Warriors&Wine

W&W recap: 1x23, Death Mask

Gabrielle: Oh no. No, no- that’s your way of saying, ‘It’s too dangerous to be around me right now, Gabrielle.’ Well, have you ever considered that there isn’t a safe time to be around you? Now, that village doesn’t need my help, but you might, and I’m going with you. Now, if that’s all, I’ll just be practicing with my staff - end of discussion. Sorry you had to witness that, Toris.

W&W commentary: so one big complaint from w&w about this episode was that there were SO MANY GROSS DUDES. I mean, Toris was… alright? kind of a bad actor, and the mullet was unfortunate, but both the king and the warlord gave us the creeps and we felt like we needed to take showers afterwards and/or watch bathtub X&G scenes. a gem of a quote from Cait: “if I lived in Ancient Greece I would be a lesbian!” well, Cait, you already are a lesbian… we really liked the moment where Gabrielle leaves Xena to talk with her brother and she touches Xena’s arm briefly in concern/affection. it was very sweet and unassuming. finally, we were pissed because we JUST had an episode where Xena realized her relationship with Gabrielle transcended family, and now we have an episode all about the importance of traditional family relationships. son of a griffin.  

Rebekah commentary: so even though I think this character comparison was more about Toris’ struggle with his cowardice, I like that Toris at first suspected that Xena was doing to Gabrielle what Xena had done to her village—turn them into warlords. but later Toris realizes that no, actually this is just the way Gabrielle is—she is brave because that’s who she is. I like that insight into her character and I think it explains why she’s so drawn to Xena. in later seasons I feel like her “goodness” gets way over-emphasized, so in this earlier episode I appreciate another quality of hers being acknowledged. 

Cait commentary: I love Gabrielle standing up to Xena in this episode. She certainly has before, but I liked her specifically calling Xena out for wanting, yet again, to leave her behind. And I think that it’s important that Gabrielle recognizes that it’s not always safe to be around Xena, but that it’s ultimately her choice and Xena cannot make these decisions for her. You can also tell that Xena is amused by Gabrielle’s outburst - she has this little smile after Gabrielle storms off. I also think that she respects Gabrielle for it, and that she’s glad Gabrielle is standing up for herself more and more - even if it means standing up to Xena herself. Also, there is a small window into the evident hero worship that Gabrielle has for Xena in season 1- you can see it when she is discussing Xena with Toris. She is just so sure of everything Xena does and talks about her with this level of awe. It’s really sweet. I think having Toris there was a type of outlet for that - because really Gabrielle has not been able to discuss her adventures/experiences with Xena to anyone that really knew Xena before, and that must be a bit lonely in a way. If only Toris wasn’t such a dumbass, there could have been a really touching scene.

W&W recap: 1x21, The Greater Good

Gabrielle: It’s just what happens with things that you love. Sometimes they just leave you.

W&W commentary: so one thing we discussed in this episode is how this is maybe the first time that the prospect of losing one another is a HUGE, devastating deal for Xena and Gabrielle. granted that the loss in previous episodes has not been death (except for maybe Prometheus) but in this episode the idea of Xena dying is so. fundamentally dismantling to Gabrielle that it’s obvious their relationship has become very serious. we also analyzed what Gabrielle was trying to communicate to Xena when she told the story of her pony that she lost. Cait pointed out it’s a way that Gabrielle tells Xena she loves her without saying it directly. finally, we would like to conclude that W&W will be taking the official stance that we do NOT support the greater good as a concept because it is always at the expense of Gabrielle’s and Xena’s relationship. NOT COOL.

Rebekah commentary: so this episode was kind of painful for me because we get the very first glimpse of a more hardened Gabrielle. when she believes that Xena has died, it’s almost like this mask goes over her face, and she’s taking charge and figuring out how to defend the town from the warlords in this very no-nonsense way. her voice changes and she’s no longer this innocent/helpless/chatty little girl. and along a different line it was painful to see that when Gabrielle thinks she has lost Xena, she has that moment where she just fucking loses it, and has a mental breakdown—and I was thinking about this in contract to (spoiler alert…) when she loses Xena in FIN, where she accepts it and remains strong the whole time and does not allow herself any moments of devastation. so that somehow this changed, that she learned how to deal with loss in a more accepting way—I suppose it’s ultimately good, but I DON’T LIKE IT. I wish at least PART of the Gabrielle-innocent-little-girl had stuck around, because as is evidence in this episode, she can be both! and both are important parts of her. 

Cait commentary: This episode is incredibly intense. It is definitely my favorite episode in season one, and one of my favorites overall. As we said, it really is the first time that Xena and Gabrielle come face to face with losing each other. And the emotion in the episode is so real, on both sides. There is this moment, right after Xena collapses in the fight towards the beginning, where Gabrielle is upset because Xena kept her predicament/sickness from her. And she just looks at Gabrielle and says “yell at me later.” It is such a real thing to say – understanding that maybe you made a mistake, but wanting comfort in the moment. And I think that Xena is scared, and feeling vulnerable and unsure, and this is not something she is used to showing quite yet – even to Gabrielle. Also, as serious as this episode is, I LOVE that Gabrielle dresses up as Xena. It is the only time this happens in the entire series, which is really is a shame because it is so wonderfully hysterical. I think it’s the stark contrast between first-season-Gabrielle and Xena, almost like she is a child dressing up in adult clothing. And here’s the thing, when she is pretending to be Xena and Xena is still alive, she is slightly cluzty and adorable and the comic element is in full effect (my favorite quote: “I always bow to my enemies before I destroy them”). But after she sees Xena is dead, she becomes an entirely different person. She is strong and fearless, and she will give anything, do anything, to see that Xena’s last wish of being taken back to Amphipolis is honored. I also think it’s important that she only lets herself fall apart when she is alone – remaining calm and focused in front of Salmoneus. She really is taking what Xena said about “the greater good” to heart. But when she melts down you can just FEEL how devastated, how lost and heartbroken, she is. And it is important that she allows herself this breakdown, but still chooses to fight, to continue. I think she knows it’s the greatest gift she can give to Xena, to keep fighting, and that she understands it. We see it in this episode all the way to FIN. Even if I will never think that it’s fair.

W&W recap: 1x20, Ties That Bind

Xena: For me, our friendship binds us closer than blood ever could.

W&W commentary: I believe there was a lengthy discussion during this episode about how when Xena is acting like a badass she sucks in her cheeks and it’s really hot. also Gabrielle’s hair is getting progressively redder, when did that start happening? we also noticed how happy Gabrielle looked when Xena was reminiscing about Xena’s own childhood, like Gabrielle was just genuinely sharing Xena’s joy… so sweet!  

Rebekah commentary: I HATE this episode so much. I might hate it even more than Mortal Beloved, because at least during Mortal Beloved we had things to talk about. I fully understand that this is an irrational personal (and hypocritical) bias but I do not like stories about daddy issues. I think they are so. boring. so I just don’t care that much about Xena’s relationship with her dad—I don’t think anything that interesting is going on there. on a more positive note, I did (obviously) enjoy Xena’s admission to Gabrielle that she feels like family to her. I liked how it was so difficult for Xena to share this with Gabrielle, how she was very hesitant to say this out loud—and I love that in contrast Gabrielle so easily and naturally accepts and agrees with the idea that they are like family to one another.

Cait commentary: I think the most interesting thing about this episode is how it sets up Gabrielle as the person who can bring Xena back to herself. This is a continuing and central theme throughout the show - how Gabrielle represents the good in Xena’s life and is a driving force behind her helping people. Ares essentially recognizes that power in Gabrielle and sees it as a legitimate threat. In order for his plot to be successful, he actually manipulates Gabrielle into leaving Xena, knowing he will never possess her if Gabrielle is in her life. I think that is a powerful statement, especially coming from a god. And at the end of this episode, Xena is in a haze of her old self, about to strike out against a village, and Gabrielle stands up to her. You can tell she is genuinely afraid, yet she risks her life to prevent Xena from doing something she will regret, and is able to break through to her. I also love “binds us closer” sentiment - because while Xena’s admission that Gabrielle is like family to her is sweet and genuine, I also think it sets their relationship up as transcending these typical concepts we have of “family” or “friendship” and paints it as something more powerful.

W&W recap: 1x19, Altared States

Xena: What are you doing here? I thought I told you to wait for me at the cave.

Gabrielle: I did, and then this rock told me I had to come find you.

Xena: The rock spoke to you.

Gabrielle: Oh, yeah, I mean, his voice was a little gravelly, but I understood.

W&W commentary: Gabrielle being drugged acts a lot like how we… imagine… we would act if we were drugged, i.e. telling Xena “by the gods, you are beautiful!” we were also SCANDALIZED by the realization that Mael basically accuses Xena of being a lesbian, in so many words without actually saying “lesbian.” he uses the exact same language people use when describing a lesbian—he says she is unnatural and an abomination and she has nobody [implied—no husband] except that “scrawny companion.”

Rebekah commentary: I think this is one of the first Xena episodes I ever saw back in the day when I was in middle school and super Chrisitan. I remember that the episode made me uneasy, not because of any gay content but because it made me realize that a Biblical story was PROFOUNDLY UPSETTING, in that a father almost sacrifices his son because God asked. and WHO was the brave voice of this rational dissenting opinion? XENA HERSELF! I’m glad I heard it first from her. <3. we were laughing at how feebly the episode tries to disguise that the characters are Isaac (ICUS) and Ishmael (MAEL).

Cait commentary: Xena uses a fish as a weapon! One of w&w’s favorite things. I have an amazing quote from Rebekah about Icus (who she kept calling “sicar” by the way) where she says: “God needs to give you some braces.” Now, I always like watching this episode, most likely due to Gabrielle on Henbane - she is generally adorable and conducts her own orchestra! There was this one time, when Rebekah and I were playing Xena 20-questions, and I picked Henbane as my word, and I’m pretty sure she didn’t guess it. But, on a more serious note, while Xena and Gabrielle did split up in this episode (as they often do), I think it introduced a different dynamic. Xena didn’t simply leave Gabrielle behind while she solved the problem and saved the day. Instead, Gabrielle had a specific contribution in protecting and looking after Icus. Now, she didn’t do the BEST job, but it shows that they are getting to the point in their partnership where they recognize the other’s strengths and support each other. And in the fight at the beginning, Gabrielle reacts a little more offensively, jumping into the fight to help Xena, instead of merely defensively as we have seen in the past. I like that. Also, can we talk about how I CANNOT get past the fact that Mael is Caesar! Ugh, I hate Caesar.