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MacGyver Online Forums > Episode Discussions > 2.10 War Room + Ship

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 8 December 2017 - 03:11 PM

2.10 War Room + Ship

Airdate: Dec. 8, 2017
Writers: Brian Durkin and Andrew Karlsruher
Director: Tawnia McKiernan
Guest Cast:Billy Baldwin (Elwood) , Reign Edwards (Leanna Martin) , Luna Lauren Velez (Cassandra Glover)
Amy Okuda (Zoe) , Domenick Lombardozzi (Gunman) , Kyle Kennedy (Coast Guard Admiral)
Jeff Sprauve (Russ- Student) , Kate Bond (Jill- Tech)

Mac develops an emotional connection to the group leader of 32 college students stranded on a research ship in the Arctic Ocean with no heat and erupting fires as he talks them through how to stay alive while they await a rescue ship. Meanwhile Jack kidnaps Elwood to find out what scam he’s up to next, and Bozer’s feelings toward Leanna grow stronger.

Posted by: Miasma 8 December 2017 - 06:50 PM

This episode surprised me. When I realized all of Mac's "action" would be done remotely, I thought it would be boring. But as the episode went on, I actually got into the drama of it and found it to be one of the more tense and emotional episodes of the series. It also allowed Mac to be more "Mac-like"... caring, compassionate, concerned, etc, rather than just focusing on the usual car chases, etc. Definitely a more subdued episode, but in this case, it worked.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 8 December 2017 - 08:49 PM

I wonder if the name Zoe was a nod to Zoe Ryan from Legend of the Holy Rose?

Posted by: Syracuseanne 8 December 2017 - 10:00 PM

I totally agree that this episode was a nice surprise.....very intriguing and intense. Not the usual car chases and rock em, sock em robots show. Don’t get me wrong, i like ALL the shows but this one pulled my heart strings and showed more feeling from Mac than ever before. His eyes said it all. The show is going along and I’m watching and, of course, enjoying it all when suddenly.....my eyes well up and i can feel his pain. I can feel his frustration. What great writers this show has. This episode had better get great reviews, that’s all i can say.

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 9 December 2017 - 06:03 AM

Lenkov and the Writers kinda spoiled the ending beforehand on Twitter; so I wasn't overly surprised. I wouldn't have minded a happy end for Zoe, but I guess since so far no real tragedy ever happend to one of the main characters in this show, it was time to up the stakes.

I know I'm always complaining about the cast being too big, but I would have liked Zoe being a recurring character on the show (similar to Jill).

Although it makes me curious how Cage will "disappear" because they can't just let her die after what happened in this episode. They might stick with the Murdoc-angle (because he stated in 2x04 he knows some dark secret of hers) and conveniently, Murdoc will be back next week.

Also, there might be the possibility that with Cage gone soon, they'll add Leanna to the main cast one day. (The press release had stated that she might appear in more episodes after her story-arc.) Her working with Bozer would the writers suit well because... *cue Riley-Bozer-Leanna-Drama*.

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 9 December 2017 - 08:18 AM

Preliminary Ratings are in: http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/the-sked-friday-network-scorecard-12-8-2017.html

Higher Rating and Viewer Number than last week. Although there were mentions of preemptions. I still don't really understand what that actually is

, but usually preemptions means the final numbers will be a bit lower than the preliminary ones.

Posted by: Jediferret 9 December 2017 - 08:25 AM

QUOTE (DashboardOnFire @ 9 December 2017 - 09:03 AM)

Also, there might be the possibility that with Cage gone soon, they'll add Leanna to the main cast one day. (The press release had stated that she might appear in more episodes after her story-arc.) Her working with Bozer would the writers suit well because... *cue Riley-Bozer-Leanna-Drama*.

Oh god... lol

Not like I mind Leanna... but I actually skipped the whole Bozer/Leanna thing... too boring...

It's probably my biggest grip of the episode this time around. Before anyone whines at me, every single show I've ever loved has had episodes where the secondary story line was just so damn boring, I just skipped right past it to the good stuff. lol

Other than that, I thought Lucas Till's acting was excellent. It's nice to see MacGyver's compassionate side. The whole story line was good and solid. I wish there was a happy ending for Zoe as well... but, personally, that is when you know they did it right. As a writer, it's your job to get the audience to care about your characters... when one has a tragic end, you're supposed to be upset.

It certainly made me feel for MacGyver 2.0 and I wanted to give him a hug.

I didn't cry though... the original never made me cry either. I just kinda felt bad for Mac. Supernatural is the only show to ever make me cry... but that's because they constantly kill off fan favorite characters. =P Just when you think everyone is safe... *BAM!* Someone dies. Bunch of jerk writers......

One thing I do like about this reboot over the original, and shown in this episode, is seeing the more technical side of MacGyver trying to figure out how to get things to work. The original often just shows MacGyver throwing things together and HOPING it will work.

My father, being an engineer, often griped about the original being extremely unrealistic and MacGyver's skills being really over exaggerated. So I'm hoping when I see him in the Spring, I can show him an episode or two of the reboot... I have a feeling that my Dad is going to enjoy it a bit more than the original... just because it's more technical.

But, he's hard to please... so he might just be bored with it. XD

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 9 December 2017 - 09:04 AM

QUOTE (Jediferret @ 9 December 2017 - 06:25 PM)

Not like I mind Leanna... but I actually skipped the whole Bozer/Leanna thing... too boring...

Generally, I don't think the storyline per se would be boring. Spy training in movies and tv shows is always fun to me; there's just no point to it in this episode because it doesn't get the space it deserves and steals meaningful minutes that could have been used for the main storyline.

Although: what's the main storyline? *insert sarcasm here* - because thinking about the episode, the Jack/Elwood parts are somehow stronger implemented in my memory (despite me not caring as much for it).

This Episode would have been a lot stronger if they shoved the other storylines somewhere else and had let MacGyver/Lucas take the room - not just the War Room but the episode itself.

While the Jack/Elwood situation gets dealt with, the one with Bozer/Leanna seems... lost or something. Then I would actually prefer if they had done a Bozer-centered episode without Mac at all (like the Coltons-Spinoff-Episode in the Original) instead. The endgame (Bozer passing the test and getting the girl) could have been dealt with in 5 minutes in total. "Either do it right and give it enough screentime or don't do it at all" is what I think.

That the B- and C-Storylines take up too much room is easily to verify if you look at Matty and Cage: they're not needed for this episode. The emotional support by Matty in the end could have been delivered by Jack or Bozer. Cage helped by scrambling stuff together for Mac in the War Room, but I think even Jill had more lines and screentime this time. And if Jack hadn't been occuppied with Elwood, it would have been him in the War Room helping instead of Cage or Jill.

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 10 December 2017 - 02:53 AM

QUOTE (MacGyverOnline @ 9 December 2017 - 06:49 AM)

I wonder if the name Zoe was a nod to Zoe Ryan from Legend of the Holy Rose?

hm... maybe.

Though when it comes to names, they don't tend to do that.

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 10 December 2017 - 02:56 AM

QUOTE (Jediferret @ 9 December 2017 - 06:25 PM)

Other than that, I thought Lucas Till's acting was excellent. It's nice to see MacGyver's compassionate side. The whole story line was good and solid. I wish there was a happy ending for Zoe as well... but, personally, that is when you know they did it right. As a writer, it's your job to get the audience to care about your characters... when one has a tragic end, you're supposed to be upset.

True. Funny thing is, I really rooted for her to make it although I don't know much about her.

I don't think I would have been as sad if Leanna or Elwood hadn't made it (I'm a bad, bad person

), although we've seen them in 3 episodes so far and they had a deeper emotional connection to the main characters.

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 10 December 2017 - 02:32 PM

“If you’re in this room, you just passed the most intense training the U.S. government has to offer.

Still laughing about this part

. So the 3+ weeks of Spy Training Bozer went through is the most intense training the government has to offer?

So what to the FBI and CIA peeps do according to the Reboot? Only 2+ weeks of training?

Posted by: Frog 10 December 2017 - 04:59 PM

The thing with this one ..... The way Mac gave up on Zoe in the ship. It's like he just said, " Yep, you're screwed, We have run out of supplies, so there is nothing we can do for you". This was very un-MacGyver-like to me.
He gave up too easily. She could of closed the door, gone up on deck with the rest and waited for the coast guard. That huge ship would have taken a long time to sink being as it was stuck in the ice.

As for Bozers training. Did he actually get shot??? It looked like live rounds being fired at them in the house they were staying in.
I really don't think that would be allowed. What if he got hit in the head and not in the arm.

Other than that, I enjoyed this episode.

Posted by: Jediferret 10 December 2017 - 06:55 PM

He actually didn't give up on Zoe. He was trying to figure out another way when she insisted on sacrificing herself.

This episode reminds me a lot of an episode from Supernatural called Heart, where Sam is forced to kill a girl after spending most of the episode trying to help her, and failing. The ending was utterly heartbreaking when he realizes the only way to save her was to kill her.

Part of the reason being is that you feel bad for the character for having to deal with the heartache, so you want the other character to live for their sake.

I liked Zoe simply because she was relatable. How many of us would be just as lost as she was if we were in her shoes?

MacGyver: You're gonna need this, this, this and this...

Me:

*yells into the distance* Is there adult on board that understands this nerd? I don't want to be the adult here!

So, I was genuinely saddened that she didn't make it. Besides, I thought the interaction between her and Mac was kinda cute.

Leanna is a decent character, but because I'm not interested in Bozer's side of the story, I never connected with her. Also, I'm not all that fond of Elwood either, but that's because I like Riley... so I'm all for Jack being the protective Dad figure.

Wait... Bozer got shot? O_o

Posted by: Miasma 11 December 2017 - 01:56 PM

QUOTE (Frog @ 11 December 2017 - 12:59 PM)

Not really. He kept trying to think of things, but they reached a point where nothing else would work, and SHE was the one who told him that she would have to sacrifice herself. He didn't want to accept that, but he eventually realized she was right.

I have to say, Zoe is easily my favorite one-time character on this show so far. I think the actress did a great job, especially considering how limited she was in terms movement. Even though she was only in one episode, I actually cared about her (more than I care about some of the main cast members, to be honest) and I felt badly when she didn't make it. At the same time, I'm glad she didn't make it. I think it would have felt cheap if they suddenly came up with a last second solution. This ending had much more impact.

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 11 December 2017 - 02:12 PM

QUOTE (DashboardOnFire @ 9 December 2017 - 06:18 PM)

Although there were mentions of preemptions. I still don't really understand what that actually is

, but usually preemptions means the final numbers will be a bit lower than the preliminary ones.

Well, looks like this time, the Reboot got lucky. While some shows adjusted down on audience numbers (Blue Bloods even lost in the demo ratings), MacGyver's numbers ajusted up.

This Episode is now the second-highest of Season 2 when it comes to audience numbers (after 2x07: Duct Tape + Jack). I'm really curious how next week's ratings will turn out with Bruce McGill as guest star.

via http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-friday-cable-originals-network-finals-12-8-2017.html

Posted by: MacsMinx 4 February 2018 - 12:45 AM

(MacGyverOnline @ 8 December 2017-08:49 PM)

QUOTE

I wonder if the name Zoe was a nod to Zoe Ryan from Legend of the Holy Rose?

Perhaps, but I think they probably used "Zoe" for a sense of irony; the name Zoe means life.

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 30 April 2018 - 04:00 AM

Really liked this episode and how it focused on MacGyver just "doing his thing" and the others all took a step back and left him to it.

I actually enjoyed the side story with Jack and Elwood too.

Thought the Bozer storyline was wasted time which could have been used on either of the other two stories. Three storylines going at once is too much for a 1 hour show, especially when it's a "go nowhere" storyline like this one.

This would be one of my favorite episodes of the season so far.

Posted by: MacGyverGod 24 October 2018 - 04:31 AM

This was indeed one of the better episodes this season and it was also never done before. Back in the original show this probably wouldn't have been possible. Mac needing to help out someone from a distance. That's actually quite original. And again they also didn't shy away from any emotional approaches, which I only support. I really did not expect that ending though. Real good acting on Till's part, how he goes into full MacGyver-mode and then realizes he's going to fast and calms down Zoe and then proceeds on her speed.

Yes, it was another full house, but I still rather have Riley, Cage and Jill in the room then Matty who clearly was in the way this time but I was mostly glad she didn't have many lines. I was actually surprised she didn't try to bother Mac. She just had this look on her face: 'what the hell is he doing?' for most of the time. But I'm really glad she was out of the picture for the majority of the episode.

I kinda really like the Jack/Elwood story, like a minor rehash of Squeeze Play with that baseball thing. What I don't get is that Elwood, who's clearly taller then Jack gets beat up by him. And is it me or does Baldwin look like he hasn't slept in days? It's either that or it's part of the role being a former alcoholic or maybe he really was one in real life at a time. He didn't look that in let's say Fair Game.

Also Bozer and Leanna's story was interesting. I don't know why but this time around 3 different storylines seemed to work in the timeframe they had unlike two episodes ago.

And it shows the team doesn't have to be together all the time to make it work. Some more splitting up would definitely benefit in the show: Mac/Jack, Mac/Riley, Mac/Matty, Mac/Bozer (if we must), Mac/Cage and Mac alone.

QUOTE

Please don't.

QUOTE

He didn't gave up on her. The igniters didn't work, so she sacrificed herself by sealing the door from the other side. Besides the ship would've sunk before the coast guard made it, so she had to stay behind to buy enough time. And it was her choice.

QUOTE

Me: blink.gif *yells into the distance* Is there adult on board that understands this nerd? I don't want to be the adult here!

*yells from the other side*: Yes, it's you! You're the adult here, you're the oldest.

Posted by: Dragondog 24 October 2018 - 05:21 PM

MacG, every time you post your opinions, I just keep smirking at your speculations for future episodes that I've seen and you haven't

Posted by: MacGyverGod 25 October 2018 - 03:39 AM

That's because I'm behind and I'm always going to be behind with the airings. That's what happens when you live in Europe I guess. I wonder if they will air season 3 by the end of the winter or next spring or if they're going to wait like a year and half so they can immediately air season 4 as well. The dvd's are also still not available here. I'm kinda hoping the reboot will be here released along with Blu-ray of the original show. Maybe it catches up then. I've seen dvd's of tv-shows in shops here that still haven't aired here like Vikings for example or season 7 of GOT which was released here before it even aired.

So all I can do is speculate for myself and try to remain spoiler-free as good as I can, which is not always the case. For example I did not need to know Murdoc was coming back in the next episode but I guess that's just part of the game now.

My latest speculation is that Mac's mother is not dead at all but that his mother is in fact Matty. But then she must've been pregnant when she was like 5 or 10 or something. Or she's older then she looks.

Posted by: Dragondog 25 October 2018 - 05:50 PM

QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ 25 October 2018 - 06:39 AM)

I still get a somewhat evil thrill from it XD

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 26 October 2018 - 01:09 AM

QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ 26 October 2018 - 12:39 AM)

My latest speculation is that Mac's mother is not dead at all but that his mother is in fact Matty. But then she must've been pregnant when she was like 5 or 10 or something. Or she's older then she looks.

What?? How do you think she looks?!

If she's in her 40's... MacGyver is in his early 20's.. that means Matty was in her 20's when MacDaddy knocked her up.

P.S. Meredith is actually 44.

Posted by: MacGyverGod 26 October 2018 - 07:07 AM

Then she's older than I thought. I estimated her mid-thirties or so but then again that's a compliment, I guess.

It's not the way she looks I have a problem with, it's the way she acts. Yet considering her real age, it would be possible but of course that's just speculating.

Posted by: Rocket 20 May 2019 - 12:06 AM

QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ 25 October 2018 - 12:31 AM)

I kinda really like the Jack/Elwood story, like a minor rehash of Squeeze Play with that baseball thing. What I don't get is that Elwood, who's clearly taller then Jack gets beat up by him. And is it me or does Baldwin look like he hasn't slept in days? It's either that or it's part of the role being a former alcoholic or maybe he really was one in real life at a time. He didn't look that in let's say Fair Game.

Me too.
Mr Baldwin does indeed look rough. Good acting and a hats off to the make up and wardrobe departments, I reckon!

As to how Jack won the fight, well - it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog!
I'd have bet money on Jack to win

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 20 May 2019 - 05:10 AM

QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ 24 October 2018 - 02:31 PM)

And is it me or does Baldwin look like he hasn't slept in days? It's either that or it's part of the role being a former alcoholic or maybe he really was one in real life at a time. He didn't look that in let's say Fair Game.

The movie "Fair Game" was made in 1995. So I don't think that's a fair comparison

. That's like former RDA fans saying how much he changed since MacGyver

...

To be honest, I felt when seeing Baldwin the first time in the reboot that he does look like he has a former history of alcohol or drug abuse. But I never looked further into it if it's true. Sometimes life is just rough and some people age faster than others... but I have to agree, the make-up of him being banged up looked pretty great. I was actually surprised they went that far.

Interestingly, they like making their guest-stars look totally banged up (e.g. Murdoc), but Mac and Jack usually don't get more than a split lip and some bruises...

Posted by: MacGyverOnline 21 May 2019 - 12:40 AM

QUOTE (MacGyverGod @ 24 October 2018 - 02:31 PM)

He always looks like that. His squinty eyes make him look stoned all the time.

Posted by: DashboardOnFire 10 June 2019 - 08:51 AM

Blog post by Technical Advisor Rhett Allain about the MacGyverisms used in this episode: https://rhettallain.com/2019/06/10/macgyver-season-2-episode-10-science-notes-war-room-ship/

Posted by: sylvain1888 27 September 2020 - 01:39 PM

An absolute must of this season !!!! Too bad not being able to vote as for the first series.