Let's Relate Dangerously
Rittenhouse Archives developed Dangerous Liaisons as a
thematic title illustrating tension-filled relationships among
characters within many ongoing story frames. The concept worked
well last winter for Rittenhouse's James Bond franchise.
Dangerous Liaisons returns as another entry on February 7 in the
firm's Xena: Warrior Princess trading card line.
The 72-card base set centers on actor Lucy Lawless' role as the
nomadic fighter in her most intriguing personal encounters. Also
featured is Xena's cohort Gabrielle, portrayed by Renee
O'Connor.
As expected, a generous assembly of costume cards (inserted two
in every box) have been conceived and produced. The costume
sections have been lifted not only from the wardrobes of Lawless
and O'Connor, but also from Kevin Sorbo (Hercules) and several
other guest stars.
Rittenhouse has produced two fabric swatch card categories, each
comprised of 11 cards. Most of the single costume cards derive
from Xena season six. Exceptions include a fabric worn by
Lawless in a season one February 1996 episode titled "Mortal
Beloved"; a Xena costume that appeared in the season four
two-part premiere, "Adventures in the Sin Trade"; and also garb
worn by Michael Holt in "Comedy of Eros from season two. Five
costume cards come from season six, two originate from season
five.
The 11 dual or two-fabric costume cards provide a more balanced
representation of Xena's broadcast history. The collection
begins with a Xena/Hercules double swatch card taken from
"Prometheus," a season one telecast from November 1995. The dual
costume card breakdown lists two cards from season one; one from
season two; two from season three; two from season four; two
from season five; and one from season six. Other bonuses include
a nine-card set depicting Cal-listo (actress Hudson Leick)
titled Rise and Fall of the Warrior Queen (seeded 1:40 packs);
an 18-card Women and Weapons issue (1:20 packs); and a 36-card
series examining Xena comic books (1:10 packs).
Rittenhouse president Steve Charendoff also announced three rare
cards that will highlight the company's continuing distributor
incentives program. Hobbyists buying one case receive a Musetta
Vander autograph card in her role as Ilainus from the February
2000 episode "Amphipolis Under Siege." A two-case purchase
secures a quadruple costume card from the characters Xena,
Hercules, Gabrielle and Ioalus (Michael Hurst). The six-case
purchase card is a dual signature card autographed by Lawless
and Sorbo. Collectors will recall a similar double autograph
pasteboard released for Xena & Hercules: The Animated Adventures
in October 2005. The Dangerous Liaisons rare signature card
depicts both actors in their live-action guises. The products
collectors' album boasts a dual costume card featuring Gabrielle
and Ioalus.
Charendoff offered a glimpse into the working thesis behind
Xena: Dangerous Liaisons. "The show had so many characters and
many conflicts and crises within. [Characters] don't always have
to be adversaries inasmuch as have a relationship that contains
elements of danger. With Xena, there's danger everywhere, so you
can pretty much pair her up with just about ever)7 character
(especially Xena herself). The card set goes into detail in ways
that's not likely been done on cards or other products."
Today, Lucy Lawless experiences less on-screen peril than she
met on Xena, although the performer enjoys a semi-regular role
as journalist D'Anna Biers in Battlestar Galactica, another
Rittenhouse title. Lawless exhibited her considerable singing
talents on FOX's Celebrity Duets last summer, and vocalized with
Kenny Loggins, Dionne Warwick and Richard Marx. She suffered a
near miss in finishing runner-up to Alfonso Ribeiro, who had
been awarded a $100,000 prize to be donated to charity. Reruns
of Xena: Warrior Princess currently air on the Oxygen cable
network.
