The third series of Xena:Warrior Princess will undoubtedly be remembered as a traumatic one for Xenafans, as it was the year of "the rift." Daringly, the producers shunned the easier and safer option of more of the same that had made the show such a hit, and went for an altogether darker theme for much of the first half of the series. At the same time, the number of comic episodes also seemed to have increased, leading to a wildly varying tone from episode to episode. The standard Xena helps so and so and fights this petty warlord or meets these old friends was a formula very rare indeed in the first two thirds of the series. From Forgiven onwards, slightly more conventional episodes returned. Of the earlier ones, we have the extremes of Maternal Instincts' trauma to the comic, The Quill is Mightier. Even within single episodes, the tone could vary greatly. The season opener The Furies had Xena displaying a convincing paranoid madness one moment, and three Stooges slapstick the next. The Bitter Suite, the colourful musical extravaganza was actually very VERY dark in tone, and while it won many fans for its brilliance it also featured a brutal opening that turned some hard core fans completely off the series!
However, in my opinion, this series could prove to be the masterstroke. There are some truly outstanding pieces of television, both in production and story telling. I thought the two parter, The Debt was simply brilliant in every way, and showed the maturity of the series. It had the perfect combination of sumptuous production design- those colours, the costumes, the music- a wonderful set of guest stars- Jaqueline Kim and Marton Csokas- and a gripping story that once again tests Xena and Gabrielle's friendship. The comedies were funnier than ever, Been There Done That, Warrior Priestess Tramp and The Quill is Mightier and Fins, Femmes and Gems were all very good. The Bitter Suite showcased the talents of the production staff once again while also showing off Lucy Lawless, Kevin Smith and Ted Raimi's singing voices. A stunning visual and auditory feast. Then we have an episode like One Against an Army, a more traditional Xena episode but with a wonderfully emotional problem for our heroes.
The latter third of the series was less distinguished generally. While Forget Me Not once again showed the Xenastaff can produce the best clip shows around, there were a few slightly disappointing episodes like Forgiven and King Con. Autolycus returned for two in a row, Tsunami and the much funnier,Vanishing Act. The comic highlight of the latter part of S3- Fins, Femmes and Gems, was indeed a gem! Finally, the two part season ender, Sacrifice, once again returned to the darker themes of the first part of S3, in an exciting and nail biting climax to an eventful season.
All in all, I think series three has been great , and who says a challenge is a bad thing.


Series Three

  1. The Furies
  2. Been There, Done That
  3. The Dirty Half Dozen
  4. Deliverer
  5. Gabrielle's Hope
  6. The Debt I(Betrayal)
  7. The Debt II
  8. King of Assassins
  9. Warrior..Priestess..Tramp
  10. The Quill is Mightier Than the Sword
  11. Maternal Instincts
  12. Bitter Suite
  13. One Against an Army
  14. Forgiven
  15. King Con
  16. When in Rome
  17. Forget Me Not
  18. Fins, Femmes and Gems
  19. Vanishing Act
  20. Tsunami
  21. Sacrifice I
  22. Sacrifice II


The Furies
writer:RJ Stewart
director:Gilbert Shilton

Guest stars:Kevin Smith(Ares), Darien Tackle(Cyrene)

As is often the custom in US tv, this and Been There, Done That were actually filmed with series two and carried over- Gabrielle's new outfit is a giveaway. The rumours were of a dark episode, and further rumours spoke of some actors' concern over the plot of this story.
Xena is sent mad by the furies- at Ares urging- because she has not avenged her father's murder- only the killer turns out to be Cyrene- Xena's mother! We get to see a whole new side to Xena, a nutty crazy side, a wild and dangerous side and a deeply disturbed and suicidal side. However, even through her madness, Xena is able to save the day.
I am not a huge fan of the physical three stooges comedy- and it was interesting to see Lucy on Regis and Kathie Lee's tv show cringe in embarrassment when they showed a clip of her doing her nutty act from this episode. The comedy is very much hit and miss- some very funny moments, some a bit over the top. Where Lucy Lawless' performance was especially good, I thought, was in the more serious scenes of madness, with Cyrene and Ares. At these times, it wasn't Lucy plays nuts, it was a realistically disturbed person. I was NOT a fan of the Furies themselves. Poor acting from the lead girl, and chiefly an excuse for prancing around suggestively with not too many clothes on.
In some ways this carried over season two episode is like a microcosm of series three- high comedy interspersed with seriously desperate situations, physical gags with a dark edge. The changes in tone jar a bit, but both are done quite well. Also Lucy gets naked- a recurring theme for series three-(Reneé O'Connor too!). 8/10


Been There, Done That
writer:Hilary J Bader
director: Andrew Merrifield

Guest Stars: Ted Raimi(Joxer)

In a blatent rip off of the movie Groundhog Day, Xena lives the same day over and over again, and must solve the problems of two feuding families in a small town. Despite the derivative plot, this is a great fun episode. Joxer appears, although he dies in one of the time lines, as does just about everyone else. The feuding families story is very reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, down to the duelling rapiers. Lucy Lawless seems to have got a bit bored of the stoic Xena, as in the last episode and this, she gets a chance to display her comic talents more than anything else. This episode is also one for all those fan fiction writers to watch that always portray Xena as the silent type; she does virtually no fighting and LOTS of talking in this episode.
It is not really easy to discuss plot points or character actions in an episode like this, as it is very enjoyable, but mainly as a series of amusing scenes. For instance, Xena's frustration at the repeating day, her explanation of what is happening to Gabrielle, Joxer's second "death", the all out fight amongst the villagers that Xena ignores and the highly ridiculous chakram throw with something like 35 bounces! Wonderful fun. (Lots of subtext moments by the way, for fans of that.) 9/10



The Dirty Half Dozen
writer: Steven L Sears
director: Rick Jacobson

Guest Stars: Kevin Smith(Ares), Charles Mesure(Darnell) , Katrina Hobbs(Glyphira), Jonathon Roberts(Agathon)

Although filmed later, this was the first all new series three episode shown, and featured Gabrielle's even shorter top and skirt. It is the story of a cocky young warrior named Agathon who Ares desides to help by giving him a special super strong metal that will make him almost indestructible. Naturally Xena is out to stop him, and she recruits- four old friends with the necessary skills- a bunch of criminals and murderers. As the six make their way to Agathon's castle, old tensions arise before they even get to fight, but inevitably, Xena and Agathon get to face off in a western style shoot out. Who will be quickest on the draw?(Daft question!)
This was an enjoyable episode partly because of the story, and the character dynamics, but also because the guest stars did a good job of fleshing the characters out. It was interesting to see people from Xena's past, and gives Gabrielle pause for thought. In particular Glyphira and Darnell were good charcters. Lucy and Reneé were probably glad to share the stage for once. Because of the switching of episodes, Xena's sword that is broken here is miraculously restored in the next episode! In retrospect, this more traditional XWP episode was the exception in series three. 7/10.


The Deliverer
writer: Steven L Sears
director: Oley Sassone

Guest Stars: Kevin Smith (Ares), Jennifer Ward-Lealand (Boudiccea), Karl Urban (Julius Caesar),Marton Csokas (Khrafstar)

The first of the disturbing episodes concerning Gabrielle, and the rift between her and Xena. This action packed episode features the return of Julius Caesar, as Xena and Gabrielle visit Brittania to help Boadiccea fight Julius Caesar. In her lust for revenge, Xena leaves Gabrielle to get to know a young priest named Khrafstar who gets all chummy with Gab and offers to teach her about 'the One God'. However, this isn't the God of the Israelites, and Khrafstar is not a nice man! Poor Gabrielle suffers a terrible fate, the loss of her blood innocence and impregnation by the demon god Dahok. Xena arrives too late to save her, but they escape the as the temple explodes...
Some fans were upset by this episode for a variety of reasons. Any sort of rift between Xena and Gabrielle is seen as a no-no, the loss of Gabrielle's blood innocence in this way annoyed some, and the impregnation was seen as a rape by others, and not a fit subject for an entertainment show. Personally I LOVED this episode. The whole rift idea was fine by me. After all the true test of a friendship is when there are troubles. Boadiccea, played by Michael Hurst's very tall wife was a good character, but I am not a huge Karl Urban/Caesar fan to be honest. As a Brit, I was also sorry that Gabrielle had such a bad time in Britain. A few plot holes also bothered me. How come these Britons had to go all the way to Greece to find a person who hadn't killed before? Why didn't Ares explain himself better to Xena? Even if she was kind of driven, how come Xena virtually abandons Gabrielle? And how come that lead Roman soldiers helmet looks exactly like a striped motor bike helmet with a bit stuck on the front?
The shuffle of episodes meant that Xena's sword was back as normal, and Ares is discussing that super strong metal he gave to Agathon in the previous episode. His apology about the Furies but no mention of Agathon is also a continuity blip. The explosion that destroys Dahok's temple is the exact same bit of film as the explosion that destroyed Agathon's castle, but I did like the remains of Dahok's temple turning out to be Stonehenge.
Of course the main event was Gabrielle's killing of the priestess Meridian, and I thought this was done very well. It was appropriate that Gabrielle be tricked into losing her blood innocence, and she really was left with little choice. Renee O'Connor does very well, and her shock at killing and the scenes with Xena shortly after were very well handled. Gabrielle's scream of horror was a chilling highlight of the episode. Incidentallly, to complete a painful British trip for Gabrielle, she also gets crucified in this episode, although the cricifixion is not too painful looking. Indeed, she look as if she is just waiting around for Xena. A very important episode in the development of the characters and their relationship, but not a comfortable happy-ending type episode. 8/10


Gabrielle's Hope
writer: RJ Stewart
director: Charles Siebert and Andrew Merrifield

Following on from where The Deliverer left off, Xena and Gabrielle are still in Britannia and Gabrielle is suffering nightmares and sickness that Xena attributes to her reaction to her first kill. However, an encounter with the Banshees and an attack by villagers soon make them realize that Gabrielle is pregnant.
Taking refuge in a barn, Xena delivers a baby girl who Gabrielle names Hope. The castle of the Knights of the Pierced Heart provides them with some shelter as Xena becomes convinced of the evil of the baby. Gabrielle is similarly convinced that Hope can overcome her dark side- as Xena has. When two of the knights who were helping them are killed, Xena determines to kill Hope. Gabrielle enlists the banshees to help her escape and a pusuit across the countryside follows. Gabrielle, realizing that Xena will not stop, puts the baby in a basket and sends her down the river while telling Xena that she fell from a high cliff. This deception WILL have future consequences.
The whole Hope question is another tricky one. Who is it that is in the wrong in this episode? Gabrielle deceives Xena quite deliberately, but isn't it understandable that after the trauma of her first kill, she would protect her own child at all costs? Gabrielle is surely the perfect person to be mother to a demon shild as she always looks for the good in everyone. Xena is more dispassionate and the extremely accelerated growth of the baby and the deaths of the knights are a sure sign that the child is evil. Also the question of Hope's conception and the banshees protection of Gabrielle. These clues indicate to Xena that Hope IS a demon spawn that she must kill. I do think that Xena is very harsh with Gabrielle. She does not try to explain it to her, and expects Gabrielle to stand aside while she kills the baby that Gabrielle delivered from her body? The debate could go on and on.
A very dark episode in many ways, that shows the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle at its best and worst. In the opening section, Xena comforts Gabrielle and her words to try and help her get over her guilt are genuinely touching. However, there is real animosity between them over Hope, and it is hard to see how they could return to normal straight afterwards. How can Gabrielle go back to the closeness when this woman was intent on murdering her baby? I thought those banshees were awful- even worse than the Furies. Bad acting, and worse make up. Xena's attempts to fight them had a strange out of place humour as she is frustrated in her efforts. The scene where Gabrielle eats all manner of odd things- a pregnancy giveaway- is another humourous scene that breaks up the grimness of the rest of the episode, but sits rather uncomfortably with it. I would also love to know how come there are two directors listed for this episode. A change of plan? Last minute re-shoots? This is another gruelling episode that widens the rift to a positive canyon, and will not be resolved for a while. 7/10


The Debt part I
story: RJ Stewart and Robert Tapert
writer: RJ Stewart
director: Oley Sassone

Guest Stars: Jacqueline Kim (Lao Ma), Marton Csokas (Borias), Daniel Sing (Ming Tien), Grant McFarland (Ming Tsu)

In a fabulously lavish two part story, we learn yet more about Xena's dark past and the people who helped to shape her. The episode opens with Xena and Gabrielle receiving a cryptic message from an Eastern soldier. She instantly recognises the words and tells Gabrielle that she must go to the land of Chin to kill someone. As they journey towards Chin, Xena tells Gabrielle about her time there with Borias, the father of Solan, and her meeting with Lao Ma, who sent the message. We see a bitter and savage Xean, left crippled by Caesar's crucifixion. She is in partnership with Borias and the pair are on the make in the East. After Xena kidnaps Ming Tzu's son, Ming Tien, she is betrayed by Borias and is due to be killed. Lao Ma saves her from the chasing dogs and soldiers and tries to help her. Meanwhile, Gabrielle cannot sanction Xena's cold blooded act and so Xena goes on alone. When she arrives in Chin and enters Ming Tien's castle, Xena creeps to the bed chamber. She is about to stab him, when the bed clothes are pulled back to reveal..Gabrielle!
I think this two part story is one af my all time favourites. There is so much to enjoy in it. The subtitle of this episode is 'Betrayal', and indeed, there are betrayals all around. Xena betrays Borias by not sticking to their partnership, Borias, Xena's lover, betrays her to Ming Tzu for money, Gabrielle betrays Xena by tipping off Ming Tien, Gabrielle feels Xena is betraying herself by returning to her old ways. It is a strong theme that runs through the episodes. One person who does not betray is Lao Ma. Actress Jaqueline Kim is wonderful as the elegantly beautiful but powerful, ruler's wife. She helps Xena escape pursuit in a memorable scene by hiding her in her bath. Most facinating of all is Lucy Lawless as the savage, post-Caesar Xena. We have seen a few different facets of Xena's character over the past 2 and a half series, and it must be hard to play an earlier incarnation of a well known character. Lucy Lawless has a few tricks to emphasise the similarities and differences. She is twitchy and edgy in The Debt, very different from the often still and stone faced Xena we know. Occasional flashes of Meg's wicked grin appear, but this is as nasty as we have seen Xena. It is interesting to compare the Xena from pre-Caesar Destiny, who was mercenary but reasonable. Her crucifixion and the death of M'Lila clearly changed her. This wild and untamed Xena is a memorable sight, and apart from an early variation on the fire blowing(here with water), very different.
Borias has been much talked of, being Solan's father, and it is an interesting twist to have him played by the same actor who played Khrafstar in The Deliverer. Marton Csokas is clearly keen on accents, and is unrecognisable. However, both are directly or indirectly responsible for Xena and Gabrielle's children- an intriguing irony. One of the criticisms that is made about the star's love interest is that they are not a good match for various reasons- too wimpish, too boring etc. Borias and this Xena are a perfect match for each other. Borias is sneaky and untrustworthy, but he is also a schemer and clearly a clever bandit. He is not intimidated in any way by Xena, and while it is hard to see him as turning to good and opposing Xena over the centaurs, he is a strong character.(Incidentally, Solan must have been conceived and born pretty soon after Xena and Borias left Chin. I wonder if we'll get that story?)
Another thing that really stands out in this episode, is the very high production values. The costumes are fabulous, from the opulent Chinese silks to Xena and Borias' grungy outlaw look. The photography is beautiful- are they really still in New Zealand? Definitely movie class. I am a big fan of Joe LoDuca's music and the score for this episode is again outstanding.
There are points of discussion over the motives and actions of Xena and Gabrielle, but I'll save those for the next part of the story. A wonderful episode. 10/10


The Debt part II
story: RJ Stewart and Robert Tapert
writer: RJ Stewart
director: Oley Sassone

Guest Stars: Jacqueline Kim (Lao Ma), Marton Csokas (Borias), Daniel Sing (Ming Tien), Grant McFarland (Ming Tsu)

Following straight on, Xena's shock at seeing Gabrielle soon turns to feelings of betrayal as Ming Tien, the Green Dragon, arrives to send her to the dungeon, "I hear you were betrayed by a friend," says a guard. "No, not a friend," says a choked Xena. Gabrielle pleads with Ming Tien to be allowed to see Xena, while she learns that Lao Ma has been executed at the order of Ming Tien. She remembers the amazing powers that Lao Ma had, and how she tried to learn them. We flash back to Lao Ma's attempts to give Xena some peace and tranquility of spirit. In a shocking return to the present, Gabrielle slaps Xena and yells at her, trying to get her to promise to leave Ming Tien alone in the hopes that they will be banished from Chin and be allowed to leave. Xena will not speak and so is sentenced to death. Going to her in the dungeon, Gabrielle asks for forgiveness and Xena tells her about how Lao Ma saved her soul. She remembers how Lao Ma healed her crippled legs, but how she let her down because she was unable to give up her violent ways. However, Xena tells Gabrielle that she remembered Lao Ma's teachings much later when Hercules had started her on the right path. Xena's execution time arrives, but from somewhere, she discovers the purity of spirit Lao Ma told her of, and Xena is able to harness the special powers to free herself and destroy Ming Tien's castle. As they are leaving, Ming Tien tells Xena that he killed Lao Ma himself, and Xena kills him with a well placed hairpin.
This second part is equally enthralling, and production values similarly high. (I think it was filmed as one long episode. It is unusual for the same director to do two successive episodes.) We see the effect that Lao Ma's teachings had on Xena. She ultimately rejects her advice, but only because Xena wasn't ready for it at that time in her life. She is considerably more human than she was in part 1. This part is especially memorable for the scenes between Xena and Gabrielle. The part where Gabrielle slaps and shouts at Xena is a bit unbelievable to be honest, but Lucy Lawless puts in an amazing performance in that scene. She says nothing yet says so much with her eyes and her face.(right) Despite everything it is hard to see Gabrielle actually acting like that. Another big question is how she beat Xena to Chin-(although this is answered nicely in a later episode, Forget Me Not). The relationship between the two women is the heart of the show, and some fans were unhappy at this portrayal of Gabrielle as a casual betrayer and beater of Xena. There are also issues about why Xena didn't explain herself better to Gabrielle. (OK, so no episode if Gab understands it all!) They were journeying for some time in part one, yet she didn't say that Lao Ma saved her life? Or what she taught Xena and why she owed her this debt? Clearly Xena and Gabrielle's communications are not at their best.
The scene in the dungeon is another brilliant one as Gabrielle, bedecked in her Chinese finery wades through that muddy water to talk to her friend. The scene is very well written, with Xena breaking her silence to ask Gabrielle to scratch her nose causing Gabrielle to burst into tears of remorse. It's an emotional scene that both actors play very well.
Opinions vary on a fantasy sequence that has Xena and Lao Ma flying through the air after Lao Ma has healed Xena's legs- silly or lovely? But the parts of the story dealing with Xena rejecting Lao Ma's teachings and going back to the sword are nicely nasty. It is clear that she meant a lot to Xena, and her actions in killing Ming Tien, were justified. Indeed, it seems that Lao Ma wanted Xena to kill him, as she sent back her hairpin- a direct reference to a conversation they had about its use it as a weapon. Quite why Xena kept the killing from Gabrielle, it is hard to see. The deception is another factor in the rift between them, but if Xena could forgive Gabrielle for betraying her, the execution of the monsterous Ming Tien could surely have been explained.
Special mention should go to the costume designers once again. After part one's grunge look for Xena, she looks fabulous in the rags and wooden collar. Quite a good look on Lucy! The guest actors help make this episode work. Jaqueline Kim was a big hit with fans as Lao Ma, Marton Csokas a dastardly Borias- but where was he supposed to be from? Slightly less successful were Daniel Sing as a slightly one note Ming Tien, and Grant McFarland, who did a silly Fu Man Chu Chinese accent. Eagle eyed fans should have spotted a chakram patterned doorway in Lao Ma's palace. What with M'Lila having the design for Xena's breast plate on her t-shirt and Lao Ma's chakram doorway, I hope we get a future episode about where Xena's cotume and weapons come from. Writer RJ Stewart and director Oley Sassone must be mentioned also for this brilliant two part story. 10/10.



King of Assassins
writers: Adam Armus and Nora Kay Foster
director: Bruce Campbell

Guest Stars: Bruce Campbell (Autolycus), Ted Raimi (Joxer/Jett), Gina Torres (Cleopatra)

From the sublime to the ridiculous. A poor episode featuring the return of Autolycus and Joxer's evil assassin brother Jett. The episode opens with Autolycus working with Jett to steal a sword. Jett kills the owner and flees leaving a worried Autolycus. Upon meeting Joxer he realizes that there are two of them. Xena her gone off leaving Gabrielle, Joxer and Autolycus to foil Jetts assassination plans. It turns out the intended victim is Cleopatra, who Autolycus takes a liking to. Getting into the castle, the threesome must stop Jett before its too late. Xena arrives in time to help, and Jett is captured.
A very lacklustre that does have the disadventage of following the epic, The Debt. Any Xena-lite episode is usually well down my list of favourites, and this one is near the bottom. I have grown to almost like Joxer, but this brother is just a daft idea. Ted Raimi whispers away trying to sound menacing and failing. Bruce Campbell, who also directs for the first time, is always entertaining, and his scenes with Cleopatra are full of double entendres. As usual he has most of the best lines, but even he can't save this lame story. Renee O'Connor again gets to play second(actually third) fiddle while Lucy is away, although she has a few funny moments. Her attempt at a chakram toss is painfully amusing. Cleopatra is nicely sexy, Gina Torres coming out best of the guest stars. Her interest in Xena adding an intriguing little twist.
Writers Adam Armus and Nora Kay Foster have been responsible for a few duffers in their time like For Him the Bell Tolls and Chariots of War, although I did enjoy Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and the Xena Scrolls. They also wrote Death in Chains, Beware Greeks.., Ties That Bind and Blind Faith. Clearly popular with the producers, but I don't thank their episode register that highly as fan favourites. In this turbulent third series, this episode stood out as the poorest so far by some way for me. 5/10.


Part Two

Brief Series Three guide, credits and disclaimers
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