'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

Jealousy

[mackiedockie.livejournal.com]

Concerning the jealous undercurrents that abound in TMP--what about jealousy as motive for Byron's depredations? The young, passionate song writer, gulled into jumping to his death, and the bright, talented (if painfully naive) guitarist, Mike, both shared a creative spark that Byron sought to first share (insinuating himself as a mentor), then destroy.

And there is another minor mystery--Mike was making his first appearance guesting with Joe's band in Paris--it would be very unlikely that Byron would have heard of the green kid. Was he trolling for bigger fish? One look at Joe, and Byron dismisses him with consummate rudeness. I hazard a (possibly crackpot) theory that Byron realized there was no way he was going to manipulate Joe with flattery or promises, and he immediately set his sights on the easier inexperienced target.

With malice aforethought...his creative spark sputtered, and Byron now indulged in creativity's mirror, destruction.

Re: Jealousy

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

what about jealousy as motive for Byron's depredations? The young, passionate song writer, gulled into jumping to his death, and the bright, talented (if painfully naive) guitarist, Mike, both shared a creative spark that Byron sought to first share (insinuating himself as a mentor), then destroy.

Now that's an interesting perspective. Huh. It makes sense, it really does.

Re: Jealousy

[amonitrate.livejournal.com]

I could see this. But I think, myself, that it would be more subconscious than anything, that there wasn't much forethought involved. Byron just didn't strike me as a forethought kinda guy. He's all impulse.

Re: Jealousy

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

I hazard a (possibly crackpot) theory that Byron realized there was no way he was going to manipulate Joe with flattery or promises, and he immediately set his sights on the easier inexperienced target.

Not so crackpot! That's what I thought too, and not just because Joe's more experienced - he's limited in his risk-taking abilities due to legs and was probably dismissed as no longer having any ambition. Mike was just starting out in the world on all counts.

I also wonder whether Byron started trying to live through the mortals he baited, to kick-start his creativity by watching someone else take the risks that no longer meant anything to him. Or perhaps giving their creativity a boost by tempting fate, as if it would help them to reach their peak. How many false starts would it take before he became resentful and flipped over to "well if I can't, neither can you!"