MacGyver, Season 5
(CBS, 2020-2021)
A sadly diminished swansong. The missions remain fun but the writers lose their way trying to integrate relationship issues and deep-and-meaningful conversations that a) the actors can’t pull off, and b) the characters for some reason can never attempt while in transit.
MacGyver, Season 4
(CBS, 2020)
Notwithstanding some quality standalone episodes, this shortened fourth series sees the Phoenix team mostly rushed off their feet dealing with a world-ending plot arc (and thus increasingly likely to omit even token explanations of Mac’s mechanical improvisations). Jack’s humour is sorely missed.
MacGyver, Season 3
(CBS, 2018-2019)
Given the freewheeling escapism at play in Seasons 1-2, upping the stakes was perhaps ill-advised. The team become cavalier action superheroes. Personal issues intrude, hanging Lucas Till out to dry beyond the range of clean-cut sincerity. Levy Tran is a welcome addition.
MacGyver, Season 2
(CBS, 2017-2018)
In Season 2, MacGyver really hits its stride as throwaway action comedy, commencing each episode with an outrageous escape/improvisation vignette before proceeding to the main story… and more of the same! Crazy missions peppered with repartee and served gloriously free of realism.
MacGyver, Season 1
(CBS, 2016-2017)
An enjoyable if formulaic reboot that stays true to the original’s ethos (and many of its key components) while upping the action stakes and bringing MacGyver’s improvisation skills to the fore. George Eads steals the show as MacGyver’s gung-ho partner Jack Dalton.
The Transporter, Series Two
(2014)
Season two of The Transporter benefited from remodelling Frank Martin’s character into something more akin to MacGyver. The focus was still on action (driving and hand-to-hand combat) but the show’s newly grown social conscience made it far more watchable. Inevitably, cancellation followed.