Amac Productions

This episode has some of the best quotes.

“Wisdom before weapons.” – Xena

“Like your breasts aren’t dangerous enough.” – Gabrielle

“It may look as it did before, but it’s forever changed.” – Xena

Okay, now someone has to tell me, how did that second one there get on air, and people still thought they were straight?

I was not expecting to be hit with the little baby gay vibes from Gabrielle only three episodes in, but hey! I’m not going to complain.

Her silly little walk when she had the breast dagger in her shirt killed me.

She’s so ridiculous and naive.

Which is perfect next to the very serious and somber Xena trying to come to terms with who she used to be.

I love the little differences between them.

I also love that Xena insists that Gabrielle use her brain and mouth to get herself out of dangerous situations.

The opening scene is one moment I truly want to focus on because it felt like so much set-up and foreshadowing.

Up until now, I said it would be useful for Gabrielle to learn to defend herself and when would we see it. Also I wondered if Xena would be annoyed having to constantly defend her companion.

Yet here, we find some answers.

Gabrielle wants to learn.

We even see her using Xena’s sword in a pretend battle with a tree. One that makes it clear she’s supposed to look like a little kid playing with their parents’ stuff.

Not to say that Xena and Gabrielle have a parental type of relationship. More to say that the sword is big and clunky and doesn’t fit her well.

Xena admonishes her and insists on not teaching her to use the sword.

So, no, Xena doesn’t mind defending her companion all the time.

And we discover why when she’s in her dreamscape. She doesn’t want Gabrielle to be like her. She doesn’t want her to kill people and be haunted.

So when Gabrielle says she only wants to survive, Xena lays down the rules for her.

And then quickly tosses them out the window for herself.

I love that we see Xena insist Gabrielle not use weapons and people are too quick to go for their sword and that’s exactly what Xena does when confronted by highway robbers. She just pulls a weapon.

Do as I say, not as I do sort of moment from Xena there.

Also, it illustrates how Xena sees herself vs Gabrielle.

She believes it’s too late for herself in some ways.

Xena is trying to make amends for her past, but I don’t think she’ll ever come to a point where she’s satisfied with the good she’s done to outweigh the bad.

Whereas with Gabrielle she hasn’t lost her ‘blood innocence’ yet.

It’s not too late for Gabrielle to make better choices than Xena did.

I think it’s interesting too in this episode that Xena doesn’t mind being the one to fend for their lives. She’s not upset by having to kill or risk her life on behalf of her innocent and naive companion.

Instead, she seems bent on keeping her safe.

Keeping her young and innocent.

Keeping her good.

And allowing that good into her life.

Here we see Xena care and worry about Gabrielle. She chases after her friend, damning the consequences. Showing how much, already, Gabrielle means to her.

And that she takes her safety very seriously.

I think at this point, Xena views Gabrielle with all the good things she lost.

And she’s determined to keep Gabrielle from falling into the trappings she did. She wants her to remain a good person.

Right now, she’s content with having that light in her life.

Someone who brightens her day by chatting endlessly or goofing around with her sword or buying weapons when she shouldn’t.

She enjoys having a friend.

She requires nothing more from her.

I think in some ways it surprised Xena how terrified she was to not make it to Gabrielle in time, but I don’t think we’re at full blown love yet.

Also, I adored the scene at the end.

The whole description of the river being forever changed was perfect. Because it’s true.

Even though Xena is calm now, doesn’t mean what she did isn’t still with her every day. Something she doesn’t want for Gabrielle.

I did love the scene with the two Xenas fighting.

Lucy did an amazing job.

But also, I loved that scene for what it taught Xena. She is who she is, because of who she was.

Good cannot exist without evil.

Xena can fight evil because she was evil. She knows what they think, how they work, and it gives her an edge over people like Hercules who have never fallen into darkness.

I think it was a great moment.

Also, her entire dreamscape proved how dedicated she is at this moment in her life to being a better person. She wasn’t even truly tempted to fall back into old patterns.

It’s that moment when you resolve to do something and your resolve is never stronger than that moment. I don’t believe it will last.

Xena will be tempted back into old patterns somewhere. Because let’s face it, that’s what makes her interesting. Watching her resist and push away the darkness.

It’s what makes Hercules fall flat. He has no depth, while Xena has it in spades.

Overall, I loved this episode.

It’s a great set-up for future arcs.

I’m sure Gabrielle’s blood innocence will come back into play, as well as Xena’s temptation. Not to mention, this episode gives us great comparisons for future eps when I sure Gabrielle will be in danger again. We’ll get to see how Xena’s reactions change as her feelings for Gabrielle deepen.

One thing I hope never changes is Gabrielle’s ability to talk her way out of things.

I simply adored those scenes when she pits everyone else against each other, evading killing anyone. It was genius.

Loved it.

As always, thanks for reading! See you next week for episode four of Xena!

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