MacGyver: How Henry Ian Cusick's Russ Fills A Hole Left By George Eads' Jack

MacGyver Season 4 is finally here! Yes. It feels like we've all aged a decade since Lucas Till's Angus "Mac" MacGyver was last on screen, but it's really only been since the Season 3 finale in May 2019. Now, MacGyver is back with a 22-episode season starting tonight, aka Friday, February 7, 2020 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

MacGyver Season 4 includes a brand new series regular character in Russ Taylor, played by Lost and The 100 alum Henry Ian Cusick. Levy Tran already joined the show as Desi Nguyen in Season 3 to take over for George Eads' Jack Dalton, but Lucas Till told Parade it's really Henry Ian Cusick's Russ who fills a specific hole left by Eads' Jack:

When Jack was no longer part of the team, we put Levy [Tran] on, and what I couldn’t do with Levy -- she’s an incredible martial artist and she does pretty much all of her own stunts -- but what I can’t do is I can’t really be at odds with Levy in the same way that I could with Jack. So, when you have Ian come on the show, you have someone who I can do that with and it brings that back and it’s perfect. He’s someone that constantly challenges Mac on a daily basis and it adds a lot of friction and fun, really. I mean, he is hilarious and he’s also, as most people know, a really talented dramatic actor, but he is genuinely funny as well.

Yeah, I guess I can't see Lucas Till's Mac pushing Levy Tran's Desiree "Desi" Nguyen against a wall like this photo from the MacGyver Season 4 premiere (although she could certainly hold her own if he tried it):

In MacGyver Season 4's premiere, "Fire + Ashes + Legacy = Phoenix," ex-MI6 agent Russ Taylor (Henry Ian Cusick) recruits former Phoenix Foundation members Mac, Riley, Bozer, Matty, and Desi to hunt down a bioweapon that's planned to be used by a mysterious organization for a devastating attack on a major U.S. city.

The show picks up from the team going their separate ways after the MacGyver Season 3 finale, so Russ Taylor is the one who brings them together again.

Lucas Till already shared a warning about heartbreak connected to Mac's own family in MacGyver Season 4. Other than that, it sounds like this new season will be almost like a soft reboot in the best way. Here's more on that from Till to Parade:

I feel like this season is a completely different show, but in the best way possible. If you liked the show before, you’re going to like this version of it more; we’re just upping the ante, you know? It’s a little darker at points, but it’s also a little lighter. We do a couple of comedic episodes that are just fantastic. We have great guest stars this season and I love the getting the team together in the opening sequence of the first episode so much.

Bring it on! Fans have waited a long time for this show to return, and even though many MacGyver fans are still missing George Eads -- who left the show during Season 3, shortly after an on-set altercation -- it sounds like Henry Ian Cusick is a breath of fresh air for 2020.

Now that it's officially back, MacGyver Season 4 airs Fridays at 8 p.m. on CBS. Keep up with everything premiering in early 2020 with our handy TV schedule.