True enough. I guess what struck me about it wasn't so much what Pete suggested, but something about the way he said it, kind of like he didn't really care about what Mac was going through, and was more concerned about the Sunboat exchange. I don't know if it was the acting or the writing or what, but it just felt like Pete could have shown a bit more compassion in that scene. If Pete had said something like, "Mac, I'm so sorry about what you're going through. I'm going to arrange a military transport for you right away, but they won't be able to get here for another hour or so. If you think you're up for it, I'd still really appreciate your help with the Sunboat exchange while we wait." Rather than just "Hey, s--t happens, Mac. Now get back to work, and if you can't figure anything else out, maybe I'll get you a plane when we're done here."

[quote]
What would you do if you were in Mac's place? When Mac knows his friends are going to die, he would always try to do everything to save them whatsoever. Why wouldn't he do that now? Because he's dead?
[quote]
I know what you mean, but the way the afterlife is portrayed, it doesn't look bad at all. So it kind of takes away the tension of Pete's life being in danger. Usually, if Pete's life is in danger, it's a scary thing for the viewer. But while watching this episode, I just thought, "Oh, ok, if they kill him, he gets to go on a cruise with Mac and maybe he'll meet up with his own parents and have a good time." It doesn't seem like there's much incentive for Mac try to save Pete.
I know that's probably a silly way to look at it, but that's how it struck me.

ive seen this episode probably a dozen times and i just noticed the boat osiris is supposedly carrying dead souls to the afterlife.......so why are there lifeboats all over the ship? all the people on the ship are already dead

Haha! Good question... I never thought of that one.

But Mac was dead and he managed to get off, so maybe people can change their minds and get off, as long as it isn't too late?


I watched this eppy just now and it was awesome. I loved it. I could tell within the first few minutes it was going to be good.
I kept thinking Mac wouldn't actually make it off the boat at all. I kept bashing the sides of my chair yelling at the TV screen for Mac to get off the damned boat and then something happened to stop him.

Great to watch the switch between life and death, seeing the docs try to bring Mac back to life, and Mac trying to get off the boat.

And, of course, I did like the fact he was topless. But if only they moved that sheet down just a little further...I would have been very, very happy.

"Passages" is probably one of my favorite MacGyver episodes of the whole series. I haven't watched this episode in like two years. And I could tell within the first few minutes I could tell this was going to be an awesome episode. The part were Mac is thrown off the side of the parking garage is to me a very gripping scene and a cool stunt. I liked the part when Pete told "Hang in their friend". I like the moment when Mac finally jumps from the ship, catches the dock, and is falling, but then at the last moment, a hand reaches down and grabs his hand, and you know it's Pete. But I really love the back-and-forth between the two "worlds" when Harry and Mac are trying to escape from the engine room. This is a touching episode where Harry and Mac have a last adventure together as only they can. My last favorite moment is at the very end of the episode, with Pete and Mac outside the hospital, in the sunshine, talking, and the last few lines of dialogue:

Mac: But you know, death's not so scary. I don't think it's the end of anything. It's more like... just... another step along the way.
Pete: That's a nice thought!
Mac: Yep, just something my grandpa taught me.

This episode is very much the best episode in the series! A perfect episode!

Overall Rating:10/10

-Parker

For me the most emotional part is when Mac tells Harry they need to leave the ship/cross back over, Harry says he can't and that Cecilia has dinner waiting for him. Mac knowing at that moment his grand has died but that he has to get back to save Pete. Tearing up just thinking about that scene. One of the best written episodes of the series.

I always get emotional when Mac gets to see his parents. Especially his mother since he felt so guilty over her death. Telling her he couldn't stay because Pete was in danger and seeing her reaction was a very powerful scene for me. It had to be so hard for him to leave.

I really like this episode myself. My best friend hasn't seen this one yet, but we watch The Madonna and she kept tearing up. I'm hoping we'll get to watch it this weekend.

I even love the score in this one, for some odd reason... especially the music before he gets tossed over the railing. I keep thinking that particular score was used in other episodes. lol

Poor Mac!
Um, I get kinda teary too.

My favorite scene is when MacGyver meets his parents again. The way he hangs on to them so tightly and doesn't want to let them go. The way he looks at his dad too is really special. It's like you can see how much he missed having his dad around.

Maybe that scene touches me more because I have two sons I'm very close to so is some kind of reverse father and son thing going on there with me.

Very emotional charged episode though.

Interesting to see Pete react as if MacGyver was his own son. I think this episode really shows that father son relationship Mac and Pete had.

The episode story came from the mind of the Anthony Rich son of executive producer John Rich. In the interview that's around here on the site, John admits this being his favorite episode. He said he recalled by his son about a ship in limbo. John Shepard wrote the script for it.

A good episode indeed. I watched this about a six weeks ago. This episode has everything. Just like Serenity, a good script, great settings, good actors and a great score.

Despite all of the injuries Mac had in the past, this episode sure came close to Mac's death. He got shot up, blown up... but never before we would've gotten so worried over Mac's well being. If he didn't fell on the car, Mac would've smacked on the pavement. Than he would've been dead.

She cried over The Madonna?

The music used during the stealing of the sunboat is one of my favorite tracks. And was used only once. The music in this episode belongs to Ken Harrison.

Why not?? It's full of Christmas emotion as well as the whole thing with MacGyver's mother, ice cream, plenty of touching little scenes to pull on the emotional strings.

Such a touching episode. I can definitely reflect on this episode much seeing as how my grandfather died 3 months after I watched this episode. It also reminds me of the reason why I still live, because of my (few)friends and loved ones who still need me. It would be selfish of a person to leave behind his loved ones. Not to mention them being angry at your corpse because you took your own life.

Just kidding, guys. I'm not depressed or emotional but most of what I said is true for me.

Edit: Grammar correction.

Why not?? It's full of Christmas emotion as well as the whole thing with MacGyver's mother, ice cream, plenty of touching little scenes to pull on the emotional strings.

I cry at The Madonna...

Exactly. The Madonna is full of emotion.

This episode too is quite emotional. Especially when Mac sees his Dad after all those years. That scene gets me every time I see it.

You start to think about how much he must have missed his Dad growing up and what it must have been like to have someone you idolize and look up to ripped away from you like that and how often through his life he could would have wanted to talk to his Dad about stuff.

I like when they told Mac that they had been watching all these years and seen how he helped people. His parents are proud of him. That's all any child really needs to know.

I didn't realize that MacGyver's dad was played by Martin Milner, who famously played Officer Pete Malloy on the classic series "Adam 12".

Thanks MacFan, that's where I recognized Mac's dad from!!! I knew I recognized him, I just couldn't place him. This is still my favorite episode! And the scenes with his parents get me every time!

I voted excellent for this one.

The part when Mac was first in the hospital and trying to talk to Pete to tell him who'd stolen the Sun Boat and again when Mac realised he was on the wrong side of the door with Harry and couldn't get back gave me goosebumps...

I thought it was altogether well done, and I especially liked that when Pete faced down the bad guys at the end, he reached back and took Mac's hand.

Pete is a real champion in this one, being there for Mac, organising the search and all when he was so worried about his friend.

I also liked that Mac has, at least in part, made peace with himself about missing his Mum's and Harry's funerals and lost some of the guilt that seems to haunt him everywhere he goes.

Everyone needs a friend like Pete

After having watched SG-1, I'm seeing many references to all the system lords etc. Osiris and Annubis are mentioned in this episode. Anyone know if this is where some ideas came from or did they both just incorporate these ancient stuff? I'm starting to feel like a total geek

Nope. SG:1 used Osiris and Anubis because they are real Egyptian gods and the show is about taking real Earth mythologies and weaving them into a wonderful science fiction story.

Nothing to do with MacGyver.

Watched this the other day and it is a genuinely moving story. Funny how watching these now as an adult approximately the same age Richard Dean was when he made these- how I appreciate the character driven stories more so than the straight spy action adventure episodes.

This episode touches a nerve in the MacVerse that didn't happen enough in my opinion. Maybe it's the sound of the piano for Harry's theme that did it. Also in Harry's Will I get that emotional feeling when he's reading the will or when the wind blows Mac a hint or on the icerink despite it's supposed to be a lighter episode. There should've been more Mac and Harry episodes.

I agree with Dennman, not only regarding the character driven plots pertain to "MacGyver", but character driven stories in general. I know, as a kid the scenes involving Yoda in the original STAR WARS films were boring, but as I got older I appreciated them so much more and found them to be emotionally charged. Yoda's five word response to Luke after he explains about the Force and then lifts Luke's X-Wing out of the swamp still chokes me up.

Huh. So, the last time I watched this episode was... the evening after my own grandmother died. (Didn't feel like sleeping, and it was really the only thing that fit the mood).

I'd watched it a couple of times before, but watching it again after that definitely cast it in a new light. The thing I noticed the most was the whole notion of dying as a choice. Before this, I didn't think much about that except as a gimmick that made the episode work (and a concession to the eighties "willpower conquers all! If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything!" mindset). I took it a lot more seriously this time around. Without going into details, while grandma's situation wasn't exactly similar, suffice it to say that something WAS available that would've fixed her problem: she just chose not to accept it, because at her age, it would've simply been kicking the can down the road another few months until the next thing broke down. Like Harry said: "it's my time." This was coming from somebody who over ninety years had survived some *stuff* that would kill a Terminator. So, yeah... let's say I "get" MacGyver's whole decision of whether to fight or let himself die a lot better now than I did before.

That is a very interesting way of looking at it. Thanks for haring that personal story, Hannibal. And my condolences for your Grandma.

I think that's just an illusion so that people can relate to their new surroundings. Hence, the ship would appear just as a real ship would. Didn't "Anubis" say he was appearing in human form because that's what Mac would find more familiar?

Yes, it's a bit of a TV/film cliche. The character is suffering from a closed head injury, but someone decides that they must also have suffered a token cut above one eye.

I'm surprised neither of his parents said, "You take so many risks! I'm astounded that you've reached the age you have without ending up here."

Previews sure were different back then ;-)

via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySesf1EHmgM

cool find!