'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]

Actually, I think you're right, and this is a plot hole. I'm sure we could come up with some kind of convincing explanation though!

The same 'Immie Watcher News Agency' that told Stephen Keane about Sean, obviously told Joe about fake Methos [g]

Maybe the Watchers have Watchers.... the ones from Buffy! Okay, my brain just broke.

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

I was going to read all the comments before giving my own *coffs* pearls of wisdom - don't laugh. I have pearls you know - they're just still in the oysters right now.

Oddly enough, I don't see this as a plot hole. Why?

First I agree that this person just sort of popped up recently. Methos tells Duncan that he's heard rumors about a Methos going around preaching his message. So if Methos has heard rumors - so have the Watchers. That doesn't mean they believe it is Methos or that they know who the guy is. When Methos tells Richie about himself and Richie storms off - that leaves Joe Duncan and Methos. Joe says then that he is going to find out anything he can on the guy.

So he goes to the records and pulls up anything he can find out about this guys activity. What the Watchers have is that someone recently has been going around saying he's Methos and talking other Immortals into putting their swords down. He leaves town and the other hapless Immortals end up losing their heads to someone else.

That is something the other Immortal's Watchers would have recorded. No one said that the other Watchers pegged the fake Methos as fake. Even though I doubt they would have believed that the real Methos would have popped up after 5000 years and announced himself. In any case the only ones who peg him as the fake Methos are Joe and Duncan who know who Methos really is and do know the guy is fake. No where does Joe say the Watchers know the guy is fake.

And I love how Joe says he found some stuff on the Methos flake and he and Duncan both pause and look at *our* Methos and then Joe says : "the other one."

Then all Joe tells them is the little bit recorded by the Wathcers of the Immortals that were killed or by Watchers who witnessed this guy coming up and preaching to their Immortals.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I was going to read all the comments before giving my own *coffs* pearls of wisdom - don't laugh. I have pearls you know - they're just still in the oysters right now.

Hey, don't mock your pearls! Other than the one rather significant difference we have when it comes to HL, I nod lots and lots when I read your comments, with lots of (usually) mental 'uh huhs' :)

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

Other than the one rather significant difference we have when it comes to HL

lol, and what would that be? The fact that Duncan and methos have the hots for one another *g*?

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Oh! I'd forgotten that one! I was actually talking about whether Methos drinks Coke or Pepsi [weg]

That's the question that rips fandoms apart.

[snorfle]

(no, the tea didn't help. I'm still feeling bizarre)

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

hee, thanks. Made me laugh. Actually I'd like this question asked and answered:

Does Methos like beer or whiskey better?

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I think it probably depends on his mood, the situation, and just how much bang for his buck he's looking for.

That's my answer, and I'm sticking to it! (for now at least)