From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V3 #62 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 Monday, March 3 2003 Volume 03 : Number 062 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [chakram-refugees] <> ["Cheryl Ande" Subject: [chakram-refugees] <> @ @ @ @ @ This episode is my favorite of this excellent arc. It is always interesting to me to see Xena a very different light and here we see a Xena who has no memory of her violent past. What kind of woman is she with out those memories? This episode takes a glimpse at what that woman would have been like. It also has a very good performance by Renato Bartolomie as Beowulf. Finally his character gets choice screen time and Renato makes good use of it. There is also some moments of macabre humor that I enjoyed. The story opens at Gabrielle's fire ring one year after the events of The Ring. It is obvious Gabrielle has become a legend and now every arrogant knight with a death wish just can't wait to prove he's the guy to wake the sleeping beauty. A Norse noble man is next in line. Beowulf arrives to warn him that his attempt is futile; only Gabrielle's soul mate can breach the fire and awaken her. Beowulf has painful evidence of this, his scared hand. He also tried to warn the knight of another danger. The knight is contemptuous of Beowulf but when the monster Grindhilda appears behind him, Beowulf's dire warnings are confirmed. The monster literally rips the knight's limb from limb. The knight still obsessed with the lady in the fire tries to jump through the fire and is incinerated. Beowulf seems to be running out of options as to how to save Gabrielle. His sidekick, Wiglaf (Dean O'Gorman) seems to think he is ready to give up. No says Beowulf they will go to Denmark and get the king, Hrothgar to help them. As Beowulf and Wiglaf travel to Denmark, the valkaries led by the villainous Waltraut, arrive to gather up the latest batch of heroes who have succumbed at Gabby's pyre. Waltraut is appalled at the stupidity of the men who hurl themselves into the fire for the "ordinary woman" trapped there. Her buddy thinks perhaps Gabby isn't so ordinary. As Waltraut examines the dead "heroes" for gold teeth her friend says the Brunhilda certainly thought enough of her to turn herself into a flame. She also suggests that Xena certainly seemed to think a lot of Gabrielle. This so enrages Waltraut that she immediately drops the hero she's carrying like a sack of hay. Waltraut says that she doesn't want to hear that "conniving bitch's name" besides she's dead and is "feeding the fishes". I found this scene ghoulishly funny. The valkaries go on and on about the dead being heroes but treat them like so much rubbish. There is such a disconnect between their words and actions that it is shocking and amusing. One can see that the valkarie have certainly lost the spirit of compassion that Grindhilda had. At Hrothgar's castle, Beowulf and Wiglaf find a grad celebration. They learn that the king is going to wed a lady named Walthea. Everyone seems quite pleased over the nuptials except the king's jealous sister. Beowulf is curious about the woman but when he spies the bride he is astonished. In comes Xena ring a lovely cow. She is ever inch the happy and blushing bride. Beowulf is ecstatic; he doesn't need the king now when he has Xena the Warrior Princess and Gabby's soul mate. Wiglaf is more pragmatic. This woman certainly doesn't look like a warrior and her name is Walthea. Something is wrong. At the alter Walthea is met by her future husband, Hrothgar. He seems like an amiable chap but certainly not Xena's usually type. She does however seem happy. As the couple exchanges rings Walthea starts to have flashes of herself as Xena forging another ring and fighting a strange woman. A distracted Walthea does through the wedding but we notice something else odd. With the vows complete and the time for the couple to kiss, Walthea doges her husbands kiss and goes in for a nice friendly hug. Uh oh things don't look good for the wedding night and things look awful for the nicely dressed cow who is sacrificed. Beowulf realizes that the ring's curse is the reason that Xena is acting so strangely. He goes in search of the bride. Hrothgar is having some problems also. His sister doesn't like his new wife and his new wife doesn't seem to care for him. Hrothgar comes upon a pensive Walthea. She says she has had a strange sensation since the vows. So has Hrothgar but his strange sensations are more in the nether regions and he knows how to cure his. Walthea however is strangely cold to him if not downright frigid. As Hrothgar tries to ravish her, she pleads with him to wait. That he knows that she has other "priorities than most women". She wants to make life better for the Viking people but Hrothgar brusquely tells her only duty is to him, her master. He then forcefully starts to kiss. This is a strangely disquieting scene. We have never seen Xena so vulnerable as we do here. She is almost on the verge of being taken by force and yet she does nothing to defend herself except forcefully push her husband off her (Hrothgar seemed a bit surprised at the force of that push). Indeed the audience is just waiting for Xena to pummel the guy but it doesn't happen. Instead it is Beowulf who rescues Walthea with a timely interruption. Walthea seems relived to be saved from her husband's amorous intentions and beer breath (watch Walthea's little wave of her hand when the king backs way from her). She however doesn't remember Beowulf even when prompted by him. As she is lead away by her husband her sister-in-law approaches Beowulf. She is a bit sympathetic to Beowulf and asks for his story. That night a very angry and disturbed Walthea awaits her husband in their bridal chamber. From the expression of Walthea's face this will be night to remember but not in a good way. In her chamber comes a man wearing the veil her husband wore at the wedding. A cold wife meets her husband but she is shocked when Beowulf reveals himself. Walthea is now truly frighten is alone in her bedroom with a strange man, this could mean her death. Beowulf tried to explain to Xena that Odin is trying to kill her, that he knows she is in Denmark and that she is needed to save her friend Gabrielle. Walthea is confused but a bit of the old Xena is still there and when Beowulf approaches her she tosses him on the bed. This is unfortunately a bad move because this is when Hrothgar and his sister break into the bedroom. Caught in a compromising position. Walthea is devoiced and condemned to death along with Beowulf. In the corridor Xena and Beowulf are being led to the dungeons. Beowulf attacks the guards as Xena watches. he seems to handily defeat them when one gets behind him and the old Xena suddenly appears. She takes Beowulf down and saves him from beheading. Beowulf now has clue to how to bring Xena back. When she or someone else is threatened, Xena's fighting skills kick in. Walthea also has a revelation in the corridor, when Beowulf takes her hand she has a vision of Gabrielle telling her that she is lost without Xena. In Valhalla Waltraut is knocking the stuffing out of her buddy. She tells Odin that she has great fighting skills. Odin tells her she'll need them, Xena and Beowulf are on their way back. Xena is now with Beowulf on a ship heading to the Norselands. She looks every inch a noble lady. There is nothing that would remotely suggest she is a warrior. When she enters the rowing area the oarsman to a man gawk at her. Wiglaf ways its because she a legend but I suspect they are just mesmerized by her beauty and her legend. Beowulf once again comes to her aid, send Wiglaf off to sharpen his sword and gets the oarsman back to rowing. He tries to tell Xena about Gabrielle and her love for her. Xena has heard the stories about herself but she doesn't remember any of it and all she ever wanted was to make life good for the Viking people. She is no warrior. Beowulf suddenly draws his sword on her and Xena reacts automatically to defend herself. Beowulf says she may not remember but the body does. On shore disconsolate Xena stands in the waves contemplating the strange things happening to her. As she comes ashore Wiglaf and another soldier fight over who will give Xena water. Xena is furious she breaks up the fight and demands to know why the Vikings are always ready for a fight. Wiglaf says fighting give life meaning Xena is appalled. Beowulf says it was she who taught the Vikings their bloodlust. Xena can't believe this - she doesn't believe in fighting and violence. Just then the valkarie appear. Beowulf orders his men to arms but Xena demands that there be no fighting. Beowulf is frustrated but he orders his men to stand down. Xena confronts Waltraut and tells there will be no fighting. Waltraut is not impressed and begins to attack Xena. Although the Vikings want to defend Xena, Beowulf knows that fighting is the key to recovering the real Xena. Xena, although she won't fight, does an excellent job of avoiding Waltraut's attack much the valkarie's frustration. Odin now appears and calls off Waltraut. He now questions Xena. Xena stands up to him and fearlessly answers his questions - she knows him to be Odin simply because Waltraut said his name. As for her she doesn't know him from his horse. Odin seems satisfied by her answers and leaves the party in peace. Xena is pleased that things have been settled peacefully but Beowulf warns her it is only because Odin has other plans. That night Xena in her tent is confronted by Gabrielle's spirit. She asks if she is demon. "No", says Gabrielle, "I'm the truth of who you are." Then Gabby reaches out to stroke Xena's face and the distraught woman starts in fright. Beowulf enters the tent and asks if Xena is alright. She says that she now knows that Gabrielle loves Xena very much but she is still having trouble accepting everything. Beowulf now give her back the chakrum and tells she'll know what to do with it when the time comes. In Valhalla an irate Waltraut is furious that Odin didn't kill Xena. Odin is pragmatic; Xena is no danger. She can't remember she is a god slayer and they need her to get the ring from Gabrielle. Waltraut now knows that Odin want the ring for himself. She was promised the ring. Odin can't use it because he loves her. Odin coolly tells her he doesn't love anyone. Waltraut says he won't get the ring anyway because Grindhilda guards the ring. Odin orders the valkarie to make sure Xena does get the ring. Waltraut it is obvious is going to disobey orders. At the pillar of fire, Xena gets her first glimpse of the real Gabrielle. At first she seems uncertain as to what to do but Brunhilda's image appears to her and reassures her that she it Gabrielle's soul mate. Beowulf urges her to take the leap into the fire and Xena is about to do this when Waltraut and her buddies appear. Wiglef and Beowulf take on the other valkaries while Xena faces off against Waltraut. Waltraut taunts Xena that she has grown soft. Xena says softness and weakness are not the same - I expected her to quote Lo Mao at this point about water but now isn't time for a philosophy lesson. Waltraut is trying her best to skewer Xena but Xena is fighting with more skill. Wiglef tosses her sword and when he is wounded for his efforts the old Xena emerges. Waltraut says she has waited a long time to kill Xena and Xena snarls back "wait longer" and kicks the valkarie in to the deadly fire. The fight is done Beowulf urges Xena to go to Gabrielle but he shockingly impaled by Grindhilda. As the monster holds Beowulf aloft he begs Xena to save Gabrielle. Xena leaps into the fire. Her memories flood back and as she kisses Gabrielle she becomes herself again (incidentally she now knows what the chakram is for - its a pruning tool used to cut the vines encircling your beloved). As she regains herself she is now once again dressed as a warrior. Gabrielle is also back to her old self except now she has classic Gabby hair (Brunhilda braided it but didn't cut it). Xena now must deal with Grindhilda. Gabby begs her not to put the ring back on but Xena has other plans. Holding the ring a lot she says she put the evil in the ring and only she can break the spell. She leaps at Grindhilda and is batted into Grindhilda's lair. There the monster grabs Xena is intent crushing her. Xena however doesn't fight. Instead she pleads with Grindilda to rediscover her humanity. To forgive her not for Xena's sake but for her own sake. Xena has only two time that I can remember ever asked for forgiveness. Here and in the Bitter Suit and both time she did so in ordr to save another. Xena understands the power of forgiveness but as Gabrielle said she only sees that power for others and not for herself. Outside Gabriele and the wounded men await Xena. A powerful explosion shakes the cave. As all wait anxiously, Xena emerges followed by a dazed but human Grindhilda. Gabrielle is reunited with Xena. Beowulf and Wiglef are healed. Xena with Gabrielle decide to take Grindhilda back to Valhalla. Beowulf says good-bye to his friend Xena and his beloved Gabrielle. Gabrielle thanks Brunhilda's spirit for protection. Then she mount behind Xena and the three women fly off on the magic horses. In Valhalla Xena marched into the banquet hall. A stunned Odin wants to know if Xena is returning the ring. Nope she's returning something better - Grindhilda. Odin is suspicious what does she want. Xena says Grindhilda should be made leader of the valkarie so she can restore their honor. Odin says he's think about. Eve Gabrielle is stunned by his arrogance but Xena, God Slayer, suggests he shouldn't think to long. Grindhilda get her job back. Next stop is the Rhinemaidens. Xena swims underwater to the Maidens. They are of course fearful of her but Xena show them that she has brought back the Rhinegold and apologizes to them. They are shocked; what magic has changed her so. No magic says Xena looking at a smiling Gabrielle. (we should note that Xena really didn't have swim underwater to get to the Rhinemaidens since we see that Gabrielle just walked over a rock bridge to get to their pool). This was good character study of both Xena and Beowulf. Xena when she lost her memory is as brave as the old Xena. She stands up to Waltraut and Odin. She also a person committed to doing good - she wanted to help her adopted people. What was missing from this Xena is her violence because I believe the violence and darkness are not part of Xena's core personality. She is by nature a good and brave person but not a violent person. Her violence came from her experiences and the trauma she suffered but there is nothing inherently violent in her nature. When Xena says to Wiglef that fighting is stupid, Beowulf is wrong when he implies that Xena doesn't believe that. Xena, although she accepts violence, has never extolled the virtue of fighting or violence. She has always seen it as evil even if it was necessary. Frankly I don't know if a non-violent Xena is an improvement over the old Xena. She is good and brave but without the violent impulse what good is bravery and goodness if it can't defend itself. Would Walthea simply become Hrothgar's submissive wife. Would have her plans for the Viking people be thwarted by a brutish husband and hateful Sister-in-law. Perhaps Xena's famous will would have kicked in and she would gotten her way without being a warrior but in some other way. It's an interesting question to me to contemplate what would have happened to Xena is Beowulf would have never found her. Beowulf emerges in this episode as a much more ruthless personality. When he discovers that Xena is now Walthea he is bound and determined to get the old Xena back. At first the new Xena seems to be happy and contented but luckily her new husband turns out to be a pig so Beowulf can break up the marriage without qualms. I do believe he knew that he was walking into a trap when he went to Xena's bedroom. He knew Xena would be compromised and she would have no choice except to flee with him. Also once he discovered the key to regaining the old Xena was violence, he coolly stood aside and allowed the innocent Xena to face the murderous Waltraut while making sure his men wouldn't help her. Beowulf, however, combines his ruthlessness with nobility. He certainly is determined to bring back the old Xena to save Gabrielle but also he knows that he is saving Gabrielle unselfishly. She will never be his and saving her means she will go off with another but he does so gladly. In the end Beowulf saves both Xena and Gabrielle. 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: Sun, 2 Mar 2003 23:15:58 EST From: KLOSSNER9@aol.com Subject: [chakram-refugees] Conquest: Gladiatrix, La Maupin Conquest is a half-hour show on the History Channel that examines period combat. It's usually pretty good and goes beyond the common knowledge of history buffs. The Conquest fight team includes one young woman. She usually fights anonymously in male period costume, but in two recent shows she has played a woman fighter. My TV Guide says the Conquest episode on Monday, 7:30 Central time, is a repeat of their gladiator segment. They did their usual good job. They mentioned that Domitian, the late first century Emperor, was the sicko who introduced unconventional, gimmicky fights into the gladiatorial games. He had old men fighting each other; crippled people fighting each other and women fighting each other or fighting men. They reproduced a fight between a woman and two men, each man with one hand tied behind his back. Another episode covered dueling in the swashbuckler age. They had a couple minutes on Mlle. La Maupin, one of the few genuine women duelists of late 17th century France. In the fight they reproduced, she fought a man while she was wearing a long skirt. This was historically accurate. La Maupin was so deadly she did not find it necessary to wear men's clothes while fighting. Boeotian ========================================================= 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 V3 #62 *************************************