Ep 18. The Lady and the Tiger

The episode "The Lady and the Tiger" of Highlander: The Series season 1 tells the story of Duncan MacLeod, an immortal warrior, who becomes entangled in a dangerous game created by a manipulative, yet beautiful, woman named Lisa Halle. Lisa is the wife of a wealthy businessman, who is also Duncan's longtime friend and occasional client. When Lisa discovers that her husband has been cheating on her, she enlists Duncan's help to make him pay. However, the price of Lisa's assistance turns out to be much steeper than Duncan ever imagined.

As the episode begins, Duncan attends a society soiree with his friend, wealthy businessman, Charlie DeSalvo, and his wife, Lisa Halle. While Duncan dances with Lisa, she shares her suspicions about Charlie's infidelity. Duncan is hesitant to get involved, but Lisa is persuasive, and he agrees to investigate. As he delves deeper into the case, however, he realizes that nothing is quite as it seems. Confronted with betrayal and deception, he finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, where one wrong move could cost him his life.

The plot of "The Lady and the Tiger" is heavily influenced by the famous short story of the same name by Frank R. Stockton. In the story, a young man faces a choice between two doors, one of which contains a beautiful woman, and the other a man-eating tiger. The choice he makes determines his fate. Similarly, in this episode, Duncan is faced with a choice between two powerful women - Lisa and Charlie's mistress, Trudy - each of whom has her own agenda and ulterior motives. The question is, which woman is the "lady," and which is the "tiger?"

The episode is notable for its complex plot, which is full of twists and turns. At times, it is difficult to determine who is telling the truth, and who is lying. As the tension builds, Duncan must use all his skill and cunning to stay one step ahead of Lisa and her associates. Along the way, he encounters a colorful cast of characters, including a seductive femme fatale, a ruthless hitman, and a mysterious hotel clerk with a hidden agenda.

In addition to its intricate storyline, "The Lady and the Tiger" boasts some impressive action sequences. As a skilled swordsman, Duncan is always ready for a fight, and he engages in several intense sword battles throughout the episode. These scenes are expertly choreographed and add to the overall excitement of the show.

Overall, "The Lady and the Tiger" is a standout episode of Highlander: The Series. It showcases the series' strengths - a compelling lead character, an intriguing storyline, and thrilling action - and leaves audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end.