Amac Productions

Before this episode, A Day in the Life was my favorite.

I am a sucker for domestic moments.

Any of them. Give it all to me. I love it and always will. Which A Day in the Life was jampacked with. And I still love that episode, but this one might be my new favorite for domestic bliss.

This entire episode like A Day in the Life, hinges on the chemistry and relationship between Xena and Gabrielle.

There’s little fanfare.

Tiny moments and blips with plot going on and a big fight, but it’s not really the point of the episode. Instead, the point of the episode is to focus on the main characters and their dynamic with each other.

A Day in the Life focus on the lighter moments, along with troubles of constantly being around just one person. How they pass their time when they’re not fighting. The little arguments that come with sharing a life together.

This episode focus on the newly reformed relationship and this comfort that comes with knowing that this person has seen the utter worst of you and chooses you regardless.

They’ve been at the very bottom. Trying to murder each other just last episode only to come out of the last episode stronger than ever before and this episode proves my theory that nothing will ever be able to stand against them again.

Xena and Gabrielle are faced with a literal army, odds stacked heavily against them, and one of them completely out of commission while they try to save Greece.

Xena is faced with the prospect of choosing between the greater good and Gabrielle.

A choice that is simple to her most days if it’s between herself and the greater good. Although, I suppose the choice is still easy for Xena. She chooses Gabrielle.

Refusing – twice – to live in a world without Gabrielle.

Twice.

Xena attempts to let Greece burn to the ground twice in order to save Gabrielle. The blonde even points out during the second conversation that they had already discussed this.

While we’ve known that Xena would choose Gabrielle over most things, in this episode it’s put to a test on the heels of nearly losing each other for good. Xena is unwilling to accept a fate where Gabrielle dies for any reason. Even the greater good.

Why?

Because Gabrielle’s her friend?

YES.

It’s that simple as Xena answers easily and smoothly.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle doesn’t want Greece to fall on her behalf. Not when they could do something about it. Spending most of her time awake and coherent convincing Xena not to abandon her plans to save Greece just to get Gabrielle the antidote.

I love this episode.

We get so many wonderful moments.

Xena wanting to let everything burn to the ground to save Gabrielle.

Her constant assurances in her silence that she’s unbothered that Gabrielle hurt herself at the start of the episode. Gabrielle blames herself for being no help, but Xena never adds onto the guilt. Even if she thinks it, which we never really see even from Lucy Lawless. Xena just accepts things as they are and keeps moving forward, problem solving as she goes.

Her comfort. She keeps her comfort and calm as she keeps Gabrielle safe. Or when she needs to do something terrible like pull out an arrow or burn it the wound shut. She brings her a mountain of pillows and blankets for her to rest comfortably on while she prepares.

Does everything in her power to be there for Gabrielle.

Comfort her as she coughs up blood.

Gabrielle – on the other hand – assures Xena that she made peace with the possibility of death when she joined Xena all those years ago.

Tries to protect Xena in her own small way. Keeps her focused on the goal of saving the world.

And I love when she does convince Xena to stand and fight no matter what, I love that Xena seemingly decides that she’ll fall in battle. Regardless of the outcome of the day, they would be together.

In life, or death.

We meet a new Xena and Gabrielle in this episode.

They’re firmer than ever in their course to be together. It’s all they want. Forget the past or anything else. Whatever they decide, wherever they go, they’re going to do it together.

If Gabrielle will not live to see morning, neither will Xena.

Though Xena’s brain never quite lets her stop thinking up ways to save Gabrielle and if Gabrielle lives, so must she.

Their bond is stronger than ever.

Xena watches over her while she sleeps. Talking to her when she hallucinates. They want so much to be more like the other. A fact Xena has never admitted out loud before. Gives Gabrielle something to do in the fight so she doesn’t feel left out.

Gabrielle awakes from her nightmare to find Xena sleeping and brushes her hair while looking at her so softly, it’s ridiculous. It’s tender and sweet.

A couple so sure of their affection and choice to be together that they know nothing will ever separate them. Not death. Not an army. Nothing. Not poison. Or traitors. Dreams or nightmares. It does not matter what they face down as long as they face it down together.

I f*cking love this episode.

The little bickering back and forth at the start of the episode. Lucy’s face when Xena says, ‘and you failed.’ She’s just so damn smug and in love.

Gabrielle refusing to admit she messed up until she worries it’s put them in too much danger. Though Xena never cares. Just moving forward as she always has. Never caring if having Gabrielle around means more danger.

She accepted that fact, much like Gabrielle accepting that death could happen.

To each of them, having the other outweighs the potential cost.

It’s irrelevant compared to what the other brings to their life. The joy. The happiness. Comfort. Love.

Not long ago, Xena didn’t joke like she does now. The opening of the episode, rolling her eyes but indulging Gabrielle. Teasing her that she got it wrong while also being completed worried about her. Doing whatever she must to help her heal properly.

Gabrielle – meanwhile – despite everything going on around her giving Xena sh*t about her boots.

Thinking that the entire thing was just an elaborate ploy to get out of getting her new boots. Only to end the episode with Gabrielle reminding Xena that she owes her boots when they get to the next city.

I loved that moment so much.

So married for 30 years coded.

Xena just humming, like yes dear. I remember.

Because she will get her boots. That’s not an issue. More like, honey, why are you bringing this up at the weirdest times?

I wouldn’t have been surprised if Gabrielle told Xena she couldn’t die because she needed to get Gabrielle new boots.

This is also one of the first times we hear Xena truly talk about the future. It’s a subject she’s very non-committal to. Othering than acknowledging it exists, she’s always appeared more concerned with Gabrielle having one than herself.

However, in this episode she mentions that Gabrielle can tell her, her final request when they’re old and gray.

Both of them.

It’s the first time I can remember Xena wanting a long life or future.

Making last episode even more profound, because not only has Xena regained her relationship with Gabrielle, she sees herself in this for the long haul. Not as long as she’s alive and can manage to be there. But until they’re both old and gray, still together.

I love that growth for her.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle appears more comfortable than ever with Xena.

There’s no more tiptoeing ever because what if she says the wrong thing and Xena’s just had enough of her. They’ve gone through the worst and come out the other side stronger than before.

She can give Xena sh*t. Argue back without any fear. Stand completely toe to toe with Xena and know the other woman will and has to listen to her. Because they’ve made a choice. One neither of them are going back on.

They know this in their very bones now.

They will always choose each other. No matter how dark things get. No matter what happens. The other choice is simply unacceptable.

Which means no matter what one says or does, they have to work through it.

It means Xena can show the worst side of herself. The one that will choose Gabrielle over everything and everyone no matter what she’s said before. There is no greater good without Gabrielle.

It means Gabrielle can snap at her and tell her she’s being selfish or ridiculous and that she must respect Gabrielle’s choices when it comes to her life. She gets a say. Xena can’t just decide for her.

They can lay it all out on the table and come to a conclusion.

Fine. Gabrielle won’t let her save her life. Then they die together. Simple.

Whatever they decide, they do it together. They protect each other.

Even though Xena wants it to be their final stand, it doesn’t stop Gabrielle from telling her to watch her back when a guy comes crashing through the ceiling.

It doesn’t stop her from dropping the oil to help Xena.

It doesn’t stop Xena from stopping her from being stabbed. Or continuing to look for a way to save them both by finding the antidote. Because they must have one, just in case something happens.

And they do.

Honestly, I don’t think there are enough words or time on the planet to tell you how much I enjoyed this episode. It was funny, heartwarming, perfect, and wonderfully silly in only the way this show can manage while still making it emotionally amazing.

This was such a satisfying watch after all the angst we’ve gone through.

To have them firmly, truly, and completely back on each other’s team and side with no doubts about where they stand or how they feel about each other. This episode was a true example of how they’ve decided to move forward with this relationship, built on an even stronger foundation than the one they started with.

I love these writers.

I love the actors for all their little choices.

For Renee with her soft look when she strokes Xena’s hair while she sleeps. Xena’s pacing. Her snap when she said it was different because this was Gabrielle. The way Xena is just wrecked at the end of the episode and collapses into bed with Gabrielle while the blonde continues to bemoan her lost boots.

Everything is simply perfect.

A wonderful example of a settled couple that knows there is nothing in the world that can break them apart because they’ve already faced the worst and are still standing strong.

Love it.

Can’t wait to see what happens next! Drop me a comment about your thoughts on this episode!

Thanks for reading! Spread the love and read on!