sholio: sun on winter trees (Highlander-Duncan flashback)
Sholio ([personal profile] sholio) wrote2011-04-09 05:28 pm

... nrgh

Done with Highlander season 5 ... earlier today, actually, but I'm just now finding time to post about it ...

So, I knew that Richie died. It was the one big spoiler I had going into the series, actually. (Well, that and the general existence of some of the later characters, like Joe and Methos.) I was sort of hoping that it wouldn't happen in a way that would turn Duncan into a total basket case for the REST OF TIME, though. Well, okay, since the show's writers are cruel, cruel people, I was already expecting Duncan to blame himself somehow for Richie's death, but this is ... this was ... AUGH.

Duncan offering up his sword for Methos to kill him ... it breaks my heart all over again every time I think about it. WAAAAHHH. (That bit with Methos holding Joe while he cries, though? d'awwwwww. OH THESE PEOPLE. ♥)

As spoiler-averse as I normally am, I was kind of glad to know ahead of time about this one, because I was able to prepare myself and not be heartbroken about it. Not that it isn't an emotional kick in the teeth, partly because Richie is gone and partly because, oh, Duncan, how are you ever going to get over this.

... gnnn. Still too stuck on the ending of the episode to have much that's coherent to say about the rest of it or the previous one, aside from the fact that I really enjoyed the guys hanging out together, and it was neat to see one of Methos's flashbacks for a change! Neat to see a different view of history than Duncan's, as well, because the Shelleys and Lord Byron are absolutely not the sort of scene that Duncan would have been involved in, but it makes sense for Methos.

ETA: I think one reason why I'm not taking this as hard as I was afraid I was going to is that for me, what Highlander is all about is dealing with stuff, working through trauma, suffering life's slings and arrows, and going on. We've been through some seriously traumatic stuff already (it took me half a season, at least, to get over losing Tessa) and I think one of the big things that's made me love the show so much is that it's all about suffering the worst that life can throw at you and then getting up and going on. So, while I'm sad about Richie, I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes next, because so far the show has been pretty good at dealing with that stuff. For me, this is just another step along the journey.
calime: Duncan, Tessa, Richie, Fitzcairn scattering Darius's ashes into Seine, text: dust in the wind (dust in the wind)

[personal profile] calime 2011-04-10 11:03 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, do I remember that feeling...when I firts saw HL, they pretty much aired first seasons back-to-back, as they started in 1994/95, and IIRC, end of season 5 was the first real summer hiatus... I think I spent a big chunk of that summer alternatively going 'oh, Duncan!* and hoping against all realistic expectations that the end-of-the-season cliffhanger would turn out to be a bad Ahriman-induced dream...
calliopes_pen: (bigsciencybrain Tara username)

[personal profile] calliopes_pen 2011-04-10 11:37 am (UTC)(link)
The very first episode I ever stumbled across (when it originally aired) was Archangel. So I never had any attachment to Richie when I was able to watch the rest of the series shortly before season 6 began. I was also expecting more demons to pop out of the woodwork, thanks to Ahriman.

I have a soft spot for that episode, because it's part of how I discovered fanfic for the first time. Once you've finished the series, if you discover that you have a craving for fanfic, I recommend checking out the recs on crack_van over on LJ.
calliopes_pen: (bigsciencybrain Tara username)

[personal profile] calliopes_pen 2011-04-10 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Because of the way I watched the series, at first I thought Tessa was evil. First episode I saw? Archangel. Next episode I bought from Suncoast Video, the two parter Counterfeit with the fake evil Tessa, before I knew USA Network would show everything prior to the new season starting.

There really were, going by what I eventually discovered. Some with Richie being Ahriman the whole time, some with Methos being in on it, some with giant battles for the fate of the world, that went differently from how the series dealt with it. At least one of which I recced at crack_van, called Archangel Redeemed.

All I'll tell you about season 6 is that there are a few episodes that don't focus on anyone from the series or barely have Duncan around at all, because they were trying out various female immortals for a spin-off. They didn't go with those women, and the spin-off featured Amanda.
calliopes_pen: (bigsciencybrain Tara username)

[personal profile] calliopes_pen 2011-04-10 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Highlander: The Raven. Named so because in Native American mythology, the raven was a thief that stole the sun, I think. It lasted 1 season because of low ratings. Episode 12 had Joe guest starring. I didn't care for the series.

There was also a reunion special that was 17 minutes long in 2008. Starred Joe, Amanda, and Methos, and was only uploaded to Hulu, I think it was. It was all filmed at Peter Davis' beach home.

(I really need to upload the icons from LJ over here, just so I can respond properly with Highlander icons!)
calliopes_pen: (bigsciencybrain Tara username)

[personal profile] calliopes_pen 2011-04-10 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I just checked, and in the Highlander: The Series entry, they link to it. Don't go to that entry, since you could be spoiled for something. Here's a link to Reunion, whenever you're ready.

weesam: (Default)

[personal profile] weesam 2011-04-11 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
Poor Duncan, they really put him through the mill in season 5. But he has overcome adversity before and he will overcome the death of Richie. His way throughout the series has often been to withdraw, regroup, and come out stronger. As a strategy for dealing with trauma (a subject I have unfortunately come to know a lot about in the past six weeks) it is a good one. Take some time out for yourself, and only when you're ready do you go back and face the issue. Which is exactly what Duncan does.

This episode also gives another tantalising look at the relationship between Joe and Methos. That final episode was a good example of it. That Joe turns to Methos at this moment surely points to a very strong friendship between the two. Everyone needs someone to turn to at times of need, and it's good that Joe can turn to Methos.

weesam: (Default)

[personal profile] weesam 2011-04-11 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
I had huge trouble with the whole Armageddon storyline, not just the resolution. I know it sounds odd, given the whole of Highlander is fantasy, but I found it hard to swallow the whole supernatural plot line of demons and dead coming back to life. However, that said, there were lovely and haunting moments throughout the three episodes that I could like, so I take the good and forget the bad.