Highlander (TV Series) The Beast Below (1993) User Reviews

an OK epi for the 1st season, showing "life", Duncans

[jtsjtssmokey-703-366973 · 7/10 · 14 April 2014]

Was not the greatest or in the top epis, but was also not in the lower(lowest) either, my thinking, and epi showing everyday life for Duncan, and Not always go go go or complete actions with the "topsy turvey" consuming emotion that a lot of other epis have.

Has a Immortal who while not very social (would we be if alone for our childhood/teen and who knows how may adult yrs (after dying 1st time) with little contact with others except those who feared you, beat you "kill you". Ya we know he had poss contact with another Immortal who may have taught him some things, and others like Mac who protected him, he also seems smarter than many assume him to be and seems like he has a wonderful singing voice and enjoys music. Attaches himself not in a good way to a few who really don't like him like the one woman in this epi who is the "star singer" (uh good voice but think didn't use her best to let us hear best...). She was down an out when rediscovered, then got a bad attitude (think must be major reason why she lost all before, bad atti bad reviews...)anyway she Carolyn, selfish b...

Carolyn "deceives" him, Ursa, as she is "threatened" by younger singer, (Richies friend Jenny) but makes it sound like Jenny wants to kill her Carolyn, as he has killed for her before, the one who rediscovered her, Frank, (Frank was 1 Carolyn didn't say to hurt/kill). But all he does is "hide" Jenny away, Mac thinks (actually seems like Macs thinking is right) that Ursa knows Jenny wont hurt anyone. Then Carolyn tries to (kinda succeeds) in getting Ursa to fight Mac. Fight seen was interestin, where Mac knows Ursa will live, still tries to keep him from falling...Poor Ursa hearing what she really thought of him an he still carries her away...

Rebuilt monastery, Ursa "home" Mac will come an see him, Ursa too knows this, as long as Macs around he will visit him...

We should all be truthful (ya I know not easy) and keep our word...Hmmm Highlander "giving" us "tools" we should know...

Bad stereotype of an aging killer diva. Bad concept idea of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

[reb-warrior · 4/10 · 3 March 2020]

Richie's new girlfriend, Jenny, is in a band. Richie invites Duncan and Tessa to a rehearsal at the opera. The manager gets killed by an immortal. Turns out the immortal is a hunchback, Ursa, and probably autistic, who is protective of the lead singer, Carolyn. Carolyn is an aging diva who is jealous of Jenny. Why? I don't know, because Carolyn can actually sing. She could've dumped this band and started a new one. Terrible stereotype. Why are aging women artists often depicted as jealous divas in movies an TV? The very fact that they're depicting her this way is in itself ageism and sexism which ironically gives credence to her insecurities. Depict old men this way for a change, ok, huh.

It's like someone said, hey we're in France, let's do 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame.' It was just so cliche, it was an awful concept.

Carolyn's plan was for Ursa to take Jenny away. I mean, like, that's it. Just kinda take her away. Nuff said. It just made me laugh at how stupid it was.

I had to laugh when Jenny screamed as Ursa was kidnapping her. Richie was the only one that ran off to see what happened. The rest of the band didn't move an inch. They don't care? Huh?

Did anyone else get a big laugh when Ursa whipped out that big giant sword machete thingy to fight Mac with? I mean I know it's a joke with the fans and probably the show the way immortals hide their swords in their jackets and then whip it out. We all overlook it. But Ursa'a weapon was humongous! I couldn't stop laughing.

Now the end. Where do I start? Ursa falls off the roof of the opera. Duncan acts like he really killed him. And it wasn't for Carolyn's benefit. That came later. There's all kind of traffic but no one saw Ursa fall and went to help him. Carolyn sees that Ursa is alive after saying some disparaging things about him to Mac which Ursa overhears. She runs out into the street and is hit by a car and is probably dead. But we don't know for sure because no one bothered to check her pulse. Then Ursa just kinda picks her up and leaves with her. No call to 911? No bystanders interceded? No funeral? No burial? No police? So stupid with all the holes that were left gaping open at the end.

The best parts of the episode were Duncan's flashback. He is so sweet and soft-spoken towards Ursa as he helps him that it's the only redeeming quality of the episode. I also liked when Duncan told the villagers who were wildly superstitious, "any man that witnesses the burial site will remain here and grow roots... forever." He makes gestures and scares them off. Duncan recalls well what superstitious villagers are like.

I usually skip this episode when doing re-watches. You could look at it as being unintentionally funny, and enjoy it that way, but it's just too much for me. I gave it a 4/10

Phantom hunchback diva of the Notre Dame Opera

[zeppo-2 · 10 February 2006]

Throw in some bits from the TV series, 'Beauty and the beast'& 'Fame' and you're got all the mish mash elements of this episode. And as you might expect from such a mix of stolen ideas, it turns out to be one of the poorest as well.

Even the regular cast seem bored as they sleepwalk through this turgid mess to the end. It's only seeing how the guest star resembles Diana Ross and wondering if her diva like role is based on La Ross, that keeps any interest.

Otherwise,it's playing along with the plot and filling in the gaps as it goes along as any experienced viewer will be able to write it as predictable is the word here.

Immortal of the Opera

[skteosk · 5/10 · 18 May 2024]

Richie's latest girl of the week, Jenny, is a backing singer in a band performing at the opera house. The band's manager is thrown to his death after arguing with the arrogant lead singer Carolyn Lamb. Duncan suspects that Ursa, a mentally backward Immortal he encountered centuries earlier, was responsible.

It's hard to know what we're supposed to think of Ursa. He isn't even as such but he does murder an innocent man for no real reason. Carolyn quickly becomes the true antagonist of the episode as, on realising she has an easily manipulated strong man on her side, she turns him into an attack dog against anyone she sees as a threat...including Jenny, who she views as a rival.

The flashback is probably the best part of it, as we get to see Duncan's kind heart, protecting Ursa from a mob and helping him into sanctuary. And there's some decent interaction between the regulars, although Tess is largely relegated to the role of a line feed. Oh, and this week's detective is so forgettable he doesn't even get a name.

The climax is incredibly weak. The rooftop battle between Duncan and Ursa seems to go on forever: It seems to place Duncan in an unusual amount of trouble, but that's probably because he's holding back. We do at least see Carolyn meet a rather poetic fate, but the episode doesn't seem to know where to go after that and just kind of fizzles out, with a rather pat resolution for Ursa.

Not one of the best.