Yes children, 8 years prior to HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME, Connor and Duncan Macleod met in the pilot episode of the "Highlander" television series, titled "the Gathering". This video, collecting the first two episodes of said series, plays like an oracle, as we get a glimpse of how Adrian Paul and Christopher Lambert manage to gel as a on-screen duo. Oh yeah, and it introduces us to even more immortals that Connor seemed to have looked over when he became God in the first HIGHLANDER movie... as you can guess the link between the movies and the television series is almost non-existant, if not TOTALLY non-existant. Sadly, since this is a television show, the gore is cut down monumentally, especially the flying heads. Also, the sex is toned down, denying us the precious titty and ass shots that the movies fed our flesh hungry appetites with. These two big problems aside, the series was actually pretty good, following the exploits of Connor Macleod's fellow clansman (and fellow immortal) Duncan, as he goes about his daily life of antique dealing, decapitating, and slipping into flashbacks in the true HIGHLANDER fashion. A cult classic that ran for a strong couple of seasons, especially in it's land of origin, Europe, it introduced us also to the Watchers: a group of "normal" humans who have been keeping track of the immortals and their adventures for centuries, keeping detailed files and doin other Tom Clancy shit. Nothing like secret societies and conspiracies to rake in the nerds! Anyway, onto the video...

Starting with the show's first episode (I guess that would make sense), "the Gathering", we open in Duncan Macleod's apartment/antique store. A petty thief breaks in searching for easy prey, doing so at a very inopportune time, namely while Dunc's getting it on with his lady friend Tessa. Dunc confronts the punk, who turns out to be Richie, whom all fans of the TV show will note later becomes the "Gilligan" to Duncan's "Skipper". Their little meeting is interrupted by the sudden appearance of the immortal monster Slan and Dunc's clansman brother Connor. This gathering too is ruined as the 5-0 show up and Slan is sent scattering into the night. Now that that's over, let me give you a little info on Slan. First of all, he's played by Richard Moll, best know to sci-fi B-movie freaks as the big cyclopian warrior of Charles Band's early Empire Pictures excrement, METALSTORM: THE DESTRUCTION OF JARED-SYN! All others will remember him from the '80s sitcom "Night Court" as Bull Shannon, the tall bald bailiff. Well, as Slan, he's far from intimidating, mainly because he wears a bad quiet riot mask and lacks the finesse to swing a chainsaw, let alone a broadsword! Ack! Richard Moll, you're a lumox.

The rest of the episode is mainly involved around Connor and Duncan catching up on old times, taking us through a few flashbacks and showing us how their brotherly relationship progressed over their many centuries together. Also, we discover that Dunc's been trying to stay out of the immortal loop these past few decades, not wanting to kill or risk his own neck in the effort. But, since there's that whole, "There Can Be Only One" clause, looks like Dunc doesn't really have a choice, does he? Also, that goofy bastard Slan has taken to stalking Duncan's babe Tessa. Stuff like that too probably had a big impact on Dunc's decision to go into seclusion. Don't worry about Tessa though, because Con's taken to stalking Slan too, so she's safe. Speaking of Tessa, she's not too keen on the idea of her boyfriend being the target of headhunters, nor herself for that matter. So, looks like she and Dunc have to have a "relationship talk". To add to the bad luck, that prick Richie's been spying on Con and Dunc in their sparring sessions, so he knows about the immortality thing too. Damn nosey kids.

Con and Slan finally have it out atop a bridge. Con embarrases the big lug, gashing his mis-shapen face and impaling the fucker's liver like a fillet. But, since he is a villain and it IS Duncan's show after all, Slan pulls a trump card out of his jockeys, hitting Con with a spear gun hidden in the hilt of his sword, knocking the Highlander over the side of the bridge and into the river below. Slan doesn't get a moment of rest though, as Duncan soon follows (remember, it's HIS show). These two duel too, ending with Dunc's victory and Slan's beheading. Richie witnesses the whole thing, and it looks like Duncan's gonna need to kid the kid close to keep his mouth shut... After the death of Slan, Dunc fishes Con out of the river, then leaves, asking him to say goodbye to Tessa for him so as to keep her from harm. Instead, Con takes Tessa to Dunc's cabin out in the woods, where he's gone to try and play hermit again. Con then kayaks into the sunset, off to make HIGHLANDER: THE FINAL DIMENSION, leaving the happy couple to work out their problems and live happily ever after. How do they turn out? Well, there's about 6 or 7 seasons to this series, so I guess you'll just have to tape the reruns and find out!

Speaking of other episodes in the series, our next episode begins right away, though the creators make it seem like a continuation of the first story with a simple "6 months later" line tagged on the episode's beginning. This story begins with Duncan dueling with a man on a New Year's Eve party boat. The battle ends with Dunc throwing the guy overboard. Nothing like losing a sword fight and winding up with a soggy pair of pants to ring in the New Year! The following day, a broad named Rebecca comes into Duncan's antique shop (he's open on New Year's Day?!) looking for a very special kind of sword, flirting/challneging Dunc in the process. Oh yeah, and Ritchie, the snot nosed thief from the first story is now fully employed at Dunc's store and hangs out with Dunc and his still-girlfriend Tessa. This is a shame, because Tessa's accent gets unbearably annoying unbearably quick!

We learn that Becky has/had a connection with a guy named Walter Reinhardtm whom Dunc had a long standing feud with. Walt is likely the guy Dunc dunked (oh the unrelenting hilarity...) on New Year's. Speaking of Walt, Dunc's been having little personal intuitions that point to a return on Walt's part... or could they be caused by Becky, seeking revenge for her slain (no, not Slan, he died in the first story!) friend Walt? Dunc "falls" for the trap, which turns out to be Becky's doing. Turns out Becky was Walt's fiance and she's pissed because she thinks Duncan killed him, based on Walt's sword, which she happened to find for sale in Duncan's shop. Being a woman, this hereby gives Becky reason to seek bloody vengeance on her one suspect: Duncan. Meanwhile, that little pisser Ritchie gets kidnapped by someone. That someone then forces the lad to give Duncan a ring and tell him to meet at Becky's house on the outskirts of civilization.

This brings our pot to boil, as Dunc and Becky duel it out with clashing steel. Walt makes his appearance, revealing himself to be Ritchie's kidnapper, only to learn the harsh truth that this whole sorted soap opera has been one big set-up courtesy of Duncan to bring Walt out of hiding and unveil to Becky just what it Walt is: an asshole... oh, and an immortal. Now, Dunc and the snooty prick Walt get into it once more. Obviously, being the center of the series, Duncan comes out victorious and Walt comes out minus one head... and I shouldn't need to tell you which one. Beck is left to a new life of being a liberated female and shit, starting with Dunc rejecting her offer to shine his eternal knob. Boy, with all the shit guys have been handing her lately, I'll bet 69-to-1 odds she goes lesbian two days after that.

Don't get me wrong, I liked HIGHLANDER, and I think the series is fairly admirable. However, where as the concept behind HIGHLANDER made for a good movie, the whole idea kinda makes for a weary television show. I mean, yes, the little extras like the Watchers are interesting, and it's cool to follow the life of Duncan, his numerous flashbacks, and his big brother-like training to Ritchie (yeah, he later turns out to be an immortal too), but just how many times can we be left in "suspense" as Duncan fights opponent after opponent, when we know the undoubtable conclusion: Duncan always wins! Again and again Duncan will always win, because without Duncan there's no show! So, every time the conclusion is the same more than ever: the hero wins. How it lasted more than half a season I do not know, but far be it from me to suggest what makes sense and what doesn't in TV land, just look at "BJ and the Bear"!

Sequels: this is merely the first two episodes of the long lasting series.

If You Liked This Flick, Check Out: HIGHLANDER: ENDGAME or METALSTORM: THE DESTRUCTION OF JARED-SYN