'MacGyver' Season 4 Episode 1 Review: Exciting season premiere debuts the new and improved Phoenix Foundation
The article contains major spoilers for 'MacGyver' Season 4 Episode 1 'Fire + Ashes + Legacy = Phoenix'.
'MacGyver' Season 4 is finally here with a very exciting season premiere, bringing the ever-resourceful Angus MacGyver (Lucas Till) back to screens and back in the game. The first episode of the new season sets up an exciting new story arc that will be pitting the new Phoenix Foundation against demons from its long and colorful past.
In Episode 1, we meet the latest member of Mac's team and he's a riot. New series regular Henry Ian Cusick's Russ Taylor, a former black-ops contractor, MI6 agent, and big fan of Mac's work convinces MacGyver, who's been reduced to teaching science in college after the Foundation was shut down, to get the band back together for a dangerous new mission.
Of course, not everyone is ready to get back into the game. Riley Davis (Tristin Mays) is more than happy to quit her job and sign back up with Mac but Wilt Bozer (Justin Hires) has found success in making his own movie and Desi Nguyen (Levy Tran) doesn't want to be anywhere near Mac (her ex).
One "putting the crew together" montage later, however, everyone but Matty Webber (Meredith Eaton) is back but don't worry, she joins up later on. It just turns out she hates Russ and refused to return his calls. Plus, when she does return, she immediately finds herself in conflict with Russ so we know that's going to be a thing all season.
The first episode also introduces a brand-new enemy who's also an old enemy (it's complicated). Basically, there's a whole bunch of people around the world who used to work for the Phoenix Foundation and its predecessor, the Department of External Services (DXS) and they're all part of some sort of anarchist terror plot.
'Fire + Ashes + Legacy = Phoenix' is an invigorating start to the new season with a fast plot, loads of humor, some excellent acting, and baby diapers (it's really complicated). Henry Ian Cusick was especially enjoyable on-screen and it's good to see Lucas Till back in the role of the masterful science spy.
'MacGyver' Season 4 airs new episodes every Friday at 8/7 c only on CBS.