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Episode Courage is the only one to deal with madness of Immortality

posted 8 years ago by Alfabeta
9 replies | jump to latest

Episode 3x06 - Courage follows a basically insane Immortal who gave in to his vices (opium and booze) and eventually lost his mind to it, since he can't die. Being immortal is cool and all but some people would crack mentally in that condition. I was highly pleasantly surprised that there was an episode that actually addresses this downside aspect of the immortal life. Also, the episode is not a merry one. They really decided to risk depressing the viewers with this one.

[–] kelzan 8 years ago

I saw this episode again just a few hours ago. It is one of my favorites in the whole series. It shows the downside of immortality in the Highlander universe, yes you have the potential to live forever, but you could also lose your head tomorrow because of the Game.

[–] kelzan 8 years ago

There were two other episodes that dealt with madness and immortality that I can recall. Turnabout (Season 2) with an Immortal with a split personality, he was likely always insane, even before he was an Immortal. The other was Shadows (Season 3) where and old Immortal friend is driven insane by being burned alive for witchcraft.
In Courage, Cullen is driven mad by the Game, after being constantly challenged for centuries, each time with the chance he could lose his head.

[–] buddyboy28 8 years ago

Did you not see season 2's Studies In Light?

MacLeod's friend was not only decent but a doctor but he got so sick of immortality and losing people he lost his mind and his compassion.

[–] kelzan 8 years ago

It certainly deals with the stress that comes with immortality.
But I don't know if in that case it was actual madness, or a nervous breakdown.

[–] Captain_Wesker 8 years ago

Was there not a Nazi Immortal that went crazy from being stuck at the bottom of the Seine for several decades? How about that English officer Immortal that was similarly stuck in various mental institutions until he developed a fascination for arachnids?

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It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing .

[–] sharpshooter111 8 years ago

the episode where teh nazi officer was traped in the water was Mortal Sins. The one where the immortal who like spiders was The Colnel. dont forget the one where Duncans bey friend went mad in Thru A Glass Darkly

[–] cbuckalew1975 8 years ago

In Mortal Sins, he didn't go crazy from being at the bottom of the Seine for 14 years, but he did exact revenge and kill the mortals who threw him in the river.

[–] Super-Van 8 years ago

There was also the episode where an Egyptians queen or queens servant was stuck in a coffin for thousands of years. This show was great with coming up with different sinceros like that young magician who became immortal, the 1000 years old but physically 10 immortal, the mentally challenged one, the one who thought he was an angel.

[–] reaseltbim 8 years ago

i never understood why if the guy was so bored with life then why not just let another highlander cut off his head in duel