![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
Highlander 4x08-4x10
4x08 - Reluctant Heroes
Wow - that was one heck of an unexpected twist with the FBI agent.
I love the quiet bits of background interplay in this series -- like Richie bringing the little girls cups of water (or juice, or whatever it was). Just little background details that make it come alive.
Otherwise, not much to say about this ep, except that I feel like even the somewhat "meh" eps this season have been pretty strong -- well-written and well-acted, at least, if not serving up generous helpings of squee each time.
4x09 - The Wrath of Kali
This was an episode with a lot of sticky issues that mainstream TV is not really known for being terribly nuanced about, and given all of that, I didn't think they did a bad job at trying to balance the different sides of the situations they were dealing with. I do wish that they had put the major arguments for repatriation in the mouth of a more sympathetic character, but I didn't get the impression that he was supposed to be de facto wrong, especially given Duncan's choices at the end.
Oh, Duncan. I love him so much. Flashback!Duncan and modern!Duncan both (same guy, I know, but very different in some ways). I don't always agree with him on everything, but I adore his optimism and his sympathy/empathy, his refusal to tolerate injustice, and his desire to do what's right, even when it conflicts with the laws of the land in which he's living or goes against his own self-interest.
And they brought up in canon the thing about Immortals all being foundlings, which is something I've been wondering about for seasons now -- since every one whose past we know about is an orphan or mystery child. Curiouser and curiouser.
4x10 - Chivalry
THE PAINTING SCENE WINS ALL THINGS FOREVER. *heartclutch*
(Methos getting whapped in the face with a paintbrush was actually one of the scenes I'd seen in a vid awhile back. I just didn't know what the context was, or who was on the other end of the paintbrush. Although, when Duncan bought the old house, I had a feeling that I might know where that one fit in. But still. PAINTBRUSH IN FACE. OH DUNCAN. OH METHOS.)
I think I might have already rewatched that scene an unhealthy number of times.
And that was also the point when I figured out why Methos was here, because honestly, up until then I was sure that this was a side trip for him, that he was here for Watchery reasons that had nothing to do with Duncan. But, uh, no -- he came ALL THE WAY FROM PARIS because he was worried about Duncan, didn't he? as;lkjfd;lkjfdspasdlkfhsl;; Actually I'm not entirely sure that makes sense to me in terms of show logic, because I had no idea they'd gotten to know each other that well yet? But whatever. Possibly he just finds the whole thing entertaining.
Is it just my imagination or is the show drawing deliberate parallels between how Duncan relates to Richie and how Methos relates to Duncan? I really do think that Methos sees a younger version of himself in Duncan, just as Duncan kinda sees himself in Richie.
(The only people who know about Methos are Duncan and Joe? What about Amanda, HELLO. Or does she only know him as Adam?)
And the rest of the episode! The fight in the dojo! ("It's called progress." hahahahahaha) And Kristin, all creepy and controlling! I really enjoyed her brand of evil, a rather different sort of evil from what we've seen from most of the villains on the show, but no less twisted and awful. Actually, given the choice between facing someone who just hates you, and someone who couches hate in soul-crushing love, I think I'd rather take the hate. And Methos switching to badass mode! "Who are you?" "A man who was born long before the age of chivalry." ... heeheeheeeeeeee.
And yet, Duncan can beat him in a fair fight, which I rather love. When Methos was first mentioned in the episode "Methos", I was expecting him to be THE MOST BADASS IMMORTAL EVAR, which made me wonder how the heck they were going to make his fights suspenseful if he's that much better than anyone who ever lived. But he's not and I think that's one of the things about him I love most. The only person he's beaten in a swordfight thus far on the show is Kristin, who presumably has not had to face someone on the dueling field very often. He's kind of a middle-class swordsman: quite competent, with lots of experience, but not a virtuoso, and not someone whose greatest skill or interest is fighting.
This SHOW. :D :D :D
Also, while I feel terrible for poor Maria getting almost drowned, having to be rescued by Duncan and Methos -- OH NO, THAT POOR GIRL. Mouth-to-mouth by Duncan, and then getting snuggled back to warmth by Methos? Ummmmm. Kinda makes the almost-drowning seem worth it, I'M JUST SAYING.
I just ... had no idea that Methos was going to be the kind of person he is, you know? I know he's got a dark side, because no Immortal survives for any length of time without being at least a little bit ruthless, not even Duncan. But ... METHOS! (Among other shallow things about him, I rather enjoy his habit of sitting on random things like tables and countertops. Heck, he's 5000 years old, who cares about little social niceties at that point.)
no subject
Wouldn't that be awesome? Ronon, who lost his whole planet, and Methos, who has seen entire civilizations born, rise up, and die in blood and fire? What could be more perfect!
Ronon is the little black dress of everything.
no subject
no subject
And, ha, yes! That's absolutely brilliant. :D
no subject
Amanda knows about Methos. It's not clear from "Finale" if she knew him before, or only met him then. Fanon likes to speculate that Methos and Amanda's teacher knew each other and that Amanda met him centuries earlier through Rebecca. It's been a while since I watched "Finale", however, so I'm not clear on whether Amanda knows that he's Adam. Maybe someone else can answer that.
And yet, Duncan can beat him in a fair fight, which I rather love.
I really like that the fighting abilities/survival skills of different Immortals tell us something about them, their personalities, their values. Methos doesn't value fighting for fighting's sake, the way Duncan relishes a good battle. I love love love that scene of Duncan and Connor sparring in the warehouse--the FUN and energy, how the fight itself is a kind of conversation. It's the same with the sparring here, Methos trying to teach Duncan something, and Duncan teaching Methos something right back.
Hmm, I really should have a sparring icon.
no subject
*nods* I agree on both counts -- I mean, it's not like I can't understand doing the character-only viewing because, er, I did that with Sanctuary (and then went back and watched the other episodes later). But I don't think I would love the show nearly as much if I hadn't had an opportunity to fall in love with Duncan and Joe and Amanda and Tessa and Richie first. The Methos episodes are definitely among the strongest, though there have been some of the others I've loved just as much.
I really like that the fighting abilities/survival skills of different Immortals tell us something about them, their personalities, their values.
Yes, this! There's so much care and thought and affection that went into this show. I'm just getting more and more impressed with it, because I really was not expecting this from the first few episodes. This show has gotten good!
no subject
no subject