因为孩提时代擦枪走火的意外，马盖先出任务时从不带枪、不使用暴力，以科学知识为工具，利用手边小东西，化危机为转机，在世界各地除暴安良。就地取材，制造足以破坏敌人基地的爆炸物是他的绝招，而随身携带的瑞士刀则是他最好的帮手。美国报章形容《百战天龙》塑造的人物，是现代人梦幻的英雄，比○○七庞德更有办法；赛过「法柜奇兵」敢作敢为的印地安琼斯博。
MacGyver is a different kind of hero - he doesn´t use weapons, he´s afraid of heights, and he´s an expert at making complicated machines out of ordinary things. A fan, a dough-scraper and some duct tape forms an excellent helicopter attack. A cut credit card can help cause a traffic jam. A light bulb makes an outstanding set of lock picks...
Pete Thornton is Mac´s best friend, an ex-agent from the DXS who´s now the director of field operations at a think tank called the Phoenix Foundation for Research.
If Mac´s not careful, he might bump into Murdoc (Michael Des Barres), a masquerading hitman who seems to have nine lives and a grudge against MacGyver...
Or worse, Penny Parker (Teri Hatcher) - the struggling artist who cannot stop talking... or stay out of trouble.
Or even worse, Jack Dalton (Bruce McGill) - Mac´s pilot friend who has a natural talent for getting himself and others into even more trouble...
On Mac´s side was his grandfather Harry (John Anderson), and Phoenix operative Nikki Carpenter (Elyssa Davalos). The series ran for 7 seasons. It has since become a practical reference guide for DIY-work.