Livia – Director: Rick Jacobson/Writer: Chris Manheim
This one starts with a bloodthirsty general named Livia leading Roman troops in slaughter and slave-taking. She’s congratulated by Ares, who’s happy that she’s been named successor to the Roman Emperor, and that they’ll soon be able to wipe out all of Eli’s followers. Elsewhere, an avalanche lets some sunlight into the cave where Ares left
Xena and Gabi last episode, reviving Xena enough that she breaks out of her ice tomb. She wakes Gabi and they go looking for Eve. They find a village nearby, but nobody’s heard of Octavius. They’re shocked to find out that everyone thinks Xena died 25 years ago.
The villagers mention Livia’s terrible deeds and Gabi is happy to find out Eli has more followers than ever. They head for Rome and stop off at a tavern 
that’s decorated with some familiar objects: chakrams, sais, Gabi’s scrolls, and other Xena and Gabrielle memorabilia. They find out the tavern is owned by Joxer and Meg, who are 25 years older. Joxer is stunned (but thrilled) to see them, but tells them he has no idea where Eve is. He tells them Argo died, but gives Xena Argo’s daughter and introduces them to his son, Virgil. They go to Rome to find Octavius and Xena is shocked to find that he’s Emperor Augustus. She talks to him and realizes with horror that Livia is actually her daughter Eve.
Xena is pissed off about her daughter being a monster (especially one that
works for Rome), but Augustus points out that Eve is safe from the Greek gods as long as no one knows she’s Livia. Augustus tells Xena he loves Livia and wants to marry her, which will insure the gods never know who she really is. Xena’s not happy about that and wonders if Eve is a lost cause. Gabi reminds her that she managed to overcome her Dark side and they can help Eve do the same. The next day, 
Gabi, Joxer, and Virgil run into some Roman soldiers collecting “offerings” for a new monument to Livia. They fight the soldiers but have to surrender to save Joxer, whose age makes him even less competent than he was 25 years ago. Xena goes to see Eve at the Coliseum and finds her sparring—and making out—with Ares.
Xena reveals herself and Ares is stunned, trying to put the moves on her right away. It’s obvious he doesn’t know Livia is Eve (although he now
assumes Eve is still alive somewhere), so Xena keeps her mouth shut and takes off. In prison, Gabi bonds with Virgil when she finds out he’s a writer and realizes Joxer is still embellishing his role in their old adventures. (Gabi plays along, since Virgil believes Joxer’s bullshit stories.) The prison is full of Eli’s followers and Livia comes in to tell them they need a champion to fight her for their freedom. She seems to think Virgil would make a good champion. Xena tells Augustus about Livia and Ares, but he doesn’t believe her. She 
tells him to get Livia close enough to her and Ares to hear what they’re saying later at the Bacchanalia. Xena sneaks into the Bacchanalia dressed as a servant and gets Ares to admit he doesn’t really care that much about Livia and that he’d drop her in a second if Xena joined him. Augustus is pissed off that Livia was using him and tells her he’ll never marry her now. Livia blames Xena for fucking things up for her with Augustus and Ares.
Ares realizes Livia is Eve and tells Xena he’ll keep his mouth shut about her to the other gods if Xena gives him a child. Xena tells Livia she’s her mother, but Livia doesn’t want to believe it and tells Xena she wants to fight
her in the arena tomorrow. They fight and Xena uses the Pinch to get the upper hand, but refuses to kill Livia even though the crowd wants her blood. Xena tells Livia she loves her, but Livia vows she’ll make Xena regret being merciful. Xena sparing Livia turns the crowd and Augustus decides to show mercy, not just to Livia, but to all of Eli’s followers. In the confusion with all the freed prisoners thanking Xena, Livia takes off and Xena tells Gabi they have to find her to save her from the gods … and herself.
This is a pretty good episode, but it’s mostly set-up for the next two, which 
is why it’s #49 on my all-time list and not higher. This was a clever way of getting rid of baby Eve (without killing her, which would’ve been a bit too dark even for this show), and the 25-year time jump introduces a whole new set-up for the characters. Xena and Gabi have to deal with being a quarter century out-of-touch, as well as figuring out how to get through to Livia. Xena is obviously horrified at her daughter turning out to be everything she didn’t want: a warrior, a slaver,
and a killer, all in the name of Rome. She’s not happy about Augustus marrying her either (and I think that’s a bit creepy … he’s known her since she was a baby, after all). But Augustus does drop Livia when he finds out she’s conspiring with Ares, and he spares the followers of Eli in the end, so maybe he hasn’t quite lost all his youthful idealism.
It’s interesting to see Joxer as an old man married to Meg, and we get to 
meet Virgil, their oldest kid. (There are more, although none of them get names; I speculated last episode that the kids might be adopted, or maybe Aphrodite did Joxer and Meg a divine favour.) Some people think there’s a vibe between Gabi and Virgil, but I don’t see it. Besides being in love with Xena, Gabi probably thinks of herself as old enough to be Virgil’s mother (even though he may actually be older than her, biologically speaking). I think Gabi has a soft spot for Virgil
because he’s Joxer’s son, and probably because he’s a fellow writer; Gabi always bonds with the writers. And Joxer hasn’t changed much, still spinning tall tales and still eager to go on an adventure with Xena and Gabi, even though he can barely lift his sword. He reminds me of Tennyson’s Ulysses, ready to sail off on one last adventure, knowing he might not come back but preferring that to the settled life.
Noticeable Things:
- Xena and Gabi wake up in (or near) Mount Etna in Sicily. Joxer and Meg’s tavern seems to be close to Rome, probably on one of the main roads so they get more business.
- Virgil’s a pretty good fighter. I assume he gets that from Meg, not Joxer.
- There’s a scene where Livia drags Xena around the arena, reminiscent of the one from When in Rome. Maybe those are the creators’ way of making up for the Gab Drag.
Favourite Quotes:
- “No daughter of mine is going to marry Rome.” Xena letting Augustus know she doesn’t approve of his wedding plans.
- “If I were you, I would lay off the starches.” Gabi giving Xena some advice while getting a little body-shamey towards the older version of Meg.
- “You know what? Shorty, you kinda look like her. Only Gabrielle wasn’t so butch.” Meg inadvertently getting one back on Gabi.