History Characters / Highlander

* {{Foil}}: To [=MacLeod=]. While [=MacLeod=] is capable of love, friendship, and honor, The Kurgan is incapable of any of those things. [=MacLeod=] has loved ones and friends such as Heather, Brenda, Ramirez, and Sunda Kastagir, but The Kurgan has only victims. [=MacLeod=] uses his many years of immortality to learn about the world and grow as a person, but The Kurgan remains unchanged over the centuries. Conversely, while [=MacLeod=] is somewhat [[WhoWantsToLiveForever depressed and tortured over his immortal existence]], The Kurgan is a gleeful hedonist who seems to [[LivingForeverIsAwesome relish every second of his life]], perhaps ''because'', unlike his rival, he doesn't empathize with mortal people.

* BadassLongcoat: He conceals his sword in what looks to be an overcoat. We never see him wear it; he throws it at [=MacLeod=] as a distraction at the beginning of their duel.

* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: A career at this tragically cut short by The Kurgan killing him ([[FinalDeath and almost killing him]]), causing him to be exiled from his Clan. Still, he carries the attitude when a fight is upon him.

* DueToTheDead: Connor honours his promise to light a candle on her birthday every year after her death.

* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler:Moments before his head falls off, The Kurgan gives Connor [[AGoodWayToDie one last big grin]].]]

* BigBad: Of ''[[Film/HighlanderIITheQuickening The Quickening]]''.

* EvilOverlord: Of Planet Zeist / the past.

* OddNameOut: Currently the only live-action film BigBad who doesn't have a name starting with K.

* UnnecessaryCombatRoll: At one point during the duel he backflips across the full length of the parking garage, for no clear reason.

* DeadpanSnarker: Connor has one hell of a dry wit. When accused of being “a faggot” by a rude cop, he quickly shoots back and asks if the guy is cruisin' for some ass.
** In the Director's Cut, when a Nazi says Connor will have to shoot him? "Whatever you say, Jack. You're the master race!"

* DefrostingIceKing: Connor is, umm...bitter at the start of the film. He's cold, isolated and has seen so many people die that he refuses to form attachments. He rarely smiles or even emotes much. As the film goes on, he develops a new attachment to humanity, falls in love with Brenda and takes his stand against The Kurgan to save the world itself.

%%* GutturalGrowler

-->'''[=MacLeod=]:''' "[[MetaphoricallyTrue Lots of different places]]."
* YoungerThanTheyLook: Connor is only 18 when he becomes immortal. To say he doesn't look it is...an understatement. (Lambert was 31 at the time of filming).

* DefrostingIceKing: Connor is, umm...bitter at the start of the film. He's cold, isolated and has seen so many people die that he refuses to form attachments. He rarely smiles or even emotes much. As the film goes on, he develops a new attachment to humanity, falls in love with Brenda and takes his stand against Kurgan to save the world itself.

* TheHero: Connor is the hero of the story, and a truly noble man whose ultimate goal is to stop the Kurgan from winning the Prize.

* ItsPersonal: Oh god, is it ever with Kurgan. The two have been arch-enemies for centuries, Kurgan is responsible for his first death, killing his mentor Ramirez... and then Kurgan lets slip that he raped Connor's wife (thinking she was Ramirez's girlfriend) and it gets even ''more'' personal than ever.

* MasterSwordsman: Connor is one of the last final immortals left in the entire world when the Gathering starts and defeats Iman Fasil in the film's opening. Ultimately, his skill proves even too much for the Kurgan himself, showing Connor has surpassed ''all'' others.

* BadassTeacher: He's the mentor of the hero, and one of the most powerful and skilled immortals in history. He gives the Kurgan a fiercer fight than anyone else save for Connor in their final battle.

* ChivalrousPervert: Ramirez is one hell of a ladies man. Nevertheless, he's honorable, charming and does all he can to protect Heather from the Kurgan, even at point of death. He's also clearly ''revolted'' when the Kurgan makes his rapist intentions toward Heather clear.

* DefiantToTheEnd: He gives the Kurgan no fear whatsoever when he knows he's about to die, spitting in the evil bastard's face when the Kurgan makes his intentions clear towards poor Heather.

* FaceDeathWithDignity: How does he meet his end when Kurgan forces him to the knees and prepares the deathblow? He closes his eyes and calmly prays, knowing he has prepared Connor to face Kurgan himself one day.

* MentorOccupationalHazard: Ramirez is found by Kurgan when Connor is away. Rather than betray his student, he chooses to face the Kurgan himself, knowing he's at a disadvantage. Like so many mentors, it's obvious how this ends.

* OldMaster: Clearly became an immortal when he was quite old, moreso than Connor or the Kurgan at least.

* SacrificialLion: Ramirez is an incredible swordsman and his end serves to establish the Kurgan's reputation as TheDreaded is not mere hype. Though Ramirez comes closest to besting the Kurgan than anyone before or until Connor himself, the Kurgan's overwhelming power proves too much for him.

* AllThereInTheManual: Kurgan's background is fleshed out in the novelization, including the fact that his first death occurred when [[AbusiveParents his drunken father crushed his skull with a log.]]

* BlasphemousBoast: In church when he wonders if God truly cares about 'pathetic mortals,' the priest tells him that Jesus died for their sins. Kurgan's response? Chuckle wickedly and add "that shall be his undoing."

* {{Foil}}: To [=MacLeod=]. While [=MacLeod=] is capable of love, friendship, and honor, the Kurgan is incapable of any of those things. [=MacLeod=] has loved ones and friends such as Heather, Brenda, Ramirez, and Sunda Kastagir, but the Kurgan has only victims. [=MacLeod=] uses his many years of immortality to learn about the world and grow as a person, but the Kurgan remains unchanged over the centuries. Conversely, while [=MacLeod=] is somewhat [[WhoWantsToLiveForever depressed and tortured over his immortal existence]], the Kurgan is a gleeful hedonist who seems to [[LivingForeverIsAwesome relish every second of his life]], perhaps ''because'', unlike his rival, he doesn't empathize with mortal people.
* ForTheEvulz: And the Prize, but the Kurgan doesn't seem to be in much of a rush. He's having way too much fun.
* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler:Moments before his head falls off, the Kurgan gives Connor [[AGoodWayToDie one last big grin]].]]

* HuskyRusskie: Well sort of, as he's a huge guy whose native tribe existed in what would come to be known as Russia, but wasn't Russia ''yet''.
** BilingualBonus: His name, Kurgan, means "burial mound" in Russian. Doubles as a MeaningfulName.
* IKEAWeaponry: The sword used by the Kurgan in modern times can be disassembled into smaller components for easy storage and travel.
* ImmortalImmaturity: In the present, Kurgan is little more than a wild hooligan despite being the oldest of all the remaining immortals.

* NeverGivenAName: The Kurgan has no name, and after [[GenocideFromTheInside slaughtering the rest of the Kurgan tribe]] (of which he was a member), he became simply ''the'' Kurgan. He uses the alias of 'Victor Kruger' in a seedy 1985 motel.

** By his appearance, it would be easy to dismiss the Kurgan as a [[StupidEvil mindless brute]] who kills indiscriminately, but this is not the case. He kills other immortals as soon as possible to claim the prize, but mortal humans are never really targets for execution by him. The prostitute Candy goes away saying he was merely "kinky", and the Kurgan may have raped Heather but he still left her alive. He doesn't even care to finish off the crazy survivalist who shoots him. It's likely that mortal humans mean so little to him that killing them is functionally no different from letting them live out their lives and die of old age (and avoiding having to deal with mortal authorities is an incentive as well).

* PutTheLaughterInSlaughter: As he tears people apart, the Kurgan cannot stop grinning and laughing like it's the funniest thing in the world.

* SelfMadeOrphan: According to the novelization, he murdered his abusive father.

* ActionSurvivor: Not a hugely skilled combatant, but when her life's on the line she tries her best. When the Kurgan comes for her she goes for a gun and when he's beating on Connor, she takes a swing at him with a lead pipe.

* FondMemoriesThatCouldHaveBeen: Though the two spend a blissful life together, Heather's one regret is that she cannot bear Connor's children due to the sterility of all immortals.

* SecretKeeper: Makes no mention to Connor about Kurgan raping her, as she just saw the latter kill Ramirez, and did not want Connor going after him and suffering the same fate.

* DeathSeeker: Throws down his swords mid-battle and demands to be killed, much to the Kurgan's surprise.

* HuskyRusskie: Well, Polish technically, but like the Kurgan, he predated the nation itself.

* RedShirt: An even bigger example than Yung Dol Kim, to the point that the only appearance he has is as a file photo of the Kurgans previous victims.

* ChaoticStupid: For no reason, the first thing that Katana does when he gets to Earth is to enter a New York subway train to go over 400 mph which ends with him plowing the train through a wall onto the street. It serves purely as a homage to the Kurgan's DrivesLikeCrazy scenes in the original film.

* DrivesLikeCrazy: One-ups Kurgan in this department with Connor's adopted son as a captive passenger, thanks to his illusion powers.
* {{Expy}}: Of the Kurgan, as he shares many elements with him (being a former warlord, killing the hero's mentor, terrorizing the hero's loved one in a wild car ride, etc.).

* OverlyLongName/ OverlyLongSpanishName: Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez

* BeenThereShapedHistory: Connor has played pivotal roles in the Revolutionary War, the Napeolonic War, and World War 2.

* MrFanservice: Dresses sharply as an antiques dealer.

* ItsPersonal:Oh god, is it ever with Kurgan. The two have been arch-enemies for centuries, and Kurgan killed his mentor Ramirez...and then Kurgan lets slip that he raped Connor's wife (thinking she was Ramirez's girlfriend) and it gets even ''more'' personal than ever.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: His primary weapon in modern day is a nifty katana.

* ParentalSubstitute: He adopted Rachel after World War 2 and loves her dearly.

* WhatTheHellIsThatAccent: Christopher Lambert went to a lot of trouble to develop a mixed non-specific accent appropriate for an immortal who'd lived everywhere over the course of his centuries-long life. Many people just assumed he was trying to do a specific accent and failing badly, even though the intention is underlined by an early dialogue exchange between [=MacLeod=] (operating under the alias Russell Nash) and a suspicious cop:

[[folder:Juan Ramírez]]

->''"We must fight until only one remains. You are safe only on Holy Ground. None of us will violate that rule. It's tradition."''

* BackFromTheDead: Is brought back to life via....rather ''uncertain'' means in Highlander 2.

* TheMourningAfter: Ramirez went through this after losing his [[RuleOfThree third]] wife[[note]]Masamune's daughter, Shakiku, which arguably makes the katana a TragicKeepsake.[[/note]] He encourages Connor to [[CelibateHero avoid romantic attachments in the first place]], hoping to spare him this pain.

* OverlyLongName/ OverlyLongSpanishName: Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez
* PimpedOutCape: It even has peacock feathers.

* AmbiguouslyBi: When accused of being “a faggot” by a rude cop, he blandly asks if the guy is looking for someone.

* DeadpanSnarker: Connor has one hell of a dry wit. In a deleted scene when a Nazi says Connor will have to shoot him? "Whatever you say, Jack. You're the master race!"

!!The Kurgan / Victor Krueger

* BlasphemousBoast: In church when he wonders if god truly cares about 'pathetic mortals,' the priest tells him that god died for their sins. Kurgan's response? Chuckle wickedly and add "that shall be his undoing."

--> ''"There Can Be Only ONE!"''
* TheCorrupter: An ''accidental'' version! As the tv series eventually revealed, James Horton was once the Watcher assigned to The Kurgan, and being forced to observe The Kurgan carve a swathe of atrocities over the course of decades with gleeful sadism drove Horton to near-madness, convincing him that Immortals were fundamentally evil and letting any of them claim The Prize would be a disaster for the rest of humanity, leading to Horton forming The Hunters in an attempt at destroying them.

* LargeHam: A huge ham. He's an entire roast pig. The Kurgan shouts every other word, laughs and yells during combat and basically makes a massive show of himself at every opportunity.

* NeverGivenAName: The Kurgan has no name, and after [[GenocideFromTheInside slaughtering the rest of the Kurgan tribe]] (of which he was a member), he became simply ''the'' Kurgan. He uses the alias of 'Victor Krueger' in modern times.

* ActionSurvivor: Not a hugely skilled combatant, but when her life's on the line she tries her best. When the Kurgan comes for her she goes for a gun and when he's beating on Connor, she takes a swing at him with a pipe.

* DistractedFromDeath: Zigzagged. While Heather actually asks Connor to leave before she breathes her last breath, he politely refuses, opting instead to tell her a comforting story to keep her happy. She dies before he finishes it.
* DueToTheDead: Connor honors his promise to light a candle on her birthday.
* FondMemoriesThatCouldHaveBeen: Though the two spend a blissfull life together, Heather's one regret is that she cannot bear Connor children due to the sterility all immortals have.

* GirlFriday: Helps Connor maintain his Russel Nash identity. May have helped him create it.
* HappilyAdopted: Conner is her father for all intents and purposes, having adopted her in World War 2. She is incredibly happy with him as her family.

* DeathSeeker: Throws down his swords mid-battle and demands to be killed, much to the Kurgans shock.
* DeletedScene: Unlike Vasilek, Kim's final battle was filmed, but was eventually deleted, and only exists in the form of still shots now.
* DualVield: Uses two short swords in battle.
* WhoWantsToLiveForever: After 400 years of life, Kim has grown weary and stops defending himself halways through his last battle. Notably, he's the first Immortal shown to genuinely be suicidal in the franchise.

* KilledOffScreen: Was killed by The Kurgan two days before Connor's fight with Fasil.

* OverlyLongName/OverlyLongSpanishName: Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez

* OverlyLongName: Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez

* {{Foil}}: To [=MacLeod=]. While [=MacLeod=] is capable of love, friendship, and honor, the Kurgan is incapable of any of those things. [=MacLeod=] has loved ones and friends such as Heather, Brenda, Ramirez, and Sunda Kastagir, but the Kurgan has only victims. [=MacLeod=] uses his many years of immortality to learn about the world and grow as a person, but the Kurgan remains unchanged over the centuries. Conversely, while [=MacLeod=] is somewhat [[WhoWantsToLiveForever depressed and tortured over his immortal existence]], the Kurgan is a gleeful hedonist who seems to [[LivingForeverIsAwesome relish every second of his life.]]

* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler:Moments before his head falls off, the Kurgan gives Connor one last big grin.]]

* IKEAWeaponry: The sword used by the Kurgan in modern times.

* PostRapeTaunt: [[spoiler:Centuries after he rapes her, he taunts [=MacLeod=] that this is the reason his wife never told him about it.]]

%%* ItsAllAboutMe

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* TheMourningAfter: Heather died of old age many years afte their marriage. Connor treasures her memory, loves her and honors his vow to light a candle on her birthday every single year for centuries.