Highlander: The Series - Revisited

Highlander, both the movies and the series, kick ass all over the place.  I have been taking it easy from going out lately - and I would have curled up in a ball and died if it wasn't for my Highlander: The Series Season Four DVD set arriving last week.  When I popped in the first disc I was so excited - I wasn't sure if I should grab my epee, my katana, or some Vaseline. 

 

And then I actually started watching the show.  It's still as good as I remember, but there are a lot more overtones I am catching this time around that I missed in High School.  For one, it is way more PC than I remember.  The show was produced on location in Paris and Vancouver (where it is set), and it does have a decidedly foreign feel.  The main character, Duncan MacLeod, also has some qualities that disturbingly remind me of Bill Clinton.  Here are some examples.

• He is womanizer that is dominated by women.  Women tend to make the decisions for him in his life, rare is the girl who takes a lead from him (the Scottish chick from Glenfennan is the only exception).
• He bangs Elizabeth Gracen.  Bastard.
• His enemies are often religious conservatives.  Kenwulf the Viking, Kamir the Thugee, Damon Case, and Mako the sheriff were all guys who followed some law or code that didn't jive with MacLeod's nebulous personal values and virtues.
• He has this smarmy holier than thou attitude that gets pretty damned annoying.
• He often thinks he knows best, yet doesn't feel the need to tell people the whole story.  Like the time his mortal friend Charlie went after the Immortal Cord Duncan said that he would get himself killed (which he did), but Duncan didn't bother to mention that Charlie could win by cutting Cord's head off.  Some friend you are Duncan.

There is a lot of hypocrisy too.  You often hear Duncan say stuff like revenge isn't worth it, or there is no reason to fight.  Hello?? That's the whole point of the show, isn't it?  There can be only one, right?  So what if you slept with her, she is an immortal...put the bitch down! 

 

I am still a fan of the show, only now for different reasons.  Stan Kirch is superb playing the naive Richie Ryan, and Peter Wingfield is great as the complex Methos.  Elizabeth Gracen is great eye candy, even if she has bad taste in men - and most of the female guest stars are gorgeous.  I used to like Adrian Paul, but after ten years of maturity and right-wing indoctrination - I much prefer Christopher Lambert as "The Highlander."  Is it too late to get CL to take the main spot in "Highlander: The Source?"

 

There can be only one.