'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.
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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!
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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
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Richie: (after he sees sees Duncan behead Slan) Chill, man. Just pretend I'm not here.
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Richie: I really do appreciate this second chance you're going to give me to become a useful member of society.
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Next up will be Family Tree. Look for it next week.

Comments

[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.