MacGyver 2016 on CBS

[AntiArbitrator]

Premieres Friday, September 23, 2016 at 8/7c

MacGyver, a reimagining of the classic series, is an action-adventure drama about 20-something Angus “Mac” MacGyver, who creates a clandestine organization within the U.S. government where he uses his extraordinary talent for unconventional problem solving and vast scientific knowledge to save lives.

Joining his team on high-risk missions around the globe is maverick former CIA agent Jack Dalton and Patricia Thornton, ex-field agent turned director of operations and Riley Davis, an unpredictable computer hacker with a chip on her shoulder. At home, MacGyver is entertained by his ambitious roommate, Wilt Bozer.

Under the aegis of the Department of External Services, MacGyver takes on the responsibility of saving the world, armed to the teeth with resourcefulness and little more than bubble gum and a paper clip.

[AntiArbitrator]

We enjoyed Justin Hires in "Rush Hour" and I am glad he will share his humor in this series.

[KyleEl]

That is a good reason to watch.

[AntiArbitrator]

I agree.

[KyleEl]

I was going to watch but I ran out of time. I decided to give priority to the shows airing Sunday night. I had three movies to watch and managed to see one. And there are numerous series that are not new.

[AntiArbitrator]

The episode was good and contained some interesting plot twists, which I will not reveal. I think there will be more humor in upcoming episodes than was in the pilot because the pilot was rather serious.

I am not watching any of the original shows or movies for the re-boots. I want to enjoy them based on their own merit and not be tempted to compare the re-boot to anything that came before.

[KyleEl]

I wasn't all that impressed. Though I did like the humor in the narration. Justin isn't making much of a contribution, although he wouldn't be as convincing as a tough ex-military type.

I also wish the blonde had been the one they broke out of prison. I hated that we were apparently supposed to like her and then she supposedly got killed. But I didn't care for her personality once it became clear she was not only still alive but on the side of the bad guys. What I'm saying is I wish the girl they broke out of prison had started out good but was now one of the bad guys, but that the two girls traded personalities. That one bad guy looked so familiar.

I disagree with whoever decided not to put a V in the V-chip rating. The water turned red when MacGyver fell in and I wondered how in the world he could survive.

[AntiArbitrator]

I was also disappointed MacGyver's friend turned out to be selfish. I enjoyed Lethal Weapon much more than this but it might get better.

So far, Justin has been the clueless roommate who makes Mac's cover story look legitimate.

I will give it a chance though.

[KyleEl]

Not yet.

Still, I don't have much of an incentive.

[skylander]

I watched two episodes of MacGyver and enjoyed both of them. I anticipated there would be more humor than in the pilot and there was.

1.02 Metal Saw (9-30-16) MacGyver and the team attempt to rescue Jack’s former CIA partner who went missing in Venezuela after finding evidence to take down an international arms dealer.

Rescuing Jack’s one true love was successful and he was happy ...until her fiancé arrived. Mac found something in his ex’s house that included a passport. I do not think he told Jack about that. Mac keeps saying he is over his ex and just wants to recapture her so she can go to prison. I hope that is truly the only reason he is obsessing over her.

[skylander]

1.03 AWL (10-7-16) In Malaysia, MacGyver and the team extract a terrorist group’s money man who has intel on an impending attack, but when the man is shot, Mac must keep him alive in order to learn the terrorists’ plans.

SPOILER: Click to show

The team was able to capture the jerk who keeps the books for criminals, but the man was shot when they exited his home. After being chased by the cartel, they realized they had to perform emergency surgery to keep him alive. The problem was they did not know how to perform surgery, they were in a dirty vehicle and the doctor Riley located did not speak English. MacGyver needs to find duct tape, paperclips and a translator.

Mac’s brilliant plan to fake the man’s death so D-77 would leave them alone was going smoothly until D-77 paid off the EMT’s and took the “body”. There were too many goons for the two of them to fight so Mac improvised using air masks and smoke bombs to give them leverage during the fight. That was fun, but the criminals were still able to fight.

Riley has been a big help during their missions and does a lot more than hack computers. I like her a lot more than I did in the pilot.

Wilt, Mac’s housemate, finally made his movie with Mac playing the role of a monster. It looked pretty good, but Riley told Wilt he was not using the program correctly. When she took over the computer, he quipped he likes a woman who takes charge.

[AntiArbitrator]

Oct 8, 2016 19:08:02 GMT -5 skylander said:

I watched two episodes of MacGyver and enjoyed both of them. I anticipated there would be more humor than in the pilot and there was.

1.02 Metal Saw (9-30-16) MacGyver and the team attempt to rescue Jack’s former CIA partner who went missing in Venezuela after finding evidence to take down an international arms dealer.

Rescuing Jack’s one true love was successful and he was happy ...until her fiancé arrived. Mac found something in his ex’s house that included a passport. I do not think he told Jack about that. Mac keeps saying he is over his ex and just wants to recapture her so she can go to prison. I hope that is truly the only reason he is obsessing over her.

Jack's former CIA partner played "Root" on "Person of Interest".

[KyleEl]

No time yet.

[skylander]

It was a good episode with a lot of drama and some humorous moments.

SPOILER: Click to show

I like the way "MacGyver" starts the episode with an exciting scene. MacGyver used baking soda, vinegar and agitation to make a smoke bomb; then he jumped on top of the team’s get-away vehicle to escape.

This was another show this week that talked about putting the past in the past and move forward. Wilt saw the internet search Mac was running in an attempt to locate his ex. Wilt thinks the ex is dead and arranged an intervention. It was partially funny and partially serious.

When the Russians chased the team through the safe house, Mac used flour, copper wire, and a clock to make a bomb. It worked, but the Russians were still able to kidnap one of the scientists.

Riley impresses me with her calmness under fire and her willingness to join the fight. When they were in a warehouse where the missile was set to detonate, Riley rolled a barrel down the steps to knock over some guys who were trying to kill them. Jack said she Donkey Kong’d them.


Nothing went as planned during the mission, and Mac needed to repair the computer keyboard. He used a bolt, hook and gear to complete the electrical circuit for the keyboard. That worked, but the commands were taking too long to execute. Mac told the scientist to trick the computer by changing the year so instead of 2016, it was set to go off in 2116. That gave them plenty of time to defuse it.

[KyleEl]

That was close! Only my oldest TiVo shows individual episodes, and that leads to me losing episodes. I have to check each series that has more than one episode. One of this show's episodes had an exclamation point!

[skylander]

Here's another one to add to the list:

1.05 Toothpick
NEW October 21, 2016

MacGyver must fix a sabotaged train to protect a woman who has proof that her boss is selling weapons to enemies of the U.S.

[KyleEl]

Now four episodes behind. I'm looking at a possible marathon. Which could be a good thing if I learn to like the show.

Another "Rush Hour" cast member has shown up on prime time.

[AntiArbitrator]

I enjoy watching MacGyver, Jack and Riley in action. Their handler is seeing a lot of action too. Mac thinks quickly and logically in do-or-die situations and here are some of the things I enjoyed:

SPOILER: Click to show

Mac “borrowed” an electric shaver and turned it into a Taser.

He stuck a knife in an aerosol can and sprayed an assassin. It slowed him down but he kept coming. Mac stuck a pin in the assassin’s gun so he could not pull the trigger; then he kicked the man through a window.

He took one of the train’s small torpedoes, struck an assassin with it, and forced him off of the train.

Mac used magnesium, iron oxide and a flare to create a thermal lance to decouple the train cars.

Lastly, he did something to cause the train's wheels to go in reverse so the train would slow down. He earned his reputation in this episode.

Of course, the rest of the team did their part also and I enjoyed seeing Riley beat the assassin with a computer and the lady shock the man with the Taser.

[KyleEl]

Four episodes behind, to be five tonight.

[AntiArbitrator]

You have a lot of catching up to do. "Wrench" was also a good episode, but I do not find Mac to be as fascinating as I should. Jack is more exciting and humorous too.

SPOILER: Click to show

They tried to locate one of the best bomb makers in the world because there were rumors he had a job in the United States. The scary thing about tracking bomb makers is they set bomb traps for the people who are hunting them.

While in the military, Mac was trained to detect and defuse bombs. One of the soldiers he worked with requested Mac join him on the case.

My favorite part was when Jack was standing on the metal plate and Mac told him "Do not move!" Every time Jack shifted his foot, I reacted the same way their handler, Patricia, and Riley did. Then I would laugh. I do not want him to get blown up. 

Wilt still thinks he has a chance with Riley. That makes me laugh, because I do not think so.

[KyleEl]

And it will probably be six, the way things are going.

[KyleEl]

Oct 8, 2016 19:08:02 GMT -5 skylander said:

I watched two episodes of MacGyver and enjoyed both of them. I anticipated there would be more humor than in the pilot and there was.

1.02 Metal Saw (9-30-16) MacGyver and the team attempt to rescue Jack’s former CIA partner who went missing in Venezuela after finding evidence to take down an international arms dealer.

Rescuing Jack’s one true love was successful and he was happy ...until her fiancé arrived. Mac found something in his ex’s house that included a passport. I do not think he told Jack about that. Mac keeps saying he is over his ex and just wants to recapture her so she can go to prison. I hope that is truly the only reason he is obsessing over her.

When did they use a metal saw? I saw a bunch of tools used. The gimmick seems to be the words on screen telling us what he does.

At the same time, this show isn't doing much for me. Jack's ex was pretty, and she sure didn't act like a prisoner, but beyond that all I can say is I like it enough to keep watching.

[AntiArbitrator]

I recall the words on the screen being written in white and I cannot read them from where I watch TV. I had to keep pressing "pause" and walk to the TV to read it. I have a similar issue on other shows. "Elementary", and others, will focus on a note or written document that is too small for me to read. Hit "pause" and walk to the TV. Maybe people sit two feet from the TV, but I sit between 7 and 9 feet away. I can read the closed caption, but not the notes in the program.

[AntiArbitrator]

Can Opener (11-4-16)

When Mac goes undercover to break a notorious drug kingpin out of a maximum-security prison, he must track the fugitive to the cartel’s location to dismantle it after they escape.

SPOILER: Click to show

I liked the foot chase scene at the beginning of the episode and it did not look as if Mac and Jack could catch him. Mac created a ring of fire to trap the sprinter. (The ring of fire made me think of Supernatural. That is the only way they can trap an angel. But the ring of fire must be made of holy oil.)

After Mac went to prison, being the nice guy that he is, he volunteered to fix the container for an inmate’s medicine.

Jack makes me laugh. When he thought he had hacked the computer and bypassed the security guard’s password, Riley told him the computer was just in sleep mode.

Mac used ingenuity (and science) to help the guy escape, but the man had become suspicious when Mac prevented him from killing a guard.

I have seen numerous times that someone on TV used Morse code to signal they are in trouble. Does the military still teach/use Morse code?

[KyleEl]

Nov 4, 2016 15:34:38 GMT -5 AntiArbitrator said:

I recall the words on the screen being written in white and I cannot read them from where I watch TV. I had to keep pressing "pause" and walk to the TV to read it. I have a similar issue on other shows. "Elementary", and others, will focus on a note or written document that is too small for me to read. Hit "pause" and walk to the TV. Maybe people sit two feet from the TV, but I sit between 7 and 9 feet away. I can read the closed caption, but not the notes in the program.

I can read the words, but I have to pause myself. I find when I watch the TV that is hooked up to antenna, I can't see credits or subtitles because I'm too far away. And my bifocals wouldn't help because I tend to look through the middle. I haven't had success looking through the top even while driving.

[AntiArbitrator]

1.08 Corkscrew
11-11-16

When MacGyver faces an international assassin hired to kill him, he must defend both himself and Bozer with only a corkscrew and paper towel rolls; Bozer learns MacGyver's true identity.

[AntiArbitrator]

This was my favorite episode so far and there was much excitement.

SPOILER: Click to show

The opening scene this time was not exciting (for me) but I am sure Mac enjoyed it very much. Mac constructed a black light so his lady friend could see some clues that would give her the solution to win the locked room game. Mac realized it was foolish to leave a locked room when he was with a desirable woman.

Bozer is a really good friend. He prepared a fabulous dinner for Mac so he could entertain his date in style, but Mac had to go to work.

While an assassin was running from Mac and Jack, Mac yanked the wires from a light fixture and used them to electrify the stairwell and caused the man to fall. When they looked at the paper the man dropped, they realized Mac was the target. Now the fun begins.

When the boss locked Mac in a room, he had no problem pulling the wall plate out and entering the code to unseal the door.

Mac erected bottle rockets using wine bottles and towels to knock the assassin through a window. Before that, he told Bozer to pour out one-third of the wine and it was funny when Bozer turned up the bottle and drank some of the wine. Bozer was shocked and very upset that Mac and the others are not members of a think tank.

There was more, of course, and it was a very good episode.

[KyleEl]

Still haven't seen any more. And some had exclamation points!

[KyleEl]

The list is getting long and even has some exclamation points every time I check.

[AntiArbitrator]

1.09 Chisel
11-18-16

In Latvia, MacGyver and his team must defend themselves and a group of u.s. embassy workers from extremists trying to retrieve their leader; Bozer faces an important decision.