MovieChat Forums > Highlander (1992) Discussion > Why does Duncan never use aliases?

Why does Duncan never use aliases?


in the first film we see a long list of Connor's aliases. Even Kurgan uses a fake name when he checks into the hotel. Though it was only in the script (only reference remaining is his "I'm not Spanish, I'm Egyptian" line), even Juan Ramirez is supposed to be an alias.

Why did the series do away with that aspect? Every flash back his name is always Duncan McLeod of the clan McLeod. Even the film sequels did away with it as well. So much for moving silently among us down through the centuries.

All good things must come to an end - Chaucer

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Because in the flashback in "Homeland" his mother said "let no man tell you different. You are Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod".

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Atleast they gave an explanation. All immortals use their real name though and even Connor does after the first film. Which makes no sense, for example, look how easily Duncan was found out by an enemy in "Prodigal Son" for example.

All good things must come to an end - Chaucer

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look how easily Duncan was found out by an enemy in "Prodigal Son" for example.



Or by anybody, look at Carolyn Marsh in Dramatic License.

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Don't recall that episode, but I'm watching Shadows now and all Anne has to do is look up his medical records which turn up nothing and he is suspect. I mean, on top of never using an alias he doesn't even bother to get medical records by going to the doctor on occasion? Even if it's just for mental stuff (as was the case in this episode). Why keep the same name if your not going to benefit from the advantages of hiding your immortality behind it? Might as well just keep changing IDs.

All good things must come to an end - Chaucer

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Why did the series do away with that aspect?


Because it's a series. You can do that with a movie but it's going to get a little confusing for the audience who might just tune in now and again to have the main character not be calling himself by the name he's introduced as in the opening.

Ever noticed how the A Team who are on the run from the military never changed their names?

Also, how many storylines would that ruin?

"I'm going by the name Peter Francis, and no immortal knows where I am". Duncan sitting around the dojo or the barge with no old friends or enemies tracking him down kind of narrows things down for stories.


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Didn't stop them in the movies, b/c they can sense one another. Having the same name makes it way easier, it's also to be protected from the humans and also the Hunters.

The Incredible Hulk had Banner change his name and didn't affect viewers. Same for Quantum Leap. Also, even in the flashbacks Mac was always Mac.

All good things must come to an end - Chaucer

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Didn't stop them in the movies, b/c they can sense each other


They can sense each other in the series also but there's at least a couple of hundred immortals left in it, as opposed to the movies where there's only a few.

If someone wants to find MacLeod in the show, how the hell are they going to sense him to find him amongst all the others? Each immortal hasn't got a special scent lol.

It was for plot reasons.

If MacLeod kept going through all the trouble to change his name, and then his friends and old enemies kept finding him (which needs to happen for stories), people would be saying why does MacLeod bother changing his name because it's so easy for people to find him. 


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The identity change wouldn't necessarily have to hide MacLeod from Immortals. Connor wasn't hiding from Immortals in the first movie. The fake identity was to blend in with mortals.

If they made a new TV series (which I'd love to see) they could give MacLeod a new identity but they wouldn't have to change it every episode...just when a big storyline comes up and he has to move or something. MacLeod could keep his true first name (like David Banner mentioned by Times_Up).

About Immortals sensing each other: The first movie & the first season of the TV show took place during The Gathering where the remaining Immortals would be drawn to one place. It would be easier for them to sense other Immortals even in a big city because they'd all be there.

I haven't seen the TV series in a long time but I think Duncan's encounters with other Immortals were mostly blind chance with them running into each other. I don't remember most of them actively looking for him.

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There were various times throughout the show when an evil immortal would find Duncan.

Off the top of my head, Felicia Martins in season 1. She'd never even met him before but she knew him and found him by reputation.

Then there were friends that he hadn't seen for years who would turn up after finding him.

One of the best episodes, The Samurai, revolves around a woman only knowing him by name as an old friend of the family she can turn to for help. If he changed his name, that plot wouldn't be possible, and it's a great one.

Like I said, it works in a movie, and it worked for The Incredible Hulk because he was just drifting around but it puts some plot restrictions on this.

And, yes season 1 was supposed to be the gathering (which they had to change after Richie became immortal) but unlike the movie they weren't drawn to one place because Duncan switched from the states to France mid season.

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I never knew the reason they left the whole Gathering concept. I thought they dropped it earlier though in the 2nd season. Which season did Ritchie become Immortal in? I can't remember.

It's been so long since I've seen the series. I watched the whole series probably 7 or 8 years ago. I wouldn't mind watching it again. I just wish it had a better ending.

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Richie becomes immortal a few episodes into season 2. The last time the Gathering is mentioned is the last episode of season 1 by MacLeod to Fitzcairn.

And I agree, it had a pretty weak final season which was a shame.

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Damn I thought Tessa lived past season 2. And I didn't even remember Daltrey was in the show that early. I always liked those two characters.

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The scariest one for me for some reason was the one with the kid immortal. He'd play the immortals against one another then sneak up on his intended victim because he knew he didn't stand a chance otherwise.

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Indeed.

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The name thing, think was an epi where Duncan mentions or had a bit of a diff name, and they did have some of the evil immortals have various names, though a lot of the evil/bad ones would have had to as they were known and or getting there names picked up by mortals and or some kind of authority/police/FBI...

Had the Incredible Hulk given to me, have a bit of a memory of watching the show, was about 3ish when it first aired, maybe more memory of re runs, but anyway, he moved around and just changed last names. Besides the pilot, in a couple epis, or at least 1, he did go by his real name, but with the traveling he could not be known who he was/is, so name changing worked.

Quantum Leap, he was not his main character, he was his character playing and "looking like" to all and himself in the mirror, someone else, so he for the most part was not changing his name as he was being another character. So to me, not the same thing with name changing as that was actually the show, no "name change" no show.

Even though tech was not the same as today, those in authority who were mortal, and were/are not so overwhelmed with present crime and past ones too for that matter, would be pretty easy to fig out something was very weird with Duncan, other immortals too, and think some did, was hinted at in season 1 at the courthouse, if they did not go out of their way to always be on "radar" of the law, then my guess/thinking,the law let them live and let live.

Know there is and has been talk/type, even on imbd of re boot or new/different highlander movie and or tv show, would not really work realistically in today s world. Being "invisible" would be almost impossible. As everything is pretty much instant, news about almost everything seen/heard/texted and or more as it is happening. Social media, some kind of electronic mark, its all there/here and on the chance you manage to not have anything, not having something on social media/e mark can be almost suspect too with some law enforcement.

The way the show worked, Duncan could pretty much live his life, name change, not big deal for show. The original movie, more or less worked and the name changes helped make the movie as at that time it well, worked. They even had some (all ?) Connors names shown as they worked to "prove" he was the same person.

Least these are my thoughts.

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Duncan is.. still an honorable fool, and he doesn't want to hide himself.

He is proud of his name, his reputation, and wants to improve it all the time.. changing his name would not serve in this purpose unless everyone knew his aliases.

Also, in "Comes a Horseman" at the start of the episode Methos and Duncan are talking when they get the buzz of another immortal.. Methos runs, Duncan says "I like to know who is around".. and I don't necessarily want to exaggerate the meaning in those words, but from what we've seen of his escapades he's never been one not to investigate an immortal presence.. however, I don't recall Duncan ever really going hunting either except situationally.

Keeping his name allows people to find him more easily.

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Because he was Duncan MacLeod of the clan MacLeod

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1. 'The Kurgan' is his 'point of origin' and scary name used by people running from him or chasing him, not an actual name. none of the McLeods ever register as 'Bill Highlander'

2. Connor was also regularly transferring property via official means every couple of years, Going out of his way to create a paper Trail
- as I remember the scene Brenda's Friend linked together 5 IDs going from Nash back to 1700...

285 years and only 5 IDs (that are a direct link of heirs, so minimal use of other names in between) that means Each Identity averaged over 60 years of Use... and that's after he makes sure to pick a kid who died long enough ago to fit his apparent age... so at some point in the previous Transfers the 20-something looking MacLeod is supposedly passing as an 80 year man

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