Ep 16. Methuselah's Gift

Methuselah's Gift is the sixteenth episode of Highlander season four, an episode that introduces a character whose immortality has stretched for centuries longer than any other immortal in history. The episode focuses on the character of Methos, who has been seeking a means to end his immortality and die as a mortal.

The episode begins with Methos being hunted down and attacked by a mysterious group of immortals. Despite his best efforts, they succeed in overpowering him, and he is left mortally wounded in an alleyway. Meanwhile, Duncan MacLeod, the protagonist of the series, is living with his girlfriend, the mortal physician Anne Lindsey. Although he loves Anne deeply, Duncan must keep his immortal nature hidden from her, as immortals are forbidden from falling in love with mortals.

As Anne tends to a dying Methos, she discovers that he is not just any immortal. Methos is, in fact, the oldest living immortal, with a history that spans nearly five thousand years. His long life has left him jaded and cynical, and he is convinced that immortality is a curse, not a gift. As Anne struggles to save his life, Methos confides in her his greatest desire: to find a way to end his immortality and live a mortal life.

Duncan soon discovers that Methos is still alive and sets out to find his attacker. Along the way, he meets a young woman named Alexa, who is seeking to avenge her father's death at the hands of an immortal. Together, Alexa and Duncan track down Methos's attackers, only to discover that they are part of a secret society of immortals who view Methos as a threat to their own longevity.

As the episode progresses, Methos's desire for mortality becomes more all-consuming. He reveals to Anne and Duncan that he has been searching for a way to die for centuries, and that he believes he may have found a solution in the form of a rare book that contains the secrets to a powerful spell. However, the book is in the possession of the same society of immortals who have been hunting Methos, and he is unable to retrieve it on his own.

With Anne's help, Methos and Duncan infiltrate the society's base and steal the book. But as they attempt to use the spell to end Methos's immortality, they are interrupted by the society's leader, who has followed them to the base. A dramatic confrontation ensues, and Methos and Duncan are left fighting for their lives against multiple opponents.

The episode reaches its climax when Methos finally achieves his goal, after a confrontation with the society's leader. However, his communion with mortality is short-lived, as he is forced to face the consequences of his actions. In the end, Methos realizes that his immortality may not be a curse after all, and that he has lived for so long that he has become an integral part of history.

In summary, Methuselah's Gift is an episode that explores the burdens and benefits of immortality, as well as the human desire for mortality. It introduces a complex and fascinating character in Methos, whose long life has left him scarred and disillusioned. The episode also features plenty of action and suspense, as Duncan and Methos work to neutralize the threat posed by the society of immortals. Overall, it is an engaging addition to the Highlander series that provides plenty of food for thought.