Original Air Date: Sept. 4, 1995 UK airdate 8 Sep 96 NL airdate 8 Jul 97 (VOO) Written by: R.J. Stewart, from a story by Ropert Tapert Director: Doug Lefler Guest Cast:
Jay Laga'aia (Draco)
Stephen Hall (Hector)
Patrick Wilson (Cyclops)
Xena decides to end her life as a warrior and return to quieter ways, and buries her sword, throwing ring and armour. Within a few minutes though, she is back to fighting when she discovers a group of village girls being tormented by a gang of thugs. She defeats the thugs single handed, and since she knows the warlord who commands them she goes to see him and requests that he leave the village alone. Xena lets slip however that she is heading home, and angry at being spurned by her, the warlord follows her and threatens her home village. Meanwhile Xena is tailed by one of the village girls (Gabrielle), who seeks excitement and adventure and thinks she may find it with Xena. After she steps in and saves Xena from being lynched by her own townsfolk, Xena in the end agrees to her coming along. Notes: This is Renee O'Connor's first appearance as Gabrielle.
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002 "Chariots of War"
Original Air Date: Sept. 11, 1995
UK airdate 15 Sep 96 NL airdate 15 Jul 97 (VOO) Written by: Adam Armus & Nora Kay Foster, from a story by J. Becker & J. Perez
Director: Harley Cokeless
Guest Cast:
Nick Kokotakis (Darius)
Jeff Thomas (Cycnus)
Stuart Turner (Sphaerus)
Xena finds a group of villagers building a barn being attacked by a brutal warlord and his troops. She sees them off but is wounded by an arrow. The carpenter of the village who has three young children takes her in while she recovers. Meanwhile Gabrielle is waiting for Xena and becoming worried when she doesn't turn up. As Xena recovers, the warlord's son calls the villagers to a meeting to talk peace, but his fathers soldiers are waiting in the wings to slaughter them all... back to top
003 "Dreamworker"
Original Air Date: Sept. 18, 1995
UK airdate 22 Sep 96
Writer: Steven L. Sears
Director: Bruce Seth Green Guest Cast:
Nathaniel Lees (Manus)
Desmond Kelly (Elkton)
Gabrielle is kidnapped by dark forces working for the god Morbius and has to go through a series of challenges to see if she is suitable to be his bride. Xena tries to rescue her by entering a dreamscape world where she comes up against a number of foes including the dark side of her own pscyhe. In the meantime, her body is in an unconcious state and soldiers working for Morbius are searching for her. back to top
004 "Cradle of Hope"
Original Air Date: Sept. 25, 1995
UK airdate 29 Sep 96. Production Code: 76906
Writer: Terence Winter Director: Michael Levine Guest Cast: Edward Newborn (King Gregor
) Simon Prast (Nemos) Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Pandora)
Kirstie O'Sullivan (Ophelia) Xena and Gabrielle discover a baby in a basket left floating abandoned on a river. They plan to take the baby to a nearby town, only to discover that it is being hunted for by the soldiers of the King who have orders to kill it. To make things worse, they are joined by Pandora, grand- daughter of the original Pandora who first opened the box. When her box is seized in a fight, this also becomes a priority since hope will escape if Pandora doesn't reset the time
lock by midnight. No Babies were harmed during the production of this motion picture. back to top
005 "The Path Not Taken"
Original Air Date: Oct. 2, 1995 UK airdate 6 Oct 96 Writer: Julie Sherman Director: Stephen L. Posey
Guest Cast: Bobby Hosea (Marcus)
Jimi Liversidge (Agranon)
Stephen Tozer (Mezentius)
Nicola Cliff (Jana)
A princeling pleads with Xena for help when his girlfriend (a princess) is kidnapped leading two neibouring states to the verge of war. Xena soon realises that a local arms dealer is responsible and has to return to a city from which she launched many of her battles. She is reunited with an old flame (Marcus) and is unable to decide whether to trust him. Meantime she does a deal with the arms dealer to get closer to the kidnapped princess. back to top
006 "The Reckoning"
Original Air Date: Oct. 16, 1995 UK airdate 13 Oct 96. Writer: Peter Allan Fields Director: Charles Siebert Guest Cast: Kevin Smith (Ares)
William Johnson (Benitar)
Christopher Mayer (Peranis)
Danny Lineham (Grathios)
Christian Hodge (Teracles)
Xena finds a small group of peasants travelling with a cart being attacked by a hooded swordsman, and comes to their rescue. After a short fight the swordsman disappears and she finds herself surrounded by the friends and relations of the injured men. When they see blood all over Xena and her sword, they assume that she is responsible for the attack. Xena and Gabrielle make their escape up a side valley that turns out to be a dead end. Early the following morning Xena and Gabrielle try to get past them but are captured. Xena is thrown into a prison cell and once alone the hooded swordsman appears to her. He is Ares, the god of war, who wants her to return to her old warlike ways. His ways and to become his Queen. She refuses and prepares to face death at the hands of the peasants instead... back to top
007 "The Titans"
Original Air Date: Oct. 30, 1995 UK airdate 20 Oct 96. Writer: R.J. Stewart Director: Eric Brevig Guest Cast: Mark Raffety (Hyperion)
Amanda Tollemache (Theia)
Eddie Campbell (Crias)
Andy Anderson (Hesiod)
A group of villagers pursuade Gabrielle to help them read a scroll that will reawaken a group of Titans (giants) locked inside a cave near their village. Gabrielle succeeds but fairly soon her influence over the Titans fades and they start to follow their own agenda. One that does not bode well for the villagers. Xena has to step in and try to regain control of the Titans and save the village. back to top
008 "Prometheus"
Original Air Date: Nov. 6, 1995
UK airdate 27 Oct 96. Writer: R.J. Stewart Director: Stephen L. Posey Guest Cast: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) Michael Hurst (Iolaus) John Freeman (Prometheus) Russell Gowers (Demonphon) Jodie Dorday (Io) A thug decides to try his luck at slaying Xena, and not unsurprisingly fails. However, when her attempts to heal his wounds fail, she starts a quest for an oracle since she believes that the god Prometheus has been captured and as a result his gifts to mankind are disappearing. These include the ability to heal and the knowledge of fire. The oracle instructs her on how to free Prometheus and she sets off to do so. Along the way she meets up with Hercules, and together they set off to free Prometheus. However, when Xena discovers that using the mystic sword to break Prometheus' chains will result in the holder dying, she and Hercules start fighting over who should fulfill this sacrifice. Each wishing to save the other, they attempt to outsmart each other at every turn...
Iolaus was harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, the Green Egg Men went on to live long and prosperous lives. back to top
09 "Death In Chains"
Original Air Date: Nov. 13, 1995 UK airdate 3 Nov 96 Written by: Adam Armus & Nora Kay Foster, from a story by Babs Greyhosky, Adam Armus & Nora Kay Foster Director: Charles Siebert Guest Cast: Kate Hodge (Celesta)
Ray Henwood (King Sisyphus)
Kieren Hutchison (Talus)
Chris Graham (Toxeus)
Erik Thompson (Hades)
Leslie Wing (Queen Merope)
Hades appears to Xena and asks her to help him free his sister, Celesta, who has been kidnapped by an elderly but good King. It's not however straightforward since Celesta is Death and with her held captive no one can die. At first Xena thinks this is a good thing and ignores the request, but when Xena and Gabrielle meet some injured people in the road, her opinion begins to change. When they visit a hospital, she becomes convinced that she must free Celesta so that these people's suffering can come to an end. Assisted by Gabrielle and a friend she's met on the road, who has knowledge of the King's Palace, Xena sets off to release Celesta. No Jumbo-Sized Cocktail Rats were harmed during the production of this motion picture. back to top 010 "Hooves And Harlots"
Original Air Date: Nov. 20, 1995
UK airdate 10 Nov 96 Writer: Steven L. Seats
Director: Jace Alexander Guest Cast:
Alison Bruce (Queen Melosa)
Danielle Cormack (Ephiny)
Colin Moy (Phantes)
David Aston (Tyldus) Mark Ferguson (Krykus)
Rebekah Mercer (Terreis)
Xena and Gabrielle enter the territory of the Amazons and are being taken before the Amazon Queen when the party is attacked. When Gabrielle tries to save one of the Amazons, her dying wish is that Gabrielle should inherit her birthright. Gabrielle doesn't mention this to Xena, which complicates things when the Amazons are drawn into friction with the Centaurs who live nearby. Xena soon realises that a third party is insighting a war between the Amazons and the Centaurs...
No Males, Centaurs or Amazons were harmed during the production of this motion picture. back to top
011 "The Black Wolf"
Original Air Date: Jan. 8, 1996 UK airdate 17 Nov 96. Writer: Alan Jay Glueckman Director: Mario Di Leo Guest Cast: Robert Trebor (Salmoneus)
Emma Turner (Flora) Kevin J. Wilson (Xerxes) Nigel Harbrow (Koulos)
Ian Hughes (Diomedes)
Maggie Tarver (Hermia)
Ross Duncan (Parnassus)
Xena visits a village to discover that the local warlord has kidnapped a young woman who was a childhood friend of hers. Xena promises to rescue her and decides to pretend to be working for the warlord in order to get into the dungeon where she and some of the other villagers are being held. She discovers that dissent against the warload is being organised by a mysterious leader called the Black Wolf, and keen to help the people overthrow the warlord. Xena struggles to discover who the leader is. As usual, Gabrielle manages to get herself drawn into the melee as well... back to top 012 "Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts"
Original Air Date: Jan. 15, 1996
UK airdate 24 Nov 96. Written by: Adam Armus & Nora Kay Foster, from a story by Roy Thomas & Janis Hendler Director: T.J. Scott Guest Cast: Galyn Gorg (Helen)
Warren Carl (Paris)
Scott Garrison (Perdicas)
Ken Blackburn (King Menelaus)
Cameron Rhodes (Deiphobus)
Adrian Keeling (Miltiades)
In the besieged city of Troy, Helen has visions of being overrun by the Greeks and sends a trusted courtier out to find Xena and ask her to come and help. Xena and Gabrielle find the courtier being attacked by soldiers and try to rescue him, but his injuries are too great and he dies. Before he dies however he does manage to deliver his message and Xena and Gabrielle head to Troy. Defeating a number of Greek soldiers, they are welcomed to the city by Gabrielle's former fiancee who is a captain of the city guards. Things start to go awry when Xena is arrested by the guards under the control of Paris and is thrown into a cell. She soon fears that there is a traitor within the City Guards, and that the city will soon fall...
No oversized Polynesian-Style Bamboo Horses were harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, many wicker lawn chairs gave their lives. back to top
013 "Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards" Original Air Date: Jan. 22, 1996 UK airdate 1 Dec 96 Writers: R.J. Stewart & Steven L. Sears Director: Jace Alexander Guest Cast: Dean O'Gorman (Orion/Homer) Grahame Moore (Polonius) Joseph Manning (Euripedes) Andrew Thurtell (Twickenham) Patrick Brunton (Stallonus) Lori Dungey (Kellos) Alan De Malmanche (Docentius) Gabrielle meets up with a young man and his father who are making their way to Athens to take part in a competition for four places at the Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards. Gabrielle enthralls everyone with her tales of Xena's exploits, and decides to try the competition for herself. All is going well until it is revealled by the jellous father of the young man who told Gabrielle about the contest that she had not applied properly for the competition and she is disqualified. Note: This is basically a clip show compiled from previous episodes of the series, plus segments from Xena's appearances in Hercules The Legendary Journeys. The producers would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to Stanley Kubrick, Kirk Douglas, and all those who were involved with the making of the film classic "Spartacus". back to top
014 "A Fistful of Dinars" Original Air Date: Jan. 29, 1996 UK airdate 8 Dec 96 Writers: Steven L. Sears & R.J. Stewart Director: Josh Becker Guest Cast:
Jeremy Roberts (Thersites)
Peter Daube (Petracles)
Richard Foulkes, jr. (Lycus)
Lawrence Wharerau (Klonig)
Xena finds one of her friends being attacked and chases his attacker while Gabrielle attends to his wounds. Xena recovers a purse stolen from her friend but is then challenged by another attacker, at which point she removes a parchment map from the purse and after memorising it, eats it. It turns out that it is one of four clues to the location of the buried treasure of the Summarian empire. She soon teams up with an assassin and a warlord and they set off to find the treasure. Xena informs Gabrielle that buried along with the treasure is some ambrosia - the food of the gods - which will turn any mortal who eats it into a god.
No Ambrosia was spilled, spoiled, or in any way harmed during the production of this motion picture. (Thanks to the indefinite shelf life of marshmallows.) back to top
015 "Warrior...Princess" Original Air Date: Feb. 5, 1996
UK airdate 15 Dec 96 Writer: Brenda Lilly
Director: Michael Levine
Guest Cast: Norman Forsey (King Lias) Jason Hoyte (Timus)
Iain Rea (Philemon)
Patrick Smith (Glauce)
Latham Gaines (Mineus)
Michelle Huirama (Tesa)
Xena visits a palace and is somewhat surprised when all the guards stand down. She meets with the King and he explains that she is the splitting image of his daughter. The problem for the King is that some group are trying to kill his daughter before she can marry the princeling from a neighbouring state. At first Xena is unimpressed until she hears that the marriage will bring the end of slavery in the neighbouring state, at which point she agrees to help. Xena meets the Princess, Diana, and there is indeed a striking similarity. However for Xena to take her place, Diana must take Xena's place, and rides out of town on Xena's horse to meet Gabrielle. All too soon Xena is having to content with multiple attempts on her life as she posses as Diana, and she begins to have the disquieting fear that the assassins are working for someone within the court. Neither Xena nor her remarkably coincidental identical twin, Diana, were harmed during the production of this motion picture. back to top
016 "Mortal Beloved" Original Air Date: Feb. 12, 1996
Writer: R.J. Stewart Director: Garthy Maxwell Guest Cast: Bobby Hosea (Marcus)
Paul Willis (Atyminius)
Michael Hurst (Charon)
Geoff Clendon (Bride's Father)
Chantelle Brownlee (Bride)
While Xena and Gabrielle are eating in a Tavern, one of the girls working there reports having seen a ghost outside. Xena goes out and finds the ghost of her dead lover Marcus (from The Path Not Taken) waiting for her. He starts to tell her of a terrible change in the underworld, but before he can finish some dark figures appear to drag him off and they all disappear. Going with Gabrielle to the place he mentioned before he was dragged off, Xena dives into a lake and swims to the bottom where she finds her way through some caves to the river Styx. Going across, she discovers that the evil-doers have taken over the Elysian fields and thrown those who should be there into the underworld. Finding Marcus, they proceed together to a castle where Hades, is imprisoned having had his helmet of invisibility stolen. Xena and Marcus discover that an psychopathic murderer has stolen it and has plans to invade the world of the living... No Winged Harpies were harmed or sent to a fiery grave during the production of this motion picture. back to top
017 "The Royal Couple of Thieves" Original Air Date: Feb. 19, 1996 Writer: Steven L. Sears Director: John Cameron Guest Cast: Bruce Campbell (Autolycus)
David Telford (Malthus)
Grant Bridger (Lord Sinteres)
Mark Raffety (Arkel)
Crawford Thomson (Prognese)
Arch Goodfellow (Kelton)
Xena is asked to help a group of villagers recover a valuable box that has been stolen from them. It turns out that it also significant value as a weapon and is due to be put up for auction. Xena enlists the help of a master thief and together they go to an island fortress. Things start to go awry when the box is stolen and the man selling the item is found dead... No Ancient and Inflexible Rules governing moral behavior were harmed during the production of this motion picture. back to top
018 "The Prodigal" Original Air Date: Mar. 4, 1996
Writer: Chris Manheim Director: John T. Kretchmer
Guest Cast: Tim Thomerson (Meleager)
Willa O'Neill (Lila)
Steve Hall (Damon)
Anton Bentley (Athol
) Kelly Greene (Derq)
Alan Palmer (Pharis)
Gabrielle and Xena are attacked by an opportunistic bunch of robbers but manage to foil their threats. However at the crucial moment Gabrielle freezes in fear. Something which leads her to feel that she is a danger to Xena's safety. Deeply troubled she decides to return to her home village, discovering on the way that it is about to be attacked by a warlord who has already destroyed other villages in the area. She further discovers that her village has hired a reknown soldier, Meleager the Mighty, to protect them. But when he appears in person he is drunk and less than impressive. Gabrielle decides to organise the defence of the village herself... back to top
019 "Altared States"
Original Air Date: Apr. 22, 1996
Writer: Chris Manheim Director: Michael Levine Guest Cast: David Ackroyd (Anteus) David de Lautour (Icus) Teresa Woodham (Zora) Karl Urban (Maell) Xena is teaching Gabrielle how to catch fish with her bare hands in the pool at the foot of a waterfall, when a young boy runs out of the woods pursued by a gang of men. She rescues the boy and defeats the gang and discovers that the boy is on the run because his father believes he has to sacrafice his son to his god. Xena can't believe that a father would really kill his son, and proceeds to investigate, but finds that it appears to be true. After several scuffles with the gang of zealots, Xena discovers that the father has been drugged after Gabrielle becomes delirious having eaten some bread intended for the boy. Meantime the boy is recaptured by the zealots and Xena is in a race against time to stop the sacrafice.
No Unrelenting or Severely Punishing Deities were harmes during the production of this motion picture. back to top
020 "Ties that Bind" Original Air Date: Apr. 29, 1996 Writers: Adam Armus & Nora Kay Foster Director: Charles Siebert Guest Cast: Tom Atkins (Atrius) Stephen Lovatt (Kirilus) Kevin Smith (Ares) Lutz Halbhubner (Tarkus) Xena and Gabrielle are about to rescue a group of girls captured by a warlord, when another warrior appears and starts attacking the warlord's men. An older man, he seems unlikely to be able to hold his own, and Xena rescues him. When he hears Xena's name, he claims to be her father, Atrius. A claim she hardly even seems to consider, let alone believe, much to Gabrielle's astonishment. They free the slave girls and start to lead them home. Meanwhile we see Ares appearing to the warlord and telling him that he'll fall to Xena. The warlord maintains that he'll defeat her. When ambushed by one of the warlords men, Atrius kills him after he has surrendered in front of Gabrielle who is shocked but when challenged shows evidence that he was pulling a dagger which appears contrary to what Gabrielle saw. In the end Gabrielle decides that she should not stand between Xena and her father and arranges for them to have some time together performing a rear guard action. When they reach the town from which the girls were taken, Atrius is lynched by a mob and Xena asks them to spare him until she has dealt with the approaching army of the warlord. After a duel with the warlord, she gains control of the army and returns to the village, only to find her father strung up to die by the townsfolk. In a wild rage, she orders the army to destroy the town and kill them all, including Gabrielle.
No Fathers, Spiritual or Biological, were harmed during the production of this motion picture. back to top
021 "The Greater Good" Original Air Date: May 6, 1996
Writer: Steven L. Sears Director: Gary Jones
Guest Cast: Robert Trebor (Salmoneus)
Peter McCauley (Talmadeus)
Jonathan Hendry (Ness)
Jason Tahau (Nymis)
Timothy James Adam (Kalus)
Xena and Gabrielle are found by a young woman who pleads on behalf of a Lord to save their village from a pending attack from a vicious warlord. When they reach the village they discover that the Lord of the village is none other than Salmoneus. A battle with the warlords minions ensues and all is going well until a mysterious figure in the woods fires a poisoned dart which hits Xena in the neck. At first she seems ok, but as time goes on she starts to loose her usual poise and timing and becomes very ill. With Xena unable to move, Gabrielle has to impersonate Xena in order to keep the warlords forces from attacking again. Unfortunately things don't go well and on her return to the village Gabrielle is told that Xena is dead. E
xcessive belching can cause brain damage and social ostracism. Kids, please don't give in to peer pressure. Play it safe. back to top 0
22 "Callisto" Original Air Date: May 13, 1996 US airdate: 13 May 96 UK Airdate: 4 Feb 97. Production Code: 76920 Writer: R.J. Stewart Director: T.J. Scott Guest Cast: Hudson Leick (Callisto)
Ted Raimi (Joxer)
Ian Hughes (Melas)
Kenneth McGregor (Akte
on) David Te Rare (Theodorus) A Village is attacked and ramsacked by a woman warrior and her army, and she lets a villager live saying that she is Xena. When Xena and Gabrielle are attacked by a man claiming revenge for the killing of his family, the two of them start to investigate who is attacking them. Finding the blonde-haired warrior who is called Callisto. Xena has a battle with her and her soldiers during which she looses her chakram. Interrogating one of Callisto's soldiers, they discover that Callisto plans to kill the Delphi oracle and frame Xena. Xena foils this attempt and takes Callisto to prison only for her to be freed accidentally when a lynch mob attacks the prison. Callisto escapes kidnapping Gabrielle and Xena has to follow, straight into Callisto's carefully prepared trap.
Joxer's nose was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, his crossbow was severely damaged.
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023 "Death Mask" Original Air Date: June 3, 1996
Writer: Peter Allan Fields Director: Stewart Main Guest Cast: Joseph Kell (Toris) Michael Lawrence (Cortese)
Doug McCaulay (Aescalus)
Willie Davis (Malik)
Elizabeth Skeen (Sera)
Peter Needham (Village Elder)
Xena and Gabrielle are attacked by thug firing an arrow and much to Gabrielle's amazement she stops the arrow in flight with her staff. After overpowering the thug and his companion, Xena observes that they are wearing the trademark face masks of the warlord who attacked her home village many years before, killed her brother Lycius and started her on the path to being the Warrior Princess she became. Seeking to take revenge, she tracks down the camp of the warlord only to meet up with her brother who is trying to infilitrate their ranks. She pursuades them to work together and set off to seek the elusive warlord but when they come face to face with him suddenly realise there's a much bigger picture and a lot more involved than they suspected in overpowering him. No messenger doves were harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, several are reportedly missing in action and search-and-rescue efforts are underway. back to top
024 "Is There A Doctor In The House?" Original Air Date: July 29, 1996
Writer: Patricia Manney Director: T.J. Scott Guest Cast: Danielle Cormack (Ephiny)
Ray Woolf (General Marmax)
Andrew Binns (Hippocrate
s) Simon Farthing (Democritus)
Ron Smith (Galen)
Xena and Gabrielle are trying to travel to Athens but find that they have to pass through a battleground. When they find Ephiny, one of their Amazon friends, heavily pregnant and lying hidden in the trees - her husband having been killed in the crossfire, Xena resolves to stop the war one way or another. Capturing one of the generals, she stabs him through with a sword and she and Gabrielle take both him and Ephiny to a temple in the other city-states territory. Once their Xena does her best to help the injured and dying while at the same time showing the General the needless suffering the war has caused. When Gabrielle hears a child has been left outside when his mother was injured and goes to find him, she too becomes a casualty.
Season Two
026 "Remember Nothing"
Original Air Date: Oct. 7, 1996
Production Code: V0201 Written by: Chris Manheim
Story by: Steven L. Sears & Chris Manheim
Guest Cast: Aaron Devitt (Lyceus)
Robert Harte (Maphias)
Stephen Tozer (Mezentius)
Mark Ferguson (Krykus)
Rebecca Kpacka (Clotho)
Micaela Daniel (Lachesis) Elizabeth Pendergast (Atropos)
Chris Graham (Slave boss)
Slade Leef (Caputius)
When Xena defends their temple from attacking thieves, the three Fates appear to her and offer her anything she wants as thanks for her help. She asks that they change history so that her brother didn't die fighting along side her and that she is no longer a warrior. They agree but warn her that the first time she kills, the timeline will revert to how it was before they interfere. As Xena explores this other reality, she struggles to find a way to help those she loves without going down the path that led her to being a Warrior. This becomes increasingly difficult, not least when she discovers that Gabrielle is a slavegirl in this other reality... Xena's memory was not damaged or... ...what was I saying? back to top 027 "Giant Killer" Original Air Date: Oct. 14, 1996 Production Code: V0204 Written by: Terence Winter Directed by: Gary Jones Guest Cast: Todd Rippon (Goliath) Anthony Starr (David) Calvin Tuteao (Dagon) Dale Corlett (Jonathan) Dennis Hally (King Saul) Emma Brunette (Sarah) Xena returns to a graveyard full of giant's bones on the tenth anniversary of a battle, and is met there by Goliath, a giant and former friend. She soon discovers that Goliath is working as a mercenary for the Philistines who are trying to subdue a race called the israelities. Seeing how they are being treated, Xena soon ends up on the other side from Goliath and has to prepare to face him in battle. She finds her loyaties strained to breaking point when she realises she is going to have to kill him. No Bible myths or Icons were irreparably mangled during the production of this motion picture.
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028 "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" Original Air Date: Oct. 21, 1996
Production Code: V0202 Written by: Adam Armus & Nora Kay Foster
Directed by: T. J. Scott
Guest Cast:
Ted Raimi (Joxer) Matthem Chamberlaim (Orpheus)
Anthony Ray Parker (Bacchus
) When they hear of six abductions of local girls, Xena and Gabrielle venture into the woods where the Bacchae are known to live to try and recover them. No sooner do they enter than they meet Joxer who is being pursued by wolves who are almost definitely in truth the Bacchae. After fighting them off, Joxer opens the bag he was carrying and shows it's contents to Xena - it is the head of Orpheus, the musican who keeps Bacchus the god of wine and his deadly bloodsucking followers the Bacchae at bay. Deprived of his body by Bacchus, he can no longer play his lyre and thus the Bacchae are on the loose. Returning to the place where he left his lyre, they found his friend murdered and the lyre gone. A festival is in full swing and Gabrielle is drawn into dancing with two women who may well be Bacchae themselves. Seperately a pair of thieves come on two girls carrying the lyre and attempt to steal it from them, a bad move since the girls are Bacchae. Having been unable to recover the lyre, Xena and party attempt to enter the caves where Bacchus and his followers dwell, a task hampered by the fact that Gabrielle becomes a Bacchae herself. Drawn into Bacchus web of depravity, Gabrielle turns on her friends and only by becoming a Bacchae herself can Xena hope to complete her mission and save Gabrielle.
No Bloodsucking Bacchae were harmed during the production of this motion picture. However a few Driads lost their heads.
029 "Return of Callisto" Original Air Date: Oct. 28, 1996
Written by: R. J. Stewart
Production Code: V0210
Directed by: T. J. Scott Guest Star: Hudson Leick (Callisto)
Ted Raimi (Joxer)
Scott Garrison (Perdicus)
David Te Rare (Theodorus)
It's feeding time at a prison and a new prison warder is being shown the ropes as they dish out a thick porridge to each prisoner. The new warder is told to be especially careful of one prisoner - a young blonde woman (Callisto) strapped down in a huge confining chair. She torments the warder and enraged he goes in and hits her, giving her the opportunity to relieve him of a knife. She uses it to escape her bonds and her cell and slaughters all the prison warders. Meanwhile Perdicus finds Xena and Gabrielle and proposes to Gabrielle, who while initially unsure in the end agrees to marry him. Joxer arrives with the news that Callisto has escaped. Gabrielle marries Perdicus and together they set off for home while Xena and Joxer plan to stop Callisto. Xena puts her pinch on Theodorus and discovers that Callisto has followed Gabrielle and plans to kill her as a way of destroying all Xena cares about. Callisto catches up with the unarmed Gabrielle and Perdicus in some swampy marshes and is about to kill Gabrielle when Xena arrives; Xena stops her but as Callisto leaves she kills Perdicus. After a funeral pyre for Perdicus, Gabrielle insists that Xena teach her how to kill with a sword so that she can go after Callisto herself - this Xena is extremely unwilling to do. Knowing that Xena will stand in her way, Gabrielle tells Xena that she's going home to mourn, but instead goes into Callisto's stronghold and plans to kill her. When she gets there however she realises that all of those who love her have valued her blood innocence and moral values above all else, and she cannot strike the blow. She is soon a prisoner of Callisto, and Xena is soon also caught and tied up in Callisto's prison chair, while Gabrielle is tied up and burnt at the stake. Joxer rushes in in an attempt to save them but is soon captured, but not before his actions have allowed Xena to retrieve her Chakram.
Although Xena finally conquered her dark nemesis Callisto, it took her weeks to get the sand out of her leather unmentionables.
030 "Warrior...Princes...Tramp"
Original Air Date: Nov. 4, 1996
Written by: R. J. Stewart Directed by: Josh Becker Guest Cast:
Ted Raimi (Joxer)
Norman Forsey (King Lias)
Iain Rea (Philemon)
Chris Bailey (Agis)
Simon Fa' Amoe (Alcibiades)
Colette Pennington (Nurse)
Xena arrives at the court of King Lias where the king is desperately ill and Diana (who looks identical to Xena) is likely to ascend to the throne - Diana asks for her help. Meanwhile Gabrielle is shocked when she encounters Joxer in a bar describing a sexual encounter with Xena, which she reprimands him for, and they proceed to the court. Gabrielle is even more shocked when Xena doesn't seem to recognise her and throws her into the dungeon. Soon it becomes apparent that the Xena at the court is an imposter, a situation further confused when the real Xena arrives. It turns out that a third identical woman, a tramp called Meg, is being used by a power hungry warlord to stand in for Diana, and take her place on the throne.
Neither Xena nor her remarkably coincidental identical twin, Diana, were harmed during the production of this motion picture. Meg however suffered minor injuries while preparing Aardvark nuggets for King Lias. back to top
031 "Intimate Stranger" Original Air Date: Nov. 11, 1996
Production Code: V0211 Written by: Steven L. Sears
Directed by: Gary Jones
Guest Cast: Hudson Leick (Callisto/Xena)
Ted Raimi (Joxer)
Kevin Smith (Ares)
David Te Rare (Theodorus)
Darien Takle (Cyrene)
Lee-Jane Foreman (Arleia)
Michael Cooper (Gressius)
Xena and Gabrielle are trying to track down Callisto's men and bring them to justice but Xena keeps being troubled by nightmares in which Callisto and Ares accuse her of murdering Callisto. Callisto soons tricks Xena into coming down into Tartarus and swaps bodies, returning to the world of the living in Xena's body. Xena calls on Hades to help her and he agrees to let her return to the world of the living for one day in Callisto's body to try and stop Callisto and Ares. Meantime, Callisto in Xena's body is causing havoc; injuring Argo, teaching Gabrielle to kill, and taking over Callisto's old army. Callisto then arranges to round up the citizens of Xena's home village and burn them as the ultimate act of revenge against Xena. Ares becomes infuriated with Callisto who will not stop her crusade of revenge and become the Warrior Princess he wants to lead his army. Xena finally forces a showdown with Callisto, and they both return to Tartarus where Xena wins the right to return to the land of the living, but with a difference - she's still trapped in Callisto's body.
Argo was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. However she is undergoing intensive psychotherapy to help her work through her resentment and feelings of distrust toward Xena.
032 "Ten Little Warlords"
Original Air Date: Nov. 18, 1996
Production Code: V0215 Written by: Paul Robert Coyle
Directed by: Charles Siebert Guest Cast: Hudson Leick (Xena)
Kevin Smith (Ares)
Ted Raimi (Joxer)
Charles Siebert (Sisyphus)
Chris Ryan (Virgilius)
Bruce Hopkins (Tegason)
Marcel Kalma (Sadus)
Jason Kennedy (Carus)
Xena still stuck in Callisto's body wakes Gabrielle who is once again shocked by her appearance. Joxer arrives with an invitation apparently from Ares addressed to Callisto, and they immediately smell a rat knowing that Xena is in Callisto's body and the real Ares knows that. The invitation leads them to a small port where they see a number of warlords gathering. Things take a turn for the strange when Gabrielle starts a fight over the price of fishcakes and Xena finds Ares, drunk, in a tavern. He tells Xena that he's been stripped of his godhood because someone has stolen his sword and he asks for her help in getting it back. At first she's unsure and doesn't believe his statement that he was a benevolent god of war, but when Gabrielle starts her second fight in the matter of a few minutes, Xena begins to believe him. Acting on the invitations, Xena and Ares board a boat in the dock and set sail for an island where they are told there will be a competition to determine who will be the next god of war. Upon their arrival they hear the screams of a monster, and on entering the castle, Xena suspects the work of Sisyphus, a master trickster, who duly appears. Over the course of the evening, the various warlords start trying to do away with each other in a quest to be the first to try the competition with the monster. Meanwhile Gabrielle and Joxer have arrived on the island, and Gabrielle is determined to slay the monster herself, leading Joxer to quip "What are you supposed to be? A fierce warlord trapped in the body of Gabrielle?". After Ares gets caught in a trap, Xena struggles to free him. She becomes convinced that Sisyphus will have hidden the sword in plain sight and goes back to look for it. Returning it to Ares, he returns to being a god and dispatches Sisyphus back to Tartarus. Gabrielle arrives and reminds Ares of his promise to Xena to return her to her own body, but he disappears without doing so. As they walk back along the beach to the boat Gabrielle and Joxer came in, there is a sudden change and Xena is once again back in her own body. No one was harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, Xena's ability to recover her body was severely impeded by Lucy Lawless' unexpected mishap.
back to top 033 "Solstice Carol"
Original Air Date: Dec. 9, 1996
Written by: Chris Manheim
Directed by: John T. Kretchmer
Guest Cast: Joe Berryman (Senticles) Peter Vere Jones (King Silvas)
Daniel James (Lynal)
Sher Booth (Melana)
It is the eve of the winter solstice and Xena and Gabrielle are shopping for presents for each other in the market of a small town when a young boy steals her chakram from her belt. Following him, she discovers he's taken her chakram to have the pride of place at the top of a decorated tree at the orphanage where he lives. Hearing that the Orphanage is to be evicted from it's building on the eve of Solstice on the orders of the King, Xena determines to visit the King and get him to reverse the heartless decision. Gabrielle tries to pursuade Xena to let her handle it peacefully in deference to the season. Reluctantly Xena agrees and soon she, Gabrielle and one of the King's minions, Senticles, a former toymaker; are staging a visit from each of the three Fates in turn to show to the King the error of his ways.
Senticles was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, several chimneys are in dire need of repair.
034 "Xena Scrolls" Original Air Date: Jan. 13, 1997
Production Code: V0208 Written by: Adam Armus & Nora Kay Foster
Story by: Robert Sidney Melette Directed by: Charlie Haskell Guest Cast:
Ted Raimi (Jacques S'er)
Kevin Smith (Ares)
Mark Ferguson (John Smythe)
Ajay Vasisht (Nikos)
Rob Tapert (Executive)
Macedonia 1942: Leading archiologist Janice Covington (Renee O'Connor) is supervising a dig hunting for the legendary Xena scrolls, a fragment of which her father, an infamous tombrobber found many years before. She seems close to a solution but keeps getting distracted from the dig by various parties trying to get in on the action. One of these, with a seemingly genuine offer of help, is one Melissa Pappus (Lucy Lawless) who's father was a leading archiologist and who has a significant experience in translating old writtings. After re-interpreting the fragment Janice's father discovered to point out that Xena was dark haired, and it was Callisto who was blonde, she reads a tablet found outside a sealed tomb and manages to open it's lock. Being shepherded at gun point my a dodgy Englishman called Smythe and his henchmen, Janice and Mel enter the tomb. Mel manages to trip several of the traps set within the tomb to discourage grave robbers, and is instructed to sit down. As she does so, she triggers the repository of the scrolls to swing open. Collecting the scrolls, and finding one half of Xena's Chakram (which only Mel can remove), they try to leave only to be threatened once again by Smythe and his men. Running from them Janice and Mel (and a further companion, appartantly a French Military Officer) find themselves in a large cavern with a coffin prominently placed in the centre. From this tomb arises Ares, the god of war, who had been imprisoned there by Xena. When the Chakram is reassembled from its two parts, Mel becomes inhabited by the spirit of Xena, and tries to fight Ares and prevent his release into the world again.
No Hollywood producers were harmed during the production of this motion picture.
035 "Here She Comes... Miss Amphipolis" Original Air Date: Jan. 20, 1997
Production Code: V0212 Written by: Chris Manheim
Directed by: Marina Sargenti Guest Cast: Geoff Gann (Miss Artiphys)
Robert Trebor (Salmoneus)
John Summer (Lord Clairon)
Stan Wolfgramm (Palatine of Parnassus)
Calvin Tuteao (Doge of Messini)
Tim Lee (Regent of Skiros)
Katherine Kennard (Miss Skiros)
Simone Kessell (Miss Messini)
Jennifer Rucker (Miss Parnassus)
Brenda Kendall (Pageant Matron)
Salmoneus summons Xena and Gabrielle to come to his aid; telling them it's hugely important and their help is needed to stop a war. As they walk along a beach, they discover a group of beauties in skimpy costumes being attacked by some thugs. Xena sees off the thugs with some spirited use of seashells. Somewhat to their annoyance they discover that what Salmoneus is refering to is a beauty pagent he's involved in organising which is being sabotaged, bringing three local chieftans to the point of war. Each is certain that the girl he is sponsoring is the most beautiful and will win, and blames the others for the attacks. Seeking a cover story, Xena posses as a contestant, Miss Amphipolis, while Grabrielle becomes "The Marquesa", her sponsor. The confusing aspect however is that all of the chieftans appear to be almost equally as outraged as each other, and as each progressive attack happens threaten a more extreme response. Meantime, Xena discovers an unexpected ally amongst the ranks of the competitors and starts to understand each of the girls reasons for taking part.
No ribbons were harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, several experienced severe motion sickness.
back to top 036 "Destiny"
Original Air Date: Jan. 27, 1997 Production Code: V0207 Written by: R. J. Stewart & Steven L. Sears Story by: Robert Tapert Directed by: Robert Tapert Guest Cast: Ebonie Smith (M'Lila)
Karl Urban (Julius Caesar)
Nathaniel Lees (Niklio)
Grant Triplow (Brutus)
Slade Leef (Sitacles)
Grant Boucher (Telos)
Mark Perry (Vicerius)
Xena decides to face some of her internal demons by visiting the ruins of the city where fire took hold during the attack of her army. Leaving Garbrielle on the hillside, she rides down into the town and sees visions of the past including a blonde teenager asking why which we can only assume is Callisto. Returning to the hillside, Xena discovers that Gabrielle is gone, and since her staff is still lying there assumes she's been captured. Xena duely finds Gabrielle and some other women and children who are capitives of a tribe of canibals and proceeds to free them. After escaping they are ambushed again and Xena is fatally wounded by a trap. She tells Gabrielle that her only hope lies with a healer who lives on Mount Nestus. As Gabrielle struggles to get Xena to the healer, we see the story of Xena's encounter with Julius Caesar and the effect it had on her life. Unfortunately the healer is unable to help and Xena dies... Part one of a two part story
Julius Ceasar was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, the producers deny any responsibility for any unfortunate acts of betrayal causing some discomfort. back to top 037 "The Quest"
Original Air Date: Feb. 3, 1997 Production Code: V0221
Written by: Steven L. Sears Story by: Chris Manheim, Steven L. Sears & R. J. Stewart Directed by: Michael Levine
Guest Cast: Bruce Campbell (Autolycus)
Melinda Clarke (Velasca)
Danielle Cormack (Ephiny)
Michael Hurst (Iolaus)
Jodie Dorday (Solari)
Alexander Tant (Xenan)
Having promised Xena to return her body to her home village of Amphipolis should she die, Gabrielle sets off to do her bidding. Along the way, she is attacked by a gang of thugs who want to claim a ransom for Xena's dead body, and she fights them off, latterly aided by Iolaus. After telling him the sad news, she continues on her way until once again stopped, this time by the more friendly Amazons who wish to salute Xena and offer a traditional Amazonian funeral pyre. Meantime, the King of Thieves is stealing the danger of Helios, and discovers that the spirit of Xena is exerting influence over his actions. Gabrielle discovers that she's offically the new Amazon Queen, a title she's unwilling to take until Ephiny explains that the current acting Queen (Velasca) is very warlike and plans to start a battle with the Centaurs. Caught up in trying to stop the war, Gabrielle decides to become Queen and to accept the Amazons offer of a Funeral Pyre. Meantime Autolycus arrives and has to steal Xena's body before it gets burnt. He succeeds and Gabrielle joins him in the quest to find Ambrosia to restore Xena's spirit and body into a single whole; unfortunately the Amazon Queen is on their trail and realises that they know how to obtain the Ambrosia. Soon Gabrielle and Velasca are locked in a to the death struggle to obtain the Ambrosia... Part two of a two part story
Xena's body was not harmed during the production of this picture. However, it took weeks for Autolycus to get his swagger back.
038 "A Necessary Evil"
Original Air Date: Feb. 10, 1997
Production Code: V0219 Written by: Paul Robert Coyle
Directed by: Mark Beesley
Guest Cast: Melinda Clarke (Velasca)
Hudson Leick (Callisto)
Danielle Cormack (Ephiny)
Jodie Dorday (Solari)
The Amazons prepare to crown a new queen who by custom should be Gabrielle but Gabrielle decides that Ephiny should be queen in her place. Ephiny agrees but only on the condition that she is regent for Gabrielle. Suddenly a desperately injured Velasca appears and in front of the assembled Amazons eats a piece of ambrosia and becomes a god. When the Amazons turn against her following Ephiny's orders, she starts striking out with explosive flames from her finger tips. After a few short minutes of fighting, they all flee leaving Velasca in the burning ruins of the Amazon village. With Velasca now a god, Xena reasons that she needs an immortal to fight an immortal and much to Gabrielle's horror decides that Callisto is the only choice. Callisto has been trapped by Hercules in the ruins of a ramsacked temple. Having pursuaded Callisto to help them in exchange for giving her ambrosia, the three of them prepare to face Velasca, but not before Callisto forces Xena to make a public confession about her crimes. Coming face to face with Velasca in a canyon where her lightning bolts won't do too much damage, they start a fight with her. Callisto true to form attempts to change sides and form an alliance with Velasca, who merely tries to kill her. Mildly offended by this Callisto decides to attack Velasca as per the original plan, and she is trapped under a rockslide. This however is not enough to hold her for long and Xena plans to face her a second time in a ruined temple near a lava pit, in which she hopes to trap Velasca, and with luck Callisto as well.
The reputation of the Amazon Nation was not harmed despite Velasca's overly radical adherance to an otherwise valid belief system. back to top 039 "A Day In The Life"
Original Air Date: Feb. 17, 1997
Production Code: V0223 Written by: R. J. Stewart
Directed by: Michael Hurst
Guest Cast: Murray Keane (Hower)
Alison Wall (Minya)
Willy De Wit (Zagreus)
Jim Ngaata (Gareth)
Tony Billy (Largo)
A diary of an ordinary day with the Warrior Princess. The day starts with a dawn attack from the army of a local warlord, during which time their frying pan becomes rather damaged, a fact that Gabrielle is deeply annoyed about. In the process they discover that the warlord is planning to sack a nearby village and decide to stop him, however en route they meet a villager who asks them for help protecting his village from a giant. They decide to help the village under attack from the giant instead although Xena has high hopes of being able to stop both. While he's showing them the way, the villager, Hawer, falls instantly in love with Xena. Xena sends him off on an errand to deliver a cryptic message to the warlord. Arriving at the village they meet another villager, Minya, who is also Hawer's girlfriend and decide to distract her enthusiasm by asking her to fill a bathtub for them. Pretty soon both the warlord and the giant are converging on the village and Xena is trying to get a homemade kite to fly...
No Slippery Eels were harmed during the production of this motion picture despite their reputation as a fine delacy in select cultures of the known world.
040 "For Him The Bell Tolls" Original Air Date: Feb. 24, 1997
Production Code: V0220 Written by: Adam Armus & Nora Kay Foster Directed by: Josh Becker
Guest Cast: Ted Raimi (Joxer)
Alexandra Tydings (Aphrodite)
Karl Urban (Cupid)
Mandie Gillette (Ileandra)
Craig Parker (Sarpedon)
Ross Jolly (Barus)
Craig Walsh-Wrightson (Lynaeus)
Rachale Davies (Aria)
When Xena is called away, Gabrielle bumps into Joxer and they travel together for a while. Encountering a group of girls being cornered by Slave Traders, Gabrielle steps in to fight and is astounded when Joxer suddenly puts on an incredible display of courage and skill. They discover that the group are a Princess and her close courtiers en route to a rendezvous with her lover, a Prince from the next Kingdom. When Joxer and the Princess inexplicably fall in love, Gabrielle becomes suspicious and begins to realise that the ringing of a bell transforms Joxer between his normal unco-ordinated self and the sauve swordsman he's become. Gabrielle does her best to keep them appart, but when the father of the jilted Prince sends out an army to capture Joxer and his companions, things take a turn for the worse. When he decrees that Joxer should be executed for his crimes, Gabrielle has to take on the Goddess of Love herself, Aphrodite, in order to set things straight again.
The producers wish to acknowledge the inspiration of Danny Kaye and pay tribute to the classic motion picture "Court Jester".
041 "The Execution"
Original Air Date: Apr. 7, 1997
Production Code: V0218 Written by: Paul Robert Coyle Directed by: Garth Maxwell
Guest Cast: Tim Thomerson (Meleager)
Tony Blackett (Arbus)
Douglas Kamo (Sullus)
Ranald Hendriks (Elysha)
Ann Baxter (Old Woman)
Gabrielle receives word that her friend Meleager the Mighty needs her help, however when she and Xena arrive they discover that he has been arrested and has stood trial for murder and is sentanced to be hung. Gabrielle is convinced of his innocence, but Xena has her doubts particularly as the judge who tried him, Arbus, has a reputation as a fair and just man. Gabrielle desperate to save her friend breaks him out of jail, and is in her turn caught although he makes a getaway. Xena promises Arbus that she will return with Meleager, and she and Gabrielle set off to catch him. However when they do catch up with him, Gabrielle decides to try and stop Xena capturing him and taking him back to a certain death. When Xena gets past Gabrielle, she begins to realise that Meleager is a good fighter and when he tells her he let himself be captured so as not to injure innocent people, Xena becomes more unsure. Hearing his story again, Xena recognises aspects of the man Meleager is supposed to have killed, and on seeing the man's sword, realises that is was not Meleager but Xena herself who killed the man.
By popular demand "The Executioner" will bring back his comfortable lightweight cotton-flax blend robe in a variety of spring colors.
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042 "Blind Faith"
Original Air Date: Apr. 14, 1997
Production Code: V0214 Written by: Adam Armus & Nora Kay Foster
Directed by: Josh Becker Guest Cast: Jeremy Callaghan (Palaemon)
Chris Bailey (Apex)
Sydney Jackson (Vidalus)
Graham Lauder (Lagos)
While visiting a small town, Gabrielle and Xena become seperated and Gabrielle is kidnapped. While trying to find her, Xena is challenged to a fight with a young warrior who really fancies himself as a fighter. Despite being incapacitated by an accident with an oil bottle during the fight, Xena manages to hold her own. Meanwhile Gabrielle discovers that she is to be married to a king and despite her protests is coached in how to present herself at court. The warrior is infuriated that Xena is incapacitated and refuses to continue to fight her with her at such a disadvantage. She agrees to a rematch but only on the condition that he assist her in rescuing Gabrielle first. When his erstwhile friends with whom he arranged Gabrielle's kidnapping turn on him and try to kill him, Xena and he end up fighting on the same side. At the end of the fight, he suddenly realises that Xena is now blind, but not before she's manacled the two of them together to stop him escaping. Later while trying to escape a search by the soldiers of the king who has kidnapped Gabrielle, Xena falls into a ravine and is about to drag the young warrior with her. When she releases the manacle to allow him to survive, he decides to try and save her. Gabrielle meanwhile escapes the guards and visits the King's chambers only to discover that he's dead and that she is to be married to him and then killed so that the King's minister can gain power over the kingdom. Once again, Gabrielle's luck with men was harmed during the production of this motion picture. back to top 043 "Ulysses"
Original Air Date: Apr. 21, 1997
Production Code: V0213 Written by: R. J. Stewart Directed by: Michael Levine Guest Cast: John D'Aquino (Ulysses)
Rachel Blakely (Penelope)
Tim Raby (Meticles)
Carl Bland (Layos)
Gabrielle is extolling the beauty of the seashore to Xena who is doing her best to appear unconvinced until she hears the sound of a battle in progress. She then sits back and enjoys watching the fight while it's only three against one, and the one seems to be winning. When a further dozen attackers appear to join the fray, Xena and Gabrielle even up the odds. Seeing off the attackers, Xena and Gabrielle find that the man they've saved is none other than Ulysses, King of Ithica trying to return home from the Trojan war. His ship has been captured by pirates loyal to Poseidon, the king of the sea. With Gabrielle pretending to be an exotic dancer, Xena and Ulysses climb onto the ship and soon the pirates have all been thrown overboard. They then set sail for Ithica, and en route they encounter the sirens - enchanting maidens whose singing lures unsuspecting (male) sailors onto the rocks. Meanwhile Ulysses and Xena start to develop a considerable affection for each other, Ulysses believing his wife Penelope to be dead. Arriving in Ithica, they save a man being attacked by thugs who turns out to be a childhood friend of Ulysses'. He tells Ulysses that the Queen is still alive but is being pestered by suitors at the Royal Court. With Xena and Gabrielle in disguise assisting him, Ulysses re-enters the Palace dressed as a peasant and takes the challenge Penelope has set to string a bow that has belonged to Ulysses' family for generations. He then reveals himself and proceeds to start a fight to remove all the suitors from the palace. Xena and Gabrielle join in and soon there is complete havoc.
Despite Gabrielle's incessant hurling, Ulysses' ship was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. back to top 044 "The Price"
Original Air Date: Apr. 28, 1997
Production Code: V0217 Written by: Steven L. Sears Directed by: Oley Sassone Guest Cast: Paul Glover (Menticles)
Charles Mesure (Mercer)
Tamati Rice (Garel)
Mark Perry (Galipan)
Justin Curry (G'Kug)
Xena and Gabrielle are fishing the conventional way with fishing lines, when Gabrielle catches a half-dead Athenian soldier with an axe buried in his ribcage. Xena is immediately panic stricken, and tells Gabrielle to run, but before they can get very far they are surrounded by savages from a tribe known as The Horde. Doubling back, Xena and Gabrielle take one of their canoes and head off down the river with only Xena's timely use of the chakram saving them from being caught. Xena tells Gabrielle of her previous encounter with the Horde and how they slaughtered a significant number of her army. They return to the canoe and continue down the river, feeling that they're being watched. They pass a river bank where a number of the Athenian army are stretched out and screaming on makeshift crosses; Gabrielle pleads with Xena to let her go and help but Xena refuses insisting that they're as good as dead. A soldier still on his feet swims out into the river, and catches hold of their canoe and they try to pull him in. Suddenly ahead they see the aura of a waterfall and head towards the bank; fortunately just as a group of soldiers from the Athenian garrison arrive. Returning with them to the garrison, Xena discovers a descimated and hopeless army based in the ruins of a castle -- she decides to try and rally them around her in order to survive. Meanwhile Gabrielle tries to do her best for the injured and dying. As Xena works on her plan to defend the garrison, Gabrielle starts to see the totally evil and ruthless side of Xena that made her into such a formidable warlord. When Xena refuses food for the injured and dying and starts torturing a prisoner she's taken, Gabrielle snaps and decides to follow her own lights rather than Xena's orders. Gabrielle goes outside with water to attend to the injured of the Horde, she initiates a ceasefire during which time both sides retrieve their injured from the battleground. In the process, Xena realises that Gabrielle is right that she needs to understand the enemy and tries an experiment with the captured savage. She releases him with a challenge for the leader of the Horde, and he comes forward to take part in a duel. When Xena defeats him, he is killed by his own side who then withdraw leaving the Athenians free to leave the besieged compound.
To show sympathy for the Horde, "Kaltaka" was only served on request during the production of this motion picture. back to top
045 "The Lost Mariner"
Original Air Date: May 5, 1997 Production Code: V0226 Written by: Steven L. Sears Directed by: Garth Maxwell Guest Cast: Tony Todd (Cecrops)
George Henare (Hidsim)
Nigel Harbrow (Basculis)
Xena and Gabrielle are shipwrecked after the boat they were travelling in is run onto the rocks by marauding pirates. Gabrielle (and another survivor) are rescued by a boat that comes past the following morning. When the other survivor is killed my magical forces after jumping from the boat, Gabrielle discovers that she is trapped on the doomed ship of Cecrops. Cecrops has been cursed by Poseidon to forever travel the sea and no one is able to leave the ship. Xena, desperate to save Gabrielle and relentlessly pursued by some pirates she's acquainted with decides to jump onto the ship despite knowing of the curse. When Poseidon appears and offers Xena a way of the ship, she realises that there is a way to defeat the curse and she's close to finding it and defies Poseidon by remaining. When Poseidon offers Cecrops a way out for giving Xena up to him, Xena becomes certain she knows the way out and leads them to the deadly whirlpool, Caribdus, where she believes the answer and their salvation lies.
Cecrops "Joie de Vivre" was not harmed during the production of this motion picture.
back to top 046 "Comedy of Eros"
Original Air Date: May 12, 1997 Production Code: V0225 Written by: Chris Manheim Directed by: Charles Siebert Guest Cast: Ted Raimi (Joxer)
Jay Laga'aia (Draco)
Karl Urban (Cupid)
Anthony Ray Parker (Pinullus)
Cameron Russel (Bliss)
Barry Te Hira (Craigan)
Cupid tries to pursuade his young son, Bliss, to go to sleep and believing him asleep, goes to his wife. Bliss however has other ideas and borrows his father's bows and arrows and disappears. Xena and Gabrielle arrive at the temple of the Hestian Virgins where they plan to defend the temple and more specifically the virgin priestesses from an attack by the warlord Draco. Unfortunately Bliss arrives at the same village and starts shooting his father's arrows all over the place. Draco arrives on the scene, and Bliss fires an arrow at Xena just as they confront each other. Despite her infatuation with Draco, Xena is still determined to stop him from kidnapping the priestesses and tries to convince him not to do it. Meanwhile Bliss strikes again, this time making Gabrielle fall for Joxer and Draco fall for Gabrielle. Draco goes after the priestesses but only catches one, who turns out to be Xena in disguise. Then somewhat unexpectedly Xena appears to change heart and stands aside to let Draco kidnap the priestesses; the slave trader arrives with a note supposedly from Draco including Gabrielle in the slaves being sold. Since Draco is hopelessly in love with Gabrielle, he refuses to hand her over and a fight ensues during which time the priestesses escape to some nearby caves. Things take a turn for the bizzare when Bliss strikes a number of the Priestesses and they start chasing Draco's men instead of the other way round. Meanwhile Xena lets Cupid know what is going on and does a deal with him to help him clear up the mess Bliss has made. Fairly soon everyone is back to normal except Draco, who Xena pursuades Cupid should be left as he is. Joxer is somewhat depressed that Gabrielle's interest in him wasn't real after all, since he was genuinely interested in her.
No cherries were harmed during the production of this motion picture.
