The Path Not Taken - 1x05 (XWP)

First aired:10.02.95

Yet another aspect of the character of Xena. Unfortunately it happens to be the development of my least favourite side of hers, manipulation.

Xena has fully accepted and embraced the role of Gabrielle’s protector, for good and for bad. Xena clears the road for Gabrielle who never even has to consider either consequences or have to face the uglier aspects of humanity. Though the Warrior Princess probably has nothing but good intentions, her behaviour in many ways is limiting Gabrielle’s development and understanding of the world. Something that will lead to ending up in the stocks and has to face possible execution. Gabrielle’s eagerness mixed with her experience of everything ending up for the better (read Xena saving the day) is already giving her troubles.

Once Xena has accepted the “mission” of retrieving Prince Unibrow’s loved one, the discussion between Xena and Gabrielle turn serious. Gabrielle clearly expresses a fear of Xena falling back into her old ways while being surrounded by people from her past. Xena more or less shrugs at her companion’s concern while at the same time managing not to be condescending towards Gabrielle’s fears. I didn’t actually think Gabrielle was this aware of how carefully Xena is walking the line. It also shows that despite the apparent lack of fully being able to “see” each other, they do have a very healthy communication going. That Gabrielle feels secure enough to voice her concern is a clear indicator of a very comfortable and perhaps even surprisingly (so early on) open relationship.

As Xena in this episode is playing the role of wicked warlord, the news of her possible “goodness” has spread amongst the darker side of their community. The rumours of her assistance to King Gregor and saving the innocent child is now following closely in her footsteps. Still she manages to “pass” and successfully fool the arms dealer Mysentius. This is where her manipulation comes into play. With a steely calm she works the dealer around her little finger, using words and confidence as successfully as she wields a sword. Not only does her manipulation work, but she adds another level to it by playing on her sensuality and Mysentius’ lust.

Marcus, the Friend
Then there’s Marcus. I like Marcus, I really do. Or to be more specific, I liked what he brought out in Xena, the teary-eyed regret. Just by watching Xena’s eyes during their interactions you could tell this man meant something to her. I also adore her final salute to him during the funeral pyre where she doesn’t refer to him as an ally, lover or a fellow soldier, but a friend. That is probably the most heartfelt friend I have ever heard and I definitely believe her. This man had once been her friend and judging by her passion, friends are something she doesn’t take lightly. They matter.

Subtext
Because I enjoy seeing what isn’t there on the surface, and I went into this thinking/hoping/knowing that there will always be at least one little piece of subtext in each and every episode. However this is of the extremely over analytical and metaphorical kind. The following discussion takes place between Marcus and Xena,

Marcus: “Yeah, the old Xena. You know, there is something different about you now. I mean, before, you-- were so determined, like you-- always had something to prove. But now, it’s--”
X: “But now--”
Marcus: “It’s hard to say. It’s like, now, you have the answer. But I’ve never even found the question.”

Followed by a very heated liplock and quick cut to Gabrielle looking adorable in the stocks. One possible interpretation of this, is that Xena has indeed has begun to understand the answer, which obviously is love. Love is the problem, the equation and the solution. Slowly she’s learning this through experience. The quick cut to Gabrielle works to emphasise how she is learning this. I’m not saying that there is anything between our two heroes other than a fresh friendship, but perhaps the ideas are already there. Perhaps they’re teaching each other what love is, and how it works.

Conclusion
The range of emotions Xena is allowed to display in this episode (in relation to Marcus) warms my heart. However that one side of her I dislike, more so than her violence, is just as clearly displayed. In this episode we see her expand on her manipulative skills, and her sensuality, sexuality as a weapon. I really do not like this side of her. Manipulation is one of the few things I truly despise in this world, I don’t have any good arguments I just do. Furthermore, to me sexuality is not a weapon, an issue, a problem, destructive or immoral. To me sexuality simply is, it’s something that links most of us and gives us the opportunity to come up with highly inventive and original ways of expressing and releasing it. Even though it has its dark sides, it really is kinda beautiful. That’s why I’m not a fan of it used in the manner Xena often does, to trick and to deceive.

Despite adoring Xena’s reaction to Marcus (though Marcus himself could have used some character work and not simply been sacrificed to the Horror-movie stereotype), I really don’t like this added "depth" of manipulation. Therefore I’m not thrilled about this episode.

Randomness & Memorable
- “I don’t care much for popularity.”
- Gabrielle in the stocks.
- Xena in the robe.
- One of Xena’s plans actually failing -- Marcus finding the girl.
- The Funeral Hymn.

Next Up:
The Pack (BtVS)

Never Kill A Boy On the First Date - 1x05 (BtVS)

First aired: March 31, 1997

Ah, an episode tentatively dealing with my favourite relationship of the show, Buffy and Giles. Sweet.

Beyond Slayer & Watcher
On the surface this is an episode about Buffy once again aiming for normality, this time in the form of a proper date. However beneath all of this it is a study in the slow blurring of boundaries between Buffy and Giles. The episode starts off with Giles critiquing Buffy’s slaying technique clearly stressing their Watcher/Slayer relationship. As the episode progresses that notion is tampered with and blurred. Officially Giles is playing the role of librarian, unofficially he is her Watcher. Both roles are slowly pushed to the side by something else, something more. In the pilot Giles already stepped over the boundary for physical proximity by invading Buffy’s personal sphere twice. In this episode he steps beyond yet another boundary by coming to her house.

At the end of the episode Giles uses a story from his own childhood referring to his relationship with his own father in order to comfort, but also show Buffy that he can relate to her. It is especially interesting that he uses the story containing his father, thereby ever so tentatively establishing a similar father/daughter relation between them. Rather than to take the teacher’s/Watcher’s role of guided improvement, her offers her unconditional support and comfort.

Buffy the Teenage Girl
So, Buffy and the boy. The boy of this week is a morbid brooder (apparently she has a type) by the name of Owen. Her reaction to him are equal parts adorable, predictable and painful. She becomes the bubbly blonde who fakes interests and rambles pointlessly in Owen’s proximity. There’s not much to say about Owen himself, or her reaction to him, other than they’re both rather typical. What else is typical, but more interesting is Cordelia’s strange reaction. For some reason after having spotted Buffy’s interest and approach to the silent brooder, Cordelia throws herself on the poor unsuspecting boy. Why, is a very good question, but feels strangely accurate to “female” behaviour, as a type of alpha-female squabbling and “outdoing”.

While an age old prophecy speaking of the Masters ascension is being fulfilled, Buffy tries to juggle “normal” teenage life with slaying. Thereby ending up taking her boy for a nice tour of the Funeral Home (and the autopsy room looks strangely similar to the science lab from The Witch). As the morbid little fella Owen is, he gets a total kick out of it until the dead turn undead. A lot of running and chasing results in the Armageddon spouting vamp catching and smashing Owen into the wall causing Buffy to believe he’s killed him. This sets Buffy off and she goes on to pummel the vamp. This is actually quite interesting, there seems to be a possible enjoyment in the violence for her. And Giles critique from the teaser of this episode, where he scolds her for lingering to long before going in for the kill, only works to emphasis this. It is also interesting to point out that she appears to prefer to fight without weapons, the weapons only show up at the end when it‘s time to dust. If this is a matter of inexperience or simply a personal preference I shall eager wait and see.

The episode ends on a very mixed note. Buffy having to sacrifice the normality she seeks, but meanwhile believing she succeeded “professionally”. Unfortunately she failed without realising it, which only helps to make her so much more human. You do not always beat the evil, and more importantly, you don’t always know you’ve failed. This also highlights the incredible consistency of storytelling this show has. From the first to the last episode with stops during the season we are told one story. It is one story-arch containing both success and failure. It is very good.

Conclusion
Once again the show’s themes as well as overall feel is firmly established. A wild ride between the mundane ponderings of the pubertal teenager mixed up with demons and all other types of devil spawn. Human timeless emotions mixed up with ancient prophecies regarding ultimate destruction and the demise of the human race.

Buffy herself gets to enjoy smashing demon ass while being allowed to throw pubertal temper tantrums and fawn over the boy-crush of the week. Meanwhile her relationship with Giles takes on a slightly more emotional side.

It was actually a quite enjoyable episode. Even though the characters of Xander and Willow felt somewhat overlooked, and Angel’s random appearance with a superfluous warning and a look of jealousy of Buffy’s date, felt both conspicuous and unnecessary.

Randomness & Memorable
- “At this point you’re abusing sarcasm.”
- Xander’s Tweety Bird watch.
- Sunnydale Airport Shuttle.
- Cordelia’s reaction to seeing Angel for the first time, “Hello, Salty Goodness”.
- Discussing the cafeteria’s “mystery green” and slaying all within the span of two sentences.
- Buffy & Giles looking through body boxes at the morgue, “Eww, parts”.
- The vamp with euphemism-Tourettes, “Pork and Beans”.
- The incredibly dated fashion.

Next Up:
The Path Not Taken (XWP)

Cradle of Hope - 1x04 (XWP)

First release: 09.25.95

What this show lacks in consistency it more than enough makes up for in prophecy.

Cradle of Hope is an interesting mixture of Greek Mythology with touches of the Bible. The episode starts with a heartbroken King receiving a prophecy of a newborn child one day taking over his throne. This causes a young newborn boy to be sent down the river in a basket in an attempt to save him from the witch-hunt of newborns.

This episode perpetuates the snarky Gabrielle and introduces a more carefree Xena. There is some cheerful and playfulness in this Xena. It is as if her world has taken a step away from the darkness and constant struggle. Perhaps the revelations of the previous episode has freed her up somewhat. She’s given herself the chance to be human. With it we also see an increase in her confidence, which also turns her into more of the aggressor than in the earlier episodes. Previous to this she has reacted to her surroundings, this time by taking in the child and Pandora she actively seeks to help others. She seems to have taken her own (future) advice of “act, don’t react”.

Watching Xena fight at the tavern is glorious. This is the first time you can feel her joy. She’s quick, aggressive and inventive. Anything can be a weapon in her hands, candlestick, port, (later on in the episode, sex) you name it and she’ll find a way to use it for violence. Another good example that this character needs violence and darkness in her life to thrive. Previously when she’s been fighting that other side of herself she’s felt dull and depressed. Now she’s very much alive and kicking.

As mentioned this episode emphasises that anything can be a weapon in Xena‘s hands, and one of the more lethal ones she has access to is sexuality and her sensuality. Through seducing the dubious Commander she gets access to Pandora’s box (yes, I realise how wrong that sounds). This marks the beginning of the theme of explicit lust/sexuality as a metaphor as well as path towards destruction. At times I’m surprised at the lack of uproar from the heteronormative community, not because of the homoerotic undertones, but because of the ways in which the show treats heterosexuality. From memory, each and every explicit heterosexual encounter always ends in death, or at least a sizeable amount of destruction. That includes those times when it’s not used as a straightforward weapon. I’m eagerly waiting to see if my memory serves me right. If so, it brings an entirely new level of moral subtext to subtext. One I’m not entirely sure I agree with. But if you enjoy division and social/cultural value-systems it might be for you.

Word of Xena’s new path is still not out. Once again the King and his deceitful commander sees Xena as a ruthless monster who’s army they fear to go up against. This episode actually paints a picture of Xena as not necessarily a hero as much as a problem-solver. With the same brutal and beautiful simplicity as she fights, she finds original solutions to problems. At this point it’s not about saving entire populations from vicious warlords and ultimate destruction, it’s about helping people, making the best out of hopeless and sad situations.

The YAXI vs. The Prophecy
Watching X:WP is in many ways very similar to reading Ancient Sources. They are inconsistent, tell the same stories in a wide range of ways, are often very prophetic, but always present similar themes. That’s what you get on X:WP as well.

As the duo discovers the boy in the basket Gabrielle ponders aloud, “Imagine sending a baby down the river”. A line that with the knowledge of events to come tears at my heart and makes me wish I could protect this fairly innocent young girl from the pain to come. Same goes for the painfully hypocritical, “What sort of man would order the death of a defenceless child?” that Xena incredulously pondered in relation to the King’s hunt for the boy. To further slam the prophecy home Gabrielle’s curiosity causes her to stumble into and knocking Pandora’s box over, thereby “releasing Hope into the world“. I try not to look ahead, but enjoy the episode and the moment, but this episode makes future events too clear not to see the parallels. Personally I actually have to say I prefer this prophetic and ambiguous stuff to complete consistency.

Subtext
As they wake up Gabrielle asks Xena how she’s slept, who cheerfully replies, “Like a rock”. In reply to Xena posing the same question Gabrielle grumbles “On a rock”. The implication that Gabrielle slept on Xena is difficult to ignore.

Furthermore as Pandora is discussing the most important thing to mankind Xena’s eyes briefly linger on Gabrielle at the voice-over of “most important”. It’s not just actors and writers who’s in on the subtext, the editors did their share as well.

Then there is Gabrielle’s final smile at Xena as the Warrior Princess has saved the day. Sure it’s could just be a smile, but it could also be a promise, a possibility. A future.

Conclusion
It’s good to see that Xena didn’t simply step out of the darkness into the role of champion and protector of the Greater Good. Nope, she started as a problem-solver trying to do good while enjoying herself without enjoying herself too much.

Gabrielle is still a punk and a teenager and that is just as glorious to see. She’s grumpy, self-centred, got an attitude and have trouble with authority. Her enthusiastic curiosity is at the moment as entertaining as it eventually will be painful.

To imagine that these two should go on to wreck havoc in heaven and hell, inspire prophets and cause the fall of Empires, great leaders and Gods feels as wrong as realising your sister who you keep imagining to be 12 is in fact 20. At the moment they’re nothing but a homeless rag-tag duo with a tentative bond and uncertain purpose. I can’t help loving every moment of it.

Randomness & Memorable
- The birth of the proper one-liners, first “didn’t your mother ever tell you...”
- “Why is he crying? Are you holding him wrong or something?”
- “We just want some milk and some port.”
- The baby-juggling.
- Weird slow-mo as Pandora turned the handle on the box.
- “Break it down. Break it down.”
- Xena chasing away the guard dogs with a hand gesture.
- Fate for men without a destiny.

Next Up;
Never Kill A Boy On the First Date (BtVS)

Teacher’s Pet - 1x04 (BtVS)

First aired: March 25, 1997

This was definitely not what I had been expecting. An episode about male sexuality and ego was not something that fit into my preconceived notion of what a show that has become known for its female empowerment would deal with. But it did.

This was an episode that portrayed women from a male perspective. I highly doubt it was a coincident that in those scene were Xander was present Buffy and Willow always communicate silently (inaudible for the audience) and kept close physical contact. Nope, this episode dealt with Xander, his masculinity, sexuality and the ways it set him apart from the female population. There was never any disrespect towards women and one could even say the way in which the episode portrayed the female as powerful and aggressive sexually is part of the empowerment previously mentioned. Still the focus was on the male.

The main theme was obviously that of the somewhat ridiculous nature of some expressions of male sexuality, but there is also a much darker interpretation. Because this is also a story about a Predator and a child. It is surprising not more discomfort is felt when a young boy is tricked into his much older teacher’s home, drugged and then about to be taken advantage of. In one way you almost have to wonder if such a painful and serious matter should be transformed into television entertainment.

With this episode we are also shown that despite his goofy nature, Xander is not the comic relief, Cordelia is. She merely exists as a tool to be used for plot advancement (in the previous episode to be spell cast, in this to find the body) while her foreign perspective and lack of empathy are used as laughter inducers. Then again it’s the first season so she is allowed to be a cardboard cutout, it’s just strange thinking this is (supposed to be) the same character that got me teary eyed during her goodbye appearance on Angel (the Series).

One of the scenes that stand out to me is the one between Dr Gregory and Buffy. Both showcasing that Buffy might not be the typical smarty, but does have a great amount of potential. Also the fastest way to Buffy’s heart is through placing faith in her (no pun intended). She seeks recognition, but she is also an incredibly loyal character.

Conclusion
Not one of the stronger episodes, but does display a wider emotional perspective than I had originally thought the series presented. Even though Xander is not one of my favourite characters, it's good to see that the show does allow his perspective as well.

Randomness & Memorable
- Buffy vamped-out being attacked by vamps.
- Alexander LaVelle Harris
- Symbol of Kali Ma on Giles’ desk.
- Buffy killing a vamp with a white picket fence. Talk about symbolism.
- “Destructo-girl. That’s me.” Said by Buffy with a grain of painful honesty.
- “There are too many guys in your life.”

Next up:
Cradle of Hope (XWP)