'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

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, am I going to get into this. I liked Byron and I liked Duncan and I loved Methos in this.

Okay, to start I felt very sorry for Byron. He was sad. He should have never been immortal. There was no way he could maintain that much drama and fill that much need for centuries. And inside where it counted, he was already dying.

Mike - that stupid young man was responsible for his own decisions. He was an adult and Joe was trying to help him. And basically, he told Joe where to get off.

*But* - and here is the thing - Byron used people's weaknesses against them - knowing they would self destruct just like he did. The only difference - they didn't get up and go on living afterward. And in the present - that is how Byron fed his need for Immortality. Not with his poetry - not with his passion. But by watching others self-destruct and knowing he would go on when they didn't.

Duncan - yes he judged. But something Duncan could never tolerate was an Immortal usiing their immortality to bring harm to others. And I think it was only because Byron was Methos' former friend and lover - that Duncan backed off long enough to issue a warning.

And Byron - was he trying to commit suicide or was this the ultimate test of self-destruction - this time with someone who had just as much chance of getting up as he did afterward. But if he killed MacLeod and continued to live after that challenge - was that the next level of high - one he was no longer obtaining with the Mikes of the world. Then what? Become a hunter - taking bigger risks until finally he lost?

I tend to cut Duncan some slack here. He truly cares about people and he didn't want to hurt Methos.

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

Part Two:

But then there is *this* side of the coin. No matter what you think of Duncan's and Methos' relationship - if you think they were just friends - or if you *know* they were lovers because they were *g* -

was there not a certain amount of jealousy in that entire scenerio - on both Duncan's and Byron's part? Byron started yanking Duncan's chain almost immediately. And Duncan became very possessive of Methos at that point. Maybe he couldn't beat his chest and grab Methos and yell "mine" - but he could show his possessive in other ways - such as including Mike under his protection and letting Byron know that what Duncan held dear was off limits in no uncertain terms.

Was he substituting Mike in the equation to get to Byron? Knowing Methos wouldn't allow it if it were about him?

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

Part Three:

And just remember when you notice all the undercurrents of jealousy and anger -

lovers and passion

Adrian directed this episode. He put everyone of those little moments in there. And he knew exactly what he was doing. There is a vid and gosh durn it, I don't remember the name - but it was great and it showed that scene in the bar and the song goes on about warning one another off. It is very cool.

P.s. did you notice that when they are at the bar, Duncan is sitting across the table from Methos? But after he meets Byron, he scoots right up next to him to sit?

[amonitrate.livejournal.com]

hmm. I've always seen the jealousy more on Byron's side than Duncan's. Duncan looks perplexed at Byron's reaction in the first scene. JMO.

jealousy?

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

Yes, I see the jealousy. It's a small thing, but something about the way Duncan says, " 'Doc' "? to Methos after Byron has left in that very first scene. There is an undercurrent of jealousy there, imho.

[mmapmaker.livejournal.com]

Not absolutely sure, but I suspect the vid Pat is thinking of is Blew 'Em Away, by Shalott. It's a fabulously fun vid. You can find it (and a bunch of others) on this page (http://www.intimations.org/vidding/). Please right click and save it to your computer; you'll need Real Media Player to watch it.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link! I'll check it out when I get home tonight.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Okay, not quite the next night, but I just saw it and it was great :)

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I finish posting a response and there's a part two!!

You've brought up something I was going to, but hadn't got my brain sufficiently in gear to do so. You know when you have something you want to say right on the tip of your brain, and can't quite get it out right? That's me right now.

I'm going to think about it some more and try and see if I can do better in a bit :)

One thing though I think is related -- when Byron greets Methos as "Doc" in the nightclub and is thrilled to see him. That's where it all seems to start. As if it hadn't quite occured to Duncan that Methos wasn't exlcusivly his friend. That Methos had a life before he met Mac with relationships that were important to him. It was almost as if Duncan were suddenly seeing Methos in a different light. Not Adam Pierson, not the Methos he thought he knew.

[eveningblue.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree. (See my post above.)

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I'm very fond of this episode just because there are so many things happening. I don't necessarily blame Duncan for judging Byron, after all, it was a fair challenge as far as the "Rules" go and all. It's more along the lines of finding it interesting placed along side the last ep we'd seen Methos in.

And that's about as coherent as I get this morning in between yawns :)

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

heh, you're going to stop letting me post here. I get a bit long winded. You're right though. This show is right after FUOT. But I wonder how long it was supposed to be in their time between happening?

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Three parts! I need more sleep to keep up with you :)

heh, you're going to stop letting me post here.

Hah! Not likely. I keep checking my email to see if you've commented yet [g]

[amonitrate.livejournal.com]

Duncan - yes he judged. But something Duncan could never tolerate was an Immortal usiing their immortality to bring harm to others. And I think it was only because Byron was Methos' former friend and lover - that Duncan backed off long enough to issue a warning.

This is a key. Duncan will let mortals get away with the same kind of behavior that he condemns immortals for. He seems to hold them to a different standard. Maybe for good reason. This reminds me of his choice to fight Tommy. Do you think Duncan would kill a mortal who behaved the way Byron did? Yes, mortals are more subject to the consequences of the law. But Duncan can be very inconsistent with his "code"... the key for me is whether mortals were harmed. In most cases where they were, he judges the immortal worthy of death. If the victim is another immortal he's less likely to do so (as in the case of Warren Cochran).

Of course, I'm making this point with a limited memory of the series as a whole. Still need to re-watch from the beginnning.