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Highlander: One Minute to Midnight

Methos: "Watchers, afraid they're going to be killed by immortals, holed up in a funeral home. Is it just me, or is there some cosmic irony in that?"
Joe: "I think it's just you."

I don't know. I thought it was ironic.

I knew the bad Watchers had to be part of this, and they were: they were the reason Jacob went on his killing spree in the first place. Jacob certainly had reason for revenge, but mass murder for three years? I think it was unreasonable for Duncan to think he could fix this situation. Maybe when he calms down, he'll realize that there was nothing he could do to save Jacob. And that maybe someone who killed over eighty innocent Watchers didn't deserve to be saved.

Again, the highlight for me was yet another chapter of the Joe and Methos show. They were a lot of fun together, but there was also a serious side. Joe protested mightily, but he must have known, at least subconsciously, that the Watchers would kill Jacob. Playing both sides of the fence nearly got Joe killed this time. And Methos, both a Watcher and an immortal, was also in a difficult situation. No wonder he skipped town again. That's what he does, after all.

They found yet another interesting place for a quickening: a funeral home with rows of coffins. (Note the crucifix of roses bursting into flames; a little obvious symbolism there.) Duncan closing Shapiro into a coffin was a nice touch, since Shapiro's career with the Watchers certainly died. By the end of the episode, Joe was back in the Watchers, and Duncan was really pissed off at him. Let's see how long it lasts this time.

Flashbacks:

— 1847 Europe. Duncan's friend Jacob found that, when his wife Irena was raped, there was no justice for gypsies. "I think you should pay me a stud fee"? Geez Louise. I think this flashback was supposed to show us that Jacob was unable to keep his temper, and that he had an "us or them" mentality.

— 1992 Europe. Jacob and Irena were targeted by the evil cadre of Watchers led by James Horton, and Irena was killed. It was sad that her quickening saved Jacob.

— If Jacob and Irena were married for 65 years in 1847, they had been married for 210 years when she died. That was close to rivaling Gina and Robert.

— Duncan was also with the gypsies in another episode flashback to 1848, so good continuity there.

Bits and pieces:

— It was fun to see James Horton return in flashback to go on an insane rant once more. For a moment, I was worried that they were going to bring Horton back from the dead again. Fortunately not.

— Was Jacob in Darius' church? The exterior looked the same, but the interior didn't.


— Joe went into hiding in the basement of Shakespeare & Co.

Quotes: (all Joe and Methos)

Joe: "Ow. Where did you say you studied medicine?"
Methos: "Heidelberg. 1453."
Joe: "Did you major in medicine or dueling?"
Methos: "Both."
This was the first mention, albeit sarcastically, that Methos was once a doctor. It was also an in-joke, since Peter Wingfield went to medical school before he became an actor. (Note from later: Peter Wingfield left his acting career and returned to medicine in 2011.)

Methos: "Give me one good reason."
Joe: "Revenge."
Methos: "Gave it up."
Joe: "Well, then save my ass."
Methos: "We're not that close."

Methos: "I wouldn't worry about the password. They're going to shoot you on sight, anyway."
Joe: "You know, I think I've had just about as much irony for one day as I can take."

Not my favorite season finale, but far from the worst. Three stars,

Billie
---
Billie Doux knows that there can be only one. And that's Methos.

1 comment:

  1. I thought it was interesting to see Methos get all emotional about how he ended up setting up “one of my own” and how he “doesn’t know who is anymore.” It didn’t see completely genuine. Did Methos really care that much? It didn’t seem in character for him to actually care about Jacob. On the other hand, Methos was born at a time of tribalism - that was what people knew. You fought for your tribe, not any kind of higher ideal right? Only did Methos ever actually belong to a tribe? Even if he did, it’s been established that he doesn’t remember his pre-immortal existence or even what happened for many years afterward. So the one thing he knows is that he is an Immortal. That’s the one identity he has, in contrast to Duncan Macleod of the Clan Macleod, the Highlander. So in that sense, I see how Methos would feel kinship with immortals - evil or no. We see that play out in the next season.

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