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Overall:

Well, this was a pretty good episode, IMO.

The tales of EvilXena usually aren't favorites of mine, but this one works quite well. I've always felt it was odd that such an important element to Xena's backstory (how the Chakram came into her possession) wasn't told in the show itself, but this V-S episode more than makes up for it.

In this episode, they used the same dramatic structure as in The Debt and Friend In Need, but fortunately (and unusually ) hardly anybody was permanently harmed - not even X or G, who usually end up on the receiving end of something nasty in the 'present time' whenever flashbacks occur.

All in all, an interesting story - I would've liked to see Gabrielle's reaction to the conclusion of Xena's tale, though.


Rating:

out of - good.


Hits:

- X: "(cont'd) Nice shot."
Gabrielle smiles primly.
G: "I have many skills."



- G: "You ok?"
Xena takes a sip of the tea.
X: "Fine."
She sips again.
X: "Honey?"
G: "(smirking) Yes, dear?"
Xena rolls her eyes.
X: "Honey. In the tea."
G: "My mother always said it was good for what ails you."
X: "Something ailing you?"
Gabrielle gives Xena a pointed look.
X: "(cont'd, with more emphasis) I'm fine."
G: "Mm."
X: "I am."



- X: "All this talking's hard on the throat."
Gabrielle smirks, then rolls her eyes heavenward.
G: "Now she believes me."
She begins to rise when Xena pulls her back.
X: "I'll get it."
Smiling, Gabrielle snatches the mug and stands.
G: "Uh-uh. You tell the story; I'll keep your throat soothed. It's a fair trade."



- the flashbacks in act 1 are



- Xena pulls slightly away from Gabrielle when she notices the tears trailing silently down her soulmate's face.
X: "(cont'd) Why are you crying? Don't cry."
Shaking her head, Gabrielle swipes at the tears.
X: "(cont'd) Sweetheart, please, don't cry. What happened to me back then was no less than what I deserved. I was a greedy, selfish, foolish bit...."
G: "I don't care. No one deserves to be treated like that, Xena. No one."
X: "Gabrielle...."
G: "I love you, Xena, all of you. Who you were then is part of who you are now. Please don't ask me not to grieve for you being hurt. Please. I just can't do that."



- G: "Well, that was our good deed for the day."
X: "Don't speak too soon."
Gabrielle grins.
G: "You're right. The way our lives are, we'll be rescuing a king and his family from a well before dark."
Rolling her eyes, Xena stows the rag, then hops aboard Argo.
X: "C'mon. The faster we go...."
G: "The faster we can avoid that king and his wells, I know."



- X: "(growling) See if you get another word outta me."
G: "Oh, come on, Xena, please?"
Xena hides her grin.
X: "Hmph."
G: "Pretty please?"
X: "Nope."
G: "Pretty please with those little dumplings with the red stuff inside on top?"
X: "For dinner? Tonight?"
Gabrielle laughs.
G: "Walked right into that one, didn't I?"
X: "(smugly) With both feet."



- Aeneas: "Xena, you are a warrior. Ares is War. Don't you realize that every time you draw your sword, you are invoking him? That every time you feel joy in battle, you are feeling joy in him?"
X: "Any joy I feel, Priest, is my own. My strength is my own, my will is my own. I don't need some two-bit god claiming credit for what I do. I decide my own destiny. "



- All the men stare at [Xena]; some coldly, some leeringly, some haughtily and some with no expression at all. Xena holds their stares until, one by one they have no choice but to look away. Aeneas laughs softly.

The mercenaries shuffle in place, swords hanging limply in their hands.



- X: "(...) Besides, I'm in the mood for another story. One that'll take your mind completely off of this one."



- The introduction of the Chakram is



- Reaching into the folds of his robe, he pulls out the chakram and holds it out to her.
Aeneas: "This is yours as well."
Xena's lips part, slightly, in shock.
X: "But...."
Aeneas: "I told you it was a very special weapon, made for a very special warrior. You, Xena, are that warrior. Take it, with my compliments. Use it to do Ares proud."
Xena's eyes narrow. Aeneas laughs, delighted.
Aeneas: "(cont'd) Ever the distrustful soul. I like that in a warrior.
Now, take it."



- Great reveal at the end - even if it wasn't totally unexpected.



- the disclaimer



Misses:

- Unless I'm reading it all wrong, there's a small error in the logic at the end, unfortunately: Xena's telling the story, but since it's obviously impossible for her to see what happened at the temple after she left it, she wouldn't be able to tell Gabrielle (and us) about it. I understand why the V-S crew did it that way, and the big reveal wouldn't have worked had they not done it that way, but it felt odd to me.





Michael