The only aspect I don't like about MacGyver is that it didn't last longer.

And this is very much true as well. It could go on forever

Yeah, I know I would have happily watched another few seasons.
But, realistically, considering the decline in quality during season 7, a part of me is glad that they stopped when they did. I think if they kept going, it would have just gotten worse and worse, and it would have tarnished the show's reputation (of course, at the time when they announced the cancellation, I was very disappointed.)

On all good things must come an end... in the end.

My main gripe about the show was the lack of a consistent back story. It's not THAT hard to come up with a back story for a character and stick to it, even if you do go through a lot of writers. Ever hear of a file where you keep the notes on past episodes and basic info about your main characters???

I also didn't like the fact that there were too few good female characters. I liked Nikki, Deborah was one of the best villains I've ever seen, and some of the one-shot characters, like Carol from Countdown, were good. This was, however, the 80's, and I don't think female characters on TV really came into their own until well into the 90's. (Well, there was Maggie on Northern Exposure, which was early 90's, but she was one of the exceptions.)

I agree, too, about the fact that Mac couldn't get a good girlfriend. It was sort of annoying how all the women he fell for either left him or were psychotic. Then again, I find myself wondering if he COULD have sustained a long-term relationship with all the globe-trotting he did. So maybe it fit with the character better that he was "terminally single."

If you don't mind a new fan cutting in here, I just wanted to say that I thought the last season got to be a little strange. I have not watched all of them, by far, but the last season was definetely well, different.

Totally agree with you.
I think, though, it's pretty common for shows to lose steam in their last season. All the good ideas have been used already, and the actors (or in this case, "the actor") is starting to get a little restless and wants to move on to other things. I think something that may have hurt MacGyver in particular during the 7th season is the fact that it became so localized. It seemed like every episode dealt with a problem in Mac's neighborhood. I don't know why the Phoenix Foundation stopped sending him on assignments (actually, when Mac left the foundation in the final episode, I remember thinking, "Was he really still working for them?")

Strangest thing is if they all loved him so much, they wanted to kill him. If there was someone with good intentions, either "she was too bossy" or either someone who could take care of herself, but nooo, he had to stay single. Even with a girlfriend it doesn't mean she has to be in all the episodes, right? Just the important ones and a couple of two-parters.

Also the fact Jack kinda disappeared after Jenny's Chance bothered me. A lot of the solid cast we've had in season 3 and 4 vanished after season 5. Penny hasn't been seen since Serenity... Nikki left, Harry wasn't seen between Friends and Passages. All good aspects they left out.

There's the exception of Obsessed and that was one of the better episodes. In Split Decision, I think he came back from an assignment cos he said he was gone for a week.

Actually I think you really gotta make a go for it and motivate the rest of the crew to give everything they have left to make that final season work. Been a long time since I've seen The Warrior Princess but I remember me liking the sixth season the best one and The Shield's seventh season as well. Both finals, both good wrappings up.

I would of loved to see them do the full 7th season aleast but that never happened.

so what I like least about the show, the fact that Niki didn't stay longer, I was starting to like her character even tho each writer had there take on her until she
became just like any other woman in Mac's life.

I really liked season 3 because the show started to feel more fleshed out with all the other recurring cast members. It's not that I needed those characters to be there all the time, but it made Mac's world feel a bit more developed somehow, to see familiar faces on a recurring basis. I'm really curious to know why they changed directions with the show. They were clearly moving towards making it more of an esemble cast in season 3, but by season 5, it was back to mostly just being Mac again. Anyone know if the creators of the show ever explained this?

We all know why Nikki was left out but to me that was no reason to leave Jack out of the show or Murdoc or Harry. I think Jack should've at least have four episodes per season, more if it was liked, like the third season. He had like six episodes in it: Lost Love (both parts), Jack in the Box, The Odd Triple, Mask of the Wolf and Rock The Cradle. Murdoc should've at least have 3 episodes or so and Harry also. Went it comes down to Penny, two is more than enough and for Nikki... She really was someone who would've done it great each time Phoenix was involved in something big. Maybe not always but I think there are plenty of other episodes later on where in she could've fit in.

As far as I know there's no reason given why they changed it. But they could've done so much more with the character. Jack hasseling Mac into an adventure is one thing, but Jack being along for the ride is the other great thing or Mac getting Jack into an adventure.

With Nikki's Blow Out episode was a great setting for the background of her character. She could've stayed at least until the sixth season. The only other episodes I could've seen her in in the seventh season is Obsessed and The Stringer. Maybe The 'Hood too with helping Mac moving. I think this would be it for me if she showed up in later episodes (starting in season 4). Except for:

Murderers' Sky
Deadly Dreams
Cleo Rocks
Fraternity of Thieves
The Invisible Killer
Brainwashed
Renegade
Unfinished Business
Black Corsage
Cease Fire
Second Chance
Serenity
Jenny's Chance
Deep Cover
Rush To Judgment
Passages
Humanity
Lesson in Evil
MacGyver's Women (to replace Maria than)
Blind Faith
Hind-Sight
The 'Hood
Prometheus Syndrome
Obsessed
The Stringer

I'm more certain about the season six and seven episodes. Maybe I'm thinking of adding The Prometheus Syndrome to it. She could've come in with the groceries instead of Mama Lorraine and than later sit with Mac at the computer when Joe comes in.

One thing though, I think it would've been if Willis also started to show up in season 4. He also would've been interesting asset to be in several episodes like in the sixth.

Back in thoses days fans was listened to, now a days fans are rarely listened to, I

don't know why Jack and the rest of the cast wasn't added I guess the only reason

why Jack came on the show is to need to get MacGyver into trouble, Harry only

came on the show rarely he was MacGyver's grandfather who didn't want to hang

around his granson that much he was a loner like MacGyver is. Muroc only came

back from the dead to try to kill MacGyver and Peter but he mostly went after

MacGyver, it would of looked like he

would of went after everyone of MacGyver's friends it would of made an

Interesting concept.

I would of loved to seen more of Muroc's background why did he turn to killing

people? what shaped him as a child to do what he does.

Was it because female fans didn't want her as a love interest for Mac? If so, I think that's a stupid reason to leave her out. Why couldn't she just be another agent who worked with Mac. She was never a love interest in Season 3, anyway. They could have kept her around like that, and just explored the friendship, rather than any romance. Maybe Nikki and Willis could have become a couple, if the writers were determined to give her a romantic story line (which I don't think is necessary anyway.)

As much as I love Murdoc, I think three Murdoc episodes per season would be overkill. One per season was good (two in season 5, of course.) He needs to be somewhat mysterious/elusive, and three episodes per season would ruin that aspect of him.

Dr. Zito should have come back at least one more time.

I think what did it for Niki was the fact in GX-1 Episode when Starkoss tells

MacGyver he can grow to love Niki, and MacGyver is like no no. I think right then

and there the writers was trying to get the fans to like Niki as MacGyver's girlfriend.

But that was short lived.

I am writing a fanfic where his reason for being an assassin is revealed.

I am writing a fanfic where his reason for being an assassin is revealed.

wow that is so cool can't wait to read it.

the music irritated me greatly. it was quite overpowering at times. perhaps all the shows were like that at the time and had i seen it when it was broadcast then i wouldn't have minded so much, but as i saw the entire series in 2010, the music sticks out like a sore thumb!

What?

I'll have you know, the show wouldn't be that great without it. OK, it's noticeable that a lot of cues are often used throughout the seasons. The music used when Mac is fighting Neilson in Nightmares is heard a lot in early seasons even until the Black Rhino episode and many other cues. That might grow tiresome but it's done in a lot of shows, of that time and even later on too. On shows of the last decade I don't know. A lot of shows has there themes but what I did notice in like 24 each season has their own themes. The president's wife in season 5 had her own theme. David Palmer had his own theme and so on like many other characters in their own shows.

I don't think a MacGyverism scene without good music is as strong as we know it. Think it's wonderful how a couple of high notes refers to the moment an idea pops into his head, to the moment he starts working on it, to the moment for the end result for like Stricktly Business. Or the moments before a fade out happens. There's like the ending of act 1 and 3 in The Prometheus Syndrome. A sudden death, the realization of how deep Mac is busted or in how much trouble he's in.

Music is a very big aspect that can't be missed in a show like MacGyver. I also think it's quite cool that (and it happened mostly in later seasons) almost every episode has their own themes. The themes from Humanity and The Wall are amongst my favourites. I think it's very important to get in the right mood or atmosphere especially when he's on out of the country missions.

All shows have music. What in particular don't you like about the MacGyver music?

The only time the music really bothered me was during some episodes in Season 4. "Gold Rush" is one good example-- the music is really over-used in that episode, to the point where it becomes a distraction rather than an enhancement. Listening to those fake violins swelling in every scene got to be a bit much.

For the most part, though, I liked the music in the show. Of course, some of it is laughably outdated now (that's always a problem when a show relies more on synth music than orchestral music.) I think the later seasons aged better with the music because they were more orchestral-based.
"Passages", for example, sounded great back then, and STILL sounds great today. On the other hand, the synth music played in "Out In The Cold" while Mac is skiing sounds pretty cheesy today.

Stealing the sunboat and the piano cue when we first see Mac in the hospital and Mac's outer body experience through the tunnel are indeed classic.

What's interesting about that is that Starkos' words may have been misinterpreted.

"Love" doesn't have to mean a romantic relationship. It can also mean a brother/sister-type relationship, which was what I think Mac and Nikki had. They got on each others' nerves, but they also looked out for each other.

What I'm trying to say is that there are many ways to love someone, and by the time Nikki disappeared from the show, I do think she and Mac had come to love each other.

I loved the first three seasons, but after that MacGyver's transformation became complete. He went from being somewhat of a spy or intelligence agent (not literally of course) to basically being a social worker and environmentalist. I wouldn't have minded so much if the show hadn't gotten quite so preachy and begun to feature an issue-of-the-week.

MacGyver changed too. He was originally a rugged individualist and outdoorsman. By season four he was sporting a mullet, wearing khaki pants and floral print shirts, and had traded in his Jeep for that (with all due respect) gaudy, restored 1946 canary yellow Chevy pick-up. I didn't mind when he changed addresses and moved onto the houseboat, but all I could do is sit there and shake my head when, for the final season, he moved into a run-down loft in a ghetto neighborhood. I can only assume that MacGyver's job paid well, very well. Why would anyone who could afford not to, move into a ghetto neighborhood where their neighbors would include drunks, gangs, and a voodoo priestess? I may be wrong, but I believe the series was subtitled that season: MacGYVER: SAVIOR OF OUR STREETS. And then, when he was finally given a first name, it turned out to be Angus. (Although Stace was his name in the original pilot script, and I could swear Harry once called him Stace as well.)

Don't get me wrong, I love MacGYVER. I just love it a whole lot more seasons 1-3, have a few issues with it seasons 4-6, and remain thankful that season 7 only contained 13 episodes.

Please, do point that out!

That's like most of us here.

Yeah, they definitely changed the character. It always seemed really out of character to me when he started going really blonde in some episodes. MacGyver just never struck me as the kind of guy who would spend time coloring his hair. I can't picture him looking in the mirror and saying, "Ah, man, my roots are showing. I'd better go to Rite-Aid and buy some more Loreal hair color."

I'm pretty sure Harry only ever called him "Bud." And I thought the "Stace" thing was just a rumor because TV Guide (or maybe some other publication?) printed that as his name long before the writers ever thought of one.

Stace was never his name.

It was mistakenly printed as such in some publications and according to RDA in one of the interviews about the name reveal in Good Knight MacGyver they jumped on it pretty quickly to dispel the mistake.

yes, Harry always called him Bud.

One big reason for the changes to MacGYVER beginning with the third season was that production was moved from Southern California to Canada. Canada is very protective of its film industry. Whenever an American (or any other foreign) series was/is shot in Canada, a marjority of the writers, producers, directors, and actors have to be Canadian. So when MacGYVER moved to Canada, a new staff of writers was hired, most of whom were Canadian. Same with the producers and many of the directors. They obviously had a different take on the show than the American staff had.

Same thing goes for the actors. You look at a lot of shows that were filmed in Canada, and while the lead may be American, the "sidekick" and many of the supporting players are usually Canadian citizens. Same with many of the guest stars. I'm not sure about Dana Elcar, but Michael Des Barres and Elyssa Davalos were both Canadian. It may also have limited the number of appearances by Bruce McGill.

The Canadian film office has strict quotas, which I admire. Same with the British. They protect their artists, which I think America should do more of. But whenever an established U.S. series moves up there, there are notable changes.

Where are you getting your information from?

Michael Des Barres is English.

And IMDB shows Elyssa as being US born.

Dana Elcar is also American.

Wouldn't that be mostly because it simply doesn't make economic sense for them to fly all their guest and supporting actors up to Canada on a weekly basis? I would also think that it's cheaper to pay a Canadian filming crew who take Canadian dollars than what it would be to pay a US crew who would take the US dollar. i.e. $40,000 CAN is cheaper than $40,000 US)

Hmm, than why did most of the writers of season 3-6 wrote season 7 episodes? John Sheppard, Rick Mittleman, Brad Radnitz and John Considine both wrote two episodes for that season. Also Robert Sherman and Lincoln Kibbee returned for season 7.

Is there a possible chance that the scripts were perhaps send from L.A. to Vancouver?

Besides Michael is British as it was said in Serenity and Elyssa is American.

Honestly, I will always adore most aspects of the show. It will be timeless outside of the tech and style of hair or clothing. However, looking back at it there are a few things I would like to be fixed or handled better from the producers.

I always hated when the writers got lazy and either copied a movie (Slapshot-Thin Ice) and/or pulled from the headlines (Witness/Baby Jessica - The Outsiders). "Lets show what MacGyver would do in that situation" I can hear the writers in the room saying that a lot.

I was also never a fan of Jenny's Chance due to the fact that Mac wasn't in a lot of it. I can't really blame The Coltons because it was the pilot for a spinoff.

I also wished that they sent MacGyver on more actual missions. I like that he would just happen to be in the right/wrong place at the right time but it happened way too often. I remember how happy and surprised I was when season five started with him on a mission.
Though I love that we go to see his everyday life and the mundane things he had to do when home.

There were times it felt like the writers were missing opertunities to have him create something on certain episodes on purpose.
In Treasure of Atlantis they skip over how he got them out of the trap. That annoys the crap out of me.

I also would have liked to see certain converations happen like when Mac and Maria broke up instead of the relationship just ending off screen.

I also would have like certain characters mentioned now and again in conversation on episodes they they aren't in. Like Nikki who just fell off the face of the earth. though I'm kind of glad they didn't end up together I enjoyed the friendship.

That is it at the moment. If I think of more I'll add it later:)