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 61 - Mask of the Wolf
Jack Dalton talks MacGyver into accompanying an elderly Native American on a search for a legendary wolf mask, but two mercenaries have plans of their own for the artefact.
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Votes from 22nd of March 2006 Poor [ 0 ] [0.00%] Average [ 1 ] [8.33%] OK [ 1 ] [8.33%] Good [ 7 ] [58.33%] Excellent [ 3 ] [25.00%] Total Votes: 12
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QUOTE (MacGyver Oct 31 2005 @ 01:47 PM )
Well, probably due to a love of the Indiana Jones movies, I totally love any MacGyver episodes that have to do with treasure-hunting, so this is definitely a great episode. Add to that the fact that I love seeing any Jack Dalton episode and you have a really great episode. MacGyver once again saves the day and rescues the treasure and delivers it to the Native American man safely and uses a cool MacGyverism to rescue them from being trapped in the cavern. So I definitely voted excellent for this episode. smile.gif sak.gif duct.gif opensak.gif
QUOTE (Lee Nole-Isil Oct 31 2005 @ 01:58 PM )
I enjoyed this ep very much. I love anything that has to do with just about any kind of mythology, so I was thrilled with the whole Native American stuff. And of course, Jack is awesome. laugh.gif
QUOTE (rockatteer Oct 31 2005 @ 01:59 PM )
QUOTE
QUOTE Well, probably due to a love of the Indiana Jones movies, I totally love any MacGyver episodes that have to do with treasure-hunting
I liked the little homage they paid to Indy with Jack reaching under the door to grab his hat just before it crashed down. smile.gif
QUOTE (Lee Nole-Isil Oct 31 2005 @ 02:00 PM )
Anything Indiana Jones related is just awesome! cool.jpg
QUOTE (MacGyverGod Oct 31 2005 @ 11:39 PM )
I voted good for this episode. I never really saw this episode as treasure-hunting this early in the series even after 60 episodes but still. Yeah it was good. In fact I liked MacGyver's attitude in this episode. I don't know what it was but it seemed he was skeptical the whole time. He was like "not another adventure with Jack" or remember the scene where Jack asks to bring his red and blue parka the way MacGyver answers: "Yes, Jack." You would ask: Hey, Mac what's your problem today? Or he was terribly bored or he was in a "I don't care" phase. But his whole attitude was different then usual.
QUOTE (Tomms247 Nov 1 2005 @ 09:46 AM )
i voted good for this episode also, its a great MacGyver episode but not quite on the exellent scale.
QUOTE (MacGirl Nov 5 2005 @ 11:35 AM )
I liked Mac's skepticism in this one. I think maybe it was intended to show that Mac was getting a little tired of Jack's antics by this time. But again, he could have said no and he didn't. I loved the tension when the door of the cave is coming down and they're racing to get out in time. Of course they do... by the skin of their teeth, and I loved Jack reaching under the door to grab his hat, too. I never really got into Indy when I was younger, but maybe now I'd enjoy it more, especially after having seen this ep.
Let's see... oh yeah, I also liked the respect paid to Native American culture. Up until the late 80's and early 90's, Native Americans were always the villains. I particularly enjoyed seeing Two Eagles reaching out to the younger of the bad guys, trying to get him to consider returning to his culture, and at the end, I got the feeling that maybe a seed had been planted there. For me, this kind of thing was part of the fun of the show... seeing someone's life changed in the course of an adventure. Sometimes Mac was responsible for it, sometimes not, but it was always cool.jpg to see.
QUOTE (Amy Nov 9 2005 @ 07:32 AM )
I like the Indiana Jones qualities of this episode! I voted good!
QUOTE (Sjaop Jan 11 2006 @ 10:53 PM)
I voted excellent (again). This one of my fav's. I love wolves, I love mythology so this was a complete bullseye. The set was a bit fake though (the cave) but the producers are forgiven for this one.
Yeah this is one of those episodes that gets along just fine without MacGyverisms because it has action/adventure in abundance AND MacGyver out in the woods. Gotta love that
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I too noticed that Mac had a different attitude than normal. He definetly wasn't his normal self. It did seem like he was in a less than happy mood throughout but especially in the beginning. It's a dark, dreary, and cold day so maybe that contributed to it. Notice how his clothing colors match his dark mood! Other than that I thought the ep was excellent.
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Watched it for the first time today. It was one of those episodes where I actually got bored. There wasn't really enough there to hold my interest. Toward the end it started to get good but the first 30 minutes or so I could easily forget.
I voted average.
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QUOTE (Rockatteer @ 19 October 2008 - 05:18 PM)
Yeah this is one of those episodes that gets along just fine without MacGyverisms because it has action/adventure in abundance AND MacGyver out in the woods. Gotta love that
Yep that's right. Love the outdoors.
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I find it a bit amusing that in most "treasure hunting" episodes, Mac's dragged along (at least somewhat) against his will. OK, "Mask of the Wolf" may not meet all the definitions of a "treasure hunt" episode, but it does have some of the elements.
To be honest, I'm not such a big fan of MacGyver treasure hunt episodes either, but I do actually suspect those two things to be connected. I think Mac's often too easily persuaded for his own good, and sometimes it *is* rather painful to see him being dragged around. The ultimate example isn't actually one of Jack Dalton's expeditions, but "The Lost Treasure of Atlantis." I'll elaborate more once I get there, but in short terms, that movie made me cringe.
In "Mask of the Wolf" it's more understandable why Mac agrees to come along--out of respect for the old man.
I really felt for Two Eagles, he was a very emphatic and plausible character--at least from my knowledge of Native Americans. Then again--I don't want to say too much--I'm not even sure if the Native Americans would think that the myth presented in this story was believable at all, or just flimsy... but as someone already mentioned, it's a great improvement anyway compared with how Native Americans were usually treated in any 80's productions.
The booby trap underground system was a bit over the top, but it's always interesting to see Mac trying to solve the problem (and Jack screwing things up... "Use this one instead... oops!" )
I must say something about the filming conditions too. I really pity the team, having to shoot the outdoor scenes on that particular day. The climate seems to be very similar to where I grew up, and such weather; I'd imagine about two degrees above the freezing point, damp, and that kind of mist... it's truly awful. Worst kind of winter weather ever. Everything's getting damp; your shoes, your gloves, your face... Believe me, I'd take 25 degrees below the freezing point *any* day, as soon as it's dry!
And now for the rating... Hmm... "Good," I guess... but not one of my strongest "goods."
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Good episode! Always love MacGyver/Jack episodes... but I have a question. As I'm watching this episode today, I notice that MacGyver is using an iron to melt an ice-cube on his skis (I think). What's the purpose of this? I don't know a lot about skiing, so I'm kinda baffled. lol
I tried looking it up online, but so far have gotten nothing.
As far as Mac's attitude, he seemed okay to me. I agree that it was probably just the weather. We get that kind of weather here a lot, and it can get to you after a while if you don't get enough sunshine... which is why I'm currently trying to move south because I hate the winters here. =P
"Walk in love. Walk in service. And you will walk in honor." (Good Knight MacGyver) "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." - Albert Einstein "What are ferrets made of? Happiness."
As I'm watching this episode today, I notice that MacGyver is using an iron to melt an ice-cube on his skis (I think). What's the purpose of this? I don't know a lot about skiing, so I'm kinda baffled. lol
Could he have been putting wax on them to make them run more smoothly? I'd have to watch the episode again to be sure (such a hardship!)
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OHHHH! Wax! Well now... I learn something new everyday. XD It looked like an ice-cube. I was completely baffled... lol Thanks guys for the explanation. That makes a LOT more sense.
@Rocket - LOL! Hardship indeed! Anytime I get the urge to watch something MacGyver related, I'm just gonna start calling it a "Mac attack".
"Walk in love. Walk in service. And you will walk in honor." (Good Knight MacGyver) "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." - Albert Einstein "What are ferrets made of? Happiness."
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I like this one a lot, despite the fact it's another classic example of stereotyping indians. Floyd Westerman was a cool dude and deserved more to work with, maybe even been a reoccurring character.
This is one of the better episodes ... quite possibly a top-10er. Although, I must say that I was a bit surprised to discover Jack living in a sort of rundown, halfway house on the 'wrong' side of town. You'd think his buddy, Mac, would have put him up until he got back on his feet .... because that's what good friends do.
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Judging how Jack conveniently shows up when he wants or needs something and then leaves kind of tells me that he is a drifter. Despite having a business involving flying, he still tends to veer from one place to another. It is possible that it might have been a temporary digs. Also, Jack does not come across as an rganised individual.
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He's a bum! I think Mac tells him in the episode at one point ..... "Jack, ya gotta get out of this place". But you'd think a really close/compassionate friend would say something like "grab your stuff, you're coming to stay with me for awhile".
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination.
Whether you think you can or you can't .... you're probably right!
"Nature often addressed our problems much better than the doctor." - Henry Miller
"So shut up, live, travel, adventure, bless and don't be sorry." - Jack Kerouac
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Maybe but judging by the way poor Mac gets treated by Jack every time, I suspect he would think twice before saying that to Jack. Also, it appears that Mac is always taken advantage of whenever he houses a friend. Be it for Penny, Pete with a broken leg or Jack of course.
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QUOTE (Joe SAKic @ 17 June 2015 - 09:31 PM)
I think Mac tells him in the episode at one point ..... "Jack, ya gotta get out of this place". But you'd think a really close/compassionate friend would say something like "grab your stuff, you're coming to stay with me for awhile".
He also says that it's Jacks own fault that he's living there.
Jack is constantly expecting MacGyver to save his butt. He takes little to no responsibility for... anything really and he's constantly lying and swindling MacGyver into helping him.
The guys supposed to be a grown adult and as such is responsible for his own day to day living.
I think if something out of the ordinary happened to Jack, MacGyver would be there in an instant to help, but not for stuff like Jack living in a dive through his own silly actions.
Well .... Jack was about as down and out as he'd every been with respect to his living accommodations, roommate, & diet (soup & bread). Plus the neighborhood was downright hostile with brazen daylight beatings. I could be wrong, but I think most true friends would consider those conditions to be somewhat of a 'tipping point' .... and thus offer a little more than some 'advice'.
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination.
Whether you think you can or you can't .... you're probably right!
"Nature often addressed our problems much better than the doctor." - Henry Miller
"So shut up, live, travel, adventure, bless and don't be sorry." - Jack Kerouac
"No one is remembered for being normal" -- Albert Einstein
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We don't know what his normal diet was so can't use that as a comparison.
I would say the house was a lot better than the aircraft hanger we see him in in Murderers Sky with his phone cut off because he hadn't payed the bill or the underground basement in Partners and Jack of Spies.
In Ma Dalton we see him get "Final Notice" bills and a comment about moving again because they'd found him.
I don't think he was any more down and out than any other time to be honest.
I think MacGyver's comments at the start about how Jack was constantly trying to take short cuts to get higher up the ladder but kept landing him further down the ladder is a pretty good indication that Jack Dalton was always struggling from his own bad decisions. - there's that personal responsibility again.
We see MacGyver take Jack in and help him in Brainwashed so we know he is more than willing to do so when the situation warrants it.
The neighborhood cinematography and the fact that he was living with a Native American was meant to evoke a 'dire straits' situation. Soup is mentioned, and a soup kitchen comes to mind. Was their electricity even on? Jack was dressed well though and his appearance was not indicative of the meager living conditions that he was suffering. Just a set to spawn the script, I guess .... but not well thought out within the general philosophy of the series.
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination.
Whether you think you can or you can't .... you're probably right!
"Nature often addressed our problems much better than the doctor." - Henry Miller
"So shut up, live, travel, adventure, bless and don't be sorry." - Jack Kerouac
"No one is remembered for being normal" -- Albert Einstein
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Season: season 4
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After having friends like Jack...
Mac is actually a really good friend... however, helping people like Jack just makes you their "enabler". They're still going to live in squalor without any food... but now they have someone they can drag down with them.
Been there, done that... rather not go through it again, thanks. =P
"Walk in love. Walk in service. And you will walk in honor." (Good Knight MacGyver) "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." - Albert Einstein "What are ferrets made of? Happiness."
The continuity of it's a bit strange. He owns an airplane service which is not a light financial burden no matter how you cut the deck .... and yet lives in a halfway house on the wrong side of the tracks.
The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man's determination.
Whether you think you can or you can't .... you're probably right!
"Nature often addressed our problems much better than the doctor." - Henry Miller
"So shut up, live, travel, adventure, bless and don't be sorry." - Jack Kerouac
"No one is remembered for being normal" -- Albert Einstein
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Bad spending habits most likely. I saw it all the time when I was a teller.
When Mac sent Jack to the store in Rock the Cradle for baby supplies, he came back with chips and beer. His excuse was also very lame.
What does that tell you? XD
"Walk in love. Walk in service. And you will walk in honor." (Good Knight MacGyver) "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." - Albert Einstein "What are ferrets made of? Happiness."