Episode Guide

Season 1

Innocent Man

Lucas Desiree saved MacLeod back in the civil war and many years later asks him to visit. However when he gets there Lucas is dead and a Vietnam vet has been charged with the murder.

It doesn't take long to see who the real baddie is though.

Pretty enjoyable except for the reporter who unfortunately will resurface in later episodes and the cringeful stereotypical southern rednecks.

Great as a 'first episode', never explosive but always nicely paced and played. Oh yeah, apart from the bimbo reporter.

Should I watch it? Uh Uh. Nice early episode.

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Road Not Taken

A pal of Richie's suffers a brain haemorrhage after an attempted robbery. It looks like the result of a drug MacLeod's seen before.

An old friend, Kim Sun set out originally centuries ago to develop a way to help mankind and give leadership. But as time passed he has become more ambitious and intends to use it for his own uses.

The plots a bit weak over how Kim Sun's drug ended up in Richie's friend (who never takes them) to commit a robbery though.

Starts reasonably well, nice flashback (lovely accent from MacLeod!) then drops off downhill never really offering much.

Should I watch it? Fast forward after the first 15 mins, you won't miss much.

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Bad Day at Building A

Tessa and Richie get caught in a courthouse during a breakout of a murderer and his gang. After racing in, Mac gets caught and then engineers the situation so he is the hostage executed. He then precedes to bump the gang off one by one.

The episode shows a dark side of Duncan; he seems callous, murderous towards the gang, not hesitating to kill them.

He does seem to regret it at the end, the infamous Scots angst in action!

An enjoyable romp but often maligned episode.

Should I watch it? Yep! Get a couple of beers in too.

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Mountain Men

Tessa visits an old Indian site to sketch some artwork and while there gets abducted by Caleb and his two sons. It seems Caleb has fallen for Tessa and wants her to be his wife.

It sounds bad, its actually worse. Tessa is by far the best thing in with great acting and strength of character, but its making the best of a bad lot really. The mountain men are so poorly written as to be laughable.

Duncan sets out to find her, slipping into obviously old skills from another 'life' as an indian to track them. Cue the only thing in the episode of merit...Duncan's bare chest!

When MacLeod meets up with them, it's revealed that Caleb is an immortal and naturally they fight. Even the fight isn't that good.

Should I watch it? Short answer? No. Long answer. no no no no no!

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Revenge is Sweet

A strong, beautiful woman comes into the antique shop, recognises a sword and virtually challenges MacLeod to a duel...but she's not an immortal.

She was close to Walter Rheinhardt though, an old enemy of MacLeod and he's a real nast piece of work. Trouble is he's apparently dead and this beautiful woman, Rebecca, was his fiancee and is after the Highlander as she believes he killed Rheinhardt.

Rheinhardt has some nasty methods of getting at those close to immortals he's after (the dress will make you wince) and when he finally appears you can't wait for him to get his come-uppance. There's a nice twist near the end, but you'll probably spot it. Walter won't and that makes it all the more fun.

Should I watch it? Definitely. Good romp, bad villain.

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Eye Witness

Tessa is exhibiting in Paris. A woman compliments her work and Tessa sees her later through a window arguing with a man. It looks like he throws her off a bridge but at the last second Tess gets distracted, when she looks back the woman has gone.

Tess reports the murder but without the body the police do little. She decides to follow it up herself.

It's a clever device to plant the seed of doubt, which runs for quite a length of the story and even those watching may not be sure that the woman is dead.

It is revealed to the audience quite early that the potential murderer, an immortal, is actually police chief Ballon overseeing the case which explains the force's reticence to follow up on Tessa's account. Ballon decides to follow up in another way...to kill the only eyewitness Tessa.

There's a lot of emotion playing through the story, and can make the audience have some feeling for the murdered character...except for reporter Randi who's on the case again and attempts to show a human side.

It's cat and mouse for a while until Mac gets a better look at Ballon while he attempts to blow up Tessa's safehouse and the following swordfight is a pretty good one, lasting a fair length - in the top ten quickenings too.

Should I watch it? You could but you'd not miss much by skipping to the fight.

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Family Tree

Wanting to find about his past Richie searches his old neighbourhood. Although he remembers his mother is dead the trail seems to have some success by leading him to his father...or does it?

The apparent dad owes a lot of money and steals from Mac's antique shop to pacify his creditors. He does repent and come clean though and admits he's not Richie's father.

Richie was adopted even back then so looks like he'll never know where he comes from. The parallel flashback for MacLeod shows that he too was taken into the family he thought was his own as a baby.

A reasonable episode with nice flashbacks. Add an extra smiley if you are a Richie fan.

Should I watch it? Good one to get your ironing done to.

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Band of Brothers

A man is killed outside a church in Paris...that of Darius. Grayson was second-in-command of Darius in the bad old days and it seems he's out to get rid of all the people who have become converts to Darius's peaceful message. This includes MacLeod and Paulus, the latter a mortal.

We get a physical to-ing and fro-ing of Grayson out to get both of them, before perhaps in frustration of MacLeod's continued defence of Paulus, Grayson confronts the Highlander directly.

There's a LOT in this episode. We get MacLeod's first meeting with Darius, some of the priest's history, references to ancient immortals and dark/light quickenings, our favourite bimbo reporter and oh yeah, some great Scots angst!

What more could you want? The only thing missing is the letter K. Maybe Grayson is a Keith or a Karl...

Should I watch it? You'd better! Top 10, if not top 5.

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