'The Gathering'

[ithildin]

Highlander Season One

The Gathering, Air Date: October 1992

Immortal Duncan MacLeod is maintaining a peaceful existence with the love of this life, Tessa Noel when he is challenged to Immortal combat by Slan Quince, an evil Immortal. An old friend and clansman, Connor MacLeod, comes to try and convince Duncan to once more join the fray in the battle of Good versus Evil. Duncan also meets Richie Ryan, a kid from the streets whom he befriends after catching him breaking into his antique store.. ~ recap and quotes via tv.com

Quotes below the curtain





Duncan: Tessa, you've already met Connor MacLeod.
Connor: I'm a friend of Duncan's from the old neighborhood.
________________________

Tessa: What have these last dozen years meant to you? A summer fling? R&R? 'Sorry darling but I must head back now,'...Damn you! Damn your Gathering! Damn your whole race!
________________________

Tessa: (To Duncan and Connor) Please, don't say anything in front of the lady. Let me just go into the next room and crochet while you have cigars and brandy and talk about beheadings
________________________

Richie: (after he sees sees Duncan behead Slan) Chill, man. Just pretend I'm not here.
________________________

Richie: I really do appreciate this second chance you're going to give me to become a useful member of society.
________________________






Next up will be Family Tree. Look for it next week.

Comments

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

okay, I come in from work and where is the discussion? hmmm? I guess one place to start would be here:

http://tes-fic.livejournal.com/78365.html#cutid1

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

[hangs head in shame] [sniff]

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Okay, since I haven't seen a season one episode for years, my contributions to this batch of discussions will probably be pathetic. I'm going to see if I can budget the purchase of at least season two before we get to season two.

So, as my silly addition to the discussion, I'm introducing WWMD? (What Would Methos Do?) If Methos had been a character in this ep, would he have known Connor? Would they have been friends? Would he have burned Richie's scary green jacket?

These, and many more questions, await an answer in [insert crashing music] WWMD?!!

[mackiedockie.livejournal.com]

Methos and Connor...that's a tough one. Two experienced, jaded warriors who like to play things close to the vest? I think there would be a lot of very wary circling. And with his tried-and-true mentor Connor on hand, MacLeod would be much more suspicious of the Mysterious Stranger. I think friendliness would take some work and time.

That lime green racing jacket always reminds me of seventies skiwear chic. Some ex-downhiller left that at the thrift store and Richie figured the shoulderpads would fill out his upper body silhouette *g*. Poor guy must have been pretty spindly before Mac had him working out on the weights! Methos might have said the jacket reminded him of the French National Ski Team. The Women's French National Ski Team. So...Bogneresque. Maybe he would inquire if he had the stretch pants to go with...

[mackiedockie.livejournal.com]

WWMD...Methos has a problem. MacLeod's Watcher knows what he looks like. So Methos must time his educational visits to the Highlander during those timeframes that he is very, very sure that Joe Dawson is occupied elsewhere.

Therefore, WWMD has a corollary--WWJ? Where Was Joe?

Camped in the warehouse across from the antique store? Perched above Soldier's Bridge? Four-wheeling to the ridge above the lake across from The Cabin? Following Richie on his old Harley?

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Heh! WWJ? I like it :)

[pat-t.livejournal.com]

Okay, laughing my ass off here. WWJ? Watching Richie watch Duncan and Connor? Watching the antique store when Slan was holding a sword to Tessa's throat? Following Connor to the fight or waiting to watch Duncan? Was Connor's Watcher there too? Was she good looking? Were she and Joe having a moment of their own heat while Duncan and Tessa were getting comfy cozy themselves?

And what would Methos do? Hmmm, I think alot would depend on if he knew Connor from the past. And as it's been stated - he's a Watcher now so he'd have to be very careful. Personally, I think he'd probably find a really good lead *elsewhere* on Methos and have to go check it out.

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

And we mustn't forget "WWAS?" -- "What Was Amanda Stealing?"

[aerwynblue.livejournal.com]

WWJ?--laughin' his arse off when he saw Slan do his ***really*** bad impersonation of Jason crashin' 'tro the shop window-wait, no. Oh, yeah, that was me (grins). Joe was haulin' his ass up the goat path overlooking the cabin, in the guise of a mild-mannered bird watcher on the prowl for the ever-elusive Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.

[mischief5.livejournal.com]

Or maybe he was looking for a Double-breasted Mattress-thrasher? The males have this interesting crested display during the mating ritual...

[mischief5.livejournal.com]

LIck his lips and starting planning his takeover bid on the tasty yet trouble-prone Highlander. Yes, there's Tessa but Methos can afford to think long-term...

[robi-travels.livejournal.com]

Hey, I thought you purchased the DVD's when they were having the sale at the Highlander Store? What seasons do you own? Not own?

I just re-watched it last night to contribute to the discussion, but the one going on seems more interesting. AP looked great. Scene in shop when he was interrupted in his - well you know - yummy. By comparison he looked downright pudgy in later seasons.

Overall okay. Much lighter in tone and story. The series definitely developed a darker feel in later seasons.

But, the Methos episodes are the best.

Roberta

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

No, I couldn't afford all of them. I got 3/4/5 first, and later I got 6.

[mischief5.livejournal.com]

Maybe Adam Pierson was in Seacouver visiting his old drinking buddy Joe Dawson and they split the watching duties on MacLeod between them. Or at least hung out together to relieve the boredom and made snarky comments to each other about the punk in the ugly green jacket. Maybe they made bets on which MacLeod would off Slan and how long it would take. And, of course, they got some great shots of Tessa in the shower, got all hot and bothered and then...

Oh, sorry. Is this journal rated PG? ::giggle::

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Oh, sorry. Is this journal rated PG? ::giggle::

With the people that hang out here?!??! Hah!

[unovis-lj.livejournal.com]

I saw this when it first aired and was immediately struck by two things: the relationship between Tessa and Duncan; and the necessary carryover from the movies, the fights between mismatched weapons and styles. Richie was horrid, from the beginning, but I liked the Connor-Duncan rough-housing and competition.

Revisiting the episode, after the series's full run, Duncan seems so fresh and contented after his long vacation from The Game. You have to wonder how he managed to keep out of things so successfully. Based on the Duncan we see in Seasons 1 & 2, I wonder whether the shrewdness and slight edge of cynicism we see early on, which seemed overcome by other imperatives later in the series, was a stronger part of his character while he had his relationship with Tessa to protect.

[robi-travels.livejournal.com]

" I wonder whether the shrewdness and slight edge of cynicism we see early on, which seemed overcome by other imperatives later in the series, was a stronger part of his character while he had his relationship with Tessa to protect."

Interesting point. I agree Duncan is fresher and content in season 1. He also is more playful in a very carefree, fun and innocent way. Later the humor is darker more controlled as tension relief not for the sake of play.

But you are correct, I think his desire to protect Tessa made him shrewder and more likely to avoid challenges. I wonder how often when he sensed an immortal he walked away when with Tessa as opposed to going to investigate (which he always did in later seasons.

As for cynicism. He had it throughout the series, it was just determined by the gender of the party. Men - always cynical of motives. Women - never. Chivalry and all that - he could never get over the "fairer sex' thing.

Roberta

[unovis-lj.livejournal.com]

As for cynicism. He had it throughout the series, it was just determined by the gender of the party. Men - always cynical of motives. Women - never. Chivalry and all that - he could never get over the "fairer sex' thing.

Well -- not always. He regularly warned Richie about women he was involved with. He was wary of Joan Jett's character (sorry, can never remember her name), even before he exposed her as an old Immortal. He didn't trust Nikki in The Sea Witch or the women in Under Color of Authority and Bless the Child, though he does put himself in danger for the child in the last. He was more reluctant to kill women he'd been involved with, but less, I think, than Methos accused him of being.