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I'm sure you've heard the expression, "Those who can, do. Those who can't,
teach. Those who can't teach, criticize." Season 5 of Xena has been the
target of some of my criticism this year. I'm just not sure who Xena and
Gabrielle are anymore. Gabrielle transformed from a pacifist bard to a "take no prisoners" warrior
without any of the same self-reflection or dark side temptations faced by her
friend Xena. After struggling with the way of peace for an entire season,
Gabrielle seems blissfully free of any struggle with the way of war.
Gabrielle has always been in touch with the warrior's ability to protect and
serve, but what about the warrior's ability to destroy? What's rolling
around in the head of this new warrior bard? Her story has been kicked to
the sidelines during this season of "protect Xena's baby from the bad guys,"
a sad development since her growth has been a critical touchstone of the
whole series. So time to put up or shut up. I'm offering my summary of a two parter which
might address these issues. If my editor allows me, I will post my teleplay
at a later point.
AVATAR OF DESTRUCTION - PARTS 1 AND 2
An alternate universe Gabrielle meets an alternate universe
Xena, and they
go head to head. Ares decides that Gabrielle has the potential to be his
Warrior Queen. He throws Gabrielle into an alternate universe where she is
living in Potedia with no memory of her travels with Xena. And he sends
Xena to Corinth where she rules as the Destroyer of Nations with no memory of her
redemption. Xena targets Potedia, and Gabrielle confronts the same
temptation and blood lust Xena did as a teenage girl. Or as Ares would say,
"the same excellent training ground."
After confidently saving her village from Xena's army, Gabrielle's reputation
grows and she aligns herself with the Amazons who unite as one mighty nation
under her rule. They are impressed since she was the only leader who
successfully defeated Xena thus far. So with much pomp and circumstance,
Gabrielle is coronated as Queen of All Nations setting the stage to face her
worst enemy, the Destroyer of Nations. Gabrielle makes many new friends and
trusted advisers (perhaps Solari and Ephiny?), and we get to witness their
developing friendships. (Hey, this is an alternate reality so I can bring
back from the dead anyone I want. <vbg>.)
Ares is, of course, on the scene and enjoying himself. First, he presents
himself as a friendly villager who assists Gabrielle in her struggle against
Xena. She trusts his advice and direction after admiring his fighting
skills. He becomes an honorary lieutenant in her army and plots strategy
with her on how to defeat Xena. "The best defense is a good offense," he
tells her and she's inclined to agree.
Xena, in the meantime, is determined to capture Gabrielle and put an end to
this threat to her rule. She wants to humiliate Gabrielle and parade her
around as a slave in front of Gabrielle’s demoralized warriors. She
succeeds in capturing Gabrielle during a climactic battle between her army
and the Amazons at the end of part 1.
At the beginning of part 2, Gabrielle has been enslaved. When Gabrielle is
brought before the Warrior Princess in shackles, Xena declares, "So I guess a
Warrior Princess does beat an Amazon Queen after all." Xena demands that her
guards strip Gabrielle of her armor. They bring sack cloth for Gabrielle to
wear. Xena says, "No, she's an attractive girl. Put her in something more
revealing. Who knows? She might attract more men for my army."
During Gabrielle's imprisonment, she and Xena have a challenging war of wills.
Xena is determined to break Gabrielle any way she can. However, Xena ceases
with this torture at the recommendation of her best friend and most trusted
adviser: the wicked shameness Alti.
Alti can sense that something is not right with this scenario. She believes
Xena and Gabrielle are friends and should be conquering the world together.
Alti wants Xena to conquer Rome and Caesar and become the Supreme Destroyer.
Alti knows she can't do it without Gabrielle, her "Avatar of Destruction."
In the meantime, Ares helps Gabrielle escape, because he doesn't want Alti to
realize her plan. He wants to push Gabrielle over the edge into total blood
lust. He wants her to retaliate against Xena and enjoy it, thus paving the
way for her to become "his" Queen.
When she returns to the Amazons, Gabrielle discovers that many of her friends
have died, fighting Xena's army while she was a slave. This defeat diverts
Gabrielle to the road of becoming as ruthless as Xena. After this crushing
defeat, she becomes desperate for any advantage and unites with a woman
warrior with a small army who wants revenge on Xena for killing her family:
evil Callisto. If Callisto will help her, Gabrielle promises her the spoils
of war: the Destroyer herself.
Xena, in the meantime, begins a desperate search for Gabrielle because she
believes her destiny won't be fulfilled without Gabrielle by her side. Alti
tells her that in order to understand their destiny together they must find
the sacred water of the Ganges and drink it. (See I can recycle sacred
daggers and waters too!) Xena drinks it and remembers their true destiny
during a clip show highlighting their best memories together. In the process,
she loses her desire to fight Gabrielle, who consumed with anger, fights
Xena one on one. Xena offers no resistance. Gabrielle kicks her butt in a
rage ala "Crusader." However, horrified by what she has become, she stops
herself when Ares and Callisto implore her to go for the kill.
Alti arrives at the fight late in the game with a small band of Xena’s best
warriors and orders them to capture Gabrielle and take her to safety. Xena
tosses a vial of the sacred water to Gabrielle and begs her to drink. Ares’
kicks it out Gabrielle’s hand and Xena and Ares go one on one. He becomes so
distracted that Gabrielle drinks the water and has flashes of her real life:
Alti dragging her by the hair, Ares calling her "an irritating blonde," and
Callisto asking her, "So when I cut open you husband, how long did it take
him to die?" Gabrielle pulls out her sword and starts a fight with Ares,
Alti and Callisto. Xena joins her and fights by her side. My three favorite
villains are no match for Xena and Gabs, especially a Xena that had no
problem stopping Genghis Kahn’s entire 300,000 man army with her mind.
Ares, tired their onslaught, sends them back to their rightful universe. Fun
over!
Xena and Gabs wake up the next morning and remember everything. Gabs feels
guilty that her dark warrior side nearly killed Xena, and she’s thankful for
the sacred water. Xena reminds her that the water only helped her remember
their rightful universe. Gabs had pulled herself back from the dark path of
no return without the help of any sacred water. And for that, Xena tells
her, she became the truest warrior.
Season 5? A girl can dream can’t
she?
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"An
Alternative Season 5"
