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ORIGINAL AIRDATE: May 7th, 1986 —
MacGyver must protect an archbishop from a new arch-nemesis [SPECIAL GUEST: Anthony De Longis!]
MISSION: DXS has uncovered an assassin’s plot to kill an archbishop and MacGyver is tasked with interrupting the attempt with the help of a call girl out for vengeance.
This week’s highlights include:
SPECIAL GUEST: ANTHONY DE LONGIS!
Anthony De Longis is more than just the awesome villain of MacGyver’s first season finale (not to mention his reappearance in season 3). He’s a weapons specialist and all-around nice guy. Hear us chat about his experiences on the set of MacGyver, acting and helping to choreograph fight scenes. We also discuss his various weapon skills and his experiences teaching iconic characters like Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones and Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman how to properly use a whip on set.
If you’re interested in checking out the website he mentioned in our interview, you can find it here: http://www.delongis.com.
Also keep an eye on the latest updates for the Blood Trail trilogy by following their facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blood-Trail/144024102308207.
Mr. De Longis’s awesome whip demo can be seen below.
Curare (Botany)
Curare is a common name for various plant extract alkaloid arrow poisons originating from Central and South America. These poisons function by competitively and reversibly inhibiting the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), which is a subtype of acetylcholine receptor found at the neuromuscular junction. This causes weakness of the skeletal muscles and, when administered in a sufficient dose, eventual death by asphyxiation due to paralysis of the diaphragm.
Check out the article on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curare
Watch S1E22: “The Assassin” on CBS’s website or check the alternative streamability of this episode here.
This is one of my favorite “MacGyver” episodes of all (ranked #5 for me) but I have a few observations to share. First, how did Piedra know who the hit was and where the killing had to take place since MacGyver had to go intercept the briefcase with the instructions identifying the mark as Archbishop Fiero? Piedra escaped from the safehouse and immediately went to the church as if he knew the target.
As far as the ending I have a couple of theories. I think we were supposed to believe the curare-tipped needle Piedra was holding between his clasped hands while MacGyver posed as the archbishop was deflected by the rosary hanging around MacGyver’s neck, and thus didn’t penetrate MacGyver’s skin. Still, pretty dumb for MacGyver to approach Piedra posing as the archbishop knowing that Piedra had a plan in place to assassinate the archbishop.
Lastly, I think we were led to believe Piedra’s ultimate demise was from the same curare-tipped needle from the failed attempt on MacGyver inside the church, and based on the imagery of needle right through the middle of Piedra’s hand along with MacGyver’s “the wages of sin” ultimately befalling Piedra that he was the victim of divine intervention…..a crucifixion for daring to snuff out the archbishop in the home of God.
Keep up the good work and looking forward to Friday podcasts in season 2, along with those great guest star interviews.
On the DVD the subtitles say “And you want to be sent out on a date”?, and reading it while listening makes it sound more like just a stretched “d” than a “do”. At the end of the watch shop fight, in accordance with the DVD’s subtitles, MacGyver asks Piedra “You give up?” just before Pete turns up. I agree that the knife catch with the mallet was a reverse shot, the knife’s string can just be seen against the dark frame of a clock in the background!