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MacGyver Online Forums > Episodes > 139 - The Mountain of Youth


Posted by: MacGyverOnline 28 April 2007 - 01:28 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 139 - The Mountain of Youth (the lost episode)

MacGyver joins Jack Dalton in Kabulstan on a search for a fountain of youth, but finds himself battling nuclear terrorists in the process.

Posted by: Devon636 28 April 2007 - 07:43 PM
Jack Dalton back for one last time? Check. An adventure in a foreign land? Check. MacGyver wearing classic khaki pants? Check. This episode has all the makings of classic MacGyver action, and I completely dug it. I voted good/excellent on this one.

I have rarely seen MacGyver so righteously indignant as when he parachutes in and confronts Jack. I love this part- MacGyver's really pi**ed! Mac seems to have a limitless supply of patience for Jack over the years, but when MacGyver seethes "Casimir Funk?!" in that vehement way, I think he's really gonna kill ol' Jack! laugh.gif Love it, love it. Does anyone else find humor in this scene? I do! Lots! roller.gif

Mukti and her K-mart hair extensions were vaguely annoying, for no particular reason.

Wonder what MacGyver and Dr.Lang say to each other before Lang exits the jail?

Good MacGyverisms, awesome Mac n' Jack dynamic, great message...I give it a clapping.gif, + 2 extra credit points for full-tilt campiness!

Posted by: MacGyverGod 29 April 2007 - 01:28 AM
I voted good and the episode starts very good. When I was a kid it was one of my favourite scenes when we see Mac coming down with parachute, folding the parachute together and putting his jacket over it. The mullet is also very well done again. Love it when he gets that lock of hair out of his face.

QUOTE
I have rarely seen MacGyver so righteously indignant as when he parachutes in and confronts Jack. I love this part- MacGyver's really pi**ed! Mac seems to have a limitless supply of patience for Jack over the years, but when MacGyver seethes "Casimir Funk?!" in that vehement way, I think he's really gonna kill ol' Jack!  Love it, love it. Does anyone else find humor in this scene? I do! Lots!

Yeah. Me too.
'Mac!!!'
'Jack!!!'
'You came for me.'
'Nothing's broken?'
'Fine.'
'Ok, than can I BREAK YOUR NECK!!!'
laugh.gif That scene is indeed hilarious.
Also I liked to see the remains of Jack's crashed airplane. Wasn't that the same plane as in On A Wing and a Prayer. It always reminds me of that one.

QUOTE
Mukti and her K-mart hair extensions were vaguely annoying, for no particular reason.

Not really and dude she's pretty. That water really seems to work!! tongue.gif Nah, forty-two? She seemed more like halfway her twenties.

I just have this thing I'm not certain of. Isn't Baba the same guy from The Outsiders?

QUOTE
Wonder what MacGyver and Dr.Lang say to each other before Lang exits the jail?

Mac said: Puckachi. Probably meaning 'jerk' or something.

QUOTE
Good MacGyverisms, awesome Mac n' Jack dynamic

Yeah, Jack constantly whining about that water and MacGyver always telling him to shut up. The last two were great when they're escaping: 'Will you stop?!' and when they're looking at the pump house he just snaps: 'Shush!'

Jack has indeed a few good moments. When they're shooting his cans to bits and when he goes to steal water and puts a tube in his sock. I would've put another one in my other socket too to outsmart MacGyver. But then again he could've asked for them both as wel.

When they're caught is hilarious as well when they find Jack's papers, MacGyver gives him that look of: 'You see? That's what happens!' but than they read his papers. 'The Phoenix Foundation!' You should see his face change. biggrin.gif

And perhaps this episode reveals a last MacGyver skill. He's stealth. How he snuck in that office, bangs that guy against the desk and steals the videotape.

Overall a good entertaining episode and that last one to take fully place in a foreign land. And the only one of this season.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 29 April 2007 - 01:49 AM
QUOTE (MacGyverGod)
Isn't Baba the same guy from The Outsiders?

No. Ned Romero isn't in the Outsiders.

Posted by: MacGyver 29 April 2007 - 11:35 AM
I had to go with excellent on "The Mountain of Youth". I'm so glad they decided to air this episode. It's one of the highlights of the 7th. season for me. It's so great to see Jack Dalton back one last time. He's always such a fun character to have on there. And once again, MacGyver has to come to his rescue, parachuting down into Kabulstan. That part was cool- and then when MacGyver about throttles Jack- that was hilarious!
He goes from acting very concerned about Jack- and then quickly flashes to anger!
So again, reluctantly, MacGyver has to help Jack out of a jam.
And I thought the MacGyverisms were pretty cool. When they were locked up and Mac messed with the door controls- and jammed the doors open.
And when they rammed through the gates with the ladder- that was pretty neat. And then overloading the pumphouse was another good scene.
I agree with the earlier comment about MacGyver's stealth- you could see a good bit of that here too.
This was an excellent way to go out on a bang when they brought back this episode, after the finale had aired.
And I thought it was neat that maybe Jack Dalton had finally learned a lesson at the end of the episode, regarding the water from the fountain of youth. He actually leaves it behind and MacGyver throws his hands up in exasperation and happiness- "Will wonders never cease?" biggrin.gif
An excellent episode and just plain fun to watch.
And with this review, it's hard to believe we've come all the way through all the MacGyver episodes!

(And for those who haven't seen the TV-movies- "MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis" and "MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday", I would highly recommend those as well. Hope they make it to DVD soon.)
sak.gif duct.gif

Posted by: Astra 30 April 2007 - 12:33 AM
QUOTE (MacGyver @ 29 April 2007 - 09:04 PM)
And with this review, it's hard to believe we've come all the way through all the MacGyver episodes!


Yeah, what will we discuss from now on, once we're through with the movies as well? ohmy.gif

Posted by: MacGyverGod 30 April 2007 - 05:33 AM
Revive the discussions in Assignments since all went lost during the crash.

Posted by: Sheepy 30 April 2007 - 07:42 AM
I only saw this eppy one single time (which is quite exceptional for me)
I do remember I liked it a lot, though to me it wasn't the right season finale.
I know that should've been The Stringer, but still.

Posted by: Mac 30 April 2007 - 11:03 AM
I voted good for this ep because it's classic season 1 MacGyver, but doesn't quite come through. I saw it for the first time when I got my season 7 DVDs and it left me feeling disappointed. I'm not sure exactly what the issue is, but there's just something 'off' with it. At least, we have Jack and Mac back together for one last adventure!

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 30 April 2007 - 01:01 PM
Probably the really bad blue screen effects.


Posted by: Mac 4 May 2007 - 11:48 AM
QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 30 April 2007 - 05:30 PM)
Probably the really bad blue screen effects.

laugh.gif

Mac

Posted by: shannonator 11 May 2007 - 06:31 PM
Though the blue screen effects were off at times, I liked this episode. It gave us one last chance to see Mac and Jack together at their best! I remember being thrilled that they were showing one more episode of MacGyver.

Shannontor

Posted by: Macs Lab Rat 12 May 2007 - 11:54 AM
clapup.gif Jack's back and he's up to his usual mischief. clapup.gif
This episode was good fun. Not the best but I enjoyed it. I always love the banter between MacGyver and Jack. laugh.gif
I want more Jack!!! jump.gif


Posted by: tandt14 14 May 2007 - 06:38 PM
Loved this episode. I was sooo happy when ABC announced that there was a "lost" episode after watching the sad "official" series finale. IMO, this was one of the best episodes of season 7. So glad we got to see one last adventure with Jack Dalton.

Posted by: MacGyverfan717 4 June 2008 - 12:25 PM
So does this take place before or after "The Stringer"?

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 4 June 2008 - 12:38 PM
Before.

It's actually a season 6 episode. It's all explained http://www.macgyveronline.com/pages/faq.html#q24.

Posted by: dinoman 23 October 2008 - 02:17 AM
How could you not rate 'Excellent' with Jack and Mac going for a treasure hunt together?

I have one questin, though: why the eppy called 'Mountain of Youth' and not 'Fountain of Youth'?

Posted by: Miasma 18 March 2009 - 03:11 PM
The acting in this episode is absolutely awful. I tried watching it just now, and I had to turn it off after the first five minutes. It's as if RDA just completely forgot how to act. I've seen more convincing performances in school plays, and I'm not exagerrating. What happened?!! I know he was pretty bad throughout a lot of season 1, but he got much better as the series went on. In this, he's worse than ever.

QUOTE

It's actually a season 6 episode.


I don't think so. The Coltons is a Season 6 episode. This is season 7. You can tell by Mac's hair. In the Colton's it's shortish (also,he's driving the blue car), in this episode, it's definitely season 7 hair-- blonder and longer.

EDIT: I just read the FAQ and it confirmed my suspicions-- this is Season 7, and The Coltons are Season 6.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 18 March 2009 - 03:18 PM
Yeah your right. I got confused with the changing between the Coltons and MOY episodes.

I think it really shows that they'd all had enough and it was time for the show to end.

People get tired and they'd been doing the same thing for 7 years.

They where ready to move on.


Posted by: Miasma 19 March 2009 - 07:03 AM
I wonder if the bad performance was a contributing factor in how they decided to omit this particular episode. I mean, I know they had to omit one of them because of The Coltons episode, but was it purely a random decision, or did they look at this one and say, "Well, this is pretty weak, let's omit this one."
I remember when this first aired, I was so excited to be getting one more episode, and I had a friend visiting from England at the time, so I kept telling him, "You're going to love this show! It's great!"
I was so embarassed then when it actually came on! He just looked at me and said, "This is REALLY daft, you know?" I had to agree.

Posted by: Beachbead 21 April 2009 - 03:44 PM
Loved it one last shot for Jack Dalton to become rich.

Posted by: Miasma 1 May 2009 - 06:24 AM
Okay, I decided to give this episode another shot, and stuck through the atrocious acting by RDA.
It's actually not THAT bad once it gets going, and it's a shame it starts off so horribly. Once they get to the water plant, things improve, and it feels like a good old fashioned Mac/Jack episode.
The odd thing is, it often feels like RDA is channeling Dexter more than Mac in this episode, particularly when he's arguing with Jack. The little facial twitches, etc, are very Dexter-like.

Posted by: MurDaltonfan 15 December 2010 - 02:58 PM
I know this is a late reply, but I'm going through all the episodes and voting on them. I gave this episode a good.

If Jack Dalton hadn't been there, I would have given the episode an OK. I guess the acting and the plot made this episode seem like a cliche to me. Sorry if I offend anyone. smile.gif

Posted by: Makedde 31 July 2011 - 08:48 PM
I am watching this episode now. I can't believe I remember it from 20 years ago! Only seen it once, too, and there are parts of it that I clearly remember. Other parts are a bit fuzzy, but its pretty to see it again when the last time I watched it I was about 8 or 9!

Posted by: MacsLegacyLiveForever 30 September 2011 - 12:09 AM
QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ 29 April 2007 - 09:31 PM)

QUOTE
I have rarely seen MacGyver so righteously indignant as when he parachutes in and confronts Jack. I love this part- MacGyver's really pi**ed! Mac seems to have a limitless supply of patience for Jack over the years, but when MacGyver seethes "Casimir Funk?!" in that vehement way, I think he's really gonna kill ol' Jack!  Love it, love it. Does anyone else find humor in this scene? I do! Lots!

Yeah. Me too.
'Mac!!!'
'Jack!!!'
'You came for me.'
'Nothing's broken?'
'Fine.'
'Ok, than can I BREAK YOUR NECK!!!'
laugh.gif That scene is indeed hilarious.

Hahahahahhah lol roller.gif biggrin.gif

Posted by: Rocket 14 September 2013 - 06:08 AM
OK. It's got Jack, dragging Mac into something he hadn't bargained on and nearly getting battered for his trouble. Rarely have we seen Mac so hopping mad with one of his friends! It's in a hostile foreign country with dodgy soldiers. It's got a cause to champion and stuff to blow up. It's got a puzzle to solve and locals who are up to something. It's got Jack doing the right thing in the end, thus staving his inevitable appointment with Mac's one-stop-knockout-drop punch for another day.

It's a great last hurrah for our intrepid band. All it needed was Penny to be on holiday there, visiting an old flame who just happens to be a soldier in the local army...

Seriously, what's not to like! clapping.gif

Posted by: Wheeljack 11 December 2013 - 07:34 PM
Just finished watching this one, and while it is a better ep from this season, I still can't say I enjoyed it. Something is off, like it has a crummy, cheapness to it, and as was pointed out, the acting is bad as well. Plus the racial stereotyping is cringe worthy. Although I'm not certain what ethnic group they were trying to portray, it was still bad. And disappointing final showing for Jack, he deserved better, something featuring an aircraft that wasn't in pieces on the ground.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 28 January 2014 - 07:12 PM
Kabulstan, Militants in Pakistani Military Berets, H Bombs, suppressed Buddhists. unsure.gif Cool! biggrin.gif This was good episode that had decent flow and a provocative script. telepathic powers, terror, fountain of youth, Mad Jack, an even madder Mac, and a mad, mad, mad Chinese scientist that exchanges some foreign language trash talk with out hero, cute chick being groomed by our famous adventurer, great macgyverisms sans ubiquitous SAK. And even a relic from the distant past (DRUMROLL) - a vhs videotape - holding the super secret evidence. biggrin.gif

Posted by: denizen 17 March 2014 - 10:13 PM
I rated the episode as Ok".

Although a better episode than some of the other season 7 eps, the charm of the early seasons had run dry.

Yes, there were a few highlights. Jack of course, Even Roya's guest appearence was a real delight. I was familiar with Roya's prior acting roles which made it hard to accept her as a foreign character. biggrin.gif

Posted by: Joe SAKic 28 December 2014 - 09:23 AM
I just watched this again. Lots of food for thought. We learn at the very end of the series that Mac is 'Enlightened' (among many defintions and interpretation one from wiki: "a state characterized by infinite compassion, wisdom and skill") that he knows it, and that he had some kind of telepathic connection with Bubba/Meer(sp ? ). Was that the ultimate secret to his quick thinking success and in having such a clear & creative mind - especially under constant heavy adversity?

What religion were the people of Ammukash Valley? Where they suppose to be Buddhist or some sort of cult? If they were Buddhist, wouldn't the leader be addresses as 'lama' or 'master' ? ..... but 'Bubba' seems to be more of an Indian honorific and often associated with 'Godmen', Sadhus, cults et al.

At any rate, a bit of unusual ending to it all and lot's of room for discussion. Also, why was the episode lost? Was it really lost or was it that it dealt with spirituality, nukes, & terrorism and thus didn't meet with initial approvals?

Posted by: KiwiTek 28 December 2014 - 10:55 PM
QUOTE (Joe SAKic @ 29 December 2014 - 06:23 AM)
Also, why was the episode lost? Was it really lost or was it that it dealt with spirituality, nukes, & terrorism and thus didn't meet with initial approvals?

This is from our http://www.macgyveronline.com/pages/faq.html#q24.


Where did the "Lost epiosode" come from?

Season 7 was contracted to be 13 episodes, which they completed filming in December.

The “Coltons” episode was actually shot as part of season 6, but aired as part of season 7. This meant they had 14 episodes instead of the agreed 13, so they aired 12 season 7 episodes as well as "The Coltons" and saved the finale for April when they did a special night of several series finales.

That was supposed to be the end. But the ratings were so high that night that they brought out the Mountain of Youth as a "Lost Episode" and then continued with reruns throughout the summer.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 29 December 2014 - 04:39 AM
That still doesn't explain why exactly it was labelled a 'lost' episode. A euphemism in this case and it was more likely not up to snuff for one reason or another since it was filmed before 'The Stringer'. In my opinion, it's one of the better episodes of the entire series and so it's a bit of a mystery why it wouldn't be played as a trump card instead of getting 'lost'. wink.gif

Posted by: Elizabeth MacGyver 28 May 2015 - 01:16 PM
I like this episode but the acting is terrible! Even RDA's acting was not as good as usual.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 28 May 2015 - 06:42 PM
They've hawked a bit of this story off of Disney's "The Night Train to Kathmandu" ... starring a very young 'Mila' Jovovich. Mystic man coming on a mission and with the Holy Men knowing of his coming through some kind of spiritual telepathy. I think you can see it on Netflix. Have a look and see what you think ......

Posted by: Joe SAKic 5 May 2016 - 09:30 AM
I've just acquired a couple of rev. final drafts to this episode. I'll be interested
to see how one changes from the other and how both of them differ from
the final output. Knowing how scrutinizing the network was to any/all geopolitically sensitive
issue and the geopolitical & racial dancing that this episode encompasses - could have been some
interesting (or not) edits made, and may quite possibly shed a light into why this productions was 'lost' or
'held back' til the very end (or not).

Posted by: KiwiTek 5 May 2016 - 01:45 PM
QUOTE (Joe SAKic @ 6 May 2016 - 05:30 AM)
and may quite possibly shed a light into why this productions was 'lost' or
'held back' til the very end (or not).

We already know the answer to this.

http://www.macgyveronline.com/pages/faq.html#q24




Posted by: Joe SAKic 5 May 2016 - 04:29 PM
Once again, that tells us absolutely nothing. It's, one of the better season 7 episodes, final draft finished in November and before The Stringer. already to go ..... & so what exactly was 'lost' about it and why was 'it' the one that got 'bumped'?

Posted by: KiwiTek 5 May 2016 - 06:25 PM
Lost is a generic term which seems to get used for episodes which are aired outside of or after the usual schedule.

I reckon the only thing lost about it is that it lost the short-straw pick and thus got dumped from the lineup to make way for the Coltons. laugh.gif

I've always thought that it was probably the episode which was scheduled for the date they wanted to air the Coltons and thus got dumped.




Posted by: Joe SAKic 5 May 2016 - 07:33 PM
Well, let's put it this way. Mac hanging out and communicating on a higher level with Bubbas and being identified as 'enlightened' would not be on for a pilot episode in 1985. laugh.gif Better to slide that one in at the (very) end. Geesuz, fandom wouldn't even allow him a gf for heavensakes. Now he's doing his Steven Seagal Tulku reincarnate thing. biggrin.gif

Posted by: KiwiTek 5 May 2016 - 08:02 PM
QUOTE (Joe SAKic @ 6 May 2016 - 03:33 PM)
Well, let's put it this way. Mac hanging out and communicating on a higher level with Bubbas and being identified as 'enlightened' would not be on for a pilot episode in 1985.

What was happening in '91 that made this episode so touchy?


Posted by: Joe SAKic 5 May 2016 - 10:03 PM
Nothing & everything. The fact that they took a lot of effort to cleverly dance around and not specify any religion and not specify the Islamic terrorists seems to show sensitivity. Why not just say Sufism or Buddhism etc. who cares? At that time Pakistan & China were well involved in a nuclear weapons pact, Afghanistan in shambles, Taliban and Al Qaeda on the rise. Was that what they were getting at in this episode? Maybe yes, maybe no, maybe there's a clue/lean in one of the earlier revisions that were since edited out. I'm hoping so.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 6 May 2016 - 05:33 AM
It would be interesting to hear what other members think about the religious topic in this episode. Jedi, what do you think? Would it be pushing it with the US audiences back in 1992 to go a bit further than they did with the Mac 'in tune' with the spiritual / enlighement / Buddhism/Sufism angle? Or not. If not, how much further could they have run with that and not caused some negative feedback? Keeping in mind that he wasn't even allowed to have a steady gf at that point, so essential a monk! surprise.gif biggrin.gif I do believe that this probably had a factor in why it got temporarily 'lost'. Just have to prove it now. whistle.gif

Posted by: MacGyverGod 6 May 2016 - 06:26 AM
I don't get all the criticism really. Themacgyverproject blogspot has ranked this episode as the worst episode in the entire show. There are a lot worse episodes than this. *coughs MacGyver's Women/The Lost Amadeus*. I think this is also one of the better episodes of the final season. The last one fully set in another country since Eye of Osiris. We finally reunite with Jack after 40 episodes. There's such a sight of beautiful girl in it. Maybe not a Mac-girl but I think Mukti is one of the prettiest girls in the show. And Ken Harrison's score is again finger licking. I get goosebumps everytime that military theme plays during the action scenes. And Jack keeps annoying Mac throughout the episode so hard that Mac even has to ask: 'Will you stop?!' or tell him: 'Shush!'

It didn't took me long to realise how fictional it all was. Kabulstan, Ammukash... Maybe they really weren't pointing or pushing anything at that time and simply searched for a fun adventure. Might even explain why there were caucasian soldiers in that army. I think the idea of military oppression made it easier. In 1991 I think most global problems were not so much of big deal. Russia lost the Soviet Union, Germany became reunited. There were still wars going on but I think the major nations were licking their wounds after the Cold War.

I think the story behind it is still an interesting one. Maybe another wink to the Last Crusade. Drink of the Holy Grail and get eternal life, drink of the fountain of youth and become very old. Kinda reminds me of Li Ching-Yue. A man who allegedly lived for 256 years. You can look it up on Wiki, it's probably a myth but I think it's fun to read about it. There is debate whether or not he was actually 256 years. He himself claimed to be 197 years old. There is also a story that at the age of 130 he met an older hermit in the mountains who was 500 years old.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Ching-Yuen
I think it's up to you, if you wanna believe it or not. A 7 feet tall Chinese living for 256 years?

There is also Zaro Aga, a Turk who lived for 157 years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaro_Aga
But like I said, I think it's debatable if it's true or not.

I just think it's interesting stuff and maybe the whole story was based on that and what other way to use to best known subject to the audiences besides the holy grail like the fountain of youth. Just thinking out loud here. I also like the fact Mac had to adjust his opinion about the whole fountain of youth thing.

Posted by: Myrtle Groggins 6 May 2016 - 07:03 AM
I think at that time it was much more common to think of religion not literally as religion but as an inherent feature of a geographical region. It was a way to show, hey, look, this is really rural Asia.

It is similar to Latin America episodes where villagers are oppressed by a military dictatorship. When the village square in Jack of Lies is what makes them Latin American, in this episode religion is what makes them rural Asian.

I feel the episode is more problematic today, with positive stereotypes. It certainly worked better on me before, when I was like, wow, twist, and didn't think too much about it.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 6 May 2016 - 07:15 AM
Great post MG! Don't forget, there was this whole western neo fascination with spiritualism and the Dalai Llama starting to build in the 1990s. I believe that this was also part of the inspiration for the script. To be honest, if I hadn't been assigned to India and that part of the world for work around that time, I would not have appreciated or attempted to understand this episode nearly as much.

Albeit, there's a lot of content ideas that they try to compact into 45 minutes and they really bit off a bit more than they could chew. Also, in attempting not to single out a specific religion or terrorist nationality, they cause further confusion as themacgyerproject rightfully alludes to indirectly. It would have been better to have idols, icons that you could clearly identify and focus on, rather than always trying to guess who these people were trying to represent.

I think it was the right idea, but perhaps a bit borderline 'at issue' for circa: 1992 & conservative Mac.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 6 May 2016 - 05:13 PM
QUOTE (Myrtle Groggins @ 6 May 2016 - 11:03 AM)
I think at that time it was much more common to think of religion not literally as religion but as an inherent feature of a geographical region. It was a way to show, hey, look, this is really rural Asia.

It is similar to Latin America episodes where villagers are oppressed by a military dictatorship. When the village square in Jack of Lies is what makes them Latin American, in this episode religion is what makes them rural Asian.

I feel the episode is more problematic today, with positive stereotypes. It certainly worked better on me before, when I was like, wow, twist, and didn't think too much about it.

Good point. It sets the table as best as possible for the repressed minority villagers living amongst the radical military types. Who cares exactly who/what they worship. Myrtle, do you think the content was why it became lost or bumped down the list, or was it just deemed not up to snuff especially seeing that the themacgyverproject places it dead last in it's ratings and thus they only dusted it off to fill an urgent network void?

Posted by: MacGyverGod 7 May 2016 - 05:10 AM
I think we have the answer in Kiwi's link though. Imagine if the ratings were low on The Stringer and they never aired The Mountain Of Youth but did release it on dvd for the first time, that would've been an extra. An whole new episode, never aired before. It would've added more myth to the episode as the lost episode. I just don't think there's much lost to it. Maybe the Mountain of Youth was meant to be episode 130 instead of The Coltons. Or maybe it comes before Split Decision as episode 134 which might explain why he was gone a week as he mentions.

But than again I don't care how lost this was, I always had it ever since I was little. And I think Mac makes a nice entrance in this episode coming down with his parachute and than when he touches down that rousing music begins. I used to rewind and replay that moment over and over again just to hear that music and when he hides the parachute and comes back he shakes his head to get that lock of hair out his eyes and the next moment his hair is all the way backwards. I really love that part.

Posted by: Joe SAKic 7 May 2016 - 08:34 AM
The answer is in the inner-office memos /dialogue between the network screeners/sensors and the producers &/or the script revisions. I've read some of the crap that goes for the most (seemingly) tame technicalities in other episodes. Thus why this one piqued my curiosity.

I mean I'm not religious and could care less if Mac was Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, or Buddhist ..... but the networks probably would and the viewing audience would as well, and definitely Donald Trump would have spouted off about too if he had had the opportunity! surprise.gif laugh.gif

Posted by: Myrtle Groggins 7 May 2016 - 08:36 AM
QUOTE (Joe SAKic @ 7 May 2016 - 01:13 PM)
Myrtle, do you think the content was why it became lost or bumped down the list, or was it just deemed not up to snuff especially seeing that the themacgyverproject places it dead last in it's ratings and thus they only dusted it off to fill an urgent network void?

A mix of both I guess... it's the one that sticks out the most, risky or not. Like if an episode turns out to be seen as not all that entertaining, it's better to have one in downtown LA than an overseas setting.

Posted by: Widowmaker 6 July 2016 - 10:50 PM
For some reason, I thought this was from much earlier, like season 3 or 4.

Posted by: RadiantRose 26 October 2016 - 11:53 AM
QUOTE (Joe SAKic @ 7 May 2016 - 08:34 AM)
I mean I'm not religious and could care less if Mac was Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, or Buddhist ..... but the networks probably would and the viewing audience would as well, and definitely Donald Trump would have spouted off about too if he had had the opportunity! surprise.gif laugh.gif

If they were making the programme now, with the original MacG.gif values, Mac would probably be stirring up controversy by having Muslim friends. Donald Trump might not like it. But Trump's grown-up sons hunt animals for fun, so MacG.gif probably wouldn't care what Trump thinks.

Don't get me wrong. I'm sure MacG.gif has friends who vote Republican. But I don't think he would care for Trump.

Posted by: String98 16 March 2017 - 10:39 AM
Greetings all,

I watched this episode again last night on DVD.

Did anyone else notice how Jack's hair color changed - at the beginning, his hair had gray streaks on the sides, but by the end, his hair was more brown again? I wonder if this was part of the plot to go with the anti-aging properties of the spring water.

Also...Jack being Jack, it would have been interesting twist if Jack had sneaked one last test tube out hidden in his hat.

I do like the way they ended it though, that Jack had finally reformed (at least for that situation).

Posted by: just-a-fan 21 November 2017 - 06:32 AM
I liked that Jack in the end realized that money isnt everything and decides not to cash in on the water , something he was obsessed about on previous episodes.

Posted by: sylvain1888 24 October 2020 - 03:29 PM
QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ 6 May 2016 - 06:26 AM)
I don't get all the criticism really. Themacgyverproject blogspot has ranked this episode as the worst episode in the entire show. There are a lot worse episodes than this. *coughs MacGyver's Women/The Lost Amadeus*. I think this is also one of the better episodes of the final season. The last one fully set in another country since Eye of Osiris. We finally reunite with Jack after 40 episodes. There's such a sight of beautiful girl in it. Maybe not a Mac-girl but I think Mukti is one of the prettiest girls in the show. And Ken Harrison's score is again finger licking. I get goosebumps everytime that military theme plays during the action scenes. And Jack keeps annoying Mac throughout the episode so hard that Mac even has to ask: 'Will you stop?!' or tell him: 'Shush!'

It didn't took me long to realise how fictional it all was. Kabulstan, Ammukash... Maybe they really weren't pointing or pushing anything at that time and simply searched for a fun adventure. Might even explain why there were caucasian soldiers in that army. I think the idea of military oppression made it easier. In 1991 I think most global problems were not so much of big deal. Russia lost the Soviet Union, Germany became reunited. There were still wars going on but I think the major nations were licking their wounds after the Cold War.

I think the story behind it is still an interesting one. Maybe another wink to the Last Crusade. Drink of the Holy Grail and get eternal life, drink of the fountain of youth and become very old. Kinda reminds me of Li Ching-Yue. A man who allegedly lived for 256 years. You can look it up on Wiki, it's probably a myth but I think it's fun to read about it. There is debate whether or not he was actually 256 years. He himself claimed to be 197 years old. There is also a story that at the age of 130 he met an older hermit in the mountains who was 500 years old.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Ching-Yuen
I think it's up to you, if you wanna believe it or not. A 7 feet tall Chinese living for 256 years?

There is also Zaro Aga, a Turk who lived for 157 years.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaro_Aga
But like I said, I think it's debatable if it's true or not.

I just think it's interesting stuff and maybe the whole story was based on that and what other way to use to best known subject to the audiences besides the holy grail like the fountain of youth. Just thinking out loud here. I also like the fact Mac had to adjust his opinion about the whole fountain of youth thing.

I read your review tonight and wanted to watch this episode, and I totally agree with you. this is one of the best episodes of season 7, the perfect music, the magnificent temple, I found in the prayers of the faithful an atmosphere like "Tintin in Tibet" and as I am a fan I validate. And I also wanted to react on a point, compared to the blogspot of Themacgyverproject, indeed, the author ranked it in last position, although I totally respect his opinion, personally I find it unfair, he does not inherit this from me. place and as you said there's worse (for me it's The Lost Amadeus) ... Finally we must respect the opinions of each other ... For me very good evening and really for the end of the series, bravo .

Posted by: sylvain1888 24 October 2020 - 03:36 PM
RIP Roya Megnot/Mukti sad.gif sad.gif
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roya_Megnot

Posted by: sylvain1888 3 December 2020 - 10:05 AM

Posted by: just-a-fan 11 June 2022 - 04:09 AM
30 (!) yrs ago last month surprise.gif

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