Hooves and Harlots (110)

Gabrielle becomes an Amazon princess in this episode. This is the first hint and glimpse that she will eventually become a Warrior. Personally, I have mixed feelings about Gabrielle becoming a Warrior at all. I don’t know if it suits her character. But, I can write more on that when we get to those episodes.

Gabrielle saves an Amazon’s life, Terreis, which is very brave, because Gabrielle risked her own life to do so. I do like that Terreis takes an immediate liking to Gabrielle. She like’s Gabrielle’s interest in intellect and education, which is something the Amazons encourage. Intellect! Education! These are both wonderful nonviolent things! Terreis obviously sees that there’s something special about Gabrielle in passing on her royalty to Gabrielle.

This episode kind of shows Gabrielle what the Warrior life would entail. Gabrielle is required by Amazon law to kill the Centaur (who everyone presumes, killed Terreis). Gabrielle in shock says, “I can’t kill someone.” I like that. A Warrior, even a good Warrior, by definition is a killer. Granted, a good Warrior is killing evil 2-dimensional people, but killing none-the-less. If Gabrielle can’t kill anyone than how is she going to become a Warrior someday, maybe she shouldn’t at all (because I really don’t want her to become a Warrior.)

I love Xena! I love watching her kick ass. I don’t know if we get to see that she has a big heart quite yet, but we can assume by her noble actions thus far, that she does have a big heart. It’s just weird to me, that every episode thus far, she kills 2 or 3 people. These are evil, horrible people who show no remorse for their actions. All of the time, the killing is in self-defense. It’s just weird to me, our hero is a killer or you know, a Warrior. But, I love her and she’s awesome.

I do understand that the world and universe of Xena: The Warrior Princess does need good Warriors in it. It does need people who will fight and defend the regular people. Xena’s necessary in this world. She does a lot of good as a Warrior. So, warriors are necessary in this world. It’s just that, to oversimplify matters, killing is bad, really, really bad.

Xena does stop a war in this episode. She does use her intellect and her investigative skills to stop a bloody war, which is super cool.

Favorite quotes:

“Don’t judge a scroll by its paper.” Gabrielle

“I wanted to read philosophy and learn about history and science, but they didn’t consider me a normal girl.” Gabrielle

“No, they wouldn’t let me dance at the crop festival because I brought a bad harvest!” Gabrielle when Amazon’s trying to get her to dance.

“You taught me that greatness doesn’t depend on fighting. It’s the battles you choose and the people you protect.” Xena

“Making war is simple. Making peace is never easy. If it was, everyone would do it.” Xena

Death in Chains (109)

So, I guess it’s an interesting concept: death being a relief for those who are suffering. There is some truth to that. I don’t think everyone in life necessarily finds their happiness in life. That’s an unpleasant thought. I hope they find their happiness somewhere in the after life.

Gabrielle talks about not needing romance much to the amusement of Xena. That is until she meets Talus. I like Talus the best out of all the suitors for Gabrielle. She kind of gets a lot of suitors in this season. Talus is my favorite. Gabrielle sure has a type. Talus tells a poetic story to a dying man. Gabrielle is in love. It’s so the opposite of Xena. It’s a wonder how Xena and Gabrielle end up together.

I also love the way Xena rolls her eyes when Gabrielle asks her what she thinks of Talus and when Gabrielle gives her list of why Talus is so amazing, one of the reasons is that Talus is sensitive which Xena is not.

I think the little love story between Gabrielle and Talus is very sweet. I love Talus and Gabrielle’s goodbye. I find it very beautiful the way Talus walks into the light and smiles back at Gabrielle.

This storyline and the last moment in the episode also further develops Gabrielle and Xena’s relationship. Gabrielle is pure, unadulterated love, and support for Xena, and honestly for anyone who comes into Gabrielle’s life. This is something quite powerful for Xena. It’s funny that Xena for all her strength and Season 1 stoicism. It takes a young Bard to leave Xena vulnerable and sort of humanize Xena.

I think there’s strength in vulnerability. That’s where I admire Gabrielle. She’s almost either too young or too naïve or just too much herself to really hold back anything that she’s feeling. We don’t get too much of Xena’s emotional reading in general so far on this show. That’s the kind of strength that Xena learns from Gabrielle.

I like the last moment in the episode: Gabrielle hugs Xena. Gabrielle is sad because Talus is walking away with Death into the light. Gabrielle’s instincts when she’s sad are to seek comfort from her friend. I love when Gabrielle grabs Xena to hug her and Xena freaks out a little. Xena doesn’t know how to hug! Sure, she can kill someone, but comforting someone? Or, some kind of indication of emotional intimacy? Gabrielle just holds on and Xena accepts the embrace. The episode ends on the embrace. It’s quite beautiful. It’s an indication of the source of strength that they both are going to be for each other.

Favorite Quotes:

“So, he wanted to be known as the man who killed Xena. That’s not a smart goal.” Gabrielle

“Jasmine blossom. It’s a rare beauty. Just like you.” Talus to Gabrielle

“The Undead forever!” Undead guy

“Then again we could just…” Gabrielle

“Run!” Gabrielle and Talus

Gabrielle and Talus run away together from bad guys.

“She was concerned about you.” Talus to Xena

“When Gabrielle has her mind set on something, nothing can change it.” Xena

Prometheus (108)

Guess what show Xena is a spin off of? Hercules! Yep, if only Hercules could make a guest appearance…oh wait, this episode.

First things first, let’s talk about the most awesome part of this episode. Xena and Gabrielle gave each other a lingering hug!!! Hotness! As they pulled away from each other Gabrielle’s hand brushed Xena’s belly. More hotness!

The part where Ioalus kisses Gabrielle at the end is kind of weird since they kind of look like an older brother and little sister.

I know this episode ends on a note of Hercules pretty much saying that there are people out there who share a piece of a person’s soul.

Gabrielle tells Iolas a story about people with four legs who got cut in half and then sent to earth, and still shared half each other’s soul. So, they walk around the world looking for the other half of each other’s souls.

The one thematic thing that stays consistent on this show is that Gabrielle and Xena are each other’s soul mates. This theme plays very nicely through out the series.

I don’t like Gabrielle’s story though. I don’t like the thought that a person is not fully complete until they get married or find that romantic partner. It seems to put too much emphasis on romance. I think it’s a poetic and beautiful story. I think that when people fall in love it’s great. I just also think though that romance is just a piece of the pie. The rest of the pie consists of loving and enjoying who you are, having fulfilling work in your life, knowing why you exist on this planet and following whatever spiritual path that exists for your life or even pursing hobbies that make you happy.

Also, who’s says you only get one soul mate? Or, that you’re meant to have sex with all your soul mates?

My best friend is a gay man. He’s definitely one of my soul mates. My other best friend who I’ve known since Middle school, he’s a straight guy. He’s totally one of my soul mates. All the people in my life who love me and whom I love back. They are all my soul mates. According to the story Gabrielle told, whatever creature I was apart of it must have had like a hundred legs. It was cut into a hundred pieces. I’ve been blissfully meeting all my soul mates ever since, here on earth.

I think that the idea of Xena and Gabrielle can be a wonderful symbol of the concept of soul mates that exists in pop mythology. I just don’t want to romanticize romance. I don’t want to romanticize life, because as most of us know. Life sucks. Life can be excruciatingly painful. Whatever, relief and help we can get from each other, as people, the better. Let’s just all be soul mates, for the hell of it and make life a little bit easier to live for each other.

Favorite quotes:

“You’re not much for girl talk are you?” Gabrielle to Xena

Xena whips out sword when she hears a noise

“But, of course, you’re not like most girls.” Gabrielle

“Sometimes, I wonder what she sees in me.” Gabrielle

“Do you believe that everyone has someone out there that shares a part of their soul?” Iolaus