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Prometheus |
| The god Prometheus has been captured,
and Xena is determined to set him free, as his gifts to Mankind of healing and fire will
be lost while he is held, and her own wounds from battle will not get better. However,
whoever breaks the chains to release him will die. A tremendous all-action romp has Hercules and Iolaus join Xena and Gabrielle in their quest, with both Herc and Xena trying to outwit each other to save the other from death, sneaking off on their own to get ahead of the game. Apart from some great fight scenes, there's also a spot of romantic action as Hercules renews his relationship with Xena and Iolaus tries his luck with our favourite blond bard. |
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Mortal Beloved |
| Xena's deceased love, Marcus, returns
from the Underworld as a spirit to tell her that there is unrest in Hades's Domain. Xena
heads for Tartarus, and with Marcus's help, attempts to restore the balance of good and
evil disrupted by an evil soul determined to wreak havoc in the real world. After the suddenness of his death earlier in the season (in The Path Not Taken), it made sense to bring back Marcus to make his peace with the world, and it enables the viewer to see Xena in an unusual light; as a woman in love who can't have the man she wants. Some great acting from all involved and the appearance of Hades and Michael Hurst as the boatman Charon provide some memorable moments in a touching episode. |
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The Royal Couple of Thieves |
| Xena enlists the unwilling help of
Autolycus to help her steal a box that is believed to contain the world's deadliest
weapon. Therefore, the pair go undercover as an assassin and his assistant. After an encounter with Hercules, Autolycus crosses over to Xena, continuing to ply his trade as the king of thieves, The mere presence of Bruce Campbell tends to lift episodes, and his suave thief really meets his match against a woman he just can't charm. Plenty of action and a chance to see Xena indulging in some role-playing prove that not everything in Xena's world is deadly serious, and that she is none too keen on playing assistant to anyone, especially Autolycus. Among the early comedy stories, this is one of the best. Oh, and it features a clever early burglar alarm. |
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A Day in the Life |
| When Xena gets two requests for help,
rather than choose between saving a village from a warlord's army or a giant, she sets in
motion a plan to solve both their problems. Everything comes together so well in this episode, with Xena's plan to stop both giant and army really rather clever, especially when you consider her new invention. She also has to deal with a man who is totally smitten with her (in her own inimitable way) in order to get him back together with his jealous girlfriend. The best aspect though is the way the episode is broken up into sections like a training video, allowing us to see Xena and Gabrielle sharing day-to-day events, and proving that it's not all fun and games for the pair. Speaking of which, there's also that bath scene. |
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For Him the Bell Tolls |
| Aphrodite takes a bet with Cupid,
saying that she can turn Joxer into a mean-fighting, hot-lovin' warrior in order to split
up a couple Cupid has brought together. Becoming heroic every time a bell rings, Joxer is
soon breaking hearts and in danger of causing a civil war, and Gabrielle must put things
right. Ted Raimi's regular bumbling turn as Joxer can sometimes get a little wearing, and the chance to see him in swashbuckling mode with nifty fighting moves is a real treat. This is also a great showcase for Renee O'Connor who gets the chance to play lead hero, despite finding herself falling for Joxer's newfound charms, but managing to snap out of it. Worth watching for the Joxer the Mighty song alone. |
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The Price |
| Whilst enjoying a quiet spot of
fishing, Xena and Gabrielle discover a dead soldier. Recognizing the hallmarks of a
vicious tribe called The Hord, Xena heads off with her companion, only to get a request to
help a compound under siege overcome their attacks. A totally different kind of episode which neatly balances Gabrielle's compassion against Xena's wartime tactics and ethics. In the end it's a combination of these skills that saves the day, but it is really quite disturbing to see the more callous side of the old Xena emerging though necessity, when she has to play by The Hord's rules to win the fight. The ending is particularly effective, as Xena discovers using Gabrielle's ideas can work just as well as equal force. |
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Been There, Done That |
| While traveling with Joxer, Xena and
Gabrielle visit a village where they attempt to stop an argument. However, when Joxer
steps in, he is killed. After a night's sleep, Xena awakens to find that events are
repeating themselves, but how can she stop the cycle when it happens again and again?
Xena does Groundhog Day combined with Romeo and Juliet as the warrior princess must try to bring together two feuding families in peace. Watching Xena go through various different ideas, only to have part of fail and being sent back to do everything again is immensely entertaining, especially when she experiences total frustration with it all and gives into temptation. Plus of course, it lets both Joxer and Gabrielle experience an onscreen death, not for the last time... |
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Bitter Suite |
| After recent traumas, Xena and
Gabrielle's friendship is in tatters. On the urging of Ares, Xena attempts to throw
Gabrielle to her death, only for both of them to find themselves in a surreal world
populated with images of people they know as they attempt to come to terms with their
feelings. Heralded as a masterpiece at the time of its first transmission, Bitter Suite is a one-of-a-kind Xena episode in that it's a musical set in the land of Illusia. All the regulars get to join in in various guises, with help from some impressive special effects. This is a powerful emotional journey as two friends must see past their recent losses and regain what they have lost before their pain destroys both of them. |
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Sacrifice I & II |
| Xena and Gabrielle's decisions come
back to haunt them once again as Callisto returns to bring Gabrielle's demonic daughter
Hope back from the dead, but once she has been reborn, Ares has plans of his own that may
bring about the apocalypse. Xena reaches one of its darkest hours with a truly impressive two-part story containing revelations, angst, vicious battles and the death of more than one major character. Stories featuring Callisto are usually much darker and unpleasant, as benefits the character of the immortal psychopath. After all they've been through with Hope, this tale opens old wounds and delivers some powerful emotional shocks, as Gabrielle finally tries to stop her murderous child by any means necessary. Plus there's the usual great fight sequences and a stunning end of season cliffhanger. |
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A Tale of Two Muses |
| When they meet a band of young people
trying to escape their village, Xena and Gabrielle are shocked to discover the village
elders have decreed dancing will not be tolerated. Calling on the service of Philipon the
Reformer (aka Autolycus), Xena sets out to restore fun to the town. An early highlight of the fourth season sees Xena getting Autolycus to help through unfairly revealing his latest scam to the king he's coning, and the thief eventually getting into his acting role as a charismatic preacher. Meanwhile, Gabrielle's 'fighting' (read 'dancing') lessons go on in the background, with Xena's sidekick unable to stop herself dancing in public. It all leads to a hilarious finale which sees Lucy Lawless performing some marvelous physical comedy. Just watch her do the splits. |
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Takes One to Know One |
| Staying the night at an inn awaiting
Gabrielle to celebrate her birthday, Xena and a collection of friends and family including
Joxer, Autolycus and Xena's mother awake to find a dead body. Could one of Xena's friends
actually be the murderer? Setting an intriguing puzzle, it's another different style for this episode as Xena turns detective to uncover a killer amongst the people she trusts most in the world. The answer when it comes is clever and satisfying, and the guest stars do a fine job in one of those unusual episodes that brings them all together. Of particular not is Meighan Desmond as Discord, appointed Goddess of Retribution, and all too keen to put an arrow through someone, regardless of guilt. |
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Ides of March |
| Callisto is released from her
otherworldly prison in order to help Julius Caesar rise to power and bring Xena down once
and for all. However, history may not be on her side as Brutus has begun to realize just
what kind of man Caesar is... Admittedly historically accuracy is hardly likely, but the introduction of Caesar into the Xena universe was an inspired move. Now as he gets ready to meet his maker and Xena tries to stop his plans, the warrior princess walks right into a trap. Showing depth of feeling we don't see too often between Xena and Gabrielle, this episode contains some of the most powerful drama seen in the show, and a cliffhanger ending quite literally to die for... |
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