needs to become an anti-gun PSA, but as everyone has already said, it completely negates the point of MacGyver if he's constantly protected by people who carry guns.


I really don't mind the little differences between this show and the original. If they want to get rid of the idea of him hating the name Angus, fine. That doesn't affect my enjoyment at all. If they want to have his father still alive, again that's fine. Having Penny as a childhood girlfriend... fine, whatever. I don't need this show to be a carbon-copy of the original in every detail, but it should remain true to the spirit of the original, and that means getting the big stuff right.

Posted by: Macgyver1985 16 October 2016 - 07:04 AM
The ratings have indeed dropped tremendously! Very concerning! ohmy.gif

Posted by: Agent MacGyver! 16 October 2016 - 10:38 AM
I think this was the best episode of the four we have seen, but I am not happy with all of the changes being made. I don't like that MacGyver kills people!

Posted by: denizen 16 October 2016 - 08:10 PM
Well I wish to congratulate this episode for being the first in helping me fall asleep! So thanks cause i needed that nap! biggrin.gif

Not sure what to say exactly other than, i'm just not feeling it. Every week for 4 weeks i have been holding on to my hopes that an overhaul will be in order and it just gets worse. Guns blazing left and right, Jack Dalton, characters reused but have nothing to do with their original counterparts, Jack Dalton, the sad sad music, Jack Dalton, Wilt Bozer and Jack Dalton.

Making Penny his ex-girlfriend? Time to hit the nail in the coffin.

2 stars from me.

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 5 December 2016 - 02:33 PM
If anyone's interested... here are the early ratings for the rerun this Sunday: http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/sunday-tv-ratings-secrets-lies-son-zorn-60-minutes-nfl-football/

Posted by: KiwiTek 6 December 2016 - 01:18 AM
Excellent. I had quick look for these the other night, but couldn't find them at the time.


Posted by: DashboardOnFire 6 December 2016 - 08:54 AM
I wondered a bit about why they decided to air "Awl" and "Wire Cutter" in the reruns after the first 9 episodes? These aren't the episodes that are rated the highest on IMDb nor had they the most viewers.

Also, for people who have missed the first few episodes or to draw a new audience in, wouldn't it have made more sense to rerun the pilot episode; so that new viewers know about the whole ordeal with Nikki and the backstory of Jack with Riley's Mom (since she will show up in Episode 11)?

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 24 November 2017 - 09:39 AM
I never posted the final ratings of the premiere of this episode. Don't know if anyone is interested, but there ya go:

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 5 September 2018 - 09:15 AM
Here's the blog post by Rhett Allain - Technical Consultant for the Reboot - about the "MacHacks" used in this episode: https://rhettallain.com/2018/09/05/macgyver-season-1-episode-4-hacks/

Posted by: MacGyverGod 3 October 2018 - 07:29 AM
"Ah, Siberia!" Or should I say: Moscow?

The series hit it's mark with this one and we go to more familiar territory. Russia, the Soviet Union, USSR, KGB, nuclear bombs... That's what partly made the original MacGyver great. Mac had his share of run-ins with evil Russians and the Cold War while the new one admits the KGB was shutdown before he was even born. So that makes our new Mac about 24-25. And what better way to enter this familiar territory with an old friend like Elya Baskin?

This was the best one so far except for maybe a somewhat cringe-worthy scene with no one else but... Penny Parker! Seriously, I hope they broke up because she kept calling him by his first name. And I really don't think Mac would have himself get caught when still looking for Nikki. But other then that, I've got the idea the series is slowing down a bit in pace and finds more his footing.

The music doesn't bother me much, plenty of other shows who uses music throughout the entire episode: Power Rangers, Xena Warrior Princess. They very rarely didn't use music in their scenes. Although I have my doubts on songs. The Burn Baby Burn song was fitting but perhaps lasted a bit too long. In the score's defense, they did add some Russian touches, which gave it all a more Russian feeling. Just like Ken Harrison did for plenty of his episodes. Just listen to the Egyptian sounds in Passages for example or the Western feel in Serenity. This is another step in the right direction. And what's even better is a reference to one of my favorite heavy metal bands: Iron Maiden. These guys know Iron Maiden! From Jack, I'm not surprised he does, he's like twice Mac's age now, still I would say he's in his late 30's/early 40's.

Also an interesting casting was Olek Krupa in a for once good guy role. Mostly playing villains: Fair Game, Home Alone 3. The adding of Bannister was a nice touch. Craig survived The Enemy Within thanks to Mac, so maybe he remarried and got a daughter. Just as I can start to believe that Patricia Thornton is Pete's daughter. It just wouldn't fly with the original, because they wouldn't act like this if there was any connection to it, but why not? I'm beginning to like her. She's tall (taller then Mac), she's beautiful, she's not just decoration as I've read here and she's more mature then some of us might think here. She may look like she's tough as nails but I'm beginning to believe there's more behind her tough looks. And what I hope to see behind that is something I can really like. Maybe she's got a few original Nikki Carpenter traits in her character combined with her leader position and you get Patricia Thornton. Maybe she cares more about the team then she lets on? Ever thought of that?

What the structure is concerned... In this early stage it may indeed some generic: opening gambit, scene at home, assignment debriefing, flying to destination, save the day, come back. Power Rangers is generic too: kids at school or youth center, Putty fight in the park, command centre, morphed fight, command centre, 2nd morphed fight with or without Zords, command center/school/youth center, end. That never bothered me. At this point it doesn't. It really didn't bother me either Mac was not in the last two scenes which lasted hardly 30 seconds.

Do you really think we're going get that variety of episodes we had in the original? Episodes set in the woods or just at home in the middle of the city, or environmental causes, teen runaways, treasure hunts or dream-episodes? I don't think so. No Legend of the Holy Rose or Eye of Osiris, no Black Rhino, no Runners or The Challenge or Live and Learn, no Kill Zone, no Serenity... At this point it seems not very likely. But I'm only at the beginning of the first season and have a lot of catching up to do, so I'll keep watching to see how it goes but I will not expect the series to turn into the original. Yes, I do know people here are hoping for 'lone wolf' episodes. Maybe those will come. Even Magnum had his episodes where he was mostly alone later in the series when Higgins, Rick and TC just had brief cameos. I can't see, why that can't work here. I'm all in favor of Team MacGyver right now and if they find angles to incorporate more elements of the original, even if it means straying away from their current concept, they are welcome to try it out.

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