'Till Death'

[ithildin]

A day early, but what the heck? I love this episode, well, to death! So I figured it deserved an extra day of discussion.

Welcome to the eighth installment of Methos Episode Discussion. You can find the last one for 'Through a Glass, Darkly' here. All episode discussion links can be found over on the sidebar.

Till Death, Air Date: May. 1996

When Gina and Robert de Valicourt met 300 years ago, even Gina's suitors MacLeod and Fitzcaim had to admit they were destined for each other. Each century, as Robert and Gina renewed their wedding vows before their friends and fellow Immortals, their love grew stronger. But now their marriage is on the rocks. MacLeod decides it's up to him to reunite the once happy couple, and he enlists a very unwilling accomplice in his cunning plan. ~ via tv.com

Next up will be Judgement Day. Look for it on Monday.

Quotes below the curtain






Methos: The apartment I'm renting is being sold. I hate moving.
Duncan: Then move into a hotel.
Methos: I wouldn't live in any hotel Adam Pierson could afford.
________________________

Gina: It's over - the son of a bitch (Methos) is dead.
Duncan: No, no! It was all a joke it...
(Methos pops up on the barge)
Duncan: Not funny!
Methos: Oh I don't know, pretty funny from here.
Duncan: Oh yeah? Maybe I should take your head.
_________________________

MacLeod: With friends like you, who needs enemies?
Methos: I was just thinking the same thing!
_________________________

Methos: I knew it. I knew it! Getting between a married couple. It's a rule I haven't broken for 2000 years!
_________________________

Gina: Maybe we aren't meant to spend three centuries together. I mean...who mates for life? Swans? Geese? Lobster?
__________________________

Robert: She's leaving me, Mac. She's really leaving...she divided up the record collection.
MacLeod: The vinyl?!
__________________________

Methos: You're not listening to me, I don't give a damn about their marriage.
Duncan: Well I do!
Methos: Is it really that important to you?
Duncan: Yes it's that (bops Methos on the head) important to me.
Methos: All right...I do this for you, and you give me the barge.
__________________________

Gina: I gave you the best centuries of my life.
___________________________

Methos: (looking at Duncan's CD collection) Opera... opera... opera... opera. A lot of opera here. Better do something about this music. There's no Springsteen, there's no Queen...
___________________________

Methos: You're wasting your time. I haven't felt guilt since the eleventh century.

Comments

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, that lines goes perfectly with the earlier one: "Do I *look* like an actor to you?" *giggles*

The playfulness that PW and AP brought to their roles in this episode is marvelous. And it's easy to see how this will be figured as a more 'innocent' time after CaH and R:6.8. Also, the slashy vibes are *everywhere* in this. ^_^

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

Yes, sigh, a much more innocent time.

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

*nods* And from a slash prespective, I find (as I said below) that the parallel between Gina dropping the Ming vase in front of Robert at the beginning of the episode and Methos dropping another Ming vase in front of Duncan at the end is very intriguing.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Isn't it Duncan that drops the vase when Methos tosses him the keys?

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

*checks* Oh yeah, it is! That will teach me to check my sources! Still he drops the vase *because* of Methos, so it's still somewhat parallel.

(And the sound the Duncan makes - so cute and aggrieved!)

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Just finished watching and yes, I love that bit. Methos really knows how to wind Duncan up (minds out of the gutter, slasherettes! [g])

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

Well, it's less of a wind, and more of a stroke - *stops, blushes*

My mind is *always* in the gutter!

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

ROTFL!! You're very bad. But I like that in a person [g]

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes.

There are lots of possible slash parallels here.

For instance, when Methos makes that remark about being married 68 times but never to "one of us," because he can't imagine making that kind of commitment, is he looking at Duncan...longingly? Expectantly? Wonderingly?

And what would Methos and Duncan be like after 300 years together? (see my comment below)

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

I think there is a bit of wonder and longing in Methos's look there. It's quite clear that he's very intrigued by Duncan, that he let himself be discovered by the Highlander on purpose, and that he doesn't just keep coming around because of Duncan's beer suspply. *g*

And after 300 years - well I think my computer is trying to tell me something as it just skipped from one version of "Can't Stand Me Now" to another! Seriously, by that time, they would probably both ridiculously devoted to each other and ready to kill each other.

There aren't many fics that really explore that far into the long-term, are there? Truthfully, I have problems imagining Methos being able to make that kind of commitment, however much he wants to, unless he feels that he has plent of space. Duncan can be overwhelming, and I think Methos, drawn to the fire as he is, is also very afraid of being trapped in the flames. ^^

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

Duncan can be overwhelming, and I think Methos, drawn to the fire as he is, is also very afraid of being trapped in the flames.

Oh yes, very nicely put.
I can't imagine the two of them living together for 300 years the way Gina and Robert have. But I can definitely imagine them having a relationship spanning that amount of time, during which Methos sort of shows up whenever he feels like it. You know, kind of like in canon. :-) And yeah, he's definitely not there just for the beer.

I wish there were more long-term relationship fics! So far I've only read one ("Kindle," by Julia), though a bunch of PWPs I've read seem to take imply that a LTR is in progress.

and you're the lover I had who ever slept with a knife

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

I read your comment, and was like, oh, right, like Amanda! And then I went, well, what if Amanda and Methos showed up at the same time...mmm, threesome. Um, yeah, I'm not sure how much more intelligent discussion you're going to get out of me tonight. *g* But it's an interesting point, because the ending of a lot of D/M fics imply the beginnings of a long-term relationship without setting out the parameters of it. Are we talking monogamy here? Would Duncan want Methos to stay around for longer, try to the domestic thing for a bit? Would Methos try, just for MacLeod? Would that be a point of tension?

Re: and you're the lover I had who ever slept with a knife

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

All good questions, and yes, I was definitely imagining something like Duncan's relationship with Amanda.

I think they might set up housekeeping for awhile. But Methos would need many breaks.

What does your subject line refer to?

Re: and you're the lover I had who ever slept with a knife

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

Many breaks, yes. My subject line is from The Libertines' song "You're My Waterloo" though I mistyped it. It reminds me a lot of Methos. Here are the full lyrics:

You'll never fumigate the demons
No matter how much you smoke
Just say you love me for three good reasons
And I'll throw you the rope
You don't need it

Cause you are the survivor
Of more than one life
And you're the only lover I had
Who ever slept with a knife

But you're not Judy Garland
Oh just like me
You've never really had a home
Of your own
But I'm not Tony Hancock, baby
Until the day
We stone the crows
We stone the crows

We stone the crows

And you see I've brought you flowers
All collected from the Old Vic stage
Well I've been sitting here for hours, baby
Just chasing these words across the page

Cause you're my Waterloo
Well I'll be your Gypsy Lane
I'm so glad we know just what to do
And exactly, who's to blame

And you're my Waterloo
I'll be your Stanley Park
Well I'm so glad we know just what to do
And no one's left stumbling around
Fumbling around
Tumbling around in the dark
Always in the dark

You're my Waterloo
And I'll be your Calvary
Well I'm so glad we know just what to do
And everyone's gonna be happy
Everyone's gonna be happy
Everyone's gonna be happy
But of course

Re: and you're the lover I had who ever slept with a knife

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like that, and yes I can see d/m stuff in it.

About the Amanda/Duncan/Methos thing, have you ever read Carene's Consider the Seahorse (http://www.garret.slashcity.net/carene-seahorse.html)? It is really good. It's an mpreg, but I SWEAR it's good anyway.

Re: and you're the lover I had who ever slept with a knife

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Somone please tell me what an mpreg is? I've seen the term a few times and am klewless -- well, more than usual. :)

Re: and you're the lover I had who ever slept with a knife

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

^_^ The Libertines are generally good for D/M: "what became of the likely lads/what became of the dreams we had/what became of forever"

And I've read that fic! It has one of my favourite lines in it:
"Just wait, MacLeod," Methos said. "She'll do some tests and then you'll have your proof. You can't argue with science." *g*

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

*blink*

*blinks some more*

That has to be one of the weirdest mpregs I've ever read. And they're all weird. Kind of good but.. weird.

Re: and you're the lover I had who ever slept with a knife

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I see from your userinfo that you don't write Highlander fic. Yet. Perhaps these discussions will give you some inspiration? Nudge nudge.

Re: and you're the lover I had who ever slept with a knife

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

*laughs* I have a few HL fics planned out in my head, actually. (A Methos in Paris in the spring vignette, about to go invade the barge after a long absence; a longer fic involving regenade Watchers, the nature of Quickenings, Methos, horses, letter-writing, Duncan and a barn that I'm still figuring out the structure for, and the insane Hilghlander/Supernatural crossover I dreamed up when I couldn't sleep one night featuring "Adam Pierson"/Dean Winchester and much hotness).

Unfortunately, thesis-writing takes up a lot of my time, so I'm not sure when I'll get them done...

Re: and you're the lover I had who ever slept with a knife

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

**head explodes**

Wow, those are some ideas! I can't wait till you're done with your thesis!

Re: and you're the lover I had who ever slept with a knife

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And me neither. *g*

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

is he looking at Duncan...longingly? Expectantly? Wonderingly?


He sort of glances over at him, with a 'go figure' kind of of expression on his face. (I even replayed that bit out of curiosity!)

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

Heh. That's because you don't have your slash goggles on!

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

That's because I don't own any [g] But that's okay, since you guys more than make up for my lack of a slash gene!