Highlander Musings: Methos, Forgiveness, and the nature of Death

So forgiveness.

It's a theme, a lot. Do you forgive Angel? Spike? Do you forgive Stefan Salvatore? Damon? Do you forgive Logan Echolls? Do you forgive Gul Dukat? Damar? Garak? Locutus of Borg? Do you forgive Darth Vader? Do you forgive John Druitt? Do you forgive Methos? Which of those do you forgive? And why do you forgive some and not others? And after you learn to forgive someone like Methos, does it change your feelings about why you forgave Angel? Is it harder to forgive now then it was before? Did you forgive the Cylons? Did you forgive the humans first? Did you think you had to?

There are really two ways this works. Either they give you a bad guy and they make him good (which happens a lot more often) or they grey the heck out of a shady guy (which can be kind of worse, because if you're unprepared for it, it can really wallop you in the gut). The former is very nearly standard, while the latter is harder to pull off without too much retconning.

(And for simplicity's sake, I'm just dealing with killers. Well, killers and Logan. Because if I start splitting hairs over the likes of Gaius Baltar and Caprica Six, we'll be here forever.)

(I'm also leaving out the Heroic Characters We're Supposed To Forgive, like Duncan MacLeod himself, Jack Harkness, or, say...Angel. Lord, I should just quit while I'm ahead. I'm arbitrary, okay?) (Also, Buffy is still totally the hero, even when it's Angel's own series.)

ANYWAY!

So why do I forgive Angel and not Spike? And why do I forgive Methos almost immediately (though not without freaking out), but hedge on John Druitt?

( It's probably time for a spoiler cut. )

+++

( Fic Recs )

I am not watching Queen of Swords. Well, not this week, anyway. (There's always Cold Squad. Which, I imagine, has more dignity. But fewer cravats. Decisions, decisions...)

Highlander Musings: Methos, Forgiveness, and the nature of Death

So forgiveness.

It's a theme, a lot. Do you forgive Angel? Spike? Do you forgive Stefan Salvatore? Damon? Do you forgive Logan Echolls? Do you forgive Gul Dukat? Damar? Garak? Locutus of Borg? Do you forgive Darth Vader? Do you forgive John Druitt? Do you forgive Methos? Which of those do you forgive? And why do you forgive some and not others? And after you learn to forgive someone like Methos, does it change your feelings about why you forgave Angel? Is it harder to forgive now then it was before? Did you forgive the Cylons? Did you forgive the humans first? Did you think you had to?

There are really two ways this works. Either they give you a bad guy and they make him good (which happens a lot more often) or they grey the heck out of a shady guy (which can be kind of worse, because if you're unprepared for it, it can really wallop you in the gut). The former is very nearly standard, while the latter is harder to pull off without too much retconning.

(And for simplicity's sake, I'm just dealing with killers. Well, killers and Logan. Because if I start splitting hairs over the likes of Gaius Baltar and Caprica Six, we'll be here forever.)

(I'm also leaving out the Heroic Characters We're Supposed To Forgive, like Duncan MacLeod himself, Jack Harkness, or, say...Angel. Lord, I should just quit while I'm ahead. I'm arbitrary, okay?) (Also, Buffy is still totally the hero, even when it's Angel's own series.)

ANYWAY!

So why do I forgive Angel and not Spike? And why do I forgive Methos almost immediately (though not without freaking out), but hedge on John Druitt?

( It's probably time for a spoiler cut. )

+++

( Fic Recs )

I am not watching Queen of Swords. Well, not this week, anyway. (There's always Cold Squad. Which, I imagine, has more dignity. But fewer cravats. Decisions, decisions...)

Fic: Descending (Sanctuary)

AN: I should stop spending Saturday afternoons writing Jack the Ripper…but I couldn’t pass up this prompt at the sfa_history battle: Kate Freelander, John Druitt. Dealing with Jack the Ripper.

Spoilers: For King and Country

Disclaimer: Not even remotely mine.

Rating: Teen

Characters: Kate Freelander, John Druitt

Summary: When the elevator doors open, Kate’s gun is in her hands.

( Descending )

Gravity_Not_Included, March 12, 2011

Fic: Descending (Sanctuary)

AN: I should stop spending Saturday afternoons writing Jack the Ripper…but I couldn’t pass up this prompt at the sfa_history battle: Kate Freelander, John Druitt. Dealing with Jack the Ripper.

Spoilers: For King and Country

Disclaimer: Not even remotely mine.

Rating: Teen

Characters: Kate Freelander, John Druitt

Summary: When the elevator doors open, Kate’s gun is in her hands.

( Descending )

Gravity_Not_Included, March 12, 2011