The Highlander TV series introduced fans to Methos, the oldest known immortal. The original Highlander starred Christopher Lambert (Mortal Kombat) as Connor MacLeod, an immortal Scotsman who is forced to fight other immortals until only one remains and can the mysterious Prize. The film was a stylish adventure packed with a rich mythology and likable characters, but since it was made just before franchises became a thing, it ended on a very conclusive note. Connor wins The Prize, becomes mortal and gets to live happily ever after.

The cult popularity of the movie led to Highlander II: The Quickening, which is regarded as one of the worst sequels ever made. The sequel twisted itself in knots to come up with a new story, taking place in a bleak future and revealing the immortals are actually aliens. The sequel received disastrous reviews, so the third movie ignored it completely and essentially remade the original. The franchise also branched out during this period, launching Highlander: The Series starring Adrian Paul (Arrow), which also spawned a spinoff dubbed The Raven and an animated series. The movie and TV franchises crossed over with both Lambert and Paul starring in Highlander: Endgame in 2000, while Paul took over the movie series with Highlander: The Source, the final entry to date.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum director Chad Stahelski is currently developing a reboot, though it’s unknown if that will be a movie or TV show. While the Highlander sequels are generally considered awful, the TV series is remembered much more fondly. Paul made for a charismatic lead and the show was able to expand the lore of the immortals. It also introduced Methos, played by Peter Wingfield (Caprica), who is the oldest known immortal at over 5,000 years old.

Methos was introduced in Highlander’s third season in the aptly titled episode “Methos,” and was originally intended to die at the end of the season until he proved popular with fans. Considering his age, Methos is understandably tired and burned out by the quest for The Prize and when he’s introduced he’s essentially withdrawn from the world. Duncan MacLeod crosses paths with him while saving his life from an old enemy and they form a friendship.

Methos has been alive for so long he barely remembers anything before he became immortal, and his morality is always in question. While he initially seems to be something of a sage mentor, a later season of Highlander shockingly reveals he once part of a gang of immortals dubbed the Four Horsemen, who raped and pillaged their way across Ancient Eurasia. Methos even reveals to MacLeod he enjoyed the power he felt during those times, and he later seeks to reunite the old gang for another reign of terror. He eventually pulls back from this and helps Duncan take them down, though it could be argued he did this to save his own skin.

The Highlander series posed some interesting questions about the nature of immortality, with Methos making for one of its most fascinating characters. He was portrayed as both a repulsive villain and a hero, and his allegiance was always somewhat in question. That said, he showed his human side more than once, such as the episode “Timeless,” where he falls in love with a dying woman.

Methos proved so popular fans hoped he’d receive his own spin-off, which didn’t come to pass. The character also appeared in Highlander: Endgame and The Source, though thanks to the poor reception that greeted those entries - with The Source considered by some to be even worse than Highlander II - fans tend to ignore them. Methos himself is regarded as one of the most compelling characters in the franchise so if the proposed Highlander reboot ever happens, hopefully, he’ll reappear at some point.

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