I've read with relish Big John's take on the final two episodes of Highlander, The Series. I found myself nodding in agreement to most everything that he has to say. It was a wonderful note to go out on, and with one little exception (which I will address later) I thought it was handled well. Over on the HAM mini-review page I found a link to an opposing opinion by Troy Lester. Again, well thought-out, well supported and obviously heart-felt. But this time I couldn't agree. While the premise of what Troy had to say was valid, I felt that there was a point that he missed. If the reader will bear with me for a moment, I will attempt to do as much justice to my opinion as both Troy and BJ did to theirs.
In the late ‘70's I attended a showing of a certain movie that has since traveled into cinematic, and cultural, history. As I was walking out with my young cousin he remarked disgustedly, "Luke Skywalker only destroyed the Death Star because the story was about him" to which I replied in all my teenage wisdom, "No, the story was about him because he destroyed the Death Star". I think that this is the point that was missed in Troy's analysis. Duncan wasn't the hero because the show was about him, the show was about him because he was the hero. The other characters - as important as they are, as much as we love them, as completely as Highlander, The Series wouldn't have been the same without them - were there to forward, enrich, enlighten, and add interest to the story of the life of Duncan MacLeod.
Seen in this light, of course Duncan would have the influence inferred by 2B/N2B. But it goes further than that. In six years these people became real to me, became my friends who I cared about and met with every Saturday night at 10:00 to catch up on and spend time with. In this light the scope of Duncan's influence must be further analyzed. And to do that, Darius' influence on Duncan must first be discussed.
Duncan Macleod was a different man after meeting Darius than he was before. The difference was made very clear in "Band of Brothers" and was addressed in almost every encounter with Darius, whether told in the present or in flashback. But Darius did not make Duncan who he was. Darius, for all of his considerable influence, could not have made Duncan be someone who he wasn't in his soul. Instead what he did was provide a pivot - a point at which Duncan could choose to turn the focus of his life in another direction, or choose to continue in the direction he was going. We know which direction Duncan chose. It is interesting to note that Duncan did not remove himself from the battles of men after he met Darius, only that the focus of his involvement in those battles changed. Rather than being on the front line fighting he often chose to act as a medic, a spy, an organizer or supporter. Thus we see clearly that Darius affected no change in our noble hero, only provided a path for Duncan to follow to affect his own change.
So it is with Duncan's influence on the lives of Tessa, Joe, Methos, Richie, Amanda and even Fitz. Let's look briefly at each, since it has all been discussed at length elsewhere.
Richie first - I agree wholeheartedly with the statement that "Richie died a hero in both worlds". And there is the biggest basis for my argument. Richie was the person who he was all of his own doing. Despite a very troubled childhood and adolescence he was a good, good person in heart and soul. But Duncan (and Tessa) provided the pivot for him. He could have chosen a life of crime, or he could have chosen a life of honesty. Being provided with that choice (which he very notably was not in N2B) he chose honesty.
Tessa next - Would Tessa have really been so sad without Duncan as a part of her life? Perhaps not. But she wasn't really sad until after her encounter with Duncan. Unfortunately there comes a time in many people's lives when they are forced to choose; between marriage, family and responsibility, and the passion for art, music, science or whatever. Some people never have to make that choice, and for them I am happy. But I made that choice, and I would never re-choose. I have my children, who have brought the greatest moments of joy of my life. Still, I find ways to be involved in my passion - theatre - but nothing can replace those times when I lived it. I think that this is what happened to our alternate reality Tessa. She made a choice and never regretted it. Until she met up with Duncan. Going on the assumption that they are soul-mates, their encounter could not have ended any other way. Going on the assumption that Tessa is a strong, intelligent, loving woman, she could not have felt any other way when it was over. Duncan did not make Tessa an artist, he only provided a way in which she could devote the focus of her life to it.
Amanda - The lines of Duncan's influence become a little less distinct here. Surely the greatest influence in Amanda's life was Rebecca. Duncan came onto the scene when she was over 800 years old. But it was made clear time and again that Amanda used Duncan to bail her out. {Perhaps ‘used' is too harsh a word, because Duncan always knew what he was getting into and yet he never (at least when it counted) said no.} Without Duncan there to focus Amanda's attention in other directions it is very reasonable to assume that - as the world she lived in became more complicated and less moral - an accidental death might happen. And when that was so easy, and without someone to provide a moral ‘ground' for her to attach to, the next one would be even easier. And so on. With Amanda, however, I don't see it as any one pivot-point that Duncan provided, but rather several - most at Amanda's request or instigation - that kept Amanda always turned to the less destructive side of the path she chose to follow.
Joe - here the influence is very clear. Joe could never stand up to Horton on his own. The reasons for this were never made clear to my satisfaction - I always felt that the Joe I knew would have been able to not only take the stand, but to win - but the situation was well-established during the second season. Again, Duncan provided a pivot. When he stood up to Horton, and took the heat off of Joe for a moment, Joe gathered himself and stepped up. Duncan very pointedly did not make Joe do this. It was Joe's choice. Without Duncan to provide this opportunity, Joe never takes the stand. Does he turn in to a worthless wino? That's perhaps stretching it, but as I said - I was never truly satisfied that Joe wouldn't be strong enough to begin with. Here I am only commenting on the story as it was presented. The true validity of the arc is fodder for another discussion. Perhaps Joe's character was truly not yet developed in these early shows.
Methos - Ah, Methos...Methos knew who Duncan was long before Duncan found him. He had been a Watcher for a long time and aware of the Watchers for long before that. It is truly possible that Methos followed the Highlander for much of the 400 years that he had been around. Here we have a man who has made survival - by various savory and unsavory means - his objective for 5000 years. And yet, on meeting Duncan, he offers up his own life to make Duncan strong enough to beat Kalas. There is much about Methos that we do not know, but we know this: In his whole life the one immortal he has met to whom he would trust The Prize is Duncan MacLeod. So, had there been no Duncan to pin his hopes for the world on, had the Watchers started slaughtering the Immortals, had Horton killed the woman that he loved as much as he obviously loved Gillian, is it reasonable to assume that Kronos could have provided a pivot on which Methos would choose to take such a horrible turn? I have to say yes.
Fitz - With Fitz he, himself, provides the answer. Fitz's life was apparently little changed up to, and including, the explosion. But without Duncan there to help him out his life became 350 years shorter.
In the end, though I was at first skeptical of the "It's a Wonderful Life" angle, I felt that the show remained true to it's origins - it was about Duncan because he was the hero, and he was the hero to the end.
*My one complaint? I would dearly have loved to see Richie looking over Fitz's shoulder as he returned to the 19th hole. I didn't even need him to say anything, just smile and maybe wave. Duncan wouldn't have even had to be sure that he really saw him. It's just the romantic, broken- hearted side of me coming out. Ask anyone who knows me - I always love a good fairy tale with a happy ending. So in my heart I have to think that maybe, just maybe, TPTB are leaving themselves a loophole...you can't blame a girl for dreaming, can you?
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