Highlander: The Series
Highlander: The Series is a[1] science fantasy action-adventure television series featuring Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul) of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the eponymous "Highlander". It was co-produced by Rysher Distribution in the United States, Gaumont Television in France, Reteitalia in Italy, RTL Plus in Germany, and Amuse Video in Japan.[1][3] An alternate sequel to the 1986 feature film Highlander, it features a storyline in which the protagonist of that film (Connor MacLeod, a member of a race of "Immortals") has not won "the Prize" sought by all Immortals, who still exist post-1985. Christopher Lambert reprised his role as Connor in the pilot episode, which introduced series protagonist Duncan MacLeod, an Immortal who was taken in by the same clan of Scottish Highlanders who had found and raised Connor generations before.
This article is about the 1992 television series. For the film franchise, see Highlander (franchise). For other uses, see Highlander (disambiguation).Highlander: The Series
Davis-Panzer Productions
Characters
by Gregory Widen
"Princes of the Universe"
performed by Queen
"Princes of the Universe (Instrumental)"
performed by Queen
English
French
6
119 (List of episodes)
Christian Charret
Marla Ginsburg
Peter S. Davis
William Panzer
Steven Maier
Sheryl Hardy
Guy Collins
Marc du Pontavice
48 minutes
- Rysher Entertainment
- Gaumont Television
- Atlantique Productions
- Reteitalia[1]
- RTL Plus[1]
- Amuse Video[1]
October 3, 1992 –
May 16, 1998
The series was an international hit and was nominated twice for the Motion Picture Sound Editors' Golden Reel Award (Foley Artist ("The Gathering"): 1992; Foley Artist ("The Darkness"): 1993), three times for the Gemini Award (Best Dramatic Series: 1996; Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role in a Dramatic Series: 1997 (John Pyper-Ferguson), 1996 (Bruce A. Young)), once for a Saturn Award (Best Genre Syndicated TV Series: 1997), and eight times for the Online Film & Television Association Award (Best Guest Actress in a Syndicated Series (Sandra Bernhard), Best Direction in a Syndicated Series, Best Writing in a Syndicated Series, Best Syndicated Series, Best Ensemble in a Syndicated Series: 1997; Best Actor in a Syndicated Series (Peter Wingfield), Best Syndicated Series, Best Ensemble in a Syndicated Series: 1998).
Production history[edit]
Origin[edit]
Highlander: The Series originated in Europe.[4] Christopher Lambert, who had then starred in the first two Highlander movies, had previously worked with French leading entertainment conglomerate Gaumont's president Christian Charret. Lambert knew that Highlander producers Peter Davis and Bill Panzer wanted to make a Highlander series and connected them with Charret.[5] Gaumont bought the rights to the series.[4] Highlander was one of the first projects developed by Gaumont's television branch opened in 1992 and one of its financial backers was the French bank Credit du Nord.[6] Gaumont took the risk of producing television series entirely in English, to enter international markets.[7]
The French leading production company Gaumont Television bought the rights to the series to have it produced in syndication in America with a local crew, a ground-breaking move at the time.[4] Highlander marked the first time a French production company was creatively involved in a show intended for the American market.[8] The show was co-produced in syndication by international partners including Gaumont, RTL Plus (Germany), Rysher Distribution (United States), Reteitalia Productions (Italy), Amuse Video (Japan)[3] and TF1 (France).[9] The budget of the first season was US$26.1 million.[9] Keith Samples, president of Rysher, stated that "about 75% of the guaranteed budget came from overseas sales."[10] The remaining 25% came from United States sales[11] and the producers retained the distribution rights,[12] which allowed the show to produce $800,000 per episode only from international income, believed to be the top result of the 1992–1993 season.[13] To secure an adequate share of European content,[14] and as a result of the co-production agreement, each season was divided into two segments, the first segment was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (posing at the fictional location of Seacouver, Washington, United States),[15] the second in Paris, France.[16][17] The production of the first segment began in Vancouver on July 13, 1992,[18] while the production of the second segment started in December 1992 in Paris and used the studios of French state production agency Société Française de Production (SFP) at Bry-sur-Marne near Paris.[9]
The French government changed quota rules around the time production for the second series started, forcing TF1 to withdraw from production, as the government claimed that Highlander did not qualify as a French production. Gaumont found a new partner, niche commercial channel M6, who offered half of the costs offered by TF1.[7]
Home media[edit]
VHS release[edit]
Beginning in 1995, full seasons of Highlander were released on VHS. These releases were the European cuts of the episodes, with each episode having approximately four minutes of additional footage not seen on American television. The first four season sets featured 11 VHS tapes, with two episodes on each tape. Prior to the release of the individual seasons, in October 1993, a feature-length release titled Highlander: The Gathering was released on VHS, which combined the episodes "The Gathering" and "Revenge is Sweet".
DVD releases[edit]
The series has been released on home video in various collections. Anchor Bay Entertainment released all six seasons on DVD in Region 1 between 2002 and 2005. The company also released a 15-episode best-of collection, as well as a collection containing all six seasons. In addition, Anchor Bay released several two-part episodes on single DVDs and edited them together to present them as feature-length films. For example, "Counterfeit" and "Counterfeit Part Two" were released on a single DVD as Highlander: Counterfeit. These releases have all been discontinued and are now out of print.
In April 2018, Visual Entertainment re-released Highlander: The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1.[23] The 22-disc collection includes all 119 episodes of the series as well as 6 hours of bonus content and also comes with a spin-off series Highlander: The Raven.
Reception[edit]
Critical reaction to Highlander: The Series has been generally favorable, and more favorable in general than the film sequels to the original Highlander, which have mostly received negative reviews (with the exception of the anime film Highlander: The Search for Vengeance, which has received more positive reviews).
Rob Lineberger of DVD Verdict said: "The direction is sometimes uncertain, but Highlander: The Series gives viewers something unique and inspiring. Each episode gives us a provocative glimpse into the trials and concerns of immortality, great swordfights, stylish flashbacks to bygone eras, and occasionally wicked immortals with awesome quickenings."[30] Lineberger also added: "These actors, writers, producers, directors, and crew delivered one of television's great successes, particularly in the fantasy genre. Highlander: The Series took us to places we otherwise could not have gone, and did so with intelligence, style, and wit."[31] Lineberger gave the six seasons scores of 92,[30] 93,[32] 90,[33] 92,[34] 87,[35] and 70[31] out of 100, respectively.
Abbie Bernstein of Audio Video Revolution said: "Although it would be another two years until the series fully hit its stride, it was already [in the first season] offering something out of the ordinary narratively; in terms of production value, it remains one of the best-looking quasi-period shows ever to come down the pike, holding its own and then some against much better-funded product from the major studios."[36] David Oliver of CHUD.com said that "whereas the sequels ultimately strayed from the mythology of the original [film] in the pursuit of more storytelling (translation: more money), the series built upon the mythology."[37]
Carlo Cavagna of About Film criticized the series, saying that it consisted of "pedestrian one-hour confrontations pitting Duncan MacLeod against one overacting nefarious immortal after another, each a pale imitation of Clancy Brown's delicious overarching villainy in the first film" and felt that the series featured "a wide array of unappealing supporting characters" and that "the writers didn't know what to do with the Highlander concept."[38] Similarly, Danél Griffin of Film as Art remarked that "the six-season Highlander: The Series has a loyal following, but let’s be honest: Adrian Paul, the lead, is not an interesting actor, and there’s not one moment in the show—not one—that comes close to matching the wit or liveliness of the first film."[39]
Critics have pointed to the middle seasons of the show as its best. Lineberger remarked: "There was a dramatic boost in quality from season one to season two. Season two had better writing and quality control, [and] season three is better than season two."[33] Bernstein claimed that "during season five, [the show] was at the peak of its creative glory."[40] Kathie Huddleston of Syfy said that "season four was arguably the best season of the series, as the show said goodbye to characters from the previous season and delved into what made the regulars and the most notable recurring characters tick."[41]
Critics have singled out the sixth and final season as the worst of the series. Lineberger remarked: "I haven't attempted to hide my disappointment with this season. For the first time ever in my life as a Highlander enthusiast, I found myself utterly uncaptivated."[31] Oliver awarded the sixth season a score of 3.9 out of 10, saying: "Like The X-Files, Highlander: The Series simply went on too long. If the star is wanting to get out of a show as much as Paul was ready to hang up his katana, then I say let it go."[37]
In other media[edit]
Reunion[edit]
In 2008, a reunion special was filmed starring Peter Wingfield, Elizabeth Gracen, and Jim Byrnes reprising their roles. The 17-minute special was a low budget project that takes place 10 years after the series (or between the fourth and fifth movies). Filming took place at producer Peter Davis' former beach home with the actors volunteering in their roles. The plot involved the characters discussing Methos' plans to get married and settle down with a mortal woman and her son.
Audio plays[edit]
In 2009, Big Finish released a series of four officially licensed audio adventures featuring Adrian Paul as Duncan MacLeod. They are set sometime after the events of the film Highlander: Endgame. Each play in the first season is around an hour long, and contains a new music score and new Highlander audio theme by Jamie Robertson. The audio series has discontinued. The episodes are:
In popular culture[edit]
In the TV series, Reaper, season 1, episode 15 ("Coming to Grips"), Bert "Sock" Wysocki pretends to be Duncan MacLeod as he wields the scythe "vessel" they are going to use to capture the escaped soul; presumably because — like swords in the Highlander series — it could be used to behead someone.