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MacGyver Online Forums > Episodes > 033 - Phoenix under Siege

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 6 November 2006 - 05:11 PM

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 32 - Phoenix under Siege

When MacGyver and his Grandfather stop by the Foundation to retrieve some hockey tickets, they stumble upon terrorists attempting to detonate a time bomb.

Posted by: MacNymph 7 November 2006 - 08:52 PM

How did you rate this episode?
Poor [ 0 ] [0.00%]
Average [ 0 ] [0.00%]
OK [ 0 ] [0.00%]
Good [ 4 ] [26.67%]
Excellent [ 11 ] [73.33%]
Total Votes: 15

QUOTE (sonyab @ Apr 6 2005, 04:44 AM)

I voted Excellent!!

Awesome episode.. Altho I do wish that Mac would have hit that woman back. It would have been self defense.. She was really beating him up and still he wouldn't touch her. Mac had some macgyverisms.. I loved the end when Mac stopped the bomb!

Go Mac!!!

QUOTE (MacGyver @ Apr 6 2005, 06:20 am)

This was an excellent episode! Really, all the episodes that have MacGyver and Harry together are generally great. Especially since we find out about the death of Mac's grandmother and father, it's a pretty significant episode. I also love the ending when MacGyver stopped the bomb but had to use one of the ice hockey tickets to do it. Harry ran off with the other one and MacGyver stood there, contemplating grabbing the other one back!

MacGyverisms were great as usual and we get to see more of the interesting grandfather-grandson relationship there. Good episode.

QUOTE (phoenix @ Apr 7 2005, 08:43 am)

anytime you can get character development or background on mac and his family is good to me.

QUOTE

I also love the ending when MacGyver stopped the bomb but had to use one of the ice hockey tickets to do it.

hysterical! my sentiments, exactly.

how DO i get my ticket back . . . ?

QUOTE (sonyab @ Apr 7 2005, 09:02 am)

QUOTE

how DO i get my ticket back . . . ?

Wait until the bomb squad to disarm the bomb and then get the ticket ROFL.

QUOTE (rockatteer @ Apr 8 2005, 01:07 am)

I love the ending, when Harry asks Mac "where you going?"

And Mac replies... "Well first of all, you packed half my stuff in your suitcase."

too funny!!

QUOTE (Vina @ Apr 8 2005, 01:31 am)

I love the relationship between Mac and Harry too. John Anderson was so wonderful in this part. He actually kind of reminded me of my Grandpa.

A couple of my favorite moments...
In the Target MacGyver episode, Harry tries some tricks of his own, telling Mac, they've been falling for your foolishness, so I thought I'd try some of my own.

In the 6th season, in There But for the Grace, Mac tells one of the homeless people, my Grandpa always called me Bud, I never could figure that out.

And, of course, Passages never fails to make me cry. It's one of the most creative and original examples of a clip show ever done.

QUOTE (MacGyver @ Apr 8 2005, 04:26 pm)

QUOTE

And, of course, Passages never fails to make me cry. It's one of the most creative and original examples of a clip show ever done.

"Passages" was definitely a very creative and emotional episode. But it wasn't a "clip show".

The three "clip show" episodes were "Friends", "Unfinished Business" and "Hind-Sight". And even in those 3 "clip shows", there were still great underlying storylines that were significant in their own ways.

QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ Apr 10 2005, 07:50 pm)

I voted for excellent too. This episode is something a la Die Hard. Big building, two hostages and a bunch of terrorists. About 95% of the episode is over night. I like big dark episodes.

QUOTE (MrMacFixIt @ Apr 13 2005, 07:37 am)

QUOTE

how DO i get my ticket back . . . ?

OMG... what's that over there *points in dramatic fashion*

*Snatches ticket out of Harry's hand when he turns to look*

*Runs out of building*

Sorry Harry!! But it's Hockey!

QUOTE (phoenix @ Apr 15 2005, 08:41 am)

QUOTE

how DO i get my ticket back . . . ?

OMG... what's that over there *points in dramatic fashion*

*Snatches ticket out of Harry's hand when he turns to look*

*Runs out of building*

Sorry Harry!! But it's Hockey!

*searches around for the ectoplasmic presence*

mm: good one and add "mind reader" to your list of accomplishments.

QUOTE (Alex-Wylie @ Apr 23 2005, 10:24 am)

A really excellent episode for all the reason already mentioned. Ummm but Rock wouldn't it be number 33?

QUOTE (phoenix @ May 18 2005, 09:04 am)

i watched “phoenix under siege” this morning.

in “target MacGyver,” mac went to visit harry in colorado – verified by axminster bugging mac’s phone. harry tried to reach mac at home, then left a message on mac’s answering machine, which included a return phone number to reach harry - it started with “303” - colorado's area code.

in “phoenix under siege,” harry mentioned that he came all the way from “minnesota” to see gretzky play hockey.

so . . . a the northbound train stops in kansas, six people get on and eight people are wearing blue, what time does the orange southbound train arrive? . . . just kidding . . .

cabin in colorado, farm in minnesota, or cabin and farm – did harry move to minnesota?

thoughts, suggestions, discussion anyone?

QUOTE (rockatteer @ May 18 2005, 09:51 am)

Hmmm.... Don't they normally use 555 at the start of phone numbers.... which is some special prefix which means the phone number isn't real.

QUOTE (phoenix @ May 18 2005, 09:57 am)

QUOTE

Hmmm.... Don't they normally use 555 at the start of phone numbers.... which is some special prefix which means the phone number isn't real.

in the us it's area code, prefix and number i.e., 303 555 4432

and the "555" prefix is designated for use in films/movies only, as "live" or "real" numbers cannot be used.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 21 November 2006 - 01:35 PM

The fight scene at the end of this episode has always annoyed me. In that Mac never seems to really try to fight the women so it seems like he really doesn’t know how to fight.. even though in some previous episodes, in particular “Golden Triangle” , he has looked like he’s had some form of training and knows how to handle himself.

But something has just occurred to me about this scene…

Could this be showing how strong MacGyver’s convictions against hitting a women are? Even if she’s hell bent on killing him… he still won’t hit a woman?

Posted by: Lothithil 21 November 2006 - 03:23 PM

If it had been a guy, Mac would have left him picking up his own teeth like chicklets. I can only believe that he was unable to bring himself to hit a woman.

Wasn't the only time he 'really' hit a woman was in the movie 'Trail to Doomsday'?

Posted by: Nutsy 26 May 2007 - 02:37 AM

Does anybody know what had happened to MacGyver's right little finger? (he also had a plaster on his right arm in two first season episodes. Bit of a dangerous job.

Posted by: MacNymph 26 May 2007 - 05:28 AM

Hey... I hurt myself just walking around a Costco yesterday. There no knowing what kind of damage a special agent can do to himself in an average day.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 26 May 2007 - 01:55 PM

QUOTE (Nutsy @ 26 May 2007 - 11:06 PM)

Does anybody know what had happened to MacGyver's right little finger? (he also had a plaster on his right arm in two first season episodes. Bit of a dangerous job.

Probably a hockey injury.

In http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SY3qd4AmVI (I think) he's wearing a cast and says he has a broken bone in his hand from playing hockey.

So I would guess the season 2 cast is probably also a broken bone from hockey.

Posted by: Nutsy 30 May 2007 - 10:03 AM

Thanks! Had thought so

Posted by: The True MacGyver 11 March 2008 - 02:41 PM

Another solid episode. The climactic fight scene always made me laugh. If Mac was a millimeter off aim with the ruler, he would have been blown away. I always thought he should've slapped the gun away with the ruler. That would've worked better. But the MacGyverisms still amaze me.

Posted by: androgyny 12 July 2008 - 01:48 AM

Heh. The lady villain is beating the crap out of Mac.

But then, she got what she deserved in the end.

I like this ep because of the back stories of Mac and Harry.

Is that a real injured finger on RDA? How did that happen? I wonder if Mac got to watch the hockey game? Harry got the other ticket and the other one is stuck in the bomb.

Posted by: sharjan 12 September 2008 - 06:28 AM

I thought this episode was excellent. I love episodes with Harry in them.
I thought the fight scene with the woman was a bit weird though as she seems to be beating him up way to easily and he doesn't seem able to fight back.
It may be that Mac Gyver won't hit a woman but He could have defended himself with a chair or something.

Posted by: Liz1976 12 September 2008 - 12:19 PM

QUOTE (Lothithil @ 22 November 2006 - 11:23 AM)

Yeah the only time Mac hits a woman is in Trail to Doomsday under extreme circumstances. Natalia was a woman but she was a KGB agent trained to kill and crazy too.

So why didn't he hit the woman in Phoenix Under Seige? Maybe the audience--they were trying to be sensitive to the viewing audience at that point to get young viewers? She was kicking the bagebbles out of Mac, same with Deborah, although Mac shocked Deborah. I don't know. I wished at times that Mac had a female counterpart for smacking the lady villians like Diana in For Love or Money hitting Dupcheck's "wife" Viera or the Russian woman knocking out Ingrid in the Enemy Within. Victoria hitting Ingrid when Ingrid tried to kill Bannister--poetic justice.

Women that should have been decked---Deborah, Lisa Kohler....

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 12 September 2008 - 02:32 PM

I think it reflected the shows whole idea that there are other ways to win without resorting to violence. He out thought Victoria instead of resorting to violence against her.

But I also think that the movie MacGyver was quite different to the TV show MacGyver, and that particular movie was very much darker than any TV episode ever was. That movie didn't seem to follow any of the the TV show conventions.

Posted by: ungeherr 19 February 2009 - 06:20 PM

Is it possible to make a electromagnet out of stainless steal?
I'm pretty sure it isn't.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 19 February 2009 - 06:24 PM

QUOTE (ungeherr @ 20 February 2009 - 03:20 PM)

Is it possible to make a electromagnet out of stainless steal?
I'm pretty sure it isn't.

Wasn't it a chromed metal bar?

Posted by: Beachbead 25 April 2009 - 07:20 AM

I enjoyed this one the fact MacGyver and his grandfather was bounding on the day two people in there lives was takein' from them. I liked the part where MacGyver was getting his bum kicked but at the end all her skills didn't mean anything for she went flying out the window.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 19 June 2009 - 02:52 PM

I liked this episode, because it really explains the back story of Mac and Harry, and how they leaned on each other in a difficult time. It also sounds as though Harry was beginning to show some signs of dementia. Especially when he said that he plowed a field, but couldn't find his way back to the farm.

I would've like to have seen that explained a little more. Was it the early signs of dementia, or was their something else going on?

At the end of the episode it was just kind of forgotten. Mac has a lot of Harry in him. It was good to see them working together again.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 19 June 2009 - 03:03 PM

QUOTE

It also sounds as though Harry was beginning to show some signs of dementia. Especially when he said that he plowed a field, but couldn't find his way back to the farm.

I would've like to have seen that explained a little more. Was it the early signs of dementia, or was their something else going on?

I wonder if that was a seed for a planned storyline, or sub plot or something which never eventuated.

There seemed to be a few missed chances for stories throughout the show.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 20 June 2009 - 04:26 PM

I've noticed that. Trumbo's World was a good example. But I just wish they would have expanded on what Harry was trying to tell Mac.

Posted by: nmacgyver 22 June 2009 - 10:26 AM

This is actually one of my 2 favorite episodes for one reason. My dad worked on the show and I actually have the suitcase bomb, case containing all the circuits and the ticket they used. I'm not one to brag, but it's my most prized possession. Kinda incredible. If anyone's interested i can take some pictures later and post them. Also, if anyone from Paramount is asking... MacGyver who?

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 22 June 2009 - 02:16 PM

Welcome to the site nmacgyver

What did your dad do on the show? We'd love to see some pictures.

Post away

QUOTE

Also, if anyone from Paramount is asking... MacGyver who?

that went right over my head.

Posted by: macgybl 29 June 2009 - 06:05 PM

I noticed this a long time ago

When Mac finds the tickets from the "Tompkins File", they're def authentic tickets and not just props.

I think I remember cross referenceing the date the ep was filmed and the date printed on the tickets and it was plausible

I always wondered if RDA used them

as they are LA Kings Tickets.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 29 June 2009 - 06:20 PM

Hmmm good question.

I was about to say, I wonder if they where real or just some kind of color copy of a real ticket, but I'm not sure they had color copiers back in those days.

Posted by: macgybl 4 November 2009 - 07:01 PM

One of my fav mac quote from the series is in the episode.

""It's funny how when you want time to move along, it never does - but when you're running out of time, it disappears much too soon"

Posted by: cirubit 30 March 2010 - 02:18 AM

It's, problably, my favourite!

Posted by: cirubit 23 April 2010 - 09:16 AM

A perfect plan, tree bad guys, a great Villain ( a very evil and intelligent women ), a bomb, two "missing" tickets, a countdown to death ,a lot of Macgyverisms, Henry Jackson and .... MacGyver, of course!!!
The perfect formula for the perfect Mac's episode!!!

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 4 May 2010 - 01:09 AM

QUOTE (cirubit @ 24 April 2010 - 05:16 AM)

Henry Jackson and

um.. that would be Harry Jackson.

I watched this one with my kids tonight. They both really enjoyed the banter between Mac and Harry. I found it pretty entertaining myself.

All-in-all this is a pretty good episode. Scores an excellent from me.

Posted by: cirubit 4 May 2010 - 08:33 AM

"Henry" Jackson .. whoops!

Sorry!!

Posted by: Wheeljack 29 November 2010 - 03:28 PM

QUOTE (ungeherr @ 20 February 2009 - 02:23 PM)

Is it possible to make a electromagnet out of stainless steal?
I'm pretty sure it isn't.

NO. I spotted this problem too. While it would be possible with some very low grades of stainless (such as 409ss, the stuff they use on automobile exhaust systems), most has little to no response to magnetism. Technically I don't think the faucet was stainless though, it was most likely plated brass, that's what faucets commonly are, and coincidently also NOT magnetic. Basically Mac's electro-magnet would not have worked as it was, I don't think it would have made a field at all, not even a tiny one. It was just a quick and easy way to move the plot along, that's about it.

Maybe Harry dosn't have dementia or Alzheimers, maybe he just had a forgetful moment or was caught up in thoughts of lost family members. I've forgotten what the heck I was doing or where I was headed a time or two, I think everyone has, whether they'll admit it or not.

I agree with Rockatteer, the fight scene was goofy. If they wanted her to go through the window, they could have set it up a lot better. Basically it looks like she just jumps threw the glass on purpose like a crazy woman, and I have to use my imagination to tell myself it was because Mac dived out of the way. :-\ A person who had enough training to do a flying kick wouldn't do it in a way that would put them self in danger like that. She probably still would have fallen even if she had hit Mac with the way it was done.

Posted by: The True MacGyver 1 January 2011 - 06:48 PM

Really, what is this episode but an hour-long, PG-rated Die Hard?

Posted by: rinaldi_LOL 3 February 2011 - 07:01 AM

Calendar that appears at the end of this episode, is DECEMBER 1986, where Christmas at that time fell on Thursday.

I was 5 years old at the time, hehehe ....

Posted by: Miasma 4 February 2011 - 01:35 PM

QUOTE (The True MacGyver @ 2 January 2011 - 02:51 PM)

Really, what is this episode but an hour-long, PG-rated Die Hard?

Exactly. It's a poor man's Die Hard, like how "Eye Of Osiris" is a poor man's Indiana Jones. Fortunately, when this episode first aired, I hadn't seen Die Hard, so I didn't realize that, and I just enjoyed it on its own merits. I still think it's a pretty fun episode, overall.

The fight scene in this episode is one of best comedic moments in the entire series. I mean, it's literally laugh-out-loud hilarious when she jumps through the window.

Posted by: bert003 5 February 2011 - 10:57 AM

Voted Excellent... I really like this episode

Posted by: Makedde 17 April 2011 - 07:19 PM

Is it just me, or did anyone else laugh at the amount of money Victoria was being given to kill Mac? I mean, if Mac was this genius who could do anything, and was dangerous because he was so smart, surely they would have offered more than a pissy little hundred grand?
I was expecting at least a million.

The fight scene was awesome. Not the first time Mac had his butt kicked by a woman, lol.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 17 April 2011 - 10:31 PM

yeah but your working on today's money value.

Back in the 80's $100,000 was worth a lot more than it is today so it would have been a significant amount.

Posted by: The True MacGyver 1 January 2012 - 05:53 PM

I just realized that this episode predates Die Hard by about 2 years. Hmm, I think I respect it a little more now.

Posted by: NightTinkerer 6 September 2012 - 03:44 PM

I've not abandoned MacGyverOnline, should anyone wonder.

I've just had a very busy week, and the next couple weeks will be even worse, so please bear with me. I'm not abandoning any unfinished projects.

Anyhow--"Phoenix Under Siege" is definitely one of the highlights of Season 2, in my opinion. Not only do we get a lot of vital information about MacGyver's background--some of the most traumatic memories presented through the eyes of MacGyver and his grandpa, in a very subtle and touching manner--but the episode also contains a lot of drama, suspense and the kind of humor that truly defines the MacGyver series.

John Anderson is perfect in the role as Harry Jackson, the chemistry between him and RDA really works. It's obvious that Mac and Harry have a close relationship, yet the events of the past still affect it. You can see how much they both appreciate that they're once again part of each other's lives--still, they're reminded that time has not been standing still, and Harry has begun to show signs of old age.

The hockey game subplot was very entertaining in itself, for various reasons. First, there's the fact that Mac, despite his "super mind" actually misplaced them and forgot them at work! I felt like a total idiot when I did a similar thing this week, but it's comforting that even people like Mac make such mistakes... sometimes.

The Phoenix scenes were really suspenseful, of course, though, as some of you have already pointed out, some of the MacGyverisms were probably a bit implausible. I agree with the previous posters that the fight scene is rather humorous, and I bet it's unintentional, for the most part. Mac just seems completely dumbfounded--I think it was pretty obvious that he just didn't know how to act, with a woman fighting like that... it goes against his morals to hit a woman (yet he does it in "Trail to Doomsday"... but she really, really deserves it... well, that's another story).

Love how part of him just want to snatch the hockey ticket at the end!

A definite "Excellent" vote from me.

Posted by: Wheeljack 14 October 2012 - 04:29 PM

Revising what I said a while back, I've since learned that there is a lot of stainless steel that will respond to a magnet, however much less than a piece of regular steel. But I still think the faucet was just a normal chrome plated brass faucet, meaning it wouldn't have done a thing.

I liked the episode though.

Posted by: Mela_007 7 December 2012 - 08:10 AM

This was an excellent episode. I really do like the interaction between MacGyver and Harry. And the look on Mac's face when Harry is headed out the door with his hockey ticket and Mac looks back at his in the bomb was priceless!!

Posted by: MacGyverisms 16 February 2013 - 12:24 PM

Phoenix Under Siege is definitely one of my favorite episodes of Season 2. We get a lot of vital information about Mac's background and some of the most traumatic memories are presented through the eyes of MacGyver and his grandpa. This episode also contains a lot of suspense, drama, and humor that really defines the series. John Anderson is perfect for the role of Harry Jackson, the chemistry between him and RDA really shows here. It's obvious that Mac and Harry have a good relationship, and the events of the past still affect it. The Phoenix scenes were very suspenseful, but some of the MacGyverisms seemed a little exaggerated. I love how part of Mac just wanted to grab that hockey ticket at the end. The look on RDA's face was priceless.

A "Excellent" episode in my opinion.

Overall Rating: 10/10

Posted by: Joe SAKic 12 July 2013 - 07:08 AM

Excellent! Of course it especially appeases myself because of the whole episode revolving around the Gretzky/Oilers ticket search. I saw Gretzky's Oilers play live several times during that era and it was as exciting as Mac and Harry were .... anticipating. The lighting and cinematography is well done and smooth as silk. The female ninja terrorist part is well acted by Tricia O'Neil and with some timely tongue in cheek humor thrown in. The flashbacks are well infiltrated within the hour and are welcomed and historically important for we MacGyver cronies.

A point on the hockey prop: Mac is wearing a Calgary Flames hat again, although he's clearly infatuated with the Oilers as professed in this and several other episodes. One thing is certain in life is that Oil and Flames do not mix and this is especially so in Pro Hockey - as you are either an Oilers fan or Flames fan and rarely both. I realize that the shows producers were trying to ride the coattails of the upcoming Calgary Olympics ..... but I think that Mac might have been better suited/costumed in an Oilers hat.

Posted by: Scwilson 8 August 2013 - 09:31 PM

The Macgyverisms and suspense made this one a great episode. Also Mac working with his grandfather, who was Mac's first guiding light.

Posted by: MDBfan 31 August 2013 - 03:01 AM

I just watched this again so I should know the answer... Mac searched the inventory file. How did he know that the bomb was already in the building before the terrorists arrived?

Posted by: KiwiTek 31 August 2013 - 05:36 AM

I think he put 2 and 2 together didn't he?

Posted by: denizen 17 November 2013 - 10:07 PM

Saw this episode last night again. Was a good episode indeed. Also really liked the chemistry between Mac & Harry.

Did not rate excellent however because there are rarely any episodes I watch that can ever be rated this good. There were still some flaws.

Despite the security guard change, I found it difficult to believe that Mac actually bothered to put one and one together in identifying that the cigarette did not belong to the lady simply because there was no lipstick on it?!

Posted by: John Litteral 28 January 2014 - 06:43 PM

Any episode with Harry is excellent!

Posted by: MiracleMac 1 June 2014 - 08:44 AM

That episode seems to be only where he drives jeep with top on and doors off. The Back From The Dead episode is only where he only got doors without hard top, but when he got time to change those doors when went to the church without doors and returned with doors

Posted by: MacGyver85 9 April 2015 - 11:09 AM

So far this has been the only one that I have not enjoyed. The way
that woman could ask them their name and then shoot them really disturbed
me. It actually made me question whether or not I would continue watching the
episodes.

On a lighter note, the MacGyverisms were great!

Posted by: KiwiTek 9 April 2015 - 01:36 PM

QUOTE (MacGyver85 @ 10 April 2015 - 08:09 AM)

The way that woman could ask them their name and then shoot them really disturbed me. It actually made me question whether or not I would continue watching the episodes.

You must have problems with modern shows then. They have a lot more sick twisted violence than that in them.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 9 April 2015 - 04:26 PM

Do you know how many times and having had seasons tickets in Toronto & Buffalo - that friends and I've attended NHL games and had some kind of pregame 'ticket malfunction' and, yes, even with Gretzky in town? More than a few. re: I thought you had the tickets? No, you were given control of them last Saturday and put them on top of the fridge ... remember? Yes, now I do ... who's round is it & how much time do we have?

So ...... it goes without saying that this episode scores high on my top episodes list .... just because of that backdrop theme alone. And then it just keeps getting better.

Posted by: MacGyver85 10 April 2015 - 11:00 AM

I mostly just never expected that to happen on a MacGyver episode.
On modern shows(of which I don't watch a lot) I have come to expect
things like that.

Posted by: MacGyverGod 17 April 2015 - 07:55 AM

This is one of the best episodes of the second season. Besides, this is not the only episode where in the villian disposes of their henchmen.

Actually it's quite funny when she shoots that guy in front of Harry.

'The deal I have with the liberation front is that you are all expendable. Besides that, you annoy me.'

When she says they annoy her, she says it so dry and maybe a bit bored.

By the way, did you notice that that gun wasn't actually loaded?

Posted by: Walter 22 April 2015 - 03:56 AM

QUOTE (MacGyver85 @ 10 April 2015 - 07:00 PM)

I mostly just never expected that to happen on a MacGyver episode.
On modern shows(of which I don't watch a lot) I have come to expect
things like that.

Well it's and action adventure show and bad guys are called bad for a reason.

And remember the show is about MacGyver not using a gun, not the bad guys being unarmed.

Posted by: Mr Duct Tape 11 May 2016 - 12:42 AM

Yes, it does kind of have a similar feel to Die Hard, that thought crossed my mind too. Nonetheless it's one of the best episodes during the entire season. Always interesting to see Mac and Harry bonding, making quips and remembering past events in their lives.

I always have a laugh with Harry's comedic quotes

The fight scene and subsequent death of the villain woman are kind of lame though

Posted by: Myrtle Groggins 11 May 2016 - 08:37 AM

It's one of my favorite episodes and I'm quite impressed that an episode with almost no outdoor scenes has such a great atmosphere.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 11 May 2016 - 09:07 AM

Agreed, great ambience for not much expense in the set location department. But a dark
& stormy night with imminent danger, interspersed with clever reminiscing & all built around the subplot of an Oilers/Kings game will always work for me. Golden! I remember this one getting a lot of publicity in the Canadian media circles because of the hockey angle and, accordingly, the Gretzky name dropping.

Posted by: Barry Rowland 11 May 2016 - 10:24 AM

I loved it!! Any episode with Harry and Mac means tons of MacGyverisms, great interaction, and plain fun! I love it when the hit woman gives the flying leap out the window at the end. A very cold part played well by the actress. I haven't watched it in awhile...I'm going to put it on now!

Posted by: denizen 11 May 2016 - 08:44 PM

I recently saw this episode again. It was a good episode although it was a little silly at times. I guess most television of the era had a campiness to it. The irony is that had the villains just kept quiet, they could have gotten away with it. I know about the extra money to take out Mac but they could have just been brief and left. Not that I'm routing for the villains! I'm not!!! I'm just saying! That's all!

Posted by: Barry Rowland 12 May 2016 - 12:15 AM

I agree Denizen...and walked away $100K richer!

Posted by: MacGyverGod 12 May 2016 - 09:09 AM

$100K? That's pathetic! I wouldn't go under 250K. But of course 100.000 was a lot of money in 1986.

This episode however lost with an inch to Three For The Road for me as top favorite. But it's a great second though.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 12 May 2016 - 10:40 AM

Well, it was the old adage - they bit off a little more than they could chew - that haunted the villains in the end & in dealing with Mac.

And the getting there for "opening faceoff or 'puck drop' is the endearing, anxiety ridden incentive & this script implementation is undoubtedly influenced/suggested by RDA. When you go to a hockey game, it's sacrilege to miss the opening faceoff - an unwritten rule, yet written in stone to get there on time. The home city on game night is full of electric energy, the bars, restaurants are full to the rafters - & as a fan, your whole day revolves around getting to the rink in time. I'm not saying that this is not the same MO for soccer, football, baseball, or basketball - I'm just telling it like it is for this sport.

I think we need a MacGyverOnline meetup - in Minnesota - in February - -15 degrees - for a Wild game - and to feel the energy. enjoy the atmosphere, and to see how vital it is to get to the game on time and for the opening draw!

Posted by: denizen 12 May 2016 - 08:37 PM

I wholeheartedly agree, Joe. I'll give you my banking details to deposit the money for the flights, accommodation etc..

And i'll see you there!!!

Posted by: MacGyverGod 13 May 2016 - 12:28 AM

First class and pretty flight attendant, please.

Posted by: Barry Rowland 13 May 2016 - 09:53 AM

Count me in!!

Posted by: Joe SAKic 13 May 2016 - 05:13 PM

Wow! Some initial good interest here. Maybe, just maybe ..... an Oilers/Kings game in LA would be the real 'MacGyver Episode Experience' ticket!? J A meetup in LA with a pre-game tour of some of the old MacGyver sets in and around LA, & with a busy scheduled day and all culminating with an anxiety/adrenaline filled dash to the Kings/Oilers game - just like within the episode - would be ideal. And, surely, if there was ever an impromptu venue that RDA might attend a MacGyver fan base .... it would surely be at his most beloved LA Kings' game!!!! Of course we could all 'warm up' on non-alcoholic eggnog -- as per Mac's experiment in the opening gambit.

Posted by: RadiantRose 14 September 2016 - 09:31 PM

Poor Mac, what with the anniversary of the accident being December 14th and his mother dying around Christmas, December must have been tough.

Posted by: SuspiciousMeerkat 9 May 2017 - 05:45 PM

Damn, I love this episode so much! It's my second favorite! I love the look on MacGyver's face when Victoria kicks herself straight out of the window!

This is literally what it's like:

Posted by: beth 20 October 2017 - 06:56 PM

QUOTE (Nutsy @ 26 May 2007 - 02:37 AM)

Does anybody know what had happened to MacGyver's right little finger? (he also had a plaster on his right arm in two first season episodes. Bit of a dangerous job.

I saw an interview with RDA and he told what happened to his pinky finger. He cut it with his SAK when cutting the top off of the Cadillac in "Three For The Road" and had to get stitches. If you look closely when he is cutting into the back seat of the car you can see the bandage.

Posted by: Barry Rowland 20 October 2017 - 08:13 PM

I've a few scars on my hands from various SAKs over the years....it doesn't take much to wind up with stitches! This is one of my favorite shows too

Posted by: beth 20 October 2017 - 08:31 PM

QUOTE (Barry Rowland @ 20 October 2017 - 08:13 PM)

I've a few scars on my hands from various SAKs over the years....it doesn't take much to wind up with stitches! This is one of my favorite shows too

I have a pretty nice scar on my arm from my SAK. I had the scissors open and laid the knife down. I carelessly shifted my arm right into the point on the end of the scissor blade. The blade embedded itself about 1/4 inch deep in my arm. Ouch

Posted by: Barry Rowland 24 October 2017 - 04:46 PM

It's amazing how sharp these knives are, especially when what you are cutting isn't intentional.

Posted by: zoeryan 25 October 2018 - 01:48 AM

I think this episode is excellent, except once they realized they were locked in and people had guns, why wouldn't they pull the fire alarm?!? Or they needed a quick scene where they tried and it was disconnected, like when Mac tried the phone.

Harry is always enjoyable to watch, great chemistry with Mac. I like Harry flashbacks even though the wavy screen effect got a little taxing lol.

Posted by: MacGyverGod 25 October 2018 - 02:35 AM

Because the bad guys would be looking for them. Now they had somewhat of an advantage.

Posted by: zoeryan 25 October 2018 - 09:06 AM

QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ 25 October 2018 - 02:35 AM)

Because the bad guys would be looking for them. Now they had somewhat of an advantage.

If you pull an alarm the whole building goes off, the baddies would have cleared out pretty fast. The bad guys were already looking for them and there was no bomb in play yet as far as they knew.

Posted by: MacGyverGod 25 October 2018 - 09:13 AM

Or stayed put and called off the fire. You haven't seen Die Hard have you?

Posted by: zoeryan 25 October 2018 - 12:49 PM

Of course I've seen Die Hard

I'm just saying pulling the fire alarm was an obvious move to get help, that wasn't explored, and should have been addressed..

Posted by: Joe SAKic 5 January 2019 - 08:46 PM

The Oilers are in LA again tonight to play the Kings! Times have changed a bit since Mac and Harry's days.
Gretzky is in the building but as a spectator not a player. RDA may well be there as well tonight -since he
is a big fan of the home team.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 6 January 2019 - 08:14 PM

Apparently Gretzky got refused at the gate last night. The Staples Center security check didn't recognize him … the legend … and even though his statue was standing about 100ft behind the entryway. Harry just rolled over in his grave …..

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 7 January 2019 - 01:41 AM

QUOTE (Joe SAKic @ 7 January 2019 == 05:14 PM)

So there's a couple of security guards looking for a new job today?

Posted by: Joe SAKic 7 January 2019 - 05:57 AM

QUOTE (MacGyverOnline @ 7 January 2019 - 05:41 AM)

QUOTE (Joe SAKic @ 7 January 2019 - 05:14 PM)

So there's a couple of security guards looking for a new job today?

Apparently, they smoothed it over by saying that he/she "gatekeeper" usually only works the Laker games …. and thus not a big hockey fan.

…… c'est la vie

Posted by: Hawk 13 September 2020 - 10:21 AM

Classic episode. Love these confined-setting type deals, a-la The Human Factor earlier on.

Pretty cool to have such an extended look at the Phoenix Foundation at last. It really made the setting feel more tangible and lived-in in subsequent episodes rather than just a regular office/soundstage, so there's that to appreciate as well.

Just great to get so much insight into MacGyver’s past and his dynamics with Harry in particular, as well. I'm generally not big on flashback-induced downtime, but this time it really does appear to be raising the stakes - the longer we dwell in their troubled past, the closer we are drawn to them, the more it appears to inform their present-day predicament.

On the downside, I felt like the main villain wasn't as interesting or nuanced as the rest of the plot. Her scenes with MacGyver in particular (and that fight...) were lacking. But she's ultimately more of a plot device, so I guess it doesn't really matter.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 24 November 2021 - 06:17 AM

It turns out the game Mac and Harry were going to see was a real game being played on the actual date in the episode.

One of our members in our https://www.facebook.com/groups/MacGyverOnline found a copy of the game on youtube.

Posted by: Karenskatz 26 January 2022 - 07:04 AM

When Harry mentioned not remembering the way back to the house, I think he was referring to living alone with no one to talk to, no difference in day to day routine, to the point where you're functioning on auto-pilot and kind of sleep-walking through the day. You suddenly "wake up" and have to figure out what you were just in the middle of. In Harry's case, you can also factor in loneliness, though he would never admit to that! His excuse for the visit was getting to see Wayne Gretsky "skatin' with the Oilers" against the LA Kings, not that he wanted to see his grandson.

I like John Anderson as an actor as well. There's a western movie that I think is great (wonder if Mac has it in his collection?) called "The Halleluiah Trail"; John Anderson plays an old career cavalry sergeant. A situational comedy; check it out.