"Rubber Ducky, you're the one ..."
No banjos. Just Dueling Duncans.
The Evil Duncan MacLeod lands in Europe and one is of the impression that it was not a good voyage, and that his services as seaman will no longer be required upon that ship. One also learns that the Evil Duncan MacLeod does not have the same regard for women that Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod has always had. Evil Duncan is way evil. He seduces women and he steals a car, but he has a very fetching smile. And an earring.
Methos is on Mac's trail, with an eye to saving him, though after Methos watches Mac kill Sean Burns, one of his oldest and dearest friends, for the heinous crime of being willing to help him AND coming within reach of his sword, it might seem Methos is itching to be shortened hisownself.
Finally, Mac is overcome with disgust and loathing for what he has become and goes to Darius' church to beg God for an end to this, one way or another. Methos, standing in for The Voice of God, offers a solution. He has had Rachel MacLeod fetch the MacLeod sword from Glenfinnan. Methos takes Mac to the site of an ancient holy spring and bids him to enter the spring for whatever good it can offer him.
Carrying the MacLeod sword, Mac descends to the spring, and seats himself him the Holy Hot Tub. The fight begins, Mac against Evil Duncan MacLeod, who carries the katana. EDM postures and gloats that he is the real Duncan MacLeod now, but Mac takes up the MacLeod sword and beats EDM into submission, beheading him. A Quickening of sorts ensues, courtesy of the Holy Hot Tub where, it appears, Duncan has been sitting throughout the battle as he and EDM fought for possession of his body and soul.
Duncan leaves the Holy Hot Tub and returns to the waiting Methos.
Questions:
1. Duncan and Coltec both rejoice in being evil, but Duncan changes his opinion of the experience. Coltec never seemed to regret his passage into evil. Discuss.
2. EDM looked downright scared as Duncan's sword descended to take his head. Since this was a spiritual battle, was EDM truly killed or would parts of him remain? Later in this series, we see that Duncan absolutely has to accept that evil and goodness co-exist within him. How does that fit with the cleansing power of the Holy Hot Tub? Or does it not fit at all?
3. Since EDM carried the katana and Duncan carried the MacLeod family sword, does that infer anything in particular about Duncan's future use of the katana or is a sword just a sword?
4. Methos lovers can cheer their hero's role in bringing about the salvation of Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod. They may also cheer the wariness with which he approached it. Would it just have been entirely too practical for Methos to have shot EDM, tied him up, and then just dumped his body into the Holy Hot Tub along with the sword, and one cup of Tide, to See What Happened?
5. It has been said that EDM's evilness lent a certain attractiveness to him. It has also been said that one wouldn't really want to get involved with EDM, no matter how excitingly dangerous he was. You may take this opportunity to express your feelings on the matter. Remember the earring. It might sway your vote.