User Reviews

OK...I'm really torn here, so please bear with me.

First of all, if you don't want to have the episode spoiled, don't read this. But if you've seen the episode and want to hear my two cents, read on, dear fans of Highlander.

The story begins with an archaeologist who uncovers the sacred temple of Aruman, the demon immortal who represents Satan. He is released, and after the archaeologist travels to Paris to warn Duncan about it, Aruman appears in the guise of James Horton (THATS RIGHT, JAMES HORTON) and distracts Duncan while he uses his super cool telekinesis to strangle the archaeologist, so that he can't teach Duncan how to kill him. Apparently, the prophecy that Cassandra was referring to when she talked about MacLeod was about Aruman, and he was the "Highland Child Who Has Seen Both Light And Dark" who was chosen to kill Aruman, or at least hold him back. I refuse to believe that even Duncan MacLeod is cool enough to own Satan. Anyhoo, everyone thinks Duncan is going crazy because he's seeing Horton and Kronos and everyone he's killed that has been truly evil. Long story short, Richie finally sees Horton, and thinks he's kidnapped Dawson, even though Dawson was standing next to Mac when he was talking to Richie on the phone. Mac goes after Richie, and confronts Aruman, who takes on the form of Richie, Kronos, and Horton, who all basically pull the old circle and taunt. Mac accidentally beheads Richie, and kills him. The epp ends with Mac holding out his sword to Methos, Methos refusing to take it, and Dawson crying on Methos's shoulder over his lost friend.

My Review: 7 out of 10. This show gets points for finally using demons, but minus a million for killing off Richie.

Stan Kirsch (RIP) must hold a bizarre record amongst TV actors, that of the most number of episodes where he appears in the main titles without his character appearing in the episode. Notwithstanding the strangeness of trying to correct a thirty-year-old TV series, I think making Richie an Immortal was a terrible mistake. I suspect that the writers didn't really know what to do with two series-regular Immortal characters, and that is why we only saw Richie take a couple of heads throughout his run on the show. As I binged the show with my wife in 2021, we ultimately concluded that Richie would have worked much better as a Watcher assigned to observe Duncan MacLeod. Now, this doesn't send off Joe Dawson, however, whom I really liked in the first run of the series and again as I rewatched it. On the one hand, Richie could have been assigned to MacLeod from the beginning, with Joe as his boss-they did show the Western European HQ of the Watchers; why not the Pacific Northwest USA office? On the other hand, Richie could have been in the dark about Immortals the whole time he worked for Duncan and Tessa, only learning the truth when he sees Duncan come back to life sometime. They could even have kept the plot of 2.4 The Darkness largely intact, but instead kept Richie back in the house and have Duncan and Tessa get shot by the mugger. Richie comes out to find them dead, and just in time to see Duncan come back. Then Richie is drinking away his experience and, of all the gin joints in all the world, he's gone into Joe's place. Joe: "What's the problem, kid?" Richie: "I saw the strangest thing." Joe : "Yeah, I know..."

Then, we come to the end of Season 5, and probably the worst way I've ever seen a character written off a TV show, especially since there was already plenty of opportunity to do so. For example, when Richie killed Mako, Duncan told him he had to leave. Bye bye Richie; maybe you can come back sometime later as a heel and get a proper sendoff. Richie even suggested a possible heel turn a couple of times. Alternatively, in one of the many times Duncan went back to France, Richie could have just gone to "Mandyland." Another more logical way to get Richie out is have him go on a long journey of self-discovery after he had his motorcycle accident. They also could have used a bizarre event that happened to Duncan to get Richie away; after his Dark Quickening, Duncan tries to kill Richie; maybe Richie just can't get over that and runs away. No problem. Yet again, Richie could simply have been killed off by any of the other evil Immortals he and Duncan met along the way.

Any of those would have been much better than Duncan killing Richie in a surprise. Blech. This was such a cheap way out of an old mistake.

1. Highlander the TV series adds extra dementions to storytelling in a fascinating way as it tells stories about people who are destined to become immortal once they experience their first physical death. Provided that they are not decapitated or their body is not completely obliterated, they will recover from any event that causes death. It is often a gritty story because when immortals meet, they sometimes fight to the death. They can sense or "feel" when another immortal is approaching. This helps them to be ready in case they are challenged to a fight. Immortals are biologically unable to have children. 2. Also, there exists a mysterious set of rules that all immortals have to follow. They must only use bladed weapons in battle. They cannot interfere or assist when another immortal is engaged in battle, (one on one only). ADDITIONAL RULES: they must keep their immortality a secret from mortals (exceptions are mortal spouses or revealing your secrets by accident or out of extreme necessity). They must keep their challenges and battles away from the public. (This rule is not always followed perfectly). When an immortal "dies" in public that immortal must leave that part of the world and possibly even create a new identity to use at least until anyone who might recognize him or her has died or is no longer a factor. New and inexperienced immortals usually receive assistance and training from a more experienced immortal for a period of time. And the most important rule, it is forbidden to fight on any type of Holy Ground. 3. In my opinion the writers and producers of the Highlander TV series did a great disservice to the show at the end of season five. In the episode "Archangel" a demon is introduced into the story. The main immortal character, Duncan MacLeod, has to do battle with this non-corporeal entity for three episodes, and one other main immortal character is killed as a result. To make things even more unpalatable for the viewer, the demon appears in the likeness of the most despised character in the TV series, that of the evil Watcher James Horton. 4. With all of the existing elements of the Highlander show there is already plenty of material and plenty of avenues to create great and interesting stories, so I have to cry FOUL very loudly at the introduction of this demon. He has no place in these stories of immortals. He doesn't fit, and he only perverts the show. 5. If you are a fan of the show you will probably watch these three "demon" episodes regardless. There is some good and clever dialogue and Watcher Joe Dawson, having re-located to France, has a new blues music nightclub called "Le Blues Bar" (Joe has a sense of humor). 6. I realize that by the time the demon has departed from our story, we are in the early episodes of the last season of Highlander. While it's possible that the writers and producers were not concerned at this point about the effect a demon would have on the show, I still believe that it was a terrible idea.