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Duncan MacLeod was an Immortal, and the second Immortal to bear the moniker of "Highlander". He became known as a powerful, noble, and principled champion, whose exploits were regarded as the stuff of legend.
Clan MacLeod
Duncan aged 13
Duncan MacLeod, like most Immortals, was a foundling, brought to the doorstep of clan Chieftain Ian MacLeod during the Winter Solstice of 1592 by a local peasant. Knowing his wife, Mary, had just given birth to a stillborn son, the elder MacLeod decided to claim the newborn infant. The loss of Mary's son was kept secret, and Ian raised Duncan in a hamlet near Glenfinnan as his and Mary's own.[1]
Duncan grew up into a spirited lad, well loved by all in the village. He struck a close friendship with a cousin, Robert MacLeod, and the two boys had many adventures together. In 1606, Duncan and Robert decided to go hunting a wild wolf lurking in nearby Donan Wood.
Duncan about to face his cousin, Robert
When the boys encountered the beast, Robert panicked, fleeing the scene, leaving Duncan behind. Duncan, however, soon found himself isolated in a remote cottage with a enigmatic woman, who pronounced the boy special, and marked by destiny. This Witch of Donan Wood, was also known as Cassandra, and she sheltered the boy, saving him from an early death at the hands of Kantos. When she deemed it safe, Cassandra returned Duncan to his worry-stricken father.[17]
Tragedy first struck Duncan's life in 1618 when he found himself involved in clan intrigue. His childhood sweetheart, Debra Campbell, found herself betrothed to Duncan's friend and cousin, Robert. Duncan protested, seeking exception from Ian and the Campbells, but could do nothing. Mournfully, he presented Debra with a farewell gift: a jeweled bracelet. When Robert found out, he was incensed, forcing Duncan into a duel to the death, and then dying at the hands of his horrified kinsman. Duncan refused to marry Debra due to his guilt at killing his best friend, and in hysterics, Debra fled to a secret childhood hiding place atop a nearby cliff, intending to jump to her death. Duncan talked her out of jumping, but watched in shock as a the edge of the cliff crumbled beneath her, plunging her to her doom. The young Highlander was forced to bury his love in an unconsecrated grave when her death was declared suicide.[18]
First Death
Duncan experiencing his First Death
In 1622, the Clan MacLeod was at war. Riding with his father into battle, Duncan was struck down during a major battle, and was carried back to his home, where he died of his wounds before his parents. As his father rallied his crestfallen warriors, an old peasant woman witnessed the young MacLeod heir return to life, and screamed.
Duncan being told his origin by his father
A terrified Ian pronounced Duncan's resurrection "the work of the demon master from the world below," and disowned the bewildered young man.[1]
In a depression, Duncan wandered the Highlands alone, hunting food, and sustaining himself, until he encountered Ian again. Attempting to reconcile himself with his father, Duncan was stunned when Ian revealed the truth about Duncan's origins. The young Highlander, however, proudly proclaimed his adopted heritage at the top of his lungs.[1]
Duncan in his first Immortal fight, facing Kanwulf
Two years later, the Clan MacLeod was attacked yet again, this time by a band of renegades led by the Viking warrior Kanwulf. When Ian was struck down, mortally wounded, Duncan returned to his father's deathbed, reconciling with his mother, Mary. Taking up his father's claymore, Duncan rode out to avenge his father, slaying and driving away the bandits in their camp. Then, for the first time, he felt the Buzz that indicated another of his kind was about, but he had no way of knowing what it meant. Dismissing the strange sensation, MacLeod fought Kanwulf, impaling the evil Immortal to the earth. Having not yet been taught about Immortals and the Game, however, Duncan left the fallen Viking for dead, but not beheaded, burying the latter's axe as an act of desecration. He then returned to the wild, leaving The Clan MacLeod for good.[18]
It was not much later when he felt the Buzz once again. Following the sensation into a nearby cave, MacLeod found an old hermit who pronounced Duncan as "The Chosen One," and prophesied Duncan's meeting with his future mentor, Connor MacLeod. The hermit also foretold Duncan's future battle with an ancient evil, and that he must be ready. Suddenly the hermit drew a sword and demanded that Duncan take his head, a request that young MacLeod was loathe to grant. Before Duncan's shocked eyes, the hermit, Timothy of Gilliam, grabbed Duncan's sword by the blade and sliced off his own head with it. As Duncan backed away in horror, The Quickening took him. Unprepared for the new experience, Duncan failed to process the event properly, and would only remember snatches of it in the future.[19]
Meeting of the MacLeods
Duncan meets Connor after the Battle of Glen Fruin
Shortly thereafter, Duncan found himself approached by Connor MacLeod, his clansman and future teacher. Connor had learned of Duncan's Immortality and had returned to Scotland to find and train his kinsman. Accepting Connor's offer of protection and education, Duncan traveled with Connor across Western Europe, learning about The Game, The Rules, and The Gathering, as Connor himself had learned from his own teacher, Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez. Connor enrolled his student in the finest dueling clubs, and taught young Duncan all of the tricks and techniques at his disposal. He instilled in his student a desire for knowledge, both of combat and of the arts and sciences. When Connor deemed the time to be right, he returned Duncan to Scotland, preparing the younger Highlander to follow his own path.[2]
Duncan is nearly killed by Martin Hyde
Five years later, in 1630, while riding, he sensed an Immortal stalking him, but never showing himself. When all those around him began turning up dead, Duncan panicked, and began looking for Connor, hoping to find his kinsman and ask his advice. Without warning, an Immortal presented himself, and introduced himself as Martin Hyde. He demanded Connor's location. In defiance, Duncan drew his blade and attacked, but was quickly subdued by his far more experienced opponent. Promising to find him again when he was stronger, Hyde strode away, laughing.[5]
Battles and Adventures
In 1634, as he was riding out of Scotland, Duncan soon found himself caught in intrigue once more, encountering a nobleman being murdered by a stranger. Devon Marek, the noble, first demanded, then begged for Duncan's help. Duncan examined the man, but could do nothing but ease his passing. It was only after he buried the nobleman that he felt the Buzz again, and realized Marek had been a latent Immortal. Before Duncan, a new Immortal in his own right, could explain the details, Marek strode off, confident in his own greatness. Duncan followed to watch Marek kill the man who killed him, a common poacher. As Marek boasted of his plans, Duncan calmly informed him of Marek's latest development: As he was now considered "dead," he no longer had a title, or lands, or anything. Expressing his disbelief, Marek attacked Duncan, who stabbed him, "killing" before more witnesses. Enraged, Marek swore revenge on MacLeod.[9]
Duncan MacLeod meets the newly Immortal, Devon Marek, back in 1634
Duncan knew it was now past time to leave Scotland, and boarded a ship immediately for Europe. Arriving in France he began exploring, where he encountered the Immortal Ursa being persecuted by a mob of peasants. Playing upon their superstitions, MacLeod drove the rabble off, saving Ursa from an impromptu burning. He placed Ursa in the care of a local monastery, knowing the unusual Immortal would be safe on holy ground.[20]
Duncan meets Rebecca and Amanda.
In 1635, Traveling through France, Duncan stopped briefly in Paris, sampling the local wares. Sensing the presence of an Immortal nearby, Duncan found two women, both Immortals. Surprised, MacLeod reassured the ladies he meant them no harm, and they agreed to go their way in peace. As one of them left Duncan with a parting kiss, she deftly lifted MacLeod's coin purse. More amused than angered, Duncan intercepted them in an alleyway, reclaiming his gold and offering to buy them a drink. He quickly became friends with Amanda and her teacher, Rebecca Horne.[21]
In 1637, Duncan traveled to Italy, selling his skills as a swordsman and entering the employ of the Prince of Verona. When rumors surfaced that the Prince's daughter, Arianna, was having an affair with a mercenary in the employ of the Gasparis, Duncan was assigned to find and destroy the culprit. Tracking Arianna to a rendezvous, Duncan soon encountered the mercenary in question, an Immortal. He drew his sword and challenged the other, only to be interrupted by a guard, who warned the two about dueling in the city. The two tentatively sounded each other out discovering, among other things, that neither of them could read and this similarity was one step on the road to a real friendship with Hugh Fitzcairn. When Fitzcairn was later caught in bed with Arianna, he was ordered beheaded by the girl's father. Duncan, however, intervened, claiming blood rights and killed Fitzcairn in a duel. With Fitzcairn's head preserved, the two decided to learn to read and write together.[22]
In 1639, Duncan and Fitzcairn were bodyguards for the Duke of Milano. After finishing their work, they were attacked by some of the Duke's enemies. During the fight, a bystander was killed. After defeating the assassins, Duncan and Fitzcairn looked at the body and saw a pendant oddly marked, around the man's neck. The pendant was marked with a watcher's symbol, and the bystander had been Fitz's Watcher, although it would be centuries later that Duncan would learn what the symbol meant.[23]
Returning to France in 1640, Duncan was eating in a local tavern when the Immortal Kyra strode through the door. Duncan watched, intrigued as the Immortal stood against two of Cardinal Richelieu's guards, then, seeing as the inn was full, offered to share his room with her, "under strictly honorable circumstances, of course." Soon enough, however, the two were talking about the "weapons" of a Scotsman, and matters soon took their course.[24]
Duncan continued in his travels, venturing to the Middle East. In 1653, he met the Ancient Immortal Hamza el Kahir, who offered Duncan friendship and training. Their time together was soon interrupted, however, when an Immortal Moor, Xavier St. Cloud, challenged Hamza, who turned and walked away. When Duncan questioned his teacher about the incident, Hamza admitted that Xavier was too powerful for him to defeat. Duncan determined to face Xavier himself, but an irate Hamza intervened, and took up Xavier's challenge to protect the Highlander. MacLeod was forced to watch as Xavier brought Hamza to his knees and took his head.[3]
Returning to Europe, Duncan sought to advance his skills further. In 1657, he met and became the student of Immortal Graham Ashe, teacher to master Immortals such as Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez. Ashe and MacLeod practiced together for weeks on end, discussing not only tactics, but art, music, and philosophy. In a cruel repeat of history, the Immortal, Haresh Clay appeared and challenged Ashe. Ashe ordered MacLeod to nearby holy ground, and met Clay. Once again, MacLeod watched as his teacher was defeated and beheaded before him. Adding insult to injury, Clay taunted the Highlander, shaming him as a coward who hid on holy ground, and inviting MacLeod to challenge him that night. MacLeod, wise enough to choose his own battles, chose to wait.[4]
Ashe and MacLeod, 1657
The next year, 1658, MacLeod became acquainted with Immortal Peter Hale, who had learned of a temporary refuge from the endless killing life of Immortals. On Hale's advice, the Highlander traveled to the remote monastery founded by the Immortal monks Brother Paul and Brother Kalas. There, Immortals could live in peace, safe on Holy Ground for as long as they wished. Duncan had hoped to meet his friend Peter Hale there, but the other had apparently already left. Nonetheless, MacLeod accepted the offer of hospitality, joining the order as a lay brother. While at the monastery, he learned the monk's art of calligraphy, and learned to read English. As he stayed over the weeks, however, MacLeod began to harbor a growing suspicion regarding Brother Kalas. When MacLeod talked to him, his responses were cold and distant, and when asked about things like Peter Hale's destination, the monk displayed a curious ignorance. When MacLeod's friend, Brother Timon departed, his time at the monastery finished, MacLeod tailed the Immortal to find his worst fears confirmed: Kalas ambushed Timon outside of holy ground, and had taken his head, as he had done with every other Immortal who had come to the monastery. Enraged, MacLeod rushed to the monastery and informed Brother Paul. When Kalas was pressed by MacLeod, he confirmed everything, while Brother Paul listened. A furious Paul banished Kalas, to the latter's outrage. MacLeod immediately challenged Kalas, but the latter refused. He would see MacLeod suffer for what had happened.[25]
Duncan and Kristin
In 1659, Duncan, traveling in Normandy, intercepted a highway robber, after sensing another Immortal in the coach. After dispatching the bandits, he turned his attention to the coach's occupant, only to find a beautiful woman facing him with a sword. The Immortal, Kristin, took Duncan as her lover, and taught him the conduct of a gentleman and the social graces.[26] Within months, Duncan found himself restless, unable to give himself over to the life of the pampered aristocrat. When Kristin arranged for an artist, Louise Barton, to paint a portrait of Duncan, however, she showed her true colors when MacLeod and Louise fell for each other. When Louise turned up dead, MacLeod suspected Kristin. When he said he was leaving, in a fit of rage, Kristin attacked Duncan. Duncan, however, defended himself, but chose not to take her head, instead warned her to stay away from him.[26]
In 1660, he sensed another Immortal, and heard a woman screaming. He met Immortal Grace Chandel, who was in the middle of helping a woman deliver a baby. While Grace thought he was planning on taking her head, Duncan instead became friends with her.[27]
In 1663, Duncan traveled as an actor in a second-rate traveling show under the direction of fellow Immortal Walter Graham. Graham had much experience in his past, having previously nurtured Shakespeare. Unfortunately, Duncan was required to play in the women's roles.[16]
Walter Graham, and Duncan MacLeod, in 1663.
Duncan was about to be burned at the stake, but is able to escape
In 1665, Duncan was in England to find his friend John Garrick, and learned that Garrick had been convicted of witchcraft. Garrick told him that his wife and adoptive son had been killed in a fire. Duncan tried to convince that the crowds that Garrick was simply stricken by grief. Garrick, however, then took out a knife and stabbed Duncan in the heart. When Duncan revived, he was also called a witch and the two were sentenced to be burned at the stake. Duncan was able to get away, along with a young girl who had been convicted as well. Duncan assumed Garrick escaped as well, but Garrick burned.[28]
Duncan and Michel
In 1670, Duncan was the military tutor to Auric, a Scottish chieftain's son, as well as weapon's master. Duncan encountered Immortal Michel de Burgoyne who challenged Duncan. After knocking Auric out because he would not leave, the two fought and Duncan took his head.[29]
Angelina tells Duncan and Fitz of her upcoming marriage
In 1696, Duncan and Fitzcairn had both made rendezvous' with Immortal Angelina, whom they were both pursuing. Angelina, however, had them both meet her on the same night, much to Duncan and Fitzcairn's annoyance. She brought them both to Immortal Robert de Valincourt's estate, who had embezzled money from Angelina. The three then met Robert, who quickly fell in love with Angelina, who reciprocated. Duncan, after flipping a coin with Fitzcairn, fought with Robert but was asked by Angelina to stop. Robert and Angelina then stayed with one another, leaving the two rejected suitors, Fitzcairn to take Duncan to find something else to do with themselves.[30] A few months later, Duncan and Fitzcairn were once again requested a rendezvous with Angelina. She told them that she was to marry Robert de Valicourt and asked the two to give her away. At the wedding, the pair were put out, but went along with Angelina's request. They both agreed that Robert and Angelina were perfect for each other.[30]
Segur consoles Duncan on the death of a friend
In 1700, Duncan buried an old friend of his, a mortal who Duncan had seen when he was first born, and then watched him grow up. His Immortal friend, Pierre Segur, consoled him and told him that, despite the loss, it was worth gaining the knowledge. The two then encountered Martin Hyde, who was then seeking Segur's head. Segur gave Duncan his finest bottle of cognac and promised to meet in an hour. The hour came and went, and Duncan knew that his friend had lost.[5]
In 1712, Duncan was at the court of Queen Anne with his mortal friend Dennis Keating, whom he'd met several months earlier. While at a pub, the two encountered Immortal, Paul Kinman, a gentleman and assassin. Dennis, not agreeing with Kinman's politics, challenged him to a duel the next day. Duncan, knowing of Kinman's immortality tried to swayed Dennis from taking part in the duel, only for Dennis to insist. He then met with Kinman and asked for him to stop the duel. Instead, Kinman agreed to end the duel with first blood.[31] The next day, Dennis and Kinman dueled, with Dennis losing. Kinman then provoked Dennis, who then lunged at him. Kinman stabbed him in 'self-defense', the strike killing Dennis. MacLeod met with Queen Anne, who told him that Kinman had been paid by an opposition faction to see that the war with France would continue. MacLeod asked her if he could fight Kinman, but she disapproved because such an action could divide the country further. He swore that, as long as the Queen reigned, he would not fight Kinman. Duncan, after giving a toast to the late Dennis, encountered Kinman one last time. Kinman provoked Duncan, hoping to force Duncan to fight him. Duncan simply ignored him and walked out of the pub. As he left, Duncan could hear the other patrons call him a coward.[31]
Duncan and Kate
In 1712, Duncan was in Ireland with Connor. Duncan told Connor that Scotland was almost no more, only for Connor to tell him that Scotland would always be Scotland and that he would return there no matter what. The two men soon came across highwaymen who turned out to be bandits who were trying to get money from two women. Duncan and Connor soon defeated the men, taking joy out of their fight. Among the women was latent Catherine Mary "Kate" Devaney whom Duncan took a liking to.[2] In 1715, after three years of courting her, Duncan married Kate. Connor arrived and spoke with Duncan, reminding him of Kate's pre-Immortal status, as well as how Connor's marriage to Heather ended in heartache, growing old while he remained the same. Despite this, Duncan was determined to be with Kate. On their wedding night, Duncan stabbed her to death in order to trigger her Immortality. When Kate revived, she ran off into the night, frightened by what had happened. She began a long grudge against Duncan, and their marriage was annulled the following day.[2]
Scottish Rebel
In 1745, when the young pretender, Charles Edward Stewart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, issued a call to arms to restore his family to the throne, Duncan returned to Scotland, along with his immortal friend, Warren Cochrane, to offer their service. At their Prince's side, MacLeod and Cochrane fought all the way to Charles Edward's rout at the Battle of Culloden. In 1746, Cochrane was killed and was forced to leave his prince behind, while Duncan took charge of removing Charles to safety.[32] Calling on the skills of his Immortal friend and lover, Ceirdwyn, Duncan helped to orchestrate Charles Edward's escape in the guise of a woman. Duncan, however, refused to depart with Prince Charlie. Outraged at the atrocities he had witnessed at the hands of the British and the Duke of Cumberland, MacLeod intended to repay them in kind. Over the next few weeks, Duncan slaughtered countless English troops without mercy or hesitation, including the wounded and soldiers in front of their families, who watched in terror. After a particularly brutal fight with four soldiers, Duncan was found and brought back by Ceirdwyn, who nursed him back to health. As the insistence of his old lover, Duncan put aside his thirst for revenge, and moved on.[33]
Several days after leaving Ceirdwyn, Duncan encountered a hamlet burned to the ground, and its inhabitants slaughtered save one old woman. The woman told Duncan the deed had been done by order of the Earl of Rosemont. Filled with a new rage, Duncan made a beeline to the Earl's estate. Before the eyes of the Earl's son and Immortal protégé, Steven Keane, Duncan cut down the Earl in cold blood. This murder led Duncan to realize he could no longer stay in Scotland, and he departed, to attempt to find a new life.[34]
New Life Abroad
In 1750, deciding to travel eastward, Duncan soon found himself in the steppes of Russia, where he was soon challenged by a Cossack on a horse. Duncan's own horsemanship, however, proved up to the challenge, and he easily unhorsed his opponent, winning his respect. The Cossack introduced MacLeod to his leader, the Immortal, Ivan Kristov who offered the Highlander his hospitality in exchange for assistance in a fight with "the enemy." MacLeod agreed quickly enough, until, to his dismay, he rode out with Kristov and his band to find that "the enemy" was a small settlement of defenseless farmers. Outraged, the Highlander drew his blade against the Cossacks, and defended the farmers. An infuriated Kristov vowed to see the Highlander dead for his actions.[35]
In 1755, Duncan was in North Africa when he met a young man, Neza, who offered to be Duncan's companion. Duncan then met Immortal, Muhammad ibn Kassim, a prefect who arrested Neza because he had fallen in love with a Princess, far above the young man's station. Duncan helped Neza out of jail, only to be confronted by Kassim. Before Kassim could attack them, Duncan made an agreement. Kassim would forgive Neza only if Duncan promised he would do one day repay the favor on Kassim's terms. Kassim agreed and let Duncan and Neza leave.[36]
Duncan with Vashti
In 1764, MacLeod was in India as a liaison to the British Colonel Ramsey and his wife, Alice. At court, he met the Immortal Kamir, who was a priest of the goddess Kali. While on patrol one day, Duncan came upon a funeral and rescued the newly widowed Vashti before she could commit suttee and join her husband on his funeral pyre. Such an action was explained to be sacrilegious, with even Vashti disagreeing with her own rescue. As time went on, however, Vashti found the kindness in Duncan's heart. The two became lovers, Vashti saying that it was the first time she had truly been in love.[37] Duncan soon found out that Kamir and the cult of Thugee had killed Ramsey and his men. While searching for Kamir, Duncan found Vashti's corpse about to burned. Kamir told Duncan that Vashti had chosen to die, because she had fallen in love with Duncan. Duncan, knowing that he could do nothing, gave her body one final kiss.[37]
Duncan learning the ancient art of the Samurai in feudal Japan
In 1778, MacLeod joined a merchant ship captained by Immortal, Terence Kincaid, and their route took them to the South Pacific. The ship began running low on rations, many of them wanting to return to China for more. Kincaid, not wanting to lose £100,000, denied the crew and forced them to continue. The crew mutinied, hoping to take Kincaid's head. In order to save his life, MacLeod suggested that they instead maroon him on a barren atoll where they had anchored in hopes of finding fresh water.[38] Later that year, the ship was caught in a storm. MacLeod ended up shipwrecked of the coast of Japan where he was found by a samurai warrior named Hideo Koto. Upon waking, MacLeod defended himself against swordsmen that were trying to kill Koto. After defeating them, Koto took Duncan in, and began training him in the ways of the samurai. The two became firm friends, but, Hideo's daughter, Maya Koto, took a strong dislike of Duncan as a gaijin, a foreigner. Duncan soon learned that, foreigners were not allowed in feudal Japan and Hideo was sentenced to death by his Shogun for harboring a "Barbarian". Hideo, however, was given the chance to commit ritual suicide in order to preserve his family's honor. Duncan wanted to help his friend, even telling him about his Immortality, and that Hideo could kill him without any permanent damage, but Hideo accepted his fate. He asked Duncan to be his second during the ritual, and gifted Duncan with his katana, Duncan, in turn, promised to protect Hideo's family should they ever need him. That night, was dead, Duncan left Japan with Hideo's katana, which the Highlander would use as his weapon from then on.[6]
Duncan and May-Ling have a moment
Two years later, Duncan visited his friend Kiem Sun in China, who now lived on holy ground while experimenting on the the Quanla root. It was to be designed as a drug to enhance people's strength and obedience.[39] Kiem Sun then sent Duncan to train with his former mentor May-Ling Shen in a small village in Outer Mongolia. Duncan approached May-Ling Shen only to discover that the master was a woman. Soon, May-Ling began training Duncan in the forms of martial arts. Later, after completing his training, Duncan and May-Ling became lovers for a time.[7]
In 1783, Duncan returned to Europe, and served as a bodyguard to Baron Deshields, who was about to negotiate peace with the English. At Deshields's chateau, the day before the negotiations took place, Duncan met Immortal acrobat and magician Christoph Kuyler who was performing for Desheild's court. While performing an act with the Baron, Kuyler stabbed him in the back, killing him.[40]
In 1785, Duncan encountered Peter Kanis, who hunting a young boy with his dogs. Duncan was forced to kill one of the dogs to save the boy, much to Kanis' fury. MacLeod manipulated events to have Kanis arrested for treason, because of his actions on the Duchess of Somerset's estate. Later, while trying to free him, Kanis's dogs killed one of the Duchess's guards. Kanis was then hanged and was buried in a shallow grave. Kanis, however, soon rose again and quickly left the estate.[41]
In 1786, Duncan met up with Warren Cochrane, who had since gained a wife, Sarah, and an adoptive son, James. They were being shot by English marksmen, whom Duncan and Cochrane easily defeated. However, Sarah and James were killed. The two continued on to visit with the exiled Prince Charles Edwart Stuart in Normandy. Warren Cochrane was hoping to raise another army for him. Charles Edward, however, proved to be nothing but a drunk and a shadow of his former self.[32]
Duncan trains Jean-Philippe
In 1795, MacLeod took on a new student, Jean-Philippe de Lefaye III, who was the finest swordsmen in his land at the time of his First Death – at least according to Jean-Philippe. Despite Duncan's efforts, however, Jean-Philippe did not take his training seriously. Unbeknownst to Duncan, Jean-Philippe was approached by Immortal, Damon Case, who challenged him. Jean-Philippe accepted and the two fought. Duncan did not know until after it was too late and Case had taken Jean-Philippe's head. An angry Duncan met with Case on Holy Ground and challenged him to a fight. Case accepted the challenge and the two were to fight the next day. Duncan decided against fighting Case, knowing that Case wasn't evil and was simply doing what he felt he had to.[10]
Duncan with Fitz, Sean, and Carolyn at the Valincourt's 100th Anniversary
In 1796, Duncan returned to France with Fitzcairn to attend the 100th wedding anniversary of Angelina and Robert de Valicourt. There, they were also joined by Immortal friends Sean Burns and Carolyn Mortimer, who played a joke on Fitzcairn making him think he was to marry Carolyn. During the festivities, revolutionaries captured Robert who was to be guillotined, forcing Fitz, Duncan, and Gina to try and save him. They were able to arrive in time and effected a rescue. That night, with the couple now safe, Robert and Angelina were able to renew their wedding vows.[30]
In 1806, Duncan was an officer in the British Army. While searching through the D'Estaing chateau in Frace, Duncan encountered Xavier St. Cloud as well as Xavier's student, Morgan D'Estaing, who had just taken revenge on his family, leaving them all dead from poison. Duncan soon heard of the D'Estaing family's "suicide". Not being able to fight them with so many witnesses about, Duncan promised Xavier and Morgan that they would see each other again.[42]
In 1814, during the Napoleonic Wars, Duncan encountered a French soldier on the battlefield. The soldier, with his dying breath, asked him Duncan to give his ring to his son.[43]
Disciple of Darius
Darius speaks to Duncan during their first meeting
In 1815, towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Duncan met ancient Immortal priest Darius after the Battle of Waterloo. Rather than fight, the two tried to help fallen warriors. Darius tried to persuade him to reject the wars and the bloodshed and instead try to pursue a life of peace. Duncan agreed and soon became Darius's friend.[44] The following year, Darius' church was ransacked by three individuals who were looking for valuables in the church.
Duncan leaves Darius to go to America
The leader of the men stabbed Darius when he told them that there was no gold in the church. Duncan, disguised as a monk, confronted the three men and defeated them. Darius was not happy with what Duncan had done, while Duncan admitted that it was hard for him as he was a warrior. He told Darius that he intended to leave Europe for the New World, hoping to lead a peaceful life there.[44]
Further Travels and Adventures
In 1817, Duncan finally made it to the New World, and was traveling in Montana. After saving a priest, Father Peter, and his parishioners from a band of robbers in Fort Wolfe on the Snake River, he met the immortal fur trapper John Durgan, who was there to sell his pelts. After Durgan murdered Miss Welsey, the local school teacher, he decided to ambush Father Peter and his altar boy to rob of from the Cross of St. Antoine. Duncan pursued him but lost his track. Mac vowed to the dying priest he would recover the cross.
Duncan with Jacob and Irena Galati
In 1847, Duncan traveled to central Europe where he met the Immortal gypsy couple, Irena and Jacob Galati. He befriended them and joined them in the gypsy camp, traveling with the Rom. One day, Duncan and Jacob found Irena had been raped by a local thug. Jacob tried to kill the man, but Duncan stopped him, hoping for justice in court. Because Jacob and Irena were gypsies, however, the case was dismissed and the man freed. The thug then insulted Irena, and Jacob immediately stabbed him to death. Jacob was then hanged by an angry mob. Duncan took Jacobs body down and after taking Jacob back to the camp, Duncan argued about whether or not Jacob's decision was right. Either way, Jacob and Irena soon left to start a new life together.[45]
Mac traveled to San Francisco where he meet a now broken and drug addled Brian Cullen, a frightened man trying to avoid the many challengers waiting for him. When the American Civil War broke out in 1861. Duncan joined the Union working as a scout and conductor on the Underground Railroad. During a battle, he met the young drummer boy, Sean Zale, an Immortal of no more than 14. Sean asked for Mac’s protection, and Mac agreed, but Mac left him at one of the stations as he went to rescue the recaptured slaves he'd been conducting. When he returned, he found the boy dead, victim of an unknown immortal. A year later, Duncan was captured and hanged only to be rescued by Confederate Captain and fellow Immortal, Lucas Desiree. The next year, Mac was again captured and imprisoned in a hellish Southern POW camp under Immortal, Colonel William Culbraith. When Culbraith refused to allow a surgeon to help the wounded Jeffrey, a runaway slave, and friend of Mac’s Mac was forced to end his suffering, vowing vengeance on Culbraith.
After the war, MacLeod traveled to Mexico where he fought in the Mexican revolution along with Paul Karros. After that, Mac joined the Texas Rangers as a scout, and became involved in the man hunt for murderer and rapist, Melvin Koren. They chased him into Texas where Duncan challenged Koren but was disarmed. Before he lost his head, however, he was saved when one of the rangers shot Koren dead. Duncan later discovered Koren's grave empty, and was unable to finish the man off. Duncan later traveled to McKewansville in the Dakota Territory where he save an Indian boy from a slaver, he took the boy to the town to receive medical treatment. The slaver arrived, wanting the boy back but he was killed by Chaske who then tried to escape but he was killed by the mob.
In 1882, Duncan travels for the first time to the pacific Northwest where he get a job running a town news paper when Mako arrived in town looking for Tim Ramsey, a friend of Duncan’s accused of killing someone during a robbery, Duncan knew that Mako would do everything he could to get Ramsey, and tried to help the young man escape, but Mako killed Ramsey in a gun battle, while Duncan watched helplessly.
Three months later, Mac met and fell in love with a mortal woman, Sarah Carter, who he became obsessed with, and planned to marry. Unbeknownst to Mac, she was already married. When her husband arrived in town, Mac tried to get Sarah to run away with him, but she refused. She left with her husband and MacLeod pursued her. When her husband shot him and Mac revived, Sarah rejected Mac in fear and horror, and he left heartbroken.
The following year, Mac met his former student,Gregor Powers, and helped him during a cholera outbreak. In 1886, Duncan established himself in San Francisco, and befriended an Immortal, Alec Hill. The pair worked together to build Alec's dream house for his wife Genevieve, but tragedy would befall Hill when the Immortal, Gerard Kragen murdered his wife. Alec vowed revenge and made Mac swear that he would kill Kragen if Alec died before he did so.
MacLeod and Kit O'Brady, 1888
In 1888, while at the Double Eagle Casino, Duncan caught a cheating card dealer. The dealer pulled out a gun, only for the owner, and fellow immortal, Kit O'Brady, to stop him. Amanda soon joined them, and Duncan introduced her to Kit. In a game of poker, Amanda won big. She soon raised $40,000, with Kit seeing the hand by betting the Double Eagle Casino. Kit had a full house, only for Amanda to win the hand with four queens. Kit returned a few days later to try and buy back the casino, only for Amanda to tell him it wasn't for sale and that it had been renamed the Queen of Spades. Not long afterwards, the Queen of Spades burnt down leaving Amanda to suspect Kit of Arson.[46]
Mac visited a still grieving Alec Hill, and tried to invite him to a party at the Double Eagle, to convince him to move on. But Alec would not listen. Between 1888 and 1889, Mac met Fitz and his student, Danny O'Donal, while looking for gold in Alaska. Duncan returned to San Francisco in 1891 and meets fast talking immortal, Tommy Sullivan, and talked Mac into becoming a prize fighter. Mac won the fight, and Tommy gained $1,000, which he collected by killing the opposing fighter’s manager, who refused to pay Tommy. Duncan is not aware of Tommy's ways.
In 1896, Duncan was in Boston attending a party, when he met young Immortal, Sharon Collins. Sharon told him that another Immortal had been planning to take her head. Not having been formally trained, she asked Duncan for help. After the party, Duncan went to Sharon's room and was attacked by Immortal, Axel Whittaker. They fought until Duncan threw Axel to his death. Sharon later talked to Duncan, who was still angry about having been set up by her. Duncan convinced her to come with him so that he could train her. Axel, however, got to her before she could flee, and took Sharon's head.[15]
In 1897, Duncan finally beheaded Khordas. By the beginning of the 20th Century, Mac was living in New York.
In 1916, Mac was in Cairo, Egypt, serving with the British Army as a driver and messenger attached to the Arab Bureau and under the command of T. E. Lawrence.
The World Wars
When World War I broke out, Duncan was at the front lines as a medic, helping the wounded. In 1917, Duncan was serving as an ambulance driver in France, and while collecting wounded soldiers, the aid station was attacked by Xavier St. Cloud who used mustard gas to kill those in the immediate area so that he could rob a payroll truck. Because Xavier is wearing a gas mask, Mac did not recognize him. Xavier upon seeing MacLeod tried to take the incapacitated Highlander but retreated when he heard the arrival of troops.
Later that year, while in a recovery center, Duncan was forced to confront a war victim, Antoine, who was holding a woman hostage. Sean Burns entered the ward, and using his skills in psychology, was able to calm Antoine down. Duncan and Sean talked, Duncan telling him he would always remember the peace around Sean's house. Sean told Duncan that, despite the guilt he felt throughout the war, that Duncan would always be kind and it was something he admired.[47]
In 1918,Duncan encountered Immortal, Colonel Simon Killian. Killian sneered at MacLeod's pacifist roll in the conflict. A sergeant soon arrived and gave Killian a letter from headquarters ordering a cessation of hostilities, the war was over. Ignoring the order, Killian gave orders to charge the enemy, while Duncan and the sergeant tried to stop him. Killian shot the sergeant, and ordered the charge. Duncan tried to stop the attack, only to be shot down by Killian. In London, Killian was tried by court-martial, and charged with the deaths of 300 British and German soldiers. He was stripped of all rank and privileges, and sentenced to death by firing squad. Duncan, knowing Killian would just revive and flee, pleaded to the courts to instead declare him insane and lock him up in an asylum. A place Killian would stay for the next 70 years.[48]
Duncan then traveled to the new Soviet Union, where he encountered Arthur Drake and promised not to fight him in return for not killing a mortal family whom Duncan was protecting.
In 1919, Duncan traveled to Ireland, and encountered Immortal terrorist, Annie Devlin. She tried to convince the Highlander to stay in Ireland and fight with her in the cause for independence, But Duncan turned her down, knowing from experience, her fight would change nothing at all. Though upset, Annie poured him a drink as a gesture that she hold no grudge. They were then attacked by the British, and though escape, her husband was killed.
In 1920, Duncan was in Paris where he is attending an opera with Maria Campalo, a close friend of his. It was at the opera that Mac again encountered Antonius Kalas who was a star tenor under the alias Antonio Neri. Kalas told the Highlander that he held no grudge against him for having him thrown out of the monastery. Duncan became concerned when Maria showed interest in Kalas who promised her fame. Duncan later arrived at Kalas' home where he interrupted Kalas’ attempt to kill Maria, and as she fled, the two men fought. Kalas bore Duncan back through a glass door and pinned him down, pressing his blade towards Duncan's neck. Duncan groped for a piece of the broken glass, and slashed desperately at Kalas's throat. Wounded, Kalas ran off, choking horribly.
Mac then left Europe for America where he met Michael Moore, whose wife has been killed by a serial killer, Quentin Barnes. And Marcus Korolus, who MacLeod was forced to kill after discovering that he was himself a serial killer known as the Scalper.
In 1926, Duncan encountered Amanda and the two become circus performers in Missouri, but later leave their job due to a pay dispute. While on the road, they met smooth-talking Immortal, Cory Raines, as he robbed an armored car. Raines then gave a part of the money to a poor family. Cory asked Amanda to join him, and they went on a five-state crime spree, robbing, allowing themselves to be shot down to get away, then having Mac, under protest, dig them back up. Duncan eventually left Amanda, and headed south where he came across a lynch mob about to hang three black men. Among them is an Immortal, Carl Robinson. Duncan drove straight for the mob and destroyed a make shift hanging tree, and rescued Carl and his friends, but ends up getting shot by one of the thugs.
In 1929, in New York City, Duncan came across pre-Immortal, Johnny Kelly, who was then killed by a mobster. Duncan tried to teach the arrogant young punk about his Immortality, but Kelly walked away, claiming to be able to look after himself.
In 1930, back in Europe, MacLeod was opening up an old bank account in Paris, he encountered Immortals, Richard Tarsis, and his pupil, Lucas Kagan, who were trying to rob the same bank. In order to keep people from getting hurt, Duncan let them go, warning them that if any one got hurt he'd come for them. After Tarsis killed an innocent woman with random gun fire, Duncan pursued the duo. After finding them in a brothel that night, he challenged Tarsis. It didn't take long for Duncan to take Tarsis's head. Duncan allowed Kagan to live, because it was only Tarsis that had taken a life.[49]
In 1935, Duncan became an agent for the British in Germany. While in Berlin, he met Ingrid Henning with whom he discussed Hitler and his growing influence. Two brown shirts beat their young Jewish friend, David, and beat them, but Ingrid reminded Mac that he has accomplished nothing; there were always more. A year later, Duncan wass approached by Amanda, asking for his aide in her escape from the Reich. At first, Duncan refused as he was smuggling a scientist out of the country, but Amanda won't take no for an answer, flying off with the scientist and leaving Duncan to hold off the German Army.
Duncan during the Spanish Civil War
In 1937, Duncan was posing as a journalist during the Spanish Civil War, along with Immortal, John Kage. Kage took pictures of Duncan and other journalists helping out the resistance fighters. Kage betrayed the Republican Movement and Duncan were soon captured. They were lined up to be shot. Duncan and his friend, Tim were able to escape, with Duncan carry him. Duncan soon discovered that Tim had died of his wounds.[50]
In 1940, Duncan headed to London where he became involved with American radio personality and reporter, Diane Terrin. One evening during an attack on London by Nazi aircraft, Diane, rather than seeking shelter, insisted on going to the roof to broadcast what she saw. Fearful of what might happen Duncan accompanied her, Diane gave a riveting report until the all-clear was given.[51] After going to the theater, another alarm was sounded. Despite her protests in wanting to stay, Duncan persuaded Diane to go with him to shelter. In the Underground, a bomb exploded, trapping them both. As the two talked, Diane told him she had hoped that they could have eventually gotten married and had children. Knowing he could do nothing but wait until suffocation, Duncan held her in his arms as she died. Sometime later, Duncan was rescued, cradling Diane's body.[51]
Mac was then inserted in to France where he worked with the French Resistance. During one operation, the boy Bernard, saw him killed and then revive. Mac swore him to secrecy.
Returning to Germany, MacLeod and Ingrid Henning aided the Valkyrie conspirators in their plot to assassinate Hitler. The failure of the plot led Ingrid down a path MacLeod could never approve, even if he could understand.
After the end of the war, Duncan encountered the Irish terroristsLiam O'Rourke and his girlfriend, Tara Fitzgerald, who wonder how he could have helped the British in the late war. They planted a bomb in the pub they been in, that killed everyone inside in addition to the miitary target they had targeted. Mac stopped them from escaping, and they were arrested, convicted, and sentenced to life. Which Tara served, Liam escaped after her death.
Traveling in Russia, Duncan tried to smuggle out Jewish refugees but was betrayed by Alexei Voshin.
Duncan then traveled back to America this time in Seacouver where he meet petty lowlife Immortal, Benny Carbassa and fell under the spell of singer, Peggy McCall, at the Coconut Lounge. Benny tried to warn Mac that Joey Lankovsky and Sid Lankovsky owned the club and that Peggy was Joey’s girl. But Peggy danced with Mac to make Joey jealous. Sid wanted Peggy, so he shot and killed both MacLeod and his own brother. He then told Peggy that the two men shot each other.
Soon after, Duncan met photographer, Linda Plager, with whom he had an affair, and influenced her art.
Mid to Late 20th Century
In 1950, Mac finally discovered Fitz’s chicanery in 1720, and demanded amends. Mac, Amanda, and Fitz broke into Westminster Abbey and stole the Stone of Scone. Amanda was arrested for treason and made a deal, turning over Fitz. Mac managed to finagle a pardon from Sir Winston Churchill, and returned a copy of the stone to the abbey while hiding the real stone at the Royal Highlands Golf Club in Scotland. [52]
Duncan returned to the US, this time spending time in the South where he met Carl Robinson again. The two go to a diner to have something to eat but the owner refused to serve Carl . Disgusted, Duncan and Carl left, but later that day, Duncan showed a visibly upset Carl a newspaper article showing that Segregation has been declared unconstitutional.
In 1958, Duncan went into a hipster bar to challenge psychotic Immortal, and killer, Bryce Korland, in Greenwich Village, New York. As Bryce walked out to fight Duncan, he was instead met and killed by Coltec, who showed the first signs of the evil consuming him. [53]
Duncan in Cambodia
In 1975, Duncan was helping a group of refugee children during Communist Party of Kampuchea rule over Cambodia. He soon met Kage, for a second time. After Duncan tried to convince him to get the children to safety, Kage denied him and took off, preferring profit to mercy. The children were slaughtered by the Khmer Rouge.[50]
Duncan faces Kuyler in Paris
While in Paris in 1980, Duncan encountered Kuyler again. After trying to defend himself with a pipe, Duncan was forced him to run for his life. He managed to jump on board a tourboat where met Tessa Noël. The two hit it off well, and eventually fell in love.[40] In 1983, Duncan revealed his Immortality to Tessa, as well as telling her that they could never have children.[54] Duncan did not, however, tell her about the Game, and did his best not to take part, hoping to retire from the Game altogether.[55] Duncan and Tessa eventually moved in together at Duncan's antique shop, in Seacouver.[55]
On New Year's Eve of 1988, he had a confrontation with Walter Reinhardt. Reinhardt escaped by jumping off a rooftop, allowing Duncan to take his sword. Just seconds later, Duncan was able to join with Tessa to celebrate the beginning of 1989.[56]
Season One (1992–1993)
Return to The Game
Duncan faces Slan
The story began when MacLeod sensed another Immortal in his shop late one night. He approached a young man, Richie Ryan, trying to steal his antiques. As he confronted the boy, Immortal, Slan Quince, came crashing through the window. Clansman Connor MacLeod soon arrived on the scene in pursuit of Quince and faced off against him. Their fight, however, was interrupted when police sirens were heard, and Quince ran away.[55] The next day, Duncan went to the police to identify Richie. When he spoke to the boy, however, he promised not to press charges if he agreed not to say a word about the previous night. Richie agreed and was sent home. Duncan sensed Connor then got together. After giving a proper introduction to Tessa, the two talked, Connor told Duncan that he couldn't escape the Game no matter how hard he tried. After returning from an errand, Duncan faced Quince again, who had taken Tessa hostage. After defending himself, Quince ran away once more. The event forced Duncan and Tessa to decide whether or not to run and stay away from the Game, or to stay and fight. In the end, Duncan chose to stay.[55]
Duncan receives Slan's quickening.
After another training session with Connor, Tessa told them that Quince had called to challenge Duncan. After a talk, Connor punched Duncan out, and went to meet Quince. After coming to, Duncan went to the designated meeting, telling Tessa that, for her own safety, he would not return. Arriving at the meet, Duncan saw his kinsman fall from the bridge, and Duncan went after Quince. Despite Quince's size and strength, MacLeod's skills proved superior, allowing him to take his head. After receiving the quickening, Duncan saw that Richie had been witness to the events. Duncan then jumped into the river and pulled the reviving Connor to the shore. Connor told Duncan Richie needed watching, and Duncan promised to do so. Tessa still wanted to stay with him despite the dangers. Connor soon walked off, letting the couple be alone. [55]
The Search for Jack Ryan
Duncan stops Clinch
Richie began a search for his parents, never having known them. After bailing Richie out of jail, for stealing a file from his old orphanage, Duncan told him he was unlikely to find what he sought. Richie told them about what little of his childhood he could remember, including seeing his mother die before his eyes. Later, Richie found a man who claimed to be his father. Duncan soon began questioning Jack's identity and went to Jack's apartment building where he met a man, Clinch, an obvious thug, who was also searching for the man. Duncan soon met Richie and Jack, Duncan making it clear that he didn't trust Jack. He then went to confront Clinch and his boss, Mrs. Gustavson told him Jack's real name, Joe Scanlon, and he owed her a large amount of money.[1] The next day, Richie told Duncan that Jack had stolen a golden mask from their shop, confirming Duncan's suspicions. Duncan then explained what he'd learned to Richie, who was understandably angry. Duncan confronted Gustavson and Clinch, who were holding Richie to force Scanlon to pay their debt. Duncan easily defeated Clinch and Scanlon returned the golden mask. Richie then learned that the mother he remembered had actually been his foster mother. Duncan told Richie that, despite not knowing his real parents, he could now decide for himself who he was.[1]
Felicia Martins
A young woman named Felicia Martins walked into the antique store in a very distracted state, she spoke to Richie, took a business card and disappeared. She then jumped from a high rise downtown, and the business card led the police to MacLeod. MacLeod assumed she was a new Immortal and made an effort to find her and explain her Immortality. He gave her a blade and started to train her. In fact, her real name was Felice Martens and she was at least 300 years old. She had duped many immortals in the past, winning their trust and then destroying what they loved to break them before taking their heads. MacLeod discovered who she was and confronted her, before she can kill Richie, who was besotted with her. Duncan challenged Felice and defeated her but let her live, he warned her to stay away from his friends.
Mountain Men
Tessa had gone to the hills to copy some old petroglyphs, and had not returned. MacLeod went to look for her, and discovered that she had been kidnapped by backwoodsmen. Duncan went after them. Caught by two of the three men, Duncan jumped off a cliff, to certain death. Stunned, they left, taking Duncan’s katana with them. Mac pursued them and, having caught one man, and killed the other, Duncan, using an axe, challenged the third kidnapper, Immortal, Caleb Cole, who fought with MacLeod's katana. In the end, Duncan beheaded Caleb.
Darius, Grayson, and a Return to Paris
Duncan talks to Grayson on Holy Ground
Tessa received a call from the Bureau of Arts and Monuments in France offering her a job in Paris. Before she could discuss it with MacLeod, Duncan received a parcel from Darius, which contained a warning in an ancient runes. It told him of the arrival of Grayson, Darius's former pupil, and he was planning on killing Victor Paulus, one of Darius's mortal pupils. In preparation, Duncan took Richie to his cabin on Holy Ground, where Duncan began training to fight Grayson. While resting, Duncan told Richie of Darius's origins, as well as his own. Returning home later that night, Duncan found a decapitated toy soldier, a warning from Grayson.[44] The next day, Duncan went to see the arrival of Victor Paulus and stopped an assassination attempt on him. Duncan was then confronted by Randi McFarland, who Duncan was able to brush off. Returning to the shop, Duncan told Tessa to take the job in Paris, hoping she would be safe. The following day, Duncan encountered Grayson at a cemetery, where Paulus was making a speech. Grayson offered Duncan a deal; if Duncan stayed out of his way, he would leave Duncan and his loved ones alone. Duncan refused. Duncan went home and gave Richie a ticket to Paris as well. Duncan told Tessa of his challenge to Grayson and said his goodbyes to her.
Duncan takes Grayson's head
With Tessa and Richie safe, Duncan was able to stop another assassination attempt on Paulus. Duncan then sent a note of challenge to Grayson, which Grayson accepted. The two met, and with 1400 years more experience, Grayson was able to overpower Duncan. Before Grayson could behead him, the two fell. Duncan composed himself and was able to fight back until Duncan was able to disarm Grayson and take his head. Duncan went to Paris and talked to Darius, who had been housing Tessa and Richie for safety. With everyone safe, they decided to stay in Paris, living in Duncan's barge.[44]
Kuyler
Duncan was returning to the barge one morning when he saw a mime kill an elderly man, ("For Evil's Sake"). Helping the police, he toldthem that he could identify the man. The police inspector, Raymond LeBrun, was convinced he had seen Duncan before. Later, mysterious men with guns staked out the barge and, when Duncan felled one, he found that he was a policeman. LeBrun had remembered Duncan - when he was a young gendarme, they were chasing the assassin Kuyler, and he saw Duncan then. It turned out that LeBrun's assistant was in Kuyler's pay, but Duncan silenced the mime forever and LeBrun arrested his assistant.
Encounter with Xavier
Days later Duncan was with Darius playing chess and noticed that he seemed to be thinking about something troubling. Then they were disturbed by Inspector LeBrun, who was investigating a robbery in a nearby jewelery store. Surprised to find MacLeod in the company of a priest, he told the two Immortals that the thief gassed everyone in the store, then got up and walked out. He was seen entering the church. Darius confirmed that he knew who it was, but as the man made his confession, he cannot help LeBrun. Outraged, LeBrun left. Duncan asked if it was Xavier St Cloud. Darius' nod was his answer. Duncan then went in search of an old compatriot, Georges Dalou, for information about Xavier. Convincing Dalou that he was the son of the MacLeod that Dalou knew in the war, he fiound out about Xavier's accomplice, Francois Bertrand, who was killed in the robbery. The following morning, Francois was buried, with a service in Darius' church paid for by MacLeod. Dalou was gratified by Duncan's gesture and introduced him to the dead man's mother, who told him where her son met Xavier. Duncan then went to a café where he found Xavier who, upon sensing him, ran off with Duncan in hot pursuit, but Xavier escaped. Later during an exhibition of West African art hosted by Tessa, LeBrun arrived and asked Duncan to come downtown to answer a few questions. As they traveled, the policeman told MacLeod that their prime suspect was Xavier St Cloud, who was wanted in West Africa for the murder of a drug lord and the theft of millions in cash and a priceless collection of 17th century West African sculpture. Duncan leaped from the car and raced back to the gallery on foot. With only seconds to spare, Duncan arrive in time to disarm the concealed gas bomb. Later, the frustrated Xavier arrived at the barge, where MacLeod was waiting for him. The two clashed, Xavier tried to distract Duncan with a grenade, but his extended arm was a ready target ,and the Highlander cut off Xavier's hand. Screaming, Xavier dove into the Seine, pursued by Duncan. The next morning, Duncan returned to the barge, having scoured the riverbanks. Xavier was nowhere to be found.
Saving Grace
Days later, MacLeod was at Darius’s Church playing a war game. But their game comes to an unexpected end with the arrival of Grace Chandel, disheveled and tired. Grace, an Immortal known to both Duncan and Darius, told them that her mortal husband had been murdered, and their laboratory burnt. Duncan decided to let her stay in his barge. Duncan then went to Grace’s apartment to get some of her things, where he encountered Inspector LeBrun coming out. The police found the gun used to kill Grace's husband, Paul Warren, in her apartment, after an anonymous tip. Duncan distracted LeBurn while Tessa helped Grace escape. Duncan then went to Darius’s church where Grace and Tessa were hiding, only to find Tessa and Darius outside; Grace was within with her former lover, Immortal, Carlo Sendaro. Carlo admitted that he murdered Paul Warren, planted the gun, and tipped off the police. Duncan then arranged for a new identity for Grace, so that she can leave France. When he returned, Tessa informs him that Grace is with Sendaro. Duncan goes to Sendaro’s home and the two fight, until they are stopped by Grace, who left with Duncan. Duncan offered to take her to the airport but she refused and went to say her final goodbyes to Darius. Darius called Duncan to tell him that Grace had again gone with Sendaro and MacLeod headed straight for Sendaro’s home, followed by the police. Sendaro fled on foot with Grace, pursued by Duncan. They an into a Métro station and down into the tunnels. Duncan caught them up and fought Sendaro. Sendaro's sword touched the third rail and he was electrocuted, but before he could recover, a passing train decapitated him. After the Quickening, Duncan and Grace made their escape.
The Return of Amanda
Duncan received tickets to a circus from none other than Amanda. After a performance, Tess, Richie, and MacLeod met with her. Tessa seemed to not to like her, and sensing the ice beneath his feet thinning, Duncan made his goodbyes and left, ready to make his peace with Tessa. Amanda showed up the following day at the barge, Duncan returned to find Amanda waiting for him. She told him that another Immortal was hanging around the circus, one who doesn’t have her health in mind. Duncan was convinced there never was any mysterious Immortal and that he was again being played by Amanda. She was offended and, as Duncan left, he was challenged by an Immortal who did not give his name, but clearly wanted Duncan’s head. The fight was interrupted by the circus hands and, now that the man’s face is known, Duncan told Amanda that she should have no problem, as the carnies can keep an eye out for him. Back at the barge, Duncan tried to find out more about his attacker and, remembering something on the news, found that the man was Zachary Blaine, recently escaped from a maximum security prison. MacLeod went to the circus, where Amanda gave in and told him the truth: she agreed to provide Duncan’s head for 10 million dollars for a job. Duncan made his getaway and followed Amanda and Blaine to the museum, it didn't take him long to find the wire they used to walk in. He followed in time to see Amanda suspended above a book in its cabinet, about to disarm the alarm. He turned on the lights and, under the pretext of tossing a coin to see if he’ll let them get away with it, drops the coin on the floor, triggering the alarm. Their plan in tatters, Amanda and Blaine grabbed the book and fled, followed by Duncan. Blaine challenged MacLeod and they fought, Duncan managed to separate him from his sword. Turning, Zachary all but walks into the swing of Amanda’s sword, as she takes his head and his Quickening. After the fury subsides, Amanda makes one last attempt to get Duncan to leave with her but he is committed to Tessa.
Season Two (1993–1994)
Meeting the Watchers
In "The Watchers", a bitter MacLeod returned to Seacouver, determined to find Darius' killers, with only the Chronicle left by Darius to guide him. He followed a clue to a bookstore, where the manager, Joe Dawson, denied knowing anything about the book, but offered to buy for his own collection. MacLeod then chased down two men watching from across the street, Dawson followed and thinking it necessary to out the Watchers, a secret society of mortals who observe and record the history of the Immortals, but never interfere, so that MacLeod would not see them as a threat. He refused to believe MacLeod's claim that Darius was murdered by men sporting the Watcher emblem, but was forced to when the leader of the Hunters was revealed to be his own brother-in-law, James Horton. MacLeod finally confronted Horton, who shot him, and MacLeod ran Horton through with his sword.
Regaining Gregor's Humanity
Believing Horton dead, and now aware of the Watchers, MacLeod carried on with his life and tried to help two old friends, but with differing results. Gregor Powers had been a physician but become a photographer losing touch with his humanity over the years, pushing his feelings for others away to avoid recurring pain of loss, ("Studies In Light"). Duncan helped him to learn to value his life and the gift of his Immortality, whilst witnessing his own former lover, Linda Plager, a mortal, die of old age and infirmity.
Quentin Barnes
Soon after, another Immortal friend, Michael Moore, came back into Mac's life looking for his help in hunting down an Immortal killer, Quentin Barnes, Michael's long time enemy. ("Turnabout"). Also reappearing was Joe Dawson, who tried to enlist Duncan's help against Barnes as well. Barnes appeared to be hunting down and killing the men who tried and executed him years before. Barnes was buried at the prison he died in and had only recently been disinterred. An uneasy peace was struck between Watcher and Immortal, and together, they discovered the terrible truth - Michael is Quentin Barnes, the two sides of his personality fragmented into a schizophrenic existence. As Quentin slowly takes control, Michael begged Duncan to end it, and MacLeod killed his friend as a mercy.
A Lost Love
The reopening of the antique shop was getting nearer. An eerie encounter with a palm reader reminded Mac of a gypsy warning that he would never marry; he tempted fate by asking Tessa to marry him. Overjoyed, she accepted and, as they plan the wedding, Mac was lured from the shop by a group of Watchers, whose leader, Pallin Wolf, stunned Richie and kidnapped Tessa. Using her as bait, he enticed MacLeod to his home, where he has a sealed room in which he hunts and kills Immortals in complete darkness using a night scope. Fate smiled on Mac by allowing him to defeat Wolf and rescue Tessa despite "The Darkness", and then he sent Richie and Tessa outside, while he remained to rifle the man's files. On the street, the pair were confronted by a gun wielding junkie who shot them to death. MacLeod, hearing the shot, ran to the rescue, but too late, they were both dead in the street. He cradled Tessa for a long time. Days later he took a goodbye tour of the shop. Upon leaving he dropped the keys in Richie's hand, a newborn Immortal, and told him to sell it all.
Training Richie
Duncan bought a failing dojo when it went up for sale and kept on the previous owner, Charlie DeSalvo, as the manager. Moving into the loft above it, his peace did not last long.
Training bout
Richie and Mac foiled an attempt to kill the British Ambassador, but one of the IRA terrorists was killed in the process. His wife, Immortal ,Annie Devlin, swore revenge on Richie, and ignored Duncan's plea to let the matter go, even though she is an old friend of his. Realizing Annie would not be swayed, Duncan put Richie through a crash course in swordsmanship and martial arts, paying particular attention to countering Annie's style of fighting. He advised Richie to get out of town, but the young man elected to face Annie. Mac's training came in handy as she did exactly as predicted and he was able to defeat her, but could not bring himself to take her head. Annie accepted her life back, in lieu of taking Richie's, and left. Later, Mac gives Richie a Toledo Sword Rapier as his own sword.
The Mystery of Tommy
One morning, when out for a run at an closed funfair, MacLeod was attacked by Immortal, Anthony Gallen. Before they could finish their fight, Galen fled, but not before running down and killing a young man who had just arrived. The dead man, Tommy Bannon, appeared to be an investigative reporter for a local newspaper magnate, Michael Honniger, but when Mac and Richie investigate further, no one at the paper knew Tommy, but he was receiving paychecks from Honniger. It turned out that Honniger's daughter, Suzanne, had hired Gallen to kill her father and Tommy had been hired to discover the truth of her duplicity. Gallen carried out the assassination of Honniger, but Suzanne foolishly double crossed him, and he killed her. Duncan later confronted Gallen at the amusement park, and killed the evil Immortal.
The Fighter
Days later, in "The Fighter", Immortal Tommy Sullivan arrived in town, trying to get support for the next potential champion. Sullivan had been on the fringes of boxing and bareknuckle fighting for years, but as the dead bodies began to mount, MacLeod was forced to conclude that his old friend cannot distinguish between fighting Immortals and murdering mortals who cross him. Reluctantly, Duncan confronted Sully, who refused to back down and lost his head over it.
Richie vs. Mako
Richie arrived at the loft one night with a girl he had rescued. Laura Daniels, was being pursued by a bounty hunter("Under Color Of Authority"). From the description, Duncan recognized the Immortal, Mako, an eternal lawman. Questioned, the girl was evasive, but with Joe's help, Mac learned that she was on the run for murdering her husband, who abused her, but she feared that she would be killed if she went back, as her husband's father was a very powerful man. Mako didn't care – only the letter of the law mattered. Richie refused to stand by and helped her to flee, but when Mako killed the girl, Richie was enraged, and challenged Mako. After a long fight , the older Immortal, stumbled in a broken floor, and Richie took his first head, feeling the power of a Quickening. Mac then told him that he was now on his own and must leave to make his own path.
The Unholy Alliance
The past came back to haunt Dawson and MacLeod in "Unholy Alliance", when Xavier St. Cloud returned, and walked into the dojo, accompanied by two mortal gunmen who tried to kill Mac and Charlie. Xavier, sporting a prosthetic hand to replace the one Duncan cut off in "For Tomorrow We Die", has a new way of surviving in the Game, and an unexpected friend. Duncan discovered that they are not the only ones interested in Xavier, as Army Intelligence are after the mercenaries and he found an unlikely ally in Special Agent Renee Delaney. Tracking the mercenaries to a warehouse, Duncan confronted Xavier, but then James Horton appeared and shot both Duncan and Charlie. Xavier was unable to kill MacLeod, who escaped as Delaney and the police arrived. At the hospital, Duncan saw Dawson and confronted him about Horton. Dawson denied Horton was alive, but Duncan broke open Horton's tomb, and found it empty. Horton was waiting at the tomb, safe on Holy Ground, and taunted Duncan, calling himself the man MacLeod could not kill. Mac followed Dawson to a waterfront rendezvous, where he saw him meet Horton. When Dawson returned home, he found an angry MacLeod waiting for him. Duncan promised him that the next time they met, it would be the last. A critically injured Charlie could not understand how MacLeod, who he saw shot, was alive and walking around. Mac promised to tell Charlie the truth someday, before he died. Whilst MacLeod and Delaney tried to work out their next move, Dawson surprised everyone by turning up at the dojo with the address of Horton's hideout, a waterfront warehouse. He swore that he did not know what Horton was up to and told MacLeod that, after Duncan stabbed him in "The Watchers", Horton was thrown out of the Watchers, and sent abroad to recuperate and live in exile. Duncan went to the warehouse and, when Xavier sensed his approach, he escaped with Horton in a helicopter, but Duncan tracked them to Paris. Leaving Charlie to recover, MacLeod went after them.
Arriving in France, Duncan was amazed to find Renee Delaney waiting for him at the airport. She used the US Air Force to race him across the Atlantic and threatened to have his passport revoked if he did not help her. She dropped Mac at the barge where he was haunted by memories of Tessa, Mac reluctantly goes on board, only to find a middle aged Frenchman in residence. Maurice Lalonde, from the boat next door, was an inveterate scrounger, but would become a friend and ally for MacLeod. After evicting Maurice, Duncan met Delaney to plan their next move, only to find it planned for them. A mercenary hired by Horton tried to kill them, but was shot by Delaney. As she tried to explain her actions to the Sûrete, Duncan used a cuff link dropped by the getaway driver to identify him as a disgraced cavalry officer. Learning that the dead man was a member of an influential family, Delaney was at a loss how to proceed, but they learned that the family had a stables. They called at the stables, interrupting Horton and Xavier, who were planning a raid on the barge. Xavier escaped, but Horton was shot by the mysteriously well-informed Joe Dawson, who appeared in the nick of time. Using his contacts from his days as a chef, Maurice helped MacLeod to locate Xavier, by tracking the source of his favorite golden caviar. Mac made a special delivery and fought his long time enemy defeating him and taking Xavier”s head.
The Ancient Egyptian
In Pharaoh's Daughter,Duncan was walking when he sensed an Immortal close by only to see a truck passing. He followed the truck to a warehouse where he found a sarcophagus which appeared to hold the sensed Immortal. When he opened it, he found a woman inside, Nefertiri, an Egyptian handmaiden to Cleopatra,. Duncan tried to help Nefertiri to come to terms with nearly 2,000 years of change. While showing her the past of the world at a museum, they sensed an Immortal, Marcus Constantine, whom Nefertiri seemed to know. She told Duncan that she wanted to leave, but as Duncan tried to talk with Marcus, he was forced to stop when Angela Constantine arrived. Nefetiri told Duncan who Marcus was to her. The pair had dinner with Marcus and his wife, but Neferitri killed Angela in a cold blooded attempt to bring Marcus pain. Disgusted and furious, Duncan threw her out of his home, Nefertiri took that as a betrayal. Days later, Duncan went to see Marcus at his wife's grave, Marcus told him that it was he who brought Nefertiti to Paris, hoping that he could help her. As the two men left, Nefertiti arrived, demanding that Marcus fight her, but he refused and as he turned to walk away, she tried for his head but Duncan blocked her. The battle joined, Nefertiri managed to stab Duncan he took her head and her quickening.
Rebecca's Legacy
Duncan received a visit from Amanda, who told him of Rebecca's death, her killer unknown. Duncan accompanied Amanda to the funeral, where they met John Bowers, Rebecca's mortal husband. As they mourned their friend, Duncan sensed another Immortal close by, only for Amanda to deny sensing anyone. To distract Amanda from her grief, Duncan took her to a jewelry exhibition that evening. A robbery took place at the exhibition, with the thieves stealing Amanda's crystal which Rebecca had given her. Duncan and Amanda met with John, who told Duncan that Rebecca had been killed by Luther, a former student of hers. He also told them that only one student, other than Amanda and Luther, was around: Henri Valjean.[21] They went to his house, only to find that he had vanished and had given his crystal to his housekeeper. After learning that the housekeeper had given it to her son, they went to him only to be lured outside by the presence of an Immortal. They then saw two thugs stealing the crystal, gave chase, and successfully recovered the crystal. Unbeknownst to Amanda, Duncan arranged a meeting with Luther. Duncan confronted Luther, who believed that all the crystals could form a talisman that would give him ten times the power of an ordinary Immortal. Learning that Duncan didn't have the crystal, Luther quickly vanished.[21] Knowing he had the advantage, Duncan decided to face Luther, much to Amanda's disapproval. The following morning, Amanda confronted Luther. Able to guess the location of Amanda's whereabouts, Duncan was able to stop Luther before he could behead Amanda. Duncan and Luther fought. After a battle, Duncan was able to take Luther's head. Amanda was furious about Duncan being the one to avenge Rebecca but quickly forgave him when he gave her Valjean's crystal as a permanent keepsake of Rebecca.[21]
Richie Framed
Days later, Richie arrived at Duncan’s barge. Apparently wanted for a series of murders across Europe. Richie told his mentor that there had been an Immortal following him, but he would not show himself. Duncan realized that the Immortal was Martin Hyde who had a long established technique of harassing young Immortals, to make them run back to their teachers, who Hyde then kills. Mac managed to track down Hyde at a hotel and left a note for him, telling him to meet him on the roof top of the hotel. Hyde arrived, sword in hand, and faced an unarmed MacLeod. The police then arrived and gunned down Hyde, his sword bearing enough evidence to prove Richie’s innocence. When Martin revived and faced Duncan, he lost.
The Return of Tessa?
Lisa Halle was kidnapped from a prison transport and given extensive plastic surgery. She is launched at MacLeod wearing Twessa's face by Horton. After basking in illusion for a time, MacLeod realized that what was too good to be true was exactly that, and Lisa was revealed to be an unrepentant murderer in her own right. Hearing a gunshot and believing that Lisa has shot Duncan, Horton emerged from cover to cut off his head, only to find MacLeod waiting for him. His plan turned back on himself, Horton fled, after killing Lisa. Mac caught him off Holy Ground and proved that, unlike his taunt in "Unholy Alliance", Horton was not a man he could not kill. Mac then decided that he had mourned Tessa long enough, and he returned to Seacouver with Richie
Season Three (1994–1995)
MacLeod & Koto
Duncan about to receive Kent's quickening
Returning to Seacouver from Paris, MacLeod was surprised to find a woman waiting to see him at the dojo. She presented him with an old telescope, which was the symbol of a promise he made to her family over 200 years before. The woman, Midori Kent, a descendant of Hideo, was not sure if what had been a legend in her family for generations was true, but she was desperate. Midori told MacLeod that she killed her husband, Michael Kent, after she saw him murder her lover. Perturbed, MacLeod nonetheless agrees to honor his promise, and help her. Returning to their apartment, Midori was stunned to see her husband walk out of the lift, alive and unharmed. MacLeod sensed Kent coming - Midori's husband was an Immortal. They returned to the dojo, where Midori said that she could not ask Mac to help her further. She married Kent for his money, to prevent Hideo's shrine from being turned into a car park, when the family had fallen on hard times. Mac went to see Kent, who was obsessed with his wife, regarding her not as a person, but as a prized possession. Mac warned him hat she was under his protection, but Kent was unimpressed. When Mac got back to the dojo, he found Charlie holding his own against Kent's men, who fled when Mac appeared. But Midori had gone, leaving behind the telescope - she said she released him from his promise. MacLeod pursued Kent and Midori to Japan, where he tracked them to Hideo's shrine. He told Midori that she could not release him from the promise - it was made to her. He challenged Kent and Midori saw that Duncan had Hideo's sword. After an intense battle, Mac beheaded Kent. Duncan left Midori at the grave of her ancestor, to start her life anew.
Revenge
Duncan about to face Kern
Richie told Duncan that he was a father; an old girlfriend of Richie's, Donna Ondrejka, had come to Seacouver with her son, and claimed Richie was the father. Despite the fact that all Immortals are sterile, Richie was hoping that fatherhood might just have been possible since the baby was born before his immortality was triggered. Both MacLeod and Dawson insisted, however, it just was not possible. An old enemy of MacLeod's, Kern, then turned up, and he attacked him. The two fought on the streets until stumbling on to Holy Ground, allowing Kern to escape. Remembering the pain Kern had caused him 120 years earlier, Duncan swore to take Kern's head.[57]
Duncan after defeating Kern
Duncan consulted Dawson about Kern's whereabouts. Hesitant, Joe told Duncan Kern's location. After trashing Kern's hotel room, Duncan left him with one of his feathers as a sign of challenge. Later, Richie ran into Kern, who threatened Donna and her son. When they were safe, Duncan met Kern, where they proceeded to fight on a rooftop. Using the spear he had from his time in a Sioux village, Duncan was able to overpower Kern and take his head. Later, Duncan comforted Richie, who was forced to leave Donna and her son so that they could be safe from his violent life.[57]
Charlie the Revolutionary
When a peace negotiator, Father Stefan, was wounded in an assassination attempt that Duncan was able to partially foil, MacLeod came face to face with an old comrade, Paul Karros. At the hospital where Karros speaks to the press about Father Stefan's sacrifice, Mac happened to meet an emergency room doctor who interested him greatly: Anne Lindsey. Duncan learned that Karros was trying to stop the peace negations and continue the war. Mac was able to save Karros' aide, Mara Leonin, and kill Karros in battle at a dockyard.
The Cross of St. Antoine
Days later, Duncan and Amanda went to see Dawson who was practically giddy over his new lady love whom he was heading out to meet. When Joe arrived at the home of Lauren Gale, he was just in time to watch helplessly outside while an intruder killed her and escaped. Asking for Mac's help to find the man, it turned out, the killer was a reclusive immortal, John Durgan, whom even watchers had recorded as dead a century before. With Joe and Amanda's help, the recluse was lured off holy ground and Duncan took her killer's, head.
Facing Michael Christian
Duncan and Michael Christian
Duncan received a visit from Joe who told him that May-Ling Shen had been killed by a young Immortal, Michael Christian. Joe then gave Duncan May-Ling's Chronicle and he was reminded of his training with May-Ling over 200 years ago. Duncan left his katana with Richie and went to his island cabin to meditate. Christian, having heard of Duncan's location from his Watcher, Rita Luce, then attacked Duncan once he left holy ground. Without his katana, Duncan could only defend himself against Christian's onslaught, but was able to disarm him. Duncan was able to take Christian's sword and successfully behead him. After returning to Seacouver, Duncan went to Joe's bar, and thanked Joe for all he had done.[7]
Encountering Kalas
Duncan took Anne to a choral concert given by the members of a monastery, one of whom, Paul, was an Immortal. An unseen impresario, who organized the concert, was Kalas, an Immortal with scores to settle with both Duncan and Paul. Kalas killed Paul and then set about destroying MacLeod, first by framing Joe for dealing drugs, then by killing two of Anne's patients and fabricating hospital records to make it look like she was responsible. Duncan realized that Kalas was behind everything, and, having cleared Joe and Anne, confronted his enemy. As they fought, Anne and Richie arrived in time to see Duncan fall to his death. Richie gets the hysterical Anne away before Duncan revived, and Duncan left to begin again back in Paris.
Two Deaths
Some time after leaving Seacouver, Duncan relocated to Paris, before being contacted by Connor, who urged him to meet him in New York. After arriving in NYC, Connor excused himself to some business that he did not want to involve Duncan.
Connor and Duncan talking in New York.
They arranged to meet at a bar later that day. After Connor delivered a tree in the nearby church, Rachel Ellenstein was killed when MacLeod-Ellestein Antiques (formerly Nash Antiques) was destroyed by an explosion. Going into a deep despair upon the death of his adopted daughter, Connor abandoned his ties to the world and disappeared. Duncan, thinking his kinsman was out for revenge, and with himself in grief for the loss of his "niece", returned to Paris.[2]
Arriving in Paris, he was met by Hugh Fritzcairn, who was teaching cookery at the Cordon Bleu, and had a new girlfriend, Naomi. However, the vengeful Kalas was back, and framed Fitzcairn for the murder of Naomi's jealous ex-boyfriend. Fitz furiously engaged Kalas in combat, but ultimately Kalas defeated and killed him.
Meeting Methos
With Fitz dead, Duncan searched Paris for Kalas. He received a call from Dawson whom he informed about Fritz's death. Dawson told him that that Kalas was last seen coming out of a jazz club in St Germaine, "Nosferatu", but that his Watcher has vanished. Duncan 'pursuades' the barkeep to tell him where Kalas had gone: an English language bookstore, Shakespeare and Co. Duncan found the shop door open and seemingly empty. A noise from the back lead him to a dying Watcher, who traced the letters M E in his blood before he died. Duncan called Joe to say his watcher is dead. Joe was deeply concerned because the man at the bookstore is Don Salzer, an historian working on the Methos Chronicle. Duncan was incredulous; having always believed Methos, the Oldest Immortal, to be a myth, but Joe said he was real. He sent Duncan to meet their top Methos scholar, Adam Pierson, but there is a surprise waiting for MacLeod. The Watchers' expert on Methos is Methos.
Methos & MacLeod first meet
Methos was seemingly unconcerned about Kalas, even though he hasn't faced another Immortal for 200 years. He refused to let Duncan fight his battle for him and left the Highlander in pensive mood. That night, while returning to the barge, Duncan was surprised by a disheveled Methos, who attacked him, but is defeated - by his own design or MacLeod's skill is unclear. Methos told Duncan that Kalas was waiting for him, and he could not beat him. He offered his head to Duncan so that he will be powerful enough to defeat Kalas, but Duncan refused. The following day, Duncan went to Methos' apartment, where he found Kalas waiting. Kalas readily jumped to the conclusion that MacLeod had been after Methos, as well, and has taken his head . The two Immortals fought, but the police arrive inturrpting the battle, and arrest Kalas for murder. Methos appeared and told MacLeod that he wasn't prepared to take the chance on Kalas winning. When MacLeod returned to the ancient's apartment, he found that Methos had vanished, taking the Chronicles with him. He rang an understandably frustrated Dawson, who could not believe that Methos fooled them all.
Daimler: 55 Years Later
Days later Duncan receives a visit from a mortal priest whom he knew as a boy during World War II. Father Bernard had then learned Duncan's secret, but kept it all his life. Now, however, he needed Duncan's help - the Nazi Major whom Bernard had killed was back, and not one day older. MacLeod spoke to Daimler, who claimed he just wanted peace. Daimler ha started killing the surviving Resistance group members who left him at the bottom of the Seine wrapped in chains for forty years. Anne witnessed Daimler kill Father Bernard and Duncan kill Daimler. Knowing what life with him would be like and unable to accept that she must want people to die for him to survive, Anne left him and went back to the States.
Final Battle with Kalas
Kalas again reared his head, and Don Salzer's widow, and a newspaper editor, both died. Christine Salzer had possession of a Immortal/Watcher data base her husband and Methos had created, and Kalas wanted it. Amanda and MacLeod returned to the barge to find Methos, who informed them that Christine was dead and the disk gone. Kalas used the database to track the Western European Watcher Chief, Jacques Vemas, and kill him. Kalas then threatened to expose the secret of Immortality unless MacLeod agreed to lose his head to him. Both Amanda and Methos, however, encouraged Mac to fight his best fight. Duncan arranged to fight Kalas at the Eiffel Tower. Down below, Methos, Joe and Amanda watch from the ground; above, Kalas and Duncan battle. With both men wounded, Kalas' sword broke. "Hear that, Kalas? That's the fat lady singing.” Kalas reminded him that if he died, the secret was out. Duncan hesitated, "The Eiffel Tower. The world's biggest lightning rod." he said and took Kalas’s head. The quickening of such and old and powerful Immortal enhanced by an incoming storm, shorted out electronics all over Paris, one strike overloaded the system in Kalas's hideout, and his computer went up in a shower of sparks. Amanda ran to meet Duncan, throwing her arms around him and kissing him. The foursome walked off together, Duncan saying, "That was a big one, wasn't it?" Duncan, Joe, Amanda, and Methos then shared a drink in celebration. Duncan offered a toast to Fitz and Paul; to old friends and new ones.
Season Four (1995–1996)
The Death of Charlie DeSalvo
Returning to Seacouver with Joe, Duncan sensed an Immortal. Andrew Cord was also at the airport, but before the men could talk, Cord was shot by a sniper. Mac caught and unmasked the sniper to find Charlie DeSalvo. Charlie claimed that Cord was a murderer, and had to be stopped. He had no regret about killing him; Cord was a murderer, a gunrunner, a liar, and he had killed Mara. Meanwhile Cord was reuinited with Joe, who had been in his platoon in Vietnam where Cord had saved his life. Unfortunately, Dawson found himself stuck between loyalties, he agreed to set up a meeting at Duncan’s dojo where the two men fought. Duncan defeated Cord and told him to leave Charlie be. Cord agreed, but he proved himself the lyer Charlie called him when he later confronted Charlie and mortally wounded him. Duncan found Charlie and revealed his immortality as promised before he died. Angry, Duncan found Cord and challenged him, defeating him. His friendship with Joe, severely damaged.
Mikey
Richie returned to the dojo with an Immortal in tow, Mikey Bellow, a child in the body of an adult. He was alone in the world except for the man hunting him; another Immortal, Tyler King. Duncan and Richie tried to look after him, but eventually decided that he had to be taken to sanctuary on Holy Ground. Before they could get there, the were stopped by police and Mikey in a panic killed one and ran. Duncan dealt with Tyler, while Richie was forced to face the prospect of Mikey being imprisoned. The two friends realized that Mikey was too dangerous to himself, Immortals and mortal to be allowed his freedom, that one of them must kill him. Richie decided that it was his responsibility, but in a lucid moment Mikey commits suicide by lying on a train track and allowing the train to take his head and Richie received his Quickening.
Kanis and Tessa's Killer
Duncan helped out a friend by taking a position as a guest lecturer at a local university. His first day as a teacher is spoilt by the arrival of Peter Kanis, who had a score to settle with Duncan. Kanis saw himself as "Leader Of The Pack" and was infuriated anew by Duncan killing one of his dogs when they attacked him. After Duncan frustrated his attempts to find a bitch to breed his next generation of dogs, Kanis came for Duncan, but Duncan had a distraction prepared for the dogs and, with them out of the way, took Kanis' head. Meanwhile, Richie was arrested when he attacked a man, Mark Roszca, who was the mugger who shot both he and Tessa two years previously. Duncan was furious when he found out who the man was but was helpless when the police refused to press charges. He went to confront him at his flat but decided he could not kill the man.
Amanda and Kit
Two Immortals show up in Duncan’s life; Kit O'Brady comes to Seacouver looking to improve the run of bad luck he has had ever since he lost his saloon, the "Double Eagle", to Amanda in a card game 100 years previously. When Amanda also hit town, Duncan was driven to distraction trying to keep the two of them apart. Only when he proved to Amanda that Kit didn't burn the saloon were the two of them prepared to call it quits.
The Return of Kenny
When Anne Lindsay reappeared in Duncan's life, it was to tell him that his 'cousin' was in her E.R. Who? It was Kenny, on the run from Terence Kincaid, who has his own reasons for wanting Duncan dead, but Duncan agrees to help Anne and take Kenny off her hands. When he took him back to the dojo, Kenny sensed Amanda and accused Duncan of double-crossing him, but they were both in for a surprise. When Amanda saw Kenny, she was overjoyed at their "Reunion", as it was her who found Kenny shortly after his first death, and taught him to survive as an Immortal. Kenny, however, betrayed her and joined forces with Kincaid in an effort to kill MacLeod. Duncan was able to overcome Kincaid, but Kenny was only stopped from taking his head by Amanda.
Colonel Simon Killian: 70 Years Later
While his friendship with Dawson was still struggling, MacLeod was captured by a former WW1 Colonel, Simon Killian, whom he had been instrumental in seeing imprisoned 70 years previously, after the colonel lead his troops in a charge after an armistace had been declared, hundreds of British and German were soldiers. Killian wanted to return the favour for what Duncan had done to him and locked him in a cell in an abandoned military base. Duncan's imprisonment was short-lived, though. Amanda was able to free him with help from Dawson, whom the latter would break his oath of non-interference in doing so. There he challenged Killian and overpowered him and took the colonel's head.
Battle with Kinman
After leaving a cinema, Duncan and Richie witnessed a shooting at a small grocery, saving the target from death. They sensed an immortal was the shooter, and took off after him. They cornered him and blades were drawn. Mac knew him, Paul Kinman, and had been waiting for centuries to pay him back for killing a mortal friend at the court of Queen Anne. Authorities arrived, and while Mac and Richie stayed out of sight, Kinman was arrested for murder. The police do not understand why the two will not testify, nor does the store owner, David Markum, who was grieving because his wife, Alice, was dead instead of him. When Kinman escaped from FBI custody, MacLeod took the opportunity to hunt him down and located him at a warehouse where Kinman killed the mobster, Vince Petrovic, who had hired him in the first place. Kinman then fought Duncan who beat him, and took his head. The next day, Duncan visited the store owner whom he assured that although Kinman vanished, he did not get away.
Kamir and the Wrath of Kali
The University where Duncan worked as a guest lecturer had purchased a fine example of Indian statuary. The statue, of the goddess Kali, was on display at the University, but the Immortal, Kamir, a priest of Kali, wanted it back. He had murdered his way to Seacouver, bringing down "The Wrath Of Kali" on all in his path. Whilst Kamir entranced Richie, Duncan persuaded the University to let him repatriate the statue. But when Kamir judged the head of the History Department was a traitor to her heritage and decided to kill her, he and MacLeod confronted each other, Duncan defended his friend by taking Kamir's head.
Kristin
Methos showed up unannounced at MacLeod's place to warn him that Kristin Gilles was in Seacouver to open a branch of her modeling agency.
Kristin and Duncan in modern day Seacouver
Whilst Methos urged Duncan set aside his chivalric code and take Kristen's head, Duncan was more concerned about Richie who was Kristin's new paramour. Richie would not listen to Duncan's warnings about his former lover, until Kristin tried to kill him. Knowing Kristin would be true to form, Methos and Duncan went to her home in time to stop her from murdering Richie's foster-sister, Maria. Duncan fought Kristin, but could not bring himself to kill her. The practical Methos, however, then challenged her, assuring her he was a man born long before the age of chivalry, he took her head; "Someone had to."
The First Death of Claudia Jardine
MacLeod knew that Claudia was a latent Immortal, and when she came to town, he discovered that someone wanted her dead. The would-be killer was immortal, Walter Graham, who wanted to preserve Claudia at the height of her youth and talent. Walter had nurtured artists for centuries, but was horrified that when he triggered Claudia's Immortality, her talent had deserted her. Distraught, she fled from him, but found that her fear of dying restored a measure of her talent. Duncan confronted Walter whom he defeated but doesn’t kill when he promised to leave her alone, and the two part still friends. Duncan told Claudia that he would start training her, but she refused, preferring to live with her knowledge of mortality so as to draw inspiration to make music. Duncan asked Joe to find her a watcher and he assured Duncan that he would soon.
A Parting Gift to Anne
Duncan helps deliver Anne's daughter, Mary
While making their final touches to the house MacLeod was restoring, Duncan and Richie heard of a subway explosion. They then heard that Anne and a medical team had become trapped when a gas man exploded. The two to raced to the scene, and after being denied entry by the firemen, Duncan and Richie slipped in anyway. When Duncan found Anne, she was already going into labor. Duncan stayed with Anne, while Richie lead a fire crew to the rescue. Anne successfully gave birth to a girl, and told Duncan that she was going to name her daughter Mary, after Duncan's mother. Some time later, Duncan gave the house, fully furnished, to Anne and Mary.[51]
Dark Quickening
Duncan is forced to defend himself against Coltec
Duncan received a phone call from Jim Coltec, who told him he would be in Seacouver for a visit. Taking Richie with him, Duncan soon met up with Coltec who, without warning tried to kill them, but Duncan stopped him and threw him into the river. Back at home, Duncan and Richie saw the news, which identified Coltec as having robbed a store and killed the owner earlier that day. It soon lead Duncan to suspect that Coltec had finally been taken over by a Dark Quickening having absorbed too many Quickenings of evil men. After going to Joe's for answers, Joe told them that Coltec had just taken the head of Harry Kant, a sadistic and evil Immortal who had killed many. Duncan soon met up with Coltec in an alleyway and confronted him. Coltec began fighting him, forcing Duncan to knock him out. After taking him to Holy Ground outside the city, Duncan tried to force the evil outside of Coltec, just as Coltec had done for him over a century ago. It proved to be too difficult, and Coltec escaped, vowing to take Duncan's head. After returning to Joe's bar, he confirmed the Dark Quickening to Richie and Joe and vowed to stop Coltec.[53]
It became evident that it wasn't just Korland or Kant, but all evil Immortals whom Coltec had slain over the years that had overwhelmed him. Duncan tracked Coltec to a club and led him outside where they fought. Duncan defeated him, but hesitated to take his head, but was finally forced to take his friend's head. The resulting Dark Quickening changed Duncan's personality.[53] After going back to Joe's bar, Duncan got drunk and started hitting on a nearby woman. When she did not appreciate his advances and slapped him, Duncan punched her, and then punched Joe. Returning to the dojo, Duncan pursued Richie, but before he could take Richie's head, he was shot and temporarily killed by Joe. After Richie left, at the behest of Joe, Joe tied up Duncan and took his sword. After Duncan revived, Joe tried to reach the decent core in Duncan. When it didn't work, Joe threatened to take his head, but instead let him loose. Duncan left the dojo, and boarded a freighter sailing out of Seacouver.[53] Arriving at LeHavre, France, Duncan got into a fight with the freighter's crew and captain, Robert Davis, for docking his pay. In town, Duncan phoned his old friend Sean Burns, then caught and beat up Davis, knocking him out and rifling through his wallet. After going to Davis's house, Duncan used his charms to seduce Davis's wife, Dominique Davis, and lied about Davis seeing another woman. When Davis finally returned home, he threatened Duncan with a knife.
Duncan talks to Sean
Dominique then threw boiling water on Duncan's face as Davis attacked him. Not being able to match Duncan's martial skills, Davis was easily defeated, but Dominique was able to grab Davis' gun and shoot him. After running out of the house, Duncan was met by Methos, who was waiting for him in his car. Methos quickly got him into the car and the two drove off, Duncan temporarily dying from the wounds.[47]
The darkness threatens Methos
After reviving in a church, Duncan was confronted by Methos, who tried to reach out for whatever good that was left inside Duncan. Duncan pulled a sword on Methos, but because they were on Holy Ground, Duncan did nothing but walk out. Duncan then stole a car and tried to run down Methos, who successfully dodged. Duncan then met with Sean Burns outside Sean's house, part of him wanting help, asking Sean about his Dark Quickening. Sean offered a helping hand, literally, and Duncan took his hand, but only to pull forward and take his head. Methos, watching in anguish from close by, took Duncan's katana while he was vulnerable, and and said he thought he might have to kill him. Duncan charged at Methos, tknocked him over a wall, and drove off in the stolen car.[47]
Duncan fights his evil side
Duncan returned to his barge in Paris, but only found it lifeless, empty, and meaningless. After trashing the barge, he went to Darius' chapel, and was finally able to admit his pain and cry out for help. Methos arrived, and told him that, even if others like Bryce Korland were inside of him, Sean Burns was now with him to. Taking Duncan's katana as a precaution, Methos drove him to an ancient healing well. Duncan immersed himself in the pool.
Rachel, Methos, & Duncan on the barge in the aftermath
Inside his mind, Duncan fought his evil side, armed with only Ian MacLeod's sword to defend himself. Methos, a sword at the ready if things had gone badly, realized the darkness had been defeated. He helped Mac out of the well, both relieved it was finally over. At the barge, Duncan was surprised to findRachel MacLeod tidying up, learning that it was Rachel who had given Methos the sword. Methos said his farewells, with Duncan giving his thanks.[47]
The Methuselah Stone
While repairing the barge, Duncan was approached by Amanda, who was on the run from couple of mortals had tried to kill her. Duncan spoke with Joe, who doubted it to be the work of renegade Watchers. They quickly caught a man who had spying on Amanda. He identified himself as Daniel Geiger, Amanda's Watcher. He was less than helpful at identifying her attackers. Amanda determined they had been after the crystal Rebecca had left her, a fragment of the Methuselah Stone. [58]
Methos, Amanda, and Duncan after the loss of the Methuselah Stone
After went after the rest of the stone at Watcher HQ, she later told Duncan that she had seen Methos try to steal it. Duncan doubted Methos was behind the attempted murder. In order to confirm Methos's innocence, however, Duncan met with him. Methos told him that Alexa didn't have long, she was in hospital in Geneva, and he wanted the stone for her. After some discussion, Amanda chose to meet with Methos and talk, and after an angry fight, she began to understand Methos was not out to get her Unbeknownst to Duncan, Methos and Amanda broke into the Watchers' European Headquarters, and successfully stole the Stone, however, Methos was killed by Nathan Stern, head of the Western Europe Watchers, having taken a bullet for Amanda. When he recovered in front of his fellow watchers, Stern and Geiger, he was outed as an immortal to them. Stern contacted Duncan and negotiated a trade, the stone for Methos' life. Before the transaction was complete, Geiger killed Stern, revealing himself to be the leader of the plot to steal the Stone, wanting its promise of immortality for himself. Duncan tossed Geiger the last piece of the stone, but at his order to kill the immortals, they fought back. Geiger was killed by Amanda and the stone broke apart once more, and fell into the river. With nothing left, Methos returned to Alexa, MacLeod wishing him God speed.[58]
Recovering Cochrane's Memory
Back in Paris, Duncan accompanied Methos to Alexa's grave to comfort Methos. As they left the cemetery, they felt another Immortal close by, who Duncan discovered to be Warren Cochrane. Cochrane had lost his memory, and was suffering from severe paranoia. After calming him down, Duncan learned from Cochrane's wife that he had left a few days ago to do research in Normandy. After coaxing Methos to dig into Cochrane's Watcher file for more information, Duncan talked to Cochrane and explained what he actually was. Cochrane had flashes of memory, but not altogether accurate memories, he incorrectly remembered Prince Charles Edward as being noble in his exile, when he was nothing more than a drunk.[32] Methos told Duncan about Andrew Donnelly, Cochrane's student who had gone to Normandy with him some days ago, but was now missing. Mac confronted Cochrane about it, who eventually remembered that he had killed Donelly in a fit of rage. Taken over by the guilt, Cochrane's mind into a protective amnesia. With his memories back, Cochrane asked Duncan to kill him. Duncan refused, only for Cochrane to start fighting him. Duncan defeated him but could not find it in him to take Cochrane's head. Cochrane was forced to live with the death of Andrew and fled, a fugitive. Duncan talked to Methos about whether or not his decision to help Cochrane was right. Methos then said that, if it was him, he would never want to lose his memories because then who would remember Alexa.[32]
The Valicourt's 300th Anniversary
Methos and Gina turn the tables on Duncan
With the place he was renting being sold, Methos crashed at Duncan's barge, Duncan meanwhile received an invitation to Angelina and Robert de Valicourt's 300th anniversary and renewal of their vows. The couple, as it turned out was having problems, Angelina actually asked for a divorce. Robert and Duncan plotted at how best to win her back, and decided a threat to Robert was the best bet. Duncan asked Methos to pretend to fight Robert so Angelina would see Robert threatened and rush into save him. Methos reluctantly agreed, but only if Duncan gave him the barge. Duncan reluctantly agreed as well. The act went off without a hitch, only for Gina to swear she would take the mysterious immortal's head. Methos regretted having involved himself, he demanded the keys to the barge, and all but threw Duncan out. Duncan went to Robert who told him that Angelina had gone to the barge. Fortunately, Methos somehow managed to explain the plot to Angelina, and the pair agreed to get back at Robert and Duncan by briefly faking Methos' death. With the mess cleared up, Duncan was able to give Angelina away at the renewal and Methos got an invitation. Afterwards, Methos gave Duncan back the barge, saying that he hated the water.[30]
The Immortal-Watcher War
Duncan and Methos discuss Joe's kidnapping
One morning, after coming home from a jog, Duncan saw Joe being kidnapped right in front of him. Duncan told Methos about Joe's kidnapping, who in turn told him that the Watchers security had recently gotten extremely tight. The two met in secret, and Methos shared the information that the Watcher Tribunal had put Joe on trial for treason. Duncan went to the Watchers European Headquarters, only to find out that it had been sold. After doing some research, Duncan and Methos found the new HQ and did reconnaissance. Methos provided a distraction, and Duncan slipped inside only to be captured. At Joe's trial, lead by Joe's old friend Jack Shapiro, Joe was charged with fraternizing with immortals and falsifying chronicles. His actions were blamed for the deaths of 80 Watchers in the past three years. Duncan defended Joe,[59] claiming without Joe Dawson the Hunters would have destroyed the Immortals and what the Watchers were[60] and that it was thanks to Joe that Horton was stopped.[23] Duncan then suggested that Joe have a jury of his peers. The Tribunal agreed, on the condition that if Joe was found guilty and executed, Duncan would face the same fate.
Duncan defends Joe at his trial
The jury consisted of regional coordinators from throughout the world.[59] Methos, still secure in his cover as Adam Pierson, breached security and insisted on testifying. He presented the journal of a 16th century Methos Watcher as an example that friendship between a Watcher and Immortal was useful, that personally knowing an Immortal would allow for more history to be known, to “let friendship thrive.” But his testimony was brushed off. Duncan continued the defense of Joe,[59] citing the previous years events with Kalas which would have turned out disastrous had Joe not offered his help.[61] Jack Shapiro was then given word that his son, David, had just been killed. The jury immediately found Duncan and Joe guilty, and their punishment was death. While being escorted back to their room, Duncan escaped, he tried to take Joe with him, but Joe refused because he knew the risks when he signed on. After fleeing, Duncan talked to Methos and knew there was nothing either of them could do. The next day, however, Duncan returned and found a massacre, with Joe the only survivor.[59]
Duncan tries to tell Jacob to stop the killings
Shapiro blamed the Watchers' deaths on Duncan and Joe, and repurposed the Watchers to hunt them down. That night, Duncan was attacked by a group of Watchers but was able to escape. Joe was in hiding at Methos' Watcher front, Shakespeare and Co, Methos acting as Joe's doctor as he was recovering from wounds. Methos told them of the death of another Watcher. Duncan then went to Shapiro's location and was attacked by a Watcher, but before the Watcher could kill Duncan,Jacob Galati saved Duncan by shooting the Watcher.[45]
Duncan ready to shoot Shapiro
Reviving in Jacob's caravan, Jacob told Duncan about Irena's death at the hands of James Horton and his Hunters in 1992. Despite Duncan telling Jacob that the Watchers he encountered were actually renegade, Jacob was still convinced they all had to be destroyed. Later, Methos and Joe named Jacob Galati identity as the real killer. Angered, Duncan went to Shapiro in hopes of saving Jacob's life. Shapiro, however, took Jacob's head and Duncan, being the closest Immortal, received his Quickening. Duncan threatened Shapiro with a gun, only for Joe to pull out a gun as well. Thanks to Joe's quick reasoning, Duncan did not shoot Shapiro but swore he would if more people, mortals or Immortals, died.[45] The next day, Joe told Duncan that he had been reinstated into the Watchers, Shapiro was out of the Organization, and that the Watchers were going to survive. He also told him that Methos had left without word or trace. With events still heavy on his mind, Duncan retreated to his barge .[45]
Season Five (1996–1997)
Cassandra
Duncan returned to Seacouver there, he found the Immortal, Cassandra, waiting for him. She was being hunted by Roland Kantos, one of her former students, and she told Duncan of a prophecy that said that he would defeat a great evil. Kantos relied on the hypnotic power of his voice to defeat his opponents, but Duncan, after nearly losing his head to Kantos' tricks, defeatd the mesmerist by plugging his ears.
Ghosts
Days later, Jennifer Hill arrived in Seacouver with some bad news, her husband, Alec Hill, had been killed by his long time enemy, Gerard Kragen, whom Hill had managed to locate in San Francisco. She also told MacLeod that she thought that Alec’s spirit was haunting her, and she believed that he wanted MacLeod to fulfill his vow to kill Kragen. Duncan, who had promised Alec that should he fall before Kragen was dead, Mac would kill him, headed to San Francisco, where he located Kragen at a movie studio. Duncan and Kragen fought, and Duncan took his head and his quickening. Duncan returned to Seacouver and headed home but found Richie waiting:
Richie: "Uh, you see. Kragen didn't kill Alec Hill."
Duncan: "Then who did?"
Richie: "I did."
Duncan was not pleased but understood such things happened. He was less forgiving about the brief affair Richie had had with Jennifer. When she returned to Richie, he confessed to her, and Jennifer confronted Duncan demanding he kill Richie, but Duncan refused, saying that he promised only to kill Kragen. Jennifer left angry, and went immediately to Richie's where she shot him dead. Mac arrived to find Jennifer standing over Richie, holding his sword at his neck. Duncan tried to convince her that killing Richie would not bring her peace. She decided to let him live, to let him live with the guilt. When Richie revived, Duncan told him that Jennifer had gone. He told him he understood that Richie was sorry, and that he would always worry about him.
The Other Methos
MacLeod and the Messenger
Days later, Duncan was at the marina looking at a boat, but sensed an immortal. It turned out to be William Culbraith. Duncan challenged him and fought him viciously, pursuing Culbraith relentlessly, until he finally delivered a crippling blow. He raised his sword over Culbraith's head, just as Richie arrived, yelling, "Mac! Don't do it!" Mac turned, and Culbraith threw himself off the edge of the dock and into the water. Duncan was cold and furious at Richie who told him that there must be another way than fighting, peace might be the answer. Richie told him that he talked to Methos, who convinced him to lay down his sword and reject the game. Duncan was stunned and then annoyed to find Methos in his loft and confronted him his 'give peace a chance' line. Methos, however was vaguely amused, and told Mac of 'the other Methos' a man who used his name and preached a message of peace. The next day, Duncan went back to the docks and found Culbraith with the Messenger. The false Methos stepped between them, telling Duncan that Culbraith acted "out of pain, because of what others had done to him. But it can end here. You can end it." Duncan was not interested, but when the false Methos mentioned Darius, Duncan left.
Meanwhile, Methos had confronted the Messenger, and thought the man delusional. He and Joe also told Mac that the Messenger left a trail of bodies – those that believed his message were almost immediately killed by those who did not. Duncan spoke to Richie about his decisions, and was himself double teamed by Joe and Methos about leaving Richie on his own. Duncan took Richie's abandoned sword and went to meet him at the Messenger's garden, where he found Culbraith trying to kill him. Duncan tossed the blade to his pupil, who took it up and defeated Culbraith, taking his head.
Valkyrie
"Ingrid killed and you judged her"
Ingrid Henning arrived in Seacouver, and Duncan was at first happy to see her, but soon learned that she was in the city to assassinate a white supremacist leader who was gaining political ground. Duncan managed to stop her from carrying out her plan but was forced to kill her. Duncan was devastated and asked Methos for clarity. Methos' answer is rather less comforting than he would have hoped.
Revelations
While leaving a TV studio with Methos, bot men sensed another Immortal. As Methos left, Duncan went to investigate. He glimpsed the other Immortal, but it was enough to recognize Melvin Koren, who MacLeod knew as a vicious killer of the 19th century. He chased Koren, but found Cassandra. With Koren vanished, they return to the loft, where Cassandra told him that she knew Koren by another name – Kronos.
Methos arrived a short time later, looking flustered, but before he could speak, Duncan asked him if he's ever heard of Kronos. Methos was taken aback, but before he could answer, Cassandra came down from the loft, and challenged him. He swore that she did not know him and with Mac's help, fled. Cassandra was livid, and told Mac that his friend rode with Kronos - he was one of the Four Horsemen, leaving Duncan stunned at the revelation. Duncan followed Methos, who was packing to leave. In what is the Scene Of Scenes for Highlander, he confronted Methos, who tried evasion until he realized that Duncan was not going to let it go. Then, Methos tells him that it was true; that he rode with Kronos, and they killed thousands. He asked Duncan if that's what he wanted to hear, because the answer was yes. MacLeod told him that they were though, and walked away, both men visibly upset.
Duncan reacts to Methos' confession
At the loft, Duncan and Joe tried to make sense of it, until a phone call tipped Joe as to Kronos' location. Duncan was surprised - Kronos did not have a Watcher - but Joe pointed out that Cassandra did. As Duncan raced to Kronos' hideout, Cassandra confronted the Horseman, but she was no match for his swordsmanship. Disarmed, she fled, only to run into Methos, who knocked her out and dropped her off a bridge to get her out of play. Inside, Duncan found Kronos, and the two of them fought, when the building burst into flames about them, thanks to an unexpected display of pyromania from Methos, they were forced to separate. Kronos escaped and Duncan went back to the loft, where Cassandra was waiting. Duncan and Cassandra went to Joe for help in looking for the rest of the horseman. Eventually they find Evan Caspari, whom Cassandra recognized as Caspian. According the record, he was in Romania, in an asylum for the criminally insane. Cassandra and Duncan left to find him, but arrived too late: Caspian was gone. While looking at Caspian’s cell, however, Duncan found a clue left by Methos. Once in Bordeaux, a telephone call for Duncan turned out to be Methos, who wanted him to meet him on holy ground. Upon arrival, he asked Methos why he never told him about his past, and Methos pointed out that he knew how MacLeod would react. “What I did, you can't forgive. It's not in your nature. But will you accept it?” Methos then filled in the blanks as to his connection to Cassandra, as Duncan listened, Methos took her as his slave and kept her for his own. They showed the beginnings of an attachment, but Kronos saw her as a growing threat, and decided that it was time to share. He took Cassandra and Methos let him. Cassandra was stunned at his betrayal, but refused to submit to Kronos, instead seized a knife and stabbing him. As Kronos lay dying, she fled across the desert watched by Methos, who did nothing to stop her, believing that the wilderness was a better fate than life with the Horsemen. Then he told Mac why he had called; Kronos intended to destroy the world, and has been experimenting on monkeys to develop a virus with which he would blackmail countries into submission. His first test would be that night - a bomb in a fountain. Methos told Duncan where the bomb was and how to disarm it, but refused to go with him. Crossing Kronos openly was not yet on his agenda. Duncan raced to the Place Des Quinconces and arrives just in time to disarm it. Meanwhile Kronos had sent Silas and Caspian to kill MacLeod, Silas was waiting, for him axe in hand, and Caspian was behind him. Duncan backed away, then ran with both of them in pursuit. They split up to catch him, and Caspian confronted him alone on a bridge. Duncan and Caspian trade a flurry of blows, both of them using sword and dagger, but after a long engagement the final exchange ends with Duncan taking Caspian's head. He stared at Silas, who was waiting for a winner, and then made for the edge of the bridge as the Quickening hit him. Duncan fell over the edge into the water, the lightning still lashing around him, avoiding Silas killing blow. Silas watched until the last of the Quickening was gone, then picked up Caspian's sword and stalked away. Duncan tracked the Horsemen to Kronos' lair and confronted Kronos and Methos. Kronos offered Duncan a choice, if he doesn't fight, Cassandra lives, but if he fights, win or lose, she'll die. "I think she'd rather be dead,” replied Duncan. Kronos then ordered Methos to tell Silas to kill her. As Methos ran off, Duncan and Kronos fight.
Eventually, Duncan saw that Methos was also fighting Silas. Duncan took Kronos's head, and Methos took Silas'. Then the Quickening, a rare Double Quickening evidenced by the unique spiral lightning that briefly connected the victors. A shadow runs down the ramp behind Methos as he falls forward, devastated by what he has done and experienced. Cassandra lifted Silas' axe and came for Methos’s head. Duncan ordered her to let him live. Angry, she hesitated then she dropped the blade and retreated, leaving an exhausted Highlander and a shattered Methos.
Spiral lightning unique to a double quickening
Days later, Duncan met with Methos on holy ground, and Duncan asks him about Kronos and why he didn’t kill him, knowing that he would come for him one day, Methos simply told him that he couldn’t for they were brothers of blood and battle. Duncan also realized that Methos manipulated events in hopes he could kill Kronos for him. They walk out of the cemetery, and Duncan stopped Methos, and asks him about Cassandra. "One of a thousand regrets MacLeod. One of a thousand regrets." He replied and the two men part ways, uncertain about their friendship.
Richie's Return
Duncan was surprised to find that Richie had come back to France, even using the pseudonym of Richard Redstone. He was even more surprised to find that he had to pay "The Ransom Of Richard Redstone" to free Richie from Marina Lemartin, the naive first time kidnapper and granddaughter of Baron LeMartin. Marina was desperate to prevent her family chateau from falling into the hands of her grandfather's former associate, Carlo Capodimonte and kidnapped Richie, believing him to be an American millionaire. Having been told the truth, however, she prepared to marry Carlo. Duncan, meanwhile, realized that it was Carlo who robbed him at gunpoint 25 years previously, and he and Richie set the thief up for Duncan's murder. As Carlo became caught in their sting, Richie forced him into signing the chateau over to Marina, and returning the watch he'd stolen from mac a quarter of a century ago. Duncan later discovered a fortune in vintage wine hidden in the cellar, assuring the family of the wealth they needed to restore their ancestral home.
Forgive us our Trespasses
Duncan received a call from Amanda asking him to meet her on holy ground. Another Immortal, Steven Keane, was holding Amanda, but the man he wanted, was MacLeod.
MacLeod and Methos disagree on dealing with hostiles
He introduced himself and reminded Duncan of who he was, they met the day Mac slaughtered his patron. Keane told him to meet him for a challenge and warned that if he ran Keane would find him. Amanda, fearing that Duncan will lose because at some level he believed Keane's accusation of murder, enlisted Methos' help. Methos intercepted Mac at his rendezvous, and was very eloquent, but Mac was unreceptive, so Methos shot him and challenged the stranger himself, easily beating Keane, but was prevented from killing him by MacLeod. When Keane revived, Duncan tried to talk with him. Keane didn't care about any reasons Mac might have had, only his actions. Eventually, despite the efforts of either Methos or Amanda, the two men fought, and although MacLeod won, he refused to take Keane's head.
Millennial Cycle
While returning home one night, Duncan was confronted by Jason Landry, who had come to warn him about a prophesy that said that he had been chosen to face an ancient evil, but before they could speak further, Duncan saw a familiar figure watching: James Horton. Horton vanished and the old man lay dead on the quay. The next day, he found Horton's grave opened, and he was then told by the cemetery official that Joe Dawson had the body exhumed. Duncan tracked down Joe at the airport where Joe told him that he was transferring the body to Chicago at his niece's request. Duncan then opened the casket by force, only to find a decayed body of his old enemy inside. Duncan then went to the morgue to see Landry’s body, only to be told that his body had been cremated on the instructions of his granddaughter. Upon consulting Allison Landry, they found Duncan was named in Landry's papers as the champion who will fight and vanquish the demon Ahriman, who walked the Earth every thousand years. Unwilling to be cast in the role of the Champion who must face the "Archangel", MacLeod was taunted by Ahriman, who appeared to him as Kronos and Horton. Duncan later saw an illusion of Allison who tried to seduce him, only for the illusion to vanish, as had the others. Joe and Methos went and see Duncan, concerned, thinking he was delusional. Duncan insisted that he is not insane, but a call from Richie ended further discussion. Richie told Duncan that he had seen Horton and he had Joe as a hostage. Duncan looks at Joe, standing not five feet away: "That's impossible." Richie told him that he thought they are headed for the old racetrack and would follow them, Duncan tried to convince him to come back, to got no reply. He arrived at the racetrack, and once inside, Duncan heard the sound of an escalator running, He saw Richie coming down, sitting on the steps, his head bowed to his hands. "Richie?" You all right? Richie, it's me." He then saw Richie’s eyes glow red and realized that it was not his friend but Ahriman. It attacked Duncan, and they fought. His opponant ran through the forms of Richie, Kronos., Horton. Frightened, confused, and hurt, Duncan was soon kneeling among his enemies, all he could see were the faces of Richie, Kronos and Horton, all of them laughing at him. He lashed out, and he was suddenly alone, sparring with empty air. He whirled, crouching, searching. Dhe slashed at Kronos, then at Richie, then Kronos again. They run past him, too fast for him to do any more than swing wildly at them. Then he turned, and saw Richie, and rushed him, and took his head in one blow. Duncan suddenly realized that he had killed the real Richie. Behind him, Joe and Methos arrived to witness the aftermath. Realizing what he had done,
Duncan kneels over Richie's body
Duncan offered his sword up to Methos, so that he could take his head. Methos turned away, "Absolutely not." Duncan took off one of Richie's gloves. He stands, barely able to speak, and waved the glove at the body. He then fled, leaving Joe and Methos, and leaving his katana by Richie's body. Duncan left France and headed for a monastery outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Season Six (1998)
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Duncan with a new hair cut
A year passed after the death of Richie Ryan before Duncan MacLeod was ready to face the evil that had come into his life. After isolation in a monastery he eventually deemed himself ready to face Ahriman. He returned to Paris and sought out Joe Dawson for help, but was forced to face the anger that Joe at being abandoned, left alone to bury Richie. Joe eventually agreed to help, but was still not certain that the demon was real and was worried when Duncan would not take back his sword. He told Duncan that Jason Landry had an assistant, Sophie Baines. But Duncan and Sophie met within hours of his return to Paris, when he rescued her from the river. Ahriman has a simple temptation for the "Avatar" - if Duncan surrendered to him, he would bring back anyone from the dead, just like Sophie - even Tessa. When Duncan refused, Ahriman told Sophie had to kill Duncan to maintain her resurrected life, but she recognized Duncan as the Champion and killed herself to protect him. Duncan and Joe found an ancient symbol, common to all cultures and start to explore it as a possible key to defeating Ahriman. Searching for the symbol, Duncanwent to Robert Beaufort, the archivist of Darius' order, who was grieving for his brother, Jackie Beaufort, who had committed suicide. Ahriman appeared to Joe Dawson as James Horton, determined to separate Duncan from all those who care for him and might help him. Despite tempting Joe with by offering to give him legs, Joe refused to abandon Duncan and the stage was set for "Armageddon". Joe gave Duncan a Tibetan Singing Bowl, which had the mysterious symbol on it, and Duncan used it to embark on a vision quest. He confronted Ahriman before Joe brought him back to reality. He realized that Ahriman was trying to get Robert to commit suicide and confronted it in Darius' church. With Robert safe, Duncan faced Ahriman in his dream world and refused to fight him, instead accepting his darkness as a part of himself. With no power over Duncan, Ahriman was defeated and banished. Joe decided to leave Paris, but persuaded Duncan to take back his sword before he left.
Poor Student
Duncan battles Devon Marek.
Sometime later, Duncan went on a date with a woman, Margo, but one night, Margo was kidnapped from the barge by gunmen. The only clue was a toy left on the quay, which lead Duncan to Keram Industries. There, he confronted the Immortal, Devon Marek, who refused to face Duncan, but set a game wherein a group of bounty hunters chased him through the building as he attempted to rescue Margo. As Duncan raced to find Margo, the hunters closed in, only to be eliminated one by one. When Duncan finally confronted Marek, Margo shot him; the fifth bounty hunter. Marek killed Margo and Duncan finally taught him what he could not years before - that the Rules applied to all Immortals.
Farewell
A visit from Amanda ended in her being kidnapped from the quay by Immortal, Liam O'Rourke, who wanted to settle his old score with MacLeod. O'Rourke also seized Joe and offered Duncan their lives in exchange for the Highlander's head. Duncan was willing to surrender his life for his friends, but Methos was not so ready to see him dead. In the ensuing gunfight, MacLeod was fatally shot. He woke to find Hugh Fitzcairn, who told him that he had come to give MacLeod a gift, and showed him an alternate world, where he had never been never born. He showed him Amanda, a heartless murderer, who killed her rich husband, but was then killed herself by the corrupted Watchers. Fitz took him to a broken Joe Dawson, who was unable to prevent James Horton from perverting the Watchers and declaring war on the Immortals. In the midst of the murders, a familiar figure walked untroubled by the world she never knew - Tessa was alive. Duncan went to Tessa's gallery, where the attraction between them was as immediate as it ever was. Tessa's husband invited her "old friend" to dinner, but when he left, the emptiness in Tessa's life overwhelmed her and she and Duncan share one night of passion. Distraught, Duncan asked Fitz why he let him see her like this, and Fitz said that it was her fate in a world without Duncan MacLeod, just as it was his fate to die 280 years previously, when Duncan wasn't there to rescue him from the headsman's axe. Their conversation was interrupted by a sullen Methos. Fitz showed him the nightmare of this world - The Horsemen ride, Kronos having rescued Methos from Horton's killers after which they recruited a young Immortal, Richie Ryan, but when he couldn't bring himself to kill Joe Dawson, Methos took his head. Methos and Kronos were also about to kill Joe unless he gave up the Watchers to them. Faced with the world that was "Not To Be" because he lived, Duncan revived in his own reality and faced O'Rourke, rather than give up his life. Duncan fought him, and was victorious. With O'Rourke dead, MacLeod reflected on his life, thanked his friends for standing by him, and faced the rest of his life with a new strength.
Films
Endgame
Duncan in England
At the beginning of the 21st Century, Duncan settled in England. One day while meditating in a garden, Duncan began to have visions of a massacre. While walking the streets, Duncan answered a nearby payphone. On the other end, he then hung up. Duncan went to Methos, to consult him about his dreams an,d asked about Connor's disappearance. Methos told him about the Sanctuary, a place set up by the Watchers for Immortals who wanted to leave the Game, and said that Connor had been there since his disappearance. He then told Duncan that the Sanctuary had been attacked the previous night and its inhabitants beheaded.[2]
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Duncan and Jin
Duncan left London for New York, where he went to Nash Antiques, still in rubble after the explosion a decade earlier. While looking around, Duncan sensed an Immortal, and saw that it was Kate, now going by the name of Faith. Four other Immortals, Carlos Dash, Winston Ehuhero, Cracker Bob, and Manny Rieta began to fight Duncan, disregarding the one-on-one rule. Despite his disadvantage, Duncan was able to hold them all off. The four stopped their attack to allow Immortal, Jin Ke to fight Duncan. They stopped their fight, when their leader arrived. Carlos shot Duncan, who fell onto spikes below.[2]
Duncan revived to find himself strapped to a gurney by Watcher, Matthew Hale, who had hoped to restart the Sanctuary with Duncan as his first lient. Duncan was given powerful drugs by Hale, and he soon began to relive his first meeting with Connor. He was later rescued by Joe and Methos, who then showed him the Watcher file entries on the number of kills he and Connor had taken, 262 and 174 respectfully. They then showed Duncan the number of heads taken by Jacob Kell, the leader of the Immortals that Duncan was fighting earlier, which was 661.[2] Duncan demanded to be taken to where Conner was buried. After arriving there, Duncan asked Joe and Methos to leave him at the cemetery. Alone, Duncan searched through the tombstones but soon found Connor alive. The two were then approached by Jacob Kell and Faith. Kell taunted Connor about the deaths of his mother and Rachel, hoping to make Connor angrier. The two left Holy Ground and began to fight one another, Kell being able to easily wound Connor. He let Connor live, wanting to make him suffer until they were the only two remaining Immortals. After exchanging a few words with Duncan, Connor departed.[2]
Days later, Duncan went to see Kate, who was still angry with him after nearly three hundred years. Later, Kate came to Duncan's hotel room and the two made love. Kate then said she could never forgive him, and only made love to him to see if she could feel anything more. Before she left, Duncan confronted her, and told her that that, even if it took years or centuries, he hoped that Kate could eventually forgive him. Afterwards, Duncan received another vision of a massacre, which was Kell killing his followers, including Kate.[2]
Duncan is forced to fight Connor
Duncan went to the hotel's roof with his katana, only to find Connor. The two began talking about life and Connor's loss of hope. Connor then began fighting Duncan, telling him that neither of them could defeat Kell alone. Connor wanted to give Duncan his head so that Duncan could be strong enough to kill Kell. Duncan refused, but Connor continued to strike, forcing Duncan to defend. Duncan took the upper hand but told Connor he would not kill him. Duncan tried to leave but Connor charged at him and forced Duncan into the unstoppable move that he taught him in Italy over 370 years ago. Knowing he could not stop it, Duncan said his goodbyes and then took Connor's head, receiving his Quickening.[2]
Duncan faces Kell
Duncan met Kell in an abandoned power plant and taunted Kell that Connor's head could now never be his. Duncan charged at Kell and the two men began a long battle. They fought throughout the plant, each of them taking the upper hand at one point or another. After a long fight, Kell pushed Duncan over the limit, even being able to defeat Connor's unstoppable move. Before Kell could take Duncan's head, Connor's spirit was able to help Duncan compose himself. With this, Duncan was able to finally take Kell's head and victoriously receive his Quickening.[2]
Duncan buries Connor in Scotland
With Kell dead, Duncan flew Connor's body to Scotland, where he was buried next to Heather. Looking at Connor's grave, he hoped Connor had finally found peace. Later, Duncan sensed an Immortal and saw Kate, whom Kell had allowed to live. Kate told Duncan that she had finally forgiven him. While Kate was not prepared to remarry Duncan, she hoped to give their relationship another chance.[2]
The Source
In a post apocalyptic world, Duncan had a dream about a group of Immortals who quest to locate the mysterious "Source" of immortal power. One member of the group, Zai Jie, broke into a communications tower in Eastern Europe and contacted his associates to give them the location of the Source. The Guardian of the Source, who has supernatural speed, confronted and decapitated him. Reggie Weller, another group member, discovered that the planets were moving from their orbits into a cosmic alignment. Former Watcher Joe Dawson was called by group member, Methos, to find their mutual friend, Duncan MacLeod. Joe found MacLeod in a fight with the Guardian, shot Duncan, hauled him into a truck, and drove off. They rendezvoused with the others at a monastery in order to meet with an ancient being known as the Elder. At the monastery, they met Anna Teshemka, Duncan's mortal wife, who was having visions. The Elder met them as a group, and told of how, in ancient history, another group of Immortals sought the Source. Upon slaying the Guardian, the two survivors were cursed with decay, with one of them becoming the new Guardian, and the other being the Elder. The Elder told them all to follow Anna, who knew the way. She, in turn, received a vision from the Elder. They left to find the Source, which they had determined to be on an island in a lake in Eastern Europe. Approaching the island, the boat's captain told them that gangs of cannibals, ruled the island. After fighting locals, they obtained a van and drove to a deserted house a short distance away from where they believed the Source to be.
That night, the Guardian killed Reggie by slashing him to death. The Elder had warned them that the closer they get to the Source, the weaker they would become, meaning that they would lose their immortality. The group took Reggie's body with them until they ultimately discover that he would not revive. After burying Reggie, they continues on their way. They found the road blocked, and were captured by cannibals. While the cannibals were distracted, the Guardian freed Anna and forced her to accompany him to the Source. Later, Cardinal Giovanni escaped and took a sword, hoping to be "The One". Duncan freed himself and Methos, and set off to rescue Anna. Giovanni was recaptured, and Duncan went to save him. Methos arrived to assist Duncan at the last moment, and told him he believed Duncan is "The One" due to his incorruptible nature. He rode off on a horse to distract the cannibals, allowing Duncan to chase Anna. Giovanni, meanwhile, was decapitated by the Guardian. Duncan found Anna and the cosmic convergence was happening directly over them. The Guardian appeared and challenged Duncan. MacLeod found that he now had the same speed and power as the Guardian, and managed to get past the foe to reach Anna. An energy barrier, however, appeared to bar his way. After continued fighting, the Guardian ended up buried chest deep. Bound and defeated, the Guardian demanded that MacLeod behead him. Duncan refused, and the Guardian vanisheed in a blast of light. Before he went, the Guardian screamed that he is "cursed forever". Duncan entered the Source, qualified to do so by his pure heart. In the Source, Anna revealed that she was pregnant with their child. Duncan, presumably a mortal after entering the Source, declared that the child was"the one." Note: The Source is so outside the accepted Highlander universe, it is not regarded as canon even by the producers and actors, who referred to it as a bad dream.
Duncan MacLeod in The Game
The list of all of Duncan's known Quickenings:
- Timothy of Gilliam, 1625 ("Archangel") (Gilliam beheads himself)
- Nerissa, 1632 (The Element of Fire)
- Unknown British Soldier, 1632 (Scotland the Brave)
- Michel de Burgoyne, 1670 ("Unholy Alliance")
- Charles Browning, 1730 ("Counterfeit")
- Nasiradeen Satish, 1781 (The Path)
- Violane Armand, 1842 (Shadow of Obsession)
- Danny O'Donal, 1889 (White Silence)
- Khordas, 1897 (The Element of Fire)
- Aziz Mirza Bey, 1917 (Scimitar)
- Farid Al'Zafir ibn Muhunnad, 1917 (Scimitar)
- Marcus Korolus, 1925 ("See No Evil")
- Richard Tarsis, 1930 ("Reasonable Doubt")
- Lothar, 1978 (The Watcher's Chronicles CD-ROM)
- Slan Quince, 1992 ("The Gathering")
- Howard Crowley, 1992 ("Innocent Man")
- Caleb Cole, 1992 ("Mountain Men")
- Alexei Voshin, 1992 ("The Sea Witch") (Beheaded by a propeller blade)
- Walter Reinhardt, 1992 ("Revenge Is Sweet")
- Andrew Ballin, 1993 ("Eyewitness")
- Grayson, 1993 ("Band of Brothers")
- Christoph Kuyler, 1993 ("For Evil's Sake")
- Carlo Sendaro, 1993 ("Saving Grace") (Beheaded by a train)
- Gabriel Piton, 1993 ("Eye of the Beholder")
- Alfred Cahill, 1993 ("Avenging Angel")
- Michael Moore, 1993 ("Turnabout")
- Anthony Gallen, 1994 ("Epitaph For Tommy")
- Tommy Sullivan, 1994 ("The Fighter")
- Xavier St. Cloud, 1994 ("Unholy Alliance Part Two")
- Nicholas Ward, 1994 ("The Vampire")
- Artur Drakov, 1994 ("Warmonger")
- Nefertiri, 1994 ("Pharaoh's Daughter")
- Luther, 1994 ("Legacy")
- Martin Hyde, 1994 ("Prodigal Son")
- Michael Kent, 1994 ("The Samurai")
- Kern, 1994 ("Line of Fire")
- Paul Karros, 1994 ("The Revolutionary")
- John Durgan, 1994 ("The Cross Of St. Antoine")
- Axel Whittaker, 1994 ("Rite Of Passage")
- Brian Cullen, 1994 ("Courage")
- John Garrick, 1994 ("Shadows")
- Peter Matlin, 1994 ("Blackmail")
- Lyman Kurlow, 1994 ("Blackmail")
- Michael Christian, 1994 ("They Also Serve")
- Ernst Daimler, 1995 ("Mortal Sins")
- Lucas Kagan, 1995 ("Reasonable Doubt")
- Antonius Kalas, 1995 ("Finalé, Part Two")
- Kanwulf, 1995 ("Homeland")
- Andrew Cord, 1995 ("Brothers in Arms")
- Tyler King, 1995 ("The Innocent")
- Peter Kanis, 1995 ("Leader Of The Pack")
- Terence Kincaid, 1995 ("Reunion")
- Colonel Simon Killian, 1995 ("The Colonel")
- Paul Kinman, 1995 ("Reluctant Heroes")
- Kamir, 1995 ("The Wrath of Kali")
- Annie Devlin, 1996 (Scotland the Brave)
- James Douglas, 1996 (Scotland the Brave)
- James Coltec, 1996 ("Something Wicked")
- Sean Burns, 1996 ("Deliverance")
- Damon Case, 1996 ("The Immortal Cimoli")
- Morgan D'Estaing, 1996 ("Double Jeopardy")
- Avram ben Mordecai, 1996 (Zealot)
- Jacob Galati, 1996 ("One Minute To Midnight") (Beheaded by Watcher Jack Shapiro)
- Roland Kantos, 1996 ("Prophecy")
- Haresh Clay, 1996 ("The End Of Innocence")
- Johnny 'K' Kelly, 1996 ("Glory Days")
- Gerard Kragen, 1996 ("Haunted")
- Taro Honda, 1996 (Measure of a Man)
- Niccolò Machiavelli, 1996 (Measure of a Man)
- Gavriel Larca, 1996 ("Little Tin God")
- Ingrid Henning, 1997 ("The Valkyrie")
- Caspian, 1997 ("Revelation 6:8")
- Kronos, 1997 ("Revelation 6:8") (Double Quickening with Methos, who beheaded Silas at the same time)
- Callestina, 1997 (Shadow of Obsession)
- Otavio Consone, 1997 ("Duende")
- Lord Byron, 1997 ("The Modern Prometheus")
- Richie Ryan, 1997 ("Archangel")
- Devon Marek, 1998 ("Black Tower")
- Liam O'Rourke, 1998 ("Not To Be")
- Connor MacLeod, 2004 (Highlander: Endgame)
- Jacob Kell, 2004 (Highlander: Endgame)
- Pieter Gatlin, 2008 (The Lesson)
- The Kurgan, 2008 (Kurgan Rising)
- Justino Alberez, 2008 (Kurgan Rising)
- Unnamed French Immortal, 2012 (Highlander: Armageddon)
- Unnamed Female Eye Immortal, 2012 (Highlander: Armageddon)
- The Guardian, ???? (Highlander: The Source) (Joins the Source as a Quickening)
Personality
Like all Immortals, his aging process stopped at the moment of his First Death, when he was three months away from his thirtieth birthday. Thus, his appearance has remained that of a man in his early thirties for four hundred years, and will do so for the rest of his life. His injuries heal very quickly, and if killed by any means other than beheading, he revives fully healthy again.
Duncan was raised to be a chieftain of his clan, and that fact influenced his personality. He had a strong moral conscience and a sense of nobility; he protected the weak and innocent, and punished evildoers. He was known to be very loyal. He was referred to by more than one character as a "Boy Scout," and tended to see things in terms of black-and-white, often being criticized -- sometimes in jest, sometimes not -- for his rigid sense of honor, and his determination to intervene in events that often placed him in danger. He felt responsible for others, and when he thought people died because of him, he felt he had to avenge them. He mentored new Immortals, even when he has doubts about them.[13] Like all Immortals, he was unable to have children, but he liked them, and took care of those he met. He was respected by both mortals and Immortals, and considered by some to be one of the prime contenders for The Prize.[Citation needed]
Duncan enjoyed life. As Connor said, he had "all the fun, and most of the good women."[55] Although he was a womanizer, he shared his life with a few women he grew to love. Those who were mortal, he remained loyal to their memories, and cherished the moments he had with them. He was a perfectionist, and keen to learn new things, be it reading, playing Shakespeare, or fighting skills (see below). He was cunning and very difficult to catch because he had experienced almost everything life had to offer. Duncan had a very good memory, and could remember things that happened centuries ago.
As an Immortal, Duncan took The Game with a grain of salt. He fulfilled his duty, and defended his head when he was challenged, but he was not bloodthirsty, and occasionally spared his opponents, especially female Immortals. This was partially based on the circumstance that he was born and raised up in a time of chivalry. Indeed, he did not hunt other Immortals for their heads, but he fought evil where he found it. As he told Alexei Voshin, "If you harm people I care about, I'll send you to hell the hard way".[62] Unlike Connor, for example, he did not consider The Game his primary purpose in life, and sometimes retired from it.
Duncan was not prejudiced against mortals, but was generally very generous to mortals, and almost always tried to avoid hurting them. Being four hundred years old, he has seen generations of them age and die, and thus actually, and sometimes bitterly, knew how fragile they were. "I have mourned more friends than I can count. Death is part of my life."[23] For this reason, he protected them, especially from evil Immortals, and from the dangerous consequences The Game can have for them. He felt they had nothing to do with it,[55] and should not suffer from it.
He did not usually tell them about his Immortality, except when he trusted them with his life.[56] He never got used to death, especially the death of his lovers. As he told Tessa: "No matter how many years go by, or how many times you say goodbye to those you care most about, when they leave, you.... When they die, you're naked and alone." But it never prevented him from involving himself in life again. After becoming a mentor to Richie Ryan, he matured into something of a father-figure, with a stronger, more confident outlook on life. After Richie's death, he became a darker, brooding character, aware of the fragility of life, and his participation in The Game decreased.
Despite the fact that he was exiled from his own clan after his First Death in 1622, he remained proud of, and faithful to, his Scottish heritage. He usually introduced himself to other Immortals as, "Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod," and fought for Scottish independence, including the Battle of Culloden in 1746,[33] and eventually trying to steal the Stone of Scone in 1950.[52]
Executive Producer Bill Panzer said, "Once you've hurt him, he doesn't forget. And Immortals have a long time to remember, and sooner or later you will cross his path."
Fighting Style
Like many Immortals, Duncan had learned many styles of fighting, hunting, and tracking. He was a master of both armed and unarmed combat, able to fight with any weapon, or any object, at any time. His skill was such, that he could defeat an armed Immortal bare-handed, if need be. While he always was a very talented swordsman, his unarmed style noticeably shifted from Japanese martial arts towards Chinese over the 20th centrury, favoring Kung Fu and Wing Chun over karate and Jiu-Jitsu.
Over the years he bested more then one adversary stronger than him. It was thought that his true source of strength was his unbreakable will to fight in accordance to his own moral code, and it was his sense of justice that pushed him further in dead-end situations. While this helped him to win many battles, when he was burdened by guilt, or fell to depression, he was easily overcome by even less-capable foes.
Weapons
Duncan used a variety of swords and weapons. He used a Claymore, Saber, Cutlass, Tomahawk, Spear, among many others. The sword he most commonly used was a Dragon’s head katana which he received in 1778, from Hideo Koto. The sword was crafted by Masahiro, a master sword smith who lived long before Duncan’s birth.
A list of weapons he has used:
- Japanese dragon-head katana (current weapon)
- Scottish basket hilt claymore
- Custom broadsword
- Twin wakizashi
- Boarding sabre
- Blue/gold braid katana
- Sioux spear
- El Cid colada
- Charles III sword
- Scottish claymore
- Spanish sword rapier and main gauche
Miscellaneous Information
Concept and Creation
When the series was in development in 1991, Connor MacLeod was originally slated to be the lead character in the series. The producers auditioned over 400 actors for the role in both the US, Canada, and Britain. Among the actors considered for the role included Alistair Duncan (later cast as Terence Coventry), Gary Daniels, Alexis Denisof (who was later cast as Steven Banner), James Horan (who was later cast as Grayson), and Geraint Wyn Davies (who was later cast as Michael Moore).
In the end, Dutch actor Derek de Lint was cast in the lead role, but he pulled out of the role for unknown reasons. Eventually, Adrian Paul was then cast, reminding the producers of a young Sean Connery. Paul, upon being cast, asked the producers to create a new character in order to avoid comparison to Lambert's Connor. Surprisingly, the producers agreed, and Duncan MacLeod was created. The first name "Duncan" was chosen as the new MacLeod’s name, because in Gaelic, it means "dark warrior."
Watcher History
A list of all of Duncan MacLeod's known Watchers:
| Years | Watcher |
|---|---|
| 1634-1636 | Andrew Murray |
| 1636-1648 | Giancarlo LoFrano |
| Jun 1659-Mar 1660 | Giselle Dupin |
| 1662-1675 | William Raleigh |
| 1712-1731 | Alfred Rockingham |
| 1741-Sep 1753 | Robert McNeil |
| 1754-1764 | No Watcher assigned |
| 1764-1766 | Jagdish Bhailal |
| 1778 | Nathaniel Watt |
| 1783-1784 | Babette and Henri LaSalle |
| 1784-1796 | Clive Bertram |
| 1802-1805 | Barbara Matson |
| 1805-1809 | Patrick Finton |
| 1814-1817 | Rodney MacFergus |
| 1818-1829 | Ernest Sturdivant |
| 1832-1837 | Timothy Delaney |
| 1837-Aug 1847 | Henri Albert |
| Aug 1847-Jan 1848 | Remi Vijayha |
| 1853-1856 | Marshall Bowen |
| 1861-1866 | Dr. Matthew Hopkins |
| 1866-1867 | Roberto Chávez |
| 1867-1868 | John L. Slocum |
| 1882-1893 | Samuel Bruckner |
| 1896-1910 | Donald Buchanan |
| 1917-1919 | Andrew Gaylor |
| 1919-1929 | Bill Lipscomb |
| 1930-1934 | Didier Cloque |
| ??-1936-?? | Hans Schultz |
| ??-1937-?? | Ernesto Ferdinand |
| 1938-1940 | Sarah Panzer |
| 1940 | George Bixby |
| 1942-1944 | Marjolaine LaMerc |
| 1945-1952 | Jane Owen |
| 1957-1968 | Renée Ginsburg |
| ??-1975-?? | Sister Mary Ignatius |
| 1976-1979 | Anthony Klasky |
| 1979-May 1996 | Joe Dawson |
| May 1996 | David Shapiro |
| May 1996 – 2008 | Joe Dawson |
Appearances
The TV Series (First appearance)
Appeared in all episodes, except for the following:
Movies
- Highlander #5 - Highlander #12
- Appeared in all of them.