'The Messenger'

[ithildin]

Welcome to the eleventh installment of Methos Episode discussion. You can find the last one, for 'Judgement Day/One Minute to Midnight' here. All episode discussion links can be found over on the sidebar.

The Messenger, Air Date: Nov. 1996

Richie's found a new teacher: an Immortal who preaches a message of peace. An Immortal who believes that all Immortals can lay down their swords and live together as brothers. An Immortal who claims to be the oldest of their kind still alive -- Methos. Will laying down his sword in the name of peace mean Richie will lose his head? And what does this mean for the friend MacLeod already calls Methos?. ~ recap and quotes via tv.com

Next up will be The Valkyrie. Look for it on Monday.

Quotes below the curtain





*from the extended scene*
Methos: Okay, there's this Spanish guy, Alejandro Diego Spinofa...one day he gets called in by the Inquisition for questioning, red hot pincers, tongs, usual drill...now, all he has to do is say no, 'kay, very simple word. They take his home, his money, his lands, but he will not give in.
Joe: So what happened?
Methos: He died screaming in agony. But he kept his integrity.
Joe: You are one calculated son of a bitch.
Methos: Thank you very much, it's just a matter of anticipation.
Joe: Really...well have one on me. (pours his drink on Methos' head)
Methos: What the hell was that for?!
Joe: Just one of those unforseen dilemmas. I'm surprised you didn't ancitipate it.
________________________

Methos: Look, there are enough people out there who want my head for who I am. Now, I say, if he wants to play Methos let him.
Duncan: Even if it gets him killed?
Methos: Yeah. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Look at these boots. What happened to craftsmanship? I only put a thousand miles in them.
________________________

Duncan: Do you really think peace between us was possible.
Richie: I'd like to think so.
Duncan: Would have been nice.
Richie: You know, I don't even know what his real name was. I mean, I know he wasn't the real Methos. Maybe he wasn't right either, but he was a good man.
Methos: Listen, I'm sorry I disappointed you, kid.
Richie: That's okay.
Methos: Later.
Richie: Old timer, you got any words of wisdom for me?
Methos: Nope.
________________________

(about Richie)
Duncan: Well, it's his (mistake) to make. It's about integrity.
Methos: Okay, there's this Spanish guy: Alejandro Diego Spinofa. One day he gets called in by the inquisition for questioning, red hot pincers, tongs, usual drill. Now, all he has to do is say no, 'kay, very simple word. They take his home, his money, his lands, but he will not give in.
Joe: And so what happened?
Methos: He died screaming in agony. But he kept his integrity.
________________________

Fake Methos: Can anyone live for five thousand years and say they did nothing, risked nothing, merely stayed alive? It'd be pointless.
Methos: Some might think that that experience is worth saving.
Fake Methos: I'm not one of them, but we can talk about it.
Methos: No, I've got a prior engagement, I'm afraid.
Fake Methos: I, uh, didn't catch your name.
Methos: No, that's right, you didn't.
________________________

Joe: I'm gonna go check on this other Methos. Maybe I'll turn something up.
Methos: Maybe I'll go and buy some socks.
________________________

Methos: But it's got such a nice ring to it. No more fighting, no more killing, peace and harmony - don't tell me you never fantasized about that? Some young sucker's always gonna fall for it.
Duncan: Richie has.
Methos: Voila.
________________________

(talking about the fake Methos)
Duncan: I thought you were out wandering the world.
Methos: Tibet...yak butter plays hell with the digestion. Besides, I've had all the enlightenment I could use.
Duncan: Maybe you should've kept it to yourself.
Methos: Sorry, I must have dosed off. What is it we're talking about?
________________________

Methos: One speech from the wise one and you forgive Culbraith - what's next? Friendship bracelets? The Love Boat?
Duncan: I didn't forgive him, (the other Methos) just made me think.
Methos: (cocky) Ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh, just don't think too long.
________________________

Duncan: Turning the other cheek will only get you slapped harder.
Methos: Has a nice ring to it, though.
________________________

Methos: Hey, grab a beer. There's a cold one in the fridge.
Duncan: I know - my fridge.
________________________

Joe: (Richie's) young...young people make mistakes.
Methos: Yeah, look at disco.
________________________

Joe: I did some checking on this (fake) Methos flake. (Duncan and Real Methos look at him) The other one.
________________________

Messenger: Can anyone live for 5,000 years and say they did nothing? Risked nothing? Merely stayed alive? It'd be pointless.
Methos: Some might think that that experience was worth saving.

Comments

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I really like Ron Perlman, too, and I disagree with what David Abramowitz says about him on the dvd--that he was just "phoning it in."

That I didn't know. Huh.

He seems to have a wish that every character be eye-poppingly dramatic, but I think Perlman does well with the quasi-philosopher role.

I thought the character had a nice understated sense of flim flam man/snake oil salesman. "There's one born every minute".

As for it rankling Methos... you know, I'm torn on that myself. It's one of those things I wonder whenever I see that scene. Is he rankled, or is it just that he thinks the guy's a total fool?

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

But is he a total fool? Clearly, it's the pov of the show that he is. But what's so funny about giving peace a chance?

Besides, fake-M obviously really believes in what he's selling, as he's willing to die for his convictions. You can't say the same about real-M. It's like the argument in "Chivalry"--there are some things worse than death, like not living according to your ideals. Aren't there?

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of it from Methos' perspective as to whether he's rankled or if he's something else entirely. And since I've never quite decided, my answer is I don't really know. I wonder if it's ever been asked at a con or something?

And that brings me to fake M -- you know, I was never entirely sure what he was all about either. Was he just overly confident in his ability to convince other immies to lay down their weapons, and he miscalculated?. And was his 'scam' was a way to thin out the field come the end, the Gathering or whatever? Or did he actually believe what he was preaching?

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a good point, I never even thought it could be a strategy, though of course it could have been. I really thought he believed it.

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

I think he really believed it - but I also think he was relatively young. Preaching peace to people who chop each others' heads off regularly is *not* a good survival tatic. Though there was also something of oily preacher man about him too...

[(Anonymous)]

" Was he just overly confident in his ability to convince other immies to lay down their weapons, and he miscalculated?."

It was hard to tell. But I thought he did believe in his message, he was just the wrong person to spread it. I think FM knew he was a phony but was using a name that would spread his message. And who better then a 5,000 year old myth. However, when RM questioned him, you could tell he knew that his secret was out.

Roberta

[(Anonymous)]

"Is he rankled, or is it just that he thinks the guy's a total fool?"


He's just easily amused! And, nothing is more amusing then playing cat and mouse. Especially when you are the cat with an easy mark like the fake Methos.

Not to mention, if headhunters are looking for the fake Methos they will not be looking for him.

Roberta