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MacGyver Online Forums > Episodes > 002 - The Golden Triangle

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 2 November 2006 - 12:59 PM

002 - The Golden Triangle

Airdate: Oct 6, 1985
Writers: Dennis Foley
Director: Paul Stanley
Opening Gambit Writer: Terry Nation
Opening Gambit Director: Donald Petrie

Guest Cast: Joan Chen as Lin, George Lee Cheung as General Narai, Clyde Kusatsu as Anek, Keye Luke as Prasert, Benjamin Lum as Truang, Bryan Price as Chan, James Saito as Ming.

Opening Gambit: The Crusher
MacGyver tracks down stolen documents and captures the criminals as they exchange the documents in an old car-wrecking yard.

Main Episode
While retrieving a poison-filled canister from a crash site in Burma, MacGyver is forced to take on a powerful drug lord when he is mistaken for a narcotics agent.

Posted by: Macs Lab Rat 7 November 2006 - 01:13 PM

Votes from 10 Oct 2006

1 - Poor [ 0 ] [0.00%]
2 - Average [ 0 ] [0.00%]
3 - OK [ 2 ] [11.76%]
4 - Good [ 7 ] [41.18%]
5 - Excellent [ 8 ] [47.06%]
Total Votes: 17
Archived comments

QUOTE (Sonyab Sep 6 2004 @ 11:46 AM )

Yeah this was a good episode!!! I loved it! He said he had a cousin in this episode but he didn't tell us which family she was from. He never talked about her again. So what happend to her? Did she die? Well obviously she died because he did say later he didnt have any family members.. So how did she die?

Oh another thing when he was tied to that bed thing with the hot sun they showed this guy that looked dead. When Mac cut himself out he grabbed the dead guy's belt I think. How did the guy die? MacGyver couldn't of killed him altho it did cross my mind but who killed the guy?

QUOTE (Rockateer Sep 6 2004 @ 12:12 PM)

I thought the guy was just knocked out?

QUOTE (MacGyverGod Sep 6 2004 @ 12:45 PM )

Good episode. It learns us that plans can backfire and that you'll never know when you get hit in the *pow* face. We learn very little more about his past, his cousin, his mom and broiled chicken. Nice ending too maybe somewhat dramatic but nice. Truang is the worst. Thinks he's all big, bad and tough. Big? Yes. Fat? True too. Bad? Not a chance. Tough? No siree. But most of all incredible stupid. But then again this was only the second episode. So I might let slip this one through the fingers.

QUOTE (Rockatteer Sep 6 2004 @ 06:22 PM )

I loved the scene where the boy watches the chopper take off and cries becasue he thinks his only hope has left him.

Very moving scene. *whipes tear from eye*

The rest of the show was pretty good also... kinda kept the indiana jones feel to the show with being out in the jungle and stuff.

I'm guessing the ladies enjoyed the sun bathing scene and the fact that he wears a tank top for most of the show.

QUOTE (MacGyver Sep 8 2004 @ 02:20 AM )

"The Golden Triangle" is one of the first episodes I remember watching. For some reason, I don't think I remember watching the pilot as a child, but sometimes my memory gets weird and remembers some things from childhood and forgets others. Of course, sometimes I forget things that happened yesterday, but anyway.

I definitely loved the jungle traps that MacGyver helped the people set up. My favorite moment has to be watching MacGyver grab onto the helicopter as it's taking off and keeping the bad guys from escaping.

Yes, I also get a little misty-eyed at the part where the boy runs to hug MacGyver when he sees that he's come back. It was a very cool episode, filled with MacGyverisms and also an early look at how much MacGyver despises using guns. He refuses to teach the people how to use guns as weapons but shows them another way of fighting. I thought that was pretty significant. It's definitely one of my favorite 1st. season episodes.

QUOTE ( zhennu Sep 9 2004 @ 09:24 AM )

I thought when the chopper left, MacGyver wasn't coming back, but I slapped myself silly to get that straight!

QUOTE (MacGyvergod Sep 10 2004 @ 02:56 AM )

But I have to admit that it was neatly camouflaged cuz you can really see him going in the chopper and when the chopper left MacGyver is just standing there with his hands in his pockets.

QUOTE (thyla Sep 21 2004 @ 09:15 AM)

Great epy. With that start (sunbathing, mmmmm....) it can't be bad.
Also loved the ending. RDA seemed quite agile in that fighting scene. A natural athlete. Very nice jumping kick, good stance. Looked like he knew what he was doing (vs. actors who only learn some moves that look good on camera - but this is a whole other topic I can write pages about). We don't see him doing that very often in later episodes.

QUOTE (rockatteer Sep 21 2004 @ 10:12 AM)

Did anyone else notice that in the first few Eps he was a good fighter, like he'd been trained to fight. (which you would expect from an ex-special forces agent) and then suddenly changes to doesn't like fighting and seemed quite clumsy in his fighting style?

QUOTE (zhennu Sep 21 2004 @ 10:16 AM)

I slightly noticed that part, Rocka, but I ended up ignoring it saying to myself that he's lost practice (well, I have to disagree...his life has a lot of fighting, which SHOULD keep him in shape and practice! xD). I wonder why though...=/

QUOTE (MacGyverGod Sep 22 2004 @ 02:59 AM)

Usually he only needs one punch. Clumsy fighting style? Well sometimes he didn't hurt his hand, or he didn't care about it that it hurt. Maybe he adjusts his style depending on who he's fighting. Although he could've showed more of his skills as special forces agent. Well in The Golden Triangle and The Stringer you can see he changes his style. In the Golden Triangle he has almost a perfect fighting stance in front of General Narai. Also when he jumps up and tries to kick him and in The Stringer on the ship, when he jumps on that guy. Just look at him when he jumps up and down on his toes and then block, block, punch, punch. KNOCK OUT!

QUOTE (Rockatteer Sep 22 2004 @ 10:13 AM)

The last fight scene in Target MacGyver he has good skills too.

QUOTE ( MacGyverGod Sep 23 2004 @ 01:24 AM)

The Assassin was better!!

QUOTE ( thyla Sep 23 2004 @ 08:41 AM)

I believe this falls under the "afterthought" and developing the character in a different direction than originally planned category (non-violence, anti-gun etc.)

You can see even in later episodes when he is supposed to be "clumsy", as Rock put it, that there is a definite martial arts training there that peeks through. There are several episodes, such as "Target MacGyver", where this is very obvious. I have noticed a certain affinity with the bo (fighting pike) for example.

I think using the "Hollywood one punch" approach was a conscious choice on his part to set Mac aside from other action heroes.

QUOTE (MacGyverGod Sep 24 2004 @ 05:13 AM)

Don't you think that is sometimes boring? Bad guys kick good guys bum, good guys solve the whole thing with one single punch? It's good they had some decent fights in the series. But if you look at the moves, they both get equal moves to do. In Easy Target the fight had about 8 moves. 4 of Mac 4 of the other guy. Mac punches him, the guy hits him twice and kicks him twice, Mac punches him three times and wins. OK so there is still the rolling down the hill and throwing sand. But I meant fysical moves.

QUOTE (Rockatteer Sep 24 2004 @ 09:54 AM )

Yes it makes things more realistic if its evened out.

Although I still don't like the way people can be munched really hard and still be able to fight back. Thats abolute rubbish. real fights just don't work like that.

You pack a real puch at someones jaw, and they not going to get up again. Like wise if you pack a real kick at someone your going to break ribs and do internal damage...they may get up, but they won't be fighting back.

QUOTE (MacGyverGod Sep 25 2004 @ 02:41 AM)

Just don't think about the pain but of course that's the only thing you can think about if they really kick your bum. But if someone ever hits me in the face they can expect a punch back.

QUOTE (thyla Sep 25 2004 @ 07:55 AM)

Ok, several points:

QUOTE

QUOTE (rockatteer)
Yes it makes things more realistic if its evened out.

um.... actually not quite. In most fights (unless it's an organized sports event with certain rules) there is no eveness whatsoever. You don't punch and then wait for the other guy to punch back. There is nothing realistic about that. Go in first, go in fast, get as many hits in as possible and don't stop until you are sure the other guy won't get up.

QUOTE

QUOTE (rockatteer)
Although I still don't like the way people can be munched really hard and still be able to fight back. Thats abolute rubbish. real fights just don't work like that.

Actually, you can get hit really hard and still fight back. Of course, there are several factors that are usually present:
- you are trained to be able to take hits. Most people never get hit so when it happens they usually freeze up.
- the attack doesn't catch you in a vital area. Again, it helps to be trained to know which areas to protect and how to protect them.
- don't ever discount the effects of good ol' adrenalin. Police officers can tell you cases where they shot a man several times and he still kept coming at them.

As far as fights in movies. They all follow a certain pattern. The good guy always gets kicked around first, the bad guy uses unfair tactics, but at the end the good guy prevails. Yes it's cliche, but hey, nobody wants to see the hero lose, right?
Also, people have to train to do movie fights. First of all you do not want to hurt the other guy. Second, you have to fight with the camera in mind. The moves have to be slowed down. You have to make sure you do not block the camera angles. The fight is choreographed, etc, etc. There are certain moves that look good on camera (such as spinning back kicks or the infamous swinging hook, otherwise known as the sucker punch) but you would never use them in real life 'cause they are too slow and you'd have your bum handed to you if you'd try to use one of those on the street.

Now look what you've done! Ok, I get off my soap box.

Posted by: Macs Lab Rat 7 November 2006 - 01:19 PM

QUOTE (rockatteer Sep 25 2004 @ 10:29 PM)

I was refering to the average Joe. Not someone who is trained to fight. I also ment hit hard in somewhere like the jaw or solar plexis, which I guess would fall in the vital area catagory you refer to.

QUOTE

QUOTE
But if someone ever hits me in the face they can expect a punch back.

Ever been hit really hard in the face MG?

QUOTE ( Asbjørn Jan 19 2006 @ 05:03 AM)

Back to the beginning of the episode. ..
This is the one where Mac talks about the dog he had once, isn't it? (the one that had been abused)

- Can anyone find that quote for me? - The stuff he says about the dog and compares it to those supressed people.

And about the fight: Yes, it depends on your training, the camera angles etc, but I'm quite convinced that most ordinary people would get serious injuries from movie- style fights if they had happened for real...

QUOTE ( MacsChick Jan 19 2006 @ 04:10 PM)

I like this one, too...the fight scenes, his decision to stick around and help the whole village, tied up and sweating, oh, and yes...the beach! That shot became the inspiration for my desktop!

QUOTE (Lothithil Jan 20 2006 @ 03:44 AM)

If my memory serves, it goes something like this...

"A long time ago my cousin Ally got a dog from the pound... part Airdale, part Spaniel... real cute... but she'd been beaten. So all that puppy knew how to do was cower; cringe away from you, expecting to be hit. It's a real ugly thing to see in a dog... it's even worse in a human being."

Posted by: Amy 7 November 2006 - 02:00 PM

I currently account for 100% of the votes on this poll!

Ratty...you're great for finding and working on restoring the comments!

I voted excellent! So many in the first season are because they are classics! MacGyver goes on an important assignment (were there any that weren't important?) and in typical style finds a side cause...I love it when Mac works with people to change how they view themselves...he helps them find it in themselves to be free and fight for it. And of course, you've got the little kid factor...I love the scene too where he thinks Mac is leaving.

And I love the tongue in cheek humor when he's asked what he's doing there...

"Tourist?"

Posted by: Macs Lab Rat 9 November 2006 - 02:44 AM

I voted Ok but it was a mistake!

I thought I was in the "Thief of Budapest" discussion!

I would have voted good, if not excellent if I knew I was in here.

I loved the traps and how he and the villagers managed to defeat several jeeps full of armed soldiers.

It deserves so much better than an OK!

I might cry!

Posted by: Amy 10 November 2006 - 05:14 AM

Awwwww! Well we know how you feel!

Posted by: MacGyver_92 15 November 2006 - 05:45 PM

QUOTE (Amy @ Nov 8 2006, 10:10 AM)

I currently account for 100% of the votes on this poll!

Ratty...you're great for finding and working on restoring the comments!

And I love the tongue in cheek humor when he's asked what he's doing there...

"Tourist?"

Amy, ya gotta let me borrow some episodes sometime!!

Posted by: abacab 5 July 2007 - 04:48 AM

Ah, it's this one. A lot of people seem to just hate this episode, mostly because they find it boring, overwrought, dramatic and lame. It is. But it has its good points, to be sure. However, this isn't exactly the best way to follow up a series pilot.

The main problem with this episode is probably the performances. Anderson is good, but he's not up to his standard. I liked George Cheung as Narai, and Keye Luke turns in exactly the performance that his fans would expect, but the rest aren't quite as good. In particular, Benjamin Lum as Truang has some major problems, mostly with being extremely dramatic and idiotic. These may have been character flaws, but Lum certainly had his part in the character's failure. As well, the story is a little boring- generic and weak.

The direction is fine, about up to the typical standard. The opening gambit is probably better than everything else- you could have flipped it with the episode, developing its story and reducing the episode's, and I think everything would have been better. There are a couple of impressive moments, but nothing for the record books. Overall, this is a missable episode.

My rating: 3/10

Posted by: MacGyver 14 July 2007 - 05:18 PM

Like I said about 3 years ago now, this is one of the first episodes of MacGyver I remember seeing as a child. "The Golden Triangle" is one of my all time favorites!!! There were lots of great traps he helps the people set up and I particularly love the scene where Mac ropes down the helicopter!!! Cool!
And it's one of the earliest expressions of MacGyver's disgust for guns when he refuses to teach the people how to shoot weapons, but shows them a better way to fight.
And I still definitely get misty-eyed at the scene where the kid thinks MacGyver's about to leave, but then is elated when he finds that MacGyver has in fact stayed to help them.
And the opening gambit in the junkyard was great too, of course. The whole episode was really great- with lots of iconic scenes culled from this episode that are used in the opening credits a lot- MacGyver pole vaulting onto that guy in the jeep, MacGyver blowing up the flare, diving under the jeep as the helicopter swoops by and pulling down the helicopter. Overall, this is an excellent episode!

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 14 July 2007 - 05:51 PM

Yeah I would say this would be one of those episodes that any newcomer to MacGyver needs to watch, just to get some basic character understanding.

Posted by: Astra 15 July 2007 - 01:02 PM

Well, if he really disgusts guns, why would he then use the weapons in this other way? Shooting is shooting, and somebody easily could have get hurt or even killed by this arrangement either. All it needs is one wrong touch, and if then somebody was standing in the line of fire... very dangerous, in my opinion! Especially for people that shortly before didn't even know which end the bullets go in.

Posted by: MacNymph 15 July 2007 - 02:51 PM

I asked Rocky last night. Why do they need "months of training" if he's not going to let them point the guns in the first place?

Love the helicopter stunt scene. That was kewl.

The rest was 80's television. *shrugs* What can you do?

I voted "Okay" because of all the incredibly bad acting. And I hate it when they dub the kids.

Posted by: MacGyverGrrl 15 July 2007 - 08:13 PM

I voted Good. This was actually the first episode I remember seeing. I missed the pilot the first time it aired and caught it on a summer rebroadcast.

The Golden Triangle was the reason I kept watching MacGyver. some of the "acting" was way over the top, and the writing could have been tighter, but for the second episode of a new series, it wasn't too bad.

I can remember that there was some controversy over the show because of the level of violence in this episode. There were some family watchdog groups pitching a fit becasue this particualr episode was considered very violent and aired during primetime family hour.

Its funny now, comparing the level of violence in MacGyver to the shows that air on primetime on network and cable TV. When taken in context of today's TV offerings and the violence in them, MacGyver becomes remarkably tame. I guess 20 years changes a lot.

Overall, its a pretty good episode.

Posted by: Murdoc12 25 March 2009 - 12:37 PM

I really like this ep. I mean the acting isn't great, but the MacGyverisms make up for it. I voted excellent.

Posted by: Beachbead 18 April 2009 - 10:17 AM

very good episode loved it.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 22 April 2009 - 01:18 PM

Just wanted to mention something I heard Mac say in this episode. He said that he had a cousin that adopted a dog that had been beaten. Every time that someone went to pet the dog, she would cower; and that it is sad to see in animals and humans. Don't know if anyone else caught on to that statement. But it perked my ears up. Maybe that is how Young MacGyver came to be.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 22 April 2009 - 02:10 PM

QUOTE (SMeeceymouse @ 23 April 2009 - 09:18 AM)

I think that point as been thrown into the argument once before, but it was decided that you can't get a nephew from a cousin, because nephews are children of your brother or sister, and I think we also agreed that because this was a very early episode, the characters background hadn't been worked out yet.. i.e. Shooting the gun in the first episode.

Thats not to say that the original idea of a nephew didn't' come from that statement, it could very well be that the research for Young MacGyver was simply watching the first few episodes of the show.. in fact I'd go so far as to say it probably was the research.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 22 April 2009 - 02:30 PM

Mac may have been an older cousin, and used the "uncle" has term of endearment. And if he had a cousin his grandfather on the Mac side had to have a son or a daughter. That would've made them cousins.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 22 April 2009 - 02:45 PM

QUOTE (SMeeceymouse @ 23 April 2009 - 10:30 AM)

Yeah, but it's made pretty clear in later episodes that he has no family of any kind. So the producers of the Young MacGyver obviously didn't do very much, if any homework on the character.

There was no explanation given in the pilot episode of the show to explain any unusual circumstances... i.e. an unknown family member etc, so they took no steps to explain how MacGyver suddenly has a family member, which indicates, again, that the producers of that show didn't know what they where doing. So it's probably just as well the show wasn't picked up, who knows what other sacrilege's they might have pulled.

Posted by: SMeeceymouse 22 April 2009 - 02:51 PM

It happens all the time in the Soap opera world. The lost the history of the script that was first written. Shame on them.

Posted by: Miasma 3 September 2010 - 08:29 AM

Didn't like this episode. I couldn't get past the horrendous acting by everyone involved.

Plus, I don't know if it's just me, but I have a hard time seeing Season 1 episodes as being part of the same series that we see in seasons 2-7. It just feels like a different character. There are things Mac does in Season 1 that I really couldn't see him doing later on. That's not really a criticism, but it does make it harder to watch some season 1 episodes.

Posted by: Ad hoc 11 January 2012 - 12:45 AM

There is only one thing about this episode I dont like so much and that is Truang comes across as too much of an idiot (I think someone else already said something similar). Other than that, one great thing that sticks out for me in this episode is right at the end when a villager (Ming?) says "now we are free", Mac says "yeah", and then we hear the sound of synthesizer and drum play as the helicopter rotors turn. For some reason I find that such a powerful and cool ending.

Posted by: KiwiTek 3 June 2012 - 02:23 AM

This must be one of the few episodes which doesn't end on a face shot of MacGyver.

This is quite an enjoyable and fun episode to watch. I love the whole scene when Truang tells Narai that he made MacGyver talk. The way Narai turns to look at him completely unimpressed and then looks back at MacGyver who gives him that shrug. It's almost like both MacGyver and Narai are thinking the same thing. Makes me laugh every time.

Posted by: NightTinkerer 29 July 2012 - 09:13 AM

As with the previous episode, some of the things that I thought of have already been discussed. I have some reflections though:

I love this opening gambit as well. I know, it's been said many times, but the "hit in the face" line always cracks me up. We're starting to get a grip on MacGyver's sense of humor!

I find it very interesting that the episode starts with the sunbathing scene, where we find Mac conveniently stretched out, relaxing in the sun on the beach--and just a few scenes later he's tied up in a stretched out position, exposed to extreme heat and sunlight and left to die!

The scene when Mac returns from the chopper after returning the canister, just to help the people, is indeed heartwarming, and also shows what a sympathetic character he is--always willing to risk his life to help others!

QUOTE

This is quite an enjoyable and fun episode to watch. I love the whole scene when Truang tells Narai that he made MacGyver talk. The way Narai turns to look at him completely unimpressed and then looks back at MacGyver who gives him that shrug. It's almost like both MacGyver and Narai are thinking the same thing. Makes me laugh every time.

Me too.

Another great example of his sarcastic sense of humor.

It was also touching to watch that despite the fact that the people were freed from their slave labor for the general, Mac was still saddened that the general had to die. Maybe that was why they didn't show his face at the end--it wasn't after all a 100% happy ending when someone had to get killed...

A "good" rating from me.

Posted by: KiwiTek 26 November 2012 - 03:06 PM

QUOTE (NightTinkerer @ 30 July 2012 - 06:16 AM)

Yeah that scene chokes me up a little every time. The boy thought his only hope of freedom and getting out of the horrible slave situation he was in had just left him there without a thought. And then when the smoke clears and you see that MacGyver hasn't left at all - very heartwarming indeed.

Posted by: Mela_007 27 November 2012 - 06:29 AM

I agree Kiwi, plus Mac's comment to the boy. I don't remember exactly what it was right now but something like, "It's ok, I'm not going anywhere" or something similar. I really liked that!!

Posted by: Mela_007 9 January 2013 - 04:13 PM

I watched this episode again last night and noticed something as the ending credits were rolling (I think it was this episode)...there was a person with the first name of Angus listed in the credits!! I'm not sure if they had decided upon Mac's first name when this episode was shot, but I thought it was interesting to see.

Posted by: MacGyverisms 27 February 2013 - 04:28 PM

I really like the opening gambit in this episode as well. The "Hit in the face" line always cracks me up.

Just another early example of Mac's sense of humor. Some of the acting was way over the top. And the writing could have been a lot tighter, but for the second episode of a new series, it wasn't that bad. I love the scene when Truang tells Narai that he made MacGyver talk. The way Narai turns to look at him completely unimpressed and then looks back at MacGyver who gives him a shrug. It's almost like MacGyver and Narai are thinking the same thing. Another example of Mac's sarcastic sense of humor.

The scene when Mac returns from the chopper after returning the canister, just to help the people, is very kind and heartwarming, and this scene also shows what a sympathetic character he is. Because Mac is always willing to risk his life to help others! I also really liked the scene were one of the villagers says "Now we are free", And Mac says "Yeah" and then and then we hear the sound of synthesizer and drum play as the helicopter rotors turn. For some reason I find that such a powerful and very cool scene. And I also felt that Mac was kid of sad that the general had to die in the end. They didn't show it on his face at the end. But it isn't a happy ending if someone had to die... Not a great episode, but still a good episode.

Overall Rating: 8/10

Posted by: Rocket 22 September 2013 - 01:15 PM

I love the high-stakes-adventure episodes

I particularly like the way Mac ropes the whole village into the plan, kids and all! I like the way he gives the bad guys loads of opportunities to give it up and the way the villagers rally round when they see there is hope.

I gave it an excellent

Posted by: kristiina86halonen 8 April 2014 - 02:22 AM

QUOTE (Sonyab Sep 6 2004 @ 11:46 AM )

Oh another thing when he was tied to that bed thing with the hot sun they showed this guy that looked dead. When Mac cut himself out he grabbed the dead guy's belt I think. How did the guy die? MacGyver couldn't of killed him altho it did cross my mind but who killed the guy?

I wondered that, too. But I explain this so, that MacGyver freed himself with the knife, he knocked out this guy and then he laid down again and only pretended to be tied up, so he could easily eliminate the next guy.

I agree, that MacGyver's character was quite different in season 1 or, at least, in the first half of season 1. It was much lighter and careless and there was some James Bond-like twist in him. But the first season is what I remember best from my childhood and for that reason it's very important for me. So, I love the season 1 very much.

About that fighting thing: I like this part of MacGyver's character, that he wasn't a very good fighter. He was clumsy and won the fights rather by lucky accidents or using his cleverness than with brutal force. RDA was very athletic and could be much better fighter than MacGyver

, although this clumsiness was definitely the quality, that RDA himself brought in MacGyver's character. And it was a good idea, 'cause it adds the reality and convincingness of the character. And, because of his background as a mime and because of the qualities of his own personality, RDA acted this clumsiness perfectly.

But, what is far away from reality, and particularly in this episode, is this eternal enigma of language. But, as we saw in Stargate SG-1, the WHOLE UNIVERSE speak english, so this problem is solved

Posted by: Duckt tape 2 May 2014 - 01:15 PM

Did that dog story bother anyone else?
I liked this episode otherwise except for these parts: " All that puppy knew how to do was cower, cringe away from you, expecting to be hit. It's a real ugly thing to see in a dog. It's even worse in human being" and "get a close look at human beings treated like animals."
I just can't believe MacGyver would say something like that! Made me so angry I wanted to skip the whole episode. And still after 7 seasons just thinking about that makes me feel like i'm going to explode.

With all that scientific knowledge and outdoor preference How could he put people in some godlike statue above the other animals and say it's less bad to hit a dog? Why would it be ok to treat other animals worse than people? It's not worse to see a beaten human than to see a beaten dog. It's equally as bad. Actually I think it's worse to beat a dog. If human hits human the other human can always hit back, go to doctor, go to police, tell his/her family and friends and get help. It might be hard but it is possible. Both being the same species the fight would be more equal, fair and understandable. Even though it would be wrong. But If human beats dog all the dog can do is bite or cover. It can't tell the damage the beating really made. And if it bites that human would most likely just kill the dog or abandon it or hit harder, because dogs aren't supposed to bite people. Even if it would be self- defense.
I just hate it how so many people think they are above nature instead of being part of it even though all living things are just as valuable and i thought MacGyver would have known it.

Posted by: KiwiTek 2 May 2014 - 02:33 PM

QUOTE (Duckt tape @ 3 May 2014 - 10:15 AM)

I just can't believe MacGyver would say something like that! Made me so angry I wanted to skip the whole episode. And still after 7 seasons just thinking about that makes me feel like i'm going to explode.

But it's OK to keep them as pets and make them do stupid tricks or force them to do jobs and work for us with bribes of food and play time?

I've never actually thought about that line from the angle you suggest, I don't think he is suggesting that it's "less bad" I think he's just reflecting the perfectly natural condition of feeling more empathy for your own species because you have a better understanding of how that treatment would affect them because you can easily put yourself in that situation and imagine how you would feel and as a result it has more of shock for you to see it. With other animals it tends to be an emotional response based on sight and sound, with humans there's a deeper connection.

It's also worth noting that humans being the top of the chain is a strong theme throughout nearly (if not all) of human history. It's certainly a strong theme in many religions, which even today have a strong influence over many societies.

Even you're own statement reflects that you perceive humans as above other animals when you say it's worse for a human to hit a dog; You're implying that the human is the superior animal beating the inferior dog. Which I guess just goes to show that no matter how much we try to better ourselves, somethings are so deeply rooted in our subconscious that we follow them without even realizing it.

Interesting point of view though and it raises some good philosophical questions.

Posted by: Duckt tape 3 May 2014 - 12:31 AM

Like the fox in little price said: " You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."
As we have tamed our pets we're responsible for their wellbeing. And as the taming has already happened over 30 000 years ago there's not much we can do about it anynore except to take responsibility of their happiness. Those tames animal can't handle thenselves alone in wild nature the way they used to before taming. But people can look after themselves and get help with knowledge we have.
Human is more powerful by scientific knowledge and we're the only animal that can destroy the whole planet with our actions. It doesn't make us better or more valuable it just means that we have to think also other speaces and the impact our actions have.

QUOTE

don't think he is suggesting that it's "less bad" I think he's just reflecting the perfectly natural condition of feeling more empathy for your own species because you have a better understanding of how that treatment would affect them because you can easily put yourself in that situation

That's a good point! I never thought it like that. Now I can like MacGyver again in good conscience

Posted by: MiracleMac 18 June 2014 - 07:37 AM

Mac drove in the junk yard a fork lift tractor which was also used in one Knight Rider episode called Blind Spot, it was filmed at same location, year before MacGyver. Elyssa Davalos acted in that episode Blind Spot too.

Posted by: denizen 18 June 2014 - 08:42 PM

Hey, I remember that Knight Rider episode. Good work, MiracleMac!

Posted by: MiracleMac 21 July 2014 - 05:15 AM

I love the scene where the tree branch swipes above the jeep and all soldiers are jumping from it, yelling ooooohhhhh

Posted by: Barry Rowland 31 July 2015 - 07:55 PM

Mac absolutely trouncing an evil drug lord and his minions? It doesn't get any better than this! On top of that, he empowers others to better their own piece of the world to boot. I sure do miss Mac!

Posted by: RadiantRose 28 October 2016 - 12:09 PM

QUOTE (Macs Lab Rat @ 7 November 2006 - 01:13 PM)

I'm guessing the ladies enjoyed the sun bathing scene and the fact that he wears a tank top for most of the show.[/QUOTE]

It's possibly just me, but when I try to think of erotic moments in film and TV, everyone is fully clothed in the scenes my mind goes to. It's not that there's anything wrong with Mac's chest per se, you understand.

(I liked the interview that RDA did, where he said that we never see

undressed because it would take the make-up artists too long to draw on all the scars from his various adventures. Apparently they couldn't use RDA's real scars because he and Mac have had different injuries or something.)

That said, I did quite like seeing his arms. I like seeing him fully dressed, which is most of the episodes, but I also like the episodes where we see his arms.

Posted by: RadiantRose 28 October 2016 - 12:17 PM

QUOTE (kristiina86halonen @ 8 April 2014 - 02:22 AM)

[QUOTE=Sonyab Sep 6 2004, 11:46 AM ]

But, what is far away from reality, and particularly in this episode, is this eternal enigma of language. But, as we saw in Stargate SG-1, the WHOLE UNIVERSE speak english, so this problem is solved

On behalf of my people, ie those whose first language is English, I apologise.

It's all the horrible, tricky spellings. Once we've tried to get the hang of English, which is a horrible, fiddly, difficult language, we're too worn out to try to learn other languages.

SG1 probably used the Universal Translator or Babel Fish.

Posted by: RadiantRose 28 October 2016 - 11:57 PM

QUOTE (Duckt tape @ 2 May 2014 - 01:15 PM)

I could take the line "Mac eats animals sometimes, but never eats humans, which is speciesist", which would be accurate. But there's another interpretation. I think.

He could have meant that he felt sad when he saw the dog cowering. But at least the dog was safe and might learn to trust his cousin. Whereas the people were cowering because of a situation that was existing at the time he was observing them. I accept that isn't what he said, but sometimes people don't manage to express their precise meaning the first time they try to do so.

This episode dates from around the time Rambo came out, if memory serves. Maybe the intention was to base Mac on Rambo. The location and even Mac's headband suggest this. Especially since there wasn't really a practical use for the headband, since his hair clearly wasn't getting in his way during the opening gambit and the first part of the episode.

Since they hadn't really established Mac's dislike of needless violence, they could have come up with a lot of ingenious, science-based ways to kill off the bad guys.