ithildin | HLS4: 'Timeless'

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Highlander Season Four

Chivalry, Air Date: February 1996

World famous pianist Claudia Jardine has a secret that even she doesn't know -- she's destined to become Immortal. Immortal impresario Walter Graham, who has guided the careers of mortal greats like Shakespeare, sees his chance to shepherd Claudia's genius forever and kills her, triggering her latent Immortality -- against MacLeod's better judgment. Meanwhile, Methos has fallen for Alexa, a waitress at Joe's who has a secret of her own.

Next week: The Blitz

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What can one say about Timeless that hasn't been said? It's easy to parrot with this episode because it's all true: great performances, a balanced A/B storyline, a bit of romance, a bit of sadness, a bit of tension, a good swordfight, and Duncan in drag. Who can ask for more?

Still, with all these great things going on, the parts I always come back to are the scenes between Joe and Methos at the bar. Joe's behavior toward Alexa, the way he forces Methos to declare his intentions as if she is his own, resonates with me. It is particularly poignant in the backward view when you realize that Alexa is barely older than Joe's own daughter -- one whom he has never been able to acknowledge much less participate in her life. I often wonder if this was part of Joe's motivation in hiring a young woman he knew would be only a moderately reliable employee due to her illness and the treatment for said. Joe seems protective of her in a way that is very paternal and she, in turn, seems to have a great affection for Joe. Of course, the fact that Jim Byrnes knew Ocean from the time she was a wee thing certainly helps in this regard, but it is this added layer of unspoken affection which often raises the bar within Highlander episodes. Seeing Joe and Methos square off and alpha one another over Alexa is, without a doubt, one of my favorite moments.