'Through A Glass, Darkly'

[ithildin]

Welcome to the seventh installment of Methos Episode discussion. You can find the last one, for 'Methuselah's Gift,' here. All episode discussion links can be found over on the sidebar.

Through A Glass, Darkly, Air Date: May. 1996

MacLeod's old friend Warren Cochrane is hiding a horrible secret he can't bear to remember. Realizing that an Immortal who won't remember what he is is soon a dead Immortal, MacLeod tries to help Warren by reminding him of the history they shared together, of their battles for Scotland's freedom, and of their mission to return Bonnie Prince Charlie to the throne. But MacLeod might have helped his friend more by letting the past stay buried.. ~ via tv.com

Next up will be Till Death [bounce]. Look for it on Thursday.

One quote below the curtain





Duncan: You know, I never know when you're kidding.
Methos: Part of my charm.

Comments

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

I didn't really care for the Warren storyline, even though I am glad they opened that window of doubt about the flashbacks and how accurate they are. As already stated, they've always been looked at as fact, when in reality, they are only the immortal's memories as he recalls a certain time in his life. And there is nothing to suggest that they have unfaulty memories. I mean - they wouldn't get dementia or alzheimers but people - young people without any kind of illness don't remember everything accurately or even well. Methos admits that some of his memories are *blurred*.

I do like the interaction between Duncan and Methos. How when Duncan tells Methos it will take him 10 years to get the basement cleaned up and he states that Duncan is saying that like it's a bad thing. You can sense his lonliness and how sad he is. It's little moments like these that make you wonder if immortality is really worth it.

[(Anonymous)]

I am glad they opened that window of doubt about the flashbacks and how accurate they are

Funny, I never gave any thought to the flashbacks, not even in this episode. I always took the flashbacks, not as Duncan's memory, but as factual history. In this episode, I just figured Warren's trauma over the killing of his student / son, amplified his sense of loss in failing to re-seat Bonnie Prince Charlie, and thus is warped memory.

I admit however, that if the FB are personal perspectives and not historical backstory, then everything takes on a new twist. For example, can we really be sure Methos was the "good" horseman or is his memory also clouded to make him look better then the others and thus justify his living?

There is an episode in the last season I think, where an immortal comes for Duncan's head, because Duncan killed a mortal friend of his (A soldier who lead a English army in Scotland) - Sorry not good with episode names.

While the FB's seemed to me to replay the same memory, what was different was the interpretation of the flashbacks, not the FB's themselves. For example, the guy after Duncan recalled a friend and family man, he seemed not to care that the General has ordered the slaughter of Scottish women, men and children as he moved through the country. Duncan, remembered that and took vengeance on the "killer" of his people. So the FB's were okay, but the interpretation of them was colored by their feelings and perspectives.

Roberta