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 58 - The odd triple

Jack Dalton gets MacGyver to help him pilot a woman back home to France with her priceless jewels. But once they land, they are arrested for theft.

How did you rate this episode?
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OK [ 1 ] [14.29%]
Good [ 3 ] [42.86%]
Excellent [ 3 ] [42.86%]
Total Votes: 7

This is a great Mac,Jack and Pete episode.

Am I right in thinking it's one of the few episodes where we see all three of them sharing "equal action" in the episode? Normally Pete's back at the office organizing to save Mac and Jacks butt.

I love the line from MacGyver. "Your friends are planning to kill you. Mine are planning to save me."

I love the way that line conveys how much faith and trust MacGyver has in Pete and Jack.

I agree it's a really fun episode.
They should have used this one in the "Hindsight" episode when Mac is trying to remind Pete of a time when Pete saved Mac. I know it didn't really work out 100%, but hell, it would be better than the clips they DID use in that episode (I watched "The Assassin" last night, and it occurred to me that they could have used that episode in Hindsight too, since Pete saves Mac from being killed by Piedro during the opening fight sequence.)

Pete saves Mac in the last fight scene of 'The Assassin' too... by distracting Piedra--shouting at him just as he was about to shoot Mac--and then it was too late; the poison killed the assassin.

I like this episode (The Odd Triple) very much, for the Mac-Jack-Pete dynamic. The one ep where Pete and Jack have to work together

I also like this ep because it shows Mac flying a plane. I always wondered why he didn't fly more often, or have a plane of his own. He must have had a pilot's license--but he seemed to prefer to be grounded and leave the wings to Jack. It is an interesting facet of MacGyver's personality.

The CO2 jets-propulsion wine vat is so outrageously far-fetched that I laugh instead of nitpick--just so deliciously MacGyver!

Darn, you just gave away the ending to The Assassin... I had to stop watching about midway through because I needed to get some stuff done, and I was planning to continue watching tonight! Oh well.

Sorry! I didn't expect someone refering to an episode to not have watched it through.

I'm not much good at sparing the spoilers in a discussion thread... just one more thing I'll burn for later.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the episode anyway.

Yeah they would have gotten more power from pushing it than relying on those cylinders.

No problem! I was just messing with you. It's true that I didn't get around to seeing the ending yet, but I don't actually mind that you revealed it. I probably won't get a chance to watch the second half until a few days from now anyway.
It's all good!

I just watched this one with my husband and he about busted a gut when he figured out that Pete hired that guy to nail Jack He never watched MacGyver till he got with me. He didn't think that Pete had it in him to do anything like that.
I wish they would have had more episodes like this with the three of them working together. I really loved Pete's reaction when he got MacGyver's message.

This has become one of my favourite Mac-Jack-Pete episodes. There is such wonderful chemistry between each character. They make a hilarious, if dangerously unpredictable team!

Opening up with a Jack-attack-a marvelous opening which motivates our MacGyver into another caper, almost against his will!


But he's hooked! Jack knows just how to push his friend's buttons.


The scene where Jack and Mac escape from the French Authorities is wonderful, showing how well they work together.
Gleeful the way they maneuver their opponents.

Care to dance?

And Mac's phone call to Pete—where he keeps telling Pete to sit down. He obviously knows how Pete is going to react.

Seeing Pete and Jack forced to work together is fun. Pete doesn't trust Jack--basically thinks he's a low-life troublemaker
--and Jack thinks Pete is a paper-pushing bureaucrat.


My favourite Pete quote is in this ep, too!
“Jack, having you as a friend is a little bit like owning a pet disease!”

Seeing the three of them together at the end of the story is a delightful treat


An all-around fun episode!

I just re-watched this episode; it’s one that I like more each time I watch it.

I’m not too fond of the soft touch/reluctant adventurer schtick that the series often used, with Mac being dragged or bullied or overridden into a mission. It got old for me very fast. But the opening scene of this one is so wonderful – I love Mac sagging against the staircase handrail ropes, and the whole exchange. He gets every nuance out of the scene.

The title was a puzzle for me when I first saw it; then I realised it’s a riff on “The Odd Couple”. The Odd Triple is Mac, Jack, and Pete – an unlikely trio, especially given that Pete likes Jack about as much as I do. Their interactions are wonderful, from Pete arranging to have Jack found and delivered (slightly bruised) to the series of rescues.

Jack Dalton was a very tough sell for me from the beginning – I don’t find charismatic liars cute or funny. (I’ve been through too much of the damage they cause.) This was one of the episodes (along with Jack In the Box and Wing and a Prayer) that made a real difference in my attitude. I think this is the first time that Jack’s skill at lying gets turned into a knack for undercover work – Jenny’s Chance, of course, being the best of that line.

The heart of the episode is the three of them working together, and I just plain love it. The mock-fight between Mac and Jack is brilliant. Pete’s work with Jack is delightful.

I do still cringe at the rabbit, though – I wish they’d found a less ridiculous way for Mac to be caught while Jack escapes.

And I have a soft spot for Mac’s idealistic conversation during the flight to Toulon – it’s sappy, but it’s sincere.

Has anyone actually been to Toulon? Does British Columbia actually look anything like it?

And I think the warehouse where Pete has Jack delivered is the same one they used in Back From the Dead!

Oh! I forgot to mention my other favourite moment of this episode!

After Mac and Jack have escaped, and they are talking about their options...
When Mac gets his idea, Jack recognizes the look on his face, and says,
"What? Your light just came on... give!"

Anyone who's spent some time around Mac can probably recognize that look.

May I join in, ladies?

I recently watched this episode as part of my 'hand double study', and I must say, it has grown on me. The first time I didn't like it very much because I didn't like Jack very much, in fact I hated the selfish bastard, who's not caring in the least for his exhausted friend, oh no, his Air Dalton dream comes first. Always using his best friend to his own advantage.
But also Mac's compliance annoyed me. Instead of kicking the guy out for ruining his treasured old western movie and nagging his head off, and for posing as the owner of the houseboat, he lets himself get dragged into another disaster.
Almost against his will, Lothi? Where is the almost?

After having seen it some more I find Jack more or less okay - although he will never be one of my favorite characters. But he has some nice scenes with Mac – I love their little fight scene, too – and his chauffeur is very nice.
Your favorite Jack-quote in this episode is also mine, Lothi! I even use it when I can.

And Beth, I have been to Toulon quite a few times, and I can tell you the producers did a great job in getting the French atmosphere right. The Odd Triple really has a French feel to it. Even the airport looks like the real thing, at least as it used to be about fifteen years ago – they have modernized it quite a bit lately. And the interiors in the police station also look very authentic, with a picture of president Pompidou in the background and nice French cops in uniform. Well done.
And what really amazed and delighted me was the real map they used, of the real surroundings of Toulon. I know the Roca Troca and the Grand Cap and other places over there.

Just one thing about the winery. There are lots and lots of wineries in that region, but I don't know any that looks like the Domaine de Donnaye. Near Beaune and more to the north maybe – where it is also much greener – but in the south? Then again, I haven't seen them all, of course. It just doesn't look very South of France-like.

Last note: it seems a bit cold at Toulon airport, for a town at the border of the Mediterranean. But maybe that is a bit nitpicky of me.

No wonder your name is Traveller!

Must have been one of those British Colombian Summers in the South of France that year... *chuckles*

Yup, that sums it all up nicely! I've never felt comfortable with the idea of Mac being a wuss who allows his friends to bulldoze him; his personality is too strong. It didn't make sense to me when they first introduced the trope in Season 2 (remember 'Soft Touch'?), and repetition only made it more annoying.

That said, this was one time when the scene is so well played that it won me over, in spite of it. The episode went a long way to getting me past my intense initial loathing of Jack -- including the glee at Pete telling Jack off to his face.

I caught another truly wonderful moment in my re-watch -- in the scene when Mac and Jack have been denounced by the security head and are being hauled off to the 'interrogation room", Mac gives Jack a Look. A most eloquent Look. It's a truly priceless moment, to which no mere words can truly do justice.

Alas, they could pick their locations, but they couldn't actually control the weather! I remember snickering at one scene in "Bitter Harvest", where the Foley tech had dubbed in crickets chirping . . . but it was so cold the actors' breath was making visible puffs of steam.

Yes, I totally agree!
The more I watch RDA as MacGyver (and other roles), the more I admire his non verbal acting. And in The Odd Triple he gives us a lot of that. Like the first scene you mentioned, from the moment he enters his houseboat right up until 'I'm al packed', it's a joy to watch. Especially because it is all very subtle, and done with great timing.

So yeah, I have seen and savoured the look Mac gives Jack before they are hauled to the interrogation room (pronounced in the Clouseau way, I love that).

The end of this episode isn't very much to my liking. They should have cut after the handshake Mac gives Pete. Jack jumping in with his new plan, nah, way too fast, way too abrupt. In that situation, right after all that turmoil where Pete nearly got killed, not very believable. It feel forced to me. They clearly wanted to end on a funny note, but should have restrained themselves. We all know that Jack looks for every opportunity to make a quick buck, so they don't have to rub it in one more time. And of course then Mac and Pete share an aggravated look and walk away. Very predictable...

I suppose the ending might have been to show that, in spite of everything, Jack hasn't learned a thing from the experience and will continue to misbehave . . . but I agree, it didn't need yet another iteration.

That's so cool, the map of the Toulon area being real! I had wondered.

Yeah I like that line too. It shows how well Jack knows MacGyver. Right up there with the quote from Partners when Pete says "I don't know how your mind works, but I know when it works".



This episode has quite a few moments which show how well Mac,Pete and Jack know each other and how close Mac and Jack really are; almost like brothers.

There is one part of this episode though which bugs me and seem completely out of place to the point of being stupid. The rabbit. It's ridiculously out of place and SO obviously a pet. First off how many wild white rabbits have you ever seen? and how many wild rabbits have ever come up that close to you and not run away as soon as you even looked at it? Then there's the whole question of how did it get into the compound and even more baffling, why would it go into a compound of concrete and steel when it has green fields to play in? It's just lazy and stupid writing in my humble opinion.

Other that that one complaint this is another great episode.

I agree. They might just as well have used the Duracell bunny, because that would have been just as ridiculous.

Unless.. the rabbit was Paul Donnay's house pet

I think "The Odd Tripple" is a pretty good episode, but definitely not my favorite Dalton episode. In fact, Jack's persuasion methods are getting a bit tiresome. Though it was hilarious to see Mac hanging on to the railing of the staircase at the beginning, looking like a defiant child, I think that Dalton is definitely using him.

Mac and Jack's escape from the French Police is hilarious; I try to ignore the fact that the scenario with the pretty much non-existent security is probably highly implausible. The "dance scene" is so much fun!

I also laughed a lot over Murphy's Law and that white rabbit. Aaalmost a bit over the top, but OK. I like the fact that they did choose to keep Dalton as a character, but some of his scenes *are* getting a bit repetitive.

I understand why the "lost episode," "Mountain of Youth," was never aired. I'll elaborate further in its own thread, when I eventually get there, but though it wasn't such a bad episode in itself, it once again featured a scenario that we've seen so many times before.

I don't really know what to think about the MacGyverism with the wine barrels--I know that sudden gas pressure release from an open bottle can send the bottle flying through the air, but I haven't seen it with my own eyes. However, I imagine that kind of gas release to be more of an explosion, and I have my doubts that the pressure from the gas bottles attached to the barrels would be enough to push them forward like that--let alone breaking the brick wall!

Others have already mentioned the scene where Pete is listening to his answering machine, with instructions from Mac. And yes, I *loved* it too.

But, all the humor aside, my rating will still be "Good."

You think? Come on, Jack is Always using Mac. And Mac looking like a defiant child? Methinks Jack is the child, and Mac is not defiant, he is exasperated. And he still doesn't throw Jack out, noo, he lets himself get pulled into yet another scam.
About the security in the police station: in France, and certainly in the south, no police station had security in those days. It wasn't part of the culture, the way of life, moreover, it wasn't necessary. Just as airports didn't have security checks like nowadays. Times were quite different then. Innocent, even.

You think? Come on, Jack is Always using Mac. And Mac looking like a defiant child? Methinks Jack is the child, and Mac is not defiant, he is exasperated. And he still doesn't throw Jack out, noo, he lets himself get pulled into yet another scam.
About the security in the police station: in France, and certainly in the south, no police station had security in those days. It wasn't part of the culture, the way of life, moreover, it wasn't necessary. Just as airports didn't have security checks like nowadays. Times were quite different then. Innocent, even.

Yes, I agree, Jack is *definitely* like a child. I just meant that Mac looked like a defiant child in that particular scene, at the railing.

And of course, times were more innocent back then. I still have my doubts regarding the French Police--but I'm aware of that my picture of southern European policemen might be biased from mum and dad's experiences with the Spanish Police in the late 70's--in the area where my dad's from, they made a habit of following innocent motorists (etc) for miles and miles to try and catch them making mistakes, so they could fine them and present nice statistics for their bosses.

But like I said, I'm trying to look past the fact that Mac and Jack did escape so easily; I' far more bothered by Jack dragging Mac around against his will.

Heh heh...
With thanks to Mr. Thornton for the quote of the episode:

Pete: Jack, having you for a friend is like having a pet disease!

I really enjoyed this episode a lot!!! I love the opening seen in the boathouse. Shows Mac's human side: Tired, frustrated, etc. As earlier posts mentioned, I do not think Mac is a "wuss" or being taken advantage of by Jack. He's just helping a good friend...which is what Mac is all about. I'm sure Mac knows when he is "being played". He'd only do something like this for a very good friend.

Also loved his telephone message to Pete....the long pause as he waits for Pete to sit, then tells him to sit down again...shows how well they know each other.

The line about Jack being a like a pet disease was also great....my mom happened to walk in and started watching and she loved that line...was still talking about it after the show ended!

Loved how Pete, Mac and Jack all really worked together and had to trust each other. I think having Pete and Jack work together was a type of blending of Mac's personal and professional side.

I did have trouble with the rabbit. It came out of nowhere and seemed out of place. Also, a white bunny? That's a pet, not something roaming in the "wild". I was also wondering why Jack didn't at least try to get Mac's attention...perhaps it was because they didn't know where the guards might be and he didn't want to alert anyone?

lol at the white rabbit comments - that was a ridiculous aspect, they should have made it a possum or whatever animal might roam the south of France - also Jack could have ran at it to try and chase it away lol.

I've always really liked this episode, but I love the Jack episodes, and Mac's frustration at Jack. I don't think Mac is a wuss, he's a loyal friend, and if Jack lost his Dalton Air opportunity because he needed sleep, he would have felt bad about it. All his expressions during Jack's explanation of why he was there were priceless. Once he agreed, he was in good spirits about it - until they got arrested lol. I really pushed the limit of being diplomatic when taking to Elena on the plane, but I liked it anyway.

So many little humorous moments between Mac and Jack, Mac and Pete, Pete and Jack - really enjoyable.