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Methos
| Character | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Methos, Adam Pierson, Death |
| Occupation: | watcher |
| Relationships: | Alexa Bond (Season 4), Cassandra |
| Fandom: | Highlander |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Methos is canonically five thousand years old, and the oldest of the immortals in the Highlander franchise. [1] He has survived to this impressive age by exercising discretion as the better part of valour. When Duncan MacLeod first met him, he was living as Adam Pierson, the Watcher assigned to Methos by the Watcher's council.
Although the character was not introduced until the show's third season, it may be plausibly claimed he is the fandom's longest lasting contribution to wider fandom. A decade after the show's airing, he still appears with some regularity in crossover fanfic, an acknowledged Little Black Dress.
The show sometimes used Methos to extract MacLeod from his difficulties. Given Methos' general policy of not making waves, it is not surprising that Duncan/Methos became the fandom's largest pairing.
Fan Comments
I agree that Methos is much of a chameleon. More, I think that every one of us has his (her) own Methos and has his (her) own ideas about what Methos would (wouldn't) do. That's why there are so many good stories which are unacceptable to me because they do not support my views or contradict with my "reading" of the character. There are not so many problems with Richy ('cause Richy is Richy, no offense to Richy's fans).
[...]
But Methos... Oh, Methos... Each and every episode in the series showed us new and fascinating faucet of his personality. Let's be honest - some of us wouldn’t be fans of the show if not for Methos. He is unique.
That's why there are so many contradicting Methos stories on the net. I think it depends on which one of Methos personalities you choose as your basic one. Would it be Methos from "Methos" episode? Or from the "Timeless"? Or from "Comes a Horseman"? They all are very different Methoses. [2]
Pairings
- Alexa Bond/Methos
- Amanda Darieux/Methos
- Joe Dawson/Methos
- Duncan/Methos
- Amanda Darieux/Duncan MacLeod/Methos
Tropes
Bronze Age Methos
Part of Methos' appeal was the thousand years he spent with the Four Horsemen, laying waste to civilization.
Apologyfic
MacLeod's condemnation of Methos for his genocidal activities was felt, by some fans, to be out of proportion. While there is no statute of limitations on murder, this is meant to apply to humans, and Methos had spent several thousand years since perfectly peaceably. Fic would sometimes make MacLeod realize, one way or another, that Methos had suffered enough, or alternately, that MacLeod simply could not comprehend Methos' lifespan and deeds, and had no right to judge.[3]
Examples Works
Notable Fanfiction
- Still-Heart by Sleeps With Coyotes. Summary: When the memory isn't the only thing that returns from Methos' past, it may not be enough to keep those he cares about alive.
- Sacred Trust by MacGeorge. Methos-centric D/M novel. From a review by Mary Ellen Curtin: "This isn't a Methos'-past-comes-back-to-bite-him-on-the-ass story, it's about *Darius* past coming back to bite everyone on the ass."[4]
- Lost Horizon by Sylvia Volk
Vids
Sample Fanart
from So Speaks the Hero #1, by Karen River, showing modern era!Methos and horseman!Methos (1998)
from So Speaks the Hero #2, by Karen River (1998)
from Lucifer Falling, artist is not credited (1997)
from a.k.a. Adam Pierson, artist is Hindman (1997)
from Dreams, Visions, Signs & Portents, artist is Gail Butler (1999)
from Reflections, artist is C.P. Foster (1998)
from Blue Boxer Chronicles #1, artist is Norma Rockswell (1999)
Archives and Communities
- Aine's Methos Collection
- Methos tag at AO3
- Methos tag at FF.net
- Methos Chronicles
- Peter Wingfield Fan Club
- Methos Boxer Brigade
- methos-slash (mailing list)
References
- ^ Methos was portrayed by actor Peter Wingfield.
- ^ comments from Shomeret at from POLL:The best HL fanfic author on the net (Nov 16, 1999)
- ^ In one crossover fic, Methos is brought up on charges of genocide by the Q Continuum, and Jean Luc Picard is asked to pass judgment. Picard ultimately declares a mistrial, on the grounds that no jury of Methos' peers may be assembled, there being no one who can comprehend his lifespan.
- ^ Mary Ellen Curtin in CriticalEdge. Review of Lanning Cook's "Sacred Trust", 16 October 2001.(Accessed 19 March 2011)