"Intelligence" (?) has uncovered an assassination plot of an unknown target. The Phoenix Foundation (PF) suspects that the operative involved will be an explosive expert that the international community has been after for a long time. PF believes one of the assassin's associates is a clock maker who creates bomb triggers. After detaining the craftsman, they assign the freelancer MacGyver on forensics duty in the watch shop to find evidence to prove their theory. Then the Assassin, Piedra (Anthony De Longis) shows up.
Finally, MacGyver is provided a villain. Not every story has to have one. But when you have an original character such as MacGyver, you need more than the cookie cutter opponents that he has previously faced in the first twenty plus shows. The assassin is a well-drawn adversary who uses a technique that MacGyver would be fascinated by: gussy up common household items to be fatal. Some of these items have been on display in Bond films...hence, my title. All of them are items that MacGyver lusts after.
The script for The Assassin was the most ambitious of MacGyver's first season. It has five major locations of interest, and it stacks each with well written supporting characters. The teleplay has a compelling side story of revenge against the assassin by a survivor – sister – of one of his fallen patsies. This tale leads off the narrative, and competes with the main: the audience has a tension of wondering who will get the assassin, the victim's sister, or MacGyver. In all honesty, Terrie Ross ( Corinne Bohrer) – The Survivor – is one of the five best supporting characters created for the entire run.
The Assassin was written by James Schmerer, and was his last project for the series. Schmerer had previously written for the original Hawaii Five-O, Starkey and Hutch, and The Six Million Dollar Man...pretty much seventies pulp serials. As can be gleamed from Schmerer's past work, he took law enforcement work seriously - hence the first believable assignment for Agent MacGyver. Schmerer knew how to write a mystery procedural.
Most of Schmerer's stories for MacGyver were written for an adult audience. He infused them with themes of psychology, vengeance, sexuality, the profits of murder, corruption, fatalities and dangers of the people who choose law enforcement, and anxieties about work performance. None of Scmerer's adversaries for MacGyver were intimidated by the badge; and all resorted to torture and killing to get their way.
(These themes wouldn't carry further as it was obvious that MacGyver wanted to trend to a much younger viewership.)
One other major production standout: Pam Pilifroni, the casting director. With complex location settings, she had to cast several actors who could nail their characters with one line or less. Add that to the facts she also found one of the best in both supporting characters and villains for the series, and you can see she did a yeoman's job.
I give this a 7.5.
Finally, MacGyver is provided a villain. Not every story has to have one. But when you have an original character such as MacGyver, you need more than the cookie cutter opponents that he has previously faced in the first twenty plus shows. The assassin is a well-drawn adversary who uses a technique that MacGyver would be fascinated by: gussy up common household items to be fatal. Some of these items have been on display in Bond films...hence, my title. All of them are items that MacGyver lusts after.
The script for The Assassin was the most ambitious of MacGyver's first season. It has five major locations of interest, and it stacks each with well written supporting characters. The teleplay has a compelling side story of revenge against the assassin by a survivor – sister – of one of his fallen patsies. This tale leads off the narrative, and competes with the main: the audience has a tension of wondering who will get the assassin, the victim's sister, or MacGyver. In all honesty, Terrie Ross ( Corinne Bohrer) – The Survivor – is one of the five best supporting characters created for the entire run.
The Assassin was written by James Schmerer, and was his last project for the series. Schmerer had previously written for the original Hawaii Five-O, Starkey and Hutch, and The Six Million Dollar Man...pretty much seventies pulp serials. As can be gleamed from Schmerer's past work, he took law enforcement work seriously - hence the first believable assignment for Agent MacGyver. Schmerer knew how to write a mystery procedural.
Most of Schmerer's stories for MacGyver were written for an adult audience. He infused them with themes of psychology, vengeance, sexuality, the profits of murder, corruption, fatalities and dangers of the people who choose law enforcement, and anxieties about work performance. None of Scmerer's adversaries for MacGyver were intimidated by the badge; and all resorted to torture and killing to get their way.
(These themes wouldn't carry further as it was obvious that MacGyver wanted to trend to a much younger viewership.)
One other major production standout: Pam Pilifroni, the casting director. With complex location settings, she had to cast several actors who could nail their characters with one line or less. Add that to the facts she also found one of the best in both supporting characters and villains for the series, and you can see she did a yeoman's job.
I give this a 7.5.
