Amac Productions

I feel like a broken record at this point, but this shit is GAY!!

Like super gay!

Like Kristen Stewart and Aubrey Plaza driving a Subaru, dressed in flannel, and headed to Ikea sort of gay.

I mean, they’re not even trying to hide it anymore.

This entire episode is just… Fanfic! Come to life. Like they writers’ room had to have been overtaken by the gays or something. Thats’s the only reasonable explanation for this episode.

Because if you continue to try to tell me that this aired on TV, in the 90s, and no one batted an eye. Like damn, straight people’s power to write anything off as platonic knows no bounds.

Xena was literally ready to give up her sight in this episode to rescue Gabrielle.

Her sight.

Let me say that again, just in case it’s not sinking in properly. HER SIGHT.

You know, the thing that helps keep her alive.

Because let’s face it, not everyone is going to be as soft as this wannabe warlord, who by the end of the episode no longer wants to be a warlord. Most people would have stabbed her in the back or let her fall to her death if they were truly what they said they were in this case.

Any warlord would have taken the chance gifted to them.

No matter what.

Xena dead is better for them.

Regardless of the how or why.

Not everyone would kindly wait for her sight to be returned to her for a fair fight.

Most people would just kill her. Something that would be wayyyyy easier without her eyes. Like just imagine that for a second?

I’m sure someone like Xena will learn and grow and compensate quickly for the loss. But I doubt it’ll ever be enough for her to continue to be a warrior. As skilled and undefeated as she is.

It would be incredibly hard for her.

And it would also open her up to being a target for all the people who want her dead. To think that she’s vulnerable. People would line up for a shot at her.

As clearly demonstrated in this episode itself as well considering she lost her sword and used the wannabe several times to find her way or keep herself safe.

Sure, she still managed to use her Chakram, but he told her how many people were there. He guided her through the castle.

He got her there safely.

Ultimately, even with help Xena would be handicapped.

And in a time where the world definitely isn’t concerned about people with disabilities. Hell, we have trouble with that shit now.

Xena was willing to sacrifice all of it. For Gabrielle.

That’s gay.

That’s love right there.

Some serious love there.

So much so, that wannabe felt the urge to excuse himself the minute they reunited. He literally coughed like he was interrupting a tender reunion between lovers and disappeared.

Because he was.

There is no other explanation for it.

There is also no other way to interpret it, if you’re wannabe.

He even comments on it, that Gabrielle must be some friend if she’s worth all this.

Something that Xena answers plainly that she is everything to her.

Well shit.

What else do you do with that?

I mean, would you risk your eyesight for a friend? Would you do so that intensely? Would you risk everything?

I’m curious.

Also, particularly from the straight people. Would you do that for your ‘best friend?’

You might want to examine that closer. Just saying.

Now as for the other side of things, we have Gabrielle. Who has not only been kidnapped and sold and someone is planning her murder, she’s being annoyed by the guy teaching her to walk upright.

Or balance weird shit on her head.

Like she’s not having a hard enough day?

But I suppose none of that matters.

I mean, we could talk about it. But I want to talk about what she tells him about not being able to be with the person she loves right now. Which is her reasoning for not being able to be with the king, because she can’t imagine being with anyone else.

For the straight audience and the network executives who watched this all those years ago I’m sure you’re thinking about Perdicas. Right? Was that the husband?

Who didn’t make it out of the episode he married Gabrielle alive? That one. Remember him?

I wouldn’t blame you, if you didn’t.

I forgot about him until this episode. As he was a token mention for the people who wanted to pretend there was nothing more between Gabrielle and Xena than friendship.

Except, the way it’s said.

It’s soft.

Almost quiet and he’s never truly mentioned by name. He’s alluded to.

There might be a gender in there, but you’d have to turn the volume up to the max to truly hear it.

Honestly, considering how unimportant her husband was to the grand scheme of things, I thought of Xena when she said it. Until I remembered the husband. I think my girlfriend had to point it out to me.

Because otherwise, that same sentence fits with Xena as well.

Given that they literally cannot be together right now given that Gabrielle has been kidnapped.

Not to mention, being unable to imagine being with anyone else.

Her heart belongs to another.

But the another is never really mentioned.

Honestly, maybe she married Perdicas just to have moments like this, where the writers could plausibly deny that they were talking about Xena. No, she’s talking about the husband. Remember him? He died. How sad.

But she never says his name here.

She refers to another.

Someone she loves.

But not by name.

Allowing the audience to draw whatever context they want.

The straights have a husband to cling to. While the gayer audience knows the truth. She’s talking about Xena. Her wife.

Because there’s no other explanation when you look at the big picture here. Not really.

If you want to delude yourself, you feel free.

But moments like Xena breathing a sigh of relief like there was no tomorrow when she saw Gabrielle’s face again. “There’s a sight for sore eyes.”

That’s a line used romantically more often than not.

You ever said that to a friend?

Ever seen it said amongst friends on TV?

Doubt it.

Even the other dude is gay. And he wanted wannabe. He thought he was cute. He had a love who is never mentioned by gender either.

This show skirted around the edges of everything so perfectly well in the 90s. Able to deny anything gay if needed while leaving the door open for us to interpret it how we want. Read between the lines and know there’s more than meets the eye here.

I love it.

I love how well it’s crafted.

Allowing the audience to draw conclusions based on what they’re given. Allowing them an out merely to keep them on the air to keep feeding the gays even 20 to 30 years later.

Because suffice to say, this is still some of the best representations I’ve ever seen.

They’re trying so hard to be what this audience was never given before.

Now, current writers! Take notes! This is a masterclass in a gay marriage right here!

And I’ve been forewarned that the next episode is one of the ones they used to balance out the gay. So, can’t wait to see how that goes.

Thanks for reading!

Spread the love and read on!