His main assignment during the course of the show is to chronicle the life of protagonist Duncan MacLeod, an immortal swordsman born in the Scottish Highlands.

Born in 1950, Joe Dawson later joins the United States Marine Corps and fights in the Vietnam War.

His commanding officer is Andrew Cord, an immortal (though at the time, Dawson is unaware such people exist).

Cord, now healed from his injuries, carries Joe on his back for sixteen miles to the nearest field hospital.

[1] Unable to cope with the loss of his legs, Joe decides to commit suicide but is visited by a Watcher named Ian Bancroft, who tells him that some rare humans are born immortal due to an energy called the Quickening.

Because of this, several hunt each other in a secret Game of mortal combat, believing that the final survivor will win the Prize: the collected power and knowledge of all immortals who ever lived.

Bancroft is part of an organization called the Watchers who study and chronicle the lives of these immortals from afar and will one day reveal this secret history to the world once the Game has been won.

When Duncan MacLeod makes his home in Seacouver, Washington with his lover Tessa Noël, James Horton buys a nearby bookshop Shakespeare & Co. and has Dawson manage it in order to provide him a cover.

Dawson comes to admire and respect MacLeod, noting that the Highlander does not wish power, forges friendships with several immortals, and cares deeply for mortal humans and society, often helping friends and strangers whenever he thinks they are in trouble.

Determined that human society will not be ruled by any immortal, Horton leads a sub-group of likeminded Watchers who call themselves the Hunters.

Finding a recovered Watcher's journal among Darius' possession, Duncan learns of the organization and then meets Horton when the man attempts to kill another immortal friend, Hugh Fitzcairn.

"[3] After Horton is exposed and expelled from the Watchers (though MacLeod initially believes he is dead), Dawson attempts to forge trust with the Highlander, openly informing him about his presence on various occasions.

"[5] Horton later turns up alive and attempts to attack MacLeod psychologically through an agent masquerading as his dead love Tessa.

When Andrew Cord comes to Seacouver, Dawson learns he has become a remorseless killer and arms dealer and murdered Charlie DeSalvo's love Mara.

Joe decides to leave rather than continue to be part of a group that has lost its way and because he does not believe he can keep Duncan's friendship if he stays.

To his surprise, Duncan asks him to rejoin, hoping Dawson can ensure the organization returns to its principles and acts altruistically.

[7] When the demonic entity Ahriman causes MacLeod to suffer visions that drive him to fear and violence, the Highlander unintentionally kills Richie Ryan.

Dawson joins MacLeod and others as they investigate the legendary Source of immortality, an energy well located in Eastern Europe.

Joe attempts to protect the immortal Reggie Weller from the Guardian at one point, and the man fatally stabs the Watcher with the shattered blade of Duncan MacLeod's sword.

The short film depicts Dawson (reprised by actor Jim Byrnes) alive and well in 2008 on a version of Earth that is not in danger of succumbing to chaos.

He admits that he begrudgingly retired from active Watcher duty eight months before, just shy of 40 years of service.

Dawson tells Methos that Duncan MacLeod is now observed by a newly recruited 28-year-old Watcher, a Princeton University graduate and member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Abramowitz explained, "We came up with the idea of the blues bar, which was a perfect place for him and gave us opportunities to hear his music.

Panzer recollected, "That song was so cool that we lengthened the scene fifty percent because we wanted to hear more of his music as the whole thing works so wonderfully together."

Of his work after the show was completed, Byrnes said, "I had a good rapport with the crew, with Adrian [Paul], with the writers, the producers, etcetera.

Afterward, in 1972, the actor was attempting to move a stalled truck when he was struck by a car, leading to his legs being amputated.

These experiences informed episodes of Highlander: The Series that explored Joe Dawson's military service and the loss of his own legs.

In the episode "Brother in Arms," a flashback reveals that Joe Dawson lost both his legs during the Vietnam War.

Executive Script Consultant David Tynan said, "In the scene where Joe wakes up to find his legs gone, I had to ask Jim what it was like.

We all get older and have our aches and pains and we look different every day, you know, a couple extra miles, so it gives that sense of continuity.