MacGyver

TV review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
MacGyver Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 13+

Cheerfully dumb throwback has science, heaps of violence.

CBS Drama 2016
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Parents say

age 11+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 6 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that MacGyver is a series about a government operative who uses unconventional means to fight crime. It's more violent than other network crime-fighting shows: Characters are suddenly killed on-screen, and violence is glamorized, with characters fondling or using guns and delivering quips after they shoot and kill faceless "bad guys." Boats crash into each other and explode, characters are shot, and a government official gets information out of a suspect by punching him in the face and threatening his genitals with a drill. Mild cursing includes "damn," "hell," "son of a bitch," and some insulting language, such as "You guys suck." Flirting, dating, jokes, and visual references to sex, but no extended sex scenes or nudity. There are some science lessons to be gleaned, which makes this a potentially fun family watch for teens, but other urban myths or frankly wrong facts could confuse younger viewers.

Community Reviews

Jared987
Jared987 Adult
October 8, 2021
age 10+

Horrible!

The acting is completely devoid of any level of skill. Example: They are guiding a teammate via video chat on how to open a crate that has a nuclear bomb in it. The enemies storm in the room, subdue their female teammate, and kill her while they watch. Their reaction is a very mellow “Ugh, now they have a nuclear bomb” Then they move forward without another word about her and discuss their next plans. People get shot all the time without a trace of blood. Shots sound effects sound like muffled cap guns. Most of the “on the spot” inventions are very inaccurate. The sad thing is, I really tried to get into this, and this review is me holding back. I’ll just sum it up with this: I’m very OCD in the way that when I start a series, I end up finishing it whether I like it or not. This may be one of only 3-4 times in my whole life that I’m stopping before finishing it, and this time it’s not even halfway into the first season.
stingray1965
stingray1965 Adult
May 13, 2020
age 11+

Clean show for families

The new Macgyver is a fun action show that pays tribute to the original, but stands on its own. The first two seasons are a lot of fun as you watch the adventures Macgyver and Jack Dalton go on and the messes they get themselves into. The third season was decent. After Jack leaves, the show started to lose momentum. However, I just finished the fourth season and the story has picked back up and I feel that they are bringing it back to the pace they had in the beginning. There is a lot of action that may frighten younger viewers, but the language is almost non-existent. I actually can't recall any language off hand is how minimum it is. I know a lot of people have a hard time with all the reboots, but it is fun to see some of these shows come back. Their originals were good, clean, and fun. So are these. So if you are looking for something that is fun for the family and offers action, laughs, and heart. Macgyver is for you.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on a reimagining of the 1980s TV series about a crime fighter who used science and gadgetry in crime-fighting missions, MACGYVER is an action-adventure drama about Angus "Mac MacGyver (Lucas Till), an undercover government operative. Along with his teammates Jack Dalton (George Eads), the brawn to Mac's brains, and Riley Davis (Tristin Mays), computer hacker extraordinaire, MacGyver takes on high-risk missions for the ultra-secret Department of External Services. There are a lot of terrorists and criminals out there who want to destroy the world and bend all of humanity to their will; good thing we have MacGyver and his trusty pocket knife on our side.

Is It Any Good?

This cheerfully dumb remake of the classic 1980s action series excels at fun capers, but it's a bit too violent for the comfort of many modern parents. It's too bad that MacGyver and his cohorts have to take out so many tuxedoed men on boats, faceless hooded minions, and blank-faced soldiers while fighting crime, because much of the series is actually pretty amusing and would be fun for parents to watch with tweens as well as teens. The show's best gimmick is putting explanatory titles on-screen so we know just what materials MacGyver is using to make his bad-guy-foiling improvised gadgets.

And gadgets he does make, and bad guys he does foil. For example: In the show's very first episode, MacGyver: 1). gets a fingerprint from a party champagne glass using soot and adhesive tape; 2). makes a magnet out of an iron door hinge and copper wire from an electrical cord and disrupts a guard's security earpiece with it; and 3). sets off a fire alarm with fake "smoke" made from two types of cleansers and tinfoil. And so on! MacGyver is always able to fight his way into the secret guarded back room where the weaponized virus is being kept in a glowing blue tube in the center of a mysterious chamber -- because why would you hide such an important item? Dumb fun, though keeping a lid on the violence would have made it better whole-family fare.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about MacGyver's violence. Do you think the kinds of victims depicted on the show reflect the victims of real-life crime?

  • How far is too far when it comes to fighting crime? Do the ends ever justify the means?

  • Families can talk about how science and technology are used to solve crimes in this series and others. What kinds of careers allow you to use STEM skills?

TV Details

Our Editors Recommend

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