From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V2 #50 Reply-To: chakram-refugees@smoe.org Sender: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk chakram-refugees-digest Saturday, February 23 2002 Volume 02 : Number 050 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [chakram-refugees] KS - favorite episodes, scenes and lines [Lilli Sprint] [chakram-refugees] Stuff about Kevin's funeral [NZJester Subject: [chakram-refugees] KS - favorite episodes, scenes and lines Hi All! I lay in bed the other night, thinking of Kevin Smith, and reviewing in mind the episodes of Xena he was involved in. I thought I'd share my thoughts. I was hoping it wasn't too soon. Knowing that alot of us are in pain from his death. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As a way of paying tribute to Kevin, I thought it might be nice to go through the entire body of work from Xena, and see which episodes he was in. Also, to take a look at the highlights. As such, I have done the following: 1) Below is a list of the episodes Kevin Smith appeared in, in Xena, over the six years. 2) I have listed my 5 favorite of those episodes. 3) I have also listed some of my favorite scenes and lines (not necessarily from my 5 favorite episodes), that remind me of Kevin Smith and the quality of acting he did as the character, Ares. Knowing that all of our experiences are quite individual, I would welcome a sharing from others. Season 1 The Reckoning Ties That Bind Season 2 Intimate Stranger Ten Little Warlords The Xena Scrolls Season 3 The Furies The Deliverer The Quill Is Mightier The Bitter Suite Forget Me Not Sacrifice I Sacrifice II Season 4 Dij` Vu All Over Again Season 5 Chakram Succession Seeds of Faith God Fearing Child Eternal Bonds Amphipolis Under Siege Looking Death in the Eye Livia Eve Motherhood Season 6 Coming Home Old Ares Had a Farm The God You Know You Are There Soul Possession 5 Favorite Episodes (well, I stretched it to 6) 1. The Quill is Mightier... 2. Ten Little Warlords 3. Seeds of Faith 4. Coming Home 5. The Furies 6. Chakram My Favorite Lines and Scenes: Again, these might not all be my favorite shows, but overall, the scenes are ones I relish when thinking of Kevin Smith, his accomplishments, and what the character Ares meant to the overall world of Xena. Humerous: 1. Scene: from the Deliverer. Xena moves off to a clearing somewhere and tells Ares to show himself. He does. Right in front of her, where she is holding her sword out, and him appearing neatly impaled on it. I don't remember his next line, but it was pretty smart-alecky. 2. The Quill is Mightier: Ares and Gabrielle are (yes) becoming chummy. Remember, this was entirely a humorous episode during which Ares and Aphrodite lose their god powers. The crowd of Gabrielle, Ares, Aphrodite and Joxer are spending the episode figuring out how to reverse that. Gabrielle and Ares are walking along talking easily. They both stop. Ares: ..."we were starting to warm up to each other, there, weren't we?" Gabrielle: "Yeah, we were...." Ares:...........I didn't like it..." Gabrielle: "Right back atcha! " Oh well. 2. Bitter Suite: Ares: "Nothing more need by said...Ding Dong, the Bitch is Dead." 3. Ten Little Warlords was just good. Seeing Ares played as a down-on-his-luck-drunk who has lost his powers, and with the right amount of apathy. He does a good pratfall, too. I've heard it said that playing humor is actually harder than serious. So to see Kevin Smith change character was rewarding and refreshing. But drunk, sober, he's still the same old Ares, and gets his powers back at the end, yet is his same old deceitful self. 4. The Xena Scrolls. My favorite line was Ares awakening from his sarcophagus, and saying, "UghhhHHHHH!...I feel Good!" 5. Succession: Ares laughingly waving, "bye, bye" to Xena and Gabrielle as they are pulled into a vortex he created. What a sense of humor. Serious: 1. Seeds of Faith: Ares was just such the bastard, and he showed it royally. Before this were several seasons of him trying to seduce Xena back to her "Dark Side," and her repeatedly refusing him. In Succession, we had seen him go after Gabrielle. Same old psychological sweet-talking we came to understand from him over the years. And with Seeds of Faith, the seduction continues, as does his ruthlessness, with his merciless killing of Eli. Kevin was Ares as his best, and his "worst." 2. First Season - Ties That Bind: This wonderful scene is toward the end when Ares is circling Xena. Recall, he played part of his role pretending to be Xena's father, to win her back to her dark side. The camera follows him circling her from his perspective, interspersed with being circled by hers. Like a predator circling his prey. Seductively, trying to convince her, humiliate her in front of others, about how she got sucked into Ares scheme to turn to her "dark side," all "for daddy." How he could give her "everything." Which she neatly turns down (again) saying, she rather die. Ares angrily kicks her sword up towards her, but it stops millimeters from her throat. He lost again. 3. Finally, his chilling crushing of Xena in Coming Home, where he had been driven crazy by the Furies. Yet when he believes he has killed the one person he has ever professed love for, Xena, his anguish is entirely moving and caring. Passion: 1. The seductive scene with Xena in The Reckoning, where Ares is trying (first time around) to convince Xena to give up her good ways. 2. The seductive dance in Bitter Suite with Xena. 3. The seductive love scene with Xena in Amphipolis Under Siege. (do we believe that "seduction" is the operative word here ?) The Character: Another, "I've heard":...I've heard it said that playing a villain well enough for us to hate him/her, takes a lot of talent. One of my favorite such villains was Komarofsky in Dr. Zhivago, played by Rod Steiger. Ya just hated the guy. Similar things with Ares. Except for Atyminius, Ares to me was the worst of the "bad guys." Conniving, seductive, manipulative, power-hungry. Anything he could do to get Xena back to him, anything to get what he needed for himself, was OK. Yet, Ares was never played "simply," as a villain. We saw nuances of other aspects of his character. Love, hate, greed, passion, control, power-over, even humor and pathos were all there. So that by the final seasons we could see Ares as his more vulnerable self. In Motherhood, for instance, where for love of Xena, he gave up his immortal powers to save Gabrielle and Livia. And his crushing anguish in 6th Season's Coming Home, after he believes he has killed Xena. Lucy Lawless's touching portrayal of Xena at the end, coming to him and caringly checking out his wounds (she had given him quite a knockout in an earlier scene!) was wonderful. As Xena said, he found out his own humanness. And so did we. One more thing. First season's Ties That Bind was just the second episode where we saw Ares, the first being The Reckoning. In the Reckoning, our first introduction to Ares, Smith played the character slightly differently. Sly, seductive, deceitful, yes, yet a bit different. Yet perhaps more mean or grim. Even the beard cut was a bit different. I can't describe the change, but by Ties That Bind the character change (along with beard cut) came closer to what I consider the quintessential Ares. More sarcastic, almost a bit more modern like a biker gone bad, with an underlying sense of humor. More, "Heh, heh, heh...I'm the BAD guy. I Got power!" Finally, a little memory thing of how characters, including Ares himself, called up images of him as we knew him in the show. In The Quill Is Mightier.... Ares, after getting his powers back, played a practical joke on Gabrielle. Minya says: "You know, I expect more from the God of War. I mean, without his powers, he's just another man.....(throatily)...Just another big ol', leather-clad, well-muscled, gorgeous, hunk of, bad-boy, mannn....." And Xena and Ares, In Coming Home, after Ares recovers from being taken over by the Furies. Xena checking on his injuries. This is a quote from Bluesong from the episode review in Whoosh: Ares sits on a mountain. Xena goes to him. He says mortality stinks and it hurts. Ares says that maybe as a mortal he can experience something he couldn't as a god -- Xena. They kiss. Xena tells Ares that he's always gotten to her, but [she says]: "You're bad for me. You've always been bad for me." Ares asks what the odds are they could get together. Xena says about one in a billion. "So there's a chance," Ares says. Xena walks away." And finally, again, Coming Home: Ares walks off the hill in the dusk, silhouetted by the setting sun. We hear him tense up. Trying one more time, as a mortal, to do that godly disappearing act. "I've got to stop trying that!" he whispers. "I'm going to rupture something." See, Ares disappearing in flash of white light. "Later," he says. ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 03:19:22 +1300 From: NZJester Subject: [chakram-refugees] Stuff about Kevin's funeral Forwarded from another list >Stuff about Kevin's funeral > >http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,1111810a11,FF.html Catch ya later Jester New Xenaland http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/newxenaland/ ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2002 20:18:20 -0500 From: "Cheryl Ande" Subject: [chakram-refugees] Pasadena Con And Kevin Smith Well I too am back from the Pasadena Con. I guess I have some mixed feelings about the con. I did enjoy myself and will probably go back again next year but it was a bittersweet experience. It was nice seeing a lot of the familiar faces but there was a feeling things were winding down on the convention scene. There wasn't much new merchandise and it was sad to see the older tee-shirts on sale for $5 - it sort of emphases the end of an era. The attendance were small but it gave the Con a feeling of intimacy and maybe of a family reunion. I did not know about Kevin Smith's accident and was surprised to hear that he had been hurt. I didn't think it was serious at the time. Thursday night we pre-registered and had a chance to do some picture shopping. The two women I was in line with at the picture gallery were big Ares fans and were buying the new pictures and telling me about writing Ares fan fic. On Friday the rumor was that Kevin Smith had died - I discounted it but Saturday the news was confirmed. I can't say that it put a pall over the convention but I think it changed the mood somewhat. I think we all became aware of how precious life is and I think we were all grateful to be together and celebrate the wonderful experience that the Xena fandom has been. Anyway I didn't hear too much complaining about anything at the Con (which is highly unusual) and we were all just happy to be together. High points for me were the night shows, the breakfast, getting to really talk to some of the guests, and catching with other fans I met over the years. Friday night was Josie Ryan and her play Sister Wonder Woman. Josie is a very good actress and she has some interesting things to say about fame - how it affects the famous and the innocent bystanders of fame. In some ways I think Josie sees fame as something to survive - for the famous it brings the glare of a spotlight on all the troubles that anyone else gets to keep private and it follows you even when the reason for the fame no longer exists. Rhonda Carter will always be Wonder Woman - for a long time she struggles against it but in the end she embraces the fact and makes peace with the good and bad aspects of this (some of the good and bad come in the form of fans who can be either very kind or just plain weird). For Rhonda's sister, Sylvia, things are little more dicey - she never seems to come to terms with her sister's fame - there are feelings of abandonment, low self-esteem, and really bad choices. I don't think Sylvia ever really comes to term with how she allowed her sister's fame to control her life. I believe Sylvia represents anyone who has grown up in another's shadow - there is tendency to blame our failures on the fact that we just never got the recognition. the love, or the chances that the other had when in reality we had everything they had but we just failed to realize it. That in the end we own our successes and our failures. It was good play - not as serious as I make it out. There are really funny parts. I especially like the fetus in the body of Wonder Woman who is pretty happy except for the spinning ( kept thinking of Julius having to listen to the Xena yell for 9 months). The other part of the program was the Clair and Hudson Show. Part one a take off on a Rodgers- Astair movies. Hudson danced mainly with her dance teacher and she was really good and quite limber. Part two was a very funny film by Claire based the short story about the plastic dolls - the Callisto doll and Alti doll (played by shamaness Xena doll) fall in love. There is a hysterical cameo by Xena's head. The last part was a short play Called the Boom, Boom Room about two strippers - one a lesbian and the other a very confused and vulnerable woman. Hudson played the young stripper she reminded me very much of Marilyn Monroe in Bus Stop - it was very good but a poor sound system really made it difficult to follow the play. Oddly enough it didn't seem to be a problem during Josie Ryan's play - perhaps Josie has more stage experience could overcome the sound problems. Saturday was the tribute to Kevin. The time had been set aside originally, I believe, for Renee to make a quick visit to the Con for the fans to get some photos of her - it now was a much more somber occasion. Lucy phoned in and was obviously upset. Everyone spoke but I think Renee had a hard time - looking at the pictures on the internet you could tell she had been crying. She had a hard time making it through her tribute and Lucy was very solicitous of her. After it was over the actors left the stage and all was silent and suddenly Lucy started speaking - they forgot to say good-by to her. It sort of broke the tension and there was a little nervous laughter - Lucy spoke some more about Kevin and I think she was getting a little more teary once she left her prepared text. It was however a very nice moment and we all gave Kevin a round of applause. I'm sure he was pleased. As fro me I couldn't help think of my Dad who past last year. He was big Ares fan so I hope Kevin looks my Dad up in heaven because my Dad will give him a nice cold beer and maybe a nice barbecue steak (I'm sure there is beer and steak in heaven or it jut wouldn't be heaven). Anyway Saturday night was the play Love Letters with Renee and Michael Hurst. The play was not what I expected - I thought it would be a light romantic comedy. Well there really funny parts but it is a sad play about missed opportunities and two people who never really find the love they need. Renee and Michael were both very good. Renee really pulled off the role of Melissa - - going from a precocious child to rebellious teen-ager to embittered divorcee and a woman who is finally defeated by life. Michael's role was harder in some ways - less dramatic and much more subtle. He was the good boy who did the right thing - did well in school, married the right girl, became a senator and is somehow is never fulfilled. The character could have come off as an insufferable bore bur MH has such charm that you really liked him. Much Like Renee's character who could have been viewed as a irritating bitch it was ROC's intensity and charm that made her likable even when you were angry at her for her stupid choices. I really enjoyed the play and the performances. The breakfast was great fun. The food wasn't great but the guests were. Adriene Wilkens was really up - excited by her new series and really chatty. I told her that I really liked Eve in You Are There and she agreed that was the way she wished Eve had been written - a kick-ass prophet of peace. Hudson came to our table and talked about Yoga and was very serious. I said it wasn't for someone like me - overweight with bad knees - I am obviously wrong because I got a great pep talk from her and by golly maybe I'll get my self over to a yoga class - couldn't hurt (well maybe it can - I don't know). Alex Tydings was very hopeful about Hour Glass - Steven Sears is now involved - I hope it comes off I really like time travel shows. Josie stopped at our table and was very bubbly and seemed to be enjoying the Con experience and Katherine Fulgate came and was also very charming and friendly. I love the breakfasts and they are worth the trip to any Con. This breakfast was really well run. Renee did not come but I talked to one of the volunteers and she said they are trying to convince Renee to attend one. She said Renee gets really nervous in crowds and I gather she is shy about such things. Maybe some day she can come and if we the fans behave ourselves, she can enjoy herself at the breakfast. Let's see what else. Steven Sears was at the convention and just hung out with the fans. I talked to him a couple of times about Sheena. Unfortunately the series is probably cancelled. He said the studio has been supportive but it is just to hard to find good time spots in syndication to get the advertisers. He said the syndi market is very bad today and Sept. 11 really scared the money away. He said he had an idea for a show about a renegade woman spy - an Asian woman tittering on the brink of madness who is out avenge the murder of her lover. It sounded great and although TPTB seemed interested they though it was too dark after 9/11. I asked his in the action adventure genre was dying out he didn't say yes but thinks don't look good. As a side note I was over at zap2it looking at the syndi ratings - I didn't see one action show in the top 20 - Xena even at the end usually was there and so was Andromida (which I noticed was often paired with Xena in a lot of markets). It looks like now there is no action show with the pull of Xena. Well that's it for now. I'll be continuing on with season two this weekend. I think I'm up to a Day In The Life. CherylA ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2002 20:14:23 -0500 (EST) From: Sarah Anne Packard Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Pasadena Con And Kevin Smith > it follows you even when the reason for the fame no longer exists. Rhonda > Carter will always be Wonder Woman - for a long time she struggles against it Uh, don't you mean Lynda Carter? :) -Sarah, aka the abbagirl- ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ End of chakram-refugees-digest V2 #50 *************************************