User reviews

MacGyver is synonym for resourceful and creative. If you look those words from the dictionary, you'll see MacGyvers photo and a text: dude, who can make anything out of a roll of duct tape, dental floss and some loose pieces of stone.

That's the whole basic idea for a show. MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson) is a secret agent, or something, who uses his brain before his brawn always coming up a clever solution on dispatching the baddies without the need of using a gun. Though he might do explosives now and then.;) Mac's Boss is Pete Thornton (Dana Elcar), Boss of Phoenix foundation, that seems to dabble in a bit of everything, just like Mac. Another regular character is Jack Dalton (Bruce McGill), Mac's adventurous pilot friend who is often in trouble or is gonna get in one in order to help his friend.

What astonishes me is, that MacGyver has lasted the test of time reasonably well. Sure, there are lots of episodes, that feel a bit campy these days, but in all the series is still very watchable. And this comes from a person, who saw MacGyver for the first time back in 80's as a little kid (I was little under ten when it started in the TV here) and saw the series again in my mid twenties.

MacGyver was so cool and inventive he had us all believing that we could get out of any jam with a paperclip and bubble gum. Everything he did was scientific and he was the closest thing to a cool scientist I'd ever seen. Even to this day, if someone does something creative with simple items I compare them to MacGyver.

This is original; a James Bond for kids, or a boy scout yet in the spy business. Whatever the definition of it, (MacGyver) was a pure gold from the 1980s.

For being the actor who was unafraid to use his glasses during the audition, showing a lack of pretension that the show makers wanted in their lead--(Richard Dean Anderson) made it to be the title character. And how he portrayed it fine as innocent and intelligent secret agent that became one of the most memorable characters in TV history. We were waiting him, on the Egyptian national TV (channel one), every Wednesday night. Since the opening credits' electronic, nice and catchy tune, we gather craving what kind of scientific tricks he would come up with this round. It is a real cult favorite, and - strangely - the show which I've never met anyone hates!

At first, the episodes were close to the American super spy's adventures. Therefore it was ordinary at one point to watch (MacGyver) landing from a fallen plane, with a beautiful girl, in a hanging-to-a-parachute convertible car. It's the fanciful propaganda however through unique character of unarmed hero where "mind is the ultimate weapon". But this character itself, so its distinct resourcefulness, prevailed eventually as the attraction's core more than any "save the world" kind of Bond plots. Even (Dana Elcar) as (Pete) was having the most childlike face ever been for intelligence Boss.

When the Cold War drew to a close in the late 1980s and the early 1990s, (MacGyver) became like a social worker who deals with family issues more than secret agent with ticking bombs, to watch him just saving a troubled kid from killing himself and stuff. At that phase of the show, there were these episodes where the lead traveled into time, by mysterious dreams, to live some different adventures in other lands and times; since his very time became that boring! But these episodes managed to be magnificent as well.

The excellent episodes are many. For instance, I can't forget "Phoenix Under Siege" where (MacGyver) was fighting an evil man in one building in such limited time pre-Die Hard. Or "Target MacGyver" where he unites with his grandfather to face some evil gunmen in a deserted cowboy city with just simple wiles. Or "Good Knight MacGyver" where he travels into time, to live a hellish night in the age of King Arthur.

Back when the show was on, I remember reading that some people accused it of presenting lies more than scientific facts at times (something got to do with generating electricity by cactus!). But anyway, we just believed the show as a show, a very engaging and entertaining one too. And the important meanings that we've learned from it were: Always be prepared. It takes a lot of study first to be a hero. So many wonders can be made by one Swiss army knife. And yes, brains can beat brawn.

Sure you'll ask: why there are no shows like (MacGyver) anymore? But with whole 7 seasons, the saturation was inevitable. Though, this spirit and these thoughts became old fashion nowadays. I believe that making a show for both kids and grown-ups, that enjoys and teaches them in the same time, turned out to be a lousy idea now in the 2000s, especially with the forensic medicine's too many bloody shows that may originate 3 types of generations later: forensic doctors, serial killers, and serial killers' victims!

Finally, I want to assure a little point of view. I used to list the shows that I watch, and then chronicle them by their production's date. So, if you knew that (Amazing Stories), (Moonlighting), (The Equalizer), (Spenser for Hire), and (North and South) were all products of the same year of (MacGyver)'s start (1985)--then you must admit: that was a happy golden age for TV.

Are the 1980s cool or what?

Okay, here's yet another one of my famous nostalgic-experience stories from my youth.

I'm writing this in 2002. I was born in 1976, so that means when "MacGyver" premiered in 1985-- I was nine years old. My father and my older brother used to watch it, but it never really kept my interest as I was too young to understand and appreciate the intelligence and physics of everything. MacGyver-- along with "Hill Street Blues" -- was blown off by me when it started... only to be embraced whole-heartedly by me in my teen years.

When I re-discovered "MacGyver", I was in junior high, and had begun watching it on a daily basis in syndication on the USA Network. It came on at a great time-- 5pm. I was out of school by 3:30 every day, and had plenty of time to get home to watch it 5 days a week. True, I saw the same episodes over and over again, but I loved it so much, I didn't care.

One of the best things about this show is that MacGyver was the perfect role model for young guys who grew up watching the show. He didn't smoke, he didn't drink, he gave his rewards to charity, he never swore or got angry, he hated guns, and he used his WITS to get himself or others out of trouble.

--and "MacGyver" used an aspect not seen (to my knowledge) since the days of Sam Spade... the show used "Film Noir" -- basically, you hear the person's thoughts in a voice-over while they're doing what they're describing.

Now, I can appreciate the biggest complaint about this show: some people don't like it because it's unrealistic that a man could make an explosive device with a lightbulb, a paperclip, and some cleaning supplies. Yes, some of the "MacGyverisms" were eye-rollers... especially in the series finale-- when he and his newly-found son escape out of some kind of pit by strapping fire extinguishers to their backs and setting them off. Yes, that's stupid. But come on, people! This is SEVEN YEARS of thinking up MacGyverisms! They can't ALL be gems! But most of them were REALLY clever and REALLY worked!

I know for a fact that this show inspired me to be a better, more-helpful person to others... and to use my mind to remedy situations. I've tried to watch "Stargate SG-1" with Richard Dean Anderson... but it just makes me sad, because I want to see the long hair and the brown leather jacket with the red plaid interior lining.

From what I understand, "MacGyver" is only playing at 10am Monday through Friday on WGN (a Chicago station) nowadays. USA dumped it (jerks) and I haven't seen it since. But I'm dying for another reunion show. I miss Jack Dalton. (Bruce McGill) I miss Pete Thornton. (Dana Elcar-- who's gone blind from Gloucoma, bless him) Both are fine, fine actors who added greatly to the show.

But... sadly, all good things must end. It's been off the air for years, but I still think about the show all the time.

If you've come here for a review to see if the show's worth watching, it absolutely is. Let your kids watch it. It's a wonderful influence, and I think you'll really love the outcome you'll get from letting them watch it. Hey, watch it yourself. You'll probably get hooked too.

This show had a kind, intelligent, athletic, good-with-his-hands fellow from Minnesota (bonus: he is good-looking). I cannot ask for much more than that. The show was funny, good hearted and adventurous all at once. It should have gotten Emmy nominations but I think it was unique for the time. Now, shows that are similar are finally getting recognized.

The first five seasons were really the best; the last two seasons went for surreal moments of going into Mac's dreams and back in time. But, overall, it was always worth watching.

Once this baby is on DVD, I am doing all that I have to to own it!! Hopefully, someday soon....

MacGyver is a bonefide 80's classic and stands out as one of the best and that's really saying something considering the decade was absolutely awash with these kind of family oriented action adventure series. You had Knight Rider, The A Team, Magnum P. I, Scarecrow and Mrs King et Cetera. However, what really sets MacGyver apart was his seemingly never ending resourcefulness when in a tight spot. His counterparts would use a gun or his muscles to escape the bad guys, But MacGyver always used his wits and seldom used his fists, which meant that MacGyver as a show was always on the lower end of the scale when it came to violence.

Richard Dean Anderson played MacGyver, a government agent of some description sent on missions by the government, usually to some far away place with a strange sounding name to either rescue someone or something and with a dislike of guns, he uses his ingenuity to achieve these goals.

For instance, nine times out of ten, this would result in MacGyver being captured by the bad guys and incarcerated in a room with nothing but seemingly innocent objects like a dry twig, a coffee bean and a paper clip and MacGyver would use said objects to construct some kind of tool, weapon or radio to affect his escape. It sounds foolish, but it always leaves the viewer more than impressed with the results.

I've watched a lot of those 80's actions series and MscGyver feels completely different to the rest of them and I have finally realised why. This show, although American, has an old British ITC feel about it. It reminded me a lot of those 1960's and 70's actions shows that ITC were known for like The Persuaders and especially The Saint as it has the same narration by the main character, a pre credit sequence and the fact that Saint writer Terry Nation even wrote and produced some of these episodes makes that association stronger.

If you're looking for some family friendly action TV without too much violence, the. You really can't go wrong with this show. It's like James Bond meets The Great Egg Race. (If you're British you'll know what I mean). However, always go for the classic 80's series and not the 2016 remake which was a bit rubbish.

Enjoy!

One of my favourite shows. I like when he made stuff out of things

Magnum PI, Knight Rider and MacGyver is all you need for action pack TV adventures.

All 3 are basically the same thing. White guy has the skills of Captain America and solve cases and wins a girl in each episode.

This is a fun show about secret agent MacGyver, who has a vast knowledge of science and is quite the handyman. He is able to make use of any mundane materials around him to create solutions to the problems he faces while out in the field.

This show is full of action and adventures from start to finish - great acting and suspenseful stories. I especially like seeing MacGyver using his unorthodox scientific measures in getting himself out of desperate situations or helping him solve issues he faces. Forget the usual conventional action stuff like weapons and firearms - this show uses anything from tools to bubblegum.

This is just the perfect kind of action TV show that is not over-the-top or overly violent, but can still attract many viewers with its good guy vs. bad guy elements and unique case-solving techniques.

Grade A

MacGyver was lots of fun, kind of like The A-Team which debuted before MacGyver. So much fun with MacGyver demonstrating his awesome DIY skills to the max without breaking into a smirk or ironic smile.

Growing up in Norway in the 90s with only four TV channels available, this was the coolest thing on television at the time and for it will always have a special place in my heart. I recently bought the DVD collection and I rewatched the entire series. It's. Undeniably cheesy and unrealistic, the acting is questionable and the plot is not particularly impressive. But that's kind of what you expect from these types of shows. My favorite episodes will always be the ones involving Murdoc. Not gonna lie, he still scares the living!%&? Out of me just like when I was a child.

As a kid, I was brought up with a couple of TV-heroes that I adored over all, and that I wanted to be just like. One of these heroes was special agent/survival-expert Angus MacGyver, a guy that, unlike other action-series heroes, didn't grab the nearest firearm when things got hot. For him, an used paper clip, the wrap from a bubblegum, a spring from the bottom of a rusty old bed and his trusty Swiss army knife (which has become MacGyver's trademark) would do the job.

The thing with MacGyver is that it's original. Rare to any other series today, it focuses on the brain instead of brute force, which is actually a good thing, considering that television today is heading for a more "brains-off, action-on" -attitude. Angus MacGyver hates weapons and therefore never uses them, but instead, combining limited resources, he finds simple and elegant ways of dealing with the problem at hand. And the best part is, that (atleast in theory) MacGyver's inventions would really work, making it even more fascinating (even though some of them are not to be recommended to try).

Admittably, some of the episodes may not feature the best acting according to modern-day standards, and some of the ideas and solutions may be slightly used up, but seeing as the series aired in the mid-80's, I don't find it in anyway disturbing, rather the opposite, I find MacGyver to be a true treasure among the TV-series of today, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys wit, humor and a good time spent getting surprised by the geniousness of MacGyver's contraptions!

I've grown up with Macgyver, and since I was a kid I've loved it! Now this is one of the rare 1980's action series, were the hero doesn't just pick up a gun and start shooting at his enemies. In fact MacGyver never kills at all, and this I found very inspiring as a kid as well as now.

And the fact that he does not always simply knock out the bad guys with his fists, he use his brain and ingenuity. Truly "His mind is the ultimate weapon". And the fact that all of his "inventions" work in real life (although I wouldn't recommend trying some of them) just makes the show even more incredible and also to some extend: educational.

In many ways Richard Dean Anderson created the persona for MacGyver and I think that most would agree with me, that if any other actor were to portray him, it just wouldn't be MacGyver at all.

Now MacGyver is the kind of hero that no one can hate, and that we all should look up to. The show is both very entertaining and morally inspiring. This is and will always be my favourite TV series.

I'm 16 years old but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate one awesome show. Macgyver is simply put, the most unique and amazing idea for a show I've ever seen. He used no guns, no cussing, minimal violence (just what was necessary to get the job done), and was always teaming up with some sort of organization trying to help society. The show never gets tiring to watch...well I still haven't seen all the episodes yet but I'm working my way through the DVD collection.

There is one thing that's going on nowadays that I really don't like...all the Macgyver stereotypes that are so off the mark, it upsets me. Example:

"Macgyver can make a bomb with a piece of gum, a pencil and a paperclip."

That is the most incorrect statement I've ever heard. When you find the episode with that in it, come to my door with the episode in your hand and we'll watch it together and see who's right. It saddens me to see that sort of thing happen these days. For one thing it's incorrect and for another, it's discrediting all the amazing ideas Macgyver had for getting out of tight situations. Sure Richard Dean Anderson himself didn't come up with the ideas, but I'm sure they had some pretty smart scientists working behind the scenes.

All in all this is one fantastic show that I will continue to watch for years and years to come. I recommend it to anyone interested in watching an extremely entertaining show that sets a good role model for anyone from small children to middle-aged adults.

Tiny spoiler.

Richard Dean Anderson has gravitas. If not for his talent as an actor, I don't feel this would have survived to seven seasons and a few movies. The first few seasons see Mac globetrotting as an agent for the Phoenix Foundation...until the show got massive budget cuts and production relocations. After that, he basically hangs around the local boy's club and does odd jobs. By the end, he's even sold his houseboat! How sad.

Every Tuesday my family would gather around the much-loved soapbox to watch attentively what MacGyver was up to that week. It was so much a part of our lives that people back home had MacGyver haircuts and once my little brother who was just four was so afraid of an episode that my dad had to explain that it was just a TV show but my brother was not convinced so my dad lied that he had even taken part in the show and that outside of it he was our real dad. Almost twenty years later, it is still a family joke. Nevertheless i think that in South Africa, in a time when we were experiencing harsh racism my family was able to enjoy few things and one of them was MacGyver. Moreover today as a journalist who faces crime reports ever so often, i find that message of anti-firearms in the series would be beneficial to today's society that is plagued by gun violence. I would love to see another episode of MacGyver and hopefully someday there would be a reunion. After the series was taken of the air, being a creative thinker i used to often come up with lots of endings but these days all i can remember is Richard Dean Andersons hopeful smile and truly the series made me believe that the ultimate weapon is one's mind.

This is another one of my favorite TV shows of all time, and of course it's another of my childhood relics to this day is timeless to me.

As a kid I was really into the action films and TV shows, the 80's to me were just a golden age for that genre as we got plenty of memorable ones. This show was literally the first I saw and still the best action series in my book.

It's true that this show isn't complex, nor is it totally serious but that part of the charm of this show to me because just like in the action pulps it was a show that was concerned about being just plain fun.

Each episode was always something different, where MacGyver was always somewhere else either some far away locale or even someplace in our country and wherever he went you know there's trouble that he has to deal with. And, each of the situations are always something different, and in each there is a limited amount of time to deal with them.

This gave the show an unpredictability and suspenseful factor because I remember during the episodes, when a new life or death situation risen I was always on the edge of my seat wondering as the minutes and seconds were ticking; how the heck is Mac going to get out of this one, does a solution exist? Or even after an episode was over and I had to wait next week for the next one I was always exciting wondering where Mac was going to go and do next.

That theme song is awesome, it is one of my favorite theme songs of all time, even like how that title sequence is put together as you see an explosion with the Title and some scenes of Mac in action it just pumped you up for excitement and let you know your in for a wild ride.

And of course the characters are great, from the supporting characters like Pete Thorton whom I think is great, he's like the kind of Boss we would all like to have. I really love how he's a two fisted Boss that has a gruff charisma and also what's really cool about him is that he sometimes participates in missions so he not a desk jockey.

Jack Dalton is a lot of fun as he's basically the transporter for Mac and Pete. Not just does he participate in the missions to help his best friend Mac out sometimes but what's really funny about him is how he is always getting himself into get rich quick schemes which of course always land him into loads of trouble and grief for both Mac and Pete.

There are even some other supporting characters as well as a couple of villains that reacur which also make the show standout because back them that wasn't a common thing as it is now.

The villain Murdoc whom is one of my favorite fictional villains, Murdoc is basically the antithesis to Macguyver much as The Master is to Doctor Who. I really like his name which is ironic as it kinda sounds like Murder which is what the character is a master off. I love it when both of them square of with each other, it's like a chess match as both are pitting their intelligence's against each other. Where Murdoc engineers situations of death that seem foolproof, MacGyver has to always disarm them.

Of course the best character is MacGyver, he's one of my favorite fictional protagonists. Mac is just awesome, he's basically a modern day pulp hero much like "Doc Savage", "The Shadow", "The Phantom", "Buckaroo Banzai", "The Rocketeer", and "Doctor Who".

MacGyver is great because he kinda feels accessible, he almost the kind of hero that any of us could be. I love that he doesn't use guns or really rely on muscle except for his own brain which I think is a great message showing that you don't have to have muscle or lethal weapons to be a hero. It is just always amazing how he is always using logic and science to get himself out of predicaments and thwart his enemies and their schemes. It's true that not all of those scientific solutions would work in real life, let alone it seems convenient that all the things he need to do what he has to would be there. But I feel that's part of the charm and is true to the pulps as they were always concerned about doing and fun and put logic and realism on the shelf.

But Mac has this easy going charisma, I really like that he got lots of hobbies like myself which means he's always active and doing things. He can be a bit reluctant like myself as he doesn't ask to be in certain circumstances that occur but he always willing to do what he has to because no one else can.

And he's kinda a role model as he exercises selflessness, as he does volunteer or help out in certain outreach programs, which kinda makes the show a bit of a civics lesson.

And of course the action is great from seeing Mac getting out of the sticky situations and the fights. And there are plenty of memorable episodes like "Partners", "Jenny's Chance", "Murder's Sky" which has one of my favorite battles of all time seeing both Mac and Luke go against a gang of thugs in a parking garage, guess who wins.

Just like a great working invention MacGyver works well and keeps on giving.

Rating: 4 stars

I watch this show when i'was kid and it was great show and i'still does.MacGyver is the best show i can say from 2 till 7 season i was never boring.Season 1 it's not got like the rest 6 seasons but i'can say that the season 7 was the best ever made.Some episodes were good and some were bad.But MacGyver was always ready for adventure and action.In this show the best characters in this show were Pete Thorton Mac's best friend and Boss, Penny Parker,Mac's girl friend,Nikki Carpenter other Mac's girl friend,Jack Dalton Mac's best friend always get Mac'into trouble and Pete hate's him,Murdoc Mac's great rival and the Coltons' Jesse,Frank,Billy and Ma Colton.Mac always help people when they were in trouble in one episode Mac help a prostitute a young girl who she were on the run from home in one episode he help Lisa a teenage girl who had a drinking problems in one episode he help a high school student to not to drop out a high school in one episode he helped a student and his father who try to commit a suicide in one episode he blamed him self for Mike his girl friend s death and Nikki try to helped him and Murdock try to kill him in one episode he help a young hockey player to make the right chose.MacGyver never use a gun,he hades drugs,hades alcohol and he use his ultimate mind and his bright ideas to stop the criminals, he us his Scwich knife and he was always ready for adventure, i'want just know why they stop the show after seven years and Baywatch last for eleven years or maybe they sad it's time to move one.I'can say that MacGyver was the best action adventure of the 80's and it still is.I love Mcgayver and i always will.

Richard Dean Anderson never acted. He just showed up. Thanks to gum, Swiss Army Knife tweezers, and random fishing line and duct tape, he could disarm nuclear weapons and make gasoline from a wet fart.

I never could warm up to him, and his cast of imaginary players from an unknown organization that got its funding from inventing Silly Putty. His Boss was generic. His best friend was the really bad actor from Animal House. Another guy from the "Just Show Up" school of acting.

The only reason to watch this show is for background noise. If you are walking by when MacGyver is putting together something made out of pencil erasers and chewing gum, it is worth a laugh.

This show was excellently written and cast. Richard Dean Anderson was by far the best person for this role and he brought the character the attitude and look that added to his "no drinks, drugs, or guns" outlook that was inspirational and enjoyable for all ages. It'd be refreshing to see another show like this come along, but I don't believe it will.

MacGyver focused on the incurable do-gooder who couldn't say no to someone in trouble, and he always had a scientifically sound, absolutely brilliant solution. He was always as optimistic as possible, and he wasn't one to immediately jump in bed as is the norm for most television. His compadres always added to the action/adventure/comedy, and throughout the season you learn new things about the characters that add so much more depth to the story.

Quirky, smart, clean, nostalgic and full of age-less values... (the mullet and leather jacket didn't hurt either) MacGyver will be around forever, and well it should be.

MacGyver was a unique and fun show...Richard Dean Anderson was perfect in the lead role and was also great in Stargate SG-1. Most of the episodes would get at least an 8 rating...the only thing about this series that I didn't care for was the soundtrack. For some reason it was annoying to me...sounding kind of cheap...but that's my opinion. I just bought the series on DVD and will get the see the episodes I missed in the original broadcast.