'MacGyver' Season 5: Will George Eads return to hit CBS show? A look at the reason behind his departure
As 'MacGyver' Season 5's debut looms large, there have been theories and fan expectations ahead of the series and one of them is to do with the potential return of George Eads' Jack Dalton. The charismatic actor was last seen in 'Father + Bride + Betrayal'. The plotline saw him assigned by the US government to head a new task force to take down Tiberius Kovacs, a terrorist, who was believed to have been eliminated, but his body was never found. He was revealed to be alive after another terror attack.
The episode gave a fitting tribute to Dalton and the end was such that there was room for Eads to come back and reprise his role as Mac's (Lucas Till) trusty partner. Considering the fact that the series has never been the one to back down from throwing some surprises on the way, there are ample opportunities for Eads to return to the show. Leading back to the question of why Eads left the show in the first place.
Eads needed some family time
And thoroughly understandable. THR reported the CSI alum wanted to spend more time with his daughter in Los Angeles. "There have been times when I’ve been missing my daughter so bad that I’ll be in an emotional state,” Eads told CBS “and Lucas [Till] will hold up production until we can talk it out and maybe even cry it out in the trailer. I confide in him as a close friend, and I think he’s done the same for me". It eventually saw the actor bid adieu to the show after he spoke to showrunner Peter Lenkov and asked for being let out of his contract early.
On-the-sets altercations?
According to a cheatsheet, it wasn't all rosy on the sets of 'MacGyver' as there were multiple reports of Eads getting into an altercation that saw him storm off from the sets despite production being on. This wasn't the first time Eads had angry outbursts. In his decorated 15-year-career on 'CSI', the actor took a leave of absence following an argument with a pregnant writer due to creative issues. This led to the actor missing several episodes of the network's hit 14th procedural season. Prior to that, salary negotiations were an issue that saw him fired and then return.
At present, the lockdown may have given Eads the much-needed family time, and while we do miss him on the show, CBS could do great fan service to the character by bringing him in a multi-episode arc maybe. Again, it is wishful thinking but never say never.
'MacGyver' Season 5 premieres Friday, December 4, 2020, at 8 pm ET on CBS.