"A Hayoka's lot is not a happy one ..."
Immortal Hayoka Coltec's function is to absorb the pain and evil which torment people. As "hayoka" his capacity to absorb evil should be unlimited, his cup should have no bottom. In 1872 Coltec frees Duncan from his pain after Duncan's lover Little Deer, her son, and their tribe are massacreed, and Duncan has sunk into an abyss of anger and despair.
Coltec's cup finally overflows after he absorbs the evil residing within the Quickenings of Immortal poet Korland and Immortal badguy Kant. Coltec goes on the attack and Duncan realizes that Coltec needs help. Duncan assumes the role of Hayoka, but the evil within Coltec is too pervasive to be driven away. Duncan is forced to behead Coltec and take his Quickening.
This does not improve the personality of Duncan, who transforms into the Evil Duncan MacLeod who has a heart blacker than tar at the bottom of a well on a moonless night, and could stand a shave. Duncan, like Coltec, decides that being on the Dark Side of the Force is a pretty cool, and he tries to behead Richie.
Joe stops EDM by shooting him, but stops short of beheading him. Instead, Joe allows EDM to leave, and we last see him boarding a ship.
Questions:
1. Duncan tries to perform the role of hayoka to cure Coltec's case of The Evils. He evidently feels that "his" cup is deep enough to absorb the evil Coltec has assumed through years of service as a genuine hayoka. We have seen Duncan under the influence of dark forces before, as he was unable to break himself free. Failing in the hayoka role and then being forced to accept the Quickening from the vessel of such an accumulation of evil forced Duncan to become evil. In an episode in an earlier season, Duncan mused on whether being a good man would protect him from becoming evil. Comment.
2. It seems that the Dark Quickening "really" wants Richie dead. Could it somehow be related to Ahriman? To Duncan's deepest, most dark personal desires?
3. Is there really such a thing as a Dark Quickening or is it merely a manifestation of conflict within the soul of its "recipient"?
4. "I like it square" is a cheer-worthy retort. Duncan MacLeod has no sense of humor. How did he come up with that line?
5. Dr Anne has seen Duncan go nuts before. Would she have been surprised by this latest episode of mental instability?