'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

The Bounds of Decency

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

The Bounds of Decency

While I'm pondering Pat's three parter [g], I did want to mention the flashback. First off the shallow bit: Methos in breeches! Okay, now on to the serious bit.

If anyone still had any questions as to if Methos had really changed, I think this is as good an example as any that he had. First off, he's genuinely gentle and caring with Mary. Talk about bedside manner! Then we get to the bedroom scene, where Byron is all for a threesome with the defenseless Mary. Methos is the one to put the brakes on, to remind Byron of decency, and basically takes on the role of Mary's protector. And all this on his own, without the influence of Duncan.

I absolutely adore the flashbacks in this episode. So much more of Methos is revealed, so many more reasons to love him :)

Re: The Bounds of Decency

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. *smiles* I do like that flashback a lot - Methos seems geniunely happy, and it's a pleasure to see him that way, after the heartbrokeness of Bordeaux. And he does take on the role of protector here - both for Mary and Byron. He's a stabilizing influence, able to curb the worst of Byron's tendencies. A hell of a long way from Death.

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

I got a "been there, done that, burnt the t-shirt" vibe from that scene. Methos tends to act a bit like Switzerland (do what you want so long as it doesn't affect me), but he does give good pointers now and then ("Macleod, your pants are on fire!"), maybe because he doesn't want the few Immortals he likes to lose little pieces of their soul to the Dark Side.

Hmm.. do you think he had an inkling that if Byron started having his way with mortals early on, it'd start a nasty trend - not quite like the one he got stuck in with Kronos et al, but psychologically dangerous nonetheless? How much of the risk-taking was for fun, and how much to see how far mortals would go before calling time themselves?

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

Methos tends to act a bit like Switzerland (do what you want so long as it doesn't affect me), but he does give good pointers now and then ("Macleod, your pants are on fire!"), maybe because he doesn't want the few Immortals he likes to lose little pieces of their soul to the Dark Side.

Enlightened self-interest, that's very Methos. I think you're right about him wanting to stop Byron from messing about with mortals too much early on. Hmm, actually, I think that Methos is very protective of his friend's mental well-being - he's been in that space where you don't even care about other people as people, and I don't think he wants to watch anyone else burn their way back to humanity. In other words, exactly what you were suggesting. *g*

Re: The Bounds of Decency

[amonitrate.livejournal.com]

the thing that always grabs me in the flashbacks is that Methos, while participating, also seems to hold himself at a slight distance, like he's observing things. Just a bit detached. It's a nice bit of acting on PW's part.

Re: The Bounds of Decency

[ekaterinn.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Despite his words, he is much more of a specatator than a participant.

Re: The Bounds of Decency

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I noticed that too. I'm only tossing this out off the top of my head, but I wonder if Methos keeps a check on his excesses so as not to fall back into old habits. Remembering the almost addict like quality when Kronos is reminding him of the power in killing.