I love this show, and I wish there were more of it. But, by golly, I'm not sure I've ever watched a series that could be dated so definitively.
I feel like previous decades in television were characterized by series that were generally pretty wholesome, if only owing to censorship. From the early 2000s onwards, there was an ever-increasing trend to pigeonhole shows a bit more - while usually making them more serious across the board, if not darker, many series tend to fall into a specific genre. In the 90s, however, the credo seemed to be "anything goes," and 'Xena' proudly held that banner high, for good and for ill.
Throughout the entire series there are many story beats, scenes, and plot lines, to say nothing of whole episodes, that are so patently ridiculous that they defy all but the most hardy suspension of disbelief. The extent of Xena and Gabrielle's globe-trotting, especially in later seasons, inherently induces a double-take - followed by "Sure, I guess." There are some moments that are so cheesy that they're very cringe-worthy, making me wonder why I was watching. It's readily apparent just how much fun the entire cast had making 'Xena,' but sometimes their fun almost seems to get in the way of the viewer's.
Yet for every dubious aspect that inspires cynicism, there are at least just as many that spark joy. Xena's journey to India may have been so ill-considered that it was necessary to put a disclaimer at the beginning of the episode, yet adventures in China lead to some great character moments. I can readily cite several episodes that made me incredulously ask, "Really?" - yet there are some that, warts and all, are among my favorite moments in television that I could name. I'm looking at you, "Ides of March."
It's funny to think that 'Xena' was a spinoff of 'Hercules: The legendary journeys.' 'Hercules' was more consistent, yet scarcely rose above "entertaining." 'Xena' is a bit all over the place, but at its best far exceeds its progenitor.
The cast absolutely shines, roles large and small. Recurring guest stars Robert Trebor and Bruce Campbell are absolute delights, to say nothing of regular Ted Raimi. Karl Urban! Gina Torres! Meg Foster! Claire Stansfield is outstanding and imposing as repeat antagonist Alti. Among many others - perhaps my favorite of all guests and co-stars, Hudson Leick is incredible in her role as Callisto. While the character is taken in a questionable direction in later seasons, her part as a villain sees Leick embody a spirit of madness, and unbridled violence, that recalls the most unhinged depictions of The Joker in Batman's vast history.
And, of course, Lucy Lawless is a fine anchor as Xena, providing a solid foundation for every moment in the show, good and bad.
Yet she is outshone, I would argue, by Renee O'Connor. Xena may have the name, but Gabrielle has the story. Gabrielle's character arc, from hapless peasant to constant companion and beyond, is perhaps the most consistently rewarding part of 'Xena: Warrior Princess.' Her journey is captivating, utterly transforming the character throughout, and O'Connor embodies it so well. Her performance is outstanding, and one of the most fantastic and gleefully memorable parts of the show.
It's impossible to discuss 'Xena' for nary a moment without bringing up the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle. This is one of those parts of the show that most certainly dates it. They are inseparable. They describe one another as soulmates. By the gods, Xena at one point gifts Gabrielle with a poem she commissioned for her FROM SAPPHO. Even so, to explicitly state that Xena and Gabrielle are lesbians is not something that could seem to happen on network television in the late '90s. Yet that doesn't stop 'Xena' from becoming a beacon, an iconic benchmark in media, for lesbians the world over. Nor should it - just because you're told not to celebrate, doesn't mean you still can't.
At the end of the day, 'Xena: Warrior Princess' is a bit uneven, with a few dubious screenwriting choices throughout. But even at its worst it's fun, and at its best, it's worthy of the utmost praise. 'Xena' marks a seminal moment in television, and in culture generally. Take it with a grain of salt, but it's so very worth watching, and watching again and again.
I feel like previous decades in television were characterized by series that were generally pretty wholesome, if only owing to censorship. From the early 2000s onwards, there was an ever-increasing trend to pigeonhole shows a bit more - while usually making them more serious across the board, if not darker, many series tend to fall into a specific genre. In the 90s, however, the credo seemed to be "anything goes," and 'Xena' proudly held that banner high, for good and for ill.
Throughout the entire series there are many story beats, scenes, and plot lines, to say nothing of whole episodes, that are so patently ridiculous that they defy all but the most hardy suspension of disbelief. The extent of Xena and Gabrielle's globe-trotting, especially in later seasons, inherently induces a double-take - followed by "Sure, I guess." There are some moments that are so cheesy that they're very cringe-worthy, making me wonder why I was watching. It's readily apparent just how much fun the entire cast had making 'Xena,' but sometimes their fun almost seems to get in the way of the viewer's.
Yet for every dubious aspect that inspires cynicism, there are at least just as many that spark joy. Xena's journey to India may have been so ill-considered that it was necessary to put a disclaimer at the beginning of the episode, yet adventures in China lead to some great character moments. I can readily cite several episodes that made me incredulously ask, "Really?" - yet there are some that, warts and all, are among my favorite moments in television that I could name. I'm looking at you, "Ides of March."
It's funny to think that 'Xena' was a spinoff of 'Hercules: The legendary journeys.' 'Hercules' was more consistent, yet scarcely rose above "entertaining." 'Xena' is a bit all over the place, but at its best far exceeds its progenitor.
The cast absolutely shines, roles large and small. Recurring guest stars Robert Trebor and Bruce Campbell are absolute delights, to say nothing of regular Ted Raimi. Karl Urban! Gina Torres! Meg Foster! Claire Stansfield is outstanding and imposing as repeat antagonist Alti. Among many others - perhaps my favorite of all guests and co-stars, Hudson Leick is incredible in her role as Callisto. While the character is taken in a questionable direction in later seasons, her part as a villain sees Leick embody a spirit of madness, and unbridled violence, that recalls the most unhinged depictions of The Joker in Batman's vast history.
And, of course, Lucy Lawless is a fine anchor as Xena, providing a solid foundation for every moment in the show, good and bad.
Yet she is outshone, I would argue, by Renee O'Connor. Xena may have the name, but Gabrielle has the story. Gabrielle's character arc, from hapless peasant to constant companion and beyond, is perhaps the most consistently rewarding part of 'Xena: Warrior Princess.' Her journey is captivating, utterly transforming the character throughout, and O'Connor embodies it so well. Her performance is outstanding, and one of the most fantastic and gleefully memorable parts of the show.
It's impossible to discuss 'Xena' for nary a moment without bringing up the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle. This is one of those parts of the show that most certainly dates it. They are inseparable. They describe one another as soulmates. By the gods, Xena at one point gifts Gabrielle with a poem she commissioned for her FROM SAPPHO. Even so, to explicitly state that Xena and Gabrielle are lesbians is not something that could seem to happen on network television in the late '90s. Yet that doesn't stop 'Xena' from becoming a beacon, an iconic benchmark in media, for lesbians the world over. Nor should it - just because you're told not to celebrate, doesn't mean you still can't.
At the end of the day, 'Xena: Warrior Princess' is a bit uneven, with a few dubious screenwriting choices throughout. But even at its worst it's fun, and at its best, it's worthy of the utmost praise. 'Xena' marks a seminal moment in television, and in culture generally. Take it with a grain of salt, but it's so very worth watching, and watching again and again.