Ir has some old flaws and some new flaws, but possibly some new strengths. I'll start off by saying that I was a fan of the original series, and I was quite apprehensive when I heard about the reboot. I viewed the pilot with modest expectations, and they were adequately met. The reboot pays proper homage to the original without being afraid to take some new directions in storytelling. I anticipate that some of their changes will work for the better, while others will not.
On a line-by-line basis, the script could use a little work, with some of the dialogue coming off as sappy or forced. That being said, the original series had the same problem, particularly during the first few seasons. Regardless, despite some poor dialogue, the high-level plot points of the episode were somewhat clever, and I'm interested to see what story lines they come up with (more on that below).
The acting ranges from mediocre to good. It's worth noting that the reboot is an ensemble show, not a one-man show like the original was. Whether this is good or bad depends on how likable the characters end up being (so far, they're all fine, but nothing special), and how good the chemistry is between the actors. The writers are going to have a difficult time making the rest of the McTeam feel significant without making the audience question why the show is named after a single character.
As for the man himself: MacGyver suffers from some inconsistent character development. At various points in the episode, Till's character is written as a suave agent, a hyberobservant science hero, a devoted romantic, an impulsive action hero, and a brooding, mythology-savvy dramatist. I'm concerned that the writers are going to use this inconsistency to make him say and do whatever is plot-convenient, and never give him proper characterization. Unlike Anderson's Mac, who was consistently characterized as calm, charming, clever, and philanthropic, there doesn't seem to be any set of unifying character traits with Till's Mac.
The reboot's pilot is much faster-paced than the vast majority of the episodes in the original show. The action sequences are alright, with two noticeable drawbacks. First, the cinematography has a highly stylized jitter that feels distracting and unnecessary. Second, there are a few disappointingly blatant idiot-ball moments on the part of the mooks, such as shooting repeatedly at Mac's shielded head when his chest and abdomen are completely exposed.
Despite the faster pace and a less consistent main character, I think that the writers have a good change of excelling with the medium- and macro-level storytelling. There is already a promising long-term antagonist who has genuinely compelling motivations to act they way they do, and who has a legitimate reason to be interacting specifically with Mac. Furthermore, reboot hints that it will explore some themes that the original never got around to dealing with, such as Mac's do-good agency running into conflict with a other, less scrupulous parts of the government.
In summary: One pilot compared to the other, the original is at least slightly better. Both the titular character and the show itself felt more charming, and the action sequences are a step down in some ways, despite there being increased emphasis on them. However, there's nothing about the show that's downright bad, and the macro-scale writing shows promise. Altogether, it's worth keeping an eye on--not necessarily because of what it is right now, but because of what it could be.
Keep an eye out in a few weeks for an updated review.