If you wanted to introduce a friend to MacGyver and make sure they liked it, which episode would you choose? A skeptical friend, at that....

You can only answer ONE because this friend will only commit to watching ONE hour of it.

I'd love to hear your responses and why. Remember, only one be chosen!!!!

There can be only one!

um.. Hell's Bell's!!

I think it would depend a bit on what your friends interests are.

With such a wide range of episodes, you have the option of talering "the one" to their tastes.

But you still want one which catches the essence of what MacGyver is...

I'm thinking definitely either a season 2 or 3 episode... mmm.. maybe season 4 at a stretch.

I'd pick 'Eagles' S2. Plenty of action, macgyverisms, and moments of Mac being just wonderful with kids and animals. It's an episode I never skip when I plan a marathon.

Gimme wings!!

LOL -- I asked almost exactly the same question last fall, except that I was able to pick two episodes instead of one.

Depending on the friend's personal tastes, I'd go for either Nightmares or The Human Factor. The former if your friend is likely to prefer the spy scenario, with the higher level of action; the latter if they're more likely to prefer the more intense interpersonal energy.

Nightmares was actually the episode that originally hooked me solidly, when the show was first on the air. It's a powerful, intense episode and a great story. And -- very important for a first look -- it doesn't require any prefamiliarity, and it stands on its own well: it isn't 'the first appearance' of anything or anyone (which is not of interest when someone's only watching a single episode).

The Human Factor has the benefit that it was effectively the 'repilot' for the second season and afterwards, and has a bit more backstory and explanation built into it. It introduced the Phoenix Foundation, and showcases the relationship between Pete and Mac beautifully.

Each episodes has a good set of MacGyverisms.

I could say "Nightmares if your friend is a man, Human Factor if it's a woman," but then I might be accused of being sexist.

And heck, maybe your friend is passionate about giant ants and would prefer Trumbo's World!

Well, my friend does love animals, but I think the most important aspect to show her is that

1. it is not too cheesy for her,
and

2. It is interesting, clever, and funny

so The Human Factor so far sounds pretty good.....what else?

Humanity, maybe. I'm still impressed by the intensity of that story line.

I think the season 3 episode, "Blow out" is a good one. It's got some good MacGyverisms, suspense and action. The first scene of the episode opens with Macgyver in the Grocery store searching for some home remedies for his cold, and then......nah, you'll just have to show it to her! If this is going to be the only episode she will ever see, then maybe, just maybe, you could show her the season 7 episode, "The Hood." Please don't hurt me for that! I think it introduces the season very well. You don't need to see any episodes beforehand to watch this one. It's got brand new characters, some good action, a Macgyverism or three and the last scene is a classic!

It needs to be an episode which has all the major elements of the MacGyver universe in one hit... Pete, Houseboat, MacGyverisms, Phoenix foundation (maybe Jeep?)

I wouldn't advise showing anything from season 7 as a first introduction to MacGyver.

If Season 7 had been my first introduction to MacGyver... well.. we wouldn't be having this conversation because this site wouldn't exist.

I would say Partners----Mac, Pete, Jack, Murdoc, and bazookas!! You understand Mac a lot more after watching it.

Oh, now that you mention it... 'Phoenix Under Siege' might be a good ep for a beginner.

Loft apartment, hockey, cranky grandfathers, jeeps, Phoenix Foundation, explosives... lots of clever macgyverisms... even a bit of Mac-whumping when he tangles with Psycho Gal.

The humor in this episode is one of its most charming elements, between Harry and Mac, as well as the final irony of how Mac defused the bomb!

Elements of entertainment, this one has!

To borrow the phrase from ol' Dent: "Ditto!"

I've been thinking about this for about the past hour, and I think Human Factor would be a really good episode to start someone off on.

It really is the pilot for the rest of the seasons. It sets the relationship between Mac and Pete as well as establishing "what makes him so special"

"What makes him so special? He doesn't even have any tools."

"That's what makes him so special."

"We've got to start thinking like MacGyver. His mind doesn't work like yours or mine."

And theres plenty of MacGyverisms in it too.

And let us know how it works out.

The very first episode that I remember was Cease Fire. USA Channel Monday through Friday at 6 pm, and I had my mom let me eat dinner in the tv room in the basement so I could watch Mac. My 8 year daughter's first episode was the Secret of Parker House.

For a kid--the animals and Jack Dalton work every time!!

For a skeptic, man my husband falls into that category, let's see:
1. Partners # 1 choice--great story elements
2. Human Factor
3. Humanity
4. Lost Love both parts together which was how I first saw it on TV--90 MINUTES OF FUN!!
5. Cease Fire
6. The Pilot
7. The Assassin
ANY OF THOSE-- just no Penny Parker to start with

The Human Factor has that dated cheesy-sounding talking computer for the security system though. Someone new to the show might not be able to get past that and just get the impression that the whole show is corny.

I'd go with a Jack episode because they usually have lots of good action and fun. I'll say: On a Wing and A Prayer.

Hmm.. another option might be a clip show.

That would be a good way of showing lots of the action bits of the show.

True. But like it or not, the 1980's cheese is integral to the show. If it's a deal-breaker, Jenn's friend may be beyond hope. It depends in part on the age of the friend: if you actually lived through the 80's, the cheese can have a certain nostalgic air to it. But she did say the cheese factor could be a problem.

Amongst the Jack epsiodes, that's not a bad start. I personally detested Jack when he first appeared, and it took a long time before I'd cut him any slack; this episode was the first one where I didn't want to choke him senseless. Here again is an area that tends to split according to gender and personal experience: if the friend ever dated a compulsive liar, I'd recommend keeping Jack well away from her until after she's hooked. It ain't funny if you've lived it.

As for a clip show -- I'd really recommend against that approach; they really don't make for good introductions, since they assume familiarity. Action isn't the chief appeal. I'd save them for aficionados.

Jenn, if your friend loves animals -- what's the consensus on "The Endangered" or "Black Rhino"?

Black Rhino is a PSA type episode, so I wouldn't advise that.

The endangered certainly has the out-doors adventure aspect of the show

I re-watched The Human Factor yesterday, and as much as I personally love it, I don't think my friend would.
She's a Microsoft Certified Engineer, so I think the cheesy parts with the computer would get to her.
Hmmm....Black Rhino may be a good one...she is an animal lover. I will have to rewatch.

if she's a computer nut, what about Ugly Duckling?

How about Deathlock? It has that secret agent feel to it with plenty of MacGyverisms.

Between Quayle's chewing the scenery and Karen Blake, "Deathlock" rates even higher on the cheese-o-meter than "The Human Factor". Although I like it anyway myself.

My mom used to watch (and also have a crush on RDA) MacGyver with me, but she hasn't seen it in years. If I were to re-introduce her, treating her like someone who hasn't seen the show before, I would either do The Heist for its Bond-like feel (she loves the Bond series), or Kill Zone because I find its pacing almost as suspenseful as 24, another favorite show of hers at the moment. Of course, my stepdad would probably enter the room and give me grief over the mullet, so a season 1 episode like The Heist would be a safer bet.

Something which has just occurred to me is that anyone your introducing to the show would really need to be ok with the cheesy 80s TV style to really enjoy MacGyver.

There's been comments in here like "I wouldn't start with that episode because of the cheese factor" But the truth is, if the person doesn't like that kind of TV there's a better than even chance they wont really go for MacGyver. They really need to be able to get past the cheese and focus on other aspects of the show.

Promethius Factor it has computers and a investigation.

Promethius Factor?

I ment to say Promethius Syndrome.

It has computers?

I think she was after the Human Factor.

When Mac was doing the research on the arson fires he used a computer to look up when and where they occured to see if he could tie them to one person and what they had in common. It was after Earl's funeral, and Joe stopped by with the chemical analysis. Mac was still in his suit and tie.

I should've said computer instead of computers.

This post has been edited by SMeeceymouse on 15 June 2009 - 12:51 PM

The widowmaker is the one that I would put to a none fan of MacGyver.

I agree with Beachbead, "The Widowmaker" was my first taste of MacGyver.

What about something like The Gauntlet?

Plenty of action there, a little romance, lots of outdoors stuff, some solid MacGyverisms.