MacGyver Season 3: 6 Ups & 2 Downs From 'Bravo Lead + Loyalty + Friendship'

3. The Intensity

As the plot-of-the-week mission centres around Jack's endangered friend Worthy, there is a high level of intensity from the very beginning. As mentioned earlier, viewers want to be entertained on a Friday night, and that's exactly what MacGyver does, and this episode is a perfect example of why this repetitive formulaic structure works so well for this show.

It's not just the mission itself that helps to maintain this intensity throughout, but rather how the characters react to said mission. For example, when Jack learns of how his mate is in danger, he decides to keep it a secret - even from Mac. This adds another layer of conflict onto the pairs' straining relationship (more on that later), which no doubt frustrates the audience while, at the same time, encourages them to keep watching to see if the allies can work out their differences. Finally, throw in the notion that Worthy is working for the enemy and you've got yourself a gripping hour of entertainment (not to mention some clever plotting). Bravo Lead + Loyalty + Friendship never stops, which makes for enticing viewing.