Welcome to my geography and timeline review for Season 5. As always, this is my attempt to bring some continuity to this season’s episodes, trying to figure out where they took place and the best possible order to make the whole thing flow better. As I’ve said before, none of this minutiae really matters all that much (and my reasoning could be completely off), but I’m a continuity nerd, so I have to at least try. This season has even fewer geographical references than last season, which makes it harder to place the episodes geographically, but the beginning and end of the season are pretty straightforward, so that helps. As I said last year, if you’re not as enamoured of this sort of thing as I am, feel free to skip this post. My first review for Season 6 will be up next Wednesday as always.
I’m sticking to the same format as previous years (Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 4), taking the episodes in the order they aired. I won’t link to individual episodes, since they’re easy to access through my Tag Cloud under “Xena Season 5”. At the end of the post, I’ll suggest a possible viewing order that might make things flow better, but
it’s just my opinion and others might have a more logical viewing order. There aren’t as many changes in episode order for this season, as the overall story arc is pretty linear, especially in the latter half of the season. If you disagree with my conclusions, let me know in the Comments. As usual, I believe Xena and Gabi are having plenty of unrecorded adventures (and training sessions, and personal time) in between episodes, so they technically have time to travel wherever they want, if we assume the travelling is mostly done off-screen and between episodes. You can click on the maps for a larger view (CTRL click to open them in a new window or tab) and thanks again to getdrawings.com for my Greece outline map, and to d-maps.com for the other maps.
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- 1. Fallen Angel: Xena and Gabi spend most of this episode in Heaven (or Hell), realms that go beyond physical geography (and time may pass differently there too, so they could’ve spent more time in the afterlife than actually passed in the real world). Speaking of the real world, Joxer, Amarice, and Eli take Xena and Gabi’s bodies from Mount Amaro hoping to get them back to Greece. They’re forced to stop partway, but according to next episode, they’re in a region where Kal is the God of War. Presumably, that means they aren’t in Italy or Greece, but somewhere in between. I think they could be in the mountains of what’s now Slovenia
or Croatia, at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea.
- 1. Fallen Angel: Xena and Gabi spend most of this episode in Heaven (or Hell), realms that go beyond physical geography (and time may pass differently there too, so they could’ve spent more time in the afterlife than actually passed in the real world). Speaking of the real world, Joxer, Amarice, and Eli take Xena and Gabi’s bodies from Mount Amaro hoping to get them back to Greece. They’re forced to stop partway, but according to next episode, they’re in a region where Kal is the God of War. Presumably, that means they aren’t in Italy or Greece, but somewhere in between. I think they could be in the mountains of what’s now Slovenia
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- 2. Chakram: This episode logically follows the first one and begins in the same ruined temple where Fallen Angel ended. The action moves to the temple where Eli’s friend lived, which can’t be too far away since they reach it within a few days. The Chakram Temple must be close too, as they travel to it quickly, so this probably takes place in the same general vicinity as the above episode, (maybe a little further southeast).
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- 3. Succession: I think this episode should be pushed back a bit, since it
seems to take place back in Greece (at one of Demeter’s temples, according to Ares). Demeter had temples all over, so it could occur anywhere in Greece, maybe near Amphipolis or Amazon territory (which would explain why Amarice is absent if she headed back to the Amazons temporarily). I’m not sure what happened to Joxer … maybe he went to see Meg or got himself involved in some other mess.
- 3. Succession: I think this episode should be pushed back a bit, since it
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- 4. Animal Attraction: This one is set in Spamona, an obviously fictional town known for its mineral waters. At the end of the episode, Gabi says she’ll race Xena to Greece, suggesting they haven’t reached
Greece yet, which is why I think Succession should come after this episode, since Ares welcomes them home in that one. There’s no mention of Xena’s pregnancy in Succession, but maybe she just didn’t want Ares (or Mavican) to know about it. If we assume Xena and company kept moving towards Greece after Chakram, they could be somewhere in Illyria or Epirus, northwest of Greece. There’s a town in modern day Albania called Peshkopi that’s known for its mineral waters, so they could be somewhere around there.
- 4. Animal Attraction: This one is set in Spamona, an obviously fictional town known for its mineral waters. At the end of the episode, Gabi says she’ll race Xena to Greece, suggesting they haven’t reached
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- 5. Them Bones, Them Bones: This one could start anywhere in Greece, possibly near Amazon territory since Amarice is present again. It quickly moves to the land of the Northern Amazons, which we saw back in Season 4. At the end of the episode, Xena says they’re heading east to Chin, which fits my idea that they’re in Central Asia, not up in Siberia as some fans think. Joxer is missing from this episode but present for the next two, so he probably followed them,
staying out of sight since men aren’t welcome among the Amazons.
- 5. Them Bones, Them Bones: This one could start anywhere in Greece, possibly near Amazon territory since Amarice is present again. It quickly moves to the land of the Northern Amazons, which we saw back in Season 4. At the end of the episode, Xena says they’re heading east to Chin, which fits my idea that they’re in Central Asia, not up in Siberia as some fans think. Joxer is missing from this episode but present for the next two, so he probably followed them,
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- 6. Purity: This episode and the next one take place in Chin, mostly around Lao Ma’s palace and temple. Obviously they have to follow the preceding episode.
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- 7. Back in the Bottle: This is set in Chin and immediately follows the above episode.
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- 8. Little Problems: This seems to take place back in Greece (since
they’re near a temple to Aphrodite), but there’s no indication of exactly where. Joxer is absent, so this one could be moved back to take place after the next three but before Xena gives birth in God Fearing Child. If we do move this one back, that could suggest it takes place somewhere in the Peloponnese, which would fit as it’s definitely on a coast somewhere and the Peloponnese has plenty of coastline. (Aphrodite has temples all over the place, so that doesn’t narrow it down any.)
- 8. Little Problems: This seems to take place back in Greece (since
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- 9. Seeds of Faith: This is said to take place in Pylos. As I mentioned in my Season 1 Geography post, there were two towns called Pylos in the
Peloponnese: one in the northwest and the other in the southwest. I’m going with the latter as the setting for this episode, as it’s right on the coast and Ares’ army does seem to be advancing along a beach. They also cross a river and Pylos has a river right beside it, and it seems like a relatively large town, so that fits too. That also fits with the surrounding episodes (after a little reshuffling) all being set in the Peloponnese.
- 9. Seeds of Faith: This is said to take place in Pylos. As I mentioned in my Season 1 Geography post, there were two towns called Pylos in the
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- 10. Lyre Lyre, Hearts on Fire: This is set in Melodia, the (completely made-up) music capital of Greece. The fact that Cyrene shows up
suggests that Melodia is near Amphipolis and the fact that the Amazons say the Lyre was found on their territory backs that up, since they’re not too far from Amphipolis. I think this episode could take place before Seeds of Faith, Punch Lines, and Little Problems, since Joxer is still here. Maybe this is their first adventure after returning from the Northern Amazon territory. (They could’ve been visiting the Greek Amazons to let them know Amarice had stayed behind in Asia.)
- 10. Lyre Lyre, Hearts on Fire: This is set in Melodia, the (completely made-up) music capital of Greece. The fact that Cyrene shows up
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- 11. Punch Lines: At the beginning of this episode, Gabi says they’ll be in Pylos soon, with suggests this should take place right before Seeds of Faith (and that it’s probably set somewhere in the Peloponnese). Joxer is present here, but he might’ve gone somewhere else before Xena and Gabi meet Eli in Pylos.
- 11. Punch Lines: At the beginning of this episode, Gabi says they’ll be in Pylos soon, with suggests this should take place right before Seeds of Faith (and that it’s probably set somewhere in the Peloponnese). Joxer is present here, but he might’ve gone somewhere else before
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- 12. God Fearing Child: I’m not sure where this starts, but it could be in the Peloponnese if we rearrange the episodes so Seeds of Faith and Little Problems take place right before this one. That fits, since Xena and Gabi access the Underworld through the Alcyonian Lake, which is in the Peloponnese, just south of Lerna. When they emerge from Hades, they aren’t in the Lake but in a cave somewhere. According to legend, there was a cave that led to the Underworld near Cape Tainaron, at the southern end of the Peloponnese. That would fit with the Alcyonian Lake reference as well as the surrounding episodes. We can assume Hercules’ travels to Olympus and back were done with some sort of godly magic.
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- 13. Eternal Bonds: Since the next episode is set in Amphipolis, we can
assume this one takes place somewhere between there and the Peloponnese, although exactly where isn’t clear. Joxer is back and they travel through a forest sacred to Artemis, so it could be somewhere near Amphipolis (which would explain how Xena knows about the mandrake tree), but really it could be anywhere between the two extremes of Cape Tainaron and Amphipolis.
- 13. Eternal Bonds: Since the next episode is set in Amphipolis, we can
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- 14. Amphipolis Under Siege: This obviously takes place in
Amphipolis, as per the title.
- 14. Amphipolis Under Siege: This obviously takes place in
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- 15. Married With Fishsticks: After Eve’s birth, the episodes follow a pretty straight progression, so they don’t really need to be rearranged, but this one could actually come before Amphipolis Under Siege to explain Joxer’s absence there. Most of this episode (possibly) takes place inside Gabi’s head, but the framing sequence is in a port somewhere. Maybe Xena is sending Joxer off somewhere to deliver (or receive) the message to (or from) Cleopatra she mentions in Kindred Spirits?
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- 16. Lifeblood: This takes place back with the Northern Amazons, as this is where Xena and Gabi find out what happened to Amarice and Yakut. They sure are racking up the miles this season, but I guess it makes sense to travel to out-of-the-way places if they’re trying to keep Eve away from the wrathful Greek gods.
- 16. Lifeblood: This takes place back with the Northern Amazons, as this is where Xena and Gabi find out what happened to Amarice and Yakut. They sure are racking up the miles this season, but I guess it makes sense to travel to out-of-the-way places if they’re trying to keep Eve away from the wrathful Greek gods.
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- 17. Kindred Spirits: This also takes place in the Northern Amazon realm and Joxer rejoins them. At the end, they mention going to Egypt, which leads into next episode.
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- 18. Anthony and Cleopatra: This takes place in Egypt; they mention
Cyrene being with Eve in Alexandria, so they must’ve stopped in Amphipolis on their way back from Central Asia before coming here. Most of this episode takes place in Cleopatra’s palace, which (according to Joxer’s narration next episode) seems to be in Thebes.
- 18. Anthony and Cleopatra: This takes place in Egypt; they mention
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- 19. Looking Death in the Eye: This presumably takes place in Greece, but there’s no indication as to where. If we assume Xena dropped
Cyrene off at home, it could be relatively close to Amphipolis; maybe the Fates temple we see here is the same one Xena and Gabi visited in Remember Nothing, which I speculated might be close to Amphipolis.
- 19. Looking Death in the Eye: This presumably takes place in Greece, but there’s no indication as to where. If we assume Xena dropped
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- 20. Livia: Xena and Gabi wake up in a cave at the foot of Mount Etna, according to a local. That’s in Sicily and they travel towards Rome, running across Joxer and Meg’s inn along the way. It makes sense the inn would be on a road near Rome (maybe the Appian Way) to get as much trade as possible, while avoiding the crush (and extra taxes) of setting up inside Rome itself. The inn must be fairly close to Rome, as Virgil’s shop is in the city, and it doesn’t take them long to walk there
from the inn.
- 20. Livia: Xena and Gabi wake up in a cave at the foot of Mount Etna, according to a local. That’s in Sicily and they travel towards Rome, running across Joxer and Meg’s inn along the way. It makes sense the inn would be on a road near Rome (maybe the Appian Way) to get as much trade as possible, while avoiding the crush (and extra taxes) of setting up inside Rome itself. The inn must be fairly close to Rome, as Virgil’s shop is in the city, and it doesn’t take them long to walk there
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- 21. Eve: This takes place in or around Rome too, with the temple of Eli being located at Ostia, which was the port for Rome in ancient times.
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- 22. Motherhood: This starts out in a desert where Livia had previously made conquests (i.e. somewhere the Romans had invaded). It could be in North Africa, just across the Mediterranean, or it could be as far away as the Middle East (which would fit with the whole baptism theme). But I think it’s most likely North Africa, since it’s relatively close to Italy; a journey to and from the Middle East would be way too far. There’s no reason a baptism couldn’t take place in North Africa (especially if we assume this Baptist isn’t John from the
Bible, who probably hasn’t even been born yet). Plus, it makes more sense for Poseidon to rise out of the Mediterranean rather than the Sea of Galilee or the Dead Sea. Xena and Gabi take Eve back to Joxer and Meg’s inn near Rome, and they’re eventually transported to Mount Olympus by Aphrodite. I assume the final scene on the beach takes place in Greece, probably on the coast east of Mount Olympus.
- 22. Motherhood: This starts out in a desert where Livia had previously made conquests (i.e. somewhere the Romans had invaded). It could be in North Africa, just across the Mediterranean, or it could be as far away as the Middle East (which would fit with the whole baptism theme). But I think it’s most likely North Africa, since it’s relatively close to Italy; a journey to and from the Middle East would be way too far. There’s no reason a baptism couldn’t take place in North Africa (especially if we assume this Baptist isn’t John from the
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So, that’s my take on the geography and as for the viewing order, there are a few changes I’d make, mostly in the first half of the season; after Eve is born, the episodes follow each other pretty closely and it’s harder to change the order (except maybe for Married With Fishsticks).
1. Fallen Angel 12. God Fearing Child
2. Chakram 13. Eternal Bonds
3. Animal Attraction 14. Married With Fishsticks
4. Succession 15. Amphipolis Under Siege
5. Them Bones, Them Bones 16. Lifeblood
6. Purity 17. Kindred Spirits
7. Back in the Bottle 18. Anthony and Cleopatra
8. Lyre Lyre, Hearts on Fire 19. Looking Death in the Eye
9. Punch Lines 20. Livia
10. Seeds of Faith 21. Eve
11. Little Problems 22. Motherhood
I think this viewing order fits my speculative geography better, although maybe some of the episodes could be shuffled a bit more without hurting the flow too much. But this order works for me. As always, if you disagree with my hypotheses or have some suggestions for a different viewing order (or locations for the episodes) let me know in the comments. And join me next week for my first review of Season 6.