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| MacGyver Online Forums > Episodes > 128 - Obsessed |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 10 February 2007 - 12:00 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 127 - Obsessed MacGyver’s obsession that Murdoc is still alive is interfering with his job and threatening Pete’s position at the Phoenix Foundation. |
| Posted by: Kate Mackay 10 February 2007 - 03:01 PM |
| Yeah, I like this episode. I like the ones with Murdoc. But the thing that gets me,is that I forgot that Murdoc DID NOT die. Even at the end of the last episode with him. And I would do as MacGyver did, when he knocked his head on the back of his sofa. He was frustrated that Murdoc is , possibly, not dead. Poor MacGyver ! I think if " MacGyver" was still running on t.v. today, that they would still find ways to get MacGyver to chase after his nemesis. And try to get Murdoc killed. But Murdoc just doesn't die. I am , firmly , convinced of that. But as usual, we all know that in the end,  because, he is the good guy and the good will always rule over the evil. Sincerely, Kate Mackay |
| Posted by: MacGyver 10 February 2007 - 03:31 PM |
As a kid, my brothers and I lived for the "Murdoc" episodes of MacGyver. So basically they all rule! But this one in particular, I remember not seeing for the longest time because I missed seeing it in the original run (for some annoying reason) and I had to get told by my friends at school about how incredibly cool it was!  But that's okay- I'm over it now.  I finally got to see it later on in syndication and "Obsessed" is definitely an excellent episode! We have the last appearance of Murdoc in this episode. I particularly loved the spooky opening with MacGyver's dream. It helped add to the idea that MacGyver might have gone over the edge with "this Murdoc thing". This is one episode where Murdoc's whole amazing longevity thing and the fact that he keeps coming back to haunt Mac is kinda explored and I thought that was interesting. It was also great how Murdoc had convinced everyone that he was dead (except for MacGyver of course) and he tried to discredit MacGyver through that. And it was neat to see how MacGyver and Pete knew each so well that Mac knew Pete would never fire him and he was setting things up so that MacGyver would be free to do some work on tracking down Murdoc. And we also see something new to Murdoc as he has joined forces with a dictator and he himself states that now he prefers killing for money and power. Of course, the dictator turns on Murdoc, as all criminal alliances tend to do. As for MacGyverisms, it was a pretty intense scene watching MacGyver escape from being strapped to a rocket! (echoing one of Mac's lines from the opening gambit of the Pilot episode- "You might as well strap yourself to a- well, to a rocket."  )And he managed to stop the rocket from reaching its destination and he tripped up the dictator with the cleaning liquid at the light bulb trick. Note MacGyver is also now using a cell phone. I wonder if this was the first appearance on the show or if he had used them before. (I know he's used car phones, but I can't remember if he's used others before.) Anyway, this is a great episode and probably one of the best of the 7th. Season- though of course, you know I love them all!     |
| Posted by: Astra 10 February 2007 - 03:40 PM |
| I somehow wondered why he did not tape the calls by Murdoc so that he could prove he was still alive... Wouldn't that seem a logically thing to do? But yeah, the "strapped to the missile"-scene was very intense. He only had two shoes after all... so what, if both of them missed?  I also liked the creeping moments where Mac seemed to see Murdoc everywhere. |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 10 February 2007 - 04:54 PM | ||
| Again with using the boots to save himself? Whats this... the third time now? How likely do you think it would be to have bottles of liquid nitrogen in an army camp... let alone right next to where they are launching a missile? I can't get past any macgyverism involving accurately flicking or throwing boots at objects.. it just seems too far fetched for me, and, I think, over used.
He used one in "the black corsage"  |
| Posted by: Kate Mackay 10 February 2007 - 05:09 PM |
| So I'm thinking he did the shoes thing in " Legend of the Holy Rose" when he was strapped to the sarcophagus. With the big knife swinging lower and lower. I liked that " fancy foot work " was what he said to Zoe. And it is true that he did his " fancy foot work " in the " Obsessed " episode. I , also liked that MacGyver could see Murdoc everywhere. It made me think " Oh, no ! MacGyver IS really flippin' out. Because the stress of the work was gettin' to him. Or was it ? Sincerely, Kate Mackay |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 11 February 2007 - 01:57 AM | ||||||||
| I voted excellent on the final Murdoc episode. This was indeed a great and one of the better episodes of the 7th season. Plus it's episode 128. The rocket scene is one of the best scenes in the episode. When you think he succeeds in getting the liquid nitrogen, it stops very close by but not close enough. Murdoc was also very great and actually that general suit suited him well.
You call those cell phones? I call them portable phones. They don't need to be reloaded with money.
Continue banging on the missile with his foot? Didn't see the point there what he was trying to do anyway.
Second time, me thinks. But it's the third time he's strapped down under something.
There's always a way in escaping, far fetched or not, he's just a very lucky man. Too lucky maybe. Over used? What about all those smoke screens he made, huh? |
| Posted by: MacGirl 11 February 2007 - 12:17 PM | ||
I wondered about that myself. Seems like a no-brainer to me. This eppy ranks as one of my favorite Murdoc eppys, though it also features one of my least favorite characters... Cindy Finnegan. Stupid know-it-all b****. She clearly had a lot to learn, and was too proud to admit it (until the very end, of course). I wonder if by this time, Mac had developed some sort of sixth sense when it came to Murdoc. He'd certainly had plenty of previous experience dealing with him. I also liked that unspoken understanding between Pete and Mac. Mac seemed to sense that Pete was only "firing" him for show. I do agree that the throwing-boots-at-something MacGyverism was a little old by this time, and a little far-fetched, but what other option would he have had? It's clear that by now Murdoc has figured out that Mac will do just about anything to get out of his traps, and maybe Murdoc thought that this was the only way to get rid of his worst enemy once and for all. As usual, however, he underestimated Mac's creativity. Maybe, since this was the final eppy to feature Murdoc, the writers decided to dial up the tension as much as they could. But maybe they were running out of ideas by this time, and decided to fall back on something tried-and-true. And besides, let's face it, a LOT of the MacGyverisms were at least somewhat far-fetched. In addition to the smokescreens, I think of all the flying devices he made... three over the course of the series, by my count: To Be a Man, The Wasteland, and Bitter Harvest (if I'm remembering right). |
| Posted by: MacGyver 11 February 2007 - 02:07 PM |
| He also made an ultralight plane in "Legend of the Holy Rose" (Part 1). And yeah, MacGyver's only used his shoes for escape twice that I know of. And even if it's a bit far-fetched, so what? It's a tv show- I don't want it to be realistic all the time. You gotta allow for a little suspension of disbelief and just say, "Hey- he's MacGyver!" That's all the explanation you need for why he can pull something off! |
| Posted by: MacGyver 11 February 2007 - 02:10 PM | ||
Ah, yes- the Zack Morris model! Thanks for the pic. |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 11 February 2007 - 03:28 PM | ||
I just can't seem to get my head around it for some reason. So anyone know why there where bottles of liquid nitrogen there? doesn't seem like the kind of "everyday item" you would expect to be laying around beside a missle.. and that is what macgyverism are suppose to be all about... finding different ways of using the items around him.... this seems like a planted item needed to make the macgyverism work. |
| Posted by: Sheepy 12 February 2007 - 03:08 AM |
| I voted good. Normally I love Murdoc episodes (well, except for Cleo Rocks) But this one was a little too obvious for me. I liked the fact that Pete trusts Mac "blindly" and that they set that brat Finnigan up. It shows that they go back a long time and that they have a unique friendship. My favorite part of this episode is when Mac is caught and Murdoc asks for a firing squad (is that the name for it?) And Mac totally aggrevates Murdoc by saying he''s weak. Something like "So many times you've tried to kill me and failed and now you need a firing squad?" (Mac in army clothing is always a big plus!) The thing that bothers me most about this episode is: Murdoc has always been determined to kill MacGyver. Now that he has the chance to "settle" things once and for all, he walks away from the missile! Wouldn't you watch from a distance that he actually gets killed, when you know he ALWAYS finds ways out of things?!?! That was a little too easy. And did you take a close look how Mac was tied up? Three lowsy strings?? Come on Murdoc! You should've known better!!! Even a 10 year-old boyscout would be able to wiggle his way out of that! Heck, even I would get out of that! Nah, this one was way too obvious!  |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 12 February 2007 - 07:45 AM | ||||
Yes, dangerous move but a great one.
If he tied his feet too, he'd never gotten to the nitrogen. What I also like is their actual final confrontation with the jeep. MacGyver sees the dead soldier, you hear the starting car and the music going over from suspense to action. Trivia: both actors Geno Silva and Michael Des Barres shows up in David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. Silva as the hotel manager of Justin Theroux and as the host of the bizarre theater scene where the woman sings Llorando. Michael Des Barres shows up as Billy in a tiny cameo role. Can't remember if he says anything or shows up in another scene. Just look at the scene where in a bunch of bad guys comes out of the diner eating and smoking. Des Barres is on the right of your screen with gray hair, eating a hotdog and smoking a cigarette at the same time. Wendie Malick however shows up in Will 'Boy Meets World' Friedl's teen comedy Trojan War. |
| Posted by: Amy 12 February 2007 - 07:10 PM |
| I dunno if I wanna vote excellent or good yet! It's one of the highlights of season 7 and it's a Murdoc ep, but it's also my least favorite Murdoc ep. i think mostly because I don't buy the Murdoc becoming a dictator thing. I thought that premise was kind of dumb...but other than that, I love it! Whether there should have been liquid nitrogen there or not, that whole scene was pretty intense...Mac's frustration added a lot in that scene. And I really liked the beginning where you had to wonder if Mac had finally really lost it. |
| Posted by: Amy 12 February 2007 - 07:15 PM |
| Ok...went back and voted excellent! Sheepy mentioned the scene where Mac gets sassy with Murdoc and that put me over the top...love that! |
| Posted by: MacNymph 13 February 2007 - 07:31 PM |
I'm with Rocky on the shoe flick.  And the liquid nitrogen.... on a kinda military base.... next to a rocket launch pad??? The writers seemed a little lackadaisical, but then, that's come up before. What sends me on this episode is at the end, the "stand-off"? Murdoc backs the Jeep up, aims at MacGyver, and guns it for him. Mac rolls out of the way and there goes Murdoc off the cliff.  Did Murdoc think that hitting MacGyver would stop the Jeep?? The cliff was there, MacGyver surviving a thudding or not.  Anybody? |
| Posted by: Astra 14 February 2007 - 01:24 AM | ||
Actually the question should be: Did Murdoc really think he would not try to roll away? The only explanation may be that he was totally blinded in his hate. Then people start to do insane things. Just like Deborah. |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 14 February 2007 - 05:27 AM |
| Murdoc was certain he would've had MacGyver and figured it would be great that they both died. |
| Posted by: Mac 14 February 2007 - 02:45 PM |
| This episode alternated between mwah and over-the-top, but the opening makes up for a multitude of sins--what a nail biter! Mac |
| Posted by: Lee Nole-Isil 14 February 2007 - 05:24 PM |
| I love this ep because it has Murdoc in it, and he is so wonderfully sneaky, I can be forgiving for the plot loops. |
| Posted by: MacNymph 19 February 2007 - 06:50 PM | ||
I never pegged Murdoc as the murder / suicide type.  |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 20 February 2007 - 01:02 AM | ||||
Well Murdoc is a lunatic. |
| Posted by: Amy 20 February 2007 - 04:11 AM | ||||
Yeah, I never did either...too arrogant to kill himself off. But I guess when it's the last season and you've failed to destroy the target over and over again, lunacy prevails... Maybe? *shrugs* |
| Posted by: Lothithil 20 February 2007 - 12:15 PM |
| Maybe because Murdoc had survived 'certain death' so many times, he thought that he was indestructable? I'm pretty sure that he was so irked at MacGyver that he wasn't thinking of anything other than killing Mac. Crazy people do crazy things!  |
| Posted by: Amy 20 February 2007 - 03:44 PM | ||
As evidenced by many of us here... |
| Posted by: Nutsy 7 May 2007 - 02:30 AM |
I recently saw “Obsessed” again and thought it very much shows a real side of Mac, getting angry, losing temper, circumstances getting on his nerves after episodes of stoically enduring all sorts of situations with such balance. I do not remember seeing him get so mad at someone  , banging the table and all, or looking sooo tired (he really does look exhausted at certain points in the show, doesn’t he?), even unable to sleep. Here I also learned that Phoenix operatives go through medical assessment (logical enough). One thing I did not understand, though, is why in the final scene he did not tell Pete about the phone call... Any ideas here? |
| Posted by: Old Fan 7 May 2007 - 04:56 PM |
| Sounds dumb, but... they ran outta time...? Seriously... with Mac's fragile mental state, who'd believe him? Well, maybe Pete, but certainly not Cindy - that is if she still is employed by The Phoenix Foundation. (I really wanted to "Punch her lights out"- she made me so angry...)  |
| Posted by: Liz1976 2 June 2008 - 05:42 AM |
| I am watching this episode as I type this. What always gets me is that for the first time during the show, we really see that Murdoc has had a powerful impact on Mac's psychological and mental state. Mac always seemed collected before, freaked a few times. But here we see Mac having nightmares (caused greatly by prank phone calls from Murdoc), job difficulties, loss of appetite, loss of attention span, and what some consider to be delusions. Cindy Finngan is a female character that gives professional women a bad reputation. Being a professional doesn't give one the right to be a -----(you fill in the blanks). Yeeesh. I am watching the scene where Mac finds the chess piece under the car, and that lead into the scene where Murdoc is dressed as a waiter (great) and kills a Phoenix agent, Jay Gibbs was his name if memory serves. I love the part toward the end where MacGyver is in the compound with Murdoc, Delasora, and the girl, and Mac says, "Blew it again huh Murdoc" The look on Murdoc's face and Mac's little speech about Murdoc's failures-perfect!! The rocket scene-well I can forgive the boots. Favorite part: the part where Pete has to get Cindy off his back and so he makes it appear that he has fired Mac, then he shows up at the loft, and they talk. You can tell how long they have been friends. |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 27 November 2008 - 10:28 PM |
| The thing which stands out about this episode is how different the first and second halves are. In the first half we see Murdoc really doing MacGyver's head in and the whole tone of the show has a dark and sinister psychological feel to it. Then when MacGyver goes to the army base the whole episode suddenly turns into a more typical Murdoc farce. Was a bit of a let down actually. Oh and as a side note my 12 year old son laughed at how ridiculously lucky MacGyver would have to be to hit that button on his first flick of the boot. He said it was too unbelievable. |
| Posted by: Liz1976 28 November 2008 - 04:32 AM | ||
I would remind you and your son that Mac is ridiculously lucky all the time in his little escapes (some of which are worthy of Houdini). I know what your son means about the boots but it's MacGyver and there are only so many minutes in an episode.  |
| Posted by: MacsChick 28 November 2008 - 09:00 AM |
I'm with you, Rocky--I loved the first half. It had a lot of potential and could have been one of the darker Murdoc episodes, even darker than Strictly Business, nearly driving MacGyver mad.  Then the second half became cartoonish, over the top even for Murdoc.  Also, this idea that he wants to work for a corrupt government is out of character for him. As MacGyver points out, he always works alone. The explanation that he now somehow wants power and position doesn't work for me. Of course he wants validation and wants to be recognized for his work, but he also operates in the shadows, not in a group. Overall, what started as a promising episode became a very weak episode. Such a disappointment for the final Murdoc/Mac confrontation. Strictly Business should have been the last one as it was the best. Oh well. That's why we have fan fiction, right? To further explore their relationship.  |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 28 November 2008 - 12:46 PM |
| I guess it does fit with season 7 though. That whole season was screwed up one way or another. |
| Posted by: MacsChick 28 November 2008 - 04:58 PM |
Yep.  Everything and everyone was out of character, wacky, and silly, one way or another. It was slapdash, so haphazardly put together, as if they were in a hurry and couldn't wait to finish with the series instead of giving the viewers/fans something of quality ot appreciate. Such a shame.  |
| Posted by: Liz1976 29 November 2008 - 05:42 AM |
| I am sorry, I have to respectfully disagree with some of the recent comments about Obsessed, because to me while it is not perfect, it's the best of season 7. |
| Posted by: Murdoc12 12 March 2009 - 12:00 PM |
Yeah, I liked this episode it was a good one, it had Murdoc (evil laugh in background).  |
| Posted by: Jack Thornton 8 April 2009 - 12:49 PM |
| One of the best Murdoc episodes. This is how I like murdoc best: evil emotionless killer with a hint of supernatural. (Of course he shouldn't be supernatural character, I mean only that how he has survived from death many times and how a character like him should be somewhat mysterious.) I didn't like more humane Murdoc in 4th and 5th season, but Halloween Knights is still excellent episode. |
| Posted by: Beachbead 20 April 2009 - 12:12 PM |
| Loved the cat and mouse game Murdoc plays so well. |
| Posted by: HERBALTLADY 5 June 2009 - 10:45 AM |
Finally got to see this one online. I never saw it on TV, like the other MacGyver and Murdoc shows. I really liked it! Both MacGyver and Murdoc looked nice in millitary uniform. I really like how they don't get along with each other.  |
| Posted by: Miasma 23 July 2009 - 12:32 PM |
| Here's what I don't quite get about this episode-- Is Murdoc supposed to be psychic? Mac has a dream about Murdoc (I assume it was just a dream since the pillow isn't damaged and Murdoc isn't there), and then Murdoc calls him a split second later and laughs at him. How did Murdoc know Mac was having a dream about him? That seemed to be a bit of a stretch, as if they were trying to make Murdoc almost like Freddy Krueger (notice, too, that the music played while Mac inspects Murdoc's hideout is quite similar to the NOES theme song.) And what about the dart at the press conference? Was there actually a dart that Murdoc somehow hid after shooting it, or was Mac really losing his mind and imagining things? If there really was a dart, why didn't anyone else see either the dart or at least Murdoc? And how did Murdoc have time to hide it without anyone noticing him? If Mac was just imaging the whole thing, then how did Murdoc get the photos of everyone at the conference? |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 23 July 2009 - 01:48 PM |
| I think the dream and phone call were just a coincidence, but were aimed at showing that MacGyver was so obsessed with Murdoc that he was even thinking about it in his sleep - hence the dream. As for the other stuff, I'm not sure we're really suppose to know. I would guess that since Murdoc is a master of disguise and (apparently) escape he probably was really been there with the dart. I would expect he had it all well planned on how to get the dart and escape while all the chaos happened. |
| Posted by: Miasma 27 July 2009 - 05:09 AM |
| Regarding the dart... It just occurred to me that Stryke (or whatever his name was) probably helped Murdoc escape. Remember Stryke was at the press conference when Murdoc fired the dart, and he was the same one who told Mac that there was no sign of a dart anywhere. Later we find out that Stryke is working with Murdoc, so my guess is he hid the evidence to "prove" that Mac really was losing his mind. |
| Posted by: SakLumberjack 8 August 2009 - 07:54 AM |
| A Song For Murdoc: * to be sung to the Freakazoid theme tune * He drives MacGyver crazy 'cause he's a lunatic assassin Sorry, couldn't resist that one |
| Posted by: Mac Jackson 16 October 2009 - 11:13 AM |
| I saw the courthouse from this ep on Parks and Rec last night. They use it as th outside of their office. I couldn't hear what was said during the scene because I kept pointing out the details to my wife, Cindy:) |
| Posted by: SakLumberjack 19 October 2009 - 12:32 PM |
| Actually, with regards to the liquid nitrogen - I wonder if it should have been liquid oxygen (LOX), which is used in rocketry as the source of oxygen for the fuel to burn, but someone on the writing team got their elements mixed up? |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 19 October 2009 - 12:50 PM | ||
Works for me |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 19 October 2009 - 01:02 PM | ||
Yeah could have been a mistake on the writers part, or maybe a mistake by the props department. In any case isn't it very unlikely that you would leave any kind of pressured cylinder or bottle beside a missile that was about to be fired? It seemed very much like one of those horrible situations where the surroundings were set up specifically to make the MacGyverism work rather than the other way around. |
| Posted by: Dennman 16 March 2010 - 04:49 PM |
| I finally saw this one after years of anticipating it's greatness. I was not let down. |
| Posted by: elavia 8 April 2010 - 09:09 AM |
| Bad episode. Very unrealistic...General Murdoc! My God! Excellent the dialog between Murdoc and Mac about military costumes, but bad final, Murdoc driving the jeep to the cliff and......MacGyyyyveeeeeer!! Murdoc is not tha kind of lunatic. |
| Posted by: cirubit 8 April 2010 - 09:29 AM |
| Probably the best episode of the seventh season! Disturbing in the first part ( Mac is going crazy or not?), all action and "Macgyverisms" in the second. Mac Gyver are always lucky? In my contry we say: " la fortuna aiuta gli audaci" Fortune favors the brave!!!!  |
| Posted by: BrakeFluid 1 January 2011 - 05:48 PM |
| After a couple of really lame episodes, I think this is about as close to a return to form as one can expect for the seventh season. (To be fair, there are still a few S7 episodes I haven't seen.) Murdoc is as delightfully evil as ever, but what really saves it in my opinion is seeing Pete and his office at the Phoenix Foundation again. Up to that point, it's hard to pretend we don't know they moved the production for this season, and the discontinuity is pretty jarring. That scene was the first time all season that I was able to say, okay, it's still the MacGyver universe I know and love. I also loved the interplay between Mac and Pete, and how they fooled the antagonistic do-gooder (her name escapes me at the moment...) That sort of thing is what really made the show great, and however fleetingly, we've got it back. The liquid nitro was the episode's one unforgiveable mistake. As others have pointed out, there's no good reason why it would be there and a couple of excellent reasons why it wouldn't be. If I had to guess, I'd say that was a Macgyverism they'd been waiting to use, and threw it in because they knew there were only a few episodes left. Surely Mac could have found some other way to free himself. I'll go against the prevailing opinion a bit here on the "boot trick": since it's worked for him before, why not use it again? Also, it was indeed pretty unlikely that he'd hit it on the first try, but if he missed and had to use his other boot, then it would have been an exact copy of what we saw in "Legend of the Holy Rose". On why Murdoc didn't seem concerned about going over the cliff: would that concern you if you had cheated death that many times before? What is less clear to me is why, after failing to kill MacGyver so many times before, it didn't occur to him that Mac would just jump out of the way as he did. I voted good. By S7 standards, that's excellent. |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 1 January 2011 - 08:58 PM |
| Here's a question.. regardless of whether Murdoc hit MacGyver with the jeep or not... wouldn't it still go over the edge of the cliff? And if so then isn't Murdoc going over the cliff regardless? That whole thing seems like a really stupid idea.. drive a jeep towards a cliff trying to hit someone with no abort plan? ...yeah that'll work. |
| Posted by: Wheeljack 1 January 2011 - 11:05 PM |
| Good point. It's as stupid as the assassin woman jumping right through the window in Phoenix Under Siege. :-\ Lame. And a crappy way for Murdoc to go out. |
| Posted by: BrakeFluid 12 February 2011 - 07:14 AM |
| It was a dumb move in the sense that Murdoc should have foreseen that Mac would be able to jump out of the way, but no doubt Murdoc knew he would survive the crash in the same unexplained and completely implausible way he always survived. |
| Posted by: Miasma 15 February 2011 - 09:32 AM | ||
I always assumed that Murdoc simply didn't know there was a cliff there. He was so fixated on hitting Mac, he wasn't looking at what was beyond Mac. It's still pretty stupid, but it makes a bit more sense than just mindlessly driving off a cliff that he knew was there. But then again, Murdoc always has been the human incarnation of Wyle E. Coyote. He's not the sort of villain you can take seriously because he constantly does moronic things. I think if MacGyver came back for an 8th season, we'd see Murdoc buying an anvil from the ACME supply company, and trying to tie it up over the exit to the Phoenix Foundation. Then, as he's waiting to drop it on Mac's head, he'd somehow drop it on his own head instead. |
| Posted by: MacGyverOnline 15 February 2011 - 08:51 PM |
| The other explanation, which I think is probably true for a lot of shows, is that scenes, shots, information was edited out of the final cut of the episode resulting in things not making 100% sense. For example there may have been some reason Murdoc couldn't' see the cliff in the original script, but it got changed due to time and budget, or that scene may have simply been cut out in order to keep the show to it's required length. This is a pretty common occurrence in both TV and movies. They have to make sacrifices for the sake of time, budget and story telling. |
| Posted by: Mela_007 29 October 2012 - 06:15 AM |
| I really enjoyed this episode. The human side of MacGyver losing his temper, the re-occurring nightmares, etc., adds to the reality of the early part of the episode for me. Yes, the latter half was a little more hokey, but it still had parts I enjoyed. MacGyver egging on Murdoc was great, and the interaction between Pete and MacGyver in the loft was really good. |
| Posted by: Hannibal_Smith 11 June 2013 - 10:33 PM | ||
I had no problem with it. The episode explained that HIT was through with him, which is the logical result of what happened in "Strictly Business." I don't think it was about validation and recognition so much as the security of having an entire military government looking after you - especially if HIT was still gunning for him, and even if they weren't, there've got to be plenty of others who are. Basically, it was his retirement. And that's a story arc that had been going on for years. If you think about it, Murdoc was already "over the hill" the first time we met him in Season 2 - no longer a cool professional assassin, he was a has-been back from the dead on an obsessive personal revenge crusade. Which fails, again and again, convincing him that it's time to retire... only he's in a line of work where you can't do that. The rest of the series (or his part in it) is all about him trying to find a way out. First, he tries just quitting. That doesn't work - they put a contract out on him, then kidnap his sister, forcing him to go to MacGyver for help (boy, imagine how excruciating THAT must've been for him). Second, he tries following MacGyver's advice - give up everything he knows about HIT (which would mean the authorities could take them down and he'd no longer have to worry about them). That doesn't work either - a year later, they're still operating, even if they've been taken down a peg. Third (and after his sister's death), he tries getting them to take him back. That doesn't work either - he fails his entrance exam. At that point, if I were him, I'd be getting desperate. Compared to some of the other options out there, getting a senior job in Noriega's government (sorry, "Delasora") was a godsend. |
| Posted by: Hannibal_Smith 11 June 2013 - 10:35 PM | ||
Clearly, it wasn't the first time. By the time of the episode he'd probably done it enough times already to start giving him nightmares, and that one just happened to coincide with his next phone call. (I've had night terrors - waking up in the middle of the night, seeing something that's not there and flipping out for a couple seconds - before. It's usually brought on by a combination of stress and too many nights of not-sleeping-enough in a row. In this case, that would be Murdoc's repeated 3AM phone calls plus the stress of knowing he's out there and has something planned for you). I liked the episode overall despite its flaws. My main objection actually isn't with the cliff scene at the end - it's with the way he allowed MacGyver to goad him into doing exactly what he wanted. Come on, Murdoc. You KNOW what he's trying to do. But overall, loved the episode anyway. Murdoc makes such a wonderful bad guy I can forgive the flaws. |
| Posted by: MDBfan 12 June 2013 - 12:56 AM | ||
I agree! Murdoc should have known MacGyver better than that after their previous encounters. Also, I find it strange that Murdoc trusted Delasora. I was hoping for a better end to the last Murdoc episode. Maybe it's like Rockatteer mentioned, that they cut something out from the "jeep heading for cliff" scene. I think that the first half of the episode is excellent! I'm with you Hannibal Smith, on your thoughts on why Murdoc all of a sudden felt like supporting a dictator. It is a little more believable now. One would think that scenario is more likely than making a musical to get to MacGyver. However, I had no problems with that! |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 12 June 2013 - 11:10 AM |
That's what you get for deciding to 'be all that I can be'.  Honestly I think Murdoc was really on fire in The Widowmaker. (And actually he was ) I mean the burnt face, the hair, the military outfit. He was a real sicko. But also in Strictly Business, but there he was the decent sicko. Determined, decent clothes and he really owned Mac in that one. In Obsessed, they had something, but didn't work out good enough. It's indeed a little weird to have a hitman becoming a general in a Noriega-ish army. Maybe they could've kept that part out because when I think of it Murdoc stalking Mac sounds like a great idea. Mac's stressed out, can't sleep, if he sleeps, he has nightmares, the phone calls... Obsessed could've been a great psychological thriller plot. |
| Posted by: Hannibal_Smith 12 June 2013 - 12:01 PM |
| Yeah, I agree. I liked him best in "Strictly Business," actually, because it's the only time you actually see him doing his job - as a cold, professional killer fulfilling a contract. (Unless you count "Serenity.") In the other episodes he was either out for revenge, working with MacGyver, or (in this one) a general. And one other thing about him becoming a general, if it helps - I don't think he was actually planning to be a conventional "leading men in battle" kind of general. I always assumed the deal was for him to be Delasora's head of secret police, head of covert ops, or something like that. Which would be a lot closer to his old job than most generalships, and also allow him to keep a somewhat lower profile. |
| Posted by: MDBfan 13 June 2013 - 10:33 AM | ||
I think so too. |
| Posted by: Rocket 16 August 2013 - 12:01 AM |
| You know, if they ever get around to actually dropping The Bomb, there will be two classes of creature left alive on the planet: Cockroaches and Murdoc. And the cockroaches will be nervous... This one really is a return to the kind of episode I like - Pete is back, the jeep (OK A Jeep) is back, Murdoc's back, there's a madman to deal with and a sticky situation to escape I really like the beginning when Mac is so hounded by everyone's favourite psycho that he's on the verge of losing it. Attila the Hen in the Phoenix office just brings out the worst in him and it's interesting to see him so much on the ragged edge. I also like the way this is paralleled by equal desperation on Murdoc's part - cosying up with Delasora is a last ditch attempt to make something out of his situation as it's clear that the HIT 'community' has properly turned it's back on him. MDB does do aristocratically bonkers so very well!  My favourite part has to be when Mac is taunting Murdoc about his failure to kill him all those times. You can see that this really hits home with Murdoc - maybe he's been thinking the same things, maybe he is a washed out no-hoper after all... But then NO! He doesn't need a firing squad, he's got a much better idea! OK, the boot throwing did stretch my disbelief suspenders a little bit and either Murdoc somehow didn't know the cliff was there, or he's finally lost the last of his marbles and was making a desperate and suicidal attempt to nail MacGyver once and for all, but I can forgive those niggles for an otherwise very entertaining episode. Deep breath everyone: MACGYVERRRRRR!!!! And that laugh on the other end of the late night phone call... Just perfect. Best get comfy on the settee and break out the chamomile tea Mac, it's going to be a long night.  |
| Posted by: Hannibal_Smith 5 December 2013 - 06:57 PM | ||
Despite what I said earlier about that, I think it's funny that it's MacGyver's comment about how he always fails to kill him that goads him into... proving that comment right. If only he'd stuck with the plan and just had the firing squad execute him then and there, everything would've gone fine. Instead he lets himself be maneuvered into creating a Blofeld-type elaborate death trap, which MacGyver immediately escapes. "Blew it again, Murdoc," indeed. "You're the joke, Murdoc," indeed. |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 6 December 2013 - 02:24 AM |
'Think about it. All those times you tried to kill me, you've nothing but fail. And now you need a firing squad to do it for you. How weak is that?'  Just love it how Mac is challenging Murdoc like: 'You wanna try me? Go ahead.' |
| Posted by: cmbj67 21 September 2014 - 02:18 AM |
I just love it too.  The best part of this episode.It's weird to see Mac so stressed, he always had steady nerves. And I hate that Cindy Finnigan.  Pete's delivery was fine, she bought it (me too, the first time I watched this eppy  )The MacGyverism of the boot and the jeep over the cliff are a little far fetched  , but since it's just a show I can accept them, even if it's the third time he uses the boot after "Holy Rose" and "Honest Abe". Clearly the writers were running out of ideas.I prefer the second part of this episode because MacGyver gets back in his usual mood. Since there are better episodes, I voted ok for this one. |
| Posted by: Zoomer30 18 August 2015 - 09:22 AM |
| In this episode, MacGyver tackles a photog he thinks is Murdoc (who just fired a dart from a fake camera). The shot shows the suspected attacker on his back, and his face looks familiar. When it switches to the close up, he looks very familiar. Dwight Shultz. It would be a casting of pure genius since he played a character in The A Team named Murdoc (and it would make sense that he could do the job, Paramount owned both Star Trek and MacGyver) |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 18 August 2015 - 02:06 PM |
| Nope. There is no sign of that on his filmography and yes Paramount owns Star Trek and MacGyver but not The A-Team. The A-Team is owned by Universal. |
| Posted by: KiwiTek 18 August 2015 - 06:48 PM | ||
It does look similar and being such a bit part it wouldn't be credited. Paramount don't have to own a show to employ an out of work actor. |
| Posted by: denizen 18 August 2015 - 08:20 PM |
| I think I vaguely remember this scene. Since they did not use the name Murdoch" from the A-Team, there is no copyright infringement. It is just there for you to figure out. At the end of the day, only Dwight or someone from this episode (Creative dept) might be able to confirm or deny this. |
| Posted by: Zoomer30 18 August 2015 - 08:21 PM |
| I guess what I was aiming at was how it seemed like a lot of actors were on both shows. (since both are produced by Paramount) 1. Terri Hatcher: Penny Parker and trasnporter operator to hit on the Rocketeer. 2. The bad attitude high school teacher who also played the Romulan who was tricked into defecting. 3.Nana Visitor. In the episode Wildfire (the oil rig one) and Deep Space Nine as Kira Nureas. 4. The head of HIT who also played professor Moriarty in The Next Generation (episodes that also featured Reg Barkley /Dwight S.) That screen shot shocked the crap out of me. Really does look like him. Even SOUNDS like him (that kinda whiny voice he used as Barkley) |
| Posted by: Zoomer30 18 August 2015 - 08:23 PM |
| Just would be a hilarious case of double takes. MacGyver thinks he just tackled Murdoc. He did, just the wrong one XD |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 19 August 2015 - 12:20 AM |
| Isn't the guy's name on the end credits? Than you'll know who he is. |
| Posted by: Barry Rowland 19 August 2015 - 04:57 AM |
| This is an episode that I'm going to look up tonight. My son just asked me if I had ever seen it, and told me it was a great one! Dwight had an acting style all his own, so I'm looking forward to seeing it. |
| Posted by: MiracleMac 19 August 2015 - 07:48 AM | ||
Yep, uncredited peoples are called extras |
| Posted by: KiwiTek 19 August 2015 - 12:32 PM | ||
Don't blink or you'll miss it. There's not really any acting involved in his part it's just a quick shot of him laying on the ground about to get punched out by Mac. |
| Posted by: RadiantRose 12 October 2016 - 03:54 PM |
| I'm quite surprised by some of the hate for Cindy. Yeah, she wasn't the most sympathetic character. But she's hardly the worst person in this episode. Plus, Mac did quite a lot of shouting, which was hardly very professional of him either. |
| Posted by: RadiantRose 12 October 2016 - 03:57 PM |
I just worked out how both Murdoc and  are able to survive so many scenarios which would kill most ordinary humans.They're not ordinary humans.  They're descended from someone who was the offspring of Rasputin and one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's predecessors. Thus they are hard to kill and have supernatural strength and healing powers. I don't know how they're related - maybe long-lost brothers or cousins. |
| Posted by: MacGyver85 12 October 2016 - 07:46 PM |
| Or twins separated at birth! |
| Posted by: RadiantRose 13 October 2016 - 11:21 AM | ||
I like it! Murdoc is Mac's evil twin! |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 13 October 2016 - 12:31 PM |
| If that's true Mac's parents got some explaining to do. |
| Posted by: MacGyver85 13 October 2016 - 06:08 PM | ||
Maybe they were planning to later... |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 14 October 2016 - 01:04 AM |
| Nah, they were too good of peoples to be that dishonest with their son. Besides if it is Partners doesn't make sense anymore. |
| Posted by: RadiantRose 14 October 2016 - 06:00 AM | ||
I think this plot is borrowed from a lot of other things - but if they were twins, Mac's parents might not have realised. No ultrasounds back then. (I know twins born in 1973 whose mother had been told by most of the doctors she saw that she was only expecting one baby.) But there would be some plot about how an evil doctor or midwife or whatever drugged Mac's mum so much that she didn't realise she'd had twins. Mac's dad, this being the olden days, would be outside, pacing around the waiting room. Then the evil twin (Murdoc) would be spirited away. Mac's parents would be all, "Yay, we have a healthy baby boy to carry on the family name!" |
| Posted by: MacGyverGod 14 October 2016 - 04:09 PM |
| Talk about far-fetched. |
| Posted by: MacGyver85 14 October 2016 - 08:05 PM |
| Just so you know, I am completely joking about all of this... |
| Posted by: KiwiTek 14 October 2016 - 11:05 PM | ||
Or maybe just his father....  Brothers from different mothers?  |
| Posted by: RadiantRose 14 October 2016 - 11:24 PM | ||
I wonder if RDA thought, "I am auditioning for the guy who gave the world the term 'jumping the shark'. I hope that all the storylines will be plausible." Edit: then again, maybe his first words on hearing he'd got the job were, "Yay! By the way, if you could write in a jet-skiing scene, I'd be happy to jump a fake shark. Of course, I would also like a storyline where I get to save sharks. Nature is nice." |
| Posted by: zoeryan 28 October 2018 - 05:52 PM |
| I'm torn between rating this good or excellent - As a whole series episode it's good, as season 7 it's excellent. While I agree the tanks are a bit far fetched, especially when it falls over exactly lined up with the rope - which didn't even seem like it was at that angle before. (Also his hand was right by the rope knot across his body, I swear he could have just untied himself). But overall I liked the premise, I liked Mac looking like he was going crazy but then being right... but then he also should have attached a tape recorder to the phone if he was getting regular calls from Murdoc. |