Another long running series finally comes to an end … almost. The 7th and Final Season of MacGyver does not include the tele-films that really closed out the series. Unfortunately this is an abbreviated season with about half as many episodes. This is also another one of those running out of gas years that many quality shows end up doing before the series is mercifully put to rest. One never tires of seeing Richard Dean Anderson come up with his home brewed innovations, but by now it is clear that Anderson has tire… of bringing them to us. The show finally jumps the shark when Mac is sent to the Court of King Arthur an episode more appropriate to Anderson’s subsequent role in SG-1. Fan favorite villain, Murdock, returns again to taunt MacGyver in one of the season’s few shining moments.
Video
Each episode of MacGyver is presented in its original full frame broadcast ratio. The picture is marginally better than earlier years. It still leaves a little room for improvement. There is still a small amount of grain. Colors and contrast are average, if not somewhat soft; about what you might expect from a pre-HD television show.
Audio
The Dolby Digital 2.0 track is about what we’ve found in the previous six seasons. Dialogue is always clear, and that makes me happy enough. Yeah, some of the explosive content could use a bit of boost in my sub, but it does the job with minimal distortion.
Special Features
Not even the Final Season could open up the vaults for a proper sendoff. That’s right, kiddies. Nada.
Final Thoughts
Bittersweet is the best description of this last box set of MacGyver episodes. The innovation is gone, and maybe the show should have ended at Season 6. Yes, you can re-write history, friends. If your DVD shelf only includes those first 6 seasons, then we can improve upon the real thing. Season 7? “I didn’t see anything”.
12/27/2006 @ 2:50 pm
A fitting review. You couldn’t have convinced me of it at the time, but it was definitely time for MacGyver to go by season 7. Looking back at it now, it’s almost as if the writers were begging the audience to get as bored as they were and put the show out of its misery. I will take issue with your comment on the King Arthur’s Court episode, which I thought was exceptionally well-done. Other than that, I concur that the show could have gone away at the end of season 6 and more than fulfilled its status as a classic series. This season hurt more than helped the series’ long-term standing.