The Immortals are not alone. Unbeknownst to them, they have been under the scrutiny of an organization sworn to observe, record and never interfere. Unfortunately for all involved, the vows of certain members of this organization are ignored, turned about to the purpose of destroying all the Immortals.
Fitz shows up at the barge to report that several Immortals have gone missing for no apparent reason, most especially his friend Thackeray. He and Duncan set out to talk with Darius, whom they discover has been beheaded in his church, on Holy Ground. While investigating, Fitz is abducted and dragged away, to be tortured and executed by a renegade group of Watchers led by James Horton.
Duncan finds a book, a Watcher's chronicle, in Darius's study and begins to read about this group. Using Richie as a decoy, he approaches a suspicious-looking man sitting in a car near the barge and bangs him up a bit. Then he follows the man to the Watcher's enclave.
Where we see that Fitzcairn has been placed on a guillotine, ready to be beheaded. Fitz is not taking this well, declaring that since there is no Immortal about, there will be no Quickening and all he is will be lost forever. This cuts no ice with the Watchers, who are just about to shorten Fitz's career as a bon vivant, when Duncan enters and begins laying waste to the murdering thugs. He fights with Horton, who plays dirty, and turns coward when Duncan takes the upper hand. Horton escapes and Duncan frees Fitz.
Duncan, Tessa, Fitz and Richie stand on the deck of the barge and Duncan eulogizes his old friend Darius, pouring his ashes into the river.
Questions:
1. You will notice I did not mention The Darius Scream, with the bulging eyes and the chihuahua shiver. I did not mention this out of respect for the episode As A Whole. However, this is the question section and this is the place to comment upon this one achingly bad bit in the whole episode. Do so. In iambic pentameter.
2. If you cut your hand and Duncan MacLeod had bandaged it up (without washing it first), would you still let a perfect stranger rip the bandage off even if he claimed to be a doctor? Or would you assume you were going to die soon of infection and any medical attention at all would be welcome?
3. Fitz asked, as his last request before being guillotined, for a last smoke of his pipe. Would you regard this as a) bad for his health and they were right to refuse b) a delaying tactic c) a waste of fine tobacco.
4. Duncan in a scarf. Discuss.
5. Why did Darius place a swatch of Duncan's clan colors in the Watcher's chronicle hidden in his wall? Did he *know* somehow that Duncan would need to find that book? Was Darius prescient as well as Immortal?
6. Richie's statement that he never thought any of the good guys would lose is remarkable in several regards. Name them.
7. Fitz and Duncan looked absolutely magnificent in their flashback in Florence, Italy. Feel free to examine just exactly how magnificent they both were, taking into consideration appearance, attitude and foreshadowing of future events.
8. This is just a wonderful episode, providing a fitting closure to Season One. The person who pens the best limerick on the totality of Season One gets an A for this semester. So does everyone else. As long as they agree that Duncan would never kill anyone on Holy Ground, regardless of circumstance or appearances.