Okay, let me explain what I mean by this. If a writer was wanting to write new MacGyver stories, (fanfiction or hey- maybe, even official ones, someday)
what would be the main episodes of MacGyver that would be a must for viewing?
Obviously, ideally it would be best to watch all 139 episodes and the two TV-movies (multiple times, even! )- but what would be a few key episodes with important events that change the main plotline or storyline or just are defining moments?

Here's the list I came up with for the first season (along with my reasons)

"Pilot" (DUH!)

"The Golden Triangle" (briefly seen-MacGyver's government contact)

"Thief of Budapest" (first appearance of Kosoff- who reappears in "Lost Love" (Parts 1 and 2))

"The Gauntlet" (first appearance of Kate Connolly- who reappears in "Friends")

"Hellfire" (important because it's a MacGyver vs. nature episode- and it shows how MacGyver is always willing to go all out to help friends- or anyone, really)

"Target MacGyver" (first appearance of Harry Jackson, MacGyver's grandpa)

"Nightmares" (first appearance of Pete Thornton)

"Deathlock" (last episode with an opening gambit- and just a cool episode overall)

"Countdown" (deals with MacGyver's time in the Vietnam War)

"Every Time She Smiles" (first appearance of Penny Parker, who recurs in later episodes)

"Slow Death" (one of the strongest episodes to deal with vengeance and forgiveness and just plain a favorite of mine )

"A Prisoner of Conscience" (this hospital will be revisited in "For Love or Money")

"The Assassin" (Probably one of the toughest villians Mac's faced- in line with Murdoc)



Okay- this kinda thing is pretty tough, especially for someone who loves all of the episodes.

Anyone else want to take a crack at this? I guess I'm mainly thinking the Murdoc episodes, Dr. Zito episodes, Deborah episodes, two-parters, "Phoenix Under Siege", "The Secret of Parker House", "The Challenge", "Runners", "The Madonna", "Passages", "Blind Faith", and "The Stringer" would be some major ones- but it seems there's so many that reveal different aspects of MacGyver's character and personality- and that reveal information about him and the other characters.

Bitter Harvest, because it just Mac just as he is.

Mac

The Widowmaker (hey, this might be my all time fav)

It shows us á MacGyver who is stubborn and rejects his best friend when being highly emotional over the death of a friend.
A Mac who doesn't have a clear mind and solutions for a change.

To me well the Pilot episode (hello).
Nightmares (MacGyver first tight spot in the series), it shows that no matter what happens to him, he'll always comes back to win the war.
Hellfire and Flame's End: for his friends of his youth.
Even though I hated this episode: Ugly Duckling, but there are plenty of other examples like Live and Learn and Twenty Questions. He's there for kids who's got troubles on school.
The Assassin and Deadly Dreams: MacGyver going after murderers to get them to court.
Partners: an episode that goes back to the foundations of Mac-Pete-Jack-Murdoc situation. How they got together. This is for them four I think the most important episode.
Friends: a good example to know who the recurring characters are and who's important to MacGyver.
Ghost Ship: legends, things that makes MacGyver wonder if he can believe in such things or not.
Kill Zone: a nature episode.
The Negotiator: why MacGyver can't commit and what happens when he does.
Blood Brothers: why MacGyver hates guns.
The Survivors: a good shape is important to go out on assignments.
Ma Dalton: MacGyver who of himself offers help to those in need, like Bitter Harvest.
Fraternity of Thieves: why Mac can't sleep with things that the army oh so badly wants to cover up.
The Battle of Tommy Giordano: MacGyver and little children, why he's so protective.
The Challenge and Rush to Judgment: why MacGyver fights for equality in the world amongst races.
Runners: things in MacGyver's past he has to learn to live with.
Gold Rush and other treasure hunting episodes: for world history.
Serenity: how MacGyver would've been in the 19th century.
Passages: MacGyver meets his parents again after all these years and how much he loves them.
Humanity: to help a country back up after the fall of their dictator.
The Wall: bringing families together again like in Deathlock after the wall went down.
There but for the Grace: what MacGyver does for charity.
Blind Faith: again he's there and this time for his best and closest friend.
Trail of Tears: MacGyver wanting to learn things.
Good Knight MacGyver: MacGyver on a white horse.
The Stringer: the fact he has a son.

Further all the episodes involving friends and girlfriends from his past. So in all, yeah the complete series.

This list is starting to look like the episode guide for all 7 seasons

Well it's true, isn't it? Every season has more than one or two episodes where in MacGyver shows his true colors.