Crime Dynamic Duos: MacGyver (Mac / Jack) vs. Law & Order: SVU (Carisi / Rollins)

In this edition of our Crime Dynamic Duos tournament, we’re featuring a longtime stalwart of broadcast TV versus an old property told in a refreshing new light. It’s MacGyver up against Law & Order: SVU, and more so than that, it’s Angus MacGyver & Jack Dalton facing off against Sonny Carisi and Amanda Rollins. Two very great pairs fighting for the chance to move on to the next round!

This article / polling series is designed mostly as a celebration of the Crime TV genre, and also some notable characters who don’t often get the love they deserve. Partnerships are a staple to the genre, and they add so much in the way of depth. You get to know these characters, cheer for them, and even relate to them when they struggle here and there.

Who moves on to the next round? That’s totally up to you! Check out the poll at the bottom of the article.

Voting Rules – You may vote however much you want within the specified voting window. (The image above explains everything in terms of start and stop dates.) Note that if you are struggling to cast repeat votes, you may need to clear your cache or use a different browser or device. If you are on mobile and you cannot view the poll, scroll to the bottom and click to view the non-AMP version of the page.

Still with us? Let’s dive into this battle…

MacGyver and Jack, MacGyver (#4 seed) – What’s not to like about these guys and their relationship? They’re endlessly funny and entertaining, but more than that what makes them great is that they compliment each other perfectly. Mac is the master of improvisation, and Jack is a guy more capable of playing the long game. He’s got the social swagger, and Mac has the resourcefulness. Combine their powers a la an episode of Captain Planet, and you’ve got a pair who can survive almost everything using limited resources and a whole lot of hope. Endlessly entertaining!

Carisi and Rollins, Law & Order: SVU (#5 seed) – While they may not be the most prominent duo in the entire history of the series, they are one of our most beloved personally just because of the respect and care that the two have for each other. Also, they have a little bit of the push-and-pull that you want in any partnership given that Carisi often has opinions that are different than Rollins and the rest of the squad — he’s definitely not afraid to express them. In the past few years, the writers have built a ton of depth into this relationship and allowed it to grow rather than forcing anything upon it. At this point, it’s evolved so much that we could see it as a romance, a great friendship, or anything else that they want to define it is. They’ve allotted themselves great flexibility.

Photo: NBC