Barnes & Noble

This unusual (and unusually well done) adventure series really hit its stride with the 22 episodes of the 1986-87 season. For one thing, the writers fleshed out the characterization of Phoenix organization operative MacGyver, giving the resourceful hero a bit of a back-story and sprinkling clues to his past in several episodes. Also, star Richard Dean Anderson got more extensive backup from supporting players: Dana Elcar was given more to do as field operations director Pete Thornton; Teri Hatcher made several more appearances as trouble-prone Penny Parker, and Bruce McGill joined the cast as MacGyver's old pal, a shady but likable pilot. As always, the show's writers and directors crafted situations designed to showcase MacGyver's ingenuity in using commonplace products and tools to fashion devices that extricated him from assorted problems. "Final Approach" is an uncommonly suspenseful episode that finds MacGyver stranded with four teenage gang members when their aircraft crashes in a remote wilderness. "Jack of Lies" introduces McGill as Jack Dalton, who needs his old friend's help after being sucked into a heroin-smuggling operation. Another intensely gripping show is "Phoenix Under Siege," in which MacGyver races against time to find and disarm a bomb planted somewhere in Phoenix headquarters. "Soft Touch" features Hatcher's second appearance as Penny; her chemistry with Anderson makes her an ideal foil for MacGyver, and she will be used sparingly but effectively in future episodes. Jack is back in "Dalton, Jack of Spies," during which he is forced to fake his own death. The season's high point may well be "D.O.A.: MacGyver," a spellbinder that has the hero being pursued by assassins while suffering from amnesia. It's one of those edge-of-the-seat hours that MacGyver presented with satisfying regularity. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

Season 2 of MacGyver finds TV's most resourceful and inventive crime fighter (played, of course, by Richard Dean Anderson) continuing to battle bad guys on behalf of the Phoenix Organization, still taking his marching order from Phoenix's director of field operations Peter Thornton (Dana Elcar). Occasionally popping in and out during the second season is MacGyver's loyal if not entirely dependable buddy Jack Dalton (Bruce McGill). It is in the second-season episode "Twice Stung" that we first hear the word "MacGyverism," referring to all those improvised weapons, escape keys, explosives, and the like that our hero regularly fashions out of everyday household items. Other noteworthy episodes include "Jack of Lies," which offers interesting tidbits about MacGyver's background; "Phoenix Under Siege," which holds out clues as to the mysterious death of MacGyver's father; and "Partners" represents the first appearance of MacGyver's perennial nemesis Murdoc (Michael Des Barres) -- who though he is supposedly killed at episode's end, will be back for more mayhem in subsequent seasons.

Product Details

• UPC: 097360405743
• Source: PARAMOUNT
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Pan & Scan
• Language: English
• Time: 17:26:00
• Sales Rank: 1,760

This set contains DVDs which may be available separately:

• MacGyver: The Human Factor
• MacGyver: The Eraser
• MacGyver: Twice Stung
• MacGyver: The Wish Child
• MacGyver: Final Approach
• MacGyver: Jack of Lies
• MacGyver: The Road Not Taken
• MacGyver: Eagles
• MacGyver: Silent World
• MacGyver: Three for the Road
• MacGyver: Phoenix Under Siege
• MacGyver: Family Matter
• MacGyver: Soft Touch
• MacGyver: Birth Day
• MacGyver: Pirates
• MacGyver: Out in the Cold
• MacGyver: Dalton, Jack of Spies
• MacGyver: Partners
• MacGyver: Bushmaster
• MacGyver: Friends
• MacGyver: D.O.A. - MacGyver
• MacGyver: For Love or Money

Features:

DVD MENU