SEASON FIVE
“He is Duncan MacLeod, the Highlander.
Born in 1592 in the Highlands of Scotland and he is still alive. He is immortal. For four hundred years he’s been a warrior, a lover, a wanderer. Constantly facing other Immortals in a combat to the death, the winner takes his enemy’s head and with it, his power.
I am a Watcher, part of a secret society of men and women who observe and record but never interfere. We know the truth about Immortals. In the end… there can be only one.
May it be Duncan MacLeod: the Highlander…”
EPISODE 5.1: PROPHECY
Written by David Tynan
Directed by Dennis Berry
A private detective in New York refuses to give a stranger any details about a recent client, but Roland Kantos (Gerard Plunkett) has a certain… way with words, his honed voice able to exercise a control over people’s will. He learns that the client, a ‘Cassandra’, was looking for help finding a ‘Duncan Macleod’. Meanwhile Duncan has returned Stateside and finds the dojo deserted… but not quite. When he enters his loft there’s then ‘buzz’ of another Immortal and MacLeod recognises a woman he last encountered years before he was ‘killed for the first time’. It is Cassandra (Tracy Scoggins).
In the 1600s, with their clan suffering a loss of livestock from possible wolf attacks, pragmatic clan-leader Ian MacLeod lead a superstitious group into Donan Woods, aware of the talk of a witch within its land and the legend she would devour one born on the Winter Solstice. Against his father’s orders, young Duncan and friend Richard decided to go into the woods as well… A wolf ‘attacked’ them and though Richard fled, Duncan awoke in a dwelling he’d never seen before with a strange and beautiful woman watching over him.
It is the first time he will meet Cassandra, who knows much more than she should. She is protecting him from a man who seeks his young death, but now – 400 years later and into the present – she says the time has come to face that enemy…
Also featuring: Mathew Walker (Ian MacLeod), Anna Hagen (as Mary MacLeod), Allan Clow (as Neil MacGregor), Deryl Hayes (as Andrew Beckham), Tom Heaton (as Old Tom), Ernie Pitts (as Cop), Cluny MacPherson (as Robert MacLeod), Kasper Michaels (as Partner)
EPISODE 5.2: THE END OF INNOCENCE
Written by Morrie Ruvinsky
Directed by Gérard Hameline
Richie is working out in the darkened dojo when Duncan arrives and begins to argue. Beating him to his sword, Duncan swings and takes his protégé’s head in one clean slice… and Richie wakes up screaming. It was just a nightmare.
But Richie’s concerns are very real – the last time he saw his mentor, Duncan tried to kill him while under the influence of his Dark Quickening. Once he was ‘cleansed’ Duncan tried to find Richie and explain, but Richie needed some time away, reassessing not just his relationship with MacLeod but also the very nature of his Immortal existence and the more dangerous implications.
Joe comes to tell MacLeod he’s worried about Richie apparently picking fights and though Duncan still wants to keep Dawson at arm’s length, he knows he owes Richie more than just an explanation. But when Richie recklessly takes the head of an Immortal called Carter Wellan (Chris William Martin), Wellan’s mentor and friend, Haresh Clay (Réal Andrews) looks for retribution… and he aims to get it from either Richie or Duncan…
Also featuring: Rachel Hayward (as Delila), Gerry Rousseau (as Raymond Fairchild), Gary Jones (as Hotel Guest)
EPISODE 5.3: MANHUNT
Written by David Tynan
Directed by Peter Ellis
Carl Robinson (Bruce A. Young) has a successful baseball career, but still has that arrogance that’s plagued him his whole life. However, all comes crashing down when Carl is attacked by another Immortal high above the local stadium. The public see the tail-end of a Quickening, but only perceive it as Robinson’s decapitated opponent landing on the field with their all-star player clearly the man responsible.
One minute he was dining with celebrities and politicians and now Carl Robinson is on the run for his life… and needing Duncan’s help. MacLeod offers him sanctuary until they can work out how to safely get him out of town.
Meanwhile FBI Special Agent Matthew McCormick (Eric McCormack), well-known for tracking serial-killers is on the case. Though this isn’t a multiple-murder investigation, it’s a high-profile case and McCormick has come with all the tools of his trade… investigation bags, rubber-gloves, notebook… and a big sword in the trunk of his car. By the time Duncan and Carl attempt to get back to the dojo, McCormick has the place sealed off.
Back in the Louisiana of the 1850s, McCormick used to literally ‘own’ Robinson, yet saved his life. But things did not end well between them. So, what does he want now?
Also featuring: Eric Keenleyside (as Trey franks), Stephen Dimopoulos (as Seth Hobart), Aaron Pearl (as Corman), Jim Leard (as Detective Frayne), Chris Villarruel (as Fan), Rhys Williams (as Talbot), Kevin Hansen (as Clayton Hobart), Jo Bates (as Glenda)
EPISODE 5.4: GLORY DAYS
Written by Nancy Heiken
Directed by Gerard Hameline
A wealthy businessman is shot dead by a shadowy figure after entering his skyscraper. The killer then escapes by removing his complex disguise and literally skates to freedom.
Meanwhile it’s a rockin’ nice at Joe’s with a new band playing the venue… but it’s a new patron that catches Joe’s eye. The woman is Betsy Fields and they were high-school sweethearts. Betsy wants to go for dinner or lunch and though Joe seems to be looking for excuses not to, Duncan makes sure that Joe’s time gets freed up by volunteering to take over some of his chores.
Unfortunately, when getting equipment from Joe’s storage locker complex, Duncan runs into an Immortal who is also collecting belongings. The last time MacLeod met Johnny ‘K’ Kelly (Ian Tracey) he was a two-bit hood (and pre-Immortal) in prohibition era New York. Now he’s the assassin we saw earlier and he’s worried MacLeod will compromise his identity… and attempts unsuccessfully to kill him.
While Joe’s reassesses some of the life decisions he’s made over the years, Duncan must find a way to neutralise Johnny K’s decision to hunt MacLeod down – permanently.
Also featuring: Marica Strassman (as Betsy Fields), Jim Crescenzo (as Mr. Luca), Robin Mossley (as Jimmy the Weasel), Aurelio DiNunzio (as Guard), Mike Kopsa (as Tommy), Bob Dawson (as O’Grady), Bob Wilde (as Dominic Delio), Philip Heinrich (as Bobby), Larry Morrison (as Roadie), Mario Battista (as Big Gino)
EPISODE 5.5: DRAMATIC LICENSE
Written by Michael O’Mahony and Sasha Reins
Directed by Peter Ellis
Duncan MacLeod sits in a woodland nook reading poetry when his revelry is interrupted by a damsel in distress wanting him to save her from the indescribable beast that is Terence Coventry (Alistair Duncan). Coventry challenges him to a duel Can Duncan possibly triumph against him?
To find out… you’ll have to buy Carolyn Marsh (Sandra Bernhard)’s book… ‘Blade of the MacLeods’… because this is all from her latest tome depicting noble-sword-fighting and lots of derring-do. Amanda (Elizabeth Gracen), one of the people at Marsh’s book-signing is fully aware of the similarities to the ‘real’ Duncan MacLeod and is intrigued as to where the author is drawing the bodice-ripping romances.
Duncan is equally perplexed and though he recognises some of the events which appear to have inspired the ‘purple’ prose, he remembers them very differently to the flowery versions in the pages. Elsewhere, the ‘real’ Terence Coventry is equally frustrated and determines to track down Marsh and give her more than a piece of his mind…
Preferring to reluctantly ‘assist’ the persistent Carolyn rather than have her snoop too closely into his real background, Duncan tries to uncover the truth… and possibly save everyone’s necks – metaphorically and literally…
Also featuring: April Telek (as Roxanne), Keith Holmgren (as Gerald), Stephen Sisk (as Tim), Sheila Tyson (as Assistant)
EPISODE 5.6: MONEY NO OBJECT
Written by James Thorpe
Directed by Rafal Zielinski
Richie gives Amanda (Elizabeth Gracen) a lift to a small local bank in a rough part of town, the kind where they don’t ask too many annoying questions about her deposits and transactions.
Unfortunately, the establishment is in the process of being robbed and Amanda recognises the masked man as Immortal Cory Raines (Nicholas Lea), an old partner-in-crime. Richie sees Amanda being hauled off by the tommy-gun wielding thief and presumes she’s a hostage. He sets off in pursuit but Cory runs him off the road.
It seems little has changed with Corey since he and Amanda committed the occasional armed-robbery and petty larceny in the 1920s, often exasperating Duncan who ended up cleaning up their mess. Forensics may have changed and it’s less easy for him to make a dishonest living, but he still lives for the chase and the thrill… never killing but certainly relieving banks of their swag whenever he can and then disposing of the money to good causes (after a little deduction for expenses). It’s tempting for Amanda to embrace that thrill again…
Life may be on very long joke for Corey, but Duncan decides it’s time he delivered his own punch-line…
Also featuring: Tom McBeath (as Sam Grinkhov), Alex Bruhnski (Reynaldo), John Moore (as Farmer)
EPISODE 5.7: HAUNTED
Written by Scott Peters
Directed by James Bruce
It’s a dark and stormy night in San Francisco and the lights are off in a particularly spooky-looking residence. A young mortal woman, Jennifer, gets up from bed, convinced she can feel the presence of her deceased love, an Immortal called Alec Hill (Kevin Conway) who was killed the previous year. She races to his grave trying desperately to figure out what he wants and then decides to visit their friend, Duncan MacLeod.
Duncan remembers how he and Alec knew each other back in the San Francisco of the late 1800s. Tragically, Alec’s young wife, Genevieve, was murdered by an Immortal calling himself ‘Kragen’ (John Novak) and Alex swears he will live to see Kragen dead, even if he himself has to come back from the grave to ensure it. He also makes Duncan swear to finish the job if necessary.
Believing that Kragen one the one who finally took Alec’s head in the more recent past, Duncan aims to track him down and fulfil that promise, but as Richie grows closer to Jennifer, it’s Joe Dawson that sheds some tragic light on what really happened to Alec… and Richie is faced with a huge moral dilemma…
Also featuring: Kathy Evison (as Jennifer Hill), Lisa Butler (as Genevieve), Larke Miller (as Woman)
EPISODE 5.8: LITTLE TIN GOD
Written by Richard Gilbert Hill
Directed by Rafal Zielinski
After taking part in a gospel singing practise at his local church, Derek Worth (Roger R Cross) is killed in what appears to be a drive-by shooting by an Immortal named Gavriel Larca (Andrew Divoff). Larca follows him to the morgue and stands over him while Derek suddenly revives. When Derek tries to understand what has happened, Larca claims to be God and that Derek is now his warrior in the war against darkness…
Later, while out jogging, Duncan is attacked by a young Immortal with a sword and manages to get to his sword just before others appear – including Derek. When MacLeod says that such a multiple attacks are against the rules of the Game, they have no idea what he’s talking about. Derek, cornered by Duncan, claims that he is an angel and MacLeod is Satan. When Derek’s ‘God’ appears, it’s Larca.
Duncan remembers that he encountered the Immortal when he was in Peru in the 1830s and he and a guide were captured by Larca – who had convinced a local tribe he was their God. The guide is ritually-sacrificed and Larca considers killing Duncan at an upcoming celebration of the moon – noting it will be quite a light-show for his tribe. However the tribe begin to fall ill and
Duncan escapes, managing to turn the survivors against Larca…
In the present Larca is building another cult through slaying pre-Immortals and brainwashing them. Can Duncan defeat his enemy – and more importantly find a way to save those whose absolute faith in the divine has been truly twisted to fit a less caring agenda?
Also featuring: Nathaniel DeVeaux (as Reverend Thomas Bell), Steve Bacic (as Like), Terry Barclay (as Paco), Kira Clavell (as Coyantu), Christopher J.P. Racasa (as Enrique)
EPISODE 5.9: THE MESSENGER
Written by David Tynan
Directed by James Bruce
On a dark secluded road, Richie Ryan senses another Immortal. The imposing stranger says he poses no threat to Richie and that he stopped taking heads a long time ago. He asks Richie what would happen if all Immortals stopped fighting, what they could accomplish together if they lived in peace? Then he tells Richie his name… Methos.
Later, Duncan is looking into possibly buying an old boat in the marina when he senses the presence of Col. William Everett Culbraith (Robert Wisden) a career military man made cruel and cynical by war whom he first encountered mistreating soldiers in Andersonville Prison back in 1864. In the present, Duncan nearly takes his head but Richie distracts him and Culbraith vanishes into the water.
As far as Duncan is concerned, Richie’s sudden claim that all the violence has to stop seems like babbling. Much as though it’s a nice idea in principle, Duncan says men like Culbraith will always cause death and destruction and must be fought, not let go and forgiven.
When Methos (Peter Wingfield) turns up, Duncan wants to know why he told Richie to give up fighting, but he has no idea what MacLeod is talking about – it wasn’t him Richie met. As they talk about the philosophical and practical implications of giving up the Game, the question still remains – who is the other ‘Methos’ and whether he’s sincere or not, what hope and danger might he pose?
Also featuring: Awaovieyi Agie (as Jeffrey), Patrick T. Gorman (as Sergeant Hickson), Mitch Davis (as Captain Greenwell), Lloyd Barry (as Harry)
EPISODE 5.10: THE VALKYRIE
Written by James Thorpe
Directed by Richard Martin
Moscow… rising political firebrand Igor Stefanovich proudly watches a campaign-speech on television and sagely notes that whether it’s Jews, Muslims or the people of Chechnya, he has many targets and people to blame for others’ woes. But Ingrid Henning (Musetta Vander) arrives, dressed as a prostitute and shoots him dead, only to be ‘slain’ herself.
Meanwhile Joe, Methos (Peter Wingfield) and Duncan are attending a boxing tournament that MacLeod has set up in Charlie Desalvo’s memory…and arguing sporting history from the side-lines. Ingrid arrives and Methos quickly makes his excuses and leaves, not as familiar with her as Duncan one was. She and Duncan met in the Berlin of 1935 when he was working for British Intelligence and a man called Adolf Hitler was just starting to get noticed as a problem on the radar of the West. She was wary of the brownshirts that were starting to make life ‘difficult’ for the Jews there… and in the modern era she seems just as eager to avoid some people who are following her, wanting to question her about the Russian diplomat that died.
Both Ingrid and Duncan were part of Operation Valkyrie an attempt with disaffected Nazi officer Claus von Stauffenberg to kill Hitler in 1944, but in the end he survived and Ingrid never forgave herself. Now it turns out she’s in town for another assassination. But, as Duncan points out – is she now judge, jury and executioner? But Ingrid is determined to make up for that moment of hesitation fifty years before… one that may have cost the lives of millions…
Also featuring: Fulvio Cecere (as Alan Wilkinson), Martin Evans (as Colonel Stauffenburg), L. Harvey Gold (as Igor Stefanovich), Peter Hanlon (as Karl Brandt), Patrick Keating (as Adolph Hitler), Dean Balkwill (as David), Jim Leard (as Detective Frayne), Jan Triska (as Nicolae Breslaw), Noah Heney (as Brownshirt), Raoul Ganeev (as Guard)
EPISODE 5.11: COMES A HORSEMAN
Written by David Tynan
Directed by Gérard Hameline
Duncan and Methos exit the recording of a game-show where Methos flourished in the early rounds and then lost out on pop-culture references. However his ‘Wheel of History’ prowess is suddenly less important when they sense another Immortal in the vicinity. Ever the pragmatist, Methos makes a quick exit, but Duncan spots an Immortal he knew as Melvin Koren (Valentine Pelka), a ruthless outlaw whom he first encountered when Duncan rode with the Texas Rangers in the 1800s. In the present ‘Koren’ disappears before any fight can take place… however MacLeod does stumble across Cassandra (Tracy Scoggins).
Cassandra reveals that Koren once went by another name ‘Kronos’ and he rode as a member of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on ancient times, bringing death and destruction on a massive scale.
When Methos arrives, Cassandra launches herself at him – claiming he’s another of the Horsemen who raped and pillaged through her Bronze Age village all those millennia ago. The others were Silas (Richard Ridings) and Caspian (Marcus Testiry). Duncan refuses to believe that his trusted friend could have been a brutal, legendary scourge of civilisation.
But Methos does indeed have some very dark secrets and for a person who actively avoids trouble, he’s about to find a carefully constructed house of cards come crashing down around him… caught in a maelstrom of deceit, denial and revelations that will make him decide his loyalties once and for all…
Also featuring: Greg Michaels (as Tippet), David Longworth (as Paxton), Sotigui Kouyaté (as Hijad), Affof Ben Badra (Peasant/’Stick-Boy’)
EPISODE 5.12: REVELATIONS 6:8
Written by Tony DiFranco
Directed by Adrian Paul
Duncan now knows some of the timeless crimes Methos has committed. Presuming that Kronos (Valentine Pelka) intends to reunite the original Horsemen, MacLeod tries to work out where he may look for them – if they’re still alive. With the help of the Watchers’ database, Duncan and Cassandra (Tracy Scoggins) realise that an ‘Evan Casparri’, being held in a rundown Romanian asylum for the criminally insane is really Caspian (Marcus Testory). It’s a start… but Methos and Kronos are way ahead of them… and they have already located Silas (Richard Ridings).
Kronos isn’t entirely convinced as to the loyalty of Methos, but needs him as a master strategist.
Once reunited with Caspian and Silas they will surely be unstoppable! But MacLeod and Cassandra are equally determined to find them and so begins a game of cat and mouse as Kronos tests his fellow Horsemen as much as MacLeod.
With Cassandra captured and a trap laid for MacLeod, Methos is desperately working on a plan to ensure his own survival at all costs… but a final judgement day draws near for everyone. As more than one battle rages through an abandoned submarine base in Bordeaux, blood will be spilled, heads will roll and no-one will walk away unscathed…
Also featuring: Bertie Cortez (as Dr. Cernavoda), Bertrand Milliot (as Inmate), Nathalie Gray (as Nurse)
EPISODE 5.13: THE RANSOM OF RICHARD REDSTONE
Written by David Tynan
Directed by Gérard Hameline
Two cars race across the French mountain roads, before arriving at a local grand casino. The owner of the red Ferrari steps out from behind the wheel. Dressed in the very best suit… it’s Richie Ryan.
Meanwhile Duncan is having less luck with vehicles – his car is being towed by an angry dealership-owner, It turns out Richie borrowed the Ferrari by using Duncan’s credentials. After getting his own car back, Duncan decides to find out what’s going on.
Richie’s own luck takes a turn for the worse when his faux high-roller persona is a little too convincing and he’s kidnapped by a couple who chain him up in a nearby chateau. They need 200,000 francs to save the family château after their grandfather Baron Lemartin fell on hard times after an ill-advised loan. They believe holding ‘Redstone’ to ransom will get them their money.
Duncan tracks Richie to the casino and recognises it where he made his own kind of luck during the 1970s. He also finds out who Richie left with and decides to pay Baron Lemartin a visit. But rescuing Richie and finding a way to help the Lemartin family may be two separate problems… that require inventive solutions…
Also featuring: Sonja Codhant (as Marina Lemartin), Tom Russell (as Edwatd Cervain), Gary Hetherington (as Carlo Capodimonte), Astrid Veillon (as Desirée), Sylvain Rougerie (as James Foulard), Matthew Thompson (as James), George Gay (as Parking Attendant)
EPISODE 5.14: DUENDE
Written by Jan Hartman
Directed by Richard Martin
Madrid, 1971… and two dancers, Rafael and Anna, perform a passionate flamenco routine as instructor Otavio Consone (Anthony De Longis) watches over them giving them pointers. The dancers achieve ‘duende’ an almost zen-like state where their passion and technique are impossible to separate. When they are done, Consone announces that Anna is to be his wife – though both she and her dancing partner look somewhat surprised, as they are already engaged and she is pregnant – news Consone does not take well. He kills Rafael and promises Anna a world of further pain.
Twenty five years later and Anna is still alive, though injured in a car-crash several years previously and is now overseeing her own establishment. Duncan, fascinated with the dancing and the story it tells, is trying to introduce some more culture to Richie’s life. The dancer they are watching is Luisa Hidalgo, Anna’s daughter. Duncan is entreated to dance with her and surprises everyone with just how good he is…
He learned all the right moves back in the Madrid of the 1850s. He impressed the visiting Consone and Theresa del Gloria, the beautiful daughter of a local dignitary. A romance blossoms between Theresa and Duncan, but Consone wanted her for himself. An excellent fighter, he challenged Duncan and, winning, only agrees to spare his life if she vows to never see Duncan again – which she does, demanding Duncan honours the decision. She dies in an ‘accident’ before Duncan can change her mind.
In the present, Consone has returned, romancing Anna’s daughter… can Duncan prevent a familiar pattern of jealousy and murder from repeating itself and even if he tries, can he possibly beat one of the very people who trained him to be the swordsman he is today..?
Also featuring: Dolores Chaplin (as Theresa del Gloria), Deborah Esptein (as Luisa Hidalgo), Carmen du Sautoy (as Anna Hidalgo), Claudie Arif (as Duenna), Felipe Calvarro (as Rafael), Elsa Franco (as Isabella), Monique Messine (as Housekeeper), Elisa Tovati (as Gilda), Arturo Venegas (as Don Diego del Gloria), Marie Vernalde (as Young Anna)
EPISODE 5.15: THE STONE OF SCONE
Written by Michael O’Mahony and Sasha Reins
Directed by Richard Martin
1720… and underneath Westminister Abbey, plans are afoot. Hugh Fitzcairn (Roger Daltrey) has plans to blow up the landmark, but elsewhere in the ‘bowels’ of the famous building, Duncan has plans to retrieve the Stone of Scone which he believes should be returned to its native Scotland rather than kept by the English. They – and their agendas – are about to collide, or rather… explode.
They agree to settle their differences on the battlefield at dawn… with a game of golf. Neither of them do that well and their wager leads to an equally unsuccessful attempt on the crown jewels. Over two hundred years later, in 1950, they are still competing against each other and neither appear to have improved. It looks like Amanda could show both of them a thing or two… especially when there’s money to be won.
She’s intrigued to learn that MacLeod wants the cheating Fitz to make reparations and help him steal the ‘priceless’ Stone of Scone. Convinced they are talking about a valuable diamond – and realising she’s already in deep debt to the wrong people – Amanda decides that it might be an ideal venture to join them in and reap the rewards.
All of them are about to find out that, as usual when they’re all involved in something ‘dodgy’, things rarely go as planned…
Also featuring: David Barrass (as Harry), Harry Jones (as Andrew), Neville Phillips (as Bulter), Paul Barrett (as Bobby), Colin Reese (as Uriah), Barnaby Apps (as Patrick), Valerie Ann Wyss (as Barmaid)
EPISODE 5.16: FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES
Written by Dom Tordjmann
Directed by Paolo Barzman
Amanda (Elizabeth Gracen) is out at a Parisian night-club when she’s approached by another Immortal, Stephen Keane (Chris Larkin) who owns the club. He admits he’s looking for Duncan MacLeod, but Amanda denies she knows anyone of that name. In the car-park she tries to stop him, but Keane gets the upper hand and demands she call MacLeod and they agree to meet on holy ground, at the church Darius used to oversee.
Keane reminds Duncan about events in 1746 in the wake of devastating battles between the English and the Scots and points out how many lives MacLeod took in that conflict. MacLeod notes that there were bad decisions, atrocities and horrible tragedies borne out on both sides… including Macleod seeking out the Richard Dunbar, the Earl of Rosemont, Keane’s friend and killing him in revenge.
The past troubles Duncan… he is a moral man and knows he stepped over the line, even though it was centuries ago. Amanda seeks the help of Methos (Peter Wingfield) who decides to take drastic action to avoid MacLeod accepting a challenge he may think he should lose.
Duncan won’t listen to Methos and determines to face Keane… but when Steven reveals that he was initially talked out of revenge by Sean Burns, the mutual friend Duncan murdered a year before, Duncan understands the full extent of his cause…
Does Duncan deserve the fate Keane demands?
Also featuring: Michael J Jackson (as Sean Burns), Barbara Keogh (as Grandmother), Geoffrey Bateman (as Richard Dunbar), Marine Jolivert (as Inspector Bégue)
EPISODE 5.17: MODERN PROMETHEUS
Written by James Thorpe
Directed by Adrian Paul
It’s better to burn bright than to merely fade away. That could be the maxim of both Lord Byron, the debauched but classic writer of the late 1700s and the rock-star ‘Byron’ who sells out massive stadiums – which is not surprising as they turn out to be one and the same person.
On a massive stadium’s stage, Byron (Jonathan Firth) entertains the surging audience and when he sweeps away from the concert, he takes an eager song-writing protégé with him. Later they dance in the rafters of an abandoned warehouse with Byron saying they should embrace risk to feel alive. Sadly, Jerry doesn’t have quite the immortality of the demented rock god.
Once upon a time Dr Benjamin Adams (the alter ego of Methos) and Byron were friends and Methos appreciates the passion and artistry that once fuelled Byron’s every waking, barely sober moment. Duncan, on the other hand, is less impressed, seeing a self-destructive Immortal now devoid of joy and all too often risking others’ lives to get his thrills.
Like matter and anti-matter, Duncan and Byron will never get on the way that Methos (Peter Wingfield) and Byron once did, but when it becomes clear that Byron is now a threat to others, what will MacLeod be forced to do?
Also featuring: Katie Carr (as Claire Clairmont), Don Foran (as Jwerry Garrity), Tracy Keating (as Mary Shelley), F. Braun McAsh (as Hans Kershner), Micel Modo (as Maurice), Jeffrey Ribier (as Mike Palandini), Christopher Staines (as Percy Shelley)
EPISODE 5.18: ARCHANGEL
Written by David Tynan
Directed by Dennis Berry
Walking along the foggy banks of the Seine, Duncan and Richie are approached by a manic, elderly man named Jason Landry. He’s an archaeologist who, six months prior, had a dark experience in the caves of Bara, Iraq while looking into the legends of Ahriman, a god of the ancient Zoroastrianism faith. Now he’s claiming MacLeod is the champion destined to face him. Duncan presumes the man is simply confused or senile, but then he catches a glimpse in the crimson-hued mist of a man that looks like… James Horton? Duncan sets off in pursuit, but Richie sees nothing and when they head back to the quayside, Landry is dead. Soon after, his daughter Alison, is also killed.
Duncan continues to see visions of the dead… Horton again, Alison and Kronos appear to him on the barge. Duncan tells Richie of the very first Quickening he ever had and a wild Scottish hermit who spoke of a grand destiny. He hadn’t believed him or Cassandra’s takes of a greater destiny, but now he’s not so sure.
Richie’s willing to be convinced, but Methos (Peter Wingfield) and Joe think that Duncan is having a breakdown after the stresses of the past year – after all, the alternative is that demons are real.
When Richie thinks he sees Horton kidnapping Joe he sets off in pursuit and Duncan goes after him. But will Duncan arrive in time to save the day or is this a fight that is destined to cost him dearly?
Also featuring: Peter Hudson (as ‘James Horton’ / Ahriman), Valentine Pelka (as ‘Kronos’ / Ahriman), Edward Jewesbury (as Jason Landry), Emily Raymond (as Allison Landry), Pierre Rousselle(as Detective), Michel Scourneau (as Cemetary Official), Reinheld Steger (as Medical Officer), Patrick Gordon (as Hermit), Richard Temple (as Foster), Bruno Grimaud (as Customs Man)