Synopsis: When Russ is kidnapped, Mac and the team must break out a previously murderous General Ma, now pacifist, from prison to help find him. Also, while on the run, Mac and Desi are forced to confront their relationship issues.
The Story
When the remnants of Codex kidnap Russ. They task MacGyver and his team with obtaining the release of General Ma aka Eric Andrews. However, there is a small problem. During his years in custody. Ma has become a devout pacifist and daily meditator. This leads to MacGyver and Desi wondering what Russ’s kidnappers would want with a pacifist. Eventually, after Riley and Bozer do some digging. They learn that the former leader of Codex Leland was Ma’s commanding officer during the Vietnam conflict.
With Eric Andrews in custody. Macgyver and Desi work to get him to the trading location so they can get Russ back. However, they are not aware that their charge is wearing a tracker.
The Acting
Tobin Bell makes a notable return as Leland. The former leader of Codex, who MacGyver and the team defeated in last season’s finale. Or did they? It would seem that Leland and his most loyal heavy Roman (Zach McGowan) somehow survived the explosion that took Codex out. Nevertheless, it was great to see that Leland survived given that he was a fairly charismatic villain.
We also get a solid performance from Joe Pantoliano who plays the somewhat reformed Eric Andrews also known in Vietnam as General Ma. The scenes where he was talking Desi through how he deals with anger was pretty cool. And the tapping that he was doing on his face when saying his mantra’s put me in mind of EFT Tapping, which I occasionally use to help with anxiety.
Overall
A pretty solid episode with a welcome return of some of the more compelling characters that we met in last season’s story arc. Although, I could use a bit of a break from all of the relationship drama, which got revisited as Desi and Mac decide to give things another go.
- Story8.5
- Acting9.8
- CGI & Stunts9.5
- Incidental Music8.8
