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| MacGyver Online Forums > Episode Discussions > 2.11 Bullet + Pen |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 15 December 2017 - 02:40 AM |
 2.11 Bullet + Pen Airdate: Dec. 15, 2017 Writer: Marqui Jackson Director: Carlos Bernard Guest Cast:Bruce McGill (Detective Greer) , David Dastmalchian (Murdoc) , Arjay Smith (Detective Turner) Jordan Preston Carter (Kid) , Michelle Elaine (Mother) , David MacDonald (Agent Vincent Whittaker) , Jouse Guttierez (Hector Ruiz) The LAPD interrupts the team’s Christmas celebration to arrest MacGyver for terrorism when they find a body in a building destroyed by a bomb he built. |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 16 December 2017 - 06:00 AM |
Looks like everyone is too shocked to make the first post?  I've never seen Bruce McGill in another role but Jack Dalton. So this was really exciting for me. His performance was great. Good acting, and while I would have loved him as Jack Dalton Senior or a relative of rebooted Jack, I felt this was a good role for him. I do have some nitpicking to do of course (e.g. regarding the background music), but overall, the director did a good job with this one - I really liked the locations, the camera settings and the close-ups. The interrogation scenes were great and really shows that with good actors and a good director, you don't need more than 2 people in a room facing each other. Production-wise, I think this was the best Episode of Season 2. |
| Posted by: Miasma 16 December 2017 - 06:19 AM | ||
This is actually the sort of role I'm used to seeing him in these days. It's kind of weird to see how silly he was in the original MacGyver because whenever I see him in a movie or tv show now, he often plays these very serious/stern characters. He's good at it, though, and I liked his performance in this episode. I think he was one of the few guest stars on this show who really made a strong impression, and not JUST because he was in the original series (Zoe from last week was also memorable, but aside from that, most guest stars on this show are pretty forgettable.) I was reminded of Bruce's performance in "My Cousin Vinny." In that movie, he was trying to get information on whether or not Joe Pesci's character was really a lawyer or not, so when he was asking about whether Jack Dalton was really a lawyer, I immediately thought of that movie. It's a shame Detective Greer never found out Jack Dalton's real name. Seems like a missed opportunity when they could have had Bruce McGill saying something like, "If you ever try a stunt like that again, Jack Dalton, I'll deal with you personally!" Anyway, overall, a pretty strong episode. It's a bit odd that we now had two episodes in a row in which Mac was mainly just sitting in a room for the entire episode, but in a way, these past two episodes were actually more exciting than some of the more action-packed episodes. And yeah, that ending was a bit of a surprise.... I kept wondering when Murdoc would show up. It might have been better to omit his name from the credits to really keep it a complete surprise. |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 16 December 2017 - 07:32 AM | ||
Yes, sadly the guest-stars weren't always that memorable, especially due to the parallel storylines piling up. I prefer the episodes with the guest-star being the center-point and leaving a lasting impression (e.g. Elya Baskin's character in 1x04, Valerie in 1x11, Frankie in 1x19, Murdoc in 1x20, Zoe in 2x10 or now Bruce McGill). Although there are a few episodes where there is a guest-star being the center-point, yet I don't think they were very memorable (e.g. the German girl in 1x05). It's not like I think the acting was bad, but.... I just didn't really "feel" the connection to (or the chemistry with) the main cast, I don't know  |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 16 December 2017 - 07:36 AM | ||
Thought so, too. But they never do that *sigh*. Every time you watch an Episode on TV - especially episodic crime shows like "Bones", CSI and stuff - and you recognize one of the names in the credits, you can be sure that person either is the villain or gets killed  . |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 16 December 2017 - 08:06 AM |
| Preliminary ratings are in: http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/the-sked-friday-network-scorecard-12-15-2017.html Not bad, but not as good as last week. And I hoped for more because of Bruce McGill being in it Looks like all the other 8pm shows had a bit more viewers - not much, but enough to make a difference in viewer numbers and demo rating. |
| Posted by: Dragondog 16 December 2017 - 08:35 AM | ||
That doesn't really surprise me. Quite a few people who dislike the reboot were saying things like "I hate this show, and I'm not watching it just because of him" or even "shame on Bruce for participating"  I think MDB's supposed appearance coming up in 2x15 will increase ratings, though, since people are saying things like "I really loathe this show, but Michael, I'll watch it for you. Just this once." |
| Posted by: Dragondog 16 December 2017 - 08:54 AM |
Anyway, I thought this episode was interesting. I liked the discussion between Mac and Matty at the end. She definitely softened her opinion towards him.  I knew Murdoc would show up at Samantha's place as soon as it showed her alone in her empty house (EVERY. SHOW.) My theory about her being Murdoc's sister is pretty much disproved here, though. Original Murdoc would do anything to protect Ashton. New Murdoc just said "I'll leave you to die now"  On a lighter note, did anyone else like it when Matty said "Do you need a moment alone with the video?" |
| Posted by: Jediferret 16 December 2017 - 10:17 AM |
| LOL! I love how those folks p***ing and moaning about the reboot always class themselves as "real fans". XD You can tell by their behavior they know very little about the show or the MacGyver character. If they did, they'd know that MacGyver, and RDA, wouldn't approve of their behavior. HOWEVER, I'm very delighted to see Bruce in the reboot! It's so nice to see him, even if he's not his usual Jack Dalton self. At least we got a tiny "exactly" there at the end... XD Better than nothing. And I'm very excited at the idea of MDB being in the reboot. I love that he and David Dastmalchain are so respectful of each other. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. See, the reason I keep watching is because despite my gripes... I want to support Lucas, David and Tristin. They're my favorite things about the reboot, and they have my full support. Of course, George, Meredith and Isabel have my support as well... I may not like everything that goes on in the reboot... but they'be done their jobs extremely well... and I give them props for that. That being said, I did enjoy this episode. I did notice that Matty has been toned down a bit. That's excellent, because I get the feeling she's not a bad guy, and if she's really on Mac's side (which is the vibe I'm getting), I really want to like her. I also noticed the eggnog in the chemistry flask there in the beginning... a nice nod to the beginning of Phoenix Under Siege where MacGyver was using his chemistry set to make non-alcoholic eggnog. I love that scene... mostly because I love eggnog. ;D |
| Posted by: Dragondog 16 December 2017 - 05:16 PM | ||
I know that David is a massive fan of MDB, both of his acting and of his music. I noticed in those side-by-side pictures with Mike Torino that David looked really excited (if you can look past the deranged piranha eyes he has), as though he's psyched about appearing in an episode with/meeting MDB. |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 17 December 2017 - 03:17 AM | ||
Funny thing is: The ones that shout about it the most on the official FB site by CBS admit themselves that they've never seen more than the pilot or maybe two episodes - sometimes not even a single one. I get that as a die-hard fan of the Original Show, the Pilot Episode alone could stop you from watching any further because it's so unlike MacGyver. But then start b... about certain characters you've never even seen on screen is uncalled for. I don't mind criticizing the show in a civil manner (I mean, we do complain a lot in here as well, don't we?); it makes up for good discussions and different views and opinions. Even if I'm not completely happy about the reboot, I can see why it's fun working on it. Bruce McGill or MDB certainly don't need the money - if they've agreed being in the show, then because they wanted to. So if these people complaining and shouting see themselves as fans, then they should accept it. There's always the chance that your favorite film star takes on roles you don't approve of; so they better learn to deal with it. |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 17 December 2017 - 07:09 AM |
| I've been wondering a bit why Murdoc shot Cage without any teasing and looooooooooong cat-and-mouse-game-talking beforehand like he usually does. He could have killed her twice in Episode 2x04 (shooting again after she had been hit on the vest and when they were all trapped in the overturned vehicle at the end), but he didn't. Now he shot her twice without warning. Either something has happened in the meantime off-screen (which we don't know about yet - maybe to do with his son?) or they changed the script because they're getting rid of the character. |
| Posted by: Dragondog 17 December 2017 - 06:28 PM | ||||
Totally agree with you, Dash. It reminds me of a political cartoon I saw last year, with a drawing of a man and a woman holding hands. It said, "This is Bob. He voted for Trump. This is Sally. She voted for Hillary. Bob and Sally are still friends, because Bob and Sally are both adults. Be like Bob and Sally." |
| Posted by: Dragondog 17 December 2017 - 06:31 PM | ||
I noticed that it felt like a crime of intellect, as opposed to a crime of opportunity. He was hanging out in her house, just waiting for her, after all. He specifically targeted her, but I can't tell why. Mac or Matty I can understand, but why specifically Cage? I think whatever she's hiding about her past, Murdoc's involved somehow. He's taken way to much interest in her to just see her as another team member, like Jack or Riley.  |
| Posted by: Miasma 19 December 2017 - 09:11 AM |
| Considering the amount of time Carlos Bernard spent doin interrogation room scenes during all his years on 24, he was a good choice to direct this episode. It must have felt like very familiar territory for him. And yeah, I'm curious about the relationship between Samantha and Murdoc, too. One thing that I do like better about the reboot over the original series is that we get these larger story lines to think about between episodes. |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 19 December 2017 - 01:36 PM |
| Final Ratings: http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-friday-cable-originals-network-finals-12-15-2017.html Audience numbers went down a bit, but it's still the 5th highest episode of Season 2. |
| Posted by: Joe SAKic 19 December 2017 - 01:52 PM | ||
I understand why they do it and to hook/draw viewers in from week to week ... but I don't like it. I prefer the timeline quirkiness off the original, the diversity of clean slate adventures, that in their own right, kept a sort of Je ne sais quoi freshness to our mind's eye imagery of that fictional world. |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 19 December 2017 - 04:10 PM | ||
I prefer that, too. It's one of the reason why I don't like that they're so spy-stuff focused (and therefore mission-focused). I think the storyline variety would be a lot more exciting if it was Mac stumbling into an adventure every now and then. I don't mind some underlying storyline, but I don't think they achieved it here. Personally, I don't care much for the Mac-on-the-Quest-for-his-missing-father anyway, but they tend do forget they even set it up. Like in the beginning of Season 2, it was all about the watch in the first two episodes and then nothing. Suddenly, there's a video as well while the watch is still forgotten (besides a mention every now and then, but it doesn't lead anywhere). Also, it's too reminiscent of "Hawaii Five-0" for me because in Season 1, it's all about the tool box with clues that McGarretts father left behind.... and McG is following these clues over the Season. Not to mention that everyone in the Lenkov-Universe seems to have "Daddy Issues". I wouldn't mind some fresh ideas every now and then  |
| Posted by: Dragondog 19 December 2017 - 06:49 PM | ||
I noticed that someone on twitter asked David Dastmalchian why Murdoc specifically targeted Cage, and he said it was because Mac and Cage are so close. I don't know if that's the real reason, or if that's a substitute answer to avoid spoilers. |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 20 December 2017 - 02:31 AM | ||
Well, if they are close, I hadn't noticed . Also, MacGyver calls her "Cage", not "Sam" or "Samantha". Wouldn't it have hurt Mac much more if Murdoc had targeted Jack, Riley or Bozer?But... this Twitter user has a point via https://twitter.com/Pandaperson51/status/943304983633645568 |
| Posted by: Dragondog 20 December 2017 - 04:06 PM | ||||
My mom likes MacGyver to, but usually watches Blindspot when it's on instead (I forgive her). We usually hang out on Saturdays, and I fill her in on what she missed. She thinks someone related to Cage (like her parents) might work/have worked for Murdoc, and that might be a touchy subject for her. Didn't she mention having a sister at the beginning of the episode? Maybe her sister is Cassian's mother.  |
| Posted by: Roaddawg71 20 December 2017 - 07:16 PM | ||
Agreed. I stopped caring a while ago that the reboot wasn't as much like the original as I was hoping for and I just enjoy the show for what it is. |
| Posted by: Roaddawg71 20 December 2017 - 07:18 PM | ||||
Maybe Mac was the last number in her phone she dialed? lol. Interesting. |
| Posted by: Dragondog 21 December 2017 - 03:53 PM | ||||
Technically, Mac calls Bozer by his last name to, as does pretty much everyone else, and we all know how close Mac and Bozer are. |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 29 December 2017 - 12:43 PM | ||
Interestingly, I don't see much of that closeness anymore. At first, Bozer was kind of "separated" from Mac by being out of the loop. After he joined Phoenix, he was usually teamed up with Riley (which made sense, of course). Additionally, he has often his own storyline (e.g. helping Jack retrieving the stolen goods, spy school). Now that they've added other locations for team-bonding scenes (e.g. Jack's appartement) and we don't actually see them living together, I also don't see much of Bozer's and Mac's friendship. When was the last time they had a scene together alone, without one of the other team members of Team Phoenix around as well? I can't remember |
| Posted by: Dragondog 29 December 2017 - 03:03 PM | ||||
Neither can I, now that you mention it Of course, I never really cared that much about Bozer, so I probably wouldn't pay much attention to that. Maybe the season 1 finale? |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 6 March 2018 - 03:22 AM |
| I really liked this episode. Especially loved how worked up Jack was about saving Mac and was ready to do anything required - legal or not - to save him. |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 25 October 2018 - 09:38 AM | ||
| Aha! Another Christmas episode and what a great one it was with a special guest star and an interesting director. Seriously this really was a good episode. Bruce McGill was like he never left. More serious but he was convincing. I hope he comes back for more. Just like Joe Santos in Magnum who still played in a couple of Magnum's last episodes as that cop. That I would like. Interesting take on the show again. What if indeed someone gets killed because of a MacGyverism? Something to think about and interesting charges to bring Mac in. Love it how Jack was losing it and didn't mind using force to get Mac out. He cares more for the team then anyone else actually. Yes, Matty finally seems to soften up a bit and I would appreciate her gift as well, though I can't do anything with paperclips. What slowly starts to annoy me are the so called sarcastic or funny meant location descriptions. Simply "MacGyver's house" or "Phoenix Foundation" suffices you know. The "as if the DIY (or whatever) didn't give it away" was not necessary. It may be a little sarcastic in lighter episode but not during more serious ones. Also it was interesting to see Murdoc suddenly coming back and put on a twist. Though I don't think it would be so bad if he's name came in last on the credits and Bruce McGill first. After all he was the more important guest star. Having Carlos Bernard as a director really made me go: "huh? Him? Tony?" A very good episode and too bad about Cage. That was her apartment? Did you see those lights around that cooking table? Talk about a real nice and cool design.
Maybe that's auto-biographical? Or just simply a trademark. |
| Posted by: Dragondog 25 October 2018 - 05:53 PM | ||||
Not the same, but I've heard Walt Disney lost his mother due to carbon monoxide poisoning from the house he bought her. I hear the guilt ate away at him, so that's why so many Disney characters are motherless. Sooo, Lenkov, what happened to your dad? |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 26 October 2018 - 04:11 AM | ||||
I've been wondering about that for a while now but I really don't know much about his parents. Though he mentioned very often that his father's love for "Hawaii Five-0" was the reason why Lenkov was interested in rebooting it: http://dramaquarterly.com/peter-lenkov/ |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 26 October 2018 - 07:28 AM | ||||
I guess are youths or guilts reflect on our future lives and the ways we write. My father was never in the picture either and my mother was anything but a mother so I always wondered how a bond between a child and surrogate mother would be like. Just like we see now between Jack and Riley. He considers her as his daughter but he's not her father and she may see him like a father-figure but she's not his daughter. I tend to believe those bonds might be stronger than actual family bonds. Family is so much more then blood.
Sounds like you know the guy.  |
| Posted by: DashboardOnFire 18 June 2019 - 05:43 AM |
| Blog post by Technical Advisor Rhett Allain about the MacGyverisms used in this episode: https://rhettallain.com/2019/06/18/macgyver-season-2-episode-11-science-notes-bullet-pen/ |