Pretty sure this is only, like, the third post I've made in this, so, yeah. This was inspired by the Discord server and a very rapid-pace discussion about himbos, golden retrievers, and jocks (which I swear will make sense).

This is also going to be rambly because I have no clue what I'm going to say in this, which is pretty much on-brand. I think. I don't actually know what my brand is other than frogs and Lucas Till.

...speaking of Lucas Till.

Recently , his MacGyver show ended. Before that, he played Angus MacGyver in a way that I posit is called a golden retriever hero (stolen from @maraudertimes). A golden retriever hero is soft and sweet and... well, like the name suggests, like a golden retriever. Now, this doesn't mean that the golden retriever hero is just soft and sweet. This would, of course, mean that all golden retriever heroes are flat characters, which they most definitely are not. The following essay will use the example of Angus MacGyver to outline what is personally considered a good golden retriever hero: softness, well-intentioned, and genuineness.

WARNING: there will be spoilers, but I will try not to outright spoil individual episodes. But, honestly, you should all watch the show. Please. Pretty please.

The struggle between golden retriever heroes and morally gray villain love interests is one that has spanned space, time, and, more importantly and more recently, a very fast-paced conversation. While Harry Potter can be argued to be an example of a golden retriever hero, there are cross-media examples that personify not only what a golden retriever hero is, but also the growth and change of said hero over time. The following essay will use the example of Angus MacGyver (or, as he is referred to in this essay, Mac) to outline what can be considered three necessary qualities of a good golden retriever hero: softness, well-intentioned, and genuineness.

The best example of softness in Mac’s character is a scene near the end of “CD-ROM + Hoagie Foil” (Season 2, Episode 9), in which Mac is in a hospital bed. In this scene, Mac nuzzles into the pillow as though he is still half-asleep before giving a very soft “Hey” to the person sitting with him. This illustrates his vulnerability, as do other scenes in which Mac is injured. Mac is openly emotional to a point. This does not mean that he is too emotional to complete his mission, but he shows both high intelligence and high emotional intelligence. He attempts to reason with people, illustrated in “Skyscraper – Power” (Season 2, Episode 20), in which he attempts to reason with the child he is trying to protect from the kidnappers that have taken over the building. While his attempt fails due to the bratty attitude of said child, this does not stop Mac from helping save the child. This leads into how Mac is well-intentioned.

Mac works for the Phoenix Foundation, a secret agency that is dedicated to helping people through the use of inventiveness. As such, the work Mac does is to help keep the world safe. However, one of Mac’s flaws is that he is too well-intentioned for his own good. An example of this recurs over the first half of Season 1, in which Mac attempts to find his ex-girlfriend, Nikki Carpenter, who betrayed Mac and the Phoenix Foundation. While this turns out to not entirely be the case, the fact remains that Mac attempts to figure out why she has betrayed them. A more specific example is during “The Rising” (Season 1, Episode 1), when he meets Riley Davis for the first time. While Riley is, at this point, an inmate at a federal prison, she says “Mr. MacGyver, have you ever done something knowing that it might hurt you?” (19:36-19:41). Mac does not respond, but it is clear from the look on his face that he has, in fact, done that very thing. It is this intersection of well-intentioned and genuineness that is Mac’s major character flaw.

One of Mac’s flaws is that he is too genuine and good-hearted for his own good. While this serves to further him being a golden retriever hero, it can cause trouble for both him and the Phoenix Foundation. However, Mac is so known to be genuine that he is often called Boy Scout by his boss, Matty Webber (too many times to count to be cited). He is genuine about helping people, which ties into him being well-intentioned, and he often is genuine with other people, showing a softer, more vulnerable side to himself. The best example of this intersection is in one of his close friendships.

A final point of evidence for Mac being a golden retriever hero is his friendship with Wilt Bozer, who will henceforth be referred to as Bozer. Mac, being genuine, does not wish to lie to Bozer about his job, yet he has to for the sake of national security, which could be argued to be well-intentioned. They also have a very close relationship that allows for Mac to show his vulnerable, soft side. Throughout the series, Mac and Bozer support each other not only as roommates, but later on as colleagues.

“As my grandpa used to say, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you want to get even” (Season 1, Episode 1 “The Rising”, 12:14). This quote from the first episode of the series shows that while a golden retriever hero might be soft and well-intentioned, they certainly are not weak. Golden retriever heroes have their place in media, and it can be argued that there should be more in action genres as a way to make more well-rounded, complex characters.

In other words: please watch MacGyver (2016). Also, because I want to make sure that you all get to see Mac's softness in the hospital scene, here is a link to a gifset: https://anguishmacgyver.tumblr.com/post/669831804953509889.