I apologize for the lack of review this week. My girlfriend and I have been unable to coordinate our schedules to watch the next episode together. So instead of a review, let’s talk about why Xena is one of the best shows in the world.
90s Glory
It’s everything that was amazing about the 90s. Wacky plotlines, sound effects, stories with a lot of heart one moment, and then goofy stuff the next.
Like an episode of Xena and Gabrielle being goofy with each other. Playing random games together as they travel, fight about the broken frying pan.
Then heart wrenching stuff like learning to love yourself and exactly how important it is.
Everything about this show is hokey and weird and crazy.
I love it.
The ridiculous hair. Plotlines. Goofy stories. But the best thing is the how much heart goes into this show. The love of the actors and writers is immense. But they also just strive to have a good time and tell a good story. Whether it’s silly or serious.
Whether someone is losing their mind or defending their village.
It’s Gay
The bond between Gabrielle and Xena is unlike anything else. These two are amazing together. The actresses are amazing. They have such a love for their characters.
The story between them is the best thing the show has to offer. Every episode is filled with a lot of heart. Their relationship often takes center stage. As far as I’m concerned, I often think it’s gayer than anything we see on TV now.
For the first two seasons and handful of season three episodes I’ve watched, we’ve watched Xena and Gabrielle grow closer and closer together. To the point where I’m not sure they could ever live without each other anymore.
Xena literally opted into being cursed forever rather than be without Gabrielle.
Gabrielle left her home behind to travel the world with Xena. Not once, but twice. We’re treated to wonderful moments like in ‘A Day in the Life.’ Which is an absolute favorite of mine.
Followed by Gabrielle being the only thing that keeps Xena from slipping further and further into her darkness. Like in late season two when they’re being attacked by the hoard. Xena nearly loses herself to her dark side once more to save them, but ultimately it’s Gabrielle who reminds her that is no longer who she is. Nor who she wishes to be.
Character Growth
Both Xena and Gabrielle have character growing arcs unlike anything we see on TV now and I love it so much.
Gabrielle goes from this naive girl who doesn’t understand why Xena is so averse to teaching her to use a sword, to actively understanding and choosing that she does not wish to kill. She understands violence and anger but refuses to give into them.
Episode one introduces us to a Gabrielle that wishes she could stand up to the bad guys like Xena does, but is physically unable to. About 18 episodes later or so, she handles rescuing her village with only minor help in doing so. Combining not only the talent she already possessed to talk and persuade people with fighting and tactical know how she learned from Xena.
Gabrielle becomes more than capable to handling herself so well that several times she proves she no longer needs Xena to rescue her mid fight. She can handle herself. Xena even entrusts her son’s safety to Gabrielle illustrating exactly how far she has come.
This carries on in other ways as well. Her abilities as a bard grow, telling the tale of the legendary Xena, and increasing her reputation. Her understanding of the world and people. She shakes off the naive version of herself and becomes an adult. More serious and worldly without losing herself.
Xena on the flip side, begins the series stoic and sullen. Wishing for it all to end until Gabrielle inspires her to stand up again. I’ve said it many times, in many reviews, I think Xena looks at Gabrielle and believes everything about her is what she’s protecting.
The person Xena was never able to be.
The person Xena doesn’t want Gabrielle to lose.
That other people shouldn’t lose.
There’s definitely a part of her that believes the world is just better off with Gabrielle’s existence in it regardless of whether Xena lives or dies. She would happily sacrifice herself for her. Every time.
But we see Xena changes as well. In season one she’s holding tightly to her reins, she sly, and cunning. But she knows how easily she can slip into darkness and doesn’t want that for herself or the world anymore. So she’s holding herself tightly, keeping her darkness under wraps.
However, she loosens up as time goes by. She smiles and jokes with Gabrielle unlike with anyone else. Which eventually translates into looking less pissed all the time. She enjoys her life more.
Instead of believing she needs to atone every moment and always be miserable she takes pieces of life for herself.
She plays with her Chakram. Plays games with Gabrielle. Splashes her in the tub. Takes it all in stride as Gabrielle tries to sneak attack her. All day.
She finds it amusing. Goes from seemingly annoyed that Gabrielle never stops talking to smile happily while she does so. Accurately predicting Gabrielle’s silly moves before she does them and even adding her own. Like when they race and Gabrielle cheats, Xena shows off.
She loses a lot of the armor she’s carried for so long. Allowing herself to be silly and happy and laugh and love.
Gabrielle drew out the joy, making Xena sillier and goofier.
Xena shows Gabrielle the world, helps her become more serious and less naive.
Final Thoughts
This may be quite literally the most perfect show in all existence. I haven’t seen it all yet, but I’m excited to see what happens next.
Music. Sound effects. The over-the-top action scenes. Xena’s signature call. Gabrielle being a bard. Everything about it is perfect. The love story, because yes this is a love story. I don’t know another way to interpret it.
I love the gods. All the actors. I love the random plotlines like Xena going blind and Gabrielle being forced to marry a dead king. The plotline where we have a pageant. Literally every time that dude shows up, I know I’m in for a good episode.
Ares! What is there to not love about Ares? He’s a perfect love-to-hate character who wants Xena but is pretty much always competing with Gabrielle. And losing. And no matter how many times he tries, it’s always fun to watch Ares fail in new and exciting ways.
Random episodes where everyone falls in love.
Joxer. I even like Joxer. Because they managed to add a male to the cast without adding a man to the storyline for the women to fall in love with. He satisfies the male quota for the show without ever being a threat. He never steals the show. He may be in love with Gabrielle, but she has no clue, and will never be interested. He’s a doof.
And making me feel for him after being so annoyed with his existence is impressive to me.
Somehow, he’s kind of, maybe, sort of growing on me. A little.
This show manages to make every episode interesting. Even the not so interesting ones where we’re a little Xena light. Or ones where Gabrielle and Xena spend most of it apart. This show never fails to deliver a good time. You can pretty much watch any episode and enjoy yourself.
It’s lovely.
Thus, if you’ve never watched it, you should fix that. And if you have, you should watch it again and read my reviews, then chat about it with me. I’d love to hear others’ thoughts on the show! Especially people who have discovered it later in their life like I have!
Thank you for reading! Spread the love and read on!
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