HLS4: 'Till Death'

[ithildin]

Highlander Season Four

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. ~ recap via TV.com

Next week: Judgement Day

Comments

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I love this episode! The flashbacks are wonderful. We get a little Sean, which is lovely, we get Fitz. The present day story line is wonderful as well. Robert and Gina are two characters I wish we'd seen again. I love them. Methos is in fine form throughout, some of my favourite Methos lines and scenes in this one. I love how he makes Duncan suffer for every moment of his plan to reunite the couple. Perfectly wonderful episode.

[ts5000.livejournal.com]

This is such a fun episode. I really loved the Robert and Methos fight scene. Haaa - those two got on so well, and if they became good friends I can see Duncan getting worried, as they be a riot together - and probably dangerous (in a none combative sense). Plus Methos would love being invited to soak up the luxury Gina and Robert would offer.

:))

[amand-r.livejournal.com]

So OMG this is one of my favorite eps, EVAR. Aside from the whole Methos-is-made-of-win thing (and moreso here because he totally gets Duncan's goat, and that is a cornerstone of the Methos I write), but also because the COW QUICKENING came from this. And also, Gina and Robert reminded me of personal things. It have us Methos's 67, no 68 wives, and showed us the important canon reminder that Immortals can live in Harmony without the head thing. You know. Oh! and the Methos on a boat thing!

God, this ep gave us so many things about Methos for fic fodder. I mean, the Horsemen eps are only mined with one thing: Methos was Death, but this episode gave us a few different moments of his history, and that rulez.

I is done now.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Second all that! This is the Methos I remember a lot when I'm writing him as well.

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

So much to love. I love the idea that Immortals can stay together and be in love forever. Loved Fitz. Not enough of him - he really brings out the goofy in Mac. Not to mention, as others have said, the Methos and Mac scenes. Now you've got me thinking about it, I have to go home and watch this one again - definitely on the favorites list.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I know, there's just so much to love. I think of one thing, then another, and then another!

[arenee1999]

This is on my list of favorite episodes. Fitz and Methos are tied as my favorite characters, and they're both in this episode. :D

I just love the scenes with Duncan and Methos on the barge. And watching Duncan and Fitz together is always fun.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

There is some of the best character interaction in this one!

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

Definitely one of the better shows. What's not to love? Duncan, Fitz, Sean, Gina and Robert - oh and what's-his-name. Very fun and witty and it tells us alot about all the characters.

The only thing that didn't make sense to me was the end when Gina told Duncan she had taken Adam's head. Did Duncan really believe that had happened when there was clearly no damage done to his barge? *g*

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was silly. And Duncan's reaction to the news was more like, 'Oh, no! You soaped his windows!' not 'He's DEAD!' The reaction was more like one you'd have to a prank than a death. But that was the only false note for me.

[adabsolutely.livejournal.com]

This is my favorite episode too. The first scene is so hot! My husband gets wide eyed when I tell him that:-) Sword play! Anyhow, I have spent many an hour cogitating the missing scene when Gina is going after Methos. Someday...

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I would love to read that scene!

[mischief5.livejournal.com]

What they said. *grin* But whenever I need to *get* Methos' "voice" when I'm writing, this is the episode I watch. He seems to express just about every mood here and that helps me get the dialog right. The snark, the playfulness, the seriousness, the throwaway lines, everything. There's even a bit of angst in there.

Very much in my Top Five All Time HL Episodes.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he hits all the moods, doesn't he?

[slazersc.livejournal.com]

I loved this episode to bits the very first time I saw it, especially Gina swearing revenge on poor Methos and the mess that ensues. LOL, now I can just see Gina and Methos plotting to get back at Mac and Robert. But my absolute fav part was Methos, his keys and Mac's vase. Still cracks me up every time!

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

He so played Duncan!

[amberleewriter.livejournal.com]

As others have mentioned, this episode does more to reveal Methos as "human" than any other. He hates moving and doesn't interfere in people's marriages thanks to bad past experiences. He's been married 68 times but never to an Immortal. He hates boats and crossed an ocean in a tiny skiff with a bunch of monks. He's got a flair for the dramatic and insists he's only interested in his own comfort and gain. He holds people to their bargains even when they think he was only joking.

Though many episodes previous gave views of Duncan's Immortal friendships, this one does so in a different context. It gives us a glimpse into Immortal society. And there IS an Immortal society. Not only do Immortals marry one another (and use swordplay as foreplay) but they have "gatherings" of friends in which swords are not drawn even though they are not on holy ground. They give one another gifts and support one another in the same manner as mortals. They tease one another and play practical jokes.

To me, the idea of The Game -- that there can be only one and that The Gathering is unavoidable -- is negated by "'Till Death." It is one thing to show Duncan having friendships with Immortals in the context of mortal society, or with singular Immortals in specific situations, but it is another entire to show him attending parties or to make it clear that there are Immortals like Gina and Robert who have lived in the same location for hundreds of years and who seemingly, in spite of this, have no fear of being attacked at their home. Is this a failure of the entire basis of the episode or is this a strength? Is the fact that such friendships are possible between Immortals something normal or was it, perhaps, something begun after Darius' change and his determination to push for peace? Is it natural for Immortals to want to gather together -- to want the friendship and understanding that could only come from those of their own kind -- but the myth of The Prize and/or the legend regarding The Game normally prevents such things? If Immortals simply stopped teaching their students to kill one another -- stopped promoting The Game -- what might happen? Would Immortal life be like the wedding(s) of the de Valicourt's?

These are interesting things to consider about the episode, but they are overshadowed (in the best of ways) by the pure fun of the premise. The characters are lovely. Gina and Robert are a fabulous match with a marriage as real and full of challenge as any mortals. Duncan turns his charm on the ROG. The ROG turns his manipulative dramatic ways on everyone. Fitz was a hoot. They brought back Sean and even managed to give his character a bit of depth by making you wonder why Fitz would be so frighted at the idea of dueling the man.

My only complaint: Gina and Robert are two of the many Immortals introduced over the course of the seasons whom I was sad to not see again -- particularly given the fact that they lived near enough to Duncan to visit on a regular basis. Much like Marcus Constantine, they seemed to be a possible setup for something that never came to fruition. Of course that only means more fodder for fiction and that is never a bad thing.