Rick's Studio

I'd like to offer up my reviews/thoughts on Chakram/Succession. I was delayed in watching Chakram since my local TV station interrupted the episode a few minutes with a test pattern. I had to wait a week to see the whole EP on WGN cable station (they run them a week later than the Atlanta station).

Firstly, I was disappointed that more wasn't revealed about the history of the chakram. I expected some flashbacks like in other episodes dealing with Xena's past. Rather, we got a story focusing on the chakram, rather than explaining it. Some of the dialogue filled in some story details, but I wanted more. Perhaps the writers are saving more for later, but then again, they don't have the responsibility to live up to my preconceived notions! So let's take it for what it is.

The new chakram design, with a more space-age (!) look and with the ability to split in two, is awesome. Quite an improvement over the original. I guess with the handle in the middle of the disk, Xena won't have to worry about cutting her hand on the edge anymore. Lol!

The story itself I found to be only a little above average. Just another gods-duking-it-out story. They fight over the Hind's blood, the Kronos Stone, any excuse will do. Seeing Xena helpless without her dark side was interesting. After being told her Way is to be a warrior, I guess she needs a bit of evil to sling back at the bad guys. Having her helpless also allowed them to reiterate Gabrielle's vow to give up the peace-monger shtick by giving her several heavy-duty battle scenes (drawing a surprised look from Amarice). Good to have the ol' warrior princess back by episode's end, though. Also interesting that when Callisto has her bad part removed, she doesn't remember any of her evil-doing, and when Xena's dark half is removed, she doesn't remember her warrior past. Is Heaven just a state of selective amnesia?

As for Gabrielle, I'm not sure what I think about the new outfit. It shows more skin, but now she looks more like a model out of a bondage catalog ("Hurt me, Gabrielle, hurt me!"). Her skirt looks like a baggy diaper to me. I'm sure part of this is TPTB are trying to give Gab a more action-oriented look, but I can't help but wonder if it's also a bit of pandering to the audience trying to build up the ratings. The short 'do is beginning to grow on me, no pun intended. And I love the wit-a-wit-a-wit-a sound effect whenever she twirls her sais (sp?).

Does Joxer know the wrong time to tell Gab he loves her or what? Granted, he was afraid she'd get killed again, and that forced his hand, but I always figured he'd find a more tender, romantic time. I expected Gab to either immediately gush over him or laugh at him, ignoring what he said, but she did neither. I smell a big heart-to-heart episode coming up, but I just can't see the two of them together. Joxer's a nice guy who means well, but he's a not-too-bright clumsy oaf too. I imagine if Gab divorces Xena (c'mon, they're together forever, right? if that ain't marriage...), she'll go for a more intellectual or artistic kind of guy. She's enough of a woman now I think she can have anyone she wants. And why, when Xena wants to hear stories of her past, does Joxer say "Talk to Eli, he's your man." Isn't Gab the one who has chronicled her whole career? Pull out the scrolls, guys!

Well, we've had Tara trying to take Gabrielle's job in Forgiven, now we've got Mavican (spelling courtesy of the Whoosh! episode guide) trying to take Xena's "job" (if being Ares' right-hand woman is a job!). And then to find out that Gabrielle has already become such an accomplished warrior that Ares is actually after her! The times they are a-changin'!

The big thing that hit me was just how much Lucy's pregnancy impeded the filming. She's got that outfit with the big leather panels around her body, but it seems it didn't hide much. They spent most of the episode trying to show Xena from any angle that didn't put her belly in your face. She also spends a lot of time hunching down when shown from the front. Most of her action scenes involved her throwing the new chakram around (I just LOVED the opening fight with Mavican with the ricocheting dual chakrams--sort of an early pinball game!) and some kicking. I miss seeing Xena yipping and flying about already. If I didn't already know she was pregnant, I might not have noticed, but as it was, it was very distracting. Sounds like next week she finds out she's pregnant in the show, so at least they can stop trying to hide it.

Interesting how quickly Gab forgets her peaceful ways. "Just give me one bandit!" Wouldn't have heard that from her last season! And she's getting to be so much like Xena, that when she's wounded, it's in the upper left arm, Xena's favorite wound location!

After having seen so much of Joxer, Amarice and Eli around lately, I found myself missing them this episode. Can't wait to see them again. And just where the hell IS Argo? She's probably settled down with some stallion and is working on her memoirs: "Argo: My Life With the Warrior Princess".

Don't really care much for the new Xena outfit. Changing costumes is a regular (though not frequent) part of Gabrielle's character, and it matches her changing persona, but putting Xena in a new costume is like redoing Superman's outfit (wait, they've done that already, haven't they?). A superhero should have a look and stick to it, but that's just my opinion. Besides, my X&G action figures don't look like them anymore! But I thought the big panels hiding Xena's body (no doubt due to the pregnancy) just made her look bulky and overweight. It seemed like her old skirt gave her legs more freedom of movement, too. Someone wrote, I believe, that it made her look like a commander or general, and it does. If all she had to do was stand around ordering troops about, it'd be a good look, but she's an ACTION hero. She needs to be light and agile, not bulky and heavy. I hesitate to say too much, however, since I believe the costumers have said the characters will be displaying a wide range of costumes throughout the season, so if you don't like one, just wait for it to change.

I liked the twist where if you ask for Ares' help, you're not worthy of Ares' help. I seem to recall him helping several other warlords over the years, but we'll just ignore that.... Xena never asks for anyone's help (except her friends occasionally), and that strength really turns on Ares (and me)! He wants the one he can't have, and it's driving him mad (to quote a Smith's song). Then again, maybe that also describes Joxer...?

I liked the Mavican character, but I would've liked to have known more about her past and what caused her to be such an over-achiever. All we really know is she led a party of bandits. Technically, she's not dead, so maybe she'll return from wherever that was (the gateway looks an awful lot like the portal that Hercules and The Sovereign used to travel through).

Overall, these were not two of the best episodes EVER (Fallen Angel might make the list), but they provide a good solid leap into the new season. As I recall, last season was a little shaky getting started, then around the India arc, the show got in groove and, well, we know what happened by Ides of March. So I know it's just going to get wilder and wilder...