Such a European episode haha

I am into the Horsemen episode and yes this is solid fucking gold

Methos is Death thats fucking nuts

Reading this thread and seeing it constantly updated is like being lactose intolerant and watching the neighborhood kids chase after the ice cream man.

OMG yes! Nobi is there! @ness wanted an epic Baker post. He'll get one when Nobi finishes up with the Horsemen. "I was death!" That whole speech is the GOAT Highlander scene and one of the most "business just picked up" moments in the history of ever. GOAT episode too. 11/10.

Sept 14, 2022 23:26:08 GMT @ness said:

Reading this thread and seeing it constantly updated is like being lactose intolerant and watching the neighborhood kids chase after the ice cream man.

An instant classic post

Whoa! Mime episode features a flashback to Duncan & Tessa meeting for the first time. That's important. The navy-style outfit is a good look for Tess. Duncan rocking the 70s hair in this flashback. In an earlier flashback he was once again wearing a periwig.

14. For Evil's Sake- I'll have to disagree with Nobi on this one. I enjoyed this episode.

Other villains have been more powerful, but Cuyler is the creepiest one yet. He's a homicidal immortal mime who sits around chugging absinthe* all day surrounded by creepy mannequins! That boy ain't right. He also has an army of mime lackeys who carry out his every whim. And I guess it's a good thing they do because the one who failed was instantly whacked by a remorseless Cuyler. Got some real Clockwork Orange vibes from Cuyler and his crew. He has a fitting backstory for a psycho, too. He became a murderer simply because wasn't great at anything else. Not much of an athlete or student. He was a decent singer, but not great. So he became a murderer. It was the one thing he excelled at. He claims to be the greatest assassin in history with 2,760 kills. He keeps track, you see. Oh sure, others have killed more. But nobody has killed so many from so close. He gives murder the personal touch. They killed him off too soon. Should have kept him alive for a main event return match with Duncan somewhere down the road.

Episode starts with Cuyler and/or his mime army assassinating three important public figures. Duncan immediately knows who is responsible. Flashback to France during one of the Louis' where a periwigged Duncan is serving as the bodyguard for a dandy baron. Baron gets assassinated by Cuyler in mime costume. Mac & Cuyler met again about a decade before this episode. Duncan was armed with 70s hair, but no sword, so he had to make a run for it. During the run he briefly encounters Inspector LeBrun (more on him in a bit) before hopping onto a tour boat. Our tour guide turns out to be none other than Tessa looking sharp in a naval style outfit. It's their first meeting. Aww how sweet! Duncan is honestly a bit of a pill here, correcting Tess, and generally coming across as a cocky smart aleck, but you can tell it's love at first sight.

Up to now the revolving door of police officers have largely been well-meaning blokes in over their heads. Inspector LeBrun may mean well, but he's also a jerk. One of Cuyler's lackeys shoots him in the arm and he blames Duncan. Whatta jerk! And he isn't as great as he thinks he is since his right hand man is secretly in Cuyler's employ. When Duncan beheads Cuyler (spoiler alert, I guess) LeBrun questions him far more thoroughly than the cops in Duncan's old city ever did. Oh, we're in Paris now. It did give the episode a slightly different feel. LeBrun at least he brings a new dynamic to the show.

Duncan and Friends live on a fancy barge in the Seine. Duncan seems to have unlimited financial resources. I get it. You know he's collected some priceless antiques over the centuries. Plus he's worked for some very important people. Richie's only contribution was buying a bust of Napoleon as a house boat warming gift. Duncan & Tess both hated it. Duncan I guess because he fought against Napoleon, and Tess basically because it's "bad art." 
============
*Gotta slip in my Absinthe story. I think it's legal in the US now? But it wasn't between April 01-December 04. I know this because my friend associate** John somehow managed to get his hands on a bottle off this HIGHLY ILLEGAL demon rum which gave it that same aura of danger we associated with ECW earlier in the thread. Alas, I can date it only because the period of time I mentioned earlier was a phase where I (mostly) went off alcohol. So I declined to take advantage of my lone encounter with the Green Fairy.

**Calling John a friend would be a stretch. He could be a jerk. I tolerated him to an extent only because he was a friend of friends. He was a lapsing wrestling fan (who was part of my crew when I went to a 2002 Raw) with a Marilyn Manson obsession (looked like him and everything) when I knew him. He eventually disappeared to NYC for a few years. Last I heard he was back in Baltimore running a restaurant in the very same location where a relative of mine once owned a bar back in the 80s & 90s. TMI

Looks like Highlander found its groove halfway through Season 1. Last two episodes have been good while the one I just started watching has Darius and Xavier St. Cloud (who has a lot of hype on Highlander fansites) listed in the opening credits.

15. Tomorrow We Die- Another solid episode featuring a good villain. This time it's Xavier St. Cloud played by the lead singer of 80s band Fine Young Cannibals. I like how they're mixing up the types of villain rather than just having endless Kurgan ripoffs. Grayson from two episodes back was a highly competent badass. Kuyler the Mime from last episode was a psychotic creep. St. Cloud is a greedy coward who fights dirty while acting suave and sophisticated in his 'normal' life. Duncan seems to REALLY hate this guy.

Episode starts with St. Cloud using deadly poison gas to rob a bank. In case killing 5 people for a little cash isn't enough to establish him as a villain he then goes next level by gassing his lackey for the fun of it. Then he goes next next level by visiting Darius just to gloat about his crimes in Confession knowing Darius can do nothing about it. Whatta jerk! 

Duncan catches on pretty quickly. Flashback to WW 1. A truck arrives to bring the soldiers their pay. Did it really work that way? Seems incredibly stupid if that's really how they did it. Suddenly a cannister of deadly poison gas soars in. The mustachioed Duncan tries to remove it but he's too late. Soldiers drop like flies. Xavier St. Cloud robs the truck wearing a gas mask to protect himself (he didn't even bother with the mask during the bank robbery, opting instead to die and then wake up to rob the bank). He senses another immortal and goes to behead a woozy Duncan only to be deterred by backup troops arriving just in the nick of time. St. Cloud flees after being established as a dude with zero honor. This incident gave him an enemy for life in Duncan. St. Cloud's whole deal is he's just a greedy guy who wants money to fund his lavish lifestyle and doesn't care what he has to do to get it. Not the most in depth character, but it works well enough.

The side stories sucked as usual. Tessa is putting on another art show. The chemistry between her and Duncan has really improved though. For a while I just sort of accepted them as The Lead Couple despite them being bland as can be. But their banter got a lot better beginning with the Vanity episode. Duncan is more playful than usual in this episode, cracking jokes and being uncharacteristically chipper. At least until St. Cloud gets mentioned. Then he's all "He must die." Richie has another dud storyline. This time he has a fling with an older woman only to break it off after realizing she's married. Richie is a completely unnecessary character at this point. His storylines are the worst on the show and rarely have anything to do with the main plot. I assume his push improves once Tessa dies and we discover his true nature. Officer LeBrun from last episode is also back investigating away while always three steps behind Duncan. There's a chase scene with Duncan running after the cowardly St. Cloud (who always sneak attacks if he can and runs away if he can) on foot where they tried injecting some failed comedy for some reason. And another pointless scene with Duncan (masquerading as his own son) meeting up with a shady good guy he worked with in the French Resistance during WW 2. None of this stuff really matters.

Anyway, St. Cloud got in touch with Tessa for art show business under an alias. Yawn. But it did give him an opportunity to sneak into Tessa's show and plant a gas bomb(?). Naturally Duncan defuses with one second left. Stuff happens and St. Cloud finally has nowhere left to run. Duncan chops his arm off which only increases my annoyance at Adrian Paul not being cast in a Star Wars prequel. But the now de-armed St. Cloud does swim away to fight another day. Think he's the first villain Duncan wanted dead to get away so far. I know he comes back a time or two. I’ve mostly stopped reading the Highlander fan review sites because I don't want to spoiled anymore but I’m afraid the damage is already done. 

Sept 15, 2022 1:45:59 GMT Baker said:

14. For Evil's Sake- I'll have to disagree with Nobi on this one. I enjoyed this episode.

Other villains have been more powerful, but Cuyler is the creepiest one yet. He's a homicidal immortal mime who sits around chugging absinthe* all day surrounded by creepy mannequins! That boy ain't right. He also has an army of mime lackeys who carry out his every whim. And I guess it's a good thing they do because the one who failed was instantly whacked by a remorseless Cuyler. Got some real Clockwork Orange vibes from Cuyler and his crew. He has a fitting backstory for a psycho, too. He became a murderer simply because wasn't great at anything else. Not much of an athlete or student. He was a decent singer, but not great. So he became a murderer. It was the one thing he excelled at. He claims to be the greatest assassin in history with 2,760 kills. He keeps track, you see. Oh sure, others have killed more. But nobody has killed so many from so close. He gives murder the personal touch. They killed him off too soon. Should have kept him alive for a main event return match with Duncan somewhere down the road.

Episode starts with Cuyler and/or his mime army assassinating three important public figures. Duncan immediately knows who is responsible. Flashback to France during one of the Louis' where a periwigged Duncan is serving as the bodyguard for a dandy baron. Baron gets assassinated by Cuyler in mime costume. Mac & Cuyler met again about a decade before this episode. Duncan was armed with 70s hair, but no sword, so he had to make a run for it. During the run he briefly encounters Inspector LeBrun (more on him in a bit) before hopping onto a tour boat. Our tour guide turns out to be none other than Tessa looking sharp in a naval style outfit. It's their first meeting. Aww how sweet! Duncan is honestly a bit of a pill here, correcting Tess, and generally coming across as a cocky smart aleck, but you can tell it's love at first sight.

Up to now the revolving door of police officers have largely been well-meaning blokes in over their heads. Inspector LeBrun may mean well, but he's also a jerk. One of Cuyler's lackeys shoots him in the arm and he blames Duncan. Whatta jerk! And he isn't as great as he thinks he is since his right hand man is secretly in Cuyler's employ. When Duncan beheads Cuyler (spoiler alert, I guess) LeBrun questions him far more thoroughly than the cops in Duncan's old city ever did. Oh, we're in Paris now. It did give the episode a slightly different feel. LeBrun at least he brings a new dynamic to the show.

Duncan and Friends live on a fancy barge in the Seine. Duncan seems to have unlimited financial resources. I get it. You know he's collected some priceless antiques over the centuries. Plus he's worked for some very important people. Richie's only contribution was buying a bust of Napoleon as a house boat warming gift. Duncan & Tess both hated it. Duncan I guess because he fought against Napoleon, and Tess basically because it's "bad art." 
============
*Gotta slip in my Absinthe story. I think it's legal in the US now? But it wasn't between April 01-December 04. I know this because my friend associate** John somehow managed to get his hands on a bottle off this HIGHLY ILLEGAL demon rum which gave it that same aura of danger we associated with ECW earlier in the thread. Alas, I can date it only because the period of time I mentioned earlier was a phase where I (mostly) went off alcohol. So I declined to take advantage of my lone encounter with the Green Fairy.

**Calling John a friend would be a stretch. He could be a jerk. I tolerated him to an extent only because he was a friend of friends. He was a lapsing wrestling fan (who was part of my crew when I went to a 2002 Raw) with a Marilyn Manson obsession (looked like him and everything) when I knew him. He eventually disappeared to NYC for a few years. Last I heard he was back in Baltimore running a restaurant in the very same location where a relative of mine once owned a bar back in the 80s & 90s. TMI

I actually knew you would like this one, and reading this changes my mind about it it was a good one. Season 1 definitely has its own vibe that I like it’s different. I feel like the shows low point comes in the cool down in season 2. Season 3 is where the show really develops it’s own bad ass identity and is the peak of the show. Season 4 continues the high quality up to a point but the show kind of peters out up until the Horsemen 2 parter that I watched last night that is for sure the highlight of the show, better than the movies even the first one.

Baker what are your thoughts on the Horsemen 2 parter? I thought it was stellar. I have been enjoying your reviews as much as watching the episodes. As awesome as I thought this show was back in the day I don't ever remember Methos or these 2 episodes. At this point I think I can confidently say that the TV series just took the whole Highlander deal to another level than the movies were ever able to, even the first movie. Hell at this point I think Duncan is way more bad ass than Raiden in the first movie.

Definitely plan to list my favorite episodes I actually went back to season 3 episode 1 this morning getting ready for work I love that episode about how he got the katana.

Sept 16, 2022 1:45:53 GMT Neo Zeed said:

Baker what are your thoughts on the Horsemen 2 parter?

Part One is peak Highlander. My favorite episode back in the day and I don't see it being topped nowadays. 11/10. A masterpiece. 

Another one for @ness . Back in the PW Favorite TV Show Countdown thread I mentioned Bookman, Ace Rimmer's debut, Steamed Hams, and George Costanza: Marine Biologist as my Mt. Rushmore of TV Scenes. And I stand by that. It is one heck of a list. But this scene where Methos reveals his dark past to Duncan would have a good shot at #5...



GOAT Highlander scene and one of the most "business just picked up" moments in television history. Let's play a little Jeopardy...

A: The death of Alec DeLeon, Hulk Hogan's heel turn, and Methos reveals his past.
Q: What are the most shocking moments in 90s television?

We'd known Methos for two seasons. The oldest living immortal always retained an aura of mystery, but we knew he was a good guy. Or so we thought. Turns out we did not know Methos at all. Methos had a past. A very dark past. And he wasn't just any old run of the mill villain. He was a villain of literally Biblical proportions. He was one of the Four Horsemen! And not just any Horseman. He was DEATH! One of the all time great "holy shit" moments.

And how great is Kronos? That omnicidal maniac was my favorite Highlander villain back in the day and, again, I do not see that changing nowadays. 

Which brings me to Part Two. Full disclosure it's actually the #1 rated Highlander episode on IMDb. Above Part One which is "only" rated #3. But all I could think back in the day, and now in modern times, is how they dropped the ball by burning through the Horsemen storyline so quickly. Oh sure. I get why people like it. It's a great episode if you're into the whole "Duncan MacLeod=Ultimate Hero" thing, or were just happy to see Methos more or less revert back to the status quo. But I thought then, and still think now, it was criminal to blow the Horsemen storyline off in only two episodes. Hear me out...

The Horsemen episodes took place a little more than halfway through Season 5. Everybody agrees Season 6 sucked and most people like to pretend it never  happened. Adrian Paul didn't want to do the show anymore. So how about this? Highlander goes out with a bang. Season 5 is the last season and the last 7 or 8 episodes are devoted to Duncan and Friends vs. The Horsemen in the ultimate battle of Good vs. Evil with the future of mankind on the line. You'd have to turn Methos full heel....for a while anyway. But I do have an idea for his redemption at THE END OF TIME (Kronos reference). Ever since watching the Horsemen episodes I've been booking this the way Neo Zeed has been booking his Immortal Kumite lol. I'll post some of my Highlander/Horsemen fanfic ideas later. 

But first let's talk about Caspian and Silas. I was a little disappointed then and now in their rather basic characters. They clearly played second fiddle to the masterminds of the organization in Kronos & Methos. Caspian was just your run of the mill murdering psychopath. Mentioning Red Dwarf earlier reminded me of a minor Red Dwarf character named Killcrazy. That name sums up Caspian. Caspian Killcrazy. Has a nice ring to it. Some indie wrestler has my permission to steal it. Meanwhile, Silas was like the Eugene of the group. Just a big dumb brute who comes across as the least evil Horsemen....which is still pretty darn evil, mind you....and assuming Bronze Age Methos is was bad as we think. I kind of get why they made these two so basic. Having them as evil geniuses on par with Methos & Kronos would make The Horsemen too overpowered. On the other hand they're THE FOUR HORSEMEN! They SHOULD be overpowered! I did like how they showed Caspian & Silas quarreling though, and Methos liking Silas while clearly holding Caspian in contempt. That stuff at least gave them a little bit of depth.

Be back later to book my epic Horsemen storyline sending Highlander out in a blaze of glory. But first enjoy this fanmade Horsemen trailer and try to tell me it wouldn't draw ALL THE DIMES...

2 minutes total of Highlander watching. Is he McSads the whole series?

Sept 16, 2022 20:00:46 GMT @ness said:

2 minutes total of Highlander watching. Is he McSads the whole series?

No. That was a special moment. He just found out his friend was EVIL. One of the Youtube comments summed it up nicely- "the moment Mac realized one of his heroes had a past."

I'm at a crossroads. I haven't binged in a while and I'm afraid if I give in the LIST(tm) will be taking a backseat for months. I'm a 1 episode a day mark these days... at least gotta get the movie. Perhaps finally this weekend.

Sept 16, 2022 20:07:02 GMT @ness said:

I'm at a crossroads. I haven't binged in a while and I'm afraid if I give in the LIST(tm) will be taking a backseat for months. I'm a 1 episode a day mark these days... at least gotta get the movie. Perhaps finally this weekend.

I'm basically a one episode a day guy as well. One day I watched four. Another day I watched two. Think all the rest were one a days.

Was just wondering what else Methos might have been involved in over the millennia. We already know he was Death in the Four Horsemen. I have a sneaking suspicion the 5000 year old Methos was everywhere doing everything. Methinks all of history goes through Methos. The Simpsons may have already did it, but Methos was out there doing it long before even The Simpsons. 

Another neat thing about Kronos is while he is an omnicidal maniac we saw nothing to suggest he wasn't loyal to his boys so long as they remained devoted to the cause. He said it himself. Not looking up the exact line but the gist of it was "A thousand times I have tried to recreate the Horsemen but it was never the same without you guys." 

Friday night with pizza some great herb in the bong and... a bottle of wine? Why does that feel so appropriate for this show? Haha!

Thats when you know you got old and soft when youre drinking Pinot Grigio

Baker you no sold Duncan knowing Kronos they crossed paths in Texas in 1867 and Duncan was a Texas Ranger no less, I thought that was fucking bad ass, not sure I'm thinking about changing my fan fic to a Duncan Mcleod meets Gus from Lonesome Dove now

I've decided to watch both episodes again, this time without chasing the baby around the house cleaning feces

Man that's so true they could have milked this storyline out for an whole other season of episodes.

Sept 16, 2022 23:17:38 GMT Neo Zeed said:

Thats when you know you got old and soft when youre drinking Pinot Grigio

You know Duncan has drank his share of Pinot Grigio! And, ok, Duncan is old, but he certainly isn't soft!

Sept 16, 2022 23:19:42 GMT Neo Zeed said:

Baker you no sold Duncan knowing Kronos they crossed paths in Texas in 1867 and Duncan was a Texas Ranger no less, I thought that was fucking bad ass, not sure I'm thinking about changing my fan fic to a Duncan Mcleod meets Gus from Lonesome Dove now

Truth is I no sold quite a bit. I'd be here all night if I covered everything in that glorious episode! 

Is Gus Bret Hart's character on Lonesome Dove? If not, have him meet Bret's character! Bret & Duncan. Two of your 90s heroes! 

Sept 16, 2022 23:22:43 GMT Neo Zeed said:

Man that's so true they could have milked this storyline out for an whole other season of episodes.

Yeah, man, that should have been half a season. Or take it up a notch with an epic miniseries on par with The Stand. Duncan vs. The Horsemen in primetime=all the dimes. 

I definitely zoomed through the show way too fast and really didn't even watch most of it probably. I just had it going non stop on labor day weekend all 3 days then again last weekend it was just rolling through. Now I'm kinda doubling back and watching the key ones here and there and catching all kinds of shit that went over my head.

Methos slaughtered over 10,000 people including innocent women and children and took sex slaves man it was the Bronze age though they thought the world was flat and Earth was the only planet he's still alright in my book and anyways you know what the good book says about not forgiving people... its against it.

But man that moment and promo was fucking amazing. I can't believe I loved Highlander almost all of my life and just now experiencing this for the first time. This is wonderful.

I'm watching on Peacock and just now properly seen the trailer for the new Quantum Leap reboot coming up on Monday and honestly it looks bad ass. Why would they cast an Asian dude as the lead though? Kind of defeats the whole concept of the show the brilliance was that Dr. Sam was a straight, privileged white dude that had to see what it felt like to be Asian, black, poor, a woman, gay, retarded, etc. The trailer shows an Asian Dr. Sam leaping into what looks like a regular looking white dude wtf lol, plot twist. 

Sept 16, 2022 23:23:32 GMT Baker said:

Sept 16, 2022 23:17:38 GMT Neo Zeed said:

Thats when you know you got old and soft when youre drinking Pinot Grigio

You know Duncan has drank his share of Pinot Grigio! And, ok, Duncan is old, but he certainly isn't soft!

Sept 16, 2022 23:19:42 GMT Neo Zeed said:

Baker you no sold Duncan knowing Kronos they crossed paths in Texas in 1867 and Duncan was a Texas Ranger no less, I thought that was fucking bad ass, not sure I'm thinking about changing my fan fic to a Duncan Mcleod meets Gus from Lonesome Dove now

Truth is I no sold quite a bit. I'd be here all night if I covered everything in that glorious episode! 

Is Gus Bret Hart's character on Lonesome Dove? If not, have him meet Bret's character! Bret & Duncan. Two of your 90s heroes! 

No Gus was Robert Duvall, Bret wasn't in the original epic Lonesome Dove but it was about 2 Texas Rangers that were in South Texas where that episode of Highlander was set around that same era. Bret I believe was in the latter series that was set after the first one I believe. It's something else I've thought about was writing a prequel to Lonesome Dove to show Mccray and Gus when they were younger and add all these backstories like why exactly that one dude hates Sod Busters so much. And also Bake if you still haven't seen the original Lonesome Dove that's something we need to work on brother. It's one of the greatest things ever made TV-movie or otherwise. 

Cassius Pollonious would be the perfect username for a Highlander message board.

I feel like you could cast Bret Hart in the role of Dunan Mcleod instead of Adrian Paul and the show wouldn't miss a beat. If nothing else they should have had him as a guest star in an episode, I mean shit he was WWF Champ for majority of this shows run on TV(92-97)

The dark man is here