We know that Murdoc never actually died.. but I'm wandering if, during any of their fights, MacGyver deliberately did something to finish Murdoc?

I can't remember all the endings of the episodes with Murdoc, but where all his "Deaths" completely accidental?

Partners: Building fell on him and was careless with dynamite.
The Widowmaker: Cut his own rope.
Cleo Rocks: Electrocution and drowning.
Halloween Knights: Grenade explosion.
Serenity: None, doesn't count.
Stricktly Business: Fall in mineshaft.
Obsessed: Driving off cliff.

The last three (not counting Serenity) surely not.
In Halloween Knights, he threw in the grenade to kill Nicholas with the risk to die along with him.
In Stricktly Business he was just unfortunate to get caught in the rope, pulling him into the mineshaft.
In Obsessed... well if I was MacGyver, I would've jumped aside as well. Murdoc's intention was probably to die as well when he kills MacGyver. MacGyver only did the most natural thing and jumped aside. Which is only normal, because of Murdoc succeeded, he would win and MacGyver couldn't let that happen.

In Partners, Murdoc just made the wrong decision by going into that demolition zone. Being careless with the dynamite... MacGyver said, there was time to get out of the truck. And I think so too. He threw the rock in the windshield, Murdoc freaks out, we see the truck driving and than it explodes. That would've given Murdoc at least 5 to 10 seconds to get out.

In The Widowmaker, MacGyver grabs Murdoc's rope and he cuts through his own ropes. This leaves some possibilities.
A: MacGyver knew this was Murdoc's rope and made him cut through his own ropes. But this would make him look guilty.
B: MacGyver took a rope, in the heat of the moment to protect himself or to do whatever he was thinking. Murdoc cuts it and it happened to be his own rope. This might also explain MacGyver's look, the moment Murdoc falls.

Cleo Rocks. This might be the most difficult situation to explain if he did it delibrately or not. Murdoc was distracted by Pete during their fight and MacGyver figured, that this was his chance to get Murdoc and electrocuted him.
You might find this comparable with the situation in The Negotiator, he also electrocuted Deborah, but she was still alive only tranquilized.
So, Murdoc falls into that pool, probably unconscious and dies because of drowning. If you get a decent jolt, I think you're knocked out at least for a moment or two, so I don't think he immediately swam away after that.
Than there was still the possibility they had, or at least MacGyver had, to jump after him, even though he was wounded. He could've gotten him out of there and maybe even alive.
So, is this death, accidental? I think we got something here to think about because if he got Murdoc out of there, dead or alive, a lot of misery could've been avoided.

On the other side: good they didn't because what would MacGyver be without Murdoc after him? We still have Deborah (who could've been a great female Murdoc) and Zito (who could've been a great psycho Murdoc) but Murdoc is Murdoc and just like MacGyver there's only one of a kind.

I agree completely. *Points to avvie*

Also, it isn't in Mac's character to really make an effort to kill people off, but I think he wouldn't have minded Murdoc's death in the slightest. He's behavior in Obsessed kind of testifies to that, I think. Murdoc is THE guy to drive him bonkers... and he kills/ harms innocents along the way, which is another no-no in Mac's book.

Well said!

I think we've already established that MacGyver doesn't kill- and that applies for everyone, even Murdoc.
I think in "The Widowmaker", MacGyver grabbed whatever was handy to make some kind of defense against Murdoc- and I don't think he intended to have Murdoc cut his own rope- there is definitely a look of horror on Mac's face...

As for "Cleo Rocks"- one thing to keep in mind is that in each of these instances it's a life and death situation- and MacGyver is trying to keep from getting himself and his friends killed. I'm sure MacGyver shocked Murdoc to take him out of commission- but not to kill him. He couldn't have known Murdoc would fall into the pool.

And most of the other encounters were either Murdoc's fault or just bad luck. MacGyver would never kill- friend or enemy.

I don't know about that. He could still have gone after him. But you are right, when someone poses a threat to your life, what would you do, huh?

Exactly right. Wow. There are a lot of smart people on this board...

Except the guy in "Log Jam"

I forget which episode that was. Was it in direct self defense or an extra effort?

http://www.macgyveronline.com/forums/index...findpost&p=2988

Hmmm. Very good points all around. Now I have to go away and think about it.

Here's a way to look at it.

Mac does not DELIBERATELY kill others. This is what sets him apart from the bad guys he runs up against, including Murdoc. Murdoc usually does himself in because he's too clever by half. Yes, some bad guys have died as a result (direct or indirect) of Mac's actions, but it was never his INTENTION to have that happen. Heck, he's even tried to save the bad guys on occasion... look at "Black Rhino."

Right. And anything done in self defense doesn't quite count...

And I wondered, what would follow later? Would Mac have to go through the whole process with the police? Would Phoenix manage it for him? We never actually saw any outcome.

Maybe an idea for the fanfiction-writers? I'd love to read someone accusing Mac that he did not try to save someone.

And I wondered, what would follow later? Would Mac have to go through the whole process with the police? Would Phoenix manage it for him? We never actually saw any outcome.

Maybe an idea for the fanfiction-writers? I'd love to read someone accusing Mac that he did not try to save someone.

Hmm?

A very interesting idea!

And I wondered, what would follow later? Would Mac have to go through the whole process with the police? Would Phoenix manage it for him? We never actually saw any outcome.

Maybe an idea for the fanfiction-writers? I'd love to read someone accusing Mac that he did not try to save someone.

Well in the case of Murdoc (which is what this thread is about).. theres never any body found.. so there would be no case to answer to.

In any other case I was always under the impression that Mac and Pete still had what-ever rights, protection that government enforcement agencies seem to have (in TV and movies at least) i.e. they're never held accountable for their actions.

Hello there fellow Murdoc maniac. LOL! You are right, self defense doesn't count when it comes to MacGyver and Murdoc or any felons on the show.

I've just gone through and looked at all the "deaths" on the DVDs and the only one that really stands out as not being 100% accidental is the electrocution in Cleo Rocks. All the others where really either Murdoc's own doing (or choosing) or just pure bad luck (or good luck for MacGyver)

So I think that probably answers the original question.

Hello, Murdoc! Love the name.

Yeah, that's the only death that ever really stuck out dramatically to me, and it was sort of done in the spur of the moment.

I would say that only in Obsessed might have Murdoc's death not been accidental. Of course Mac had a crazy psycho charging him with a jeep, so the it's the crazy psycho's fault--right?

I think they're all accidental-but I do think Mac would have killed the bad guy in "The Challenge" had Cuba Gooding not stopped him.

My opinion is that MacGyver was acting in self-defense and in defense of others, without knowing whether Murdoc would die or not, and that Murdoc and Murdoc is responsible for his own "demises". (example being careless with the dynamite, cutting his own ropes, driving his jeep off of a cliff, etc.) Murdoc's deaths are carelessness on his part.

How is it that a guy as smart as Murdoc would act on multiple occasions with such recklessness?

Well, if you wanna pull all the plugs...