Plot: What’s it about?
The time spent in this world is rather short for most people, even the oldest residents remain around for only about one hundred years or so. But of course, many have wished to stay alive for much longer than that and the subject of immortality has been discussed to no end, though a solution to death has never been discovered. This is not the case for everyone however, as some have been given the chance to live forever and walk the world through century upon century of mankind’s existence. This proves to be a two sided coin however, as they do get to live so much longer than everyone else, but they must watch their loved ones perish, only to hold onto the memories of those they’ve encountered. One such Immortal is Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul), who must blend in with the rest of the world, never to alert anyone of his true self, as that could lead to a myriad of complex troubles. He is not alone in his state however, as other Immortals also exist and while it is hard to kill an Immortal, it is not impossible, a clean decapitation turns the trick. As Immortals battle it out, the victor assumes the power of the defeated and when there is only one, that Immortal will be the most powerful being in all of the world. A lot of evil Immortals seek this power and in order to obtain it, someone must vanquish Duncan. But this is just the start of Duncan’s woes, as he is hunted by a secret order, he has to keep himself hidden, and he must deal with the various problems we all do, as part of normal life…
The series of Highlander films has remained popular, though the sequels have never come close to the success of the original. Even so, fans love the material and flock to see more releases, so it wasn’t a shock when a television series was produced. The basic premise stayed intact, but of course, star Christopher Lambert couldn’t be secured on a regular basis, so Adrian Paul (Highlander: Endgame) was brought in to handle the lead role. While it never stormed the ratings world, the series found an audience and was a solid hit, especially within its established fanbase. As a fan of the original film, I have been let down by the sequels, but still found them to be decent entertainment, which is the case with this series. I never found it to be dull or all that bad, but it never rises to the level of Highlander’s debut feature, not even close. Even so, Paul is a solid replacement and turns in an acceptable performance in most episodes, though he isn’t quite as natural within the Highlander realm as Lambert was. The main draw here isn’t the acting however, its the action and fantasy elements, which this series delivers in liberal doses. But the storylines can become a little odd at times, with more cheese than most fans might expect, so don’t expect a television masterpiece from Highlander: The Series. I can still more than recommend this to fans of the movies however, as well as anyone in search of solid fantasy entertainment.
This package contains the complete first season of Highlander: The Series, all twenty-two episodes, each of which runs under an hour in duration. At first, the collection was available only through the Highlander website and at a pretty steep price, which of course, limited the number of sales somewhat. But now some time has passed and Anchor Bay has taken over the release, meaning you can now purchase the set in most stores and by turn, I assume sales will increase more than a little. Aside from some packaging differences, this is the same stuff found in that exclusive edition, so you don’t miss out on much between the two versions. The package is a rather odd one in terms of design, with three small cases inside of a half slipcase, making for a most unusual visual presence. The three smaller cases line up to form a Highlander visual, which is cool, but I’d rather have a more traditional, sturdy packaging approach. Each of the smaller cardboard cases houses three discs and that makes nine in total, so this is one extensive collection. The series is spread across eight of those platters, with the ninth disc housing all the scripts, which is a nice touch, to be sure. I do wish Anchor Bay would have chosen a better overall package scheme, but aside from that, Highlander: Season One is a solid overall release.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. The visuals here as just as good as when the episodes were shown on television, with some added sharpness to boot. But then again, the episodes looked a little soft and they still do here, though the image is a shade sharper, which is good news. The prints seem to be in good condition, with minimal marks and grain, but the image just isn’t as refined as I’d like. This is more because of the show’s limited production funds, as opposed to this DVD transfer however, so no reason to be concerned there. The colors look rich and bright here, while flesh tones are natural throughout, no problems in the least. I found the contrast to be solid, but the while the black levels look well balanced, detail simply isn’t as good as we’d want. But this goes back to the budget, so in the end, the episodes look about as good as they ever will, at least until the next home video format arrives.
Audio: How does it sound?
A new Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack has been included for each of the episodes, which enhances the experience, without question. I had kind of low expectations in this area, but the audio is clean and comes alive often, a very solid presentation. The surrounds are used to effective ends, with good powerful and subtle presence, while even the bass is opened up at times to kick in some low end fun. Even so, you can tell this was a low budget television show, as the audio isn’t as deep and complex as some mixes out there. The music seems louder than the other elements, which never drowns out dialogue, but still, is more than obvious. The vocals come across in consistent form, but a few scenes have some muddled moments, though the troubles are minor. This release also includes the show’s original 2.0 soundtrack, should you prefer that option.
Supplements: What are the extras?
In addition to the bonus disc loaded with all the scripts, you’ll also find the original series promo, some interviews with producer Bill Panzer, a selection of character profiles, and a brief, but amusing reel of bloopers.
