Watcher (Highlander)
Encyclopedia
Watchers are a secret organization that watches the Immortals
in the Highlander: The Series
and all subsequent related series and movies.
They were introduced in the season 1 finale as a cliffhanger
for the following season. Since then, they were an integral part of the series and Duncan MacLeod
's adventures.
The Watchers are a secret society
of mortal humans that observes the lives of the Immortals without revealing themselves. Each Immortal is assigned a Watcher whose sole job is to monitor and record their activities. The network of Watchers generally keeps careful tabs on their subjects and even the casual movements of the Immortals are tracked. Most Immortals are unaware of the Watchers. The organization was created by Ammaletu the Akkadian after he saw Gilgamesh
coming back to life. In older ages all Watchers wore a medallion of the symbol of their organization. More recently, every Watcher has the symbol tattooed on their inner wrist.
. Their motivation varies from one member to another; Horton was afraid the victor of The Prize would control the world, which he believed should belong to "humans", while some other Hunters wanted to become Immortals themselves (despite the fact it probably wasn't possible), others just hunted them for pleasure, mainly due to their beliefs; one hunter hunted immortals that were black.
, who had entered The Sanctuary. Kell beheaded every Immortal except Connor, who was spared because Kell wanted him to be the last Immortal he killed. It is unknown whether The Sanctuary was reinstated, but it seems highly unlikely, since the Watcher who supervised The Sanctuary (Matthew Hale) was shot and killed by Joe Dawson for trying to interfere in Duncan MacLeod
's battle with Kell, intending to capture both and put them in The Sanctuary.
Note: In the theatrical version of the movie Highlander: Endgame
, Methos
refers to The Sanctuary as being on holy ground. Since numerous beheadings occur there with no apparent disastrous effect, fans criticized the fact that the holy ground rule could be broken. Due to this criticism, all references to the Sanctuary being on holy ground were removed from the DVD edition.
Immortal (Highlander)
Immortals are a group of fictional characters seen in the movies and series of the Highlander franchise. Since they are immune to disease and stop aging after becoming Immortal, they can live forever and they only die when they are beheaded....
in the Highlander: The Series
Highlander: The Series
Highlander: The Series is a fantasy-adventure television series featuring Duncan MacLeod of the Scottish Clan MacLeod, as the Highlander. It was an offshoot and another alternate sequel of the 1986 feature film with a twist: Connor MacLeod did not win the prize and Immortals still exist post-1985...
and all subsequent related series and movies.
They were introduced in the season 1 finale as a cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
for the following season. Since then, they were an integral part of the series and Duncan MacLeod
Duncan MacLeod
Duncan MacLeod is a fictional character from the Highlander multiverse. Duncan MacLeod serves as the protagonist for the TV continuation of the Highlander franchise, which comprises Highlander: The Series and its spin-off movies, Highlander: Endgame and Highlander: The Source...
's adventures.
Appearances
In "The Watchers", Joe Dawson explains the Watchers to Duncan MacLeod: "For as long as your kind's been around, we've been watching. (...) We observe, we record, but we never interfere. (...) Too much of man's history has been lost. When you get through all of life's crap, the only thing that matters is the truth. We want the truth about Immortals to survive, not a bunch of old wives' tales. (...) If we had revealed your secret in more superstitious times, you can imagine the witch hunts. (...) And today... You'd probably end up on page three in one of those supermarket rags next to the two-headed monkey and I'd've been in a straight jacket."The Watchers are a secret society
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
of mortal humans that observes the lives of the Immortals without revealing themselves. Each Immortal is assigned a Watcher whose sole job is to monitor and record their activities. The network of Watchers generally keeps careful tabs on their subjects and even the casual movements of the Immortals are tracked. Most Immortals are unaware of the Watchers. The organization was created by Ammaletu the Akkadian after he saw Gilgamesh
Epic of Gilgamesh
Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem from Mesopotamia and is among the earliest known works of literature. Scholars believe that it originated as a series of Sumerian legends and poems about the protagonist of the story, Gilgamesh king of Uruk, which were fashioned into a longer Akkadian epic much...
coming back to life. In older ages all Watchers wore a medallion of the symbol of their organization. More recently, every Watcher has the symbol tattooed on their inner wrist.
The Hunters
The Hunters are an offshoot of the Watchers, originally led by James Horton, with the stated goal of killing all Immortals. Their most famous victim was DariusDarius (Highlander)
Darius is a fictional character from Highlander: The Series, portrayed by actor Werner Stocker. He first appeared in the season one episode "Band of Brothers" and is featured in four subsequent episodes of the same season, as well as in one Highlander novel...
. Their motivation varies from one member to another; Horton was afraid the victor of The Prize would control the world, which he believed should belong to "humans", while some other Hunters wanted to become Immortals themselves (despite the fact it probably wasn't possible), others just hunted them for pleasure, mainly due to their beliefs; one hunter hunted immortals that were black.
The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary was created by Watchers to draw in Immortals who wanted to seek refuge from The Game. The Watchers that created it had a certain agenda: as long as The Sanctuary existed, no Immortal would be able to win The Prize. Each Immortal that entered The Sanctuary was plugged into a machine that supported them through the years. It has been suggested that the Immortals participating in the program were often unaware of the real nature of the Sanctuary, as evidenced by the machines and drug prescriptions that accompanied their plant-like stasis. Nevertheless, the Sanctuary was destroyed in the 2000's by Jacob Kell and his gang, who for ten years had been searching for Connor MacLeodConnor MacLeod
Connor MacLeod, also known as The Highlander, is a fictional character in the Highlander film series, as well as the television programs Highlander: The Series, and Highlander: The Animated Series...
, who had entered The Sanctuary. Kell beheaded every Immortal except Connor, who was spared because Kell wanted him to be the last Immortal he killed. It is unknown whether The Sanctuary was reinstated, but it seems highly unlikely, since the Watcher who supervised The Sanctuary (Matthew Hale) was shot and killed by Joe Dawson for trying to interfere in Duncan MacLeod
Duncan MacLeod
Duncan MacLeod is a fictional character from the Highlander multiverse. Duncan MacLeod serves as the protagonist for the TV continuation of the Highlander franchise, which comprises Highlander: The Series and its spin-off movies, Highlander: Endgame and Highlander: The Source...
's battle with Kell, intending to capture both and put them in The Sanctuary.
Note: In the theatrical version of the movie Highlander: Endgame
Highlander: Endgame
Highlander: Endgame is a 2000 fantasy film originally released on September 1, 2000. It is the fourth theatrical release in the Highlander film series, and it serves as both a continuation of the Highlander films and the Highlander television series...
, Methos
Methos
Methos is a fictional character from the Highlander universe - the film series, the television show Highlander: The Series, and several fiction books. He is an Immortal. He is portrayed by actor Peter Wingfield in both series and the movies. Methos, as one of the The Four Horsemen, represents...
refers to The Sanctuary as being on holy ground. Since numerous beheadings occur there with no apparent disastrous effect, fans criticized the fact that the holy ground rule could be broken. Due to this criticism, all references to the Sanctuary being on holy ground were removed from the DVD edition.