Our first meeting with Methos, the immortal, signals all of the complexity and ambiguity that we come to know and expect of this chameleon. When Duncan prowls down those steps and looks at the cross-legged grad student, calmly listening to his walkman, seemingly unperturbed with the fact that one of the world's most powerful immortals is creeping down his stairs with a drawn blade, the wonderful dramatic tension between these two is very firmly established.

Methos, most uncharacteristically, reveals his identity to Duncan. And what a button he pushes! For after all, how could Duncan MacLeod not be impressed with the honesty of such an admission. So open. So revealing...? In reality, the stage for Duncan's arrival had been masterfully set by Methos. He knew, from Joe, that Duncan was coming to visit Adam Pierson. He had time to disappear, - yet he chose not to. Indeed, he chose to stay and meet, face to face, the famous Duncan MacLeod. He placed himself in a seemingly vulnerable position, at the foot of the bed, the ear phones appearing to mask Duncan's buzz, so calm and cool - so unthreatening. Duncan may well have attacked first and asked questions later.

Except that Methos has studied DMotCM.

He knows that this man does not attack unarmed mortals or immortals. He gambles and he wins. (Of course, there was no doubt a sword or gun under the bed...)

Methos' studied casualness was a brilliant insight into Duncan's character. Duncan, seeing no challenge, did not mindlessly attack. Duncan is over-awed. There is a ritual challenge as they do the standard introduction before engagement. But the introductions are reversed - and the engagement is with beer and the offer of a free run of the house. Their very first words to each other (articulating the other's name) mirrors the intense and ambiguous relationship they will have with each other. Indeed, mirroring each other becomes an established pattern.

Methos pushes every button of Duncan's - brings out Duncan's protectiveness immediately. Duncan wants only to stay by Methos and protect him from Kalas. Methos not only refuses help but offers Duncan his head, thus triggering even more of Duncan's protective behaviors towards those he perceives to be in need of his help. Methos thus controls the relationship from its first seconds.

Why?

Methos could have kept his identity secret but he chose not to. Why has he chosen this instant in time to reveal his true self? Fear of Kalas? Unlikely. He could have disappeared before Kalas arrived. Indeed, he could have shot Kalas.... Does Methos actually believe in the rules, therefore?

He chooses to publicly align himself with Duncan MacLeod. Methos appears to be tired of life, rusty, out of the Game. Perhaps his tiredness extends to being tired of running as well. He tells Duncan that Duncan has a fire and passion that Methos no longer has. Is this the attraction? Did he ever intend for Duncan to take his head? As he says to Richie in The Messenger, of Richie's offer of his head to the false Methos: "Maybe he knew you wouldn't take it!' Maybe Methos knew that Duncan wouldn't take his head?

Or has he discovered that Kronos is alive and well, and perhaps he wishes for a protector in the event that he is not able to hide from Kronos?

He manipulates events so that Duncan is not unnecessarily exposed to Kalas - he has Kalas arrested. Why? He wasn't sure who would win and was not willing to take the risk of it not being Duncan. Why? He hardly knew him? Why is MacLeod's survival so important to him?

Perhaps protectors are few and far between?

Perhaps good friends are few and far between? And perhaps Methos is convinced that he and MacLeod could become good friends. Perhaps MacLeod offers Methos, the Horseman, an element of redemption. For after all, if the best of the best looks on Methos the horseman as a friend, perhaps Methos has many redeeming qualities...

Perhaps he is determined that DMotCM will be the one and he is worried by Duncan's depression and seeming decline into despair and further tragedy? And thus, perhaps he elects to play a more active role in ensuring that Duncan (and his good friend Methos) are the two who are left standing when everyone else has fallen?

Methos' parting words to Duncan - "Live, grow stronger. Fight another day." indicate a paternalistic care and concern that, again, can only score points with the Highlander. In another brilliant juxtaposition, the Arch Protector has become the Protected. Some one seems to care enough about him to actually go out of their way to protect him. How could Duncan NOT be drawn to this chameleon? And Methos' disappearance just adds to the intrigue. One can hear the wheels spinning in MacLeod's head - Methos didn't even hang around for payment of any kind. He asked for nothing. He gave, of himself - and then simply disappeared into the night.

Duncan MacLeod has been reeled in. He is not used to people not wanting him for some ulterior purpose... and Methos was so open, so honest... so caring... The thought that he might be being set up to be used as Methos' shield and weapon never occurs to him. Did it occur to Methos?

Methos does not exhibit pragmatic behaviors in this initial meeting. He doesn't run and he doesn't break any rules of the Game. He comes close to dying three times - when Duncan first meets him; when Kalas fights him and when he offers his head to Duncan. Why disappear at the end? Perhaps he started to fear how much he was enjoying being close to such fire and passion? Feared being hurt again? Feared losing another friend to the Game? Feared what he had done in revealing himself without really knowing what Duncan would do about it. Duncan does indeed reveal Methos' secret to Joe, who, fortunately for Methos, keeps the secret. (Indeed, why does he?). Wanted to make himself even more intriguing to Duncan MacLeod?

Finale

When Methos reappears, in Finale, he clearly enjoys re-establishing his friendship with Duncan. He goes out of his way to lecture Duncan on not letting Kalas push his buttons, not letting himself be sacrificed. He fills a void for Duncan left by Darius' and Tessa's deaths. "Fight your best fight!' And clearly Duncan enjoys having someone to talk with who understands the trials and tribulations of immortality, who he can hang out with, go for a walk with, bounce views off and receive advice from. But of course, in ensuring that Duncan is aware of his vulnerabilities and where he can be manipulated, Duncan will also be less likely to allow Methos to manipulate him, - if he even realizes that Methos is! Or will he? Will he perhaps be too busy looking at manipulative attacks from other quarters to look too closely at the one person who is seemingly looking after Duncan's interests so well?

What is obvious from Finale is that both of these men are attracted to what the other has to offer. Duncan is in awe of Methos' age and experience and how someone can have survived for 5000 years and still seem to be so sane. Methos quickly fills a huge gap left in Duncan's life by Darius. Methos is drawn to Duncan's youth, vigor, skill, passion, bravery - and moral worth and courage. Everything about Duncan spells danger and if Methos were being consistent he would avoid Duncan like the plague. Yet it appears to be this very danger that attracts him. Has he been living a quiet life for too long? Or - is the Game increasing in pace? Methos, from his position in the Watchers, will be in receipt of how many immortals have been killed and how many are actively playing. And, as we discover in CaH, Methos has a long history of being at the center of power. Duncan MacLeod is one of the most powerful immortals Methos has ever met. He has been attracted to this passion and power for some time. He thus appears unable to help himself when the opportunity comes up for him to once again taste this power and passion for life and danger.

And even if the motivation were purely pragmatic - to use Duncan as a shield - there is no way that such a shield will not be high profile.

Methos reveals, in Finale, that he prefers to detach himself from events and people. He takes a macro view of the world and sees everyday events as quite unimportant in the scale of human history.

"..empires rise and fall.."

"..so what if the world finds out. Life is about change. Civilizations rise and fall..."

Duncan is aghast at this viewpoint:

"What? Every man for himself and to hell with the rest?"

"...this isn't about civilizations. It's about people...Amanda...Joe, Richie. Our world isn't an ant farm..."

This is an important difference which we will see resurface with a vengeance in CaH and Valkyrie. Methos reveals an approach to ethics and morality that is very fluid. In an unstable and constantly shifting world, Methos is the only anchor, the only stability. And he will do whatever he has to do to survive - hide, mislead, lie, avoid danger. Duncan is used to having people like Amanda around him and compromises his own ethics to accommodate her seeming lack of moral standards as long as no-one is hurt.

Why did Methos participate in even doing the CD? Just a passion for history? Or to give himself fingertip information on every immortal and their Watcher in the world? He certainly knew where Caspian and Silas were. Why does he seem so unperturbed that the disc may be released? Maybe the governments of the world, who will be hunting the Immortals, will do a lot of Methos' work for him, and kill or capture a large proportion? For - of course, this meticulously thoroughly researched data base is missing Methos' true identity. So, of course, Methos has nothing to fear by the threatened release of the CD...

Methos waits at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower, waiting to see who emerges. If it had been Kalas, what would Methos have done? Probably joined Amanda in killing him...

It appears as if he is prepared to place Methos on the same friendship footing.

Chivalry

And yet, once again, Methos disappears from Duncan's exciting world, for nothing is heard from him for many months and it is a very surprised Duncan who opens his door to a very relaxed Methos some six months later when he reappears in Seacouver. On asking how Paris is, Methos sniggers, "A lot quieter since you left!"

He claims he is there solely to warn Duncan that Kristin is in town. He didn't have to do this - Joe could have told Duncan this. Methos could have phoned from Paris. Methos' relaxed entry "Candygram" and Duncan's reversal of Methos' initial greeting to him ("Mi casa es su casa") again defines the mirroring of each other's natures that is a hallmark of their relationship. In a wonderful running gag throughout their meetings Methos flips his beer caps behind Duncan's fridge - a tangible comment on Duncan's propensity for neatness, order and control. Indeed, Methos' ease around Duncan and his surety of reception (unannounced) indicate that they have indeed been in contact with each other over the past few months.

Methos, once again, has done his homework and knows everything about Duncan's relationship with Kristin. Again and again he pushes Duncan to kill Kristin before Kristin kills Duncan. There is nothing to indicate that Methos has any particular care or concern for Richie. Methos also takes the opportunity to demonstrate to Duncan that he should trust no-one - not even Methos - when he tricks Duncan into handing over his prized Katana. So here we have another mirroring - another incident whereby the one takes on the characteristics of the other...who else, apart from Duncan MacLeod "How have you lived this long?" Methos inquires. And yet who else can we imagine Duncan willingly handing his sword to? I can't recall it ever happening. A mortal maybe - but never an immortal. So perhaps Duncan's judgment is not so flawed, for after all, Methos did not attack him in earnest. If anything, the incident demonstrates how quickly these two have come to trust each other. But the lesson is learned by Duncan nevertheless.

Methos is dragged off by Duncan to help him paint his house - they discuss raising children...life....just two guys hanging out...until Methos uses the easy camaraderie to once again warn Duncan that he is leaving himself totally exposed because of his outdated adherence to a code of honor/chivalry ..."...that was trendy when you were a kid..." Methos has no time at all for Duncan's protestations that he finds it hard to kill a woman that he has made love to. "It's easier than dying!" Methos retorts.

So why has Methos really come to Seacouver? Perhaps, what the ringmaster did not anticipate was how much he would enjoy this friendship? Or perhaps, he is solely determined to keep Duncan alive, for his own purposes. And Duncan has been through a very difficult half year since last seeing Methos - Kanwulf, Cord, the death of Charlie and the breakdown in Duncan's and Joe's relationship, Kanis and the undredging of his unresolved grief for Tessa, Colonel Killian, Kinman, having to kill Kamir...Duncan MacLeod is in dire need of the company of a friend he can relax with. And if Methos' intention is solely to keep DMotCM the best and fittest of the good Immortals, then he cannot afford to have Duncan start to fall apart emotionally.

Methos' killing of Kristin can be explained as simply the opportune removal of a threat to Duncan....somewhat akin to swatting a mosquito. Of course, Kristin was already spent, from her fight with MacLeod but this is not a fact that is of any interest to Methos. He is, after all, "...a man born long before the age of chivalry." Back at the loft, Methos has characteristically taken over the loft....he sprawls across Duncan's couch, totally at home. And to Methos' assertion that Kristin would have kept coming for him, Duncan shrugs and reminds Methos that Duncan lives his life according to higher principles than mere self preservation: "..I dislike death but there are things that I dislike more than death. Therefore there are times that I will not avoid danger..."(Mensius). Methos laughs - and downs another of Duncan's beers. In reality he has shown not the slightest interest or regard for any person apart from Duncan.

Timeless

Methos shows a side of himself in Timeless that we have not witnessed to date. He appears to fall in love. His coming out of the shadows to stand alongside Duncan has also done something the puppet master had not anticipated. He is enjoying himself. He is enjoying life. He leaves himself exposed and vulnerable and a wounded and fragile woman slips under his guard. On learning that she is dying, Methos shrugs. "You're all dying..." he quips to Joe. He has satisfied himself that Duncan appears to be in good shape and takes Alexa off on a world trip for the last year of her life. His relationship with Duncan has reminded him of how much he used to enjoy companionship. And, in another reversal, instead of Duncan MacLeod protecting Methos, Methos takes on the characteristics of a Duncan MacLeod - looking after the vulnerable and the weaker.

Methos' philosophy of non-engagement and detachment appears to be in tatters...

Deliverance

When we last saw Methos he was in love, determined to spend every last precious moment with his Alexa. And yet he leaves Alexa in Athens to come to the aid of a very damaged and wounded Duncan, in the throes of a Dark Quickening. Why? Certainly, if Methos has come to value Duncan's friendship, it makes sense that he would try and 'rescue' his friend.

He never consciously risks his life and is sensible enough to take EDM to holy ground...his arrival at Sean Burns' brings home to Methos how damaged and lost Duncan is - so much so that he believes that Duncan cannot be salvaged.. "...of them all, you were the best I'd seen..." he tells him.

"I still am!" proclaims EDM.

"No! You're not. And I think I have to kill you."

But Methos does not kill EDM...he hesitates, unnerved completely when EDM asks him if he knows what evil is... "...dark, soulless evil. Feel it! Taste it!" And as we discover much later, Death on a Horse, knows evil - intimately. EDM is post Quickening, charged up, yet he does not kill Methos.

If Methos has been solely interested in preserving Duncan for his own purposes then his coming to help Duncan makes sense in terms of ensuring that such a volatile and unpredictable Immortal weapon in the Game is not let loose. The very thought of EDM and Kronos teeming up would have been abhorrent. And the thought of not being able to control and manipulate Duncan would have been equally abhorrent. In an act of incredible trust (or lunacy) Methos hands the erratic EDM/Duncan his Father's sword - thus, arming him. And the gamble pays off. He has read his Duncan well. Duncan is immediately grounded and back in contact with who he is and what he stands for. After Duncan's successful reintegration of the dark Quickenings and his re-emergence from the symbolic pool, we see Methos walk up to him, unsure as to whether Duncan has re-emerged intact or not. And behind Methos' back is a sword, hidden from Duncan. Would Methos have used it on Duncan, if the re-integration had not been successful? And if so, what would the prime motivation have been?

The fact that Methos does not leave immediately for Greece and Alexa, but stays to safely "deliver" Duncan back into the Barge, indicates that he has let Duncan MacLeod become important to him personally - that the puppet master has come to care too much about the puppet...And, as with Alexa, it is Methos who is doing the protecting and the nurturing....it is Methos who is putting himself at great personal risk - not avoiding danger - in order to save Duncan. Duncan's deliverance was a time when Methos chose to not avoid danger. Mensius would have been proud of him....

Methuselah's Gift

Alexa is dying, in a hospital in Geneva and Methos believes that he can give her immortality by virtue of the Methuselah Stone. His interest in manipulating Duncan is set aside in his desperate attempt to save Alexa. This man is a far cry from the detached observer we first met 18 months before. He places himself at risk and exposes himself to danger in order to find the Stone. And in a rare insight into the importance of his relationship with Duncan, he reveals how hurt he is by Duncan's questioning of him in relationship to attacks on Amanda:

"Methos! Just tell me you didn't do it..."

But Methos walks away...refusing to give Duncan the reassurance he is seeking. When Methos is captured at Watcher HQ, he does not even attempt to save himself and appears as if he intends to go into the night quietly...Why? For the arch survivor, the arch manipulator, there must have been something of value that he could have traded. To allow 5000 years of Quickening to be wasted? Yet he kneels meekly...he will not even suggest trading MacLeod or exposing MacLeod to these men. In effect, he puts Duncan's life ahead of his own and Alexa's. Thus - he wants to survive - BUT, it would appear, not at any price. He appears to be becoming increasingly emotionally tangled in the strings of his own puppet. Who is the manipulated now? All the talks with Duncan about the futility of being a martyr ring hollow....the lions (Rome, 93AD) are licking their lips...Methos appears to be prepared to sacrifice himself, to martyr himself...a role we normally associate with Duncan...further reversals....further mirrorings....

Through a Glass Darkly

It is almost as if Methos has been brought up short by his own recent behavior. He admits to grieving deeply for Alexa but her death also allows him to retreat to his normal distance and to once again put on his detached and disinterested persona. "Be more paranoid!" he tells MacLeod. To Duncan's accusation that Methos doesn't trust anybody he reveals that he finds it safer not to make a habit of it, "..present company excepted..." And yet when Duncan comes to him and asks him for Watcher information he is quite explicit about needing to keep a low profile but as soon as Duncan pleads: "Come on Methos...this is important to me." Methos immediately relents. "Okay."

Why?

Friends, he tells Duncan, can get you killed. Friends are dangerous...lure them outside and chop off their heads...and when Duncan is shocked, insisting that Methos must be joking, Methos retorts: "Boyscout!"

If Methos were simply interested in preserving Duncan for the Game, he could decide to help him in the way he does because by now he knows that Duncan will not give up when he is intent on doing something. Indeed, he now knows that Duncan doesn't listen to his advice very often at all. So if Methos can get information for Duncan, Duncan will be appreciative. Duncan will seek him out, just as he seeks out Joe. Even if Duncan doesn't value Methos per se, Duncan is pragmatic enough to value him as a source of information....so Methos gets him the information.

Another perspective is that Methos simply wishes to help out a person who has become a good friend. At no time does he show the slightest interest in Cochrane or his problems. His sole focus is still himself - and Duncan. He retreats underground. He physically tries to remove himself from the light and the sun....he falls into his past and spends hours immersing himself in reminding himself of what used to be important to him..."...we re-write history so we can live with it...."

To Duncan's sorrowful comment that Cochrane has nothing, Methos reverts to type - "He's alive! We all have things in our past we wish we hadn't done. I know I do..."

Till Death

The easy camaraderie is evident from the outset when Duncan returns to his barge to find Methos sitting cross-legged on his prize antique cabinet - meditating. Methos has let himself in and literally taken over. He thinks nothing of asking Duncan about the private contents of Duncan's mail - and agreeing to go along with a ruse in order to save the marriage of old friends of Duncan's. Why? He tells Duncan, later, that he must have been out of his mind. That such innocent acts often end in disaster. Why? He insists that he is not doing it for any 'nice' reasons but purely as a commercial transaction - in order to obtain ownership of the barge. But he fails to convince us - much less himself. Clearly, he is having fun.

Being around Duncan is interesting and exciting - and dangerous. But he exposes himself merely because Duncan asks him. But he does demonstrate that every situation can be turned to your advantage. He could never have kept the barge and Duncan no doubt knew this. Explaining to the Watchers how he came to be the new proud owner of Duncan MacLeod's barge would be nigh on impossible. He is an actor, he tells Duncan. He is not what he seems. He cares nothing for people or objects, he insists. And as one of only six Ming vases smash to the floor, because of his trickery, we believe him. At least, we believe what he said about objects.

Judgment Day

The playful days are over and Methos risks himself to come to Duncan and warn him of possible danger. Duncan again asks Methos for inside information which, while initially reluctant, he does when Duncan tells him that he owes Joe. But if Duncan hadn't asked, there is no evidence that Methos would have done anything for Joe. He exposes himself to the Watcher Tribunal, but Duncan is a prisoner and Methos has invested far too much time in this man to see him die at the hands of mortals. Or is it that he has come to value Duncan as a very close friend? Abandon Joe, Methos tells a newly escaped Duncan. Go to Bora Bora....and while Duncan goes back for Joe, Methos does not. Would he have tried to save Duncan? The evidence appears to indicate that he would have had no hesitation in doing whatever he had to do to save Duncan's life, given his past patterns. What is still not obvious is why.

One Minute to Midnight

Duncan brings Joe and himself to Methos cellar to hide out. It is not obvious that Methos was a willing participant in the deception or continued hiding out. Again he tries to get Duncan to leave France. For Methos, taking a macro view of events, the current Watcher fracas is a storm in a teacup...it will all blow over eventually...but Duncan MacLeod is not used to being hunted out of his own territory and once again ignores Methos' advice. Methos has no time for the Jacob Galatis of the world. They expose Duncan for no good reason except that they were once friends of Duncan's. For Methos, Jacob is expendable. Duncan is not. "...since I wanted to keep you alive it wasn't that hard a decision." He tells Duncan. Duncan, frustrated at Methos' situational ethics, tells him that he is "...either one of them or one of us..." pointing to Methos' Watcher tattoo. Time to stand up and be counted...But Methos has never been on any side...only his own.

Outside the Watcher Funeral Home he immediately falls back into the macro and comments on the cosmic irony of the situation. When Joe asks Methos for help, Methos points out "...that we're not that close..." So Joe asks him to do it for MacLeod. And he does. And he sacrifices Jacob. Duncan is furious at his friend being sacrificed to save him and immediately we are back at Finale with Methos insisting that Duncan cannot fight his battles for him. And yet here is Methos doing just this with Duncan - fighting his battles for him. Either way, Methos has misjudged badly: either Duncan, by thinking that Duncan wouldn't go back for Jacob. Or the Watchers, by believing that they wouldn't kill Jacob.

He is unnerved by how his 5000 year old judgment can have been so flawed. How he can have lost track of who he is and what he stands for. "I'm 5000 years old and I don't know who I am anymore..." he tells Joe. In the face of Duncan's passion and rage Methos is forced to accept that he has failed badly...that perhaps he has compromised so much that instead of being his own strong identity in the middle of events but untouched by them, that he has been gradually eroded. He leaves to seek enlightenment. Duncan is left with every important relationship in tatters - Richie, Joe and Methos.

If Methos' game, up to this point, has been about manipulating Duncan, then he has failed badly. If it has been about preserving Duncan's life, then he has succeeded. Duncan has come through damaged, but alive. And as Methos continually points out, that is all that really matters. He withdraws and gives Duncan time to regroup.

The Messenger

It appears as if Methos has indeed maintained contact with Duncan because, six months later, he is comfortable enough to let himself in to Duncan's loft, unannounced and lounge all over his bed, listening to CDs. Methos is back to his old self - biting wit, acerbic, continual carping at MacLeod and his gullibility. Duncan believes that Methos has endangered Richie and a dance takes place as the two follow each other the full length of the loft, mirroring each other's actions.

Methos confesses no concern whatsoever for the welfare of the false Methos. Indeed, he points out that such a one deflects potential danger from the real Methos - himself. Even Richie's vulnerability fails to excite him. It is all treated as a joke until Methos meets the false Methos and is challenged with a proposition: "Can a man say he lived for 5000 years and did nothing...it would be pointless." Methos is not amused. In Joe's Bar he rants and raves, insisting that the false Methos must die. He castigates Duncan for being taken in by him. When Richie is in danger, Methos is prepared to do nothing - his stated standard response, perfected over many centuries, to unforeseen problems. When he realizes how important Richie's survival is to Duncan he tells a story to illustrate what a cold companion integrity when it costs the lives of those we love.

But Methos has been unnerved. He has been reminded of his past and his seeming lack of contribution to the human condition. But he can at least be secure in the knowledge that Duncan will be highly indebted to him for his part in ensuring that Duncan saved Richie's life.

The Valkyrie

When an old friend stumbles across Duncan, Methos is determined that she must die. Why? Because, says Methos, she has killed over fifteen people in the past ten years. And yet Duncan has killed four times that many in half the time. Methos insists that she is dangerous. Duncan insists that she may be right in trying to rid the world of dictators and racists. Methos pretends to be Duncan's lawyer and secures his release from jail. "Since when were you my lawyer?" asks Duncan. "I can be anything you want me to be..." answers Methos. He tries to convince Duncan that history makes men - not vice versa. That Hitler would have arisen at that time in that place regardless of Duncan's and Ingrid's attempts to stop him. Once again, Methos takes the macro...Duncan takes the micro. "But it was Hitler!" he retorts. "I don't know how to stop her..." Duncan claims. "Don't you?" Methos snaps. In adopting such a world viewpoint, Methos is able to excuse all of his past actions - the times were ripe for such actions. [If it wasn't me, it would have been someone else...]

Methos' message: if you are going to involve yourself in this, then there is only one outcome. Be prepared for it. Either you die, or she dies.

Once Duncan realizes that there is a bomb set to explode he engages with Ingrid. Methos disappears. Indeed, he pleads with Duncan for them both to get out of the hall. He shows no concern for anyone in the hall who will die. And when Duncan does indeed kill Ingrid, Methos further unnerves him by agreeing with him that he has judged Ingrid and killed her, just as Ingrid judged others and killed them. He doesn't pretend to have any moral answers. In reality, he points out that even seeking moral answers leads to circular arguments and dizzy descents into madness. It's all chicken and egg... "You hungry?" is his final word on the ethical dilemmas of hunting and justifiable homicide.

For Methos, there are no grays - only black and white. He is the ultimate judge. All actions are entered into solely to keep Duncan MacLeod alive, and in so doing, keeping Methos alive. Everyone else - everything else - is expendable.

Comes a Horseman

As Duncan and Methos saunter away from the Television studio, Methos adopts his characteristic pose, tucked in just behind Duncan. Duncan is his shield. Indeed, so confident is Methos of this that he doesn't even carry a sword. In another reversal, it is Duncan lecturing Methos about unnecessarily exposing himself to danger, about the need for Methos to be more careful, keep a lower profile. It is Methos who jokes about such exposure. "They loved me!" he tells Duncan. For a man who has spent so long hiding in the shadows, Methos' agreement to go on a publicly televised television show seems extraordinary. We are as confused as Duncan by the action. But Methos has now left the Watchers. He is no longer hiding. He is happy to be seen with Duncan MacLeod.

When they both feel the buzz of another Immortal, Methos reverts to type and immediately seeks to depart. When he cannot persuade Duncan to also leave, he leaves the Highlander to fight his own fight. Ostensibly Methos doesn't even contact Duncan for some twenty-four hours, saying when he strolls into the dojo - "...glad to see you made it..". But this just does not ring true, given the amount of time and effort that Methos has put into preserving MacLeod. A quick phone call to Joe would have given him the information he needed about Duncan's survival, but his appearing to not give a damn would also ensure that Duncan does not take their relationship for granted.

What Methos did not count on was being discovered by his nemesis - Kronos, and the woman he kidnapped and raped thousands of years ago. This woman is no stranger to MacLeod - she is an icon from his childhood and a lover. Duncan finds about Methos' past in the worst possible way when Cassandra recognizes Methos, challenges him, and Methos lies and tells Duncan that Cassandra is mistaken. "It wasn't me, MacLeod!" And Duncan does something unheard of for him. He interferes in a challenge and holds Cassandra back, giving Methos time to escape. His subsequent discovery that Methos was indeed one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse reduces Duncan to molten fury.

Methos attempts to get out of Dodge...but fails miserably and is killed and captured by Kronos. "You were always the survivor!" he sneers at Methos. He taunts Methos with the lure of their past life - the power and the glory. Methos breathes deeply, reliving the indescribable, lustful smell of terror and sheer power. And all that Kronos requires from Methos to ensure his continued survival is that Methos kill Duncan MacLeod.

In an incredibly moving scene, Duncan and Methos confront each other. Duncan intercepts Methos as he is about to disappear --for who knows how long. "Is what she said true?" asks Duncan - and goes straight to the micro: "Did you kill all those people?"

Methos goes straight to the macro - "The times were different. I was different. The whole bloody world was different!"

Duncan is straight back in Glenfinnan, re-living the slaughter of his Father and his village; back in the Lakota camp, re-living similar village slaughter of his lover and her son and his tribe and clan; back in Russia, trying to stop Kristov slaughtering the innocent villagers. And Methos loses it and proclaims who and what he was: "I was Death! Death on a horse..." MacLeod declares that the friendship is at an end. In a final mirroring, both throw off their coats - their outer protective layers, both hurl themselves into their cars, seeking to put something solid between themselves and their hurt, one departs in fury. One puts his head on the wheel and weeps.

The puppet master is hopelessly entangled.

Revelations 6:8

Despite Duncan's assertion that he and Methos are through, when Kronos and Methos set off to find Silas and Caspian, Methos leaves a clue for Duncan, knowing that he will follow. Duncan insists to Cassandra that Methos is on their side. Cassandra wishes only to kill Methos and tells Duncan repeatedly that Methos cannot be trusted...he is a liar...he looks after no-one but himself. When the expected call comes from Methos, he and Duncan meet on holy ground. Duncan does not challenge Methos with the morality of what he has done. Indeed, he has shown in his interactions with Darius, Constantine, Kirin, that he is able to forgive. What he is still smarting from is Methos' lack of trust in him. "Why did you lie to me?" he challenges. Methos exhausts himself trying to keep too many balls in the air....Cassandra is kidnapped by Kronos, everywhere Methos looks there is chaos and betrayal. He pretends brotherly affiliation but all the time is plotting their downfall, via Duncan MacLeod.

Once Duncan arrives and challenges and engages with Kronos Methos chooses. It is high risk. He chooses MacLeod. If he is wrong, and Kronos wins, Methos will die. But he has already warned Kronos: "I go with the winner!" He has watched Kronos fight and he has watched Duncan fight. He assesses and makes a choice. Or does he simply choose on the basis of friendship? Or does he get forced into making a choice because he cannot live with Cassandra's death on his hands. If Kronos hadn't sent him to kill Cassandra, would he have stood by and watched Duncan and Kronos fight - and done nothing.

Duncan and Methos win. As Cassandra comes forward to kill Methos, on his knees after taking Silas' Quickening, Duncan screams out to her, telling her that he wants Methos to live. Methos has chosen wisely. His gamble has paid off. They soon meet again on holy ground.

"You set it all up didn't you!?" MacLeod challenges.

"Maybe..." replies the puppet master.

The end result - three of the Horsemen are dead. Duncan MacLeod is alive. If nothing else, Methos' standing in the shadow of DMotCM has paid royal dividends. Methos' enemy of thousands of years is dead at MacLeod's hand.

Forgive Us Our Trespasses

In the fallout of the Horsemen, Methos has not seen MacLeod for many months. Relations are very strained. But Duncan is seriously threatened and Amanda is sufficiently worried by Duncan's mental state to wake Methos up in the dead of night and ask him to talk to MacLeod. Methos scoffs and is furious at being awoken. But Methos knows of Duncan's propensity to beat himself up, abuse himself mercilessly. "I am a murderer!" he tells Amanda. She reminds him that it was hundreds of years ago. But Duncan doesn't believe that one can simply slough off the sins of one's past. So Methos turns up at dawn and engages with Duncan before Duncan can meet with Keane. He seeks to convince Duncan that he must fight his best fight. He mustn't hold himself accountable or responsible for the politics of the 18th century. We are all complex, all mixtures of good and bad..none of us are perfect...even your precious Darius..."...why don't you try forgiving yourself for once?"

"And why don't you try, minding your own business, for once..." Duncan savagely retorts.

So the puppet muster steps aside, seemingly allowing the Game to continue. And Duncan stares at him, mistrusting him. He finally turns away from Methos. And Methos pulls a gun and shoots Duncan in the back. Methos' advice regarding people being allowed to fight their own fights looks hollow at this point. Methos takes on Duncan's challenge and engages Keane. He refuses to introduce himself. As he is about to kill Keane, Duncan reappears and points out in no uncertain words that if Methos kills Keane, then Methos will have to face Duncan. They outstare each other before Methos backs down. There is little point to everything Methos has done if he, himself, kills Duncan or if he allows his Protector to kill him. The pragmatist comes to the fore and Methos departs, in a fury.

Duncan seeks out Darius' spirit to help him resolve his guilt concerning past actions, and that one always carries them. That who you were need not be who you are. And this is at the heart of Methos' and Duncan's falling out over Kronos and Methos' past. Methos' unwillingness to trust Duncan with the truth of his past left Duncan asking him, time and again: "What game are you playin'?" Duncan now knows who Methos was. But he has no clear idea of who he now is.

When Duncan, Amanda and Methos are sharing a drink on the barge, after Duncan's successful resolution of the Keane affair, Duncan lectures them both on the fact that he was never going to just lay down and die - that he was always going to fight his best fight (consistent with Methos' advice in Finale). "We all have mistakes to forgive..." Methos reminds Duncan. Duncan gives him a withering look, thinking back to Methos' insistence that Duncan learn to forgive himself - and then, perhaps, he can learn to forgive others. Both forgiving themselves and their pasts. Both forgiving each other.

And since when did the puppet master care about forgiveness? Care about what someone thought of him? Care about a friendship so much? Or, perhaps, it is all part of a plan to ensure that Duncan MacLeod survives mentally and emotionally strong and intact in order to provide the shield Methos looks for?

The Modern Prometheus

The relationship is re-established and we find Duncan, Methos and Joe drinking together, listening to Joe'' new band. The appearance of Lord Byron introduces a new jarring element into the friendship and Duncan's old protective behaviors re-emerge when it transpires that Methos and Duncan were once old friends. But this Byron is cruel and feeds his creative genius on the blood of young, awe struck mortals. Duncan warns him to leave a young Hendrix-wannabe, Mikey, alone, or he will come for him. Methos watches, horrified, seemingly unable to prevent two of his friends from engaging with each other. Byron ignores Duncan's advice and kills Mikey. Duncan's avenging angel wings start unfurling.

"Leave town." Methos warns Byron.

"It wasn't Byron's fault!" he pleads with Duncan.

But the arch manipulator is unable to prevent the confrontation and Byron meets his fate at the end of the Katana. What had seemed so simple two and a half years ago is now so complicated and complex. If his intention was to keep Duncan alive, away from harm, then he has failed miserably. If his intention was to manipulate Duncan MacLeod into doing what Methos wanted him to do, then again he has failed miserably. If his intention was simply to establish a strong relationship, then, ironically, he has succeeded, rocky though that relationship will always be for two such strong Immortals. As if answering, Duncan appears at the top of the stairs and comes to sit with Methos - together but apart, drinking to fate.

Archangel

After Byron's death, Methos avoids being too close to Duncan, letting new wounds between them heal. Ironically, in so doing, he allows Duncan to be exposed to the worst threat of his life - Ahriman, a Zoroastrian god of evil. Or has Duncan simply succumbed to the madness that is his life, and gone insane? Listening to Duncan rave about such a creature, talking to a dead Kronos, that he is seeing dead people walking the streets of Paris.... Methos shakes his head in sorrow and advises, "You need help MacLeod..."

And thus the scene is set for a total breakdown on Duncan's part and his killing of Richie. In a devastating scene, book-ending the entire span of their relationship, Duncan falls to his knees and offers his head and his Quickening to Methos. Methos refuses. "Absolutely not!"

Thus, it is clear that in terms of what game Methos is playing it was not to take Duncan MacLeod's head.

Methos has survived 5000 years - on his wits, his wiles, his cunning. We have seen instances where he has aligned himself with strong personalities and basked in their presence and their lifestyle. But what he forgot was that part of his game was to preserve himself intact whilst also seeming to play Kronos' and Byron's games, appearing to ape their lifestyles. Indeed, it went beyond appearances. Adopting the same strategy with Duncan, however, introduced him to an iron will and a moral and ethical strength that he had not allowed himself to be exposed to for many years. And so he starts to take on these same characteristics. He starts to once again feel for people. Care about them. Not a large number but enough to remind him what life can be, away from the shadows.

Perhaps he started out thinking that he would easily manipulate Duncan? Perhaps he simply wanted a friend? Perhaps he wanted nothing...always it is Methos who seeks out Duncan, Methos who gives out sage advice, Methos who intercedes and fights Duncan's fights in order to keep Duncan alive, Methos who uses Duncan to protect him from his past.

Indeed, what game is Methos playing?

He may have known once, before he came to actually care about the man Duncan, rather than simply what he represented...while Methos physically took over Duncan's home and his possessions, Duncan, like Alexa slipped in under Methos' guard. And in so doing the two have not only been exposed to the worst in each other, but also the best. Duncan survives his encounter with chaos and death. He survives. He has been learning from a master. He is no longer the naïve, white knight. He learns pragmatism. He is learning to be flexible, whilst still retaining his core. Methos learns that his core is in fact still intact and has not been scattered to the winds of expediency over the centuries - that he is a person who is loved and respected by good people like Joe and Duncan. That he has worth. He learns to give of himself, knowing that it will leave his heart and his soul open to abuse.

Both have learned that they are stronger together than apart, despite the risks of such friendships between Immortals. When Duncan returns from his year in a Monastery in Malaysia, Methos appears to have disappeared. He leaves Duncan to fight this fight alone, knowing that his future sanity relies on his finding his path back to sanity and self-forgiveness. Methos failed Duncan in Archangel, and, well over a year later, he has failed to physically re-appear. Duncan is alone and lonely, a seemingly hollow vessel without the warmth of his friends around him. His life now revolves around nothing but rigid punishing physical and mental exercises. He appears to be more alone than he was when he first met Methos.

And where is Methos?