<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Highlander episode
“The Samurai”
Original Air Date	October 1, 1994
Season	3
Episode #	1
Production #	3.01
Writer(s)	Naomi Janzen
Director	Dennis Berry
Guest star(s)	Tamlyn Tomita Stephen McHattie Robert Ito Hiro Kanagawa Terry Arrowsmith
Episode Order
Previous	Next
"Counterfeit, Part 2"	"Line of Fire"

After Midori Koto sees her husband, rich industrialist Michael Kent, murder her lover, she kills Kent and runs to MacLeod for protection. She reminds MacLeod of a vow of protection his "ancestor" (actually MacLeod himself) made to her family over 200 years before. Flashbacks tell the story of MacLeod coming to the aid of the samurai Hideo Koto after MacLeod is shipwrecked in Japan. Hideo befriends MacLeod -- even though the penalty for helping a "barbarian" in isolationist Japan is death. When Hideo is forced to commit ritual hari kari by his feudal overlord for that crime, MacLeod serves as his second. He vows to Hideo he will always protect the Koto family and is bequeathed the dragon head katana sword he uses to this day. Back in the present, MacLeod discovers that Kent is an Immortal and he's still alive. In order not to further dishonor her family's name, Midori returns to Kent. Kent challenges MacLeod, who fulfills his vow to the Koto family and frees Midori from her loveless marriage.