MacGyver, Act Five
MacGyver: The Complete Fifth Season was released to DVD today, which like previous seasons, warrants a blog entry. The fifth season receives the same lackluster DVD treatment that Paramount afforded seasons one through four, which is hardly surprising given that Paramount never did one thing more than it absolutely had to when it came to promoting the series when it originally aired. At least their apathy has been consistent over the course of more than 20 years since MacGyver's premiere. It would be nice if the studio provided some special features for the shortened seventh season, but I'm not holding my breath.
Despite the conspicuous lack of bells and whistles, MacGyver: The Complete Fifth Season is well worth the sticker price as the diverse selection of 21 episodes stand up well by themselves. In my opinion, the series peaked creatively in the fourth season, but the stylistic approach of season five was largely similar. MacGyver charted new territory in season four with a darker, edgier set of stories and correspondingly brooding production values. Season five continues with the dark theme on occasion, but expands the creative horizons with what can best be described as an "anthology" approach. The thematic contrasts week-to-week were the starkest for the series to date. Our hero was literally searching for the Holy Grail one week, derailing the African poaching trade the next, and saving inner-city youth from themselves the next. Sprinkle a couple surrealistic fantasy episodes in and you have the exciting roller coaster ride that was MacGyver: The Complete Fifth Season.
Some of the more noteworthy episodes include:
"Legend of the Holy Rose, Parts 1 and 2"--A few months after Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade hit theaters, Paramount decided to loosen the purse strings and finance an ambitious international safari for the Holy Grail, MacGyver-style. While the episode wasn't without flaws (MacGyver's female companion was unbearably annoying), the story arc was wildly imaginative and the cleverly-scripted narrow escapes that ensued throughout made for one of the series' most epic globe-trotting adventures.
"Cease Fire"--Mayim Bialik (the future "Blossom") made her first of three appearances as pre-pubescent child-of-privilege Lisa Woodman, a girls' school student in Switzerland, who in this adventure helped nurse our gunshot-wounded hero back to health in time to stop a political assassination. The story and acting were more than a little cheesy at times, but the monorail-dangling climax was pretty impressive for 1989 TV.
"Halloween Knights"--A fan favorite featuring Murdoc, returning from the dead once again and this time beckoning MacGyver's help (!) to rescue his sister from Homicide International Trust, the hit-men recruiting bogeyman who doesn't take kindly to Murdoc's decision to retire. The episode is a total MacGyver original and was loads of fun. It even manages to make Murdoc's short-term transformation to a good guy believable, which given his history, couldn't have been an easy task for the writers.
"Black Rhino"--The annoyingly preachy animal-rights theme was as politically heavy-handed as anything ever seen on MacGyver, which is saying something considering the show's love affair with left-wing moralizing. Even so, this episode worked amazingly well, managing to touch even the hardest social Darwinist heart with a grueling scene of animal torture. But what really made this episode was its exotic African locale, original storyline, smooth pacing, and energetic cast support for the always-entertaining Cuba Gooding, Jr...... and a supercharged ride down a man-made waterfall near the episode's climax didn't hurt either.
"The Ten Percent Solution"--I'll forgive casual viewers who have a hard time taking seriously a TV show plotline featuring "Neo-Nazis", but this ingeniusly-plotted political thriller involving that very theme is worth taking in.
"Two Times Trouble"--The darkest of the fifth season's episodes, MacGyver tries to reconcile a seething sibling rivalry between twin sisters from his hometown. The hairstyles and keyboard/synthesizer driven rock music provide an excitingly cheesy trip down 1989 Memory Lane and make this episode worth one's time by itself, but the intense and shocking story arc help the episode sparkle even without the goofy music video background noise.
"The Madonna"--This amazingly well-done Christmas episode stands out as one of the most original and touching Christmas stories I've ever seen. While the story may seem strange early on, the ingeniusly layered execution of the episode helps me appreciate it more after each viewing and has become my favorite episode of the season. Highly recommended.
"Serenity"--This Western dream sequence didn't overwhelm me from a story standpoint, but nonetheless serves up some of the series' most impressive production values as well as a smorgasbord of the series' semi-regular characters coming together for one "epic" episode. There are some notably clever moments, but I generally feel this episode was a lost opportunity.
"Live and Learn"--Clearly fitting into the "MacGyver: Social Worker" mold, this episode gets mixed reviews and is often panned by fans who dislike the series' deviation from the action-adventure boilerplate. The story revolves around MacGyver taking a personal interest in Tony Milani, a troubled high school student on the verge of dropping out. The story takes an unpredictable turn at midpoint and ends with a wildly elaborate MacGyverism followed by a clever rescue scene that subtly brings the story message home full circle. I was impressed with this episode, but am willing to forgive its critics who don't share my enthusiasm for than less-than-James Bond-ish plot.
"Log Jam"--Political preachiness ensued throughout, but writers producers were nonetheless able to pull off an exciting and entertaining story about a corrupt logging outfit tangled up with Japanese Yakuza gangsters. A lengthy and impressive fight scene helped the intelligently-crafted episode conclude with a flourish.
"The Treasure of Manco"--MacGyver searching for a golden treasure in the Peruvian Andes while dodging murderous mountain guerillas on horseback....what could go wrong? Well, the pacing was a little slow on this episode, but the high adventure storyline is generally satisfying and the clever ending helps make up for the slow parts.
"Jenny's Chance"--One of those illogical but relentlessly fun "sting" episodes, where the bad guys' every move corresponds with exactly what the sting organizers expected it would be. Bad accents, goofy disguises and "Exorcist"-girl Linda Blair all contribute to an hour of guilty fun that introduces us to MacGyver's nerdy alter ego Dexter Fillmore.
"Deep Cover"--MacGyver's 100th episode keeps it simple with a submarine manufacturer in cahoots with the Colombian drug cartel to seduce a Phoenix employee into giving up secrets about a classified sonar system the government plans to use to seize subs full of blow. Some nifty narrow escapes ensue.
"Passages"--Many fans consider this surrealistic episode to be the series' best. I am not one of them, but I can appreciate their admiration for this pivotal, well-written episode. The shorthand of the plot involves MacGyver lapsing into a coma and having an out-of-body experience that allows him to make peace with his long-ago deceased parents. Hokey as it may sound, the episode provides some touching moments and some haunting otherwordly imagery. A good way to close the season.
As with every MacGyver season, the fifth had a handful of episodes that didn't rise to the standards of others. The series seemed particularly weary late in the season, with a string of episodes like "The Lost Amadeus", "Rush to Judgment", and "Hearts of Steel" (the season's weakest episode) that were weak, at least by MacGyver standards. Disappointingly, the series was once again snubbed by Emmy nominators, even at a time where the standards of weekly television dramas was in noticeable decline.
Those looking to nitpick about something will get their wish with MacGyver: The Complete Fifth Season, but those looking to enjoy a wild ride with the most entertaining television series of all time will not be disappointed with the set. I would recommend starting with earlier seasons for those who haven't yet viewed them, but the good thing about this show is that one can jump in for Season Five and still be wanting for more the same as a viewer who watched a captivating pilot for an ordinary hourlong series.
Despite the conspicuous lack of bells and whistles, MacGyver: The Complete Fifth Season is well worth the sticker price as the diverse selection of 21 episodes stand up well by themselves. In my opinion, the series peaked creatively in the fourth season, but the stylistic approach of season five was largely similar. MacGyver charted new territory in season four with a darker, edgier set of stories and correspondingly brooding production values. Season five continues with the dark theme on occasion, but expands the creative horizons with what can best be described as an "anthology" approach. The thematic contrasts week-to-week were the starkest for the series to date. Our hero was literally searching for the Holy Grail one week, derailing the African poaching trade the next, and saving inner-city youth from themselves the next. Sprinkle a couple surrealistic fantasy episodes in and you have the exciting roller coaster ride that was MacGyver: The Complete Fifth Season.
Some of the more noteworthy episodes include:
"Legend of the Holy Rose, Parts 1 and 2"--A few months after Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade hit theaters, Paramount decided to loosen the purse strings and finance an ambitious international safari for the Holy Grail, MacGyver-style. While the episode wasn't without flaws (MacGyver's female companion was unbearably annoying), the story arc was wildly imaginative and the cleverly-scripted narrow escapes that ensued throughout made for one of the series' most epic globe-trotting adventures.
"Cease Fire"--Mayim Bialik (the future "Blossom") made her first of three appearances as pre-pubescent child-of-privilege Lisa Woodman, a girls' school student in Switzerland, who in this adventure helped nurse our gunshot-wounded hero back to health in time to stop a political assassination. The story and acting were more than a little cheesy at times, but the monorail-dangling climax was pretty impressive for 1989 TV.
"Halloween Knights"--A fan favorite featuring Murdoc, returning from the dead once again and this time beckoning MacGyver's help (!) to rescue his sister from Homicide International Trust, the hit-men recruiting bogeyman who doesn't take kindly to Murdoc's decision to retire. The episode is a total MacGyver original and was loads of fun. It even manages to make Murdoc's short-term transformation to a good guy believable, which given his history, couldn't have been an easy task for the writers.
"Black Rhino"--The annoyingly preachy animal-rights theme was as politically heavy-handed as anything ever seen on MacGyver, which is saying something considering the show's love affair with left-wing moralizing. Even so, this episode worked amazingly well, managing to touch even the hardest social Darwinist heart with a grueling scene of animal torture. But what really made this episode was its exotic African locale, original storyline, smooth pacing, and energetic cast support for the always-entertaining Cuba Gooding, Jr...... and a supercharged ride down a man-made waterfall near the episode's climax didn't hurt either.
"The Ten Percent Solution"--I'll forgive casual viewers who have a hard time taking seriously a TV show plotline featuring "Neo-Nazis", but this ingeniusly-plotted political thriller involving that very theme is worth taking in.
"Two Times Trouble"--The darkest of the fifth season's episodes, MacGyver tries to reconcile a seething sibling rivalry between twin sisters from his hometown. The hairstyles and keyboard/synthesizer driven rock music provide an excitingly cheesy trip down 1989 Memory Lane and make this episode worth one's time by itself, but the intense and shocking story arc help the episode sparkle even without the goofy music video background noise.
"The Madonna"--This amazingly well-done Christmas episode stands out as one of the most original and touching Christmas stories I've ever seen. While the story may seem strange early on, the ingeniusly layered execution of the episode helps me appreciate it more after each viewing and has become my favorite episode of the season. Highly recommended.
"Serenity"--This Western dream sequence didn't overwhelm me from a story standpoint, but nonetheless serves up some of the series' most impressive production values as well as a smorgasbord of the series' semi-regular characters coming together for one "epic" episode. There are some notably clever moments, but I generally feel this episode was a lost opportunity.
"Live and Learn"--Clearly fitting into the "MacGyver: Social Worker" mold, this episode gets mixed reviews and is often panned by fans who dislike the series' deviation from the action-adventure boilerplate. The story revolves around MacGyver taking a personal interest in Tony Milani, a troubled high school student on the verge of dropping out. The story takes an unpredictable turn at midpoint and ends with a wildly elaborate MacGyverism followed by a clever rescue scene that subtly brings the story message home full circle. I was impressed with this episode, but am willing to forgive its critics who don't share my enthusiasm for than less-than-James Bond-ish plot.
"Log Jam"--Political preachiness ensued throughout, but writers producers were nonetheless able to pull off an exciting and entertaining story about a corrupt logging outfit tangled up with Japanese Yakuza gangsters. A lengthy and impressive fight scene helped the intelligently-crafted episode conclude with a flourish.
"The Treasure of Manco"--MacGyver searching for a golden treasure in the Peruvian Andes while dodging murderous mountain guerillas on horseback....what could go wrong? Well, the pacing was a little slow on this episode, but the high adventure storyline is generally satisfying and the clever ending helps make up for the slow parts.
"Jenny's Chance"--One of those illogical but relentlessly fun "sting" episodes, where the bad guys' every move corresponds with exactly what the sting organizers expected it would be. Bad accents, goofy disguises and "Exorcist"-girl Linda Blair all contribute to an hour of guilty fun that introduces us to MacGyver's nerdy alter ego Dexter Fillmore.
"Deep Cover"--MacGyver's 100th episode keeps it simple with a submarine manufacturer in cahoots with the Colombian drug cartel to seduce a Phoenix employee into giving up secrets about a classified sonar system the government plans to use to seize subs full of blow. Some nifty narrow escapes ensue.
"Passages"--Many fans consider this surrealistic episode to be the series' best. I am not one of them, but I can appreciate their admiration for this pivotal, well-written episode. The shorthand of the plot involves MacGyver lapsing into a coma and having an out-of-body experience that allows him to make peace with his long-ago deceased parents. Hokey as it may sound, the episode provides some touching moments and some haunting otherwordly imagery. A good way to close the season.
As with every MacGyver season, the fifth had a handful of episodes that didn't rise to the standards of others. The series seemed particularly weary late in the season, with a string of episodes like "The Lost Amadeus", "Rush to Judgment", and "Hearts of Steel" (the season's weakest episode) that were weak, at least by MacGyver standards. Disappointingly, the series was once again snubbed by Emmy nominators, even at a time where the standards of weekly television dramas was in noticeable decline.
Those looking to nitpick about something will get their wish with MacGyver: The Complete Fifth Season, but those looking to enjoy a wild ride with the most entertaining television series of all time will not be disappointed with the set. I would recommend starting with earlier seasons for those who haven't yet viewed them, but the good thing about this show is that one can jump in for Season Five and still be wanting for more the same as a viewer who watched a captivating pilot for an ordinary hourlong series.
posted by Mark at 7:06 PM
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