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DEATHLOCK

Deathlock

01.12 Episode 12 (#40191-011)
Airdate: January 22, 1986

MacGyver is caught in a mansion that's been booby-trapped electronically by an old nemesis.

Written by: Stephen Kandel
Directed by: Alexander Singer

Guest Starring: Wendy Schaal as Karen Blake, Christopher Neame as Quayle, Dana Elcar as Peter Thornton, Beulah Quo as Mrs. Chung, Erik Holland as Man #1, Tom Maier as Man #3, Carl Held as Man #2, Frank Holms as The German

OPENING GAMBIT: "FUNERAL IN BERLIN" Posing as a corpse, Mac escapes Berlin by a coffin-turned-jet-ski. Written by Jerry Ludwig / Directed by Cliff Bole

Nielsen Ratings: 17.7 rating / 26 share / 1st (27th overall)

Reference: Karen Blake, Cavitt-Tinglof Tower, Mrs. Chung, DXS Safe House, East Berlin, Quayle, Tribunal

MACGYVERISMS

MacGyverism

Turned a coffin into a jet ski

MacGyverism

Used a Swiss Army knife to test if a metal gate was electrified

MacGyverism

Used a suit of armor as a test if it would trigger a trap

MacGyverism

Used a metal bowl and an electric juicer to make a rotating antenna

MacGyverism

Used kitchen gadgets to heterodyne a radio frequency with an electronic jammer causing static

MacGyverism

Wired and taped together a series of batteries as a power pack

MacGyverism

Motorized a kitchen cart with a rubber band and electric mixer powered by a battery pack

MacGyverism

Wired and taped together pieces of armor for the cart as a diversion

MacGyverism

Used the bottle opener blade of a Swiss Army knife to pry the hinges off a door

MacGyverism

Used a motorized cart and pieces of armor to redirect the motion-activated guns

MacGyverism

Made a smokescreen from vinegar, baking soda, and CO2 from a fire extinguisher

MacGyverism

Made an early warning system barricade with random pieces of junk metal and ductwork

MacGyverism

Used a Swiss Army knife to test for electric current in the fuse box

MacGyverism

Rewired the electrical panel and fuse box to cut off the master power source

MacGyverism

Used a mirror as a periscope

MacGyverism

Triggered a water tank as a water cannon

NOTES OF INTEREST

  • Both the title and some of the footage from the opening gambit were taken from the 1966 film "Funeral in Berlin" starring Michael Caine.
  • As the 11th episode filmed and 12th episode to air, it is the first scripted introduction of Pete Thornton. Pete and MacGyver greet each other as if they haven't seen each other in a while, but MacGyver says their acquaintance goes "way back."
  • Pete tells the story of his early meeting with MacGyver: The first time they met, MacGyver pulled Thornton out of the quicksand in the Wadi Nefud, then put him on a camel and gave it a gigantic swat, and they just rode on out, for six days.
  • Pete has just been promoted to Deputy Chief of the Department. Although the DXS is not mentioned by name in this episode, it is referred to as both the "Department" and the "Company."
  • MacGyver first met Quayle when Quayle stole a planeload of military computers and MacGyver stole the plane back. Pete is unfamiliar with Quayle, suggesting at this point that MacGyver's mission with Quayle predates MacGyver's working for Pete.
  • The ingredients that MacGyver gathers for the smokescreen include a bucket, vinegar, baking soda, and a CO2 fire extinguisher from which dry ice can be made. On screen, the vinegar and fire extinguisher are left behind in the kitchen, but the smokescreen effect was likely the result of all three ingredients.
  • MacGyver wears a different style of leather jacket.
  • It is becoming a character trait that MacGyver hurts his hand when he throws a punch.

MEMORABLE REMARKS

  • I guess this makes me about the first guy who ever attended his own funeral and lived to tell about it. [MacGyver]
  • Stay low, move fast, think smart. And if you go, take company along. [MacGyver and Pete]
  • When I left him, he was taking the motor out of a blender. [Karen]
    Ah, yes, that's the handyman side of MacGyver. He likes to make clever little things out of odd bits. [Quayle]
  • MacGyver... That was...just in case. [Karen, after kissing him]
    Nice thought. [MacGyver]
  • We're on the same side, right, Quayle? [Karen]
    I'm a geometric rarity, my dear. There's only one side. Myself. [Quayle]
    Gosh, Quayle, and all this time I thought you were just... scum. [MacGyver]

FOR THE RECORD

  • Swiss Army Knife Count: (7)
    • Used the blade to pick up the destroyed telephone receiver without touching it
    • Used the knife blade to test if a metal gate was electrified
    • Used the bottle opener blade to punch a hole in a metal bowl to make a rotating antenna
    • Used the knife blade to cut the electrical cords from appliances
    • Used the bottle opener blade to pry the hinges off a door
    • Used the knife blade to test for electric current in the fuse box
    • Used the blade and screwdriver to help rewire electrical circuits
  • Duct Tape Count: (2)
    • Wired and taped together a series of batteries as a power pack
    • Taped together pieces of armor
  • Injury Scorecard:
    • Pete is electrocuted when his radiophone is remotely hacked and charged with a power surge

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