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 095 - Serenity

Exhausted from work, MacGyver falls asleep and dreams he is in the wild west with Pete as a rich land owner who hires evil gunslinger Murdoc to force MacGyver off his land.

Ok, this had been bugging me so much, that I committed to joining to the website chat group instead of just visiting. Nobody wanted to give their opinions on this episode, and that bugged me a little-don't know why.
So here goes.
The opening argument between MacGyver and Pete and the end part between them goes to show that no matter how much they might disagree, they never held on to grudges. Easy Target was like that too. They were irked at each other, but they didn't let it fester. They were guys as my husband would say.
I thought it interesting the things that triggered Mac's dream - Pete, water, Penny, Jack, the western, his exhaustion. Even his SAK.
Jack as always was funny. But it seemed a shame to misuse the talent and the characters of Pete, Penny, Murdoc, the Bozers and Billy Colton. Cuba Gooding Jr. is an incredible actor - although he was just starting out at the time, but I would have liked to see him in few more episodes beyond this, Black Rhino, and the Coltons.
Also, didn't RDA hurt his back doing the stunt? Correct me if I am wrong.
I liked the end of the dream sequence with Pete saying "We'll get Murdoc one day!" It's a bold statement but it works.
I liked the end-Mac and Pete making up, Pete apologizing. It takes a real man to do that. I voted Ok. I can watch it and be entertained and enjoy myself.

His back injury happened in season 4. He had it operated on between season 4 and 5.

Whats the deal with RDA's Wizard of Oz references? "I had a dream and you where there, and you where there, and you where all in it."

Theres some other references in other episodes too.

Yeah RDA mentions the "Yellow Brick Road" in Blow Out, and quotes the Wizard of Oz and references several times in Stargate Sg1. In the episode Metamorphisis of Stargate Sg1, when the villaness is killed, RDA's Jack has a quote "Hail Dorothy, the wicked witch is dead!"

Other movie references in MacGyver:
mentions James Bond in the Heist
parody of The Sting in Twice Stung
mentions Three Days of the Condor and The Man Who Knew Too Much
Also here one for Serenity, which western is he watching? Maybe Red River? She Wore a Yellow Ribbon?

My very favorite-favorite of all the episodes!

*shakes head*

Did any one else catch when Pete wakes Mac up from his dream with the water sputtering out of the tap...

"Sorry, I just wanted some water."

Yeah I caught that too, and that Mac tried to get a glass of water and the water sputtered for him.

I liked this episode too.I just bet rda liked making this episode too. he really must love the old west a lot. he should do movie set in the west.

Is Mac waking up from the dream... or to the dream?

I still giggle about Thornton's ranch being called 'Fire Eagle', and look on Mac's face when he sees the bullet hole in the wooden SAK (before AND after he wakes up)

That's really cool -- I had entirely missed that detail! Nice reference to 'Phoenix'!

Watched this episode last night. Although I tend not to like "fantasy" episodes, I have to say I really enjoyed the whole look and feel of this episode. It was so MUCH better than "MacGyver's Women." The setting they used in this one felt much more real, and I think they used special lighting to enhance the overall look.
Also, it was kind of interesting to see Mac deck Pete.

I voted average, I just don't especially like this episode.

The movie MacGyver puts into his VCR is called "Gunfight at the OK coral" interestingly it bears the Paramount icon at the bottom of the label.


Also, does anyone else cringe when they see MacGyver climbing around on his sofa with his boots on? It's not the only time he does it either.

I LOVE this episode! One of very favorite!

On the whole I'm none too fond of the 'I woke up and it was all a dream' storyline. It's been done a lot and is getting a bit tired. But I do like a western, and I do like this episode

I like MacGyver as a very convincing cowboy. He can even manage the sweeping brush moustache without it looking daft, which not everyone can do... I like him getting cross with Pete for volunteering him one time too many and I like the way they patch the quarrel up at the end. Being cross doesn't come easily to MacGyver and it's acted well. I also like that he can ride a horse properly, as not all actors in westerns can and it stands out a mile when it's done wrong!

I like Pete as a very unconvincing cowboy! Somehow for him to have looked the part would have been all wrong. I like that he couldn't leave the quarrel with MacGyver and had to come and put it right, as a good friend would.

I like Murdoc as the campest cowboy in all Montana

And I really like Jack channelling Maverick. It's only a shame he wasn't in it a bit more.

In fact the only thing I might have changed is the wooden knife appearing in the houseboat at the end - I thought the story hung together perfectly well without introducing the note of mystery. That said, the look MacGyver gives it is great

Yes, how do you explain the knife?

I voted excellent. I liked the music!

Yes, how do you explain the knife?

I voted excellent. I liked the music!

Well it's the same in Good Knight MacGyver Part 2, with the amulet.
Great episode, I didn't know Murdoc was in this one until I saw it. I'd already had a Murdoc marathon and watched the others. It was like a lost episode!
I was happy!
Anyone else notice that the SAK in Mac's dream was apparently hand made, by Victorinox?

I watched this episode last night for the first time in a very long time. I was in the mood for something relaxing and "back to basics" simpistic so this was a perfect episode for that.

I really enjoyed the slow pace and the way it just meanders along. Although I do have to say the story really goes nowhere and does nothing and kinda left me feeling a little empty at the end. Having said that it's still a fun episode and I like the way all the characters personalities and traits transferred to their Serenity alta-egos.

Yep I did. I also noticed that it had a can opener and screw driver - don't think there would have been much use for either of those in the 1800's

True that

Just re-watching this tonight and I think that's one part that's so cute about him

This is probably my most watched episode! I love how it has so many cast members such as Jack, Penny, Murdoc, Pete, and the Bozers. I love the "light in the boots Englishman" comment!

I really like this episode. A few things of note -

I just love the fact that MacGyver is a fan of classic Westerns, since it's a genre that relies so heavily on guns. I don't find it contradictory - plenty of people love entertainment that at first glance you'd say "wow, that's really not... YOU," so it's just a nice little character trait. At the same time, you might also say that tossing MacGyver into that genre is the ultimate fish-out-of-water story.

It's a really small thing, but... the fact that his Western self is a Civil War veteran who fought for the Union (with General Sherman, no less). The Western genre in general is so absolutely riddled with main characters who're Confederate veterans that having a character who fought on the other side is a breath of fresh air... which I remember jumped out at me the first time I saw this. (Also another layer to the whole "MacGyver really doesn't fit your typical Western" thing).

The barber shop scene with Pete flipping out on Murdoc... and drawing on him ("Don't even think about it") when he so much as hints at a threatening move, before kicking him out. There've been more than a few "Pete Thornton is NOT someone you **** with" moments in the series, but this is one of my favorite ones.

The dressing down he gives the Bozers right afterwards. Nice little moment of the kind of morality we've come to expect from MacGyver, made all the more effective because it's not coming from MacGyver. I like the fact that his character is shown full of flaws (self-centered, quick to anger, much too used to getting his way), but still self-aware and morally centered enough to realize the magnitude of the crime his hired muscle just committed... and how low his pride should rank compared with that. There's plenty of people like the Bozers for whom even that wouldn't have been a wake-up call and who would've been happy to keep shedding blood because of some sense of bull$#!t macho face-saving.

This little gem:

"That was Wilt Bozer."
"How do you know?"
"Because he MISSED."

I just saw that Victorinox still sells that kind of knife

Current model is called "EvoWood 14":
https://www.victorinox.com/ch/de/Produkte/S...-14/p/2.3901.63

Attached Image

Or even better... the actual knife style from the episode

That's a nice one! It's not availably in the Swiss Victorinox Online Store, so probably an older model?

I have to say I've never seen one of these up close in real life; I've never seen them in a store and most people I know have a very standard (plastic) SAK...

Just rewatched this today, and I had two thoughts:

1. It would have been awesome if MacGyver yelled, "MURDOOOOOOOC!" while falling, just to turn the tables.

2. I got woken up by the neighbor's dogs way too early today. Then I ate a lot of food for lunch. I was exhausted. I was kinda hoping that I would fall asleep while watching and dream I was in MacGyver.

I like Serenity, with a strong cast, but, after seeing this one again and Macgyver and the Women, I prefer the latter.

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