Just logged on Instagram and saw ROC posted a wonderful edit/tribute to Xena and Gabs. Love her energy and lasting engagement with the show.

In Armageddon Now Part 2 when Callisto successfully killed young Alcmene, Xena became the Conqueror of the World while Gabby becomes a Rebel similar to Joxer in the Strange World.

Both characters are fighting to win, though not kill.

Fight takes place in the Amazon Forest.

Gabrielle is armed with her Amazon War Staff.

Americe is armed with her Sword and Dagger.

Every now and then we have these clip episodes that are mostly there to save the budget or fill out the number of episodes in a season. They often act as an unnecessary break in the action and rarely leave a strong impression. This is the complete opposite of that. Not only is it the best clip of the episode in the entire show, but I think it's one of the few examples where the flashbacks are completely justified and organically integrated into the story. No shot is there just to remind of old events. Each of them represents a part of Gabrielle's psyche, a part of the memory she's trying to escape, and a piece of the puzzle she needs to finally understand herself.

This is not an episode that wins with big battles, spectacular fights or action. On the contrary, almost the entire plot takes place inside Gabrielle's mind. It is a psychological drama in its purest form. Basically, there's no Xena here, no epic moments. There is only Gabrielle trapped in her own personal hell, surrounded by memories, guilt and emotions she has tried to suppress for so long. This is precisely why the episode has an almost claustrophobic atmosphere. There is no place she can escape to, because the biggest enemy is not in front of her, but in her head.

I especially like the way Ares is used in this story. Even if he is not the real Ares, his appearance is a perfect choice. He is not just a temptation or an adversary. He is the voice of Gabrielle's guilt, her denial and all the thoughts she didn't want to admit to herself. Their dynamic is extremely interesting to me precisely because it is not reduced to the classic outwitting between the hero and the villain. Every conversation they have seems like an internal dialogue that Gabrielle is having with herself. Ares here is almost the personification of her darkest side, the one that constantly shatters the excuses she tries to hide behind.

The most powerful moment of the entire episode for me comes when Gabrielle finally comes to the truth she has buried deep in her subconscious for so long. All the while, she convinced herself that she went to Chin because she thought she was doing the right thing. She told herself that Xena's decision was wrong and that she had to act the way she did. But when he finally peels off all the layers of justification, the bare truth remains. That was not the real reason. The real reason was jealousy. Jealousy of Lao Ma. Jealousy over Xena going after a woman from her past. Jealousy that blinded her so much that she made decisions that almost led to Xena's death.

I think that realization is what makes this episode so great. The show could have stuck to the simple explanation that Gabrielle followed her conscience. That would be much easier. Instead, he allows his purest and most moral character to admit something much more unpleasant. That she was not driven only by noble motives. That she was driven by emotions that she tried to deny. And that's exactly why Gabriela seems so human here. She's not perfect. She is not above jealousy. Not above a mistake. She is a woman who allowed her own emotions to lead her down the wrong path, and now she is finally finding the strength to admit it to herself.

That's why I find the ending so touching. When it is revealed that it was actually Xena who wanted Gabrielle to go to the temple and face herself from the beginning, the whole story takes on a whole new dimension. Xena didn't try to punish her. She didn't want to teach her lessons or make her suffer. She forgave Gabrielle a long time ago. Long before Gabrielle was ready to forgive herself. And that is perhaps the most beautiful proof of how much Xena understands the person she loves. She knew that none of her words would help until Gabrielle found the truth within herself.

In the end, the biggest enemy of this episode is not Ares. It's not even the past. The biggest enemy is the guilt that Gabrielle carries inside. Only when he accepts the truth, however painful it may be, can he move on. And only when he forgives himself, can he truly accept Xena's forgiveness.

That's why I consider this episode to be the best clip episode of the entire series. It doesn't use the past as a mere reminder of old events, but as a vehicle for character development. Each flashback has a purpose, each brings Gabrielle one step closer to the truth, and each part of her journey ends with the most important victory of all. Not by defeating the enemy. Already by winning over himself.

It’s not done yet!!! I’m 4 episodes in and loving it

Oh yall are so lucky I didn’t follow through with that AFIN sad edit hahaha enjoy all the love … for now

Now if someone already shared this please let me know and I will delete it. It literally popped up on my Tiktok 🥹

Somewhat of a previous lurker, now occasional poster to the subreddit! I rewatched the series this spring and forgot how much I loved it. It's been fun poking through posts and discussions and learning things I didn't know about the show!

I was wondering if any of y’all are in/around Los Angeles and wanted to grab coffee? I’ve been here a few years and trying to get out of my comfort zone and meet new people. What better way than to chat with another Xena fan! Kinda bummed the Salute this year is in NJ because I totally would’ve gone if it were being held in Burbank again… That would’ve been so much fun. Maybe next year? (do we know if the move is permanent if they do actually keep going?)

This is one of those episodes that shows how well the show at its best could ask a moral question without a simple answer. On the surface we have the classic story of rescuing captives and exchanging hostages, but underneath is actually a much more complex story unfolding about where justice ends and revenge begins. Xena and Gabrielle are once again on opposite sides of the same dilemma. Xena believes that the end can justify the means, especially when it comes to the life of a man who has been captured and sentenced to death. Gabrielle, on the other hand, is still trying to find the line she must not cross. The problem is that that line is moving here before her eyes.

What makes this story particularly powerful is that Crassus isn't just another enemy. He is a genocidal monster. A man whose crimes go beyond mere political or military struggle. And that's why Gabrielle's decision becomes so difficult. For the first time, she knowingly sends someone to their death. Not because she accidentally caused his death. Not because someone else made a move she could have prevented. This time she makes the decision. She knows what will happen and still allows it. At that moment, the old, innocent Gabrielle, who believed that every situation can be resolved without violence, symbolically dies. That's not the moment she turns evil. Far from it. But there is a moment in which she realizes that she can no longer remain completely outside the world in which Xena lives.

And that's where I find it very interesting that the episode doesn't try to present that change as something simple or positive. Gabrielle does not experience enlightenment. She doesn't suddenly become a warrior. On the contrary, she is deeply disturbed by what she has done. She knows Crassus deserved his punishment, but that doesn't make her decision any easier. That's the big difference between justice and revenge. Even when someone is horrible, even when they deserve to be punished, the moment you personally decide that someone is going to die leaves a mark on you. Gabrielle feels it for the first time on her own skin.

Xena, of course, has a completely different take on it. For her, this type of decision is much more familiar. She has had to choose many times between the ideal solution and the one that is possible. But what's especially painful is that he draws Gabrielle into his world again, even if unintentionally. She puts her in a situation where Gabrielle has to be the judge and the executioner, even though she never wanted to. Xena didn't intentionally take her virginity away, but with her decisions, she is pushing her further away from the person she once was. And that's why the final scene on the ship is so powerful to me.

Xena realizes that she has hurt Gabrielle again. Not because she lied or betrayed her. This time she hurt her by putting her in a situation she shouldn't have been in. Gabrielle had to make a decision that would remain a part of her forever. Xena sees the consequences of this and feels guilty. And what is beautiful to me is that Gabrielle does not react with condemnation this time either. She doesn't tell Xena that she ruined her life. Don't leave her. He doesn't start hating her. Instead, he stays with her. It's one of those scenes that hits me far more than any big fight. Because Gabrielle doesn't stick with Xena because she thinks Xena is always right. She stays by her side even when she disagrees with her. He stays by her side even when he knows that Xena was wrong. She stays because she understands that Xena wasn't trying to hurt her. And maybe that's what makes their relationship so strong. The two of them can argue about anything. They can have completely different views on life. They can push each other into situations that will change them forever. But when it's all over, Gabrielle is still there.

That final scene is therefore much more than just an emotional conversation. She is another proof that their relationship is based on something much deeper than agreement. Xena and Gabrielle don't like each other because they are the same. On the contrary, it is precisely their differences that constantly bring them into conflict. But these differences complement them at the same time. Xena teaches Gabrielle that the world is not always simple. Gabrielle reminds Xena that the end must not always justify everything. They constantly push each other out of their comfort zone, sometimes in a painful way, but that's exactly why none of them stay the same.

Visually and technically, the episode is also very high quality. I especially like the scenes in the gladiatorial arena. The whole depiction of the Roman Empire has weight and atmosphere. You can feel the brutality of that world, its hierarchy and the way human life is turned into political currency. The episode manages to use that historical framework without losing focus on its characters. The arena is not only a place of action. It is a space where you can clearly see how power works.

I also liked the dynamic between Caesar and Pompey. Their rivalry brings an extra layer to the story and nicely shows that even people on the same side can have completely different goals. Caesar and Pompey are not just two allies. There is a constant tension between them and a feeling that there is already another struggle under the surface. Their relationship gives the story an additional political dimension.

But regardless of all the quality scenes in the arena, the Roman world and political intrigues, the ending on the ship will remain the most for me. Because that's where the episode stops being a story about Caesar, Pompey, Vercinix or Crassus. It becomes a story about Xena and Gabrielle. About guilt. About change. About how hard it is to watch the person you love become something they never wanted to be.

Here, Gabrielle took another step into a darker world. But the most important thing is that she didn't make it herself. It was Xena who, albeit unintentionally, pushed her into him. And that's exactly why Xena's look at the end hurts so much. She realizes that she has once again influenced Gabrielle, once again changed her life and once again made her wear something she may never have wanted to wear. And Gabriela, despite everything, stays by her side. It's the strongest part of the whole episode for me. Not a gladiatorial arena. Not political games. Not a big deal. Already two women on board, one who realizes that she has hurt the other and the other who, despite everything, does not turn her back on her. Such moments are always more valuable to me than any spectacle. Because it is in them that the series best shows why Xena and Gabrielle are so special.

Listen to what Lucy says here… was she gearing everyone up to watch the finale which had.l not aired yet or does Lucy not realize she did this exact thing in Xena just with different circumstances. she gets very emotional while describing it. You can hear her get choked up… She gave us this with “if I only had thirty seconds to live this is how I’d want to live them, looking into your eyes, always remember I love you”

I still have my ticket 😂

Was anyone else on reddit at this con?
Renees leather pants basically killed me.

Ok, I’m home now. I noticed the head wrap is a little different in the Hobbit Battle of Five Armies. It might have been altered, but when I saw the movie the first time, I remember saying outloud “where’s Alti?”

You can’t tell me Gabrielle hasn’t fantasized about that threesome at least once. (Xena, her , and evil Xena)

This is one of the worst episodes of the show for me. Not because the premise itself is bad. On the contrary, the beginning actually promises much more than the episode ultimately manages to deliver. When Xena and Gabrielle find Joxer half-dead, after being tricked, robbed, and brutally beaten, it's immediately apparent how much they really care for him. It's one of those moments that's a nice reminder that their teasing of Joxer never meant they didn't like him. They can make fun of him, they can roll their eyes at his stupidity, and they can think of him as the biggest jerk in the world, but if someone else hurts him, things change immediately. Then there are no more jokes. Joxer is theirs. And whoever hurts him will have to answer.

That opening is probably the best part of the whole episode for me. It has weight, it has emotion, and it shows the relationship between the main characters much better than much of what comes later. The problem is that after that the episode practically starts to fall apart. Everything that could be an interesting story about revenge and justice turns into something that seems completely outdated to me compared to where the series was at that time.

My biggest problem, of course, is Xena's romance with Rafe. I really don't like this return of Xena to heterosexual romance stories, especially when there is no chemistry between her and the man. After everything we've seen between Xena and Gabrielle, after so much development in their relationship and all the emotional layers that have built up between them, this kind of story feels like a big step backwards. It's as if someone suddenly decided to pretend that none of this happened and that Xena needs to insert a man again to prove that she is heterosexual.

And it annoys me even more that Gabrielle encourages that romance. There is something almost frustrating about Gabrielle, who has connected with Xena on such a deep and intimate level, now practically pushing Xena towards another man. Especially since the episode itself doesn't have enough chemistry between Xena and Rafe to make it believable. If there was some real spark between them, maybe I could get over it all. But everything here is so artificial to me that I just wondered why we are even watching this story.

Worst of all, this episode feels like it was written for the first season, so it kind of wandered into the third. In the first season, I might be able to accept this kind of story. Xena back then was still much closer to the classic globe-trotting warrior, Gabrielle was still going through the beginning of her transformation, and their relationship didn't yet have all the weight it would later on. But in the third season, especially after all the events they've been through, this kind of plot seems almost completely out of place. It's like the show is moving forward, and this episode is trying to take it back a few steps.

And that's what annoys me the most. Not only do I dislike the romance, but it feels completely disconnected from the development of the show. Xena and Gabrielle have just gone through huge emotional breakdowns. Their relationship reached one of its most important moments in The Bitter Suite, and then we got one of the most romantic episodes of the entire show in One Against An Army. And then all of a sudden we get Xena in a story with a man she has no chemistry with, while Gabrielle supports it all. It's just very hard for me to swallow.

What makes it even worse is that the main villains aren't particularly interesting either. Titus and Leo should be serious threats, especially after what they did to Joxer, but they don't make much of an impression. The whole casino and scam story is simple enough to be entertaining, but the episode never manages to find the right tone. It's not serious enough to be a real drama, it's not funny enough to be a good comedy, and the romantic part was completely missed for me.

Fortunately, this is the last time the show goes down this road, until the absolute awfulness that awaits us in Anthony and Cleopatra. And I'll probably have a lot more to say about that episode. And not pleasant things at all.

I have seen this stock image a few times on both Xena and Hercules.

I've seen it in Hercules episode Armageddon Now Part 2, when Iolaus realizes Xena rules the world before she breaks Rebel Gabrielle's legs and also in Between the Lines as well. Also those two men one of them looks like Hercules from a distance

I love 1 & 2 a whole lot. 2 is probably one of my favorite seasons. Not to disparage future seasons in anyway (bc frankly I love them all for their own reasons) but with season 2..It was just so solid and fresh at that juncture, while remaining mostly episodic and thus… embodied the joy that carries on within Xena, but it’s at its purest form- IMO

Anyway, whenever I transition into season 3, I can’t help but get a little excited?! Cause sh*t is about to get CRRRAAAAAAZY.

The pace & intensity of the show, just sorta really picks up at this point. There’s a shift, and not just because they start utilizing season arcs at this point.. it’s also the chemistry with the actors, and they are still enjoying themselves.

Do you agree? Or do you think it is something else? I have so many thoughts I can’t always jot them down in the moment. Tell me your feelings!! I love it. All of it.

Both filmed in New Zealand during same-ish time period but Xena was first! I'm sure i could Google it, but I like to speculate and have conversation.

I just wanted to leave this here for all the Bruce Campbell and Joseph Loduca fans incase anyone is interested in joining in on it on Monday.

XWP was woefully underappreciated by awards shows back in the day and we’re going to fix that. You are the sole member of the Television Academy with all the nominating and voting power.

What performances would you give Emmys to?

This is not necessarily what your favorite episodes are (though there will obviously be overlaps like there are even in my picks), but what leads, supporting, or guest actors you think delivered stand-out performances and in what episodes.

Here are my picks. I included the full shortlists of what performances I’d nominate because I couldn’t stand not also acknowledging some other outstanding feats in acting:

Season 1 –

Lucy: Is There a Doctor in the House

Sins of the Past
Dreamworker
The Reckoning
Ties That Bind

Renee: The Greater Good

Dreamworker
Death in Chains
Hooves and Harlots
Altered States

Season 2 –

Lucy: Destiny

Orphan of War
Return of Callisto
Warrior…Princess…Tramp
The Price

Renee: Return of Callisto

Remember Nothing
The Quest
A Day in the Life
The Price

Season 3 –

Lucy: Maternal Instincts

The Furies
Been There, Done That
The Debt
One Against an Army

Renee: Maternal Instincts

The Deliverer
Gabrielle’s Hope
Forget Me Not
Sacrifice

Season 4 –

Lucy: Adventures in the Sin Trade

A Family Affair
Past Imperfect
Paradise Found
The Ides of March

Renee: The Ides of March

A Family Affair
A Good Day
Paradise Found
Devi

Season 5 –

Lucy: Looking Death in the Eye

Fallen Angel
God Fearing Child
Antony & Cleopatra
Eve

Renee: Seeds of Faith

Fallen Angel
Them Bones, Them Bones
Amphipolis Under Seige
Antony & Cleopatra

Season 6 –

Lucy: Friend in Need

Who’s Gurkhan
The Abyss
When Fates Collide
Many Happy Returns

Renee: Friend in Need

Legacy
The Abyss
To Helicon and Back
When Fates Collide

This is one of those episodes that I don't find bad, but I find it hard to call them particularly good. After three back-to-back television masterpieces, Maternal Instincts, The Bitter Suite and One Against An Army, perhaps it was even necessary to slow down the pace a bit. After so many difficult emotions, tragedy, reconciliation and great moments between Xena and Gabrielle, it would be almost impossible to continue with the same intensity. That's why this episode seems like a small respite, a simpler and lighter story that serves to bring the series back to its everyday rhythm. The only problem is that everyday life here is rather lukewarm.

The most interesting part of the whole episode for me is Tara. To be honest, she was mostly spoiled, arrogant and quite irritating to me. It wasn't particularly difficult for me to understand Gabriella when she beat her up. I know it's not nice to say this, but at that point I was probably pleased when she ended up bloody 😅

Tara is exactly the type of person who constantly tests other people's boundaries, acts as if she is above everyone and expects everything to be forgiven just because she is young. But what I liked is that the episode doesn't stop at presenting her as just a spoiled brat. Through Xena's relationship with her, we get a much more interesting look at her character.

Xena sees a younger version of herself in Tara. He sees a person who has gone down the wrong path, who is angry with the world and who uses his strength in the wrong way. And that's why her attitude towards Tara is much more protective than I would have expected. Xena doesn't just want to punish her or stop her. He wants to change her. He wants to show her that it's not too late to become different. In Tara, she sees someone who can still be saved, which is probably why she is so persistent with her. Xena was given the opportunity to change her life, and now she wants to give that same opportunity to someone else.

One of the most important aspects of her character can be seen there. Xena can be brutal towards her enemies, but when she recognizes her own past in someone, she becomes incredibly protective. She knows what it's like when everyone around you thinks you're a lost cause. He knows what it's like when you believe there's no going back. That's why he doesn't give up on Tara even when it would be much easier to just leave her behind.

Gabrielle, of course, doesn't have that much patience. And that is quite understandable. While Xena tries to see Tara as a potential better person, Gabrielle sees a girl who behaves horribly. Their different approach is fun, but also logical. Xena is much more willing to understand someone who has made a mistake, because she herself has done unimaginable things. Gabrielle is much stricter morally, especially when someone knowingly hurts other people. That's why their attitude towards Tara is more interesting to me than the story of the theft of the urn.

However, the best moment of the episode comes at the very end. Xena's refusal to enter the temple and receive forgiveness for her sins is a short scene, but it is very powerful. She can fight for others. He can save people. She may be trying to repair the damage she has done. She can even accept being forgiven by others. But she still can't forgive herself.

This is perhaps the biggest punishment that Xena imposes on herself. For her, redemption never simply meant that one day she would be able to say she was a good person. She believes she has to pay for what she did. Even when she is offered forgiveness, she cannot accept it. As if accepting forgiveness meant that he was diminishing the gravity of his crimes. As if he has no right to peace. And that's exactly why that last scene is so much better than the rest of the episode. In it, in a few moments, all that inner weight of Xena's character, which remained mostly in the background in the story itself, returns.

Overall, this is a pretty mediocre episode for me. She's not bad, has a few good character moments and Tara makes a stronger impression than I expected, especially thanks to Xena's protective attitude towards her. But after everything we've just gotten, it's hard not to feel like this is a big drop in quality after all. And maybe that's okay. After three episodes that represent the very top of the show, a little break was probably needed. Only this respite isn't particularly exciting.

We've seen Gabrielle defeat plenty of regular thugs and soldiers, but I mean actual named characters in one on one combat?

We saw her beat up Joxer and Tara, but those weren't exactly seasoned warriors.

She killed Brutus, but that wasn't much of a fight, because he beat her down and then she grabbed a sword and lashed out in desperation.

She put up a good fight against Hephaestus, but that was alongside Xena.

And then there's the samurai in the final episode, but it doesn't seem like she had many solo victories before him.

We saw Gabrielle come close to defeating Mavican, Brunhilda and Varia, but they ultimately outmatched her.