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There is so much happening in this episode!

The villain isn’t really all that frightening, but the thing is I can see how much he’s been built up in Xena and Toris’ eyes over the years. Everything felt bigger and more serious when you’re just a kid. Especially a frightened one.

So to have Cortese a spoiled shaking mess of a man, I really loved that. Never meet your heroes, or your villains. I love that little detail.

But I also found this episode hilariously paired with the last episode.

We were literally talking about ending the cycle of hatred and violence. How warlords tend to create one another and then we move on to meet Cortese. The reason Xena became a warlord in the first place.

They were just not wasting time in the writer’s room.

Okay, so we had Callisto, right? And we discussed how evil makes more evil? How hate brings more hate? Let’s just keep that theme going and move straight into the warlord who created Xena and we’ll put her in Callisto’s shoes.

Excellent. Let’s do it!

And they did.

I love that.

It’s so wonderfully on the nose while still somewhat nuanced fun as well.

Because Xena’s response to Cortese isn’t joy, but she wants to stop him. There’s no sign or thought that she’s going to kill him. Her reaction is different that Callisto.

While Xena has been searching for Cortese, she didn’t draw him out by using his name, and reputation against him.

Which side note was damn brilliant by Callisto. Just saying.

She stumbled across him by accident because his goons were trying to kill him.

Also Cortese that was stupid. She had no idea that you were there until you sent men with your masks to kill her. Don’t wake the sleeping bear, you idiot.

Like his plan to terrorize a place and be the king wasn’t terrible, but it was unsustainable. He’s not terribly stupid, but he’s not Xena or Callisto levels of intelligence either.

They’re both slick and smart. This guy is looking for brute force and strength and laziness to be his best assets. Except now, those things won’t work against Xena. She’s grown, she’s smart.

Her biggest problem this episode is her brother.

He doesn’t listen to her experience and gets himself in trouble. A lot.

And for the first time, we learn that Xena has two brothers. One who stood by her and fought and died during the siege of her village and one who left afraid to die.

Toris presents an interesting foil for Xena.

He’s not like her and their younger brother.

He’s worried at every turn and doesn’t understand people like her, or their brother, or Gabrielle.

As he points out, he thought Gabrielle was following Xena blindly and that Xena was turning her into something she’s not. Except he’s wrong and realizes it.

Gabrielle is brave because that’s how she is.

That’s how Xena is.

How their brother was.

How the people of their village were as well.

They stood and fought for their lives, for family, and for their homes. Something he doesn’t understand. To him, it was safer and better to run and hide. Let them destroy or take what they want. It’s just stuff. As long as they’re alive.

He thinks Xena turned their people into warriors.

But she didn’t. Just as she’s not doing to Gabrielle.

Gabrielle has made an active choice not to kill or truly become a warrior like Xena. And while that most certainly will not last given the amount of violence they find together, Xena helps her on that journey. She does the hard stuff. She takes the biggest risks. She protects Gabrielle.

And while Gabrielle does come off as naive at times, she’s not as naive as she was at the start. She understands Xena. They’re friends.

They don’t just put up with each other. They love each other and care about each other.

And the more time Toris spends with them, he can see it.

Especially in my favorite scene of the episode when Gabrielle tells Xena off. She has no qualms about looking this badass in the face and telling her off. Listen here you former warlord that most people are still terrified of and rightly so as I am your moral compass a lot of the time, I will not be sidelined just because you think it’s too dangerous. I am going with you, end of discussion.

And the look on Xena’s face.

She was downright giddy by Gabrielle’s reaction.

So the more I think about that moment, the more I wonder if Xena has been waiting for this all season. She’s been sending Gabrielle away a lot to protect her. I wonder if Xena was just waiting for the moment when Gabrielle realized she didn’t have to listen. Or could choose to say no to Xena.

She was so proud and amused. I loved that moment.

It’s like housecat yelling at a tiger.

Then there’s Toris who’s utterly confused by the exchange. Like did she just? She…? What did I just witness?

You witnessed the only person in the world who could yell at Xena like that and not get threatened or murdered. Instead, Xena turns into the proudest wifey on the planet.

I liked the intro of Xena’s brother, it was good, and interesting to see how they worked together, and how things have changed over the years. While some things stay the same, like smacking people in the butt with cloth. True sibling action there.

But the best moments were all the little ones that amount to some fun bits of information between Xena and Gabrielle.

The start of the episode is another example of how far Gabrielle has come. She manages to take down one of the man all on her own.

Xena hearing the struggle, rushes to help Gabrielle only to find she’s not needed, and comments on such, amused.

Gabrielle fully capable of handling it, does ask her to stick close just in case. Which I love.

I loved the little moment in the middle of battle. Xena’s worry for Gabrielle that temporaily made her forget about the mask. Her friend’s life and safety were far more important than anything.

Only to arrive to help and see that Gabrielle has this under control.

She’s proud and impressed in that moment. It’s sweet and cute. Because she’s all excited over how far her friend has come but is unbothered that she may need to step in.

Gabrielle asks her to stick close and Xena does.

Honestly, you’d think Xena would be more of a harsh teacher given her background, but she’s actually incredibly sweet with Gabrielle.

Even at the opening when they’re discussing catching arrows.

Xena is patiently and calming explaining how.

Only for Gabrielle to successfully save Xena for once. Though I did note Xena had her hand up, the surprise and shock of Gabrielle willingly helping her is something I noted. It’s probably been a long time since anyone who knew her so well, saved her life for a change.

She even takes a moment to praise her. Her tone soft and warm, before she tells her to get down.

Then Gabrielle attempts to repeat the outcome throughout the episode and cannot. Even asking Xena how many arrows she could catch if she shot ten at her. Xena reminds her calmly that it’s not a game, by pointing out it would only take one.

Listening to Xena’s very serious advice she continues practicing. Even around Toris.

Leading to another favorite line when Gabrielle asks how many people are in the camp, to which she practically scoffs at the number. She’ll be fine. Then demonstrates proper concern for Toris, giving him shit, and not even really caring about the answers. Because Xena is back, therefore she is fine.

It also demonstrates how differently Gabrielle is to Xena.

She and her brother fight a lot. Sure, there’s love underneath it all. But they barely agree on anything. They don’t trust each other. Not really. Throughout the entire mission, they’re on separate pages, trying to keep the other from getting in the way or doing something stupid.

Whereas Gabrielle and Xena are on the same page.

Gabrielle works on her training. Knows what Xena is saying when she’s not saying it, or even finishes her sentences. They work well and easily together. There’s a bond, a trust between them.

One Toris sees.

As he realizes Gabrielle isn’t following blindly. She understands what’s happening around her, but trusts in Xena’s choices to keep them safe. Trusts in herself that she can help because of what she’s learned traveling with Xena.

It’s an interesting dynamic we’re shown.

Because Gabrielle and Xena work so seamlessly together, even when they bicker or disagree. There’s not much tension to it.

Unlike Xena and her brother.

Also, indicating that they don’t really look at each other like siblings.

They both have siblings, but neither equates their relationship like sibling ones.

Even last episode. Xena mentions her mother, a love interest, and Gabrielle as reasons she would slip into darkness. Neither of her brothers are listed though.

What does that say?

Well, it says the writers are doing a pretty good job of making these two ladies gay AF for each other.

Overall, I enjoyed this episode.

I liked Callisto better as a villain, but I like that this one wasn’t all he was cracked up to be as I said before – as kids things tend to get blown out of proportion with reality. Excellent detail.

However, for a character driven story, this was perfect. I loved every minute of it and I hope we see Toris again!

Thanks for reading! What are your thoughts on this episode?

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