'The Modern Prometheus'

[ithildin]

Welcome to the sixteenth installment of Methos Episode Discussion. You can find the last one, for Forgive Us Our Trespasses here. All prior episode discussion links can be found over on the sidebar.

The Modern Prometheus, Air Date: May 1997

Lord Byron, the brilliant Romantic poet, is alive and well and living the decadent life of a rock star. He lives life way over the edge and has taken some promising young musicians over the edge with him. When following in Byron's footsteps tragically ends the life of Dawson's protege, MacLeod is faced with a decision -- is the beauty and genius that is Byron worth the cost? ~ recap and quotes via tv.com

Quotes below the curtain





Duncan: Duncan: Cut the crap - Mike is dead because of him.
Methos: No, Mike is dead because of Mike.
Duncan: The kid idolized him. Maybe he didn't pull the trigger but he sure as hell put the gun in his hand. "To live like me you have to be like me." Come on, Methos, Mike couldn't do that, he wasn't Immortal.
Methos: And that is not Byron's fault
________________________

Byron: My task is done. My song has ceased. My theme has died into an echo...it is fit.
________________________

Byron: Would you rather have a tombstone that says "he lived for centuries', or one that says 'for centuries, he was alive"?
Methos: You're not listening to me - I don't want a tombstone.
________________________






Next up will be Indiscretions aka The Methos & Joe Show 'Archangel'.

Comments

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Lots of interesting things in this ep. but I'll start with Methos choosing Duncan over his former student, friend, orgy partner [g] Byron.

Then there's the fact that Duncan is still judging people and so soon after FUOT. Yeah, Byron was a loser, but Methos was right, he didn't kill Mike. If stupidity were a crime... Heh.

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

Methos choosing Duncan over his former student, friend, orgy partner [g] Byron.

*nods* There are a lot of things Methos could have done to save Byron - not the least shoot him and hide him from Duncan - but he didn't. I think this is partly a recognition of how Byron ad seemed to really give up on life, how he couldn't change. But I also think that Methos didn't want to risk Duncan's friendship again. In this episode, Methos is left with no good choices.

[amonitrate.livejournal.com]

I usually don't see Duncan as the evil judgemental one that others do, but here I have to agree. Mike made choices. Byron was guilty of being a bad influence and a major ass, but Mike and the other guy were adults, capable of making their own bad decisions. Which they did.

Yes, mortals were being harmed. Yes, the things Byron goaded them to do were things mortals couldn't survive. But I believe Duncan chose to solve a problem with violence that could have been handled differently. In this case, as hard as it would be to do, the choice could have been to do nothing. Mortals aren't children, they have to be allowed to make their own mistakes, even if those mistakes get them killed.