Expert: Quink - 4/14/2001

Question
Ok I am a fan of the series and the movies.  My favorite being the original movie.  My question is how do you explain the differences in the movies.  Let me explain.  In the original movie McLeod was unaware he was immortal until Rameriz told him.  It was explained, I believe, that you were born into it.  Then in part 2 it is explained that they knew each other from some other planet when they were adults.  Plus there is the idea of the quickening even being possible in either movie when you take in the fact that, in part three, the prove that immortals were still alive, just that they were trapped under rock.  The quickening shouldn't have happened.  has any of this ever been explained?

Answer
Well, the best way to explain this is that they like to pretend the other movies don't exist. They never make any attempt to fit the movie universe in with the series, and the various powers that be have said just that over the years in interviews when this question is asked: That the two should be looked at as two separate universes. I say two, because most fans consider both the movie and the series 'real' on their own terms, but separate from each other.... The second and third movies are outright denied or written off as Conner having a little too much to drink the night before and having a reaaaaallly weird dream.
Basically, they had this great concept and they made a little movie out of it in 1986.... but the only 'flaw' with the movie was that they kind of screwed themselves out of being able to make any sequels (And more money off of it). HL2 was their way of trying to fix this. They brought in aliens. It didn't work. They tried again with HL3. Again, trying to fix the movie universe didn't work. In the meantime, they had the series. They decided that this time they weren't going to explain away the first movies... there were just going to start fresh. Think of the series as an alternate universe where Conner beat the Kurgan in 1986, but he wasn't the last. Technically, the fourth movie is supposed to be a continuation of the movie universe, but they did some canon changing there, as well.
So, the 'Official' explanation for you (As told to fans by the producers): Movie and series are alternate universes with the same characters. Highlander 2 and 3 never really happened. There are no aliens.
I'm sorry if that's not what you wanted, but that's the official story :-) In a way I'm glad they stopped trying to find ways to 'fix' the first movie, and just went along with their alternate universe thing for the series... it's confusing to new fans, but it's better than Planet Zeist any day :-) Hope this has helped.