Only One
a series overview
Highlander is a media franchise similar to Star Trek, Star Wars, James Bond, and company. Dating back to 1986 with the release of the feature film Highlander, the franchise now includes five films, two live-action TV series, plus animation, novels, comics, and merchandise.
Lack of continuity and consistency can make it difficult for newcomers to get into Highlander. That said, the franchise offers some of the best contemporary fantasy put on screen.
The premise of each Highlander installment is basically the same:
The Highlander, MacLeod [Connor, Duncan, and others] is Immortal, and can only be killed by decapitation. There are other Immortals, drawn together in a contest called the Game, at the time of the Gathering. When one Immortal kills another, the victor experiences the Quickening, a transfer of power and knowledge. In the end, there can be only one.
Here we'll examine each franchise entry, to see what's best to watch and what's best avoided. The two categories Continued from and Continued in refer to continuity. (There are several diverging story threads.) You might also find this continuity chart helpful while reading.
Highlander (Film, 1986)
The franchise progenitor, Highlander is a cult classic in it's own right, full of action,
drama, romance, magic, and of course, Queen songs. The three central performances carry the film:
Christopher Lambert, whose thousand-mile stare conveys Connor MacLeod's age and weariness; Sean
Connery, who brings great energy and wisdom to Ramirez; and and Clancy Brown, whose Kurgan is the gold standard for Highlander villains. Connor's life is also touched by three women, all of whom are given distinct personalities and backgrounds. Admittedly the film isn't perfect - the dialogue is sometimes silly, the editing confusing - but there's lots to like for fantasy fans, and those willing to find a kind of magic within.
Continued from: Nothing, it is The First.
Continued in: The rest of the movies and TV series.
Highlander II: The Quickening (Film, 1991)
Things began to go awry pretty quickly for Highlander. This sequel has the dubious
distinction of being "one of the worst movies every made." Imagine all the Immortals from the first
film are actually aliens from the planet Zeist. It's the near future, and the o-zone layer is gone,
so a massive shield protects earth. Christopher Lambert (in bad aging make-up) fights General Katana (yes, like the sword.) Sean Connery is in it, but that's no advantage. I'll direct you to the spot-on review at badmovies.org should you like to read more.
Should I Watch This? No - not if you value your sanity.
Continued from: 1986's Highlander
Continued in: Nothing, mercifully.
Highlander: The Series (TV Series, 1992-1998)
Now we're getting back on track. Highlander: The Series delivers on the potential of
the first movie by expanding the world of Immortals, and introducing an appealing new lead, Adrian
Paul as Duncan MacLeod. While the first season has its weak moments, the show gels in the seasons
thereafter, playing out thoughtful stories that explore what it would mean to live (and fight) for
many centuries. Paul is joined by an excellent supporting cast, and many character actors (and rock
stars) appear in the different episodes. A Canada-France co-production, the show was shot in Vancouver and Paris, which serve as convincing backdrops for the historical flashbacks. With strong production values and sophisticated writing, Highlander: The Series is a true classic of the science fiction & fantasy genre.
Should I Watch This? Yes - seasons two through five encompass the best episodes.
Continued from: 1986's Highlander
Continued in: 1998's The Raven, 2000's Endgame, 2007's The
Source
Highlander III: The Sorcerer (Film, 1993)
With a successful TV series launched, the Highlander producers had another go at a sequel
to the first movie (wisely ignoring Highlander II.) While not a train wreck, this film
isn't exactly stellar either. Connor MacLeod, now with adopted son, believes the Game to be finished. But an archaeological dig unearths Kane, an evil Immortal with the power of illusion. Mario Van Peebles is a worthy scenery-chewer as Kane, but there are few other memorable features, apart from clear production goofs (like a huge airport sign that reads "Bienvenue à Montréal" in what is supposedly Newark, New Jersey.)
Should I Watch This? No - not unless you really like Christopher Lambert.
Continued from: 1986's Highlander
Continued in: Nothing.
Highlander: The Animated Series (TV Series, 1994-1996)
This cartoon, like Highlander II, takes place in the future, this time a far future in
which humanity is enslaved by an Immortal named Kortan. Young Quentin (the last of the MacLeods)
must collect the knowledge of the remaining Immortals (through sharing, not beheading), in order to
gain the power to stop Kortan's reign. He's accompanied by Ramirez and several sidekicks. A fairly
typical '90s animated adventure (they usually involve collecting something), the show nonetheless
has some mature themes and moral grey areas, as well as fairly well developed characters. The
production (animation, score, voice acting) is not fantastic but perfectly adequate. An interesting
diversion to be sure.
Should I Watch This? Maybe - if you enjoy animated adventure series from the '90s.
Continued from: 1986's Highlander
Continued in: Nothing. It's spiritual sequel is 2007's The Search for
Vengeance.
Highlander: The Raven (TV Series, 1998-1999)
With Highlander: The Series wrapping up, the producers sought a female lead for a spin-off. The role ultimately went to Elizabeth Gracen as Amanda, a recurring series character. The
cheeky, thousand-year-old thief is paired with clean-cut ex-cop Nick Wolfe. Attempting to blend the
many elements of Highlander: The Series with those of a cop show, The Raven never
truly finds its own identity, and was cancelled after just one season. The last episode presents new plot point that's never resolved. While the episodes aren't as strong as those of its parent series, they are solid compared to other '90s adventure series.
Should I Watch This? Maybe - if you're a series or Amanda fan.
Continued from: 1992's Highlander: The Series
Continued in: Nothing.
Highlander: Endgame (Film, 2000)
So, what happens to Duncan after Highlander: The Series? What happens to Connor after he
and Duncan part ways in the series pilot? Endgame has answers, but they might not be what
you want to hear. Described as "too general for fans, too inaccessible for a general audience",
this film doesn't live up to its promise. Duncan and Connor are sullen, and bad girl
Faith doesn't spark much romance. Bruce Payne snarls as Jacob Kell, but the villain is
underwritten. Troubled plot and characters aside, there are a few production highlights, including on-location filming in the Scottish Highlands, and well-choreographed martial arts sequences. Series characters Joe and Methos have cameos. Still, fans have come to expect much more than scenery, fights, and familiar faces.
Should I Watch This? Maybe - best to have some franchise familiarity.
Continued from: 1992's Highlander: The Series
Continued in: 2007's The Source
Highlander: The Source (Film, 2007)
If you've read this far, you'll notice that none of the Highlander film sequels have been,
well, good. The Source is the worst of all. Like Highlander II, this one is set
in the Near Future, but also in Budapest (since presumably it was cheap to film there.) The world
is in ruins, and Duncan MacLeod and a ragtag band of Immortals seek The Source. (Something not
previously mentioned.) Methos and Joe are back, but otherwise the actors are
unfamiliar and unknown, including Thekla Reuten as Mac's estranged wife, Anna. The film begins with
the planets realigning themselves and ends with Duncan gaining magical powers. With fans and actors in denial that this film is canon, a reboot or remake of the original film seem the only ways to take this out-of-steam franchise.
Should I Watch This? No - never.
Continued from: 1992's Highlander: Endgame
Continued in: Nothing.
Highlander: The Search for Vengeance (Film, 2007)
It's reassuring that we can end this overview on a higher note than The Source, since this
anime-style film is actually very well executed. Sharing only its premise with previous
installments, The Search for Vengeance takes us from Roman Britain to a post-apocalyptic New York City, as Colin MacLeod seeks revenge on Marcus Octavius. While the flashback format is familiar, all the other aspects of production are unique: the animation, score, and voice acting. The script respects viewers' intelligence, and develops Colin as a strong character in just over ninety minutes. Directed by anime veteran Yoshiaki Kawajiri and penned by Highlander: The Series staff writer David Abramowitz, this is a shining example of what Highlander can be. Let's hope the live-action productions take the cue.
Should I Watch This? Yes - accessible and rewarding.
Continued from: Nothing specific - inspired by 1986's Highlander
Continued in: Nothing.
