MacGyver (2016 TV series, season 5)

The fifth season of the CBS action-adventure drama series MacGyver premiered on December 4, 2020.[1] The series centers on the fictional Phoenix Foundation which is a covert organization masquerading as a think tank. The series stars Lucas Till, Tristin Mays, Justin Hires, Meredith Eaton, Levy Tran and Henry Ian Cusick.

MacGyver
Season 5
Starring	Lucas Till Tristin Mays Justin Hires Meredith Eaton Levy Tran Henry Ian Cusick
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	6
Release
Original network	CBS
Original release	December 4, 2020 – present
Season chronology

Cast and characters

Main

• Lucas Till as Angus "Mac" MacGyver
• Tristin Mays as Riley Davis
• Justin Hires as Wilt Bozer
• Meredith Eaton as Matilda "Matty" Webber
• Levy Tran as Desiree "Desi" Nguyen
• Henry Ian Cusick as Russell "Russ/Rusty" Taylor

Guest Stars

• Anabelle Acosta as Paula
• Jorge Garcia as Jerry Ortega
• Aimee Mullins as Jess Miller
• Zach McGowan as Roman
• Tobin Bell as Leland
• Joe Pantoliano as Eric Andrews
• Peter Weller as Elliot Mason
• Bojana Novakovic as Anya Vitez
• Dan Lauria as Lenny Krengel
• Camilla Arfwedson as Sofia Walker

Episodes

The number in the "No. overall" column refers to the episode's number within the overall series, whereas the number in the "No. in season" column refers to the episode's number within this particular season. "U.S. viewers (millions)" refers to the number of viewers in the U.S. in millions who watched the episode as it was aired.

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Prod. code	U.S. viewers (millions)
80	1	"Resort + Desi + Riley + Window Cleaner + Witness"	Avi Youabian	Stephanie Hicks	December 4, 2020	MAC511 MAC415[lower-alpha 1]	4.90[3]
The Phoenix team tries to locate Paula Matos, who worked the legitimate businesses for international arms dealer Gustavo Salazar before he forced her to the criminal side. They learn she is likely being held in the Zurich Grand Hotel, which is really a front for international criminals to hide out. After Mac and Russ convince Vincent Broulee, son of the hotel's owner, to get them access, Matty sends Desi and Reilly to check in under the guise of being cyber criminals. Mac and Russ eventually follow, but Vincent double-crosses them, putting the entire team in danger.
81	2	"Thief + Painting + Auction + Viro-486 + Justice"	Duane Clark	Peter M. Lenkov & Andrew Klein	December 11, 2020	MAC510 MAC414[lower-alpha 1]	4.79[4]
After an MI6 agent whom Russ mentored is killed when she tries to keep a deadly bioweapon from falling into the hands of terrorists, the entire Phoenix team works on a retrieval plan with one addition: notorious cat burglar Jess Miller. Unable to pull off the heist herself due to having prosthetic legs from a past injury, Miller is asked to train Desi. Despite the timeline being moved up and cutting her training short, Desi performs flawlessly, but the vial containing the virus has been moved. This forces the team to use one of Miller's other skills while Mac improvises.
82	3	"Eclipse + USMC-1856707 + Step Potential + Chain Lock + Ma"	David Straiton	Jim Adler & Stephanie Hicks	December 18, 2020	MAC501	4.72[5]
After Mac and Riley successfully retrieve the plans for a suitcase nuke thought to be ordered by CODEX leader Leland, Russ is tailed on his drive home and abducted. Russ is forced to make a video, and Riley catches a glimpse of CODEX soldier Roman, thought to be dead. Russ says CODEX wants a mercenary named Eric Andrews in exchange for Russ's freedom, while off-camera, Leland gets Russ to reveal the location of a scepter that Mac's Aunt Gwen had before she perished. With the FBI refusing to help, Mac and Desi break Andrews, known in Southest Asia as "General Ma" (demon), out of the prison where he's been since 1985. With Andrews becoming an ally, Mac and Desi rescue Russ. Back home, Russ reveals he told a half-truth about the scepter's location, then reveals it to the team and shows that it contains electronic files of all CODEX's plans.
83	4	"Banh Bao + Sterno + Drill + Burner + Mason"	Peter Weller	Justin Lisson & Sophia Lopez	January 8, 2021	MAC505 MAC419[lower-alpha 1]	5.17[6]
After Mac and Desi visit Desi's parents, they discover that Desi's brother, a medical examiner, is being forced to list a murder victim's death as a suicide by people threatening to kill his parents if he doesn't. Although Desi's true profession remains a mystery to her family, she assures her brother that she and Mac can help. Elsewhere, Russ and Matty attend an awards ceremony where they try to recruit a teenage genius. Shortly after, they notice the teen being followed by what the team is later able to identify as FBI agents. To find out what agent may have gone rogue, they reluctantly consult Elliot Mason, who turns out to have a connection to the teen.
84	5	"Jack + Kinematics + Safe Cracker + MgKNO3 + GTO"	Ericson Core	Jim Alder	January 15, 2021	MAC512 MAC416[lower-alpha 1]	4.99[7]
Jack Dalton's body is returned to the US after he is killed in pursuit of international terrorist Tiberius Kovac in Zagreb, Croatia. Kovac is said to have blown up himself and Jack rather than be captured. The team has little time to mourn, as Mac receives a coded postcard that Jack ordered to be sent upon his death. The card is from Jack's alias "Ozzy Ulrich" and references the "wilderness of mirrors", which Russ recognizes as code for deception. The team heads to Zagreb, where they are double-crossed by local contact Anya Vitez (Bojana Novakovic), whom Russ knows from the British Consulate in Croatia. They soon learn that Tiberius Kovac never existed, and was instead created by Anya to cover her criminal enterprises.
85	6	"Quarantine + N95 + Landline + Telescope + Social Distance"	Andrew Ahn	Stephanie Hicks & Andrew Karlsruher	January 22, 2021	MAC502	4.99[8]
As Mac, Bozer and Riley are quarantined at Mac's house, they come across shady business at a neighbor's house. Mac is overtaken by a thug, and learns from the neighbors that their son, who runs a cleaning business currently disinfecting a closed shopping mall, has been threatened by the thug's crew. Mac deduces the criminals plan to impersonate the cleaning crew and rob a jewelry store in the mall. After getting free, he calls in Desi to assist Bozer, Riley and himself in thwarting the robbery and ending the threat. Meanwhile, a casual fling between Russ and his former colleague Sofia turns into a 28-day quarantine. Sofia discovers research Russ is doing on an old treasure, and he later learns that Sofia took photos of the research and fled.
86	7	"Golden Lancehead + Venom + Pole Vault + Blood + Baggage"[9]	David Straiton	Joshua Brown & Andrew Karlsruher	February 5, 2021	MAC513 MAC417[lower-alpha 1]	TBD
87	8	"SOS + Hazmat + Ultrasound + Frequency + Malihini"[10]	Yangzom Brauen[11]	Cindy Appel[12]	February 12, 2021	MAC514 MAC418[lower-alpha 1]	TBD
88	9	"Rails + Pitons + Pulley + Pipe + Salt"[2]	TBA	TBA	February 19, 2021	TBA	TBD

1. These episodes were originally written as part of the fourth season and initially received season four production codes. After filming of the fourth season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic the episodes were then completed as part of the fifth season and also received season five production codes. The first code indicates the production code of the fifth season while the second code is the initial fourth season production code.[2]

Production

Development

The season was ordered on May 6, 2020.[13] Prior to the season, Teresa Huang was hired as the story editor for the series.[14] On June 12, 2020, the series' writers announced that they had started working on writing for the season.[15]

This will also be the first season without Peter M. Lenkov as showrunner, after he was fired from both MacGyver and Magnum P.I. on July 7, 2020 by CBS, following allegations that he created a toxic work environment. Lenkov had also been the showrunner for Hawaii Five-0, which had already concluded its ten season run prior to his firing. Also, as a result of his firing, he also lost the final year on his overall deal with CBS Television Studios. In response to his firing, Lenkov said, "I accept responsibility for what I am hearing, and am committed to doing the work that is required to do better and be better." Monica Macer, who was hired as an executive producer on the series in June 2020, will replace Lenkov as the showrunner.[16] Series star Lucas Till said that Lenkov's actions, particularly during the first season, caused him to feel suicidal, and drove him to his breaking point. Till also said that Lenkov bullied, verbally abused, and body-shamed him. A spokesperson for Lenkov stated that Till's accusations were not true, and that Lenkov had always supported Till.[17]

On August 12, 2020, it was announced that CBS Television Studios had signed a deal with the law enforcement advisory group 21CP Solutions, to consult on its crime and legal dramas, which includes MacGyver. 21CP Solutions will help the series' to more accurately portray law enforcement. This comes after the George Floyd protests, which caused the television industry to rethink their portrayal of law enforcement.[18]

Filming

On November 11, 2020, Justin Hires announced that filming had started on the season. Also, there are multiple remaining completed episodes from the fourth season that did not air during that season, which are set to air as part of the fifth season.[19]

Casting

One of the remaining episodes from the fourth season includes a crossover appearance from Jorge Garcia as Jerry Ortega, his character from Hawaii Five-0.[20]

Release

The season is set to premiere during the 2020–21 television season as part of CBS's Friday lineup with Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods.[21] On August 26, 2020, it was announced that CBS hoped to begin airing the season in November 2020.[22] On November 9, 2020, it was announced that the season would premiere on December 4, 2020.[1]

Reception

Viewership and ratings per episode of MacGyver

No.	Title	Air date	Rating (18–49)	Viewers (millions)	DVR (18–49)	DVR viewers (millions)	Total (18–49)	Total viewers (millions)
1	"Resort + Desi + Riley + Window Cleaner + Witness"	December 4, 2020	0.5	4.90[3]	0.3	1.20	0.8	6.10
2	"Thief + Painting + Auction + Viro-486 + Justice"	December 11, 2020	0.5	4.79[4]	0.2	0.94	0.7	5.73
3	"Eclipse + USMC-1856707 + Step Potential + Chain Lock + Ma"	December 18, 2020	0.5	4.72[5]	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD
4	"Banh Bao + Sterno + Drill + Burner + Mason "	Jauaury 8, 2021	0.6	5.17[6]	0.2	1.20	0.8	6.38
5	"Jack + Kinematics + Safe Cracker + MgKNO3 + GTO"	January 15, 2021	0.6	4.99[7]	0.2	1.10	0.8	6.10
6	"Quarantine + N95 + Landline + Telescope + Social Distance"	January 22, 2021	0.6	4.99[8]	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD

References

1. Petski, Denise (November 9, 2020). "CBS Sets Premiere Dates For Friday Night Series 'MacGyver', 'Magnum P.I.', 'Blue Bloods'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
2. "Shows A-Z - macgyver on cbs". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
3. Metcalf, Mitch (December 7, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.4.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
4. Metcalf, Mitch (December 15, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.11.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
5. Metcalf, Mitch (December 21, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.18.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
6. Metcalf, Mitch (January 11, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.8.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
7. Metcalf, Mitch (January 19, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.15.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
8. Metcalf, Mitch (January 25, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 1.22.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
9. "(#MAC513 fka 417) "Golden Lancehead + Venom + Pole Vault + Blood + Baggage"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
10. "(#MAC514 fka 418) "SOS + Hazmat + Ultrasound + Frequency + Malihini"". The Futon Critic. January 21, 2021.
11. "Director Yangzom Brauen". yangzombrauen.com. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
12. "MacGyver". Writers Guild of America West. Archived from the original on February 1, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
13. White, Peter; Andreeva, Nellie (May 6, 2020). "CBS Renews 18 Series, Including Freshmen 'FBI: Most Wanted', 'Bob ♥ Abishola', 'All Rise' & 'The Unicorn'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
14. @teresapalooza (May 8, 2020). "Normally I'd post a pic of my office placard to announce a new gig, but since my office is now my kitchen, I had to #MacGyver this one. (See what I did there?) ... Thrilled to be joining the writing staff of @MacGyverCBS! Huge thanks to @PLenkov for the opportunity!" (Tweet). Retrieved July 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
15. @MacGyverWriters (June 12, 2020). "We're breaking Season 5 in a virtual writers' room! 👏🏽🖇5️⃣ Can't wait for everyone to see the newest adventures of MacGyver & team in the fall. Hope y'all are staying safe!#MacGyverCBS #MacGyver #zoomroom #breakingstoryinourpajamas #jk" (Tweet). Retrieved July 9, 2020 – via Twitter.
16. Sperling, Nicole (July 7, 2020). "CBS Fires Producer of 'Magnum P.I.' After Workplace Complaints". The New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
17. Evans, Greg (July 20, 2020). "'MacGyver' Star Lucas Till Says Toxic Boss Peter Lenkov Made Him Suicidal". Deadline. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
18. Porter, Rick (August 12, 2020). "CBS TV Studios Brings on Advisory Group for Crime and Legal Shows". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
19. "MacGyver season 5 cast and crew officially back at work". CarterMatt. November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
20. Mitovich, Matt (February 18, 2020). "Lost Reunion on MacGyver: Jorge Garcia Crosses Over as Hawaii Five-0's Jerry". TVLine. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
21. Goldberg, Lesley (May 19, 2020). "CBS Plots Business as Usual Fall Schedule — For Now". The Hollywood Reporter.
22. White, Peter (August 26, 2020). "CBS Adds 'Star Trek: Discovery', 'One Day At A Time' & 'Manhunt: Deadly Games' To Fall Schedule As Net Eyes November Launch For Scripted Originals". Deadline. Retrieved August 27, 2020.