العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
EspañolQUICKENING (HIGHLANDER)
The 'Quickening' refers to a phenomenon in the Highlander films and . In the Highlander universe when one Immortal beheads another, the life force is released into the victor or to the closest Immortal nearby. This transfer of energy is known as the Quickening. If the immortal is beheaded and there's no other Immortal around, then the energy disperses and is lost.
The Quickenings in the Highlander movies vary greatly as the creators were still experimenting with the concept.
In the first movie the majority of Quickenings seen on screen feature a series of explosions in the immediate area surrounding the victor as the surviving Immortal is filled with an unseen energy.
Featured at the end of the first movie, The Kurgan's Quickening absorbed by Connor MacLeod became the standard for the following Highlander stories. This Quickening features lightning, explosions and what appears to be a large energy blast surrounding and then merging with Connor. The idea with this Quickening was that it was the merging of all Immortal power on Earth in the last survivor. One feature of this final Quickening rarely seen since are the presence of what the audio commentary refers to as "evil spirits of the past" resembling demons, ghouls or dragons in spirit form and some unrecognizable shapes.
In the original Highlander film, there are two references to "Quickening" that doesn't involve beheading. Connor stands on a mountaintop in Scotland and raises his arm and is struck by lightning multiple times, appearing to be in great pain. Ramirez says "The sensation you're feeling is the Quickening." It could be that this is an early understanding of the Quickening that was later discarded in the Highlander mythos, or it could be explained as Ramirez demonstrating to Connor that the Quickening "feels like" getting struck by natural lightning.
The Quickenings of this film (as with many other parts of it) do not match up with the rest of the series of Highlander stories. One Quickening de-ages Connor, who had grown old after winning the Prize (though it should be pointed out he did not do so immediately, but was burned by a gasoline explosion first, though his clothing was completely unharmed after emerging young from the flames). The next Quickening managed to resurrect Ramirez after being dead for 500 years (although this is implied to be due to a "magical bond" between them that even death could not sever).
Another odd use of the Quickening has Ramirez expelling his lifeforce to stop a large machine from killing Connor.
Most unusual, perhaps, is Connor's use of the final Quickening (from General Katana) to destroy the shield surrounding the Earth.
In this film the Quickening is shown to more directly transfer knowledge and skill (as opposed to the vague transfer seen elsewhere). The whole plot of the movie is that the villain beheaded an Immortal wizard and gained his magical abilities for himself. In theory Connor received these abilities at the end of the movie. Though other Highlander stories have featured Immortals with unusual gifts, none have shown the direct transfer of those gifts upon beheading. The second Quickening to be seen, where Kane beheads one of his henchmen, causes an electrical storm powerful enough to be felt by Connor MacLeod halfway around the world. This would serve to warn Connor that The Game was not over yet; whether this was an isolated event or something that happens after a long time has passed by with a temporary 'suspension' of The Game remains to be seen.
All Quickening sequences featured in this movie have a common theme. Starting with Kane receiving the Immortal sorcerer Nakano's Quickening (after beheading him) down to the scene where Connor receives Kane's Quickening, the transfer of energy begins with the deceased Immortal's headless body levitates and the surrounding area fills with visible electromagnetic energy capable of causing structural damage to nearby objects. The final Quickening, in addition, was powerful enough to levitate Connor while he was receiving it (reminiscent of the final Quickening in the first Highlander movie, where Connor receives The Kurgan's Quickening).
This movie represent the only two occasions of a single Immortal receiving multiple Quickenings at a time. The first occur when Jacob Kell penetrates the Sanctuary where Immortals tired of The Game spend their days and decapitates all of them, with the sole exception of Connor MacLeod. Kell's ''associates'', who are also Immortal, may also have been around to share the Quickenings. However, it was more clearly shown by Kell's beheading of his gang in a "Last Supper" style execution; the resulting Quickening (or Quickenings) was/were powerful enough to levitate him in mid-air. The final Quickening, on the other hand, was unique in which a disembodied head is generated from the spot where Kell's decapitated body fell; this head shoots lightning bolts at Duncan MacLeod. Also seen during this Quickening is a spiraling plume of water and electrical discharge rising rapidly towards the clouds and generating an electrical storm that lasts until Duncan fully receives it.
All Quickenings featured on the television series take the form of lightning storms striking the victor. The exact nature of each Quickening varies. Sometimes it is seen as a transfer of knowledge (represented through visions of the deceased Immortal's life or briefly taking on their mannerisms), while other times the world around the Immortal changes through cloud coverage and the passage of several hours (generally day to night). All Quickenings feature lightning and explosions (the power of the surrounding explosions also varies). Sometimes physical manifestations (ghosts, spirits) and levitation (of the receiver or nearby objects) accompanies the Quickening, especially very powerful ones.
A build up of quickenings from evil Immortals can overwhelm even the best of Immortals and lead to a Dark Quickening. The Dark Quickening draws out the darker elements of an Immortal's psyche until they are evil themselves.
In season four of an Immortal Native American named Coltec, who took it upon himself to rid the world of evil by killing as many evil Immortals as he could was eventually overwhelmed by the Dark Quickening. Duncan MacLeod was forced to kill his friend and was himself overwhelmed.
Duncan then went on a rampage in Paris, ending with the beheading of another old friend Sean Burns. Burns was known as one of the wisest and most peaceful of the Immortals and his Quickening subdued the Dark Quickening long enough for Methos to take Duncan to a long forgotten healing spring where Duncan was able to vanquish the darkest elements of his soul.
In the first season of Highlander, the Immortal monk Darius was introduced as an ancient warlord who led an army across Europe. When he reached the gates of Paris, Darius encountered an Immortal holy man who tried to protect the city. When Darius beheaded the holy man, his purer essence overwhelmed Darius and caused him to disband his army and spend the next thousand years living in peace on holy ground.
From the 5th season episode the only example of a double Quickening came as Duncan and Methos battled the remaining Horsemen in their French lair. Duncan battled the Horsemen leader Kronos, while Methos (a Horseman himself) turned against his former "brothers" and battled Silas. As Duncan and Methos won their respective battles at the same time, the Quickenings merged and split between the two of them in an unusual display of a spiraled lightning effect.
Renegade Watcher James Horton and his band of allies beheaded several immortals between 1990-1993. Since they were mortal, the Quickening was presumably lost (whether it manifested at all is uncertain). This type of beheading was featured in more detail on the spin-off series . In one episode the mortal character Nick beheads an Immortal by firing his gun at a huge pane of glass which slices the Immortal villain's head off. With no other Immortal present the Quickening appears as a stream of lightning floating up towards the sky. It's unknown if this is the same effect that happened with Horton's beheadings since it was revealed later that Nick was a pre-Immortal (one who had not died his first death yet).
The only time we see Horton behead an Immortal onscreen, a second Immortal is present and, though he didn't deliver the killing blow, the Quickening went to him. This was also shown on when Nick beheaded an Immortal and Amanda was nearby to receive the Quickening.
In Highlander 3, Pierre, an immortal is beheaded by Guillotine. Connor MacLeod is present, but presumably out of range, and no Quickening effects are seen or heard.
The rules of the Highlander universe state that Immortal combat is strictly forbidden on Holy Ground. Though in Endgame Jacob Kell beheaded multiple immortals and there were no repercussions, despite them being on holy ground. In General Katana played by actor Michael Ironside states that the 'Golden Rule' is that immortals must not ''fight'' on Holy Ground. This would explain Jacob Kell's actions in when he beheads several Immortals at The Sanctuary, a location that Immortal Methos referred to as Holy Ground. The Immortals at the Sanctuary are all in metal restraints meaning that Immortal ''combat'' did not take place per se.
The theatrical trailer of has Kell state that he does not care about The Game. However, when confronted by Connor MacLeod in a cemetery, Kell decides to step into the road running alongside it before fighting him. Connor at any rate, holds his sword to Kell's neck but stops short of actually beheading him.
At least a hint of those unknown consequences can be glimpsed in Highlander 3 when despite the rules Kane engages Connor in battle on the grounds of a sanctuary. A foreboding atmospheric effect begins with a closeup on a statuette of The Buddha (the location on which they are fighting is a former Buddhist shrine. The fight culminates with the destruction of Connor's sword which shatters into thousands fragments. The two immortals wisely choose to postpone their battle.
In the Season 1 episode of called 'The Hunters', Darius is killed. However, his beheading was carried out by mortal Watchers with no Immortal present. Therefore the rules of Immortal combat wouldn't apply and the Quickening may not have manifested itself.
According to Joe Dawson there is only one Watcher legend indicating an Immortal beheading another on Holy Ground. The legend states that the battle took place in AD 79 Pompeii and resulted in the famous volcanic explosion. However this is an unproven legend that may or may not be true.
The fourth Highlander movie follows the plots and continuity of the show rather than the earlier movies. Therefore the Quickenings in this movie follow the rules of the show. The villain Jacob Kell has amassed more than 600 Quickenings. This is reflected in his increased skill as a fighter, and Connor's assertion that Duncan must kill him in order to be strong enough to defeat Kell.
Criticism of the holy ground beheadings meant that all references to the Sanctuary being holy ground were removed from the DVD edition.
Duncan seemed to briefly take on the voice and appearance of Connor at one point prior to Kell's defeat, which has never been seen in other Quickenings.
Not considered part of the official ''Highlander'' canon, the animated series added a different type of Quickening than any previously shown. Due to the fact that it was a show aimed at young children and most of the Immortals passed on their power willingly, beheadings took place offscreen and only by Kortan; the Quickenings of the main character, Quentin, were transferred by both he and the Immortal making the transfer gripping his sword. If in the future, this becomes canon, it will mean that an immortal can give up his/her own Quickening to another at will, while still able to be taken by beheading an opponent. In one episode, Kortan was shown killing Connor MacLeod off-screen because he refused to transfer his Quickening through sword. Kortan later threatened Quentin with the ominous quote, "Your head will roll at my feet as did the head of Connor MacLeod."
In , the Quickenings featured follow similar conventions that are seen in the movie and television continuities. Notable qualities of the Quickening include noticeable differences in intensity and strength which are powerful even for the standards of the Highlander movies. The final Quickening, for example, is a city-wide phenomenon, shown as capable of disrupting mechanical items in the same manner as ordinary lightning.
Duncan MacLeod receives a Quickening
Highlander Movies
The Quickenings in the Highlander movies vary greatly as the creators were still experimenting with the concept.
Highlander
In the first movie the majority of Quickenings seen on screen feature a series of explosions in the immediate area surrounding the victor as the surviving Immortal is filled with an unseen energy.
Connor MacLeod receives a Quickening from The Kurgan
In the original Highlander film, there are two references to "Quickening" that doesn't involve beheading. Connor stands on a mountaintop in Scotland and raises his arm and is struck by lightning multiple times, appearing to be in great pain. Ramirez says "The sensation you're feeling is the Quickening." It could be that this is an early understanding of the Quickening that was later discarded in the Highlander mythos, or it could be explained as Ramirez demonstrating to Connor that the Quickening "feels like" getting struck by natural lightning.
Highlander 2
The Quickenings of this film (as with many other parts of it) do not match up with the rest of the series of Highlander stories. One Quickening de-ages Connor, who had grown old after winning the Prize (though it should be pointed out he did not do so immediately, but was burned by a gasoline explosion first, though his clothing was completely unharmed after emerging young from the flames). The next Quickening managed to resurrect Ramirez after being dead for 500 years (although this is implied to be due to a "magical bond" between them that even death could not sever).
Another odd use of the Quickening has Ramirez expelling his lifeforce to stop a large machine from killing Connor.
Most unusual, perhaps, is Connor's use of the final Quickening (from General Katana) to destroy the shield surrounding the Earth.
Highlander 3
In this film the Quickening is shown to more directly transfer knowledge and skill (as opposed to the vague transfer seen elsewhere). The whole plot of the movie is that the villain beheaded an Immortal wizard and gained his magical abilities for himself. In theory Connor received these abilities at the end of the movie. Though other Highlander stories have featured Immortals with unusual gifts, none have shown the direct transfer of those gifts upon beheading. The second Quickening to be seen, where Kane beheads one of his henchmen, causes an electrical storm powerful enough to be felt by Connor MacLeod halfway around the world. This would serve to warn Connor that The Game was not over yet; whether this was an isolated event or something that happens after a long time has passed by with a temporary 'suspension' of The Game remains to be seen.
All Quickening sequences featured in this movie have a common theme. Starting with Kane receiving the Immortal sorcerer Nakano's Quickening (after beheading him) down to the scene where Connor receives Kane's Quickening, the transfer of energy begins with the deceased Immortal's headless body levitates and the surrounding area fills with visible electromagnetic energy capable of causing structural damage to nearby objects. The final Quickening, in addition, was powerful enough to levitate Connor while he was receiving it (reminiscent of the final Quickening in the first Highlander movie, where Connor receives The Kurgan's Quickening).
Highlander:Endgame
This movie represent the only two occasions of a single Immortal receiving multiple Quickenings at a time. The first occur when Jacob Kell penetrates the Sanctuary where Immortals tired of The Game spend their days and decapitates all of them, with the sole exception of Connor MacLeod. Kell's ''associates'', who are also Immortal, may also have been around to share the Quickenings. However, it was more clearly shown by Kell's beheading of his gang in a "Last Supper" style execution; the resulting Quickening (or Quickenings) was/were powerful enough to levitate him in mid-air. The final Quickening, on the other hand, was unique in which a disembodied head is generated from the spot where Kell's decapitated body fell; this head shoots lightning bolts at Duncan MacLeod. Also seen during this Quickening is a spiraling plume of water and electrical discharge rising rapidly towards the clouds and generating an electrical storm that lasts until Duncan fully receives it.
Highlander: the Series
Methos receives a Quickening
All Quickenings featured on the television series take the form of lightning storms striking the victor. The exact nature of each Quickening varies. Sometimes it is seen as a transfer of knowledge (represented through visions of the deceased Immortal's life or briefly taking on their mannerisms), while other times the world around the Immortal changes through cloud coverage and the passage of several hours (generally day to night). All Quickenings feature lightning and explosions (the power of the surrounding explosions also varies). Sometimes physical manifestations (ghosts, spirits) and levitation (of the receiver or nearby objects) accompanies the Quickening, especially very powerful ones.
Special types of Quickenings
Dark Quickening
A build up of quickenings from evil Immortals can overwhelm even the best of Immortals and lead to a Dark Quickening. The Dark Quickening draws out the darker elements of an Immortal's psyche until they are evil themselves.
In season four of an Immortal Native American named Coltec, who took it upon himself to rid the world of evil by killing as many evil Immortals as he could was eventually overwhelmed by the Dark Quickening. Duncan MacLeod was forced to kill his friend and was himself overwhelmed.
A direct Quickening
Duncan then went on a rampage in Paris, ending with the beheading of another old friend Sean Burns. Burns was known as one of the wisest and most peaceful of the Immortals and his Quickening subdued the Dark Quickening long enough for Methos to take Duncan to a long forgotten healing spring where Duncan was able to vanquish the darkest elements of his soul.
Light Quickening
In the first season of Highlander, the Immortal monk Darius was introduced as an ancient warlord who led an army across Europe. When he reached the gates of Paris, Darius encountered an Immortal holy man who tried to protect the city. When Darius beheaded the holy man, his purer essence overwhelmed Darius and caused him to disband his army and spend the next thousand years living in peace on holy ground.
Double Quickening
From the 5th season episode the only example of a double Quickening came as Duncan and Methos battled the remaining Horsemen in their French lair. Duncan battled the Horsemen leader Kronos, while Methos (a Horseman himself) turned against his former "brothers" and battled Silas. As Duncan and Methos won their respective battles at the same time, the Quickenings merged and split between the two of them in an unusual display of a spiraled lightning effect.
Mortal Beheadings
Renegade Watcher James Horton and his band of allies beheaded several immortals between 1990-1993. Since they were mortal, the Quickening was presumably lost (whether it manifested at all is uncertain). This type of beheading was featured in more detail on the spin-off series . In one episode the mortal character Nick beheads an Immortal by firing his gun at a huge pane of glass which slices the Immortal villain's head off. With no other Immortal present the Quickening appears as a stream of lightning floating up towards the sky. It's unknown if this is the same effect that happened with Horton's beheadings since it was revealed later that Nick was a pre-Immortal (one who had not died his first death yet).
Amanda receives a Quickening
The only time we see Horton behead an Immortal onscreen, a second Immortal is present and, though he didn't deliver the killing blow, the Quickening went to him. This was also shown on when Nick beheaded an Immortal and Amanda was nearby to receive the Quickening.
In Highlander 3, Pierre, an immortal is beheaded by Guillotine. Connor MacLeod is present, but presumably out of range, and no Quickening effects are seen or heard.
Holy Ground beheading
The rules of the Highlander universe state that Immortal combat is strictly forbidden on Holy Ground. Though in Endgame Jacob Kell beheaded multiple immortals and there were no repercussions, despite them being on holy ground. In General Katana played by actor Michael Ironside states that the 'Golden Rule' is that immortals must not ''fight'' on Holy Ground. This would explain Jacob Kell's actions in when he beheads several Immortals at The Sanctuary, a location that Immortal Methos referred to as Holy Ground. The Immortals at the Sanctuary are all in metal restraints meaning that Immortal ''combat'' did not take place per se.
The theatrical trailer of has Kell state that he does not care about The Game. However, when confronted by Connor MacLeod in a cemetery, Kell decides to step into the road running alongside it before fighting him. Connor at any rate, holds his sword to Kell's neck but stops short of actually beheading him.
At least a hint of those unknown consequences can be glimpsed in Highlander 3 when despite the rules Kane engages Connor in battle on the grounds of a sanctuary. A foreboding atmospheric effect begins with a closeup on a statuette of The Buddha (the location on which they are fighting is a former Buddhist shrine. The fight culminates with the destruction of Connor's sword which shatters into thousands fragments. The two immortals wisely choose to postpone their battle.
In the Season 1 episode of called 'The Hunters', Darius is killed. However, his beheading was carried out by mortal Watchers with no Immortal present. Therefore the rules of Immortal combat wouldn't apply and the Quickening may not have manifested itself.
According to Joe Dawson there is only one Watcher legend indicating an Immortal beheading another on Holy Ground. The legend states that the battle took place in AD 79 Pompeii and resulted in the famous volcanic explosion. However this is an unproven legend that may or may not be true.
Highlander: Endgame
The fourth Highlander movie follows the plots and continuity of the show rather than the earlier movies. Therefore the Quickenings in this movie follow the rules of the show. The villain Jacob Kell has amassed more than 600 Quickenings. This is reflected in his increased skill as a fighter, and Connor's assertion that Duncan must kill him in order to be strong enough to defeat Kell.
Criticism of the holy ground beheadings meant that all references to the Sanctuary being holy ground were removed from the DVD edition.
Duncan seemed to briefly take on the voice and appearance of Connor at one point prior to Kell's defeat, which has never been seen in other Quickenings.
Animated Series
Quentin MacLeod receives a Quickening
Not considered part of the official ''Highlander'' canon, the animated series added a different type of Quickening than any previously shown. Due to the fact that it was a show aimed at young children and most of the Immortals passed on their power willingly, beheadings took place offscreen and only by Kortan; the Quickenings of the main character, Quentin, were transferred by both he and the Immortal making the transfer gripping his sword. If in the future, this becomes canon, it will mean that an immortal can give up his/her own Quickening to another at will, while still able to be taken by beheading an opponent. In one episode, Kortan was shown killing Connor MacLeod off-screen because he refused to transfer his Quickening through sword. Kortan later threatened Quentin with the ominous quote, "Your head will roll at my feet as did the head of Connor MacLeod."
Highlander:The Search For Vengeance
In , the Quickenings featured follow similar conventions that are seen in the movie and television continuities. Notable qualities of the Quickening include noticeable differences in intensity and strength which are powerful even for the standards of the Highlander movies. The final Quickening, for example, is a city-wide phenomenon, shown as capable of disrupting mechanical items in the same manner as ordinary lightning.
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
