The essential episodes of MacGyver

Watch these 15 in order and you've got MacGyver — each pick states its reason.

1. 01

   S01E01 · Pilot · September 23, 2016 · 42m

   The Rising7.2

   Angus MacGyver and Jack Dalton, special agents for the Department of External Services (DXS), join forces to recover a missing bioweapon that has the ability to destroy hundreds of thousands of people with one single drop.

2. 02

   S01E06 · Top rated · October 28, 2016 · 42m

   Wrench8.3

   Using only a wrench and rope, MacGyver must diffuse a bomb set near the United Nations by his old nemesis, “The Ghost”, a notorious criminal whose work killed his mentor, and track him down before he strikes again.

3. 03

   S01E07 · Top rated · November 4, 2016 · 42m

   Can Opener8.3

   MacGyver is tasked to go undercover as an inmate in a maximum security prison to break out El Noche, a notorious drug kingpin, using only batteries and salt, and track him to his cartel's secret location and dismantle it.

4. 04

   S01E08 · Season 1 peak · November 11, 2016 · 42m

   Corkscrew8.6

   When MacGyver comes face to face with Murdoc, an international assassin hired to kill him, Mac must defend both himself and Bozer, armed with only a corkscrew and paper towel rolls. Also, Bozer feels completely betrayed when he finally learns Mac's true identity.

5. 05

   S01E10 · Top rated · December 9, 2016 · 42m

   Pliers8.4

   Mac and the team have no time to reminisce while visiting Mac’s and Bozer’s hometown when they immediately start searching for a kidnapped prodigy from Mac’s old middle school, Valerie.

6. 06

   S01E12 · Top rated · January 6, 2017 · 42m

   Screwdriver8.5

   Using a screwdriver and bug spray, MacGyver must find the U.S. government mole who is leaking classified intel to the organization that is trying to take down The Phoenix Foundation. Also, Sarah returns to help with the mission, and Nikki reappears, but Mac can’t tell which side she’s on.

7. 07

   S01E14 · Top rated · February 3, 2017 · 42m

   Fish Scaler8.4

   Using a fish scaler and some fishing wire, Mac and Jack must track down a corrupt FBI agent who has framed a man for murder. Also, everyone on the team is terrified to get their first performance review from Matty, their tough new boss.

8. 08

   S01E16 · Top rated · February 17, 2017 · 42m

   Hook8.2

   While tracking down the dangerous fugitive Aaron Deckard, Mac and Jack face the notorious Colton family of bounty hunters who already kidnapped their mark. Also, Bozer and Riley try to hack into Jack’s CIA file to find out about his history with Matty.

9. 09

   S02E03 · Top rated · October 13, 2017 · 42m

   Roulette Wheel + Wire8.4

   Using cuff links and wire, MacGyver and the team go undercover in a high stakes casino to steal diamonds from a vault before a terrorist group gets there first and trades the jewels for a weapon of mass destruction.

10. 10

    S02E11 · Season 2 peak · December 15, 2017 · 42m

    Bullet + Pen8.7

    The LAPD interrupts the team’s Christmas celebration to arrest Mac for terrorism when they find a body in a building destroyed by a bomb Mac built.

11. 11

    S02E12 · Top rated · January 5, 2018 · 42m

    Mac + Jack8.7

    When Mac and Jack are trapped inside Mac's house, which his nemesis, The Ghost, has rigged with explosives, Mac uses a karaoke mic and an audio transformer to let the team know that this bomb is a distraction for a bigger one. Also, through flashbacks, Mac and Jack's contentious first meeting unfolds.

12. 12

    S03E02 · Season 3 peak · October 5, 2018 · 42m

    Bravo Lead + Loyalty + Friendship8.2

    When Jack receives an emergency distress signal from one of his old Delta buddies who is falsely accused of terrorism in a foreign country, MacGyver and Jack quickly recruit the rest of Jack’s old Delta team and stage an unsanctioned rescue op.

13. 13

    S04E02 · Season 4 peak · February 14, 2020 · 42m

    Red Cell + Quantum + Cold + Committed8.4

    Department of Defense General John Acosta recruits MacGyver to steal a highly classified project from a military lab in order to find flaws in its security. But when it’s discovered that the general is planning an attack using the weapon, Phoenix must stop Acosta before the weapon is uploaded.

14. 14

    S05E09 · Season 5 peak · February 19, 2021 · 43m

    Rails + Pitons + Pulley + Pipe + Salt8.2

    When Mac and the team are unable to prevent Department of Defense intel from falling into Codex’s hands, Mac must scale a vertical cliff using only gear he can cobble together himself to prevent the info’s transmission.

15. 15

    S05E15 · Series finale · April 30, 2021 · 44m

    Abduction + Memory + Time + Fireworks + Dispersal7.8

    When Mac and Riley go missing and wake up 24 hours later in a corn field with no memory of how they got there, they must unravel the mystery to find who took them, and how to get rid of the nanotrackers in their bodies, no matter the cost.