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 38 - Out in the Cold

After a skiing trip, MacGyver is targeted by the mob after a man secretly plants microfilm on him at the ski field.

Votes on April 6, 2006:

How did you rate this episode?
Poor [ 0 ] [0.00%]
Average [ 0 ] [0.00%]
OK [ 1 ] [5.00%]
Good [ 6 ] [30.00%]
Excellent [ 13 ] [65.00%]
Total Votes: 20

Archived Comments:

Posted by: MacGyverGod May 9 2005, 12:06 AM

Posted by: MacGyver May 9 2005, 12:06 PM

Posted by: rockatteer May 9 2005, 12:52 PM

Posted by: MacGirl May 11 2005, 07:16 PM

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Posted by: rockatteer May 16 2005, 08:52 AM

Posted by: MEP May 16 2005, 10:15 AM

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Posted by: MacGyverGod May 20 2005, 01:37 AM

Posted by: MacGirl May 29 2005, 12:13 PM

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Posted by: MacsChick Apr 1 2006, 04:46 AM

Posted by: Toni Apr 2 2006, 01:38 AM

Posted by: MacsChick Apr 2 2006, 03:23 PM

Posted by: thlayli87 Apr 6 2006, 05:36 AM

This is one of my many favourite episodes. I love skiing and if RDA is really the person doing the scenes (not the avalanche) his style is great. Now people ski differently because of the shape of skis that makes movements a lot easier; also the poles used to look very much alike, now they all look different; it is actually quite difficult to find someone on a slope wearing the same gear as you. Anyway I used to have similar Kastle RX skis myself looong ago. Not any more. Skiing is one more of MacGyver's many sports talents. Great.

what was the things MacGyver broke as a kid again?

Two arms, 3 fingers and a toe, but not all at the same time (RDA broke both his arms within 2 weeks, in 2 seperate ice hockey accidents)

Anything with Pete and Mac working together is great. Pete is more than a friend to Mac, he is just like his family! Therefore when Pete broke his leg after saving him from the avalanche Mac must feel sorry and guilty and think he has the responsibility to take care of him, whether or not Pete's home is under fumigation. This is one of the few episodes to see Mac being sarcastic, if I remember correctly, and I love that!

I noticed MacGyver's finger had a band-aid on it in the scene where he's in the laundry bag. You can see the band aid when he cuts a hole in the bag and looks out.

I noticed that in the next scene when he's closing the door down on the drying machine, he seems to hurt that finger, cos he holds it as he walks away. There doesn't seem to be any significance to the story line for him doing that.

I wonder if those scenes where shot in reverse order and he caught on or in the door of that machine he closes?

Loved this one it showed Pete not giveing up on his friend.

I love this one! It shows that Mac and Pete are more like family than just friends. It was a touching moment when they pulled Mac out of the snow and Pete held and hugged him.

I loved it. I thought RDA was kinda cute under all that snow, with ice all over him. Actually, I take that back. Make it major cute.

I liked it when Pete said for Mac not to wait on him and kept asking him for drinks and blankets. And WTF is tofu casserole? If I were Pete I wouldn't want to eat that either!!

How do you know you wouldn't eat it if you don't know what it is?

Tofu Casserole

Actually, it looks pretty nice to me.

It sounds revolting - and isn't it something health food nuts eat? I didn't know Mac was a health food nut - although he did go to great lengths to make his non alcoholic eggnog, didn't he, LOL.

Have you not seen all the seasons yet?

Mac a Vegetarian?

I have somewhat mixed feelings for this episode. There are many things about it I love, then again, some things do bother me... a little.

In the previous episode, we're shown that MacGyver is an experienced diver. Now, in this episode, we learn that he's a very good skier too, he's got a really nice style.

There were so many odd things about that ski slope, I think... OK, this is the 80's, but I took my first ski lessons in the mid 80's, and I remember that even back then, we were told that *most* ski resorts had some kind of avalanche warning systems. I think there should have been some kind of a warning--or at least, the staff should have been aware of that an avalanche was on its way.

The rescue attempt was pretty lame, too... and the staff seemed very unexperienced. I would imagine that you'd get *some* kind of emergency training, working at a ski resort, especially the medical team?

Anyway--I really liked the MacGyverism with the ski pole and the parachute--and how he found out which way was up. The rescue was very sweet, I loved when Pete just hugged him like that, they really felt like father and son.

The laundry facility was a great location. I wonder if it was a real (but somewhat modified) laundry facility or just a set. Those machines were very useful indeed. And I'd love to try the laundry bag trick myself.

Lots of humor throughout this episode! Poor Pete ended up with two broken legs... and MacGyver had to be his loyal servant. I think things got a *little* exaggerated in the end, though... Pete wouldn't use him that much, really. But, then again--I can definitely see the fun in trying to provoke Mac to become angry, just to see what it takes. As even RDA confessed--Mac's way too polite.

Anyway--a "Good" rating from me.

This cleaning plant in the end was real, I marked the place to virtual locations page
https://www.macgyveronline.com/forums/index...indpost&p=71634

This location is near that chinese restaurant, where Mac was getting the food for Pete.

I really like this episode. And I just got back from a ski vacation a few hours ago. The rescue of Mac was a very nice scene because Pete wouldn't stop searching for Mac. I loved when Pete just hugged him like that, they really felt like father and son. I really liked the MacGyverism with the ski pole and the parachute and how he found out which way was up. The laundry facility was a great location. I'd love to try the laundry bag trick. A lot of humor throughout this episode! Poor Pete ended up with two broken legs... and MacGyver had to take care of him. Overall a "Good" episode.

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

I really liked this episode as well. Although I am not a skier, I wonder if using the parachute might work or would one be a bit disoriented in knowing which way is up?
Does anyone know the answer?

Well, at first, Mac tested the gravity by dropping some snow and see which way it fell. I'm a rather experienced skier (no really *extreme* slopes though...) but thankfully I haven't had any close encounters with avalanches so far...

I think the main difficulties with the ski pole/parachute trick would be able to find the force necessary to dismantle the ski pole in the first place--those things are pretty neatly welded, and you need to dismantle the top as well as the bottom to be able to use it as a blowpipe. Add the fact that the resistance and pressure must be just right to create a fast release of the "parachute"--fast enough to make it fly.

And then, you will have to operate in total darkness (which wasn't possible to show on film, of course). But that's the reason Mac lets the snow fall on his face, I think--he wouldn't actually have seen it, just felt it.

Sorry, by the way, those of you who wonder where I "disappeared"... the new job has left me too little time for "reviews" lately. Will try to remedy that some day in the future, I promise.

That make perfect sense. Thanks a bunch NightTinkerer.
I'm glad to hear from you!

Also it's very unlikely that MacGyver would have had enough room to actually move in the snow because it packs in tight around you. There's also the problem of having a strong enough breath to be able to blow the parachute out the pipe.

Exactly. Usually the snow is very tightly packed. But if there actually *was* a cavity... as it was shown on film... well, it would have been difficult enough anyway.

And yes--the parachute has to develop itself exactly right. It's easier to blow a pea from a tube (who hasn't tried a "pea blowpipe" as a child? ) than a small parachute. Even if you have strong lungs the most likely scenario is that it would be stuck halfway through, just flapping a little... (which might have been enough to get the attention from the rescue team, but still...)

And Daisy8577, thanks. I'm still around, but I haven't been able to post as much, that's all.

another adventure chase episode with a little cloak and dagger made this none good. It reminded me of the Alfred Hitchcock movie North By Northwest.

What bones have you broken? Me couple arms and a toe, no fingers though...lol
Macgyver "Couple arms, fingers, and a toe...not all at once though"

1) Ice skating
2) Roller blading
3) Tripping in the backyard with a cousin on my back
4) My toe, yeah its a long bad story, but it ends with a door over my toe..

There were so many parts of this that I liked, but Pete not giving up on Mac was probably my favorite. I also liked when Leland flips out on his guy over the chicken soup, and the "sword of Socrates" line was a classic!

A person would have to be really unfortunate to be caught in an avalanche and targeted by the mob over something that was technically nothing to do with them all in the same week. Poor Mac, can't even have a nice holiday without both Mother Nature and humans trying to kill him.

How do you know you wouldn't eat it if you don't know what it is?

Tofu Casserole

Actually, it looks pretty nice to me.

As a Level 4.5 vegan, I speak with some authority when I say that tofu must be approached with caution. In the wrong hands, it's very bland. In Mac's hands, who knows? They didn't end up eating it, did they?

Because Pete didn't want to and Mac just gave in out of hospitality or should I say annoyance?

Mac should have marinaded the tofu and stir-fried it with bean sprouts. Maybe with rice and some home-made sweet and sour sauce. Then they would both have been happy bunnies.

Two arms, 3 fingers and a toe, but not all at the same time (RDA broke both his arms within 2 weeks, in 2 seperate ice hockey accidents)

There's just something about an injured Mac that brings out the inner Florence Nightingale in many of us.

Plus, bonus, if he felt really uncomfortable about someone else having to do something for him, he'd rig up a device and do it himself. Dignity intact.

I have the same feeling, Pete searching for Mac relentlessly was a great moment. True friendship right there.

One of the highlights of another good episode.

4/5