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 104 - Passages

While lying in a coma near death, MacGyver has an extraordinary vision of the afterlife, where he must choose between staying with his family or returning to serve justice on the thieves responsible for his hospitalization.

I have a confession to make: Ready? I cry every time I watch that episode, because it's so sad! Does any1 else?

Yes, I do too. It doesn't matter how many times I've seen it--it's an emotional episode for me.

I find the scene where he hugs his Dad is the bit that gets me misty eyed. especially when the angle changes to see MacGyver's face, and the emotion in it.

This is an amazingly crafted episode. Its metaphor works in tune with MacGyver's usual adventures. But this is a touching episode where Harry and Mac have a last hurrah together as only they can. But this goes to show that Mac is vulnerable, but can cheat death.

I really love this eppy. It's in my top 5. When I first saw it in reruns on cable, it was so intense that I couldn't watch it again for a really long time. But when I got it on DVD, I did watch it again, and I'm glad I did!

This was made at a time when near-death experiences were getting a lot of scientific and media attention, at least in the U.S. Shows you once again how the show did a great job of keeping up with the times.

It's very hard to pick out one or two favorite moments, because I love the whole episode. But I really love the back-and-forth between the two "worlds" when Harry and Mac are trying to get out of the engine room. Talk about serious tension!! I also love the moment when Mac uses his fingers to draw the symbol KA, and Pete immediately catches on to what he's trying to say. Also the moment when Mac finally jumps from the ship, catches the dock, but is falling, and then at the last moment, a hand reaches down and grabs his, and you know it's Pete.

(And yes, I know that in the "real world" it's the other way around, hence Pete's line, "Doctor! He grabbed my hand!" but Mac interprets it as Pete reaching out to save him. It actually shows both. If you watch very carefully at that point, you'll see what I mean.)

I guess my last favorite moment is at the very end, with Pete and Mac outside in the sunshine, talking, and the last few lines of dialogue:

Mac: But you know, death's not so scary. I don't think it's the end of anything. It's more like... just... another step along the way.
Pete: That's a nice thought!
Mac: Yep, just something my grandpa taught me.

Sort of reminds me of one of my favorite lines from the Harry Potter books:

"It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more."
(Yes, I'm a PotterManiac!)

It's great that they made episode about NDE. That was an excellent way to write Harry's character out of this series. Definitely the most emotional episode of this show.

This eppy also reminds me of a lovely song, called "Kite", by my favorite band, U2. Here's part of the lyrics:

I wonder what's gonna happen to you/You wonder what has happened to me/I'm a man/I'm not a child/A man who sees the shadow behind your eyes/... Who's to know when the time has come around/I don't wanna see you cry/I know that this is not goodbye

If that song had been written fifteen years earlier, I could totally see it being used in this eppy.

Great episode. Mac choose to save his friend thanks to Harry...and that incredible form of pass away for Harry: "my time has arrived". MacGyver understands this and jump off the boat alone.
Sad but great episode.

This is a really well done episode.
Only thing that always strikes me as a bit strange: Death seems like such a nice place, you get to ride around on a cruise ship, hang out with family members you haven't seen in years, meet attractive women, etc. Yet, when Mac finds out Pete is going to be killed, he realizes he needs to save him. Hmmm, I don't know, based on that episode, death doesn't seem like a bad thing at all! Might as well let Pete be killed, then he can hang out with Mac on a cruise ship.

Yes, I cry and I can't watch it often. I would love to be able to see all of my family that has passed along before me. What a wondeful idea knowing that they are our guardian angles looking out for us.

This may sound crazy but has anyone else wondered how they got him off of the car , what happened to the guy in the car, and what happened between when Mac woke up and when they show him and Pete outside? I've been thinking of these for the last 19yrs.

The same way they get people out of car wrecks. Use special equipment.
Neck braces, backboards etc. It's not relaly that big of a deal.

I would say EMT's would much rather pick a person off the top of a car than have to cut them out of a car wreck.

I have to say that scene is one hell of a stunt. I just watched it in slow motion. Thats a real person falling on the car.

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Rocky,

I was an EMT and I can tell you how the got Mac off of the car. First the would check his ABC's(airway, breathing, and circulation). Secondly they would stabilize his head (called c-spine control,) check his arms and legs for any fractures. Put a neck brace on and back board him, with what we call spider straps. Then they would then start IV fluids to maintain an open line run a EKG. And transport him code three to the nearest trauma unit.

For the person inside of the car it would pretty much be the same procedure; but that person would have been cut out with the jaws of life. Of course for both patients you would need paramedics or a cardiac tech.

Hope that helps some.

This post has been edited by SMeeceymouse on 2 May 2009 - 03:16 PM

Yes it did, thanks. It was a very impressive stunt. It takes my breath away every time I watch it.

It really looks like he's falling instead of some fake dummy, with his limbs flailing and grasping at nothing but air. Yikes!

I still can't believe that of all of the hits that Mac has taken to the head and being blinded that he doesn't have any major head injuries or eye trouble. Human head wasn't ment to take that much of a beating.

Am I right in thinking that looks like Dan Shea?

Or did Steve Blalock do all the RDA stunts in MacGyver?

Um isn't Paramedic and EMT the same thing?

I still can't believe that of all of the hits that Mac has taken to the head and being blinded that he doesn't have any major head injuries or eye trouble. Human head wasn't ment to take that much of a beating.

I think that this episode shows people that Mac isn't invincable that he can be seriously hurt. I also noticed that there is a high frequency of injuries to his forehead above his left eye.

Um isn't Paramedic and EMT the same thing?

No a Paramedic has specialized training and can administer medications through IVs or shots, after receiving orders from a ER physician. An EMT can't. They can treat and if need be call out for an ALS provider which includes a paramedic or cardiac tech (a cardiac tech is one step below a paramedic.) Most fire departments here in VA that are professional have paramedics. Most of your flight nurses are registered nurses, but the also have a flight paramedic with them.

When I was running they would let me even though I was a LPN(licensed practical nurse) run for a paramedic. It was supposed to be a paramedic for a paramedic, a cardiac tech for a cardiac tech and EMT for an EMT. Actually I was a EMT D which means I could run a AED (which is an Automatic External Heart Defibliator). Most of the time a EMT will ride along in the back with the paramedic but he is the attendant in charge (AIC).

Hope that helps some.

A sad ep one of sadness and one of joy, the sad part was when Pete was almost in tears in seeing his friend in a coma and he didn't know when he was going to come out of it, and the sadness when MacGyver had to leave his family behind. the joy when he finally woke up and pete was there holding his friends hand, it seemed MacGyver was able to move on with his life.

I still can't believe that of all of the hits that Mac has taken to the head and being blinded that he doesn't have any major head injuries or eye trouble. Human head wasn't ment to take that much of a beating.

[QUOTE]
I think that this episode shows people that Mac isn't invincable that he can be seriously hurt. I also noticed that there is a high frequency of injuries to his forehead above his left eye.

Most normal people would've been seen by an eye doctor. Like I said that is a very dangerous place for any head injury. I had a lady in an assisted living that had a injury above her left eye, and the knot was still there 3 months after wards. Knew something was wrong when she took a glass of water a poured it into her lap. Got in trouble after the injury first occurred, because her blood pressure rose, and her pulse dropped. Around Christmas I sent her to the ER after arguing with her MD, she had to have surgery for a subdural hematoma (bleeding in the brain).

Sorry Rocky I know way off topic.

That's what I meant when I said their was a father/son connection between Mac and Pete. Pete was always their for Mac, and until Sam came along Mac was their for Pete.

I know way off topic.

I agree Pete always stood by Mac even when his son was in trouble.
I wonder if Passages would have been even more of a tear jerker if Jack would have been there. I think he would have decked Hakim for hurting mac; I know I would have.

I still can't believe that of all of the hits that Mac has taken to the head and being blinded that he doesn't have any major head injuries or eye trouble. Human head wasn't ment to take that much of a beating.

Maybe Mac has a really hard head. But as we all know MacGyver is like a Timex - He takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

Maybe MacGyver is Swiss made.

It is, but I wonder if maybe the car is not real? Prepared so that it bends easily?

I don't know if that car was real or not. I've never seen anyone fall onto a car, or off of a building for that matter. It would have made more since to me if they had the ambulances one right behind the other. The paramedic with Mac would have called the ER with an update on his condition, including vital signs. I wish the would've done that.

It probably would have scared Pete to death, but that is what happens on a real life rescue call. Except now they use cell phones pre programed with the ER's phone number.

It is, but I wonder if maybe the car is not real? Prepared so that it bends easily?

I think it probably goes without saying that the car would be "rigged" for the stunt. Remove roofing beams, replace windows with stunt glass etc, and the stunt man would probably be wearing protective padding under the clothes too.

But even with all that work and setup. It's still a scary looking stunt and very realist.

I completely agree with you on Mac's paramedic calling in, I wish too they would have done it. Another thing is that when Pete talks to the doctor for the first time they would have said more of his injuries and condition. This episode would have made a good movie too. It would have been nice to see Pete help MacGyver through therapy and recovery.