MacGyver - The Complete Third Season
Studio: Paramount
Year: 1987 - 1988
Rated: NR
Length: 15 hours 42 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audio: Dolby Digital English Stereo
Closed Captioned
Special Features: None
Suggested Retail Price: $36.99 USD |
Release Date: September 6, 2005
MacGyver (Richard Dean Anderson) returns for another season of adventure in
The Complete Third Season.
We all know him as the secret agent of The Phoenix foundation, a think tank that exists to solve all sorts of problems. As the star agent, MacGyver is known for using his wits and improvisational skills in lieu of weapons. He can find his way out of any dangerous situation using his knowledge of science and everyday items around him.
The third season feels a bit different than those before it, as the stories become a bit more serialized - referencing earlier episodes and involving recurring characters. It gives the show a bit of added realism populating the episodes with a familiar world, history, and characters.
MacGyver: The Complete Third Season contains all twenty episodes from season three, spread over five discs, four episodes per disc. Discs one through four are housed in double thinpacks, and disc five is enclosed in a single thinpack. All three thinpacks are slipped inside a cardboard sleeve.
The episodes:
Disc One:
Lost Love, Part I; Lost Love, Part 2; Back from the Dead; Ghost Ship
Disc Two:
Fire and Ice; GX-1; Jack in the Box; The Widowmaker
Disc Three:
Hell Week; Blow Out; Kill Zone; Early Retirement
Disc Four:
Thin Ice; The Odd Triple; The Negotiator; The Spoilers
Disc Five:
Mask of the Wolf; Rock the Cradle; The Endangered; Murderer’s Sky
The Transfers
Paramount could have used Macgyver’s help to fix up the video quality on this set. That’s been the case with the previous releases, and it stands with season three.
While the source seems less dingy than season one (and comparable to season two), the picture is still soft
Contrast is much the same as seasons one and two, with decent blacks, but with whites that never seem to achieve purity. Colors are, at least, consistent across the episodes that I viewed for the review.
Mosquito noise, aliasing and moire effects can still be seen in this season, from time to time. These visible compression artifacts are noticeable and disappointing. If season two was good enough for you, season three should pass muster as well. If not, you’ll continue to be disappointed.
One notable improvement over previous seasons is the audio. Season three was the first season in which MacGyver was produced in stereo - and that stereo mix has been included on the DVD.
For an early stereo effort, the show takes pretty good advantage. The score is opened up nicely in the stereo mix, and there are occasional positional references in the sound effects as well. Dialog is generally pinned front and center, and is always intelligible over the music and effects. Frequency response is pretty good, offering up a fair amount of bass when needed. While it can’t compare to today’s TV on DVD, the stereo audio isn’t bad.
Special Features
There are no special features, beyond the semi-forced previews for other Paramount DVDs on disc one.
Final Thoughts
MacGyver is a fun show, but the transfers are still somewhat of a disappointment. Between that and the total lack of extras, this set is a bit of a tough sell for all but the hardcore
MacGyver fan.
SOLD!
