Well spoken. But I don't totally agree. This might sound dememted, sadistic, or something like that, but I like it when a character is injured because I like to see what they come up with when they're not at their best. It's also interesting theo see what their friends do.

It also might be a girl thing.

I agree. Especially since Mac is Mac. It gives the other characters a chance to show what they are like, and what they are capable of in times of stress. As Mac onces said how come he always has to figure the way out of a jam, why can't a women be just as MacGyver as MacGyver. Nikki showed she could do it.

I actually like this one a lot. I love all the episodes, but this is one of the ones I'll watch again and again. I love watching RDA with kids. It brings out the best in him, I think.

I voted Excellent on this episode. I really liked the acting by RDA...yes, I'm a bit of a sucker for wounded heros. He did a great job driving a manual transmission left handed and showing the pain from the wound. Did anyone else notice the eyes rolling back in his head during that scene? I actually caught a glimpse of the whites in his eye, before he passed out. Great scene. Only downside was having to explain what cauterize meant to a seven year old.

I love the episodes where he works with kids. Loved the fact that he gives Ahmed something to think about by not killing the russian soldier. The fact that all life is valued and that he didn't have to kill him is a great moral lesson, maybe even more so today.

My kids even liked this one...my son now wants to use the fire extinquisher from the kitchen to break open rocks.

Overall, a great episode...lots of action adn great acting.

I voted poor, I think Im the first one. Really one of my least favourite episodes. The suspension of disbelief in this episode is just too much for me. The slingshot is actually a very difficult weapon to use accurately.. with two arms and in perfect health, even for people with experience. Mac was wounded and his background doesnt exactly infer that he had much previous experience with it, so hitting the rider at his first shot.. well for me it just set the absurd tone of the episode, whcih already was kind of exposed with mac piloting a jet! I know mac is supposed to be a jack of all trades but why would he be an airforce pilot with his dislike for weapons and wars? then of course you have the afghani countrykid speaking perfect english, the hayloft scene which screamed for the russian to shoot then ask questions, and the rock cliff scene with the perfect timing and the russians parking the jeep just below the cliff.

But Im not looking for realism obviously when watching macgyver, I think the main problem was that it wasnt a really interesting plot for me. Too much message and too preachy for my liking. I may have to look at my listings, but this goes down as probably amongst the worst MG episodes in my book.

Actually MacGyver wasn't flying the jet. If you watch closely he's reading something every time we see him so the plane is on auto-pilot.

But we do see in later episodes, that MacGyver can fly planes. Final Approach, The Odd Triple both show him piloting planes and didn't he pilot a plane in Legend of the Holy Rose as well? (can't remember).

I actually watched this the other night and found it enjoyable enough to watch, it's certainly pretty far down on my list - probably close to the bottom actually, but I watch it seldom enough that the few times I do watch it, it can be enjoyed.

I watched it for the first today today and I vote it as being okay. I was, of course, worried when our hero was injured but you kinda know that everything will be okay.
The episode was pretty slow and slightly boring, though.

yeah it is a pretty slow movie episode and really not much of a story line.

It would be nice if all our movies had some kind of positive message to benefit all mankind. I think a lot of people to to react instead of acting on their instincts. How many people really take the time to reflect on their actions and who it may have affected. I guess this is why I really like this episode of MacGyver due to the teaching or message being given.javascript:emoticon(':D')

This episode is another definite favorite from season one.

I, too, wonder if they actually created (or adjusted) this script because of RDA:s injury. Anyway, they all did a great job, since it does feel very plausible.

I am also one of these hurt/comfort junkies who enjoy watching their favorite characters in pain or sick or injured, as long as they're being comforted or treated for their injuries. Watching characters that I care about getting hurt and not being offered comfort/proper treatment always makes me feeling depressed or despaired.

What felt really heartwarming about this episode is that Zia cared for Mac despite her situation, and he was able to offer his help in return.

The cauterization scene was very plausible--aw, poor Mac! I can't even imagine the pain, and it was really great acting from RDA.

When Mac is well enough to walk around, you can see that RDA is trying to hide the fact that he's actually is wearing a cast, not just a bandaged hand.

Anyway, my second "Excellent" so far.

I really liked this episode. I do seem to like the episodes where our hero is hurt/injured greatly. Perhaps I'm sick too? After all Mac is human, not superman. Since the bad guys are very often shooting machine guns at him eventually he has to get hit and be injured. I really thought they did a good job of hiding/incorporating RDA's injury into this episode. The cast was obvious and visibly worked into the episode "Every Time She Smiles", but they disguised it well during this episode. Though for the close-ups of hands they had to use a double to hide the injury until after the hang-glider wreck. I cringed when I saw the "landing" of the hang-glider...man that guy hit hard!! RDA's acting was fabulous in this one, especially the cauterization part...OUCH!!!

I admit it was a slower action episode, but I like the variety of putting the slower ones in to break up the pure adrenaline episodes all in a row. Besides, with RDA's injury it was likely easier to incorporate a slower episode while he healed. I wonder if he got the injury during the show or in his active personal life? Could be either since he was very active in both.

Here's an interesting comment from a doctor about cauterizing bullet wounds.

This is from Outside Magazine's "Hollywood Survival" articles , a magazine covering outdoor adventure,travel and sporting activities.

Read the full article here

This is one of the better episodes of Season 1, imo. I'm a big fan of the Afghan (ongoing) War depicted on screen and this particular story is screened and depicted very well. Additionally, this one scores big with us Trekkies who can not help but be impressed by Persis Khambatta's guest role and the Vasquez Rocks connection in the same episode! Wow, way too cool! Mac's at his best improvisational self of course, and wounded to boot - who would expect anything different!?

I liked this episode too, especially with the addition of Persis Khambatta.
I think I'm right in that she died really young - heart trouble, was it? Shame

Good story and I also thought they did a good job of hiding RDAs broken arm!

Yes, very sad. It may well have been somehow related to a car crash she had in 1980, I don't know ... but apparently she had a heart bypass operation a few years after that accident.