PATREON ONLY: Xena Warrior Princess 4x09 Reaction
Added 2024-12-13 17:29:42 +0000 UTCComments
Really love this one. Borias and Xena are such an interesting pair. You can tell there is some genuine care there...especially on Borias' part. They just met at the wrong time in their redemptive journey for it to be anything other than toxic.
mary smith
2024-12-17 07:13:00 +0000 UTCThis episode is pretty good, even though slavegirl Satrina is a sudden addition to the backstory. The best part is the well-done portrayal of the death of Borias, which we learned about in the season two premiere, "Orphan of War." The decision to reshoot (and rewrite) the flashback scene from that episode here is... confusing, and clearly unnecessary. The best thing about it is that we can use it to suggest that time travel has been a factor in the reality of Hercules/Xena, perhaps explaining the cavalcade of continuity errors we've seen throughout the years. 😏
Koz
2024-12-16 14:14:22 +0000 UTC“Good on her. She’s being too controlling”. They were both about protecting the other and I think it was really important to show how that can be unhealthy as well as healthy and that keeping each other safe means that sacrifices had to be made and that they disagreed with each other frequently because of that. It was a very significant point of conflict in their relationship that had to be carefully written so as not to seem incongruous with all the other stories and narratives going on in the show. The writers knew how to write the drama between them as naturally and organically as possible so it never comes off as some soap opera where there has to be The Drama for the sake of having drama. No, the drama was very much tied into their characterization and when you have lead multi-dimensional characters, that characterization will be wavy and fluctuate because real life human beings are wavy and do fluctuate. It might be frustrating to see it but it's important for you to see that relationships of real authentic love are hard work and will always be. But it's as I keep saying... This show is a fantasy show only in its environment and storytelling. Its characters and themes are real. And there is nothing realer than Xena and Gabrielle's relationship. The show is a love story all throughout and Xena and Gabrielle's all-encompassing and ever-evolving loving relationship is a fundamental element to just how strong and substantial the show writing is. But it really wouldn't be that way if these characters didn't have their own respective individual lead main character stories and they didn't have to figure out how to navigate their lives and their love around them.
Girl4Music
2024-12-13 22:17:38 +0000 UTC‘Past Imperfect’ is another one of those episodes that you know only Steven L. Sears can handle and do justice to because it was all his idea to begin with this whole Borias/Solan venture. The backstory would only work as well as it does because his hand and mind is still firmly there. I wish this is what we got with the continuation of another Steven L. Sears written masterpiece but I won’t get into that until you get to it. I love the ending scene of this episode so much. To me, this scene says pretty much everything about their relationship and what they are to each other. Xena, the warrior and protector, who is strong, but also vulnerable. Gabrielle, the one person who brings that vulnerable side out of her and gives her the comfort that no one else could. I love how Gabrielle just sits there cuddling into Xena without words, sharing her pain, cradling her head in an effort to consolidate her completely in silence. I don't care what same-sex shows are on TV today. This show gave more representation of love and trust and faith and intimacy and care between same-sex characters without even needing to confirm them as a couple. That's powerful. That’s real love. It took Xena four years to learn to fully accept comfort from another person. In only four years, Gabrielle helps mend the damage of 10 years of hatred. I always think about this. How beautiful love, forgiveness and acceptance completely changed Xena’s personality and mindset. It’s an integral part of my character study on Xena and the overall thesis of what makes Xena and Gabrielle the incredible ship they are and how they influenced each other so profoundly that these kind of irrevocable changes are what you get to see in them. That’s far more romantic to me than something that’s intended to be a romance because it’s just far more organic and authentic. It feels like you’re seeing a real love story in an otherwise fantasy setting. Fantasy aside, they’re just warriors that fell in love. Or maybe it’s that they fell in love because they’re warriors because interactions like the ones they have would make it impossible to not fall hopelessly in love. You go through the storm together and you’re left standing together - hand in hand. That is what love is.
Girl4Music
2024-12-13 22:01:46 +0000 UTC
