‘MacGyver’ Series Finale: What Did You Think of Mac’s Ending?
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the MacGyver series finale, “Abduction + Memory + Time + Fireworks + Dispersal.”]
MacGyver says goodbye with an episode that feels very much like “let’s set up another season” — a change for the Phoenix Foundation — “while also maintaining a series finale vibe in some scenes just in case” — recapping the villains they’ve faced over the years. It results in an episode that is satisfying in some aspects and rushed in others but mostly just leaves us wondering what the drama is doing with the love triangle that popped up in Season 4.
Over the years, the connection between Mac (Lucas Till) and Riley (Tristin Mays) has been apparent, but in the last two seasons came a bid to turn that romantic … or at least tease that possibility while also building up his and Desi’s (Levy Tran) relationship to the point of him wanting to propose and them moving in together. But it has felt like MacGyver has wanted to have Mac go all in with Desi while hinting at a future for Mac and Riley without acknowledging that even after Riley’s (past, according to her) feelings were revealed (and his possible ones for her) except when the two were alone together. It’s been odd, to say the least.
And this episode does absolutely nothing to resolve any of that. We’re still confused; in one scene, it seems like Mac and Riley are heading towards something as they feel they can only talk to one another about what they’re going through, but then it’s like nothing’s there for them when he’s around Desi. For example: In the same sentence in a voiceover, Mac talks about the importance of keeping in touch with what matters while holding Desi’s hand and ensuring communication with those you love the most while giving Riley a walkie-talkie. It’s one thing to pivot to a new relationship while setting up the end of another, but MacGyver hasn’t done the latter with Mac and Desi.
Sure, it’s easy to see how that could have happened if the CBS drama had been renewed, but after it was first teased at the end of Season 4, there should have been something more significant done about it in Season 5. That’s not to say that we wanted a romance drama-filled season, but it felt almost like all plans for it had been scrapped until it reared its head again.
As a result, the series ends with Mac and Desi still together, Mac and Riley still exchanging meaningful glances and the ones having deeply personal conversations, and fans left to decide for themselves what happened next? Do Mac and Desi stay together? Do they break up and Mac and Riley get together? We may never know. Sure, the cancellation means this wasn’t planned out as a final season — which also goes to show why it’s really too bad it ended up being one.
Mark Hill/CBS
Meanwhile, the nanobots in Mac and Riley’s system from a previous mission are still causing problems. The latest: They’re kidnapped and experimented on for 24 hours. When the others find them, they have no idea what happened. It’s not until they get their hands on a laptop of a scientist involved that they see that Mac and Riley were controlled (“hacked,” she calls it) and ordered to do things like hit each other and shoot a gun. The worst part is the government funded Marcato’s (Tom Nowicki) research, due to the future benefits of the nanobots (such as delivering chemotherapy to specific cells and cellular repair to expand lifespans).
The Phoenix Foundation manages to stop Marcato from dispersing nanobots in the fireworks during a packed National Military Appreciation Celebration — How funny was Russ (Henry Ian Cusick) playing “an exuberant American” and Bozer (Justin Hires) being his British opponent? As for the nanobots in Mac and Riley, it’s just a matter of going into a hyperbaric chamber to use excess oxygen to destroy them. Among the risks: brain damage, memory loss, and death. And when Riley is the first to be declared clear of the bots and Mac flat-lines after upping the pressure, the stage could have been set for at the very least memory loss in a Season 6.
But Mac comes out of it (after seeing flashes of his friends, with Riley, not Desi, featured most prominently) just fine and nanobot-free. He has, however, decided that he’s leaving the Phoenix Foundation after the government he’d served for over a decade (including his time in the army) abducted and experimented on him. He would’ve even signed up, if they’d just asked, he tells Matty (Meredith Eaton).
Nathan Bolster/CBS
And when he tells the rest of the team his plans, Bozer, Desi, and Riley decide to leave as well — until Matty reveals she and Russ have cut all government ties. The Phoenix Foundation is now fully autonomous and they choose which missions they take on. Does that change anything? Yes. Everyone’s staying, and as Matty puts it, “from now on, it’s us against the world.” Sadly, we’re not going to get to see that.
Were you happy with the way MacGyver ended? Sound off in the comments below.
Conversation87 Comments
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It seemed so rushed and actually it was. It was written because they cancelled it. and that left all the fans hanging. I am not happy with the ending. But they did leave it open to one more season. The Phoenix being on their own. The agents all coming abck and a needed resolution of Desi and Riley. One more season, if only a short one would answer all that and make the faans happy. Plkease dont cancel it.
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So they didn't know the show was ending until too late to really write and produce an episode that really wrapped the storylines.That part where they all decide to quit was a late add on.Of course unresolved issues but I'm not sure we ever would have gotten a true Riley Versus Desi resolution,it was too much of a draw.I'm sorry to see this show go,I suspect there's more to it's end than we know.
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Sorry that we didn't get to see Mac and Riley together as they've been hinting at that relationship for a few seasons now. Its still good to know where Mac's heart was and that was with Riley. Its also good to know that they are endgame. Here's hoping that the show is picked up for another two seasons or so that we can see that come to fruition and if not so be it.Will miss the show !
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There's a website that you can go to called savemacgyver.com and I'm definitely putting my signature on to save this great show because I want to see a crossover between MacGyver and its sister series Magnum PI for the next season.
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They should have ended Mac and Desi's weird relationship long time ago. Dragging it out for too long hurt the show.
Mac and Riley have been the endgame couple, even the showrunner revealed it. It's such a pity that they couldn't get the chance.
But hey, if can #SaveMacGyver we can still get to watch the new adventures of Team Phoenix.
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WHY did another great Series get cancelled!!!!! MacGyver was soooo good! Looked forward to it every week!!!! And absolutely YES I wanted Mac and Riley to end up together!!! Desi should never have replaced Jack. He was a big part!!! Ending MacGyver was a HUGE mistake for CBS!!!!
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Good series - always recorded and watched later, usually, same evening... that way skip commercials and enjoyed. Hope it returns - well done writing/program/series!
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I loved the original reboot for the first couple of season, but the show was irreparably damaged when George Eads left. The premise worked. Boy genius and his military bodyguard saved the world each week. The marriage of brains and brawn. Then the show morphed into a weird direction. Suddenly, overnight, Mac became Bruce Lee and didn't need a bodyguard anymore. The Desi character remained though, but was clearly non-essential. Then the show spiraled into this exhausting and forced romantic triangle thing each week which was repetitive and exhausting as watching grass grow. Who cared? Mac using his swiss army knife and using science to solve problems was the draw, and that was greatly minimized each week to advance an array of other totally uninteresting, and frankly boring, sub-plots and other emotional, personal relationship meanderings. The show could have gone on longer, but hang this all on the producers, who lost focus of the show's original core appeal, and then used it as a vehicle to promote their own personal agendas...and ruined it to the point where the CBS brass also found it becoming uninspired...and expendable. One of the few quality shoes produced on network television at one time. Sad ending.
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I missed George Eads too, I never did know why he left, Does anybody?
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I liked the ending, but hopefully, it is NOT the end!!!!!!!!!
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I think there's an opening for a two hour tv movie.
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There's a website you can go to called savemacgyver.com where you can sign your signature to bring it back for another season.
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Go to savemacggyver.com so the show can be brought back for another season or two.
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At least it didn't end on a huge Cliffhanger. It didn't tie everything up. However considering the show runners didn't really know a head of time the show was being being canceled it could have been a lot worse ending than what we got.
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I think they cancelled a good show
So sad
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Unrealistic ending regarding the Phoenix, including its takeover by Russ a while back. They should have had the Phoenix fold. You really think the government would really let them operate fully private and free of government, with its spy capabilities and access to top secret classified info? The Phoenix was government owned, and they would not have sold it to Russ and allow it to still operate with such capabilities and top secret clearance, and even if the government did allow that, once the Phoenix tried to drop the government fully, then they would lose all access to classified information, Matty would lose all her power and pull used in missions with the US and other governments AND the government would not allow them to operate in the same capacity without being (good guy) fugitives.
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It was anticlimactic. Yes, I was glad that the nanobots were removed from Mac and Riley, but ANOTHER withdrawal from the agency? Mac doesn't come off as a quitter in any of the missions so why does he seem to walk away from the agency when things go awry? Instead of just changing the contracts the agency accepts, why not give Mac – the most important agent – a bigger part in the decisions? I guess that is why I was so disappointed in the ending. It didn’t really solve anything. The problem with the plot isn’t the love triangle, it is lack of clarity and control the agents have over what they are actually doing.
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I'm just unhappy it ended
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I really don't like the last two seasons and I don't think Jack should have died (I know it's because of the actor) and I also think that the relationship between Riley and Mac is more like siblings and the relationship bis quote forced.
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Me personally I didn't like the way it ended bc everything in the episode felt like a flashback, to put it in better terms the episode should have been given the opportunity to have an extended episode for its season finally. Everything just went by and personally I feel like CBS made a mistake letting its platform viewers choose which show to cancel, like really if anyone seen the OG Macgyver and would have seen this new Macgyver the OG's would love it, my father was one who took appreciation of the show giving it time to prove him whether it is better than the original and to my surprise he loved it and was bummed to hear that there would be no more episodes. As for the notorious Magnum P.I. reboot he hated it, even giving it time. It is nothing like the OG Magnum P.I. and and they turned a main character into a female (not that I have a problem with that but if you were to see the OG Magnum P.I. then you'd understand the awkwardness between the 2 main characters who were originally Thomas Magnum and John Higgins, who is now female Juliet Higgins). And my dad knows everything about car like the palm of his hand, and for him to see the Thomas absolutely destroyed the old Ferrari hurt him even though the old Magnum P.I. did that, but in the OG's offense he got it back, in the new Magnum P.I. he trashed it. In summary it sucks to see Macgyver grow to become better than the original and be debunked by a kind of off branded Magnum P.I. .
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I think the should bring back for season 6
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CBS should never cancelled macgyver, I mean come on the show is super high and the ratings are soooooooooo great. Please put macgyver on @Netflix
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Very clever ending. Look up the meaning of “Phoenix”. Suggest the new program be called “The Phoenix”. Please bring it back,but not on stream so most of us could see it.
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The powers that be need to get over themselves and bring the show back!!
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I want more 😩 😫 😪
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Macgyver should not have been cancelled
Now nothing good on at 8;00.
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Not happen with the ending. Really prefer Mac and Riley ended up together. Is there a possibility for one more season?
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We loved this show and hated to see it go. Why are the dramas going away? I hate reality shows!!!
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I think it really SUCKS that the show had a lot more legs and it could have gone many ways in the world and I'm not happy with the way it ended when it was one of the best shows as usual it gets cut when everyone is liking it and I really think Jack, George Eads was great he made that show when he was here, just like many other shows once a leading actor leaves it's not long for the show to end.
Wish they could have been around longer, many idiot shows get to know more stay for stupidity
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PLEASE BRING BACK MACGYVER!!!! CAN'T THEY HAVE A NEW SERIES TO CONTINUE ON WITH MAC, TAYLOR, DESI, BOSER, MADDIE AND RILEY?? WITH THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION!!!!
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The weirdest things is that they didn’t prepare to end the show and ended right after they talked about nano technology that government is using to control people- wow that is the same nanotechnology that is used to make the COVID-19 vaccine 🤔🤭
Is this my imagination or something is going on?!
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So they cancelled the show!!! What!? I thought Mac and Riley would end up together. This is a catastrophe
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Why is anyone surprised? This is typical CBS, they have good shows and then cancel them only to replace them with a worse show. Just like NCIS NO, it got moved to Sunday and that is the night when shows get moved to Sunday they will be definitely canceled. No more new shows for me on CBS. I regret starting to watch equalizer and Clarice because both will probably be canceled. They can stick NCIS Hawaii as well i won't be watching
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The ending should have resolved Mac and Riley’s relationship. Desi did nothing for the show but a women muscle man. The show producers could have done better for the viewers.
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was disappointed that series was ending. Could they continue as a new chapter without government involvement. So many really good shows are ending and they aren't bringing on anything worth watching. Some that should have ended are dragging on.
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Hate to see it go but sure sounds like a setup for the future.
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I'm wondering if they are ending the series because they want to move production out of the state of Georgia. If all of movie and TV filmed in Georgia decide to up and leave I would not blame them. Everyone should have the right to vote without having to wait 8 hours in line if you are a person of color. Republicans can no longer win on any sort of politics. They can only stay in office if they rig the system. The film industry brings an enormous amount of money to the state of Georgia and enjoys tremendous tax benefits in the state as well. With the new laws in Georgia your vote will still count if you're White and Republican. BTW - I live in Georgia.
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I doubt the show's filming location had anything to do with the cancellation... I'm sure they could easily film in another state (like NC). Sadly, I think the ratings just weren't enough to justify costs.
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Please read the law!! Better than CO n DE n even CA.
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I too noticed that Riley was seen more prominently (and more close, physically) than Desi in Mac's near-death flashes. The pendulum keeps swinging between her & Desi, and it gets annoying.
In another way, too, the finale gave sort of a "been there, seen that" vibe. When Russ first took over Phoenix, it was his private little toy, and only later did the group start getting government contracts. So now it's back to where they started--strictly private? A bit confusing, and somewhat of a recycled feeling.
Also, where has Mattie been this season? I think I heard that the actress who plays her (Eaton) had to have surgery, so she's been doing scenes from elsewhere?
Anyway, I hope CBS reconsiders the cancellation.
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☹️☹️☹️
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I'm GLAD they didn't shove mac/riley down our throats. They're besties, leave it at that, it's be weird to see them get romantically involved!
Boz and Russ stole the show tonight! It was a good series finale, I'm glad it ended well
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The show was great all actors did a fantastic job 👍🏼. I did not agree with the way it ended what a cliffhanger 🤔. I would have loved to seen Mac and Riley together there was a connection between them I didn’t feel that with him and Desi. Bozer character made me laugh I really enjoyed him. God Bless You All..it was great watching the show ❤️❤️ “PEACE” ✌️☹️😢💔
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After all this time, I am still a huge MacGyver fan. Don't care about the new line up on Friday, watching old episodes of Macgyver regardless. CBS made a huge mistake canceling the series, and I hold very little trust in new shows they develop, hanging around for very long.
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I want more ! This group needs to go on. CBS is a LOOSING !-! EVERYTHING !-!....
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I wish they'd kill off Dozer(Bozer) already! Literally brings nothing to the show. Such a weak character and doesn't fit, especially in later seasons. Kill Bozer, save the show 🙏🏼
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I’m so upset that they Canceled MacGyver!! What an Awesome show. I Absolutely Loved it and still Watch the 5 Season’s Over and Over! I don’t understand why they would Cancel this Show. Please Put it Back on, make some more Season’s of this show instead of other Shows that have sooo many Season’s and they are Not that Great!! Please Make More Season’s Please!! This Show Is Too Awesome Not to Bring it Back!!
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Show ended for me when they sang an ode to Fauci.
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That’s bs the show was really good and that ending was let’s just say it could have been better
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Every time you a good thing in TV programs you cancel them. You really SUCK!!
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It was left in limbo, that was not a good finish, really wanted to see more. Anyone planning on carrying on with the series, I thought this was a great show and it shows what the little mac was up to.
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Make season 6
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I think they didn't know what they were doing.I truly think it sucks.
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Who do we write to reverse the cancellation ?
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I agree! The first three seasons were good but then it really dropped off. I think it could have been great without the romantic subplots and the conspiracy stuff. So sad
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I guess they had to make room for yet another NCIS. Maybe a NCIS: Omaha is in the works?
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I think they should try to keep it on . it's a good show no need to cancel it . Just because a producer we goofy is no excuse.
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I am not happy the show canceled. I am tiredof investigating in series that don't end properly and are gone abruptly.
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Please put Mac back on. The ending showed a lack of creativity, a disappointment. Why would you cancel a classic, household & different show.
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I think it is crazy to cancel the series. CBS has, well had, the best line up of all networks!!! first cancelling NCIS New Orleans for another Hawaiian thyme series is beyond imaginable. Canceling MacGyver is a real blow, the writing has been great as it is with most CBS shows. The last season kind of rode into a blind canyon, however if anyone can find a way out it is MacGyver!!! If anything give MacGyver a break, a hiatus!!! If not I can see this series moving to another network. Count me and all of my family in on savemacgyver.com!!!uest
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It was awful. No other way to put it.
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I think macgyver should be renewed and blast the chanel that canceled such a great show
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I think it’s one of the most annoying endings in the history of TV shows, there was a lot left not done and for two of MacGyver’s best characters a lot left not said #savemacgyver
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No, they should not cancel the show. Mac and Riley should be a couple. I'm NOT happy at all!
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I dislike the fact that CBS is just canceling shows WITHOUT allowing for ANY closure to ANY of their shows! It leaves fans hanging, for that 20 year down the line reunion, and that just isn't fair anymore. The more CBS starts to do this the more I begin to search for other avenues where shows are given finality, a purposeful final season conclusion. Macgyver binge watching has gotten me through some difficult times during the pandemic and at least gives me the comfort needed in such a rollercoaster ride. Macgyver needs at LEAST one LARGE 24 episode season. End the Desi and Mac relationship ASAP, build up the Riley and Mac relationship. Give Bozer and Maddy a love interest, and have some baby magic of a little naughty tryst for Russel! Throw in some more enemies of the past and really go for it that last season! Fast paced, fast on the gadgets, fast on the relationships, fast on the lasting FINALE!
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It’s really sad , every time I see a show I like and never miss an episode ....it is canceled. Please do not replace Macgyvor with one of those dead , rediculus , mind numbing reality shows!
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I loved this show! It’s sad to me that so many people are commenting that they will miss the show. Obviously it was popular. Too many shows I’m invested in get cancelled and are very poorly ended. If you’re going to cancel it at least tie up all the loose ends! I agree with another persons comment that the Mac and Desi relationship hurt the show. It drug on way too long. But we want to see if it would work out with Riley.
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No! No! No! Hated the ending.... actually hate that it's leaving the air!! Love these characters
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Sad to see MacGyver cancelled would love to see another network pick it up
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Why? They seem to take off the good shows! And leave on stupid shows. #SaveMacGyver!
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CBS is going down hill. Loved the progress of MacGyver over the years. Can't believe they cancelled. Also can't believe they left so many loose ends.
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Simply put. Another network must pick up the series.. if only for specials. Big audience
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It was a good ending for the short amount of time it got for writing
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I did. It is a terrible law. It is also incredible petty -- you can't provide free drinking water to people waiting in line outdoors to vote? The intention was to make it more difficult for people to vote -- the opposite of what our country stands for!
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Love the show. Pls don't cancel it.
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Not at all. So disappointed there will be no season 6!!!!
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Sorry to see it go.
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I'm happy he's still with Desi I am probably the one person who didn't wantack with Riley they don't do belong together no thank you, you can't build up Mac AND Desi from season 3 then put Mac with Riley it would have been stupid why have him date Desi at all what was the point of you just throw the Mac and Riley in the mix, I think they only did that because of the void with Jack gone they thought it would be easier. And I'm glad it ended this way I wouldn't have watched the next season had they put Mac and Riley together I just don't see it
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It seemed a little rushed to me. I hate to see it go and wish CBS would reconsider and keep it for a few more seasons. Usually recorded it and watched later to miss commercials. Come on CBS!
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Not ready to say goodbye to this teams adventures. It was always better when it was them against the world.
Sorry we will miss it!
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what a cheap-ass way to end a tv show. did they need to buy more paper clips to hold the ending script together. the producers were the stingiest at the final episode. they made their money and left the interns and their hangers on to write end the show. No talent wasted there.
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The ending was bittersweet. Im glad Mac And Riley survived. However, As a fan of Mac and Riley, it was a crushing blow to not see them finally be a couple after 5 seasons of waiting. The writers wasted viewers time with prolonging Mac’s relationship with Desi. It should have ended last season. The other storylines were too unfinished to give an opinion. Mac still had at least one nanobot in him before he flatlined and came back to life. Will that nanobot have any control over him? If so, who would control him?…Government, Codex, Mercato, Murdock, Russ? Does Russ or Sophia find the treasure? Will Riley’s all-female tech group be joining Phoenix? Hopefully this show is saved for another season so all of these storylines can be properly wrapped up.
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You need a re-boot or at lease have better ending ! Come on man !
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I still do not understand why they named the show "MacGyver". It had very little to do with the original classic staring Richard Dean Anderson. Where were Jack Dalton and Pete Thornton? MacGyver had a code of conduct that followed through the original series. He was always helping some young person at the YMCA or a nun trying to save a community from being displaced by a greedy developer. All of these new characters added nothing to the original story. I think that the producers used the name MacGyver to attract an audience. This new audience still knows nothing about the original series. I stopped watching during the first season when I saw the new characters and the "saving the world" story lines.
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The ick factor would have applied if Mac and Riley got together, because they’ve always been like brother and sister!
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boring
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The reboot was a nice idea, but a big mistake. It was changed way too much. The true MacGyver operated alone. Jack Dalton did not work for the Phoenix Foundation and was a friend, prankster and occasional partner to Mac as a pilot. Murdoc was a master assassin and constant thorn in Macgyver’s side that you only see in 4 episodes. The original Murdoc got more episodes, and Michael Des Barres did a much better job. David Dastmalchian didn’t even come close to filling the shoes of this iconic character. Next was the huge mistake of Harry McGyver, Mac’s grandfather. According to the original MacGyver, John Anderson played Harry Jackson, not Macgyver. I wonder how the show is creator missed that in the reboot? Next error was Patricia Thornton, who I believe was also the name of Pete’s wife in the original MacGyver. On the episode where she and her son are featured, she clearly stated that she wanted nothing to do with the Phoenix Foundation. And though it was nice to have the cameos of Bruce McGill and Michael Des Barres, it would have been nice to see cameos of some others, namely Richard Dean Anderson, but it’s just as well. Lucas Till barely filled the shoes of RDA, and to sum it all up, too much was changed to the series that I grew up enjoying. Lee David Zlotoff should be ashamed for what he did to his creation, just as I and several fans of the original MacGyver most likely are.
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