Category: TV Reviews

Altared States – Director: Michael Levine/Writer: Chris Manheim

This one starts with a woman (Zora) telling her son Icus to run away because someone’s after him. At a pastoral lake we see Xena and Gabi’s clothes hanging from a bush and some suggestive dialogue makes it sound like they’re having some sexy fun, but it’s a big fake-out … they’re just fishing. Icus shows up at the lake, pursued by a bunch of zealots and Xena (still naked) kicks their asses using fish as a weapon. The zealot leader (Mael) shows up and warns Xena this is none of her business, but she refuses to turn Icus over so the beaten zealots leave. Icus tells Xena the zealots want to sacrifice him to their God and that Icus’s father is the one who ordered it. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 19”

The Prodigal – Director: John T. Kretschmer/Writer: Chris Manheim

This one starts with Xena and Gabi making their way through a mountain pass. They end up in a dead end, where some bandits have a cart full of sharpened spears to roll into the defile and impale them. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 18”

The Royal Couple of Thieves – Director: John Cameron/Writer: Steven L. Sears

This one starts with a hooded figure stealing a huge diamond from some monks (in spectacular fashion). Xena shows up to confront the guy and he takes off, but it doesn’t take Xena (and Gabi) long to catch him. He turns out to be Autolycus, the self-proclaimed King of Thieves. Xena reveals that the “diamond” he just stole is actually rock sugar, but has another proposition for Autolycus … she wants him to help steal the most valuable object in the world. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 17”

Mortal Beloved – Director: Garth Maxwell/Writer: R.J. Stewart

This one starts with a woman wandering in the woods and running into a ghost. She freaks and runs to a tavern to tell everyone. Xena and Gabi are there and Xena volunteers to go check out the ghost. It turns out to be Marcus, her old flame from The Path Not Taken, who tells her things are screwed up in the Underworld and good souls are in danger. Marcus urges Xena to come put things right, telling her to use the Alcyonian Lake as an access point. Xena and Gabi travel to the Lake and despite Gabi’s reservations, Xena jumps into the (reputedly bottomless) Lake. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 16”

Warrior … Princess – Director: Michael Levine/Writer: Brenda Lilly

This one opens with Xena arriving at a castle and being taken aback when everyone automatically defers to her. She gets another shock when an assassin jumps her, but she does her fire-breathing trick and he takes off. She meets King Lias (of Treus), who tells her the assassin was after his daughter and he wants Xena to figure out who’s trying to kill her. Xena’s not inclined to help a rich king until she meets Lias’s daughter Diana … who’s Xena’s exact double. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 15”

A Fistful of Dinars – Director: Josh Becker/Writers: Steven L. Sears, R.J. Stewart

This one starts with a ruffian (Klonig) attacking another guy (Lycus) and stealing his pouch. Xena shows up and Klonig tales off. Xena catches him, but their scuffle is interrupted by an assassin (Thersites), who kills Klonig and takes Lycus’s pouch. Apparently, Lycus, Klonig, and Thersites each have one clue that leads to a great treasure, which means Thersites now has three of the clues. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 14”

Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards – Director: Jace Alexander/Writers: Steven L. Sears, R.J. Stewart

This one starts with a clip of Xena fighting Mezentius’s men in The Path Not Taken. The action grinds to a halt and we see Gabi is telling the story in a tavern. A drunk questions some details, so she shifts into The Reckoning, telling how Xena was accused and acquitted of murder. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 13”

Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts – Director: T.J. Scott/Writers: Roy Thomas, Janice Hendler (story); Adam Armus, Nora Kay Foster (teleplay)

This one starts in the city of Troy, which has been besieged by the Greeks for the last ten years. The object of their quest, Helen, has a nightmare about something terrible happening. Her husband (or “husband”) Paris tells her not to worry about it, but she’s pretty freaked out, so she sends a messenger (Miltiades) to find Xena. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 12”

The Black Wolf – Director: Mario Di Leo/Writer: Alan Jay Glueckman

This one starts with some soldiers collecting taxes (in other words, shaking people down for their last dinar) in a village. A bunch of freedom fighters dressed in black show up to pound the soldiers and claim to be working with the Black Wolf, a local hero who opposes Xerxes, the greedy king. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 11”

Hooves and Harlots – Director: Jace Alexander/Writer: Steven L. Sears

This one starts with Gabi getting herself a walking stick and Xena showing off some fighting moves with it. They’re passing through Amazon territory and soon run into some Amazons, but Xena is familiar with their ways and asks for safe passage. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 10”