Hello Mr. RDoyletv, might I ask what particular MacGyverism did MacGyver do that went wrong in the Collision Course episode? I can't seem to remember it well, but the idea of a MacGyverism that went wrong has been in the back of my head recently, I'm thinking it's because of a particular episode but I can't remember which one. The one you're referring to just might be the one I'm having trouble remembering

Oh and yes, I would like to see that aspect explored but I hope they do it for Season 2 if they wanna build up a whole bunch of episodes connected to the MacGyverism going wrong and it's consequences, because I sense a lot might think it's not a good idea for the first season. Some might say "Oh, man why did this MacGyver fail? The old one never did" even if the old one did at some point, but they just can't remember because it really wasn't a major plot point at the time. Nowadays people tend to get sensitive about these kinds of stuff, so the new MacGyver show must make sure they get the audience to love the new MacGyver first during the whole first season, and then do much more bolder things for the following seasons so that, hopefully by this time, the audiences would be willing to accept what the direction of the story is heading to. Well, that's what I think but yknow I could be wrong, so...yeah

Hi manueloooord,

Here is the episode details from IMDB,

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0638691/?ref_=ttep_ep5

To be fair to MacGyver, (and I am going from memory here)... Mac had done a MacGyverism (properly) to temporarily fix a fault to the car's brakes during a car race, but then someone on the driving team maliciously tampered with the car unbeknowns to Mac and the others on the racing team.

The car subsequently lost control and the man driving the car lost his eye sight as a consequence. MacGyver obviously thought he was to blame and felt extremely bad about the whole situation as he felt he was to blame for the driver's injuries.

Is this the episode you were thinking of?

I agree that this storyline should come a few seasons in, but I feel that it would be a good plot to test and explore the character and his morals. Below is a picture from the episode, might help to jog your memory.

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Here's the winners of the Next MacGyver

The Next MacGyver contest was not about finding a new MacGyver. It was about finding 5 new TV shows which inspire women to take up engineering studies in the way that MacGyver inspired people into science and quick fixes. It was the next MacGyver in the way you would say the next big thing...not actually anything to do with MacGyver.

The 5 winners were each allocated a Hollywood mentor who helped them prepare a pilot script and pitch for the networks. We'll have to wait and see if any networks decided to pick up any of the proposed shows.

Oh! I seem to remember it now, but unfortunately it wasn't really exactly the episode/MacGyverism I've been looking for I think the MacGyverism I was thinking of is somewhere along the lines of a MacGyverism that could have worked but there was something wrong with it, like it was not thought out properly or wrong science, so it failed. But, I could just be imagining that episode, but the Collision Course one is the closest to it, I guess...and I guess that's where I got the idea

One good thing that the show should put emphasis on is MacGyver's hatred of guns. I would like to see a modern take on "Blood Brothers", but something with a much bigger scope and more emotional trauma for MacGyver. I never quite liked the execution of it in the 80s, I felt like they could have done a more epic take on it with some minor improvements. But now, with the more complex stories we see on TV today, it can be given a lot more emphasis than just an episode. Maybe a story arc, but not entirely a season. Maybe just a subplot to be resolved in around 2-3 episodes, preferably in season 1, because I think it's a thing that needs to be re-established again and not just merely shown, because it's really part of MacGyver's character and with a modern take, it would be great to see

Also I kinda remember an episode wherein MacGyver almost uses a gun? I can't really remember how it came to that in the story, but he just almost needed to use it but he still chose not to. It was an episode featuring Dr. Zito, if I'm correct? I'd also like to see a similar problem in a new MacGyver episode. An episode wherein a badass villain (a rebooted Zito, maybe? He's like the Murdoc of the mental and smarts aspects of MacGyver) would do some terrible things to manipulate MacGyver and then MacGyver's morals would be tested. Would his good character prevail? Would he still uphold the morals he believes in? Would he use a gun if it were necessary, or would he prove that there is always another way? I would like those themes explored

I'm not sure how someone tampering with brakes after MacGyver fixed them makes it his fault?

The breaks failed because the brake line was cut not because MacGyver's temporary reservoir cover failed. This is pointed out later in the episode - the MacGyverism worked fine.


There have been some MacGyverisms which have failed. There's an old discussion around here somewhere about it.

I think the very nature of why and how MacGyverisms are done would mean people don't get hurt. One of the driving considerations for MacGyver was "non violent" resolution. He used MacGyverisms as a non-violent way to resolve a situation. He usually took care to make sure that bystanders etc weren't put in unnecessary danger too, so I would suggest that if this new show has MacGyverisms which put innocents in harms way they have badly missed the point of the show.

There was no real indication that he was going to use the gun. He bent down to pick it up after Zito had been taunting him, but he was pretty calm about it so may well have been going to simply throw it over the edge of the tower.

A better episode for that is the DOA MacGyver where he gets amnesia after being hit on the head and the bad guy pretends to be Macs boss and tells him that he's on assignment to kill Pete Thornton. MacGyver has the gun pointed at Pete ready to shot but he can't pull the trigger.

Hello sir KiwiTek

Yeah, I think you have a point. I just re-watched the "Lesson in Evil" episode because I brought it up Yeah maybe he would have just thrown it off but, I don't know I guess it's just me but I kinda saw the anger and rage in MacGyver's facial expression as he was about to pick up the gun. Enraged to use it, perhaps? Or maybe enraged that Zito thought he could taunt him so easily and fool him into using the gun? For me, I did see he was enraged, but now I don't really know why, for me it was really like he was thinking of using it...but through re-watching it now, I think you may have a point.

And yes, the DOA MacGyver example is better. But, for the reboot I would like to see him in a similar problem without amnesia...with him being fully aware of himself and the ideals that he upholds. It would be really great to see how MacGyver is tempted, and how he controls himself and doesn't give in to rage.

Out of all the TV shows, movies, and stories that I have watched, MacGyver is the most relatable character I've ever seen, and so I'd like him to deal with problems that we people usually deal with now, most especially coz in this present world that we live in we often get to see people abandoning ideals, morals, and basically justifying bad acts to twist something to their own liking and benefit. I'd like to see MacGyver struggle with those kinds of problems, and how he'll prove that we people can do better just like him

Well said! Manueloooord

They'll have to be careful not to cross into the "after school special" preachy episodes that so many fans don't like, but yes that would be a good opportunity and is one of the things a lot of fans have mentioned in the past - how MacGyver provided them with a moral compass to navigate their own lives.

That's true and I guess a big part of the popularity of the show comes from this aspect.

I think you may be thinking of the episode, High control. He tries to make a pad that would explode when stepped on, but it doesn't go off.

They'll have to be careful not to cross into the "after school special" preachy episodes that so many fans don't like, but yes that would be a good opportunity and is one of the things a lot of fans have mentioned in the past - how MacGyver provided them with a moral compass to navigate their own lives.

Yeah, I do hope they steer clear of the preachy episodes. Never cared for those.

Speaking of morality and whatnot: Remember when some people were upset about the scene in the trailer when Mac shot that arrow at the van, causing it to flip over? People said that was too violent/immoral for Mac to do. But I just now remembered a season 7 episode (I forget the title) in which Mac was trapped in a building, and dropped an explosive down a drain pipe, timing it perfectly to land under an escaping car, explode, and flip the car over. How is that really any different from the flaming arrow trick in terms of violence/morality?
(I realize we'll probably never see the arrow trick, since the pilot is being redone, but still, I think it's a valid discussion about the types of MacGyverisms we might see, and how violent they should or shouldn't be.)

Oh! InVader, you may be right. I seem to remember that MacGyverism, though I don't remember the story that well. Was it the one with the convict that MacGyver helped in some way and eventually trained for a boxing match in a season 7 episode when the character came back?

And Miasma and Kiwitek, you guys are right. The preachy episodes should not be done again. However, if they want to add some lessons to the show, they can do it in a very creative way. Maybe an episode that would require deep thinking about the story and the themes underlying it...it's a much wittier way, I think They should get into the subconsciousness of the viewers rather than just presenting it straight to the point by being the substantial factor of the episode. I find that sometimes we do most good and bad things subconsciously anyway...depends on how right or wrong of a person you are, and also our personalities are shaped by things around us like the media through TV shows and movies and so on. A lot of the things we see today in the different kinds of media subconsciously shape us, and I find that most of the things seen today don't present their themes and messages straight to the point because some of them aren't even made to preach...they just have an underlying theme. It's something we don't realize as we watch or read but then you'd realize something that the media taught you in the long run.

Yep. He gets out of jail and tries to go straight with Mac's help.

Peter Lenkov posted this pic of his son, wearing a MacGyver for President t-shirt.

Could this be clue towards a significant plot point in the first season? ...I doubt it!

Either way Improvise or Die is a great tag line for the new series.

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I don't think that's new; I've seen posters like this and the tagline before on social media - always thought it was some fanmade art, though.

While I don't think he would like it, MacGyver would make a great president for sure

Anyone is better than Trump!

DASH for President!