Xena Reviews: Season 5, Episode 17

Kindred Spirits – Director: Josh Becker/Writers: George Strayton, Tom O’Neill

This one starts with some Amazons (the same tribe from last episode, including Cyane, Eris, and Rhea) bathing and discussing how great it is to have Xena, Gabi, and Eve around. Eris mentions that she asked Gabi to be their permanent queen, which doesn’t make Cyane happy. Someone is spying on them from the bushes and the Amazons capture him. Xena and Gabi play with Eve and Gabi tells Xena about the Amazons’ offer, saying she thinks they could use her guidance. Xena’s not too enthused, but agrees to consider it. The Amazons bring the peeping tom to Gabi for judgment and it turns out to be Joxer.

Since Joxer was supposed to bring Xena a message from Cleopatra and forgot, she pretends not to know him. He’s put into public stocks until Gabi can figure out his punishment and he’s tormented by young Amazons, who throw stuff at him (some fans think it’s shit, but it looks like porridge or oatmeal to me) and call him a fat pervert. Rhea goes to visit Gabi and Xena and wishes she had a baby like Eve. Joxer is dying for a piss and asks Eris for help. She asks what Xena looks for in a sidekick and when he tells her (lots of flips and a good war cry, neither of which we’ve ever seen Gabi do), she leaves without helping him. Xena and Gabi hang out with the Amazons in the bath house and talk about men and sex. When Gabi mentions they might stay, Eris is thrilled but Xena still looks uncomfortable with the idea. Later, Rhea shows an interest in Joxer, which gets him excited. The next day, Gabi is summoned to a meeting and leaves Xena to do some housework. Eris tries to impress Xena with her fighting and leaping abilities, but Xena gets her to do some cleaning around the place. Gabi is ready to free Joxer, but Cyane points out that Gabi has been pushing for the Amazons to embrace their ancient traditions, and ancient law says Joxer should lose an eye for spying on naked Amazons.

Eris cleans up around the cabin and Gabi is impressed, thinking Xena did it. She tells Xena about Joxer and Xena says to let him off the hook. Rhea tells Joxer she wants to have his baby, which freaks him out. Rhea finds Cyane playing queen in the throne room and says Cyane’s devotion to the tribe should make her support Gabi. Eris talks Xena into joining some Amazons in a dance rehearsal for Gabi’s coronation. Gabi tells Joxer she’ll look for a loophole in the Amazon laws. When Gabi sees Xena’s half-assed attempts at dancing, she realizes Xena’s not really interested in staying there. Xena admits all the communal stuff is driving her crazy and Gabi gets upset because she thinks Xena’s not supporting her. Xena says they need some time apart, so she’ll take Eve north for a while to do some fishing. It’s obvious neither of them really wants Xena to go, but they’re both too stubborn to admit it, so Gabi agrees and Xena says she and Eve will take off right after the coronation.

Gabi studies the ancient laws and finds out Joxer can be pardoned for his first offense if he pledges allegiance to her. That night, Gabi undergoes another Amazon ceremony, where she’s stripped down, covered in mud, and forced to howl at the moon all night. She does it, but it’s obvious she’s getting sick of Amazon rituals. Eris tries to impress Xena with her athletics, suggesting she could use a new sidekick, but Xena’s not interested. Joxer pledges loyalty to Gabi and after she calls the other Amazons to a meeting to discuss his fate, Rhea sets Joxer free and takes him to the supply shed for some loving. Eris goes all out with Xena, basically telling her she’s willing to have a no-strings affair with her, but Xena shuts her down right away. While putting away some of Gabi’s scrolls that Eris found in her saddlebags, Xena starts reading them. In the supply shed, Rhea puts the moves on Joxer, who tries (somewhat) to talk her out of it. Cyane catches them and takes them to the throne room, where she proclaims that Rhea has to be exiled and Joxer must face Gabi in a fight to the death.

Gabi is worried about what to do and wonders if she’s really cut out to be queen. Xena mentions reading Gabi’s scrolls and says that anyone who can find grace and meaning in everything that happens will make a good queen … and that she’s willing to stick around for that. Xena helps Gabi by agreeing to take her place in the fight against Joxer. Xena and Joxer square off (in a WWE-style wrestling ring) and toss each other around a bit before Xena uses her skills to shut down all his bodily functions. As soon as Cyane declares him dead, Xena revives him, and Gabi says it’s time to change the ancient laws since they’re much too harsh. Gabi tells Cyane she’s leaving her in charge because she’s leaving with Xena. Later, they camp out and play with Eve, discussing a trip to Egypt.

This is one of my favourite episodes (#3 on my all-time list) because it gives us a really good look at Xena and Gabi’s relationship and shows how much they love each other, despite their differences. Xena and Gabi have a major disagreement here over their lifestyle, with Gabi wanting to settle down (she even uses the term “domestic bliss”) and Xena nowhere near ready for that yet. But Xena’s willing to try (a little) even though she much prefers the wandering life, eventually choosing to stay with Gabi and the Amazons. And in the end, Gabi decides to stick with her, so they both compromise to make the other happy, which is what love is all about. What they both realize (and which Gabi already mentioned to Li Qin in Back in the Bottle) is that they are each other’s home, so wherever they go is home as long as they’re together. This really plays out like a soap opera, with Gabi and Xena having a romantic crisis and Eris playing the home-wrecker who offers Xena an alternative. But Xena doesn’t even consider it, which shows that even when they’re having problems, they still love each other. Some people might think Gabi lost out here, since she ended up compromising the most, but it was obvious that her responsibilities as queen were driving her nuts, so I think she was actually glad to resume her life of adventure with Xena. After all, Gabi ran away from the settled life, so why would she want to go back to that? And of course, Xena finally reads Gabi’s scrolls! Took her long enough.

The other story is Joxer and his peeping, which is a little cringe-worthy, but is mostly played for laughs. It leads into the whole thing with Rhea, where he (usually) tries to talk her out of her desperate need to have a baby. But the Joxer stuff ties in with Gabi’s story, showing her what a pain in the ass it is to be in charge. Most of Joxer’s stuff is pretty funny, although the wrestling match was a bit over the top for me. Lucy and Ted apparently improvised most of their dialogue in that scene, and they certainly seem to be enjoying themselves.

Noticeable Things:

• When Gabi and Xena are awakened by the Amazons blowing a ram’s horn, Gabi asks Xena if it was her who made that noise. Not very flattering, but maybe Amazon food doesn’t agree with Xena. That might explain why they were sleeping in separate beds.
• The conversation in the bath house has several great lines. When Eris says she’s staying a virgin forever, Xena says “Forever is a long time”. When the Amazons ask about sex with a man, Xena says it’s different every time … which could be either good or bad, depending on your point of view. Gabi gets in a little slut-shaming, saying that Xena has studied the subject (of sex with men) more than she has. And we find out Xena and Gabi disagree on style, Gabi preferring gentleness, but Xena apparently liking it rougher.
• When the Amazons come into the throne room the first time, Gabi is asleep on the throne. When she wakes up, she blurts out, “Not tonight!” Maybe Gabi’s been stingy with the sex lately; that would certainly explain why Xena’s so grumpy.
• During the WWE bout, Joxer actually punches Xena several times, then immediately regrets it because he thinks she’s going to kick his ass.

Favourite Quotes:

• “… some people are better lovers than others.” Gabi’s statement to the Amazons, said with a big grin on her face. I can’t help wondering if she’s referring to Xena or herself.
• “Nah, that’s just a myth. Guys don’t really go blind from doing that.” Xena’s reply when Gabi tells her Joxer’s going to be blinded.
• “Hey, it’s not my fault if a buncha half-naked women are bathing, and I just happen to be standing there watching them from the bushes for a really long time.” Joxer rather unconvincing defense when Gabi gives him shit for peeping at the Amazons.
• “We can’t just do it on command. We need stuff like cheap motel rooms, and dirty pictures, and lingerie … we’re not animals.” Joxer explaining to Rhea that men are complex creatures when it comes to sex.
• “Xena’s a lot older than us, she’s probably tired.” Eris’s explanation for Xena’s lack of enthusiasm at dance practice.
• “I sing of the Wrath of Callisto, the pain of Gabrielle and the courage of Xena, and the ineffable mystery of a friendship as immortal as the gods.” Xena reading Gabi’s scrolls for the first time (from Return of Callisto). Lucy’s reaction is great, the way her expression and voice both change as soon as she reads “… the pain of Gabrielle …”