(Warning - the following was written under the influence of chocolate.)

OK, I wasn't even going to look at the Forum again until I had at least seen Armageddon, but then I was discussing all the Avatar responses with my internet-challenged roommate, and together we realized the REAL problem with Avatar.

It was only a four-and-a-half-M&M episode.

(We play the Highlander drinking game with M&M's.)  My roommate and I went over to a friend's house to watch the season premiere (we had heard nasty rumors that Methos might be killed and didn't want to be alone if this were to happen).  I brought the *official* Highlander M&M's with high hopes, but the only action we got was:

MM Duncan takes his shirt off
1/2M Duncan says "I'm Duncan MacLeod" (no "of the Clan MacLeod", so only a half, we were getting desperate)
MM Duncan dies (temporarily)

That's it.  No Duncan kissing Tessa, Amanda, or anyone else; no flashbacks; no sword fights; no woundings during sword fights; no quickenings; no headless bodies; in fact no other immortals at all; no hair extensions (thank goodness, it would mean AP is really bald); no Duncan sparing with Richie, Charlie, Fitz, or Methos; no Duncan jumping into bed with the female guest star (although I can do without that just fine).

[I suppose I am adding ammunition to the argument that the problem with the AAA story arch is that it gets away from the original Highlander premise about immortals and the game, etc.  Let me state for the record that I personally don't mind brief forays into metaphysical weirdness (Prophecy, Shadows, Haunted, Something Wicked/Deliverance, etc. provide some precedent).  Sometimes the "evil immortal of the week" thing can get a little monotonous.  This one has been pretty costly (moment of silence for Richie and his dear red-blond curls and infectious smile), but I'm willing to follow it through to the end. Although, I know this is sacrilegious but I will actually be a little relieved when it's all safely over and no more awful things can happen - us newlanders have had to endure Darius dying, Tessa dying, Fitz dying, Charlie dying, Joe almost dying, and Richie dying all in one summer.]

Perhaps the problem is that we're going off of a 2nd season list. (I've seen variations of it floating around, but never any for other seasons . . . ) So, I hearby propose to start a 6th season list.  Everyone please feel free to make additions.  (You can never have too many excuses to eat M&M's.)

MM  Duncan does any kind of kata
MMM Dead characters show up (there's so many to choose from - MMM  for live actors and MM for stock footage)
M Duncan visits the grave of any former principle
MM Duncan takes his shirt off (gotta keep that one)
MMM Joe sings the blues (or plays the guitar, at least)
MM Joe or Duncan stick out their necks for each other
MM  There is a montage of any kind
M There is an overused symbol (the bleeding rose comes to mind)
M Duncan "redecorates" the barge (he's to hoping this happens  more than once)
MMx2 Elizabeth Gracen and Peter Wingfield make it into the credits  (two each, every time - major congrats, guys)
MMM Amanda shows up (we're waiting . . .)
MMMMMMethos shows up! (I know it won't be for a while, but by then  we Methos-lovers will be barely subsisting on old eps,  fanfic, and frus.)
M  Duncan senses another immortal (I'm assuming we'll be seeing some others again)
MM Two immortals meet on holy ground.
M  Flashback begins
MM Duncan goes back to a Scottish accent
MMM Duncan gets his ponytail back for a flashback (we can always hope . . .)
MMMM Duncan wears a kilt (more hopeful wishing)
M  Flashback ends
MM There is a sword fight (may be few and far between with the new anti-violence Duncan)
MM Duncan is wounded in a sword fight
MMM There is a quickening (assuming Duncan can bring himself to take a head)
MMMM We can actually hear Duncan scream during a quickening  (anybody else miss the good old days when he used to scream bloody murder?)
MMM One of the principles other than Duncan takes a head
MM Duncan dies (temporarily!); MMM if it's some way other than  getting shot.
MM Any watchers other than Joe make an appearance
-MM Any more murderous renegade watchers show up (cough those two back up while you're busy gagging)

So, by my new list Avatar is a 25 M&M episode.  Not too bad.  We'll have to see how Armageddon fares.

P.S. May whatever gods there be have pity on a poor graduate student (read - lab slave) who depends on Highlander for sanity retention and LET METHOS KEEP HIS HEAD (or I may have to shoot someone).