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 81 - Easy target
Travelling back from a ski weekend, Pete and MacGyver encounter terrorists who plan to cripple a nearby city using electromagnetic technology.
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votes from October 2006 Poor [ 0 ] [0.00%] Average [ 0 ] [0.00%] OK [ 1 ] [8.33%] Good [ 6 ] [50.00%] Excellent [ 5 ] [41.67%] Total Votes: 12
MacGyverGod Posted on Mar 26 2006, 11:37 PM
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This is an excellent episode. Even though Rick Drew himself said that he didn't like this episode is crock. But of course that's his opinion. I like this episode. The little arguing between Mac and Pete in the early beginnings was great. Pete's face before his first line is just plain funny. And they actually never made up. The fight at the end was great as well. This is also the last episode where in we hear MacGyver's voice over.
MacsChick Posted on Mar 27 2006, 06:09 AM
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I read about that somewhere, too--that Rick Drew didn't like how the episode turned out on film. Still, I think it's a good episode, too. It's pretty relevant, still, with all the terrorism that continues today. Using technology against cities is still a big idea for those kinds of organizations, and even though the technology in the episode might seem dated now, it's still a scary thought.
I also like Mac and Pete's argument in the beginning. It was funny and they really looked ticked off with each other!
My favorite line from this episode:
Military Man: "Do you realize you just destroyed an expensive piece of technology?" (Paraphrase--I don't remember how exactly he asked the question, but you get the idea ). MacGyver: "Sorry." He's just so nonchalant, here! He shrugs it off and shows how silly it is to worry about the technology when greater issues are at stake.
MacGyverGod Posted on Mar 27 2006, 09:28 AM
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This one is also great. 'Pete, I thought you were going to fill it up when you went for pizza last night.' Pizza? And the bad guys question. 'How many people do you need to paralyze a whole city?' or something like that. MacGyver tries to guess it. 'I don't know you win.' 'The correct answer is four!'
MacGyver Posted on Mar 27 2006, 01:58 PM
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I thought "Easy Target" was an excellent episode! I agree that the arguing between MacGyver and Pete at the start of the episode was pretty funny.
And the storyline itself- of fighting terrorists who were using electromagnetic technology to hold a city hostage was pretty cool. And it was pretty neat to see Pete actually come through and save the day for once. He did come up with the idea to replace the pin in the grenades. And of course, MacGyver was there to couple with his own MacGyverisms- like rewiring the walkie talkies and shorting out the electromagnet. This was a good action-packed episode - I have no idea why Rick Drew wouldn't have liked it- I thought it was great!
Sheepy Posted on Mar 27 2006, 08:57 PM
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I voted excellent on this one, I thought it was great (the end; tying Pete to a tree with a simple piece of rope like that sucks a little bit, but hey it was still good)
I loved it when the terrorists stop Mac's jeep and when Mac sees the guy from the gas station "Hey, I was going to return the gas can" with such a crooked smile on his face.
Or when Pete en Mac are trying to replace the granate pins and one of them falls on the floor, take a look on how they look for shelter: Pete is walking around like a penguin, going in the wrong direction at first.
That really cracked me up!
Rockatteer Posted on Mar 29 2006, 12:29 PM
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Oh that whole scene with the granade pin is funny as hell.
MacNymph Posted on Apr 3 2006, 10:42 AM
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I didn't like the arguing between Pete and Mac at the begining. Was like an old married couple just arguing to hear their own voices. Not the clever banter they could have had. Pete was whinny. "I messed up. Shoot me" It's the writers fault mostly.
The whole hand grenade thing... why did Mac put it under Pete's pudgey chin? why didn't he just put it in Pete's other hand?
and then... why's Mac messing around with a piece of metal to undo the restraints when seconds later he whips out his SAK to undo Petes??
*shakes head*
and I love Pete... but someone should really have put Mr. Elcar on a diet. When it looks like you going to bust a gut just to bend down to pick up a gun. Not very action, leader, heroish.
Sheepy Posted on Apr 3 2006, 09:05 PM
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QUOTE
QUOTE The whole hand grenade thing... why did Mac put it under Pete's pudgey chin? why didn't he just put it in Pete's other hand?
Yeah, I didn't get that part either. It would've been so much easier. I guess they did it to add a little more suspense. I love the cellar part though. The interaction between Pete and Mac is usually very good. Besides I really love the peguin-shuffle.
Pete is so cute. He's like a big teddy bear.
Old Fan Posted on Apr 5 2006, 06:58 AM
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It looks as though the scene at the end where the weapon is targeting the "city" is Kitsilano Point. I've researched the area and the trees where Mac and Pete take cover are still there.
Many other areas in and around Vancouver are used - along with their names (sort of). Us folks in the USA were not familiar with the Vancouver area back then, and its fun to find these shooting locals.
:
Toni Posted on Apr 5 2006, 08:24 PM
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I liked this ep, I love the line when Mac says when he has a gun pulled on him 'Hey...I was going to return the gas can'
I always smile at the end when Mac asks Pete what he is doing next weekend and before Pete can finish his line Mac walks away patting Petes belly.
MACGYVERISMYDAD Posted on Apr 7 2006, 04:19 AM
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i voted excellant. i don't see either why rick drew did not like this ep. i think the whole premisis is a good one. i do not like the bickering in the begining. i just dont feel thats how mac would have reacted. this ep has one of my favorite quotes in it. wait until you try there (insert food type here) youll think you died and gone to heaven. then the women comes out and shoots them up. i think the hole grenade under petes "chubby chin" thing was to make it more dramatic. they easily could have put it in petes other hand. i love petes "penquin shuffle" when the grenade falls hillarious. he walks around like he doesnt know where hes going and actually if i remember correctly he walks right past the grenade like 2 times. i love when the one guy asks mac how many people does it take to paralyze a whole city as well. one thing i never understood is why would a top secret goverment piece of hardware be transported by two lone drivers? you think they would atleast have a armed guard or escort vehicle or something. plus i dont think they would be making any stops along the way to whereever they are taking it. thats like having a missle in the back of you truck and stopping at mcdonalds to get a bite to eat. i love the part at the end when the army dude starts complaining about how they just destroyed a top secret piece of harware and mac says i feel another stonewall coming on and pete says no we dont..you can count on it. i never did understand what they meant there though
MacNymph Posted on Apr 7 2006, 09:50 AM
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QUOTE (MACGYVERISMYDAD @ Apr 7 2006, 05:09 AM)
QUOTE
one thing i never understood is why would a top secret goverment piece of hardware be transported by two lone drivers? you think they would atleast have a armed guard or escort vehicle or something. plus i dont think they would be making any stops along the way to whereever they are taking it. thats like having a missle in the back of you truck and stopping at mcdonalds to get a bite to eat.
Good point.
And something else... the name of the baddies group... how many of you does "Black Dove" strike fear into your heart?? Coooo Coooo
Old Fan Posted on Apr 8 2006, 08:21 AM
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This is one of those episodes that never gets broadcast on TV. Why?? I originally thought it was because of the terrorist plot, but there is something more sinister going on here. If this is such a valuable piece of military hardware as the army(?) officer claims at the end of the story, why wasn't it given a military escort? Where was the security at the telephone switching station?, the TV broadcast station and at the power generating plant???
Lots of vulnerable locals and sensitive areas not getting the protection they deserve??? Complacency. Five years after the events of 9/11, many people have gone back to their existence as if nothing has changed, except taking a plane trip has become a little more time consuming because of the security checks - and they are being eased (really bad idea) even as we speak. Well, HELLO!!! This is the new reality. Deal with it.
Rockatteer Posted on Apr 8 2006, 09:25 AM
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What? new reality? what ARE you on about?
Old Fan Posted on Apr 9 2006, 07:07 AM
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What I meant was the fact that no one can truly feel safe anymore. Before 9/11, we were lulled into an illusion of safety but now we know that's not how the world works. We can't fool ourselves into believing we are safe anymore, nor can we trust that our society - whether in the US or anywhere in the world - can guarantee to preserve our way of life. We go about our daily lives and most of the time, nothing extraordinary happens - but we know it could. I liked it better before.
That's it - I'm not saying another word.
Rockatteer Posted on Apr 9 2006, 10:05 AM
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I think the 9/11 attacks just shocked America out of its “Superpower complacency”.
The rest of the world has been putting up with things like IRA bombings, plane hijackings etc for years. But America has always been THE superpower, THE strongest military force in the world etc etc… and of course with that comes a feeling of security.
But now Americans don’t have that feeling of security because the Bush administration is doing everything in its power to make sure its citizens are scared so Bush can use terrorism to justify things which normally wouldn’t’ be tolerated, such as a search for weapons of Mass Destruction, which still haven’t been found, a war on a country which really had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks and certain laws and acts which greatly infringes on peoples privacy and rights.
In fact I pretty sure terrorism has been in MacGyver more than this one episode. Wasn’t it a terrorist group who stole the missile in ugly duckling? Oh and Silent world?
MacsChick Posted on Apr 9 2006, 02:09 PM
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Very true, Rock--there are many terrorists Mac has to fight during the series, and they don't have to be from other countries, either. American citizens can also terrorize. That's why I think the show is still valid today.
MacGirl Posted on Apr 12 2006, 05:06 PM
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Rock, you are SO dead on... about America's complacency, and about King George the Dubya and his administration. If only OUR citizens could see it!!!!!!!!!
Anyway... this wasn't my fave ep, but it was entertaining enough.
MacGyverGod Posted on Apr 17 2006, 01:24 PM
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About putting the grenade under Pete's chin... I think they did it because Pete's hands were tied together. I mean maybe Pete's palm was tied to the back of his other hand. Anyway it made Pete look funny. And about the bickering and argueing... well if you look at the circumstances, you can see why they didn't apologise to each other. They saved each others life on this one. Perhaps there was somewhat Mac of Mask of the Wolf thing here. In Mask of the Wolf you can clearly see he wasn't too happy at all during the entire episode. Same thing here.
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I am watching it now, and still battling my cold. But I noticed the opening part with Mac and Pete--question: how did Mac not notice that the gasoline tank was almost empty looking at the gage--he is very, very observant. Wouldn't he notice right off? Or was he too preoccupied with his irritation with Pete for ruining his weekend of skiing? I thought it was odd. Funny but odd.
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Ok, when you get into your car, do you or do you not check the gas gage? Just like the speedometer and the other gages. Kind of hard to miss. Now the part about Mac and Pete on the ski slope I can believe--after watching Out in the Cold.
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
No I don't check it, unless I'm doing a road trip.
I think you'll find the gas gage in the jeep is actually towards the center of the dash (away from the speedo), so it is possible that MacGyver just trusted Pete to his word and didn't bother to check the gas.
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Well, the episode does not say how far the skiing place was from Los Angeles, but we know that Mac and Pete stayed at least one night, likely more. But if the skiing lodge or resort was a ways away--you get the point.
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
It doesn't seem that unlikely that MacGyver would trust and/or expect Pete to do what he says he was going to do, and not bother to double check it.
It's also probably likely that they where grumpy with each other at the time they left and all MacGyver wanted to do was get home, so just fired everythign into the jeep and took off.
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I am imagining a scene of Pete on the ski slope getting into with the guy who "owned the whole darn mountain" and Mac coming to his rescue. Funny thought. I love the end too where Mac says to Pete something, "So Pete, what do you want to do next weekend?" Boy oh boy.
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Another favorite episode of Season 4. The story is very cool and well written, very unique for the time. A lot of cool MacGyverisms in this episode. I like how MacGyver can't think of any way to and Pete sort of gives Mac the idea to escape. One thing I find cool is how those terrorists compete their work so quickly and effortlessly. I love the ending where Mac says to Pete "So Pete, what do you want to do next weekend"? A "Excellent" episode in my opinion.
Overall Rating:10/10
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I always like the episodes with Mac and Pete working together. They were on their way home from some R&R when they run across some terrorist plotting to neutralize a city with electromagnetic pulse. The Macgyverism where Mac and Pete must replace the pins to frag grenades using wire from Pete's ski pass is good and when Mac rigs the electromagnetic gun to short itself out was great. You see the friendship between Mac and Pete in this one, the opening scene where They are arguing about being kicked off the ski resort and then running out of gas.
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When the villains are discussing their plans, Jonathan points to map to a city near a lake called Capilano Lake. This is a lake in British Columbia even though they were aiming for one of the largest cities in the US. Though it is never mentioned which city they were aiming for.
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.
[spoiler]At one point in the episode, Mac climbs a ladder to try to remove the cable that is connect to the pylon.
But what I do not understand, what is the interest to do it, as it does not wear protective gloves and so, therefore, risk to electrocute himself.[/spoiler]
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QUOTE (thedkm @ 17 September 2016 - 04:19 AM)
Hello everyone ^^
I've always wondered about this episode:
Warning: SPOILER.
[spoiler]At one point in the episode, Mac climbs a ladder to try to remove the cable that is connect to the pylon.
But what I do not understand, what is the interest to do it, as it does not wear protective gloves and so, therefore, risk to electrocute himself.[/spoiler]
Do you have any thoughts ?
PS: Sorry I can not add a spoiler tag.
Hmmm. I suppose a person can either blame the writers and/or their scientific advisers (or the props people for not providing a handy set of gloves in just the right place) ...
... or we can say that Mac just wanted to add a little more danger to his life.
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LOL! Maybe he watched a lot of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood? So you may not be too far off base there.
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That EMP truck was also seen in Season 3 episode "Blow Out". it was parked at the warehouse where Mac placed that paint can under the Ford Bronco.
In YouTube some user named as Matthew Blom commented a fight scene from Easy Target episode:
"I lived in the middle of no where acreage east Maple Ridge (suburb) of Vancouver in 1988 when the EMP truck came down our drive-way. I remember myself as a 3 year old with a "WOAH???" look plastered against the window (it had made a wrong turn). Thus started a life long fascination with Macguyver."
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