Rick's Studio

I was waiting until everyone (who gets it this week) has seen the new season premiere before writing my "analysis". After reading Lisa's novel on the subject (are you sure you don't write the episode commentaries for Whoosh!?--that's meant as a compliment, Lisa), I decided it's time. I've read the other e-mails, and not wanting to retread familiar territory, I've tried to overlook the obvious and comment on a few things nobody's mentioned yet. Read on if you dare!...

First off, let's compare the "reality" plot line and the "metaphysical" plot line. I found the Joxer/Amarice/Eli part the most interesting. This represented real people dealing with a real situation: the deaths of two people who they loved, admired, and now miss. Seeing Eli come to terms with his complicity in the whole mess was rather interesting. He showed a depth of character I didn't expect from him. And Amarice stepping forward was moving, if not unexpected. I like the way she took a locket of Xena's hair to remember her by. And Joxer was his usual noble self (sorry, but anyone who wrote this ep proves Ted can act haven't been watching his previous appearances very closely--he showed great range in "For Him the Bell Tolls" and has been adding layers to Joxer's character almost since the beginning). If only he (the character Joxer) had any talent! He might then have a shot at Gab after all. Lol!

Compare that to what was going on up in "Eternity" as they called it. You knew Gab and Xena would get back to life somehow, and from that point on it was just a matter of the writers throwing a bunch of arbitrary obstacles in their path. How many times did someone say words to the effect "If <this> happens, then <that> is gonna be something we have to deal with."? ("If you eat the fruit, you'll be a demon." "If you give up your light, you be screwed forever." etc.) Just a maze our heroines had to navigate, trapped up in religious ideology. But most mythological tales have a lot of the arbitrary in them, so I guess that's to be expected. Still, not much time for character development or soulful chats between our heroines as they ran the maze. I would've liked to have heard them discuss what they just went through.

The taking them down from their crosses scene: when Gab gets crucified at the end of Ides, she's got the full mendhi pattern thing happening. I thought that stuff was supposed to last awhile before fading, but she shows no sign of it in Fallen Angel on her hands (still on her tummy tho'). Also, it seemed they had been hanging for awhile before Joxer et al could get them down. Aside from rigor mortis, it was freezing out. They should've been stiff as a board. Maybe that would've been a bit too much realism for the show.

I heard a few people mention at the end when Gab supposedly pulls away from Joxer to tell Xena they'll be together forever. I didn't see it that way. Seems like Joxer stepped back voluntarily to let Gab and Xena do their reunion thing. I think he recognizes the inevitability of X&G's togetherness (we're really starting to bend under the subtext here--just call them "married" and be done with it!!!), and he has always yielded to that. It was interesting to compare his reaction at losing Gab here with his scenes at the start of Sin Trade after losing Gab down the hole. Pretty consistently done--the grief is palpable. I understand Gab and Joxer may be getting together in a future episode. Based on this episode, I don't think anything lasting would come of it.

When Heaven opens up and the angels first descend to carry X&G from the mountain top, I notice the portal first appeared as what I believe was a Jewish six-sided star. Does this mean the show is espousing Judaism over Christianity? Are the ultra-conservative Christian forces going to band together to make them "remove the show from circulation" for showing a fictitious view of the after life? Don't laugh, it could happen!

Overall, the special effects were quite good, but they've never gotten that flying thing down. The wings don't beat often enough to really fly (and if, as spiritual beings, they don't need wings to fly, then why have them?), and most of the shots only show them going basically vertically, obviously actors on a (hidden) wire. I guess if you're gonna do angels, you gotta have wings, even if they are kind of cheesy. But overall this was a visual tour de force--not much location shooting, just a lot of imagination from the set and costume designers.

Callisto, oh Callisto, what twists your journey takes! The poor girl couldn't die to save her life! I heard somewhere Hudson is coming back for 2 (?) episodes later on. My first reaction here was, her reunion with her parents is the ultimate end for her. It was perfect! What remains to be said, to do? So what role will Callisto take in the future? Can we stand her being too good for words? I have to say for Hudson's acting: when she turned good, you could tell it wasn't just psycho-Callisto pretending to be good. She really sold it. And since when does turning angelic suddenly cause your hair to grow a foot or two?

I'm still wondering if anything will come of the fact that Callisto "interfered" in the fight in Ides. Will this be a red herring, and Callisto just got away with one this time? Well, the broken chakram is featured next week, so hopefully we'll get the scoop.

I guess they had to move the story along quickly, but seems to me that Joxer and Amarice gave up on the return the bodies idea pretty quick. Joxer especially made a big deal of retrieving them, yet he gives up at the first talk of trouble. Surely the rededicated Amarice would push for their return as a way of honoring her lost friends. Then, instead of quickly burying them and saving their own skins from the Romans with a quick getaway, they just sit around awhile until Eli returns. I guess they still need Xena's organizational skills!

The biggest mystery of all, and I can't believe nobody noticed. We are pretty much told that this afterlife X&G find themselves in is the end of the road where it's all sorted out. So we've got angels and demons fighting it out with swords, stabbing and hacking away. So, are they dying?! And if so, what afterlife are they going to? If they can't die anymore, will they just lay about forever, all sliced up? Or will they be reincarnated where they came from and just go at it again? I don't believe I saw many of them actually drop to the floor like they were getting mortal wounds. My head is starting to hurt!

Overall, I thought the show was quite magnificent in its way. It's just good to have X & G back among the living! Lots of action, good dramatic moments, a story encompassing life, death, friendship, dedication, redemption, justice.... I can see where it's going to set the tone for at least the first part of the season. Xena with no warrior spirit? By the gods! All it was missing was more Xena and Gabrielle talking, being friends and sharing, but we've got a whole magnificent new season to explore that end.