'Gabrielle's Hope': The Crisis of Faith
Gabrielle's Hope is a touching, deeply felt, and enormously melancholy
episode full of portent for the future of both our two characters and the
show itself. If "The Deliverer" was the death of someone dear, then
"Gabrielle's Hope" was the beginning of the mourning period. What died was
the past and what is given birth is the future. However, the past is
secure in 20-20 hindsight while the future of Xena and Gabrielle is covered
with a terrfying gray haze of uncertainty. I found it frightening,
achingly sad, and wonderful to watch.
Not only is this episode the beginning of the end of the relationship of
Xena and Gabrielle,but it is also an extended rumination on the meaning of
good. The episode is a tragedy, and like all great tragedies, both people
who are in conflict have different perspectives on events and both are
right. Xena makes a very strong circumstantial case that Hope, Gabrielle's
baby by Dahok, is evil incarnate and must be destroyed. Gabrielle, rightly
claims that Hope is a clean slate and is only potentially evil, like
everyone else that lives. Xena claimed as far back as "Warrior...Princess"
that "We all have that evil spot in us somewhere" The line from "The Dirty
Half Dozen" rings in my head, "Gabrielle, I could never see you as evil."
I am certain that Xena, once she discovers Gabrielle's betrayal of her will
see Gabrielle as evil. I am also convinced that Gabrielle now sees Xena as
evil for being willing to kill a child. Xena's saving a baby put her on
the path of heroism, how could Gabrielle think anything but Xena's
willingness to kill Hope was her friend's regression into her darkest
instincts. The tragedy is that both of them are trying to do good.
Yet, the wonder of this episode is that the deep love for each other that
Xena and Gabrielle share shines from them like the sun. This then is the
crux of the crisis of faith explored in this episode. The love between
them is an absolute good, but force of circumstance will force that aside
leaving I'm sure disillusion, sadness, loss, fear, and even hatred. Xena
has faith in her abilities and in Gabrielle. Gabrielle has faith in her
baby and her motivations. Neither of them can hold onto that faith for
long.
As it stands now, Gabrielle has broken off the friendship. She has done
what she has to do. She may die to protect Hope. Xena does not know yet,
but she suspects.
R.J. Stewart's script marvellously captures the desperation of the two as
they try to salvage their relationship. Xena's feelings are very close to
the surface here, much closer than what we have ever seen before.
Gabrielle is shutting down both from the grief of her betrayal at
Craftstar's hands and her fear for her new baby, but yet there is a longing
in her eye that shows she regrets what she has to do to her friend. Xena
is still the most important person in the world other than Hope.
What Gabrielle has to do is to tap into her newly discovered dark side.
She shows us for possibly her power in the escape from the burning
building, and her masterful escape and evasion of Xena. Xena admits that
Gabrielle was getting good at evasion. This is the very first truly
independent action Gabrielle has made in the show. Gabrielle has learned
to get the job done, even if it hurts.
The betrayal was both horrifying and beautiful. The writing here is sharp
and subtle as Gabrielle strings Xena along. Her plan was very carefully
thought out. It was as cold as Xena at her worst. Gabrielle uses all the
skills she's absorbed frm the warrior and perhaps her newly found power
(She felt great as if life were poured into her.) to carry out her new
mission---save Hope. Every decision was totally in character, and every
event in the second half of the screenplay was driven by the characters.
There is far too much in this episode to attempt to explore in this forum.
The birth scene was as intense, frightening, and portentious as it gets.
Overall the cumulative power of the episode was tremendous.
Much of this episode's power comes from the magnificent performances
turned in by Lucy and Renee. They were intense, minutely controled and
crushingly true to the characters.
The look of the episode was very impressive. Charles Siebert used
lighting to very great advantage. Light and shadow was used to reinforce
the conflict between Xena and Gabrielle as well as to reinforce the
ambiguous nature of Hope. As Gabrielle said, "Who are you?"
I love this episode, and now I really grieve for our heroes. I'm positive
things will become much worse and more dramatic between them. I will need
a long time to work out my sadness.
LordNelson
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