To Prepare The Heroes: Maternal Instincts
Maternal Instincts.... Even the title of this episode of Xena: Warrior
Princess raises enormously powerful feelings within me, for this was an
epic tragedy in the manner of the Greeks. Awesomely ambitious emotionally,
this tremendous story landed with the effect of the death of a loved one
upon me. This episode is the beginning of the process of purification by
fire that ALL heroes must undergo to attain their truly heroic goals, namely
to let go of the physical world and to begin to live in the world of the
spirit. This episode provided Xena and Gabrielle their greatest challenge
to date, to let go all their rage, regret, and pain from the events of this
and previous episodes of the rift, and to begin their mutual transformation
into something far greater. Maternal Instincts was incredibly sad,
terrifying, illuminating, and wonderful to watch. It is again another
triumph of the Xenastaff in their quest to redefine the hero on television
to one of the true construction of a myth for the present.
Joseph Campbell of course, in the book "The Hero with a Thousand Faces"
clearly layed out the quest that all men must pursue to attain their bliss.
This quest is shared by nearly all cultures and religions. However, the
operative word here is MEN. Xenastaff is undertaking the task of
redefining the heroic quest for inner peace for women. What better way
than by using the single most important, and stressful experience any woman
can undertake---motherhood. Chris Mannheim, in her thoughtful, subtle, and
powerful script succeeds wonderfully in reaching for that goal which is to
be explored more fully in episodes to follow. The events of the story were
so real on the gut level that I found it a transforming experience to watch
although Ms. Mannheim used the tools of fantasy.
This material could have been badly mishandled. The situation layed out
could have been blown up into a gigantic exercise in melodrama, instead it
was presented, slowly, carefully, with enormous restraint and extreme
sensitivity. This restraint, sensitivity and stateliness of presentation
vastly magnified the effect of the script and added a tremendous sense of
inevitability to the story. The first scene of Maternal Instincts is a
joyful one. Solan again tries to gain the jump on his mother but fails
leading to a warm and wonderful reunion. The atmosphere and photography
are bright. Consistently as the events unfold the photography gets ever
darker adding to the atmosphere of intense foreboding that began with Hope's
release of Callisto. This can be attributed to wonderful direction by Mark
Beezley who showed a masterful sense of pace and atmosphere and let the
actors do their marvellous work. This pacing was magnified by editor
Robert Field, who's cutting let the great power of the episode build to
such an extent that by the final fight between Xena and Callisto which was
incredibly exciting, and the rich and incredibly sad conclusion, the effect
was overwhelming.
Despite the masterful nature of the script, direction and editing, THIS
was the ACTOR'S episode par excellence. As with the other aspects of the
production, the performances here were characterized by tremendous
restraint by everybody even Hudson Leick who of course played Callisto.
All of the performances were amazing. Lucy Lawless' performance was again
some of the finest work I have ever seen by ANY actress. The minute
control this astonishing performer has over her expressive face draws the
viewer into another world of enjoyment. I believe ANY actress including
the greats like Meryl Streep, or Susan Sarandon would have DIED to deliver
the performance Lucy gave at the end of Maternal Instincts. Every feeling
any woman placed in Xena's situation passed through that lovely face in
such a moving manner I will never EVER forget it.
This is not to criticise the performance of Renee O'Connor. She stayed
with Lucy step by step. The scene where Gabrielle discovers her daughter's
perfidy is beautiful. To see her face slowly change by stages from love
for her child to shock, anger, realization, anger, and resolve was a
masterpiece of the actor's art and raises her performace to the elite level
too. Don't forget Hudson. Her performance was the finest she's turned in
as Callisto. At last she was able to show the intense pain that lay
beneath her characters malevolence. More about this later because this
change is one of the most fascinating aspects of this marvellous script.
How will the terrible events of this astonshing episode be resolved? It
is true that any usual friendship between friends or even life partners
wouldn't survive such deceptions and revelations. HOWEVER, it must be
remembered that Xena and Gabrielle are NOT average people. Xena is
probably a demigoddess, and Gabrielle is now a hero of the very first rank.
Xena and Gabrielle are stronger, more capable, and more courageous than
any of us, and the resolution of the rift will reflect that. It is the
deft combination of their very human flaws and faults combined with their
superhuman capacities that make Xena and Gabrielle both so compelling as
characters. How Xena and Gabrielle renew their love will be an EXAMPLE to
us all, even if most of us cannot come close to emulating them.
We now know that the true target of the despicable god Dahok is Xena.
Gabrielle was not only physically victimized by Dahok she was also brutally
manipulated by the god. Gabrielles warmth and love for her child was used
as a weapon against XENA! The script showed that this was inevitable and
that Gabrielle was merely a tool. While Gabrielle was victimized Xena was
the main target, and Dahok put his foot right on her weakness, her pain
from her past. Xena's character was shaped by war, abandonment, and
betrayal. At the end of the episode, the bitter cessation of Xena's and
Gabrielle's friendship was only natural, and I fear for Xena. We know that
she didn't turn her rage against the forces that killed Solan inward
leading to suicide. This rage must go somewhere, either through acting
out, turning her into another Callisto, OR though a massive spiritual
experience. We don't yet know which direction will Xena jump. At this
terrible hour, can Xena remember Lao Mai and surrender her pain and anger
to a higher power? This question is terrifying, and I can't wait to see it
answered.
We now know that there is some kind of hope for Callisto. The Bitch of
Cirra finally got what she wanted. She wanted Xena to feel her pain. It
didn't put her out of her misery. It deepened it. This is one of the most
important issues explored in Maternal Instincts. Xena has the courage to
live with and accept her pain as a part of herself. Callisto, despite her
godly power, NEVER had the courage to look inside herself for the way to
end her pain. Lao Mai tought Xena how to do this long ago in Chin. I no
longer hate Callisto I now pity her. Hudson's performance captures this
realization brilliantly. I long to find out how these terrible feelings
Callisto must have can be resolved.
All in all Maternal Instincts is an awesome episode and another triumph
for Xenastaff. This show remains FAR above average television. I do so
love it with an intense passion, a passion Maternal Instincts deepened
immeasurably.
LordNelson
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