"Highlander" (1992) TV series 1992-1998

Director:

Gérard Hameline

Writers:

Naomi Janzen (writer) (multiple episodes)
Scot Reins (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

6 October 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Duncan MacLeod is Immortal, and must live in modern society, concealing his true nature while fighting other Immortals.

Plot Keywords:

Immortal | Highlander | Decapitation | Flashback Sequence | Historical

Awards:

5 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 24	1:00 AM	SYFY	Lady and the Tiger	#1.18
Tue. Dec. 1	1:00 AM	SYFY	Eye of the Beholder	#1.20

Cast

Adrian Paul	...	Duncan 'Mac / ... (119 episodes, 1992-1998)
Stan Kirsch	...	Richard H. 'Richie' Ryan (103 episodes, 1992-1998)
Jim Byrnes	...	Joe Dawson (88 episodes, 1993-1998)

Also Known As:

Highlander (France)
Highlander: The Series

Runtime:

Argentina:60 min | Israel:45 min | USA:60 min (119 episodes)

Country:

Canada | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Bordeaux, Gironde, France

Company:

Davis-Panzer Productions

Trivia:

The series was originally planned to follow the film, with Connor Macleod in the lead role, to be played by Adrian Paul. Paul, however, wanted the freedom to create his own characterization, and to avoid direct comparisons to Christopher Lambert, so the writers agreed to create a new character.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Episode 1.20, "Avenging Angel", features a swordfight between immortals that appears to be on holy ground; however the site is actually a museum displaying religious artifacts from the crusades. The confusion arises because footage from this fight is seen in the opening credits of later episodes as the narrator speaks of holy ground.

Quotes:

Richie Ryan: You ever had it bad for an older woman?
Duncan MacLeod: Well, the situation hasn't come up recently.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Storm Watch (2002)

Thoughtful, and very hot

Far superior to the films, for every reason: Better venue for developing the mythos and the characters, better opportunity to explore the nature and implications of immortality, and a far superior leading man for all the reasons we choose them. Adrian Paul (who inspires whole libraries of romance novels) looks magnificent and convincing in any time period and has ALL the right moves. He's also a vastly superior actor to Christopher Lambert. It is easy to see why the producers regretted not having made Duncan MacLeod immortal in an earlier time period; not only would there have been more history to explore and a richer background for Duncan, but it would have provided more visual riches for the audience.

The series jumped the shark after season 5, which I think had some of its best episodes: "Comes a Horseman", "Revelation 6:8", "Duende", "Dramatic License", "Little Tin God". "The Stone of Scone," which has its defects, represents an episode type that this series should have done more of: a complete flashback without 20th C references. The possibilities of such episodes were a missed opportunity.