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MacGyver Season 6 Episode 6

Lesson in Evil

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8.2

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 10/29/90

Dr. Zito returns to menace MacGyver and Murphy when he escapes after his latest sanity hearing, leaving a series of nasty clues designed to give MacGyver a crash course in evil.

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Fan Episode Reviews (3)

Scriptwriter John Sheppard actually improves upon the near-perfection of "Deadly Dreams", the first chapter of the Zito story.

10

By mark_28, May 11, 2010

After an extremely dark fourth season and a moderately dark fifth season, the mood was generally lighter again for season six. A definite exception to this trend was "Lesson in Evil", the haunting second chapter to the Zito saga which managed to improve upon the deliciously dark "Deadly Dreams" from season four. After orchestrating a bloody and improbable escape from the courthouse, the promised "lesson in evil" that Zito slowly unveils on MacGyver was masterfully layered, with one clue leading to the next in a believable, intriguing, and largely unpredictable pattern that takes us back to Zito's old cell and into his the library books he rented. The use of Greek mythology, both literally and figuratively, was first-rate and the proxy debate over the death penalty between Skinner and Murphy added depth to the unfolding events that made the final scene all the more satisfying. As with "Deadly Dreams", the gallows humor never disappointed ("You look cold, Doctor....but don't worry, the water will heat up soon."), particularly in those wildly intense final scenes, which also produced another rare moment where MacGyver loses his cool. It was second only to the final scene in "The Challenge" when Zito provokes MacGyver to reach for the gun in a split second of rage-inspired weakness. Less satisfying was the fact that MacGyver figured out Zito's trap, yet still set it off and fell prey to him. Did MacGyver not realize that the bell which eventually whacked him was part of the Three Fates metaphor? If so, it should have been more clearly articulated. And in the epilogue, it was fun seeing that Zito had the means to escape again, but it would have been preferable if it wasn't the "lock pick underneath the appendicts scar" bit lifted from season one's "The Assassin". Nonetheless, this episode was a thorough roller coaster ride of excitement from beginning to end and featured one of the best scripts the series ever produced.moreless
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Evil Education

9.6

By sh811a, Dec 21, 2006

Zito is one of the most memorable villians in the Macgyver series. His reacurance in a follow up episode to the last one he was in is a lot better, because he for once plays a more active role. Once again Macgyver plays the Clarice Stirling like role where he has to hunt down Zito and capture or kill him. I'll admit for a mind such as Zito's he should of had more complex algerbra problems for his riddles, but oh well you just have to go with it. What's interesting about the episode is you have a sense of dread thoughout the episode, because you just know that Zito is leading Macgyver to something but you not completely sure what it is. Zito is truely like a skilled chess player who has already created a design of moves and is making them right now, even when he does nothing you know he doing something, he litteraly takes his time sort of entising his prey before going for the kill. The episode has a sense of participation keeping us thinking, solving the riddles along with Macgyver and figuring out the meaning behind them. And the ending will leave a chill because for a man like Zito the game never ends.moreless
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Dr. Zito (from the season 4 episode \"Deadly Dreams\") is back, along with Lt. Murphy, who put him away. This time, he\'s out for revenge on MacGyver for defeating his scheme to kill Lt. Murphy.moreless

7.5

By Lady_Steel, Jul 07, 2006

It is always interesting to see what a show will do with a returning character; I thought they did a fairly nice job with this episode. (Though I did feel that the math problems could have been a little more complex.)

There is something particularly compelling about Richard Dean Anderson when he confronts Zito in the bell tower--I saw him make some nice choices as an actor. I felt he played the scene a little differently than a typical MacGyver scene--it made the scene very interesting, meaningful, and believable.

I was also intrigued by some discoveries I made while watching this episode.

First of all, the staircase in the bell tower looks very similar to the one in the fourth-season episode Blood Brothers. Might it be the same one?

Second, listen closely to the voice of Doctor Skinner (Lynne Moody). It is the same voice they have been using for voice-overs (such as unseen TV announcers and automated alert systems in buildings) on MacGyver since the season two opener The Human Factor. I finally had a face (and actor name) to put with that voice!moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Dana Elcar	Peter Thornton
Richard Dean Anderson	MacGyver

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Lynne Moody	Dr. Marion Skinner	Guest Star
W. Morgan Sheppard	Dr. Zito	Guest Star
Alvin Sanders	Charles Davis	Guest Star

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (4)
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- D.A. Howard: Mr. MacGyver, how would you describe Zito?
  MacGyver: Evil.
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- Skinner: Well, we're going to keep fighting. You've made too much progress to give up now.
  Zito: Oh, be assured, I never give up, Dr. Skinner.
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- Zito: I hated to cut short our little discussion about evil. It's a subject close to my heart.
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- Zito: Do you actually think you're qualified to judge what is evil?
  MacGyver: I just call it as I see it.
  Zito: I'm an expert on the subject. One day I'll educate you. A lesson in evil, you might say.
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NOTES (4)
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- Guest Paul Stafford can also be seen with Richard Dean Anderson in the Stargate SG-1 episode, "Double Jeopardy".
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- This is the second of Douglas Stewart's two, unrelated appearances on MacGyver. He can also be seen in season four's "Blood Brothers".
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- Guest Michael Rogers can also be seen with Richard Dean Anderson in the Stargate SG-1 episodes "The Gamekeeper" and "Affinity".
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- The German episode title is "Die Lehre des Bösen", meaning "The Science of Evil".
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