So here’s something that might make for an interesting discussion:
If you could sit down a have a chat for say an hour or so with any fictional character, which one would you choose?
Hands down, without a moment’s thought for me, I’d choose Methos, a recurring character from a show I used to watch when I was a kid called Highlander: The Series. Now, a bit of background for those of you not familiar with syndicated Fantasy/Adventure series that went off the air roughly thirty years ago. The show was a spinoff of the Highlander films. Essentially, as long as humans have been around, a race of beings known as Immortals have been living amongst us. They can live forever, barring decapitation, which can put a pretty serious damper on your lifespan no matter who you are. These Immortals are compelled to fight each other until only one remains. The only place they can not fight each other is holy ground. When one Immortal kills another they absorb their for lack of a better term life force. This last Immortal will possess the knowledge and strength of every Immortal who had ever lived, so the stakes are pretty high, if you follow me.
As an aside, it’s stated in the series that in all of recorded history, there’s one instance of one Immortal actually beheading another on holy ground.
Pompeii, 79 A.D.
Probably best that they don’t make a habit of it.
If that date doesn’t ring a bell, look it up.
Moving on…
Methos is a quasi-legendary figure even amongst the Immortals. He’s the oldest of all of them at about five thousand years, give or take. Even he isn’t entirely sure how old he is. In his own words: “I took my first head about five thousand years ago. Before that, everything is a bit…fuzzy…”
Being a giant history nerd, I simply could not miss the chance to sit down and pick the brain of someone who was literally there for all of it. I mean, sure, his perspective would be limited being that he’s ‘just a guy’. Still, think of it! Getting to actually talk to ‘just a guy’ who stood on the same stage as Gaius Julius Caesar and Mick Jagger! I mean…as of writing, I’m forty-two years old, and it almost makes my head spin when I think back about how much the world has changed in just that amount of time. I can remember a time before the Internet. Sort of. I still know what a set of Encyclopedias is and how to use it. So there’s that.
Methos would probably be like ‘Ahhh…yeah. When I was a kid, we just figured out writing things down.’
Still, I think the principal is about the same.
Anyway.
And, well, when I was younger I wanted to be the series’ main character Duncan MacLeod. I wanted to be brave and noble and fight evil wherever I found it. Now that I’m older and have read more than enough first-hand sources, I really find myself identifying with Methos more and more. It’s harder and harder to not look at things and say to myself, ‘I’ve seen this show before. Oh, Gods be good, they’re going to do it again, aren’t they?’
Still, also, I think of a line Methos said:
”Just because I don’t like to fight…doesn’t. Mean. I. Can’t.”
Fun Fact: for a very brief look at what I picture in my head, check this out. It’s some surviving promo clips from a DVD…special feature…thing…called Methos Rocks! It was an interview with the actor who played Methos…in character. Unfortunately, I only learned that it existed far too late for me to actually see it myself. If someone out there happens to have a copy and wants to share…
Still, I’m interested to see what the rest of you have to say!
Masumi. I just want an adorable fox woman.