'Under Color of Authority'

[ithildin]

Highlander Season Two

Under Color of Authority, Air Date: February 1994

Richie wants to protect Laura Daniels, a young woman who's on the run from an Immortal bounty hunter, Mako. MacLeod has met Mako befoe and doesn't like his methods, but he knows the other man is lawful. He questions whether Laura is necessarily innocent. Richie doesn't care, he wants to help her anyway, no matter what it takes. MacLeod is torn between doing what's right and helping his friend. Richie defeats Mako and receives his first Quickening, and he and MacLeod realize it's time for him to move on. ~ recap via tv.com

Next week will be 'Unholy Alliance'

Comments

[kathyh]

It's a fascinating episode, which would be strong whatever happens, but gets stronger because of the ending. Mako believes in the Law, but not necessarily Justice, whereas Duncan believes in Justice but respects the fact that Mako upholds the Law. I think Richie is too young to comprehend the nuances that Duncan does and eventually goes after Mako as vengeance for Laura's death. It's almost an essay on the different elements of Justice and when the Law needs to be tempered by mercy.

The ending seems to underline the fact that the rules Immortals live by aren't the same as humans live by, so Richie, having taken a Quickening, can no longer be Duncan's student. It's heartrending and hard for both of them, but seeing the feral look on Richie's face as he killed Mako makes me think that Duncan had to do it. Richie had made his own decision on who to kill, regardless of what Duncan had said, so I presume that meant he couldn't be considered a student any longer.