aria | sure fire winners

Entry tags:

sure fire winners

I have a confession: for the past few days, in between all the real life stuff I have been doing, I've been spending my free time not doing more of the Babylon 5 rewatch but instead a rewatch of the Methos bits of Highlander. (Why? I need more Methos fic like burning, and with a few excellent exceptions, the stuff that is out there is giving me the "If you want this story told, tell it yourself" feeling. Oops.) I think I am discovering the full extent of my horrible weakness for 90s television. In any case, I am done with that now and we'll soon return to your semi-regularly scheduled B5-watching; in the meantime, the net result of my Highlander rewatch is mumble nearly 10,000 words of fic notes, what is wrong with me and a bunch of screencaps.

The latter are here reposted for your edification.

This is not a Show Is Awesome post. Show is indeed occasionally awesome, but I am not looking for converts; I didn't even watch the whole thing. I think it's cute, and occasionally hilarious, and sometimes even quite good; I think the bits I watched are well worth watching if, like me, you have apparently a bullet-proof character kink for five-thousand-year-old snarky bastards who occasionally save the world because their dumbass boyfriends like to play hero.

In any case, it means that this is instead a Methos And His Frequent Swordporn Are Awesome post. It started out entirely as caps of Methos getting threatened with swords and making great faces about that, but then it got slightly out of control and comes with a Duncan/Methos agenda, which means stuff like painting houses together and slamming each other against Range Rovers. As you do.

So, when we first meet Methos, he's having an off day or something, because he decides it would be a great idea to offer MacLeod his head. Happily it results in this:

Maybe it's how he test-drives new boyfriends.

Anyway, then he regains his senses. And wears a cute sweater.

Maybe Duncan doesn't like the sweater?

Ladies and gentlemen, above I give you, hm, Exhibits A and B that Methos sort of likes being threatened with swords.

They take a short break from being kinky to do domestic instead.

Methos is not best pleased when Duncan mistakes his nose for part of the house.

Then Duncan gets a bit evil.

Also, other people sometimes threaten Methos with swords. I think Methos likes it better when Duncan does it.

Although he's a bit put out when he isn't expecting it and can't consent.

Sometimes even Joe gets in on the action, although he just sticks with guns. This is why Methos looks a bit bored.

I am fairly sure this next cap had to do with Duncan and Methos discussing matters of Deep Philosophical Import (and disagreeing about every salient point, because that's how they roll) but a still reveals that in fact when they argue morality they are trying very hard to keep from making out.

Swordporn. :D

But the sword is no substitute for Duncan! Pay attention, Duncan.

Methos is a bit fed up with Duncan not paying attention, and then his ex Kronos rolls into town. I am fond of the following cap because Methos has his "I'm being threatened with a sword! I'm definitely not turned on!" face, and Kronos doesn't even have a sword.

Which can be remedied.

Interlude for Methos and Duncan throwing each other against a car with BETRAYAL!! (I'm not gonna lie, Comes a Horseman/Revelation 6:8 is up there for me with Mountie on the Bounty. I am sensing a pattern even though there is a bit of a difference between OLD SHIPS and THE APOCALYPSE.) Anyway:

LOOK AT HIS CRAZY EYES.

The following cap cannot actually capture what I love about it, which is Methos sort of ... caressing the sword with his shoulder. The full awesome of that is best with context. (I. love. this. episode.)

Sometime later, apocalypse mostly averted, Methos feels the need to run around mostly naked with his sword. Thank you, Methos.

More swordporn.

But we haven't had someone put a blade to Methos' throat in four whole caps! Quick, Keane to the rescue!

Someone tell me this man does not enjoy being threatened with swords. Anyone?

Alas, that is the last of the swordporn. We do, however, have a cap for that time when Methos was friends with Lord Byron, and Byron, being a man of taste, comes on to Methos. Textually. Methos is about as surprised as I am:

But eventually he goes to hang out with MacLeod again. Maybe when Methos finishes ... cleaning whatever he's cleaning? ... they can go spar. If you know what I mean.

Thank you and goodnight.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

!!!!! OMG THIS SHOW I CAN'T EVEN.

By which I mean, um, I just watched the first Methos episode even though it's not tomorrow yet. And for the first half I was all, LOL NINETIES SHOW, and then Methos showed up. And he was somehow all...different from what I was expecting. In accent and in height and in body language and in personality (actually for some reason it's the body language that struck me the most!). I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that. And it was adorable. AND THEN THE BIT HAPPENS THAT'S IN YOUR FIRST SCREENCAP. And I went OMG THIS SHOW <3333333. The end.

(also, that is totally not how I thought "Methos" was pronounced. I was always giving it the vowels of "Mentos" in my head, as in: "meth-os". "Mee-thos" is a much more attractive-sounding pronunciation, and I'm very glad that it's not actually "meth-os".)

Okay, I thought I was blase about this show (mostly) but you have brought me to (in-my-head but heartfelt) SHRIEKS OF GLEE.

IS METHOS NOT THE BEST THING EVER? (Answer: yes!) And just wait, he gets better. Like, he's recognizably Methos during his first appearance, but [a] originally the writers were going to kill him off in Finale before they realized that he was awesome and kept him, which means that there were some small adjustments to make, and [b] early on, you ... get a lot of Adam Pierson, I think. Not that Methos can't be adorable, but most of it happens when he is in Adam Pierson mode. <3

(I totally thought it was meth-os when I only saw it written too! And I completely agree that the actual pronunciation is much more attractive.)

PS: if/when you continue watching, feel free to keep gleeing all over my journal or wherever! I think I would love someone to flail at, actually. :D

Oh good because mutual flailing over the awesomeness of Methos sounds like an EXCELLENT plan. (there's no chance now of me NOT keeping on watching!) Flail at me all you want and it will be amazing! And I'm going to go back to watching Finale which I ~~started watching~~ totally am not watching right now because I need sleep.

METHOS! \o/ I look forward to finding out about all the many ways in which he continues to be awesome! (I am so glad the writers came to their senses and didn't kill him off!)

Going to sleep now for realz, but first of all, re Finale: lol Methos lecturing Duncan about martyrdom. Pot meet kettle, anyone?

Also, this series is going to give me my Terrible Swordfighting quota for years.

Also I am strangely on board with Amanda/Duncan, because they are actually really believable together. Except that the Terrible Swordfighting making her look bad, which makes me less eager. I mean, seriously. Badass woman with sword, facing off an unarmed man who isn't expecting her? And she fails THAT HARD at having even a slightly effective attack? Suddenly I am forced to doubt her badassitude.

But overall, my opinion of Finale is thus: Needs Moar Methos. His role in these episodes was basically nothing but a sidekick! (my other opinion of Finale: LOL NINETIES SHOW. I think I am going to have that reaction with EVERY EPISODE.)

I think I have managed to at least figure out something about why his body language intrigues me so! His body language says, "ignore me; I am unimportant". It's all slightly slouching, hands in the pockets of his too-baggy coat while he sort of hugs the coat around himself awkwardly. He is the OLDEST AND MOST POWERFUL IMMORTAL EVER and he looks like a lost puppy! It is such a fascinating juxtaposition, and inversion of expectations! It is obvious he presenting himself like this on purpose, and it is super-intriguing. I am curious whether his body language will remain the same as he drops his Adam persona, or whether it's a purely Adam thing!

lol Methos lecturing Duncan about martyrdom. Pot meet kettle, anyone?

I see you have caught onto Methos' tricksy ways! One of my favourite things about him is that he will still be going on about enlightened self-interest even as he actively risks his life to help Duncan out. I spend a lot of time wanting to shake Duncan, actually, because he's a stand-up guy who takes people at their word, and Duncan, baby, don't take Methos at his word.

Sometimes the swordfighting is mildly decent? Mostly when Methos does it, shockingly. :D

I am hugely on board with Amanda/Duncan; I am really fond of Amanda, actually. The thing is, I can mostly explain away her unbadassitutde by saying that Amanda actually is what Methos pretends to be; she's a nearly a thousand years old and still alive because she usually does run away from fights the second they stop being totally in her favor. And that's okay, because I like Amanda being alive.

There will be moar Methos! After a while they even give him his own historical flashbacks! Just. you. wait. :DDD

Re: his body language: YES, EXACTLY. I think it does change, actually, but in incredibly slow and subtle ways, and not all the time. But again I want to grin the Grin Of Spoilers and say just. you. wait.

Have now watched the next episode! And all I have to say is, wow, I should have realized this in Finale already but DUDE that was fast moving on randomly becoming BFFs. Like, out of nowhere. Duncan and Methos meet, and get along, and by the fourth episode of knowing each other they're painting a house together and willing to forgive killing-of-old-lovers and then have a rational philosophical talk about said killing?

Awesome.

Anyways, Methos' tricksy ways! I approve of them! Oh Methos I <3 you. I distinctly recall while watching this episode that I noticed Methos being tricksy like that (there was a really good line, I think) but already it's flown out of my head. Oh well.

I am mostly spending the swordfighting watching the screen between my fingers and/or rolling my eyes and saying derisive things at the screen. Although yes, the bit with Methos and Duncan fighting in this ep was actually more watchable than much of the swordfighting thus far.

Although my other question about all the rampant swordfighting in this show is WHERE DO THEY KEEP THE SWORDS? Every time there's a swordfight the relevant characters pull a sword out of NOWHERE, when there wasn't any reasonable way they could have been wearing the sword that whole time without it being awkward and/or visible. Are immortals capable of pulling swords out of thin air or something?

Aha, a reason behind Amanda's actions that I can get behind! Yay! Now I don't have to be angry.

Just. you. wait.

AHHH WAITING IS HARD. *goes to watch next episode*

DUDE that was fast moving on randomly becoming BFFs

I dunno! I mean, yes, it was fast, but really, Methos let Duncan find him, didn't deny being Methos, and then asked Duncan to take his head. I think becoming instant BFFs is a fairly undrastic step to take in comparison. XD

Also, you haven't yet reached the part where sometimes Duncan comes home to find that Methos has let himself in, has helped himself to a beer, and is lounging on Duncan's bed. Good times.

Re: WHERE DO THEY KEEP THE SWORDS? the tongue-in-cheek answer is "katana-space". NO ONE KNOWS. Just don't think about it too hard. Maybe it's part of their power.

:DDD

Oh hey was that an actually good episode of television I just saw? I think it was! Also, Methos/Alexa ftw. THEY ARE SO CUTE. In specific, METHOS IS SO CUTE. (also, he looks like rather an excellent boyfriend. *sighs longingly*)

"Six months or twenty years, what's the difference?" It would be so hard as an immortal to try to have relationships with normal humans, because you would always know you'd have to lose them. And that line really makes it clear. For me the difference is huge, but for Methos? Who's lived five thousand years? The difference really is negligible.

I think becoming instant BFFs is a fairly undrastic step to take in comparison. XD

TRUE! I think I'm still in just a little bit of shock that METHOS DID THAT, and am having trouble processing it! You are right; starting a relationship off like that is a good way to break down boundaries and move people towards instant BFFness.

Also, OMG, seriously with the lounging on Duncan's bed? Awesome. Their powers of BFFery know no bounds!

YES IT WAS. :D There are a couple that are just genuinely good -- Methuselah's Gift, whiiiich is the next one you'll watch if you're on evil!Duncan right now, is excellent. I'm sorry you have to deal with evil!Duncan first. XD

also, he looks like rather an excellent boyfriend. *sighs longingly*

Yeah. I tell you what, I would love to travel the world with Adam Pierson. ~~Also, I bet he's great in bed too! Five thousand years of practice here.~~

And I still don't quite know what to do with the whole "Methos meets Duncan and immediately offers his head" thing. I'm formulating a theory that either he has a constant, loudly-denied deathwish, or something happened recently that made him genuinely apathetic, and he's slowly getting his groove back from hanging out with MacLeod and company.

Ooog, watching Deliverance was super-frustrating, because my source was missing part 2 of the episode. So I had to go wandering off to try to find a better source, and that TOOK A WHILE.

But finally I succeeded. And wow, Evil!Duncan is kind of a terrible human being. (er, duh, self....) Also, for some reason I actually enjoyed this episode. I actually thought that was done better than Evil!Alternate!Selves often are. Instead of being all, MUAHAHA LET ME TAKE OVER THE WORLD, instead he has fun beating a man up and then seducing his wife, and then steals a sweet car. That seems quite plausible to me.

I bet he is great in bed. But as an asexual I'm more interested in the fact that I bet after five thousand years he's also learned self-control, and that sex isn't always the important thing in a relationship. After all, he has plenty of time for sex later.

My theory (based on really having seen not much of the canon so far) is that Methos DOES have a constant loudly-denied deathwish. After five thousand years, continuing to live feels so pointless. Heck, probably even just after one or two thousand years. BUT NOW HE KNOWS DUNCAN AND HAS REASON TO KEEP LIVING. UNLESS DYING WOULD SERVE DUNCAN BETTER.

I will be able to put together more coherent theories once I've seen more of Methos! And once I've seen some of those Methos-centric historical flashbacks, so I can see what he used to be like as well!

AHHH. I am glad you got it, though! And that you liked it! I have mixed feelings about that one, because, on the one hand, evil!Duncan is awful and interesting and has petty awful goals, all of which is great -- but on the other hand, it's hard to watch. I especially love the scene with Methos and Duncan in the church, though.

~~Oooh, yes! I do get the feeling that whether or not he gets to sleep with Alexa is basically a moot point; he loves her, and that's more than enough. METHOS. <3~~

Mm. Having seen all of Methos, I still kind of go back-and-forth on the deathwish thing. But I kind of suspect that he does too! I like that his internal consistency is more like ... fluidity and adaptation. I mean, he's consistent about his inconsistency? I HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE.

And once I've seen some of those Methos-centric historical flashbacks, so I can see what he used to be like as well!

AHAHAHA. Just. you. wait. :DDD (I am, by the way, dropping unsubtle hints about my favourite two-parter. Don't spoil yourself! Basically it's a lot of stuff about Methos' past, which is why I keep smiling ominously. :D)

OMG THAT EPISODE. OH METHOS. *WIBBLE* Methos/Alexa is basically the most tragic ship in the history of ever, and yet still so awesome. OH METHOS! That scene in the trainyard! *WIBBLES*

Also, on a more shallow note, Amanda's hair looked excellent in this episode. It suits her very well.

(This episode had the SAME PROBLEM as the last one and it took me EVEN LONGER to find a replacement place to watch it, but I think I have now found a more reliable source! \o/)

~~THEIRLOVEISSOTRUE~~

No, you're making perfect sense! I like it!

AHHH I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT TWO-PARTER SO MUCH. Except that I think I actually got spoiled for the thing that you've been dropping your hints about. it's that Methos used to have fun being Death and killed lots 'n lots 'n lots of people, yes?

The next episode = not nearly as exciting. Blah blah blah Scottish history blah. Though I did like that it did interesting things with the way that memory is not always trustworthy, that we remember what we want to remember instead of what actually happened.

And the random throwaway line about Methos and cooking from Roman recipes was lovely. It's nice to hear those little acknowledgements sometimes that yes, he HAS lived through a hell of a lot of history.

Also I forgot to mention a couple episodes ago, the one with the Shakespearean actor: How much do I love it that this show is totally blase and what-of-it with sticking its Manly Heroic Lead into ladies' clothing? THIIIIIS MUCH.

Combination reply!

METHOS/ALEXA. *draws hearts around them* Sort of like I love how Methos talks a good game about enlightened self-interests and then risks his life for his friends, I also love that he spends a lot of time acting very blase about everything, and then BAM, DEEP WELL OF EMOTIONS. <333

I am in complete agreement about Amanda's hair. It's so beautifully striking.

And yeah, you did get spoilered for the thing I am dropping hints about. That's okay, though; I had been vaguely spoiled too and it was still SO AWESOME, plus there is a big difference between knowing the concept and seeing the execution. So to speak.

And ... the next episode was Through A Glass Darkly, right? Yeah, that one's just okay, although the bits of Methos trivia are great. I love that he knows how to cook absurd things!

DSKLFGKJ DUNCAN IN A DRESS. HOW MUCH DO I LOVE DUNCAN IN A DRESS. :D

Mmm, that was a very good episode for showing the contrast between Methos' talk about enlightened self-interest and what he will do for Duncan. METHOS YOU'RE SO AWESOME. And then at the end of the episode he doesn't even keep the barge! He was just screwing with Duncan! LOLOLOLOL. Also I adore the scenes of Duncan/Methos banter in that episode.

Also, the opening scene of the episode...Gina and Robert are kinda kinky! I'm impressed with the show for going there!

Methos mentions in this episode that he hasn't gotten between a married couple for 2000 years. Now I'm really curious what happened the last time he got between a married couple, because I'm guessing it was a particularly impressively bad reaction!

I <3 METHOS' DEEP WELL OF EMOTIONS.

And her hair is especially striking when she's also wearing that lovely white coat. I am basically in love with how she looked throughout that whole episode.

I know what you mean about spoilers! And, well, I often spoiler myself on purpose for things, so it's not like spoilers are a hardship or anything. I'm really excited to see just how it will pan out!

JOE! NOOOOOO!

(also: awwww, Methos, sharing such a personal document like that for the sake of Duncan and Joe. You're so awesome, Methos. And I want to know the story of the friendship he had with his watcher!)

And now to watch the to be continued, to make sure that Joe isn't actually dead.

O.M.G. That episode. THINGS HAVE CHANGED! Methos has disappeared, after having a crisis of self! Joe and Duncan aren't friends! Basically everyone spent the entire episode double-crossing each other for what they thought were good reasons, and then everything went wrong! FLAIL!

Consolidated reply again!

I LOVE TILL DEATH. It is such a good one for lighthearted fun and seeing all the good bits of Duncan and Methos' friendship. I adore the way Methos keeps winding him up. And the COOKIES.

Gina and Robert are kinda kinky! I'm impressed with the show for going there!

There are a couple of times when I'm impressed with the show for going there, wherever there is. Including a bit with a Quickening and a thing and a mumble spoiler mumble. :D

Now I'm really curious what happened the last time he got between a married couple

If that fic hasn't been written yet, I know what I have to do.

I'm also fairly sure I'd love to go shopping and get a makeover with Amanda. And those aren't even activities that I usually do for fun. But I want Amanda to be my BFF anyway.

And ooooh, the Watcher two-parter. It's kind of bruising, isn't it? :( The next one is great follow-up, though.

<3333 The Messenger is an excellent episode. It addresses something that I've been thinking about a lot in relation to the Highlander universe -- the possibility of pacifism within the immortal community. And...well, now it's been canonically proven that it doesn't work. *sigh*

But the alternate Methos was fascinating, in a very un-Methos-like way. It was very well done, and very believable. And very sad. That bit where he kneels before what's-his-name, and I'm all like, HOW COULD ANYONE KILL THAT FACE? and then what's-his-name beheads him. NOOOOOO.

Also! This would be the ep you referred to with the Methos lounging on Duncan's bed! It was excellent. And it also contains more of Methos doing what Duncan wants him to do even when he doesn't particularly feel like it. OH METHOS YOU'RE NOT FOOLING ANYONE.

Including a bit with a Quickening and a thing and a mumble spoiler mumble. :D

Ooh, are you referring to the double Quickening referred to here (http://aria.dreamwidth.org/91128.html?thread=1085688#cmt1085688) in your comments? Because I am definitely looking forward to that! I do love it when the creators include homoerotic imagery or subtext on purpose.

I know what I have to do.

YES. :DDDDD

And I think I'm with you on going shopping and makeovering and BFFing with Amanda! She obviously has impeccable taste. (My taste is a lot more...eclectic than hers. I do wonder what she'd think of it.)

Isn't it lovely? <3 Alas, there's always going to be some Immortal bastard who wants to kill you. (I do wonder where the concept of the Game and the whole 'there can be only one' thing came from. I don't think I'd blame Methos for it, but I would want to know if he has any idea.)

Duncan has Methos kind of whipped, actually! It is hilarious, especially because I'm pretty sure Duncan doesn't really notice.

And yep, that's what I'm referring to! IT IS SO RIDICULOUS. THERE IS SO MUCH LIGHTNING. AND HOMOEROTICISM. AND YAY.

I think Amanda would forgive you your eclectic taste! After all, she seems to find Duncan attractive, and half the time I don't know what he's wearing.

Oh Methos, laughing at Duncan struggling with yet another moral dilemma. But it does intrigue me, that this is actually the episode that comes directly after The Messenger. Both of them are about when it is right to kill and when it isn't. Last episode argued that there are times when killing is right. This episode is refining that argument, to say that killing actually isn't always the right response to evil, that it's more complicated than that.

Also: fascinating moral discussions between Methos and Duncan: about whether Hitler was Hitler because the time was ripe, or whether Hitler was Hitler because he was Hitler; about whether the ends justify the means, and believing that you're making the world a better place makes it okay ("What was his name? Adolf... something or other"); about what's the difference between Duncan killing Ingrid and Ingrid killing those other people ("Good question! Right up there with chicken and egg").

This show... I went into it expecting lolarious 90s cheese with added bonus awesome character, and there keep on being these startlingly good episodes among the cheese. It's impressive!

Also, Methos telling Joe "Pretty smart...for a kid" made me think again about how this show, like Doctor Who, does interesting things with one's perception of age. Methos looks all young and helpless and young, while Joe looks old and grizzled and experienced. But compared to Methos' age, Joe's hardly been alive long at all. It's so easy to get drawn into thinking about someone being the age they look, instead of the age they are, and reacting to them as such. It makes for fascinating dynamics! (And reminds me of how much I'd love it if the Doctor had someone old along as a companion on a semi-longterm basis. I loved seeing him interact with Wilf, for instance, but that was not for long at all.)

ANYWAYS. I do wonder about the "there can be only one" thing too. I mean, the immortals are forever killing each other on this show. But the immortals are ALSO being friends, lovers, acquaintances. There's community and fellowship among the immortals -- it's obviously NOT just all about trying to be the only one left. Gina and Robert marrying, Duncan mentoring Richie, Methos and Duncan being friends, all the other instances of friendship that have been showcased in individual episodes. So it seems clear that although The Game is an important part of immortal life, it's not the be-all and end-all. And Methos may be the oldest immortal still alive, but I don't think he was the first immortal. I'd be willing to bet that the Game was alive and kicking long before Methos was born.

I think Duncan just sort of expects the people he hangs out with the do the right thing! So when he manages, time and again, to convince Methos to do what Duncan thinks is right, he doesn't think anything of it, when to an outside observer it is SO OBVIOUS that Duncan has Methos whipped.

Apparently I don't pay enough attention to the clothing of people other than Amanda! Because I couldn't tell you what Duncan tends to wear, other than generic guy clothes and a really kickass long coat. (mmmm, this show really panders to my thing for long coats. I LOVE IT.)

I love the startlingly good episodes among the cheese! Also, now you're up to Comes a Horseman/Revelation 6:8, which EEE I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU THINK OF THOSE. Especially on the heels of the last two, because they're sort of the warm-up, particularly the last conversation in The Messenger, about people-or-history and who has a right to judge us -- because the upcoming two-parter is all about the historical contexts in which Methos lives and whether or not Duncan has the right to judge him. Which is pretty excellent.

Re: age: yes, and I love that there is so much Joe-and-Methos interaction. Because of course a lot of the time Joe is the youngest person in the room. (I do think, though, that he and Methos have a lot in common that Duncan doesn't share with either of them -- see, for instance, Duncan and Joe's respective reactions when they learn about Methos' past. And a lot of the time Joe just gets Methos better than Duncan does.) I also like that Amanda is actually a little over twice Duncan's age, because it's like they ... take turns acting condescending towards each other? It's ridiculously cute to me.

I do love that there are Immortal communities, yes -- and if you pay attention, a lot of the time Methos seems to know a lot about various Immortals who have a past with Duncan, which either means that he's been using the Watcher database to be a stalkerface for years (likely) or that he also knows a lot of these people. (Also likely!) It's especially noticeable with Kristin, but I think it happens a few other times too. And who knows how many Immortals are in the world at any given time, but even if the number hovered around five thousand, a lot of them would still know each other, have histories and communities and &c. (I can just imagine how intensely awkward it would be if Methos and Duncan ever discovered they were the only two left. Methos would definitely pull the "take my head" thing again, wouldn't he.)

And yeah, Duncan does just sort of expect the best of people! Which is slightly unfortunate, actually, because -- okay, let me do what I call a Fraser Comparison, because Duncan and Fraser have enough in common that I find myself doing that. When Fraser expects the best of people, it's that he sees their potential and gently nurtures as many good impulses in those around him as he can. He wants you to do your best. When Duncan expects the best of people, it's because it's the only way to be; to do otherwise is unthinkable. So when Methos does what Duncan thinks is right, he's doing it not so much because Duncan's approval would be nice but because he needs it. Which ... makes them sound about as codependent as they are, I guess. And meanwhile Duncan doesn't notice that Methos is doing anything above and beyond what he should, which sucks for Methos.

Amanda wears amazing things; Methos wears adorable baggy sweaters, possibly to deflect, but also really excellent tight jeans; Joe actually dresses a lot like Methos, if looser on the jeans -- maybe there's a Watcher casual dress code?; Duncan generally wears fairly unflattering slacks, sweaters that fit him a lot better than Methos', and that awesome, awesome coat. :D

OH. MY. GOD. THAT EPISODE. No, I didn't have tears in my eyes, what are you talking about? Nope. Not me.

But THAT SCENE! Where Methos is telling Duncan alllll the details about what he did, and that he liked it, in what I interpret as an attempt to drive Duncan away (to save Duncan's life!) And then Duncan says they're finished, and Methos gets into his car and his head just sinks towards the steering wheel and OH METHOS.

BRB, watching next episode, will reply to the stuff in your comment at that point. NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

THEY ARE SOME OF MY FAVOURITE EPISODES ON THE PLANET. THAT SCENE.

I am very excited for your full thoughts on them. :DDD

I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT HOW AWESOME THESE EPISODES ARE. alkdghdkls;askhgkd

OH METHOS I WANT TO GIVE YOU A HUG. ACTUALLY I WANT DUNCAN TO GIVE YOU A HUG.

Also, random thing, but I liked the little character touch in the insane asylum with Silas playing his flute. And it made the bit where Methos says brokenly, "I liked Silas" that much worse. OH METHOS.

I'm afraid I can't be more coherent than that over this episode! But basically it was awesome in every way.

I loved the way that there was, like, thematic continuity through the last four episodes. SO GREAT. It is a cheesy fantasy tv show with major themes about good and evil, and the show's conclusion is that THINGS ARE COMPLICATED! HOW MUCH DO I LOVE THIS! Seriously, SO MUCH LOVE. I think, upon reflection, that acknowledgements of the non-binary nature of morality is one of my favourite things ever in a show or a book. <33333

So yet again I'm sitting here going.... "startlingly good! Again!" I need to start expecting excellence on this show's part or something. Because it keeps on doing this!

You're right, Joe IS often the youngest person in the room! I don't know why that never clicked! Probably in part because Duncan is forever going to him to ask for advice/help, so despite his (relatively speaking) young age he keeps getting put into the role of Wise Old Mentor.

I also managed to not clue in that Amanda's that much older than Methos -- I mean, I knew it intellectually but never put it together. It makes their relationship dynamics even more interesting!

Methos the stalkerface! Yes, very plausible. Extremely plausible, in fact. Oh Methos you adorable ridiculous person you.

Oh, gosh, yes, if Methos and Duncan were ever the last two left Methos would TOTALLY pull that sacrificial act again. Methos' enlightened self-interest, meet Methos' lack of self-esteem when it comes to comparing himself with Duncan. Duncan wouldn't do it though, of course, but it would be HILARIOUS to see Methos try. (And by hilarious I actually mean also rather touching and adorable on top of the hilarious. I think I am never going to stop finding Methos adorable.)

I very much like your comparison with Fraser! I think it's a really accurate analysis of the different ways in which they expect the best of people. And oh Methos, forever trying to get Duncan's approval! And Methos would never ever ask, so he's stuck just doing what he's doing and never getting the acknowledgement he needs.

Now that you mention it, I had actually noticed the unflattering slacks! Methinks Amanda needs to take him out shopping instead of us!

And now for random other stuff that's not episode-related but that I've been thinking about:

One: what happens when a pre-immortal gets their first death while they're still a baby? The parents of said baby would be really confused when it never got any older. I wonder, actually, if something like that is what caused the legend of changelings to start. But if something like that happened in the modern day? I don't even know what would happen. (at any rate, I'd guess that the immortal baby would be beheaded pretty early in its life!)

Two: When an immortal gets an injury that would kill a normal human, what exactly happens? Do they die, and then come back to life? Does the wound (or the poison, or whatever) heal fast enough that death never actually arrives? And how long does this process take, of becoming hale again? Obviously getting shot with a bullet slows an immortal down some -- knocks them down onto the ground, in fact. But how much time does that actually buy you? And why don't more of the 'evil' immortals make more use of that -- shoot first, and then come up and cut the head off while the other person is helpless?

Three: is it really only head-cut-off that causes death for immortals? What if they were burned to a crisp with no skin or muscles or internal organs or even bones left, and then the ashes scattered widely? What if they were exploded into a million pieces with a really big bomb? What if they were crushed flat by a hundred thousand pounds of steel?

Four: I've watched enough episodes by now to have something of a handle on Methos' character. Enough anyways to look at how he'd fit onto my chart of Character Traits I Love. And it looks like he'd join the Doctor, Kowalski, Fraser, Sheppard and McKay in fulfilling all seven of the traits. In other words, he's fast becoming one of my FAVOURITE CHARACTERS EVER as well....

Excuse me while I glee all over your journal

Re: Excuse me while I glee all over your journal

Re: Excuse me while I glee all over your journal

FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!

Re: FLAILY TIME!