This was a poll started on June 25, 2006 by MacNymph. I have the replies below, but you'll have to revote! If you decide to vote differently this time around, you'll have to tell us what changed you mind!

While searching I found another site that kind of listed all this stuff in a table (www.jumptheshark.com) and it listed a couple of other things that were interesting...like Pete losing his vision, Mac dumping the Jeep for the pickup, and one I thought was pretty interesting...no more MacGyverisms. I didn't add them since it wasn't my poll in the first place...

As I watched S7, I recalled somewhere on here reading someone's opinion that late in the show Macgyverisms were less and recycled. I really didn't think S7 was short on MacGyverisms...but I did notice some recycling...like the kicking off the shoe to flip a lever trick. But I don't think I was disappointed in the MacGyverisms. For the shoe thing in Obsessed...I kind of got the feel that Mac was thinking "Tried it before and it worked...so...." and I don't think that was bad.

No! Never! What's wrong with you?

The MacGyverisms that were recycled the most were: 1) shoe acrobatics (at least three times--Holy Rose, Deadly Silents, Obssessed); 2) arc welding (at least twice times--Ceasefire and Trumbo's World, and I'm pretty sure there's a third); 3) smoke screens using an acid and other compound (at least twice--DOA MacGyver and Tommy Giordano).

I'm of the opinion that there's no sense in reinventing the wheel, so I don't begrudge any of this. It's just amusing to see the same idea work in various contexts. :-)

Mac
who thinks that MacGyver probably jumped the shark when he put on a tunic and hosen, but what a fun ep!

Rush to Judgment.
What about lock picking, then?
Recycling is usually a positive thing.

I don't count that because it's too common for Mac, like using duct tape, a SAK, or a paper clip.

I have nothing against recycling!

Mac

For some reason, I didn't start watching this show until 5th season, and the first ep I saw was Legend of the Holy Rose. Then I found out it had been on FOUR YEARS and I wondered why I missed out! When sixth season started, I was disappointed. Seventh season just flopped for me.

When I started watching the USA reruns, then I really kicked myself for not watching from the beginning!

DXS

and Hell week.. to blind the motion sensor on the lab door.

and Hell week.. to blind the motion sensor on the lab door.

Speaking for MacGyver.... If you find something that works... stick with it!

So what? Yeah, some MacGyverisms may have been reused here and there... but then I imagine it's pretty hard finding a new and creative way to get out of each and every situation every single time!!! Sometimes- what you already know pretty well works the best- and MacGyver is usually gonna go with what he thinks will work the best...
I don't think Pete or Jack complained any when MacGyver is saving them all- "Hey, Mac- you used that trick the last time we were in a jam. Can't you think of something different?"

(I can imagine the look of exasperation and near-fury on MacGyver's face as he turns toward Jack... )

I can imagine him saying:

Re-using isms doesn't bother me. He just using different things to do it. The result is always the same, the door blows open. Well almost anyway.
'The stuff's already there, I just think of different ways to use it.' MacGyver in Cease Fire.

What? You can't see that happening? No, I agree with the "if it works, use it again" train of thought...

Am I really the only one that actually likes the "social issued stories", as you call them, more than the early agent ones?

I understand that you all want action and travelling, and I understand that these episodes were right for the time when they aired, with the times being as they were and all.

But watching them now from the present POV I just feel a little odd sometimes. As if I'm on the wrong site. Of course I like to see when he travels through other countries and speaks foreign languages, but as soon as it touches your home you suddenly start to nitpick and thinking: So that's what Hollywood thinks we are. You would do exactly the same thing if seeing a Russian movie where Americans are the bad guys. It's somehow as if looking into a funny mirror.

And then I start to think, maybe the other countries were not described right in some ways also. I like to learn a thing from TV so when I'm suspicious it may not everything be correct I feel odd. Maybe I can't put my finger onto it since I actually don't know better, but I feel odd. Though I understand it is just a TV-series and they only have 45 minutes.

I remember watching all seven seasons and after that they immediately started with the first episode again and I watched on. And, since I already knew the MacGyver from the later seasons I somehow was shocked about some of his attitudes in the earlier episodes.

Yeah, I know, they still were trying to find their steps, but he somehow seemed a little too cool for me. He is not James Bond with cool dohickeys, and so I also felt weird seeing the horse at the helicopter or the car tumbling out of the plane. That is just exaggerated. Plus that he had to kiss at least once in every episode.

In later seasons, when they needed a political bad guy and the Russians were out of question they invented imaginary countries like "Kimbala" but that also feels odd to me since I do know there is no such country in the world. So it just doesn't feel real somehow.

And because of that I like more the stories that feel realistic to me. And since the things that are the subject of the "social issued stories" still exist it doesn't feel old to me either. They actually could be set in our days and still be true. Isn't that why we like MacGyver?

And every one of these stories left me with a smile at the end. I somehow felt as if the world is a better place as long as there is someone like MacGyver who doesn't only talk but act. Yes, it is actually not really realistic, but it shows us that there is a way to change the world, even in small steps.

If just everyone was like him.

Nope. I grew up with those episodes, the agent episodes only came later for me.

That's just because the world has changed since then. Since the wall is down there's no longer an East-Germany for him to go to. And the Sovjet Union no longer exists either.

Isn't that great? In the first episodes he shows that little arrogant side of his. How he grabbed Jana in Thief of Budapest, what he said in The Gauntlet 'Well Ryerson, I got you out of the United States and I'm going to do everything I can to get you out of this country too!' or what he said in Ugly Duckling to Kate. 'Would you just drop the attitude for a split second there!'

What do you mean too cool? It was cool. MacGyver had plenty of cool dohickeys and gizmo's throughout the series. That's how they wanted him half James Bond, half Indiana Jones.
You know there are peoples that really does that kind of things, driving cars out of planes to skydive. Just another cool MacGyverism and a great finale to end the episode.
He only kissed in episodes 1, 4, 5, 12, 13, 15 and 20 of the first season.
Then again every series is searching their steps. For Magnum it lasted 12 episodes before they got the theme right (which is heard for the first time in episode 8 throughout a few action scenes) and how they wanted their opening sequence.

Maybe it's just not on the map! But I always wanted to ask does Kambezi from Black Rhino exist?

Yep. There are still so many teens in troubles and the enviornment has taken a turn for the worse according the Al Gore. Also on political matters there's still a lot to do. Actually there's still many scenario's left to make at least a new season. You know the Middle East is now what East-Germany, China and Russia used to be in the 80's and early 90's.

That was the idea.
'You really think it's going to work, MacGyver?'
'I hope so, Billy. I sure hope so.'

This is some of what I said in the old posts:

I may like the earlier seasons better, but I think it's just because I love adventure and intrigue so much. As I said...Mac wouldn't be Mac without the social conscience.

I remember even in it's first run thinking something like this...wondering what the people in the country that's being portrayed would think and if they'd be unhappy with it if it's wrong...or even if it's right. I agree with MG...The world has changed a lot since then, so some of the story lines seem odd...but many of them can still be translated into modern time, just switch the countries.

I don't think that was a bad thing...I don't think it took away from the realism of the show. Because the series was always so current with the times and did utilize real events and people for the most part...the move to using made-up countries was easy for me to accept. That does get you to wondering, though if there was a reason for using fake countries...MacGyver wasn't afraid to tackle the issues whether they be domestic or foreign and there were quite a few times when the political issues were still touchy...so I have to wonder if some of those real countries got wind and protested. MacGyver never backed down from an issue, tho, and I don't know that the writers would have done so, either.

That bugged me too early on...it was like they thought Mac had to kiss every girl he met just so girls would watch the show. Personally I hated that and thought it was pretty stupid to kiss someone you don't even know!

That's still a lot. And, MG, do you have a log of this stuff? You're a "Maclopedia!"

Well said!

Thanks!

Maybe that's the reason for which part someone likes more Whatever you watched first and got accustomed to it, then the other thing would look different and as a change to you.

And just in case I didn't say it yet - I'm very glad about the way the things are right now!

Yep, arrogant was the word I was searching for. I actually stumbled about a few scenes in "The Golden Triangle" - which I really like, by the way, but there were a few scenes where I believed the MacGyver I knew had reacted differently.

And maybe I should put this into the episode discussion, but what's about the end of "Thief of Budapest"? MacGyver makes a phone call and immediately they are allowed to come to America? Somehow I can't believe it works that way, that's only a forced happy end to me. I'm sure there were rules for immigrants back then as well. At least it would have taken a little longer.

Didn't anyone say in this board that MacGyver actually hates to get hit and only fights if necessary? So when the general speaks to him in "The Golden Triangle" I think he is a bit too much annoying, as if he really doesn't care what will happen next. As if he was some super-hero. Something I would expect from Jack O'Neill but not MacGyver.

I'm sure you will bring now examples where he did the same thing in the later seasons, sorry I can't recall all of them just offhand. Maybe I'm wrong with this, I admit.

Well, that question is easy to answer: since no one got to see it no one could complain. Such series and movies just weren't aired in our part of the world at all. But I got to see movies like "Out of Africa", "Legal Eagles", "E.T." or "Dirty Dancing", just to mention a few I remember watching at the theater.

Yeah, you're right, actually I appreciated it, too. They even put people of different skin colors into a "bad" team so that no one could complain it would always only be these or that ones.

That really would be an interesting question! But I can't see how they should have got wind. Or maybe they knew but couldn't protest since they did it just the other way 'round. That's like throwing the first stone.

Some of the kisses were just forced and didn't fit into the story at all, I think. I like the one from "The Gauntlet", though. I can see that two people that are in a dangerous situation would grow onto each other more quickly.



Bottom line: I think I'm with Lothithil and Amy here that "The 'social worker' aspect of Mac's personality" was there right from the beginning in the show.

He was younger and reckless. The way he's been acting in the first season was more like a teenager in the later seasons he's more mature.

Who knows how much time passed by? After the fade out maybe one hour passed or longer.
With MacGyver at the phone anything can happen. I willing to bet the MacGyver did all the necessary paper work through the phone. Their passports made and maybe after a few days they all went back to America.

No, he phoned right at the border while the others were waiting out there. And after a short while he came out and told them that they are allowed to come to America. I always wondered who he phoned in the first place.

I know that but how long have they been at the border. Like I said an hour maybe, or longer.

The general, perhaps. The Pentagon, big shots in the American government.

In Mac's defense, if you are in a dire situation, you are not going to die because you already used an escape trick. You use it again and live to try it again.

I voted in this resurrected poll. I voted for the social worker choice. There's not many episodes more annoying than the up in your face heavy-handed after school special ones like 'Twenty Questions' for me. To each their own (I'm sure some of you hate eps I like-in fact, I know you do from some ealier conversations,and I'm completely ok with that), but for me you can keep every one of the social issues episodes. I've seen them twice (once as a kid-well, most likely, anyway-and once recently on DVD), but I won't be watching any of them again. Give me my Jack Dalton, my Widowmaker, and my whump, and I'm good.

For me season 5 is the definitive point at which the feel of the show changed.

Right from the very first (double) episode of the season the writing is on the walls with the most lame-assed escape ever from the swinging blade.
Then we move straight into the next episode with a very scruffy looking MacGyver suddenly driving a truck instead of his jeep. It's at that point that the show changed for me. MacGyver just wasn't really the same person from that point on, and the show just wasn't the same.

Thats not to say that I don't still like the show, I just think it changed direction and lost some of it's magic.

Hee hee Forgot to re-vote in my own stupid poll.

What'd you vote for Nymphy?

I don't know the exact season that it all changed, but I do feel the social issues were an problem for me. In my opinion. The house boat, flight jacket, Jeep, and Vancouver are important aspects of MacGyver. The "hip" clothes, longer hair, classic vehicles, and L.A. really leave a sour taste. As previously stated by others, I enjoyed MacGyver finding trouble through both international and domestic assignments versus being at the wrong place at the wrong time in L.A. There are very few episodes that I do not like, but there are also a few episodes that I could do without. When I think of MacGyver I will always think of SAKs, cloudy Vancouver, and a house boat.

I think it's funny that the phrase "Jump the Shark" was created because of Henry Winkler's infamous scene on Happy Days. Now it's being discussed about MacGyver.

And there is that lovely (sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm) episode of The X-Files that is actually named 'Jump the Shark'. Yeah, don't fight it when you know your time has come, I suppose...

When things starting happening TO him instead of him going where things were happening.

Which is essentially the same thing as MacGyver: Social Worker.