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 57 - Thin Ice
Before he can help his old hockey coach take a Minnesota team to the state final. MacGyver must first rein in the star players temper and teach him about sportsmanship.
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Votes from May 2006
Poor [ 2 ] [16.67%] Average [ 0 ] [0.00%] OK [ 3 ] [25.00%] Good [ 4 ] [33.33%] Excellent [ 3 ] [25.00%] Total Votes: 12
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QUOTE (MacGyverGod Oct 2 2005 @ 08:48 PM )
Another good episode and one of the first sports episodes if I'm not mistaken. The fight on the ice is the episode highlight and it shows how MacGyver thinks how important the rules of hockey are. Alright now somebody voted for poor. Who was that?
QUOTE (Amy Oct 2 2005 @ 10:22 PM )
LOL, MG--wasn't me! I voted excellent! Even though this isn't a typical Mac's-in-trouble episode, I thought it was great! It really showcases Mac's passion for hockey, his drive for being the best you can be, his encouraging and non-violent nature. And I love the MacGyverism they snuck in--wouldn't be MacGyver without it! biggrin.gif
QUOTE (rockatteer Oct 3 2005 @ 07:14 AM )
Me!!
I think this is one of the worst episodes of the whole series.
It only has one little pathetic MacGyverism and really doesn't follow the "MacGyver formular" at all.
Unfortunatly it was a pre-runner of things to come in later seasons when they became a "Public issues" show, with each episode dealing with some public issue of the week.
QUOTE (sonyab Oct 3 2005 @ 07:38 AM )
I voted good.. MacGyver is a great coach! smile.gif It's cool that they show MacGyver being upset. That's him being human.. Yeah I was wondering who too who voted poor now I know..
QUOTE (Amy Oct 3 2005 @ 07:58 AM)
QUOTE
QUOTE Unfortunatly it was a pre-runner of things to come in later seasons when they became a "Public issues" show, with each episode dealing with some public issue of the week.
I do agree with your there, Rock. But I guess when a show runs that long it does have to change with the times or it becomes obsolete. You can actually see that slow change in a few of the S3 episodes. The late 80s were a hotbed of "public issues" and the show changed to reflect that. It wasn't all bad, but for the most part I agree with you--seemed to become more of a platform for the "issue of the week."
QUOTE (MacGyverGod Oct 3 2005 @ 07:59 AM )
QUOTE
QUOTE It only has one little pathetic MacGyverism and really doesn't follow the "MacGyver formular" at all.
I resent that but I can understand your point. You're right about the MacGyverism though. But they still had the MacGyver formula. Turk Donner called him to come over to Minnesota to help him. Calling the man if there's no one else left to call. To be completely honest with you I didn't like this episode either when I first saw it. I learned to love it just like The Prodigal, Fire and Ice and GX-1. Public issue problems? Even those can have the MacGyver formula. The previous episode was also a public issue problem. Politics, teens/friends in troubles, sports... Season three is the foundation -ha Foundation get it?- of the series devolpment. Everything got a solid place in it: the houseboat, the ocassional Jack Dalton issue, the envoirment. Guess they decided to change the MacGyver formula and for me it worked. I guess everything changes at the third season of every series.
QUOTE (MacGyver Oct 3 2005 @ 12:46 PM )
Well, as far as the formula goes- I'll say this. The very, very basic formula of the show shouldn't change or you'd have a totally different show. Just for example- on Early Edition, Gary Hobson gets tomorrow's newspaper today and changes all the bad headlines. That never changed throughout the series. Same with Quantum Leap, where Sam travels through time and helps people and stops disasters. That never changed. MacGyver always carries a Swiss Army Knife (sometime duct tape) and uses his ingenuity and skills to help people out of tight spots. That never changed. Even in "Thin Ice", which is the episode we come to now.
I voted good for "Thin Ice". I like this episode just because it is MacGyver and it may be small, but there is a MacGyverism in the show and that's cool. And it's cool because MacGyver uses that MacGyverism- replacing solenoid spring with a flashlight spring- to teach the father something. And he teaches the son something about sportsmanship and how there are more important things than winning. I liked seeing MacGyver as a coach and hearing about his love for ice hockey and a little bit of MacGyver's back story on his involvement with ice hockey. Perhaps it was a little different from other episodes-but it gave Richard Dean Anderson a chance to play a lot of ice hockey, which I'm sure he enjoyed! smile.gif One good thing to be said about format change is that if the same pattern is repeated time after time (though there some patterns I love and can watch over and over- "Where Are You, Scooby Doo?" is a good example! tongue.gif ) if you don't have something different from time to time, fans get bored.
And many of the "issue of the week" episodes were there because Richard Dean Anderson felt deeply about those issues and wanted to use MacGyver to address them- and I think that's admirable. That's part of MacGyver's challenge- to make a difference in the world and MacGyver's not afraid to tackle the tough subjects. That's part of what helps make a show more than just entertainment- but something that you can really take with you to think about and do something with.
But hey, I love all MacGyver episodes, so I'm going to vote good or totally excellent every time!!! wink.gif sak.gif duct.gif opensak.gif word1.png MacGyver Rocks!
QUOTE (thyla Oct 4 2005 @ 05:48 AM )
I like this episode for one reason: the speech that Mac gives the boy when they are in the locker room. Not quite a soliloquy, but close. That's one of the best performances RDA gave, because it came from the heart. When he talks about giving up hockey he really is talking about himself. Go and watch just that one scene.
QUOTE (MacNymph Oct 4 2005 @ 06:46 AM )
I was really disappointed with this episode. It was a forshadowing of things to come. It totally went off the MacGyver forumula.
This was about the time Rick was the honorary captain for the US olympic team. Have to wonder if he influenced this story (more than the normal patterning of RDA) or if the writters were in a slump. The story felt really contrived and the dialogue forced. yucky.gif
Top ten lists are hard... because there are SO many good episodes. But this is easy to put on my bottom ten list. sad.gif
QUOTE (MacGirl Oct 4 2005 @ 07:58 AM )
I voted good. It was short of MacGyverisms, but not all of them have to be big and flashy. And the MacGyverism scene they did have was great. And as for the "issue ep" thing, those were some of my faves!! I found it so refreshing that a great show like this would address some very big, important social issues that affect our world.
I also really liked the scene where Mac is talking to Derek in the locker room. It was one of those moments where Rick really shows through his Mac "mask", and you're not quite sure who's really doing the talking!
QUOTE (Toni Apr 2 2006 @ 08:44 AM )
I liked this episode, but I think thats because I also like Ice hockey.
I use to play it on my old commadore 64 when i was alot younger and did notice Mac playing the same game in an episode.
I now got ice skating and am teaching my nephew normal hockey (he is 1) and as soon as his mum lets me take him ice skateing he will be all set.
Toni
QUOTE (MacsChick Apr 2 2006 @ 02:57 PM )
This one is okay, not exactly one I'm anxious to watch again, but I do like hockey enough to enjoy it. I like the advice he gives the player, and I like the locker room scene, too. It's so emotional. You can see the look of regret on Mac's face about not being able to play in a level beyond recreational. Glimpses of Rick emerge there, I agree.
Does anyone wonder...what would it have been like had Rick played professionally? We'd still get to see a lot of him on TV, but we wouldn't be able to see his face very often because of the helmet. Darn! wink.gif
QUOTE (thlayli87 Apr 11 2006 @ 06:00 AM )
I voted OK. I'm not a hockey fan, so I found the game scenes kinda boring. The story was ok. I prefer the more traditional formula for the show though. This was not one of the best episodes for me, but not one of the worst either.
QUOTE (Hawki Oct 8 2006 @ 02:08 AM )
There was really lack of Macgyverism sad.gif and it was boring in some moments, but the story was good smile.gif
QUOTE (Mac Oct 8 2006 @ 05:44 AM )
QUOTE
QUOTE (rockatteer @ Oct 2 2005, 03:14 PM) Me!!
I think this is one of the worst episodes of the whole series
.
I agree!
I despise this episode. When I tried to watch it, I got bored about 15 minutes in and just scanned ahead just to pretend I was watching it. smile.gif
This is one of my top 10 episodes. I liked the bits we learned about MacGyver, I liked the hockey aspect of it, though not so much the kid's dad, some of that storyline could have used work.
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Call me crazy but the one scene where the guy pushes the other and he hits his head on the goal I think its funny. Dont ask why cause I don't know but putting it in super slow mo is bound to get some laughs. Also where he is upset and he is punding on that car with a hammer. Classic. The trophey tipping scene was great as well. I think I laughed most way through this episode
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Anyone notice that RDA was playing himself in this episode? The whole scene where he talks to Derek about what his life will be like if he gives up--I felt like that was pure RDA and Mac as one! Very heartfelt, very believeable, very real.
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I have to say i liked this eps too. I bet RDA liked this epo as well. He had a chance to bring in his hockey side. I like hockey too. I do agree Liz on that RDA was himself.He was real and honest. He showed his heart in this epo.One of my faves.I can not wait till I get this season.I ordered season 7 already.It should be here next week.
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I really like this episode. Not your typical action/adventure MacGyver episode with lots of macgyverism. But still I enjoyed it. Maybe because I like watching Mac play hockey. Mac was RDA in this episode I feel.
Plus, he really looks good in a suit. Not so fond of the mullet though.
Anyone know where this episode was filmed? I'm from MN and the rink seemed to be vaguely familiar. Love this ep because you learn more about Mac, how he views things and what happened in his past. Awesome!
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Watching MacGyver years ago actually made me interested in wanting to play hockey. Now that the repeats are finally showing again, I am even more interested - just that there is no ice rink in my area! I watch the hockey on the Olympics and other matches. I was never interested in it before but MacGyver got me curious. It sounds like a fun and awesome, rewarding sport and I would still love to learn to play it some day.
If only RDA was offering lessons...hehehe.
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QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 11 May 2011 - 04:51 PM)
You don't need ice.. go for rollar hockey, same game only on roller blades and any flat surface.
Or you could even ditch the blades and go for street hockey.. which is ice hockey played on foot.
No excuses!
Nah, its gotta be the ice. I can't skate to save my life, but the few times I have, I really enjoyed it. I can actually build up some speed once I let go of my fear that I'll fall over if I let go of the railing!
"You may not believe this, but there have been times when I've had a lot more fun in the back seat of a car." - MacGyver (Golden Triangle)
Nah, its gotta be the ice. I can't skate to save my life, but the few times I have, I really enjoyed it. I can actually build up some speed once I let go of my fear that I'll fall over if I let go of the railing!
Speeds no good for Hockey though. You have to be able to control yourself in order to get where you need to get on the ice.
Here's the 5 minute lessons I use to teach people to skate.
1. Wear full Knee, Elbow and WRIST pads and practice falling over The single biggest hurdle anyone has when learning to skate is the fear of falling and getting hurt. Once you put pads on you don't get hurt. I actually push people over. After a full 2 minutes of non stop hitting the ground and not getting hurt falling is no longer an issue. My kids have had competitions to see how far they can slide on their pads after they hit the ground at speed.
2. Keep your head directly over your toes by leaning forward. This keeps your body weight in line with your feet so you cant fall backwards.
3. Keep your knees slightly bent. This allows you to achieve #2 easier, but also keeps your center of gravity lower which makes you more stable.
4. Keep your feet evenly apart so your legs are straight up and down You stand in skates the same way you stand in shoes. Legs should be vertically straight.
5. Push and glide don't try to walk in skates. Push forward from your back foot and glide on the front foot. Alternate this movement, as one foot slows down use it to push forward onto the other foot.
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I like this episode. Mac is in great shape, and I like his skating style, with long fluid strides – in Vancouver, I think it was in 2010, Dan Shea told the audience that that style is typically Minnesotan. Another important reason that I like this episode is Clu Culager. What an actor!
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Let's just start this "review" with an obvious fact--I'm not a hockey fan. Technically, I should be, since I actually grew up in a town that climate-wise could have been somewhere in Minnesota--a small town with a very strong hockey profile. I actually followed my dad to a hockey game once, when I was about five years old, and the only thing I cared about was trying to figure out how the emergency light system of the arena worked. (Yeah, go figure... I was a nerd already... )
Or wait--there was another time too, at the school for journalists. What I remember about the game? A local ad during the break where the voice actor got the message all wrong... and our torment of the poor sport reporter who was supposed to give us some good advice. "Hey, dude, all we need to remember is asking "what are your thoughts on tonight's game?"" (The guy had a sense of humor, though, and I *think* the home team won. No details left in my memory, though).
Hence, my knowledge of hockey, hockey terminology, hockey college, the team selection process etc... is very, very, limited. But I still have some thoughts about the episode.
Foremost, I think we saw more of RDA than MacGyver in this episode. I understand that RDA was probably eager to make such an episode, but I also understand that many viewers thought the subject was a bit unsuitable for MacGyver. I have somewhat mixed feelings too. I kind of came to realize that I wasn't really watching this as a MacGyver episode, but as something independent-- for good or bad.
The main focus of "Thin Ice," however, seems (once more) to be that so many parents seem to project their dreams unto their children. Walt Kirby didn't care that his son was playing unfair, as long as he would gain a place in that team. It's clear that RDA pushed the issue of playing fair hockey--but still, one of the few times when he comes off as really, genuinely upset is on the ice, or the hockey stands. OK, of course, part of it is acting in this case... but he could have fooled me any day.
People have already mentioned it here, but the pep talk Mac gave to Derek about not quitting certainly felt more like RDA, not much acting needed there.
It *is* a delight to watch Mac/RDA on the ice, anytime. This is his element, and it definitely adds a lot to the character.
That said--I found it difficult to keep up my interest during the long hockey sequences with actors and players I've never seen before (or since). Had the setting been different, and we'd seen a bit more of MacGyver in action--or actually on the ice, for that matter, not in a suit and tie--my rating would have been excellent. Now it's just a rather weak "good," for its good intentions.
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I voted excellent for this episode. I am not a hockey fan, but I believe a lot of that has to do with the fighting that is so standard in professional hockey. I think that is another reason I really like this episode so much. I am a big fan of sportsmanship and following the rules, so them making such a bit point of emphasizing that aspect of this episode impressed me greatly. I heard RDA mention in one of the interviews that he was disturbed by the amount of fighting in the pro hockey. I particularly detest when parents encourage the poor sportsmanship in their children, or display such poor sportsmanship themselves. As an official's wife (football, baseball - high school) I may be particularly sensitive to this issue, but the games would be so much more fun to participate in and watch if they at least showed the class of good sportsmanship.
I can ice skate a little, but as mentioned before I think my fear of falling and getting hurt holds me back on trying anything. Thanks Rockateer for the tips for learning to skate!! I really like the ideas and would love to try them to get better at skating...though finding ice around here is a tough one (southern US). What little I do skate, it amazes me to watch the skill required in playing hockey. My jaw literally dropped open when I first watched the scene where Mac was warming up the players by doing the same moves with them. RDA was in fabulous shape and you could tell he was really in his element on the skates. Forward, back, side-to-side, knees, up, roll on the ice, up...!!!
"I think if you try hard enough and make the best of a situation, the situation won't get the best of you." -MacGyver
I'm not feeling a lot of love for this episode. I'm Canadian and I LOVE hockey. Therefore I loved this episode, in spite of the lack of action and MacGyverisms.
P.S. I think it's completely awesome that MacGyver/RDA is a Flames fan. Woohoo!! Go Flames!
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I finally watched this episode and thought it very good. It was a pleasant surprise to see Steve Armitage cast as the play-by-play announcer. He has an impressive resume in sports broadcasting and is still active today on CBC TV in Canada. I know his resonating voice, anywhere, with my eyes closed.
The plot is good. Domineering, problem parent - meddlesome pushy agent - player whose thus close to burn out - Mac senses it all and quickly and infiltrates with some (mental) MacGyverisms - in the nick of time. Perfect! The hockey scenes were all well structured and technically fine. RDA is good skater and you can tell he's spent alot of time on the ice. The credits thank the UBC Junior Varisity hockey team - and they played the part perfectly in emulating hockey of that level.
Unfortunately Jeff Shultz as 'Derek Kirby' is badly miscast in this role. He's just too physically small in stature, has too passive a demeanor, and doesn't really scare anybody or fit the mold as the stereotypical hockey tough guy. No pro team would be interested in signing a player of that physical size, whose already a gifted offensive threat, and then turn him into a goon for a big money contract. It just wouldn't happen.
Small potatoes though and a very good, if not oddball, episode that must have been easy and fun for RDA.
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I grew up as a kid watching this episode so everything felt natural at that time. But for some reason Kirby reminds me of Michael J. Fox. It's like he would get in a DeLorean and travel through time any minute.
I think the poison that was used was applied to this knife, passed to the mutton when it was cut and then activated by the wine. - MacGyver. Sometimes you just have to die a little inside to be reborn and rise again as a stronger and wiser version of you. It's better to be a little sad than to be fake content.
He absolutely did incorporate some MJF mannerisms in his acting style ... or perhaps it was just that acting/era/genre. Incidentally and keeping with the Back to the Future theme, RDA is looking more and more like Dr. Emmett Brown these days.
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination.
Whether you think you can or you can't .... you're probably right!
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Just watched this episode- it was pretty good- and very cool to see Martin Milner in this one. The storyline would not have looked out of place on, say, a Highway To Heaven episode. I actually appreciate the more human interest stories of MacGyver as I get older. This one certainly falls in that category.
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* Radiant Rose mutters crossly about how real hockey is the thing played on miserable, cold, muddy fields with hockey sticks and that if American-Americans and Canadian-Americans want to play ice hockey, that is fine, can't be colder than British hockey played on British cold, muddy fields, but they should just call it ICE HOCKEY. Or skating hockey. Or hock-skating. Or something.*
That said, Rose would happily have played ice hockey had or RDA offered to coach her. Rose would probably have been very bad at ice hockey and would have worn a duvet tied around her for extra padding ... but it would have been wonderful.
... no, Rose has lost track of why Rose is referring to Rose in the 3rd person.
Yeah, I try to add 'ice' when addressing an international crowd, but you can't use it in Canada or parts of the US because it's an unnecessary waist of breath and everybody would instantly know that your veins were sans maple syrup!
But we play a lot of hockey here including ball, road, floor, &, yes, field hockey. But the winter game on the frozen water is by far the preferred and most popular game.
Does it get cold? Not really in the nouveau arenas these days, but pond hockey, river hockey (yes, more terminology) would challenge a muddy game of winter field hockey in the UK & in the frigid department ... especially when the wind chill dips below -20c. So it might be mentioned/recommended to Rose that on those colder Canadian days, 2 duvets might be in order.... one for overall warmth and one strategically macgyvered for maximum caboose padding!
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination.
Whether you think you can or you can't .... you're probably right!
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"So shut up, live, travel, adventure, bless and don't be sorry." - Jack Kerouac
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QUOTE (Joe SAKic @ 10 October 2016 - 07:04 PM)
Yeah, I try to add 'ice' when addressing an international crowd, but you can't use it in Canada or parts of the US because it's an unnecessary waist of breath and everybody would instantly know that your veins were sans maple syrup!
But we play a lot of hockey here including ball, road, floor, &, yes, field hockey. But the winter game on the frozen water is by far the preferred and most popular game.
Does it get cold? Not really in the nouveau arenas these days, but pond hockey, river hockey (yes, more terminology) would challenge a muddy game of winter field hockey in the UK & in the frigid department ... especially when the wind chill dips below -20c. So it might be mentioned/recommended to Rose that on those colder Canadian days, 2 duvets might be in order.... one for overall warmth and one strategically macgyvered for maximum caboose padding!
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QUOTE (androgyny @ 22 September 2008 - 04:12 AM)
I really like this episode. Not your typical action/adventure MacGyver episode with lots of macgyverism. But still I enjoyed it. Maybe because I like watching Mac play hockey. Mac was RDA in this episode I feel.
Plus, he really looks good in a suit. Not so fond of the mullet though.
Rose is cross.
without the mullet is unthinkable!
And I'm sorry that the people complaining about Mac caring about issues get bored by those episodes. Some of the writing was a little unsophisticated, but for me the fact Mac wanted to change the world is part of the attraction.
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