Highlander (TV Series) The Gathering (1992) User Reviews

Highlander the Series ; Episode One.:"SAME CLAN, DIFFERENT VINTAGE"

[David_del_Real_Reviews_in_IMDb · 8/10 · 7 December 2017]

HIGHLANDER THE SERIES; EPISODE ONE: -- "SAME CLAN, DIFFERENT VINTAGE" ------- ------- -------

Highlander's first episode clearly states two things from the start, in the same way that Connor introduces himself in relation to Duncan saying "I'm Connor Macleod: SAME CLAN, DIFFERENT VINTAGE" ; these mere words seem to introduces us to the series too as it is a spin-off from the Highlander movies but with characters of its own and a small change: now CONNOR is not the last immortal alive and the game is on with countless immortals alive and that happen to have been born on Earth.

The first villain of this new series Slan Quince, is a very typical one: cheating before, during and between his duels with other immortals whenever possible. Slan also helps us to state something from the beginning, he always protects his face during the duels, which makes us understand that immortals can have scars; which means that even if they do not die during duels, they can get wounds that will never heal completely.

These first episodes are written in such a way that you will enjoy them much more when you see them for the second time, as many small details in the plot can only be fully understood when you know a little bit more about the characters, which is actually (IMO) something very good, as it like having two good series for the price of one.

Thanks for reading.

IMDb Review written by David del Real.

December 7th 2017. Ciudad de México. México.

Weak pilot episode but sets up the series for the future.

[reb-warrior · 6/10 · 27 February 2020]

Basically the episode sets up the series. Going over how immortality works, the rules, and establishing the main characters. Christopher Lambert was the lead of the Highlander movies so he was the "big" star attraction to reel in viewers. Unfortunately his acting is weak here. Adrian Paul's acting seems weak at first but gradually improves in the episode. Adrian Paul and Christopher Lambert have great chemistry as their characters' camaraderie attests to.

Slan the villain was too cartoonish to really take seriously, tho he's played by Richard Moll of Night Court fame. Love Tessa as Duncan's girlfriend. Unfortunately this starts the damsel-in-distress routine that she goes through in many episodes with Duncan coming to rescue her. In season 2 "The Darkness' you'll find out why Duncan was initially so drawn to Richie. Richie, by the way, is very funny and endearing. He was played by the talented Stan Kirsch whom sadly passed away in 2020.

Duncan has a flashback of when his Native American family is killed. As he grieves over his dead wife he leans his head against Connor as he cries. This is the most touching scene in the episode and encouraging as a viewer that the series is also a drama instead of just being an action show. I love that later on in the series, in season 3 "Line of Fire," the story of Duncan and his Native American family is told.

All-in-all a decent start. If you want something in the Highlander universe and love historical drama, as well as lots of action, you may want to give series this a shot. It's not perfect and has some lemons, you can tell the budget is low, but yet they really pulled off a really good show. I gave the pilot 6/10.

Hopefully, it will be better than some of the films.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 24 November 2021]

I only recently watched "Highlander" as well as "Highlander 2: The Quickening". "Highlander" is okay...and the sequel is nonsensical and pretty stupid. So, I am obviously not a huge fan of the franchise...at least so far. My problem, especially in the first film, was mostly the acting and some of the dialog...but I though the basic concept was pretty neat...which is why I decided to try the TV series. As for the second film, even like many diehard fans, I'd rather just pretend it didn't happen!

This first episode is a 'handoff'...featuring guest star Christopher Lambert essentially handing off the lead to Adrian Paul, who plays Duncan. And, while Paul is English and not Scottish, his accent is at least remotely like a Scottish one...unlike Lambert (who SHOULD have been cast as a Frenchman...not a Scot).

The story involves much of what you'd expect...a big baddie (in this case, Richard Moll...who seems very similar to the excellent villain in the first film, Clancy Brown. He intends to kill Duncan...but also terrorize and possibly kill Duncan's girlfriend. There is also an annoying teen character...one who I think will be in later episodes but who was the weakest part of this first episode.

Overall, a very watchable show...much of it because Paul was much better cast than Lambert. Interesting enough to make me tune in for more.

The pilot episode of the great TV series "Highlander".

[jeffman52001 · 10/10 · 14 February 2007]

I am so pleased that they did "Highlander: The Series", a great TV show based on the great films. The Gathering is a great pilot episode. We are introduced to Duncan MacLeod, an Immortal from Scotland and his girlfriend, Tessa Noel, who knows about Duncan being Immortal. Connor MacLeod visits Duncan and they encounter an evil Immortal named Slan Quince. In the pilot story, we are introduced to Richie Ryan, who will become Immortal later on. The show is well written and well done. Connor and Duncan get to spend time together and they practice fighting with their swords. They know that Slan Quince will be coming for them and Duncan does not want to put Tessa in danger, but she decides to stay with Duncan.

A great story and a great cast. Christopher Lambert reprises his film as Connor MacLeod for the pilot and actors Richard Moll, best know for his role on the 1980s hit comedy series "Night Court" played Slan Quince in the pilot story.

Down a familiar road.

[todd_barket · 27 March 2006]

OK, so this one helps establish a connection to the movie series and the television series, but it does lack the production quality and the acting quality seen later in the series. It feels almost as if this is an off Broadway take on the plot of the first film: Large bad guy fights reluctant hero who needs the help of his mentor to win. Below average sword play and, while he has fun with the roll, Richard Moll was still not far enough removed from his 'Bull' role on night court to be an effectively menacing villain. Thankfully the series kept improving from here. We are introduced to Duncan MacLeod, a distant cousin of Connor (from the movies) born decades after Duncan has been banished. (Long enough that Duncan comments at one time in a flashback in the series that Connor was only a legend.) Duncan has left the 'game' and is trying to live as normal a life as possible for an immortal. He owns an antique shop (seems familiar), and lives with his love interest Tessa, (well played has the series goes, although she never really had a lot of screen time to develop). Into Duncans life pops Connor, who must bring him back into the game when Richard Molls character finds him. Molls character is kind of a poor mans kurgan, and doesn't really generate enough gravity for the heavy. The third repeating character introduced is one young Richie Ryan, who is caught by MacLeod when he breaks into his warehouse/store, an witnesses the first sword fight between Moll and Duncan. At the end of the episode we learn that Richie will eventually be an immortal as well and Duncan takes him on as something of an apprentice. (How Connor and Duncan can tell that he will be is not really explained) It was an uneven episode but started a fantastic franchise.

Gets the Point Across

[Johnny_West · 7/10 · 31 March 2021]

This may not be the greatest acting by either Christopher Lambert or Adrian Paul, but it got the job done. Christopher Lambert was the mentor to Adrian Paul. They are both from the same clan, but when Tessa asks if they are related, they don't explain how the clan works. Are they distant cousins? Is Lambert (Connor MacLeod) the uncle from three generations earlier? It would have been nice if they just came out and said that they had a bloodline relationship.

Christopher Lambert always has a goofy look on his face, and he was intense in his first roles as Tarzan, and as Connor MacLeod in the original Highlander movie, but later on, he never seemed convincing in any role. Here he is not bad, just his usual self. Duncan MacLeod / Adrian Paul was originally a dancer and a model who was born in the United Kingdom and came to the USA to seek his fortune and fame. His acting is too intense for a guy who has been alive 400 years, but it was a good contrast to Christopher Lambert.

This episode should have been all about the two MacLeod's fighting the evil Slan (played very well by Richard Moll of Night Court TV series). The flashbacks were good, and the story should have focused on the two immortals seeing each other after a hundred years or so.

Unfortunately, the incredibly annoying Richie (Stan Kirsch) is introduced to the series. Richie is a never-ending magnet for trouble. He is a 17 going on 18 young adult with a bad attitude who also manages to make every dumb mistake that is possible, and always gets Duncan into trouble. Richie also seems to attract every evil immortal in town to Duncan MacLeod, who has to fight all the battles that are started by Richie.

Tessa Noel is played by Alexandra Vandermoot as a non-stop nagging harpy who wants to be involved in every moment of Duncan's life, and wants to control every decision he makes. Why is Duncan so insanely in love with her? I guess he likes to be miserable, and that would also explain why he adopts Richie into his life? Tessa and Richie really drag this episode down every time they are in it.

Overall, the combination of Christopher Lambert and Adrian Paul is entertaining, and Richard Moll does a very good job as a menacing evil character.

movie version does exist

[paul_alpine · 7/10 · 8 February 2009]

I have the 98 Minute long movie version of this episode on VHS. It was made into an actual movie and was intended to be Highlander 3.

I had no idea it actually existed, and it took a bit of digging around on google to even find mention of it. The version I found was manufactured by Hemdale Home Video INC. and is dated 1993.

It's good to see another Highlander movie out there, even if it's on an all but extinct format.

My guess is they produced this as an unedited, extended version for fans and collectors, as it would likely not have been released on television in this length.

Definitely worth a watch if you can ever get your hands on it.

It begins here

[skteosk · 7/10 · 4 February 2024]

This opening episode of the Highlander series isn't entirely successful in setting things up, having to juggle introducing the three main characters, giving a large enough role to its special guest and fitting in a villain and a final swordfight...plus establishing the basic rules of Immortals for anyone new to the franchise. The most successful element is the introduction of Duncan and Tessa. The fact the first five minutes features some of the most graphic sex you're likely to see on American television of the early 90s was somewhat disconcerting...were they trying to make sure we knew this wasn't for kids? (They have another go about 10 minutes later, and in fact Alexandra Vandernoot spends a large part of her screentime in various states of undress.) But their relationship runs through the episode well: She knows the basics of Immortals but the Game is new to her and she struggles to adjust to this life she's suddenly thrust into. The ending sees Connor make the right decision and give her agency rather than let Duncan leave her for her own good. There's something of a disconnect between the end here and the series which I'll try and look at when I watch the rest of it.

It was a good idea to bring in Christopher Lambert as Connor for a passing of the torch. He and Duncan make believable friends and it's a shame we won't see this relationship again until the poorly received Highlander: Endgame. It does mean we get not one but two scenes of the two MacLeods sparring with their swords (the second accompanied by a blast of the theme tune because reasons), which seems a bit indulgent. I've heard criticism that Connor doesn't win the final fight, but it's Duncan's show so he has to win the day, and Connor actually would have won if Slan hadn't fought dirty.

Third regular Richie is not very well served. He makes a strong debut, reacting in utter bemusement to Duncan threatening to take his head in the mistaken belief he's an Immortal, and shows a somewhat unlikable side as he blackmails Duncan into letting him go. And then he basically disappears for the rest of the episode aside from, for no real reason, spying on the climax.

Slan Quince isn't exactly the deepest of villains: He's Immortal, he's evil and...that's it. Possibly one of his most memorable moments is when he drives crazily through traffic, demonstrating the lack of care some Immortals have for their own lives and for those who won't just come back. Richard Moll makes him a very unlikable character with his limited screen time and it does lead to a passable final fight.

There's no heads flying everywhere but we get more lingering shots of Slan's decapitated body than will be normal for the series. Duncan shows a pleasing level of smart in refusing to give up his sword when Slan threatens Tess. We only get two rather short flashbacks which are both rather distracting despite setting up Duncan's seclusion at the end. The show hasn't started putting up date captions yet either!

Just plain bad

[hearthorsemorris-24357 · 2/10 · 31 December 2020]

This show has an interesting idea behind it, but the cinematography is just plain bad. The fight scenes make no sense and the choreography is basically nonexistent. The acting is lackluster at best, and the storytelling makes no sense. I felt my brain rotting with each passing minute. I will continue to give this series a chance to see if it improves with time, but based off of the first episode I'm not impressed.

Hilariously terrible

[virginiarand · 5/10 · 24 March 2021]

I decided to watch this show because of the effect it's had on the fandom community (I was a small child when it first came out) and it's both horrendous and perfect. It made me laugh out loud more than many comedy shows manage, and the bad guy seems to have come from the Nicolas Cage school of acting.