It's now more than 30 years since the original MacGyver aired. Since then it has gone from TV show to an icon to a verb in the dictionary.
What I liked about the show was that he proved that you could be cool by using your head. It wasn't just street smarts but book smarts as well. He said no to firearms and yes to his Swiss Army knife, duct tape and some paperclips. He also liked a more vegetarian diet, sustainable development, education, kindness and knowledge.
What made the show even better was that he sometimes reached out to the viewers and actual social problems. To name a few; teenage alcoholism, problems in school, nature, suicide, Dana Elcars galucoma etc. This was a great way to connect with the viewers, who themselves either could know someone who needs help or they might even have needed help themselves. Were are series like these today. Series that actually try to help people and not paint unrealistic realities for young people.
I must say that I still miss some of this in the new MacGyver. I don't dislike the new, but it isn't all I hoped it would be. I think they still can do better.
It also seems a little weird that this younger MacGyver already has the same reputation as the almost 10 years older MacGyver had.
The Phoenix Foundation is suppose to be big, but we usually only see a few people there. And the new Thornton is supposed to have a lot to do, but still finds time to come on missions and just do a lot of other things as well. Dalton and MacGyver have a great relationship (although Dalton is not at all similar to the original) but the relationship between MacGyver and Thornton just isn't there...
MacGyver now seems like a smart person, but he still isn't out of the ordinary. MacGyver of old was something more, but not out of reach. He was someone one could aspire to become.
