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submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by Casuls_Die_Thrice@lemmy.zip to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

Given Lemmy’s leftward sociopolitical skew, the appreciation for Star Trek makes perfect sense, but what do we think of “MacGyver”? I specifically refer to the 85-92 Richard Dean Anderson show; I know there’s a reboot but I haven’t seen it yet.

Let’s see…

-Leftward socio-political commentary, including environmental activism and anti-authoritarianism

-Male protagonist with actual outward sensitivity & feelings

-“Open-source”; makes his own tools/gadgets from whatever’s available instead of relying on a corporate supply chain.

Sounds right up this platform’s alley.

I’m halfway through season 2 and it’s pretty damn good; it’s basically James Bond as an overgrown Boy Scout and that’s actually rather endearing.

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[-] csolisr@hub.azkware.net 44 points 1 month ago

In my country, MacGyver became the synonym par excellence of crafty bricolage/DIY, so, at least there was a durable cultural impact.

[-] KoboldCoterie@pawb.social 28 points 1 month ago

Definitely a thing here, too. If you're going to put together some crazy DIY workaround to a problem, you can say you're going to MacGyver that shit and everyone knows exactly what you mean.

[-] csolisr@hub.azkware.net 5 points 1 month ago

Also, before I forget: peak opening theme, nailed the "action/mystery" vibes

[-] boonhet@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 month ago

"Just fix it with some mcgyver tape" is also absolutely something you hear in my country

[-] expatriado@lemmy.world 30 points 1 month ago

it was my favorite show when i was 8-10 years old, it has been 35+ years since last watched, glad it holds

[-] Apeman42@lemmy.world 24 points 1 month ago

He's essentially a low-level superhero whose power is creativity and inventiveness, what's not to love? I kinda always wanted to see a one-shot comic crossover where MacGyver temporarily gets a Green Lantern ring to help an incapacitated Hal Jordan or something.

[-] csolisr@hub.azkware.net 2 points 1 month ago

MacGyver with a Green Lantern ring would get inducted in the Corps faster than you could recite the oath

[-] Skyrmir@lemmy.world 19 points 1 month ago

Next show in the genre would be Burn Notice. The reboot of MacGyver never seemed to hit like the original to me.

[-] tacosanonymous@mander.xyz 7 points 1 month ago

Anwar and Donovan were amazing in that. Having Bruce Campbell as comedic relief was chef’s kiss

[-] white_nrdy@programming.dev 1 points 1 month ago

I love Burn Notice. I should rewatch it...

[-] ChristerMLB@piefed.social 15 points 1 month ago

Yep. The science isn't always accurate, but the values are good.

Back when it ran, environmentalism and anti-authoritarianism weren't as clearly tied to the left as it is today.

[-] GrayBackgroundMusic@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 month ago

I have no evidence on this, but the rumor was that early on the science and tech was accurate and caused irl problems so they made it more goofy to avoid causing trouble. Again no source for this.

[-] kuadhual@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

I remembered some one was trying to make a bomb or a gun based on the series.

[-] Count042@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago

The first episode had the ingredients of thermite accurately, and they got sued.

Thermite is incredibly simple and even kids can make it, if they know how.

[-] ChristerMLB@piefed.social 2 points 4 weeks ago

ah, yeah that makes sense

[-] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 8 points 1 month ago

If it's good enough for Patty and Selma, it's good enough for me!

[-] Mucki@feddit.org 8 points 1 month ago

Whenever I touch a paper clip I have to think about him and get the feeling that I can build anything I want rightaway. Loved the series. Gonna rewatch it soon, that's for sure. Good old TV stuff. Maybe also some A-Team later on.

[-] ScientifficDoggo@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 month ago

I actually really liked the series. It was perfectly campy and got me through some depression. Got the DVD set for my bday.

[-] ultranaut@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

I watched it for the first time in decades last year, it was a lot better than I expected.

[-] Malyca@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 month ago

I loved watching it as a kid. I loved his ingenuity.

[-] Vanth@reddthat.com 6 points 1 month ago

I never watched it, so I mostly know of the character through SNL spoof MacGruber.

[-] 100_kg_90_de_belin@feddit.it 5 points 1 month ago

You bad-mouthed MacGyver, didn't you?

[-] LowJacK604@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago

I loved it when I was younger. A lot of it filmed locally in Vancouver. The Phoenix Foundation, where he works, is on Georgia Street, not far from Stanley Park.

Still remember him stopping a nuclear reactor leak with chocolate and baking scones along a rock face while camping with dysfunctional youth.

Didn’t had the willpower to finish the first, does it become better ?

My only reference are Patty and Selma

[-] Casuls_Die_Thrice@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

As I recall, there’s more focus on the NGO spy group he was working with in the first season. Also the season premiere involves AI, so there’s relevance to reality.

[-] ripcord@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago
[-] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

McGyver so to say went on a lot of fun adventures. I had a good time watching him even though I knew most of his solutions weren't realistic.

Did I mention that most of his solutions weren't realistic?

[-] dontbelievethis@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago
this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2026
74 points (96.2% liked)

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