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Highlander: fangirl bait edition
Certain elements of my flist will be happy to know that I've finally reached 3x16.
But first, there was ...
3x14 - Executioner's Song: So I had assumed from the first few minutes that this was going to be another filler-type episode - friend from Duncan's past shows up, la la la, lots of flashbacks, there's a beheading, etc. Imagine my surprise when it took a sudden 180 into IMPORTANT STORY ARC STUFF. Wait, we're leaving the city and the dojo again? Where are we going now? And most importantly, is Duncan taking his friends with him?
Actually, in general, there is way more plot in this show than I was expecting! Things change. People change. Relationships change. The show doesn't just stay in the same city with the same set of characters for its whole run. I really like that (even though sometimes it's tough watching Duncan's heart getting repeatedly ripped out and stomped on).
3x15 - Star-Crossed: ... or, as the case may be, we could go back to Paris. (Do they actually film this in Paris? Or is it in Canada with occasional stock Paris footage for the long shots?) I was expecting somewhere new, but, hey, Paris is good too.
FITZCAIRN! ;_; Come on, can't Duncan have just ONE of his old friends survive for a change? (I had no idea Fitzcairn was going to die, although I could see the writing on the wall from the time that he left his pipe on the boat. I kept hoping for a reprieve of execution, though, because really, does everyone Duncan cares about have to die? Poor Duncan.)
Also? While I wasn't looking, Richie, um, grew up. And got sexy. XD
3x16 - Methos: HMMM I WONDER WHAT THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT. XDDD
I've had so much anticipation for this, because I've known about Methos for years -- in the sense of "there is this character on Highlander called Methos, and he's apparently everyone's favorite". But I didn't know anything about him, except for the out-of-context clips that I'd seen on fanvids. I couldn't actually tell from the clips if he was an ally or one of the later Big Bads in the series. (In fact, turns out I've been mispronouncing his name in my head all these years, even ... I'd always given it a short "e", like in "methamphetamine".)
ANYWAY. So knowing that most of the fandom fell hard for him, I was wary that it would be all buildup and no payoff. Would the hype be too much, or am I as susceptible to the Methos charm as the entire rest of fandom?
The latter. Very much the latter. OH GOD. He totally had me in his first scene, actually -- the quirky little-kid charm (sitting on the floor!), the weirdly innocent quality with the sudden switches into badassness, the way he seems so sweet and yet you can tell he's hiding a lot under that placid exterior ... um. Yes. I'm sold. SO VERY SOLD. I started grinning when he showed up and JUST DID NOT STOP until the end of the episode! I guess I was expecting him to be sort of evil, at the very least a dark and dangerous character; I absolutely was not expecting him to be cute, charming and sort of a nerd, not to mention not actually all that good at fighting. I can see why this character took the fandom by storm. I WANT MORE.
... it's kind of a huge relief, actually, to know that I'm not out of step with fandom on this. I was a bit stressed about it, because I figured the odds (based on my track record) were about 50/50 for taking the fangirl bait or not! But I LOVE HIM, and can't wait to see more of him, eeeee.
Spoiler alert ETA: Since I know at least one of you (![[personal profile]](https://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dossier) is a first-time viewer at about the same place I am, the LJ comments -- specifically my comments thread with ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
xparrot -- contain vague references to the one other Highlander spoiler I know that hasn't happened yet. I don't come right out and say it, but I don't know how spoilerphobic you are; you might want to skip that thread if you're worried about figuring out too much from context.
This entry is also posted at http://friendshipper.dreamwidth.org/320179.html with
comments.
But first, there was ...
3x14 - Executioner's Song: So I had assumed from the first few minutes that this was going to be another filler-type episode - friend from Duncan's past shows up, la la la, lots of flashbacks, there's a beheading, etc. Imagine my surprise when it took a sudden 180 into IMPORTANT STORY ARC STUFF. Wait, we're leaving the city and the dojo again? Where are we going now? And most importantly, is Duncan taking his friends with him?
Actually, in general, there is way more plot in this show than I was expecting! Things change. People change. Relationships change. The show doesn't just stay in the same city with the same set of characters for its whole run. I really like that (even though sometimes it's tough watching Duncan's heart getting repeatedly ripped out and stomped on).
3x15 - Star-Crossed: ... or, as the case may be, we could go back to Paris. (Do they actually film this in Paris? Or is it in Canada with occasional stock Paris footage for the long shots?) I was expecting somewhere new, but, hey, Paris is good too.
FITZCAIRN! ;_; Come on, can't Duncan have just ONE of his old friends survive for a change? (I had no idea Fitzcairn was going to die, although I could see the writing on the wall from the time that he left his pipe on the boat. I kept hoping for a reprieve of execution, though, because really, does everyone Duncan cares about have to die? Poor Duncan.)
Also? While I wasn't looking, Richie, um, grew up. And got sexy. XD
3x16 - Methos: HMMM I WONDER WHAT THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT. XDDD
I've had so much anticipation for this, because I've known about Methos for years -- in the sense of "there is this character on Highlander called Methos, and he's apparently everyone's favorite". But I didn't know anything about him, except for the out-of-context clips that I'd seen on fanvids. I couldn't actually tell from the clips if he was an ally or one of the later Big Bads in the series. (In fact, turns out I've been mispronouncing his name in my head all these years, even ... I'd always given it a short "e", like in "methamphetamine".)
ANYWAY. So knowing that most of the fandom fell hard for him, I was wary that it would be all buildup and no payoff. Would the hype be too much, or am I as susceptible to the Methos charm as the entire rest of fandom?
The latter. Very much the latter. OH GOD. He totally had me in his first scene, actually -- the quirky little-kid charm (sitting on the floor!), the weirdly innocent quality with the sudden switches into badassness, the way he seems so sweet and yet you can tell he's hiding a lot under that placid exterior ... um. Yes. I'm sold. SO VERY SOLD. I started grinning when he showed up and JUST DID NOT STOP until the end of the episode! I guess I was expecting him to be sort of evil, at the very least a dark and dangerous character; I absolutely was not expecting him to be cute, charming and sort of a nerd, not to mention not actually all that good at fighting. I can see why this character took the fandom by storm. I WANT MORE.
... it's kind of a huge relief, actually, to know that I'm not out of step with fandom on this. I was a bit stressed about it, because I figured the odds (based on my track record) were about 50/50 for taking the fangirl bait or not! But I LOVE HIM, and can't wait to see more of him, eeeee.
Spoiler alert ETA: Since I know at least one of you (
dossier) is a first-time viewer at about the same place I am, the LJ comments -- specifically my comments thread with xparrot -- contain vague references to the one other Highlander spoiler I know that hasn't happened yet. I don't come right out and say it, but I don't know how spoilerphobic you are; you might want to skip that thread if you're worried about figuring out too much from context.This entry is also posted at http://friendshipper.dreamwidth.org/320179.html with
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I am so happy you like Methos! OMG! Yes, my first look at him was all "...LOVE YOU" (except I already did, from fic). SQUEE.
Also! Yep, totally filmed in Paris - it was a co-production, and if you ever visit Paris you can find the spot where Duncan's barge used to be! And that's where they're getting all the big castles/mansions and things from, too. Very interesting idea, actually, to move the setting back and forth between Paris and. Um. That city they never name. XD (I will always call it "Seacouver", but that's because. Fandom!)
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I do love him, I do! I don't think I'd realized just how tense I was about it -- I was afraid that expectation would make him a letdown, or that he would just not be my type of character at all. But ... EEEEEEEEE! His sweet dorkness was perfect total fangirl WIN. I was grinning so hard through his scenes with Duncan that my face hurt. :D
It's hilarious how utterly wrong I'd been about Methos from the clips I'd seen, because I really did think he was going to be a bad guy -- I'd somehow ended up with an impression of "evil and crazy", not "soft-spoken and nerdy". Given the way that Immortals change over time, perhaps he was more with the evil and crazy in the past, but I'm just glad to be so wrong, because I'm kind of all flappy and flaily with Methos love right now.
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"Have a beer. Mi casa es su casa."
(...I've never met a fangirl who doesn't like Methos. I'm sure there must be a few, but they somehow hit a magic combination there, found the ultimate keys to the fangirl soul. And yeah, his dorkiness is part of it.)
...oh dang, now I really wanna rewatch some HL...
It is filmed in Paris - it was a combination Canadian-French production (which probably explains the sexual frankness)
And yeah, Fitzcairn dying is tragic (umm, was he in eps before that? I don't recall...) - *tiny spoiler* (argh I forgot no spoiler tags allowed :P)
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(Though thanks to flashbacks, that's not the last you see of Fitz. Which is good because he's hysterical ^^)no subject
I am just sitting here GRINNING and brimming over with Methos squee! I had been so nervous about what my reaction to him would be, and seriously, I am SO VERY GLAD that my flist was awesome and didn't spoil me, because the total unexpectedness of having him be the character he is, when I'd expected him to be someone totally different ... it was a rush! Like I said to
I do think they found the perfect fangirl formula! Dorky and quirky and funny and hot (but in a really interesting, non-traditional way) and just, wow. I'm amazed how far gone I am for this character considering that I've seen, what, 20 minutes of him so far? XDDD (In fact, I might go back and watch the episode again. Or parts of it, anyway. MEEEEEETHOS! \o/)
(which probably explains the sexual frankness)
I've actually been finding that really interesting -- I keep thinking "Wow, they could get away with a lot more on Canadian TV in the '90s than we could!" I guess they had to put in something that could be cut for the American market without affecting the story; I don't know if it's still true, but I know that they used to have to trim a few minutes off the longer Canadian shows to make them fit on American TV. I'm glad that Netflix has the full-length episodes though!
The no-spoiler-tags thing is a PAIN. But I really don't mind that one; I'm happy to know it. :) (In fact, the only other big spoiler about Highlander that I know is one that I'm actually glad I know; if the spoiler is actually wrong, then it will be a pleasant surprise, and if it's right, then I can armor myself emotionally against what I'm afraid is coming ...!)
ETA: Yeah, Fitzcairn was in at least one other episode earlier in the series.
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Me, too, apparently! So what is it, Mee-thos? May-thos?
I've never seen a minute of Highlander, just absorbed some of the basics through a few vids and fannish osmosis. I'm rather sorry I wasn't around when it was a popular fandom, because it sounds like huge amounts of fun.
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I kinda regret missing out on the fandom's heyday, as well. Despite its sillier aspects, it really is a good show with wonderful characters. I could imagine it being as much fun as SGA fandom when it was in its prime. On the other hand, coming in after the show is over and the fandom has dwindled to a few die-hards, I'm looking forward to scoring a bonanza of awesome fan stuff. (And probably suffering the frustration of following endless broken links, too ...!)
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Oh, Methos; awesome character. I'm given to understand that Methos was supposed to only appear for one or two eps then be decapitated, but PW was so brilliant he stayed. PW and AP just seem to gel and the charisma sparkles. Heeeeee. I'll pretty much tune into anything with Peter Wingfield in. I thoroughly enjoyed Stonehenge Apocalypse with Misha Collins and Peter Wingfield for all the wrong reasons.
Yep, filmed in Paris. The barge and the River Seine pops up in other series. There was an ep of Relic Hunter where Tia Carrere and Christien Anholt ran on to the barge and Duncan didn't protest at all. When they're filming in Paris a lot of familiar UK actors pop up.
Yeah, there is a lot of slash out there, but gen also. Tell me when you want to read some and I'll throw some recs your way.
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Sanctuary is the only other thing I've seen Peter Wingfield in, and I didn't really "click" with his character ... but now I'm going to have to go back and rewatch those eps, now that I'll be overlaying Methos onto him!
I will definitely be asking for recs. :D Right now I'm still wallowing happily in a lovely sea of CANON, but when I start to run out of canon, I will be running to my flist to help me!
LOL at recycling the barge. I'll have to keep an eye out for it!
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I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am that you like him. I mean, you ain't seen nothin’ yet – you've seen one episode! And I can't wait for your reactions to the rest of it. But oh yes, he gets a fantastic introduction, and I'm not at all surprised he swept away all the fangirls' hearts. :D
Shall I tell you when he had me? Not that he wasn’t marvellous from the first moment he appeared on screen, mi casa es su casa and all, but the moment he really had me – that was at the end of the episode, when he arranged for Kalas's arrest. OH YES. SO MUCH YES. That was when I really believed that this was a man who could have survived 5,000 years. I loved him from that moment. (Even if I wasn't actually fannish about the whole thing until much later.)
There's not a single Methos appearance that I don't love to pieces, I don't think. (There's one ep he's in that I dislike for other reasons, but that's got nothing to do with Methos.) And thanks to you I'm completely gaga over him again. My Great Methos Rewatch has reached the end of season 4 at the moment, and when I'm through I'll start again at the beginning. :D
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I still can't get over how utterly wrong about him I was ... and I really do appreciate my flist keeping me unspoiled, because I truly thought he was going to be an evil guy who eventually redeems, not someone who's really more of a
giant dorkscholar than a fighter, who mostly keeps alive by his wits and by playing the "game" better than anyone else! Secret competence plus snark plus a bit of dorkitude on the side, oh my heart.(no subject)
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Neechan and I have been so enjoying reading your posts on this, it's so very very nostalgic but oh have I been holding my breath waiting for you to get to him because...just...METHOS!!! Truly one of my favorite chars of all time in ANYTHING. He's just so hot and adorkable and badass and snarky and hot and a sexy voice and angsty and funny and cute and HOT...and ummm...yeeeah, I might be a bit obsessed. Just a bit. A tad, a skosh...HOMG I LOVE HIM!!!! LIKE BURNING!
There are mulitple whole speeches of his that I can recite at will, it's kinda totally sad. But...but METHOS!
H'okay, I'm better now...reeeally! And so looking forward to your reactions as you see further stuff with him! ^_^
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I really do appreciate my flist working so hard to keep me unspoiled, because part of my delight in Methos was realizing just how wrong about him I'd been! Based on the vid clips I'd seen, my brain had apparently taken me down an ENTIRELY WRONG red herring path, and -- especially since a lot of the people I know like Methos are those who go for redeemable bad guy types -- I was pretty much convinced that Methos was going to be EVIL, and braced for the idea that, despite his fandom popularity, even if I liked him I'd probably need a few episodes for him to grow on me. What I was absolutely NOT expecting was, well, what we got: an adorkable, funny, soft-spoken, savvy guy who has survived not by being the most evil Immortal in the world, but by playing "the game" better than anyone else. (And still with a lot of mystery about him too! And lots of eps to go .... EEEEEE NEED MORE METHOS NOWWWWWWW~!)
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I'm curious about one thing: in terms of pace and storytelling, does it hold up well after all these years or does it feel a little quaint?
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If you are looking for more Peter Wingfield, he played a traitorous Tok'ra Hebron/Tanith in 4 episodes of SG1: Crossroads, Exodus, Between Two Fires and Exodus (although Exodus was really just a flash of him in a al'kesh). He plays evil very well.
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I am crushing so hard on Methos right now! I'm really startled at how fast and hard I fell ... usually it takes me longer to get sucked into a character, but there was just something about him ...
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I will say, Richie did grow up nice-looking.
With regard to fan fiction, before Methos showed up, there was a great deal written about the family of Duncan and Tessa and Richie. Then came the training of Richie (and many liked pulling Connor into the mix). Methos changed the game a bit.
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I'm looking forward to getting to the point where I can search for fanfic! But first ... oodles of canon yet to go. *bounces*
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I got such a kick out of you wondering whether Methos is a conflicted villain in HL, knowing what comes in their first meeting.
And I have to say, I love the "I'm in charge of finding myself, and I make sure it never happens." I _love_ that he's a Watcher in charge of finding himself so. much!
And: "That's what I'd ask if I'd just met me."
And: "Live, Highlander. Grow stronger. Fight another day."
Yes, I can pretty much quote Methos from memory at will :D
I hope you enjoy the rest of the season, and look forward to your comments to the next one, which contains some of my absolutely favourite episodes XD
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*laughs* Yeah, that's one of the main reasons I was stressing about it! I've been in fandoms where I was seriously out of step with the popular character or pairing, and it's not really all that much fun.
I have ALREADY rewatched every Methos scene in that episode a bunch. I am so far gone.
I got such a kick out of you wondering whether Methos is a conflicted villain in HL, knowing what comes in their first meeting.
Hee! It was such total emotional WHIPLASH, I tell you, trying to adjust my expectations from what I thought Methos was, to what he actually is. I had really gotten the wrong impression all over the place -- my best guess for Methos was that he was going to be another of those enemies from Duncan's past, who'd killed someone important to Duncan years ago (or vice versa). I'm delighted to find out how wrong I was!
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(By the way, the "methamphetamine" pronunciation is appropriate in this context, I think. ;) )
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Hee! True. :D
I ♥ Methos.
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I can’t believe that the impression you had of Methos (prior to seeing his first episode) was that he was one of the horde of evil immortals that had given personal insult to Duncan sometime in the past. *grin* but I’m glad you’ve come over to our side…
& yes, you’ve described him so perfectly… “the quirky little-kid charm (sitting on the floor!), the weirdly innocent quality with the sudden switches into badassness, the way he seems so sweet and yet you can tell he's hiding a lot under that placid exterior” Oh, Yes! Yes, that’s textbook Methos. *squee* & given that you’ve fallen that hard for him, is there any chance you could be tempted to write something with him when you’ve finished the episodes?
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I can't believe how wrong about him I was! That is exactly what I thought he was -- one of Duncan's legion of enemies from the past -- and it's been really weird getting my brain to adjust to thinking of him as, well, him. It's sort of like getting a whole redemption arc compressed into about two minutes of canon, except it all happened in my brain ...
I, er, already want to write fic for this show, except I haven't really seen enough of it to feel like I can do it properly yet. But I suspect that if and when I do, Methos will be featured heavily. *g*
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During season 6 of HL he did a show there called Noah's Ark, but he only did season 1. After HL he did Queen of Swords. He's also been on SGA as someone mentioned and various other shows in a guest role. He did 2 eps of Bliss in Canada.
He married one of the make-up artists on HL and moved to Canada. Now they (Peter, Carolyn and son Edan) live in LA.
Methos is a wonderful character and he changed Peter's life. No matter how old he gets I don't think he is going to get away from Methos.
I wasn't crazy about the racing scenes though. So I edited and now have a dvd of Methos with only Methos scenes.
Can't wait until you see his next episode in season 4 "Chivalry". As you can tell by my icon though, I am a D/M fan.
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But Methos ... yeahhhh. :D The Methos squeefest in the comments was tons of fun, and I am crushing SO HARD on Methos and Peter Wingfield right now! He is simply wonderful; I haven't fallen this hard this fast for a character in ages.
I have actually video-capped all the Peter Wingfield scenes in "Methos" from streaming Netflix to my hard drive, so I have all the Methos bits to watch and rewatch at my leisure. (Yes, clearly not obsessed at all.)
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