Will I be sad when Xena finally airs its last? I watched it this weekend and I realized that I would miss it. So many wonderful things have happened because of that show. No matter how I say I liked Hercules too, I know that deep down, Xena was the one that hooked me.
Things I didn’t like… The whole subtext thing. I’m all for telling the story and the story DID NOT begin with the subtext theme. Fans imagined it, TPTB played into it. But for me, it was NEVER about whether Xena and Gabrielle hooked up. To me, they are friends. The best kind of friends, sisters. Why did TIIC give in? I know, I’m likely in the minority in all of this. And I probably wouldn’t care if I thought it was in the “master plan.” Of course, I don’t think TPTB had a master plan. That’s why they sometimes get “TIIC” acronym, eh?… Killing the gods. What in all of Olympus was up with that?! Oh yes, it made for definite drama when Hercules had to kill Zeus. But for Xena’s baby? And why were the gods so scared, so selfish, so shortsighted? You would think that with all the wisdom and knowledge they supposedly possessed, they would have realized that their own fear would be their undoing. I hated this storyline and was so very sorry to see the gods die as they did…
Things I’ll always love about Xena… “For Him the Bell Tolls.” This episode, Xena lite but Joxer heavy, is my ALL TIME favorite episode from either Xena or Hercules. I have always loved Joxer for his bumbling ways and good intentions. In FHTBT, he was the romantic, sexy warrior and I loved seeing him like that. I could watch that episode over and over again… ARES. Kevin Smith is THE REASON I began watching Xena and Hercules. No matter what I’ve said before, he was the one who lured me into the world of myth and legend and I could not resist. On Hercules, Ares was easier to read. “Must kill Hercules!” was his main motive. But on Xena, Ares was so much more. The seducer – “come back to me.” The fighter – “if I can’t have you, I’ll kill you.” The lover – “my godhood for you.” He was bad, but he was so delicious doing it. In all his moments, Ares was the reason for me. I can’t ever deny that… Hades. He had a smaller part and was only around in the beginning. But those fleeting moments introduced me to Erik Thomson and I must ever be grateful to Xena for that. (Though in reality, I had first seen him on Hercules.)… Virgil. He was exactly what I didn’t want. Another handsome guy in the long line of handsome guys to grace the universe of Xena. But Virgil is different. Yes, strong and creative, he’s also sensitive and sweet. Irresistible. Too bad he didn’t get more on screen time. But I think it was William Gregory Lee himself who hooked me… The cyberworld. I went online in search of more information on Kevin Smith and ended up finding a place to express my creativity. Not only in writing, but in creating websites dedicated to my favorite fellows… MY DEAR FRIENDS. I’ve met a lot of people over the last four years or so. Many of them online, then some of them in real life. The conventions brought me together with fans who became my friends and I never ever thought a show could do that. And for that I must forever be grateful.
I think that I will feel that tinge of sadness when the credits roll that final time on Xena. Yes, it’s time to move on, but I will always remember my time in the Xenaverse fondly. And really, does it all ever end?… 🙂
