MacGYVER
SEASON TWO

FROM PARAMOUNT TELEVISiON

Release Date: June 7th, 2005

MSRP Price: $38.99 (estimated price)
Amazon Price: $27.29
Costco Price: $27.99 
Wallmart: $29.15

Episodes:  22
Format: full-screen 1.33:1
Studio: Paramount Television
Run Time: 381 minutes 
Number of Discs -  6
Sound - Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono
Executive Producer: Henry Winkler
Network: NBC

OFFICIAL MACGYVER WEBSITE 

MacGyver Season 2 Boxed Set Rating: "B" 
Video:  B
Audio:  B
Content:  B
Acting:  B
Bonus Material:  ???
Overall:  B

STARS: Richard Dean Anderson, Dana Elcar

MacGyver was a unique series in its day. Here was a modern day Indian Jones/James Bond style series with easy on the mind style storylines. Season 2 began airing in September of 1986. 

I enjoyed the series but was never a weekly viewer. The show was little wearing at times using the same basic writing formula once or twice to often. The series is often listed with other series like Knight Rider, Dukes of Hazzard, or the A-Team, but MacGyver was a more intelligent show. If viewers paid attention they just might have learned a few things. 

Filmed in Vancouver Canada the outdoor shots were beautiful. It wasn't until the last two seasons that MacGyver was relocated to Las Angeles. I saw executive producer Henry Winkler on the Paramount lot while doing a tour. The shows ratings were down and budget cuts forced them to move the show into Los Angeles. 

Richard Dean Anderson was about ready to move on when the show was finally canceled in 1991 just 14 episodes into the shows 7th season. Dana Elcar worked the final three seasons nearly blind. 

Over the past couple of years fans of the show have worked hard to get this series released on DVD and now comes the second season. Sales of the first season went extremely well and the price was excellent. If mores are priced like this television series on DVD the studios will make a ton of money. 

PACKAGING 
Paramount is using the custom box with micro cases using some colorful inserts. The discs are single layer, single sided with four episodes per disc and the sixth disc has just two episodes. The studio put together a nice package in what will likely become the standard. Millennium is also using this format along with the first season of the Pretender. 

VIDEO: 
The digital transfer is from 1986 tape masters. Surprisingly the effort on the transfer looks great. The colors are vivid and the dirt and debris are minimal.  The blacks are dark and the video suffers no wash out. 

AUDIO: 
The remastered audio in Dolby Digital 1.0 mono. It's perfect for the show. There was never anything in MacGyver that needed the full surround sound package. The voices are sharp and the soundtrack comes through the speakers clear without in ping or metallic noises. 

BONUS FEATURES: 
NONE. 

SUMMARY: 
It's great to have MacGyver on DVD. Now with two seasons worth or 44 episodes fans can stay busy during a boring weekend with nothing but reruns on television. The disc set however was not put together with autoplay and that sucks. It should be part of every TV Series boxed set that gets released, but it's quite common not to have it.  The set does not offer any "Bonus Material" which is fine with me and it also keeps the prices affordable. Imagine getting 7 seasons of MacGyver $30 each for a total of $210 plus tax. With the exception of Star Trek Enterprise the other series ran for seven seasons and will cost fans $700 plus tax. You do the math, but I know which type of series I will purchase and which ones I won't. What about you?

What's on the Discs? 

Disc# 1   

The Human Factor
The Eraser 
Twice Stung
The Wish Child 

Disc# 2 

Final Approach
Jack of Lies 
The Road Not Taken
Eagles

Disc# 3

Silent World
Three For The Road
Phoenix Under Siege 
Family Matter 

Disc# 4

Soft Touch 
Birth Day 
Pirates 
Out in the Cold 

Disc# 5

Dalton, Jack of Spies
Partners 
Bushmaster 
Friends 

Disc# 6        

D.O.A.: MacGyver 
For Love or Money

MacGyver Season 2 Rating:  B

BACK TO THE MAIN PAGE