The Quickening is a phenomenon in the Highlander films and television series. Beheading a character known as an "Immortal" produces a powerful energy release from their body called a "Quickening."

The lead cast member of the television series, Adrian Paul, explained, "The Quickening is the receiving of all the power and knowledge another immortal has obtained throughout his/her life. It is like the receiving of a sacrament or a massive orgasm." The series producers stated, "The power of the Quickening is the equivalent to a major electrical storm hitting─windows explode, lights short circuit, it is almost as if the victorious Immortal is in the center of a lightning storm."
In the Highlander universe, the energy released by a Quickening is absorbed by the Immortal responsible for the beheading.

The series producers explained that if "an Immortal is decapitated by something other than the sword of the Immortal he was fighting, (...) what we thought was, as long as an Immortal is present, he gets the Quickening."
If an Immortal is beheaded and there is no Immortal nearby to receive the Quickening (if, for example, the beheader is a mortal), then the Quickening dissipates without effect.. The series producers have also revealed that, "if there is no Immortal present, then the Quickening just goes to the Source," but it is not known yet what the "Source" exactly is.

On rare occasions, the Quickening overwhelms the personality of the Immortal, even turning a good Immortal evil. This occurrence is known as a Dark Quickening in the series version. The converse can also happen; Darius is the only known example of a Light Quickening.

The immortal characters are able to sense a nearby Quickening, as well as an ability to know which Immortal has been killed. Such abilities are demonstrated in Highlander: The Series, when Duncan MacLeod falls on his knees following the beheading of his friend, Lucas Desiree. Desiree is beheaded by Howard Crowley, and MacLeod knows that his friend has died.

Jim Singleton
telnet://ricksbbs.synchro.net:23
http://ricksbbs.synchro.net:8080
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Re: The Quickening... One explanation...
By: Jim Singleton to all on Tue Nov 26 2024 06:05 pm

The Quickening is a phenomenon in the Highlander films and television series Beheading a character known as an "Immortal" produces a powerful energy rele from their body called a "Quickening."

The lead cast member of the television series, Adrian Paul, explained, "The Quickening is the receiving of all the power and knowledge another immortal obtained throughout his/her life. It is like the receiving of a sacrament or massive orgasm." The series producers stated, "The power of the Quickening i the equivalent to a major electrical storm hitting─windows explode, lights short circuit, it is almost as if the victorious Immortal is in the center o lightning storm."
In the Highlander universe, the energy released by a Quickening is absorbed the Immortal responsible for the beheading.

The series producers explained that if "an Immortal is decapitated by someth other than the sword of the Immortal he was fighting, (...) what we thought was, as long as an Immortal is present, he gets the Quickening."
If an Immortal is beheaded and there is no Immortal nearby to receive the Quickening (if, for example, the beheader is a mortal), then the Quickening dissipates without effect.. The series producers have also revealed that, "i there is no Immortal present, then the Quickening just goes to the Source," it is not known yet what the "Source" exactly is.

On rare occasions, the Quickening overwhelms the personality of the Immortal even turning a good Immortal evil. This occurrence is known as a Dark Quickening in the series version. The converse can also happen; Darius is th only known example of a Light Quickening.

The immortal characters are able to sense a nearby Quickening, as well as an ability to know which Immortal has been killed. Such abilities are demonstra in Highlander: The Series, when Duncan MacLeod falls on his knees following beheading of his friend, Lucas Desiree. Desiree is beheaded by Howard Crowle and MacLeod knows that his friend has died.

Jim Singleton
telnet://ricksbbs.synchro.net:23
http://ricksbbs.synchro.net:8080

Thats what I always took away from that series. I remember it back in the 90's. It was pretty good.
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