With a new television season looming, I contacted fan fiction author and
"Save Xena" web mistress CN Winters for an update on her campaign. CN
solicited the suggestions of fans to help improve that show with the bad ass chick in leather who has become an international icon. Fan response to the first four seasons of Xena has been mostly positive with some concerns with a violent rift between Xena and Gabrielle, our two lead heroines, during season 3.
However, season 5 seems to have been universally heralded as a major misstep with many fans upset with a change in the show's direction. This change involved, among other things, the two leads barely interacting with each other in several episodes, and Xena having oral sex fantasies about Ares, the guy who attempted to kill Xena's mother and Gabrielle and succeeded in killing her dear friend Eli. But hey, he's a hunk, so he's welcome to kill family members anytime he wants or that's what the producers believe us "ladies" will think. I think Buffy would've dusted him by now, just ask Angel.
Hopefully, some new blood among the writing staff will bring an improvement this year. Fans are especially looking forward to the season premiere written by fan fiction author Missy Good that premieres the week of October 1st. CN Winter offers an eloquent recap of this season of discontent and also applause for the times when the producers got it right.
How was your response to your "Save Xena" campaign?
The response was a bit overwhelming for the Save Xena campaign. My partner,
Sorcia, and I received about 250 letters and 250 who signed our
guestbook. We received more letters but the viewers were just sooo upset that I couldn't post them in good faith. I didn't want a 'bash
Xena' page. I wanted a constructive page to point out to the powers that be why the viewers were 'disenchanted' with the series. Many visitors were just so angry about what was written this past season that they couldn't write constructively and I couldn't include them.
We've heard the argument that internet folks are just a handful of viewers so I'm really surprised that so many people took the time to reply. It's said in business that for every 1 person who complains to 'management' at least 10 other people feel the same way. Those 10 who say something, tell 10 other friends about their bad experience and so on. In other words, word of mouth spreads pretty quick and their are many fans who found season five a major disappointment.
I'd like to say that the page was a success but that remains to be seen. I've read interviews with Rob Tapert and RJ Stewart (producers) that say season five was far from their best year. I now see interviewers - even the fan club president - asking some hard hitting questions in regard to the shows decline. I like to think that 'Save
Xena' created an awareness to the powers that be that all is not 'right' in the
Xenaverse. Nelson ratings can tell you a lot but I still think hearing from the fans directly has a greater benefit.
Our page had four major issues: 1) the deconstructing of the characters to where they were hardly recognizable 2) the lack of love in the relationship between heroine and sidekick 3) the overuse of bit characters like Joxer and 4) inconsistency in the storyline. Mr. Tapert has addressed many of these issues, claiming things will improve and that they recognize what needs to be fixed. The powers that be also stated however that they got 'back on track' with the last five episodes. For this fan, it's a bit disheartening because the last five episodes brought us 'Anthony and Cleopatra' where Xena once again uses 'sex as a weapon' and 'Motherhood' where Xena takes the back of Gabrielle's head off with a chakram and spent the remainder of the episode dragging Gabrielle around by the arm. These episodes aren't the
'Xena' I enjoyed watching in seasons past. The heroine who was an 'empowerment' to woman shouldn't have to use her body and sex appeal to outsmart a man. The heroine shouldn't mortally wound her
'soulmate' and then proclaim THEY have a
daughter with no mention of being 'chaked' (as some folks have called it).
Has the page had a great turn out?
Yes.
Is it a success?
That depends on if Mr. Tapert and Co. are listening.
When have TPTB done it right? What scenes would the fans call
iconic?
A poster on the Xena message boards recently said they finally realized what episode is the BEST Xena episode. I agree hands down that it's One Against An Army. It had all the elements that made Xena successful - witty humor,good suspense and butt kicking action; not to mention the vocalization of the relationship and deep bond that Xena and Gabrielle 'had'. Although some folks said it had lots of subtext I find that this episode also had great appeal for
'non-subtexters'. It was an all around great episode. And as I remarked on the message board to the poster - they don't make
'em like that any more, which is sad.
As far as iconic scenes go I'd have to say it depends on what icon you're
looking at. If you ask about the lesbian icon, I'd have to say the kiss scene from 'The Quest' or perhaps Xena's speech to Gabrielle in One Against An Army where she promises that 'even in death (she) would never leave (her).'
If you're looking for a strong feminist icon I'd have to say the 'Reckoning' when she outsmarts the god of war by calling on all the warriors she's been convicted of killing, bringing them back to life. She didn't have to use her sex appeal to get her out of a tough spot. She used her brain. And lucky us, who looked to her as a feminist icon, got the treat of Amphipolis Under Siege and Anthony and Cleopatra - where she had to use her body to be victorious. These are the issues we hope that the producers take a look at before next season is over because 'her courage isn't changing the world
anymore'.
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"Can
Xena be Saved?"
