Here again we have a series I was never a fan of when it
first aired. I have no doubt that at some point I watched it at least once but
for some reason it never stuck with me. It could have been I was too busy
working at the time or had another show I watched that was on at the same time.
But I did know enough about the series that I knew what it was about and how
the main character, Angus “Mac” MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson), was a genius
who spoke several languages, knew all about engineering and could get out of
any tight spot with little more than a toothpick and a paperclip. The show was
so popular that the term to “macgyver” something is now part of our language.
So when the first season was announced for blu-ray release I was interested to
go back and revisit the series.
If you are unfamiliar with the series the main character I
just described worked for a fictional think tank known as the Phoenix Group out
of Los Angeles. MacGyver always found a non-lethal way to get out of any
predicament and was only resorted to physical violence when there was no other
options. Rather than be dumped into a situation with a ton of gadgets ala James
Bond he went in normally with a Swiss Army knife which always seemed to be
enough to save the day along with whatever items he could find on hand.
This set opens with the pilot for the series which starts
with him behind enemy lines rescuing the hard drive from a fallen jet as well
as the pilot. A few well found items and freedom is at hand, accompanied by a
nearby parachute that allows them to dive off the top of the mountain the
prisoner was held at. From there he’s whisked away to a secret lab rocked by an
explosion where he has to rescue the few people trapped in the underground
facility. Of course there is a woman on hand who helps him that ends up
attracted to him.
Burma, Budapest, South America and more are visited by the
genius over the next group of episodes with each one presenting a problem he
must solve with his trusty knife and objects on hand. Amazingly he does so each
week with little to no problem. He solves a problem at an oil rig, takes on
ants about to destroy a plantation, helps a Senator who’s had diamonds stolen
from him and helps someone in the Witness Protection Program. All of this and
more in just the first season!
So the question becomes is the show any good? Well yes and
no. A lot of it depends on what you’re used to. My guess is that late teens
will find the show silly and unbelievable, young kids will have a good time
with it and those who grew up with it will have a blast watching the series all
over again. It is indeed entertaining and lighthearted entertainment even if it
is unbelievable. But the items that he comes up with are what make the show so
entertaining.
The entire cast of the series does a great job here and
Anderson in what was his first long lived series comes off as likeable and able
to make you think he can achieve the things his character does each week.
Partway through season one he works with Pete Thornton (Dana Elcar) who heads
the Phoenix Foundation and brought him into the group. That first season these
were the two main recurring characters. Both handle the job admirably.
Watching now the one thing most will notice is the dating of
the series. It seems like a show shot in the 80s which it was. That’s not
necessarily a bad thing but the older teens and early 20s crowds will likely
find it amusing rather than acceptable having grown up on more grittier fare.
They shouldn’t let them stop that from having a good time with the series. It
remains fun and worth watching. And for those wishing for so long that it would
arrive on blu-ray now is your chance. If you’re a fan make sure you pick up a
copy or buy one as a gift for the fan of the series you know. You won’t be
disappointed.
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