From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V3 #63 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 Tuesday, March 4 2003 Volume 03 : Number 063 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [chakram-refugees] Marie Matiko [Junejanu@aol.com] Re: [chakram-refugees] <> [IfeRae@aol.com] [chakram-refugees] XENA DVDs - no, seriously! ["Xena Torres" > In a message dated 3/2/2003 5:32:56 PM Central Standard Time, cande@sunlink.net writes: > @ > @ > @ > @ > @ > > 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.>> What's ironic is that this much of this "disconnect" can be traced back to Xena. Remember, it was her influence that convinced Odin to adopt her "So what if they died uncessessarily? They still did it in your name" attitude and to depose the leader who captain who taught the valkaries compassion and honor. The valkaries' uncaring selfishness reflects the spirit Xena left them with, which is another old wrong she must set right. > 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.>> Yes, another ironic scene. I might've laughed more, if hadn't also been so poignant. > 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.>> I wondered if somehow Xena wasn't having flashes of memory, rather than it being Gabrielle's spirit. But I suppose "spirit" could be interpreted in many ways -- all of them fitting. > 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).>> Ol' Xena knows about "going through fire" tests, doesn't she? She had to do it to earn her wings in Fallen Angel. > > 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. >> On rewatching this scene, it appears that Brunhilda's flame flows into the ring, ostensibly to augment its power. (I got the feeling Xena was aware of this.) If so, Brunhilda not only protected Gabrielle and made sure Xena would be the only one who could reach her soulmate, but she also helped Xena survive her encounter with Grunhilda. Gabs did indeed teacher Brunhilda selfless love. > 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. Which Xena had corrupted so long ago. > > 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.>> Hmmm, not sure if I agree with that. The way she was brushing her hair when she awaited her new husband, her attempts to fend him off, her impulse to help Beowulf in the castle, the sneer that finally came out when she defeated Waltraub all suggested to me someone who was repressing fighting back physically, not someone who didn't have it in her. True, maybe initiating it - -- especially for no good reason or when there might be other options, wasn't "natural" to Xena's core. But her "essence" was defending and protecting, which Gabrielle's spirit reinforced. I think that was also an essential part of who she was that she lost, along with understanding the "meaning" of violence in a warrior for the greater good. > 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.>> Ruthless, perhaps, but I also think out of tremendous respect for the "real" Xena and recognition that she was the key to a greater good. I think he was right in his estimation that Xena couldn't live happily and submissively with Hrothgar. I'm not saying he sprung Xena for that reason, but I don't think he believed he was ruining her life by getting her to leave either. All in all, I think Lucy had a heck of challenge playing that "lost essence" thing (which I'm not sure Xenastaff were entirely clear about). It seemed a combination of what Xena thought and was told was appropriate for someone in her situation, what she instinctively did, what she vaguely felt in memory flashes, and what her observations and logic suggested were "right." It was as though Xena felt the same emptiness she did in Chakram, but with more inner conflict about what might be missing. - -- Ife ========================================================= 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: Mon, 03 Mar 2003 16:22:59 -0800 From: "Xena Torres" Subject: [chakram-refugees] XENA DVDs - no, seriously! Now, THIS I consider a reliable source, for both US AND Canada! TV Guide lists: COMING TO DVD It looks as if Xena: Warrior Princess starring Lucy Lawless and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys will be hitting the DVD shelves soon. Anchor Bay Entertainment has bought the home video rights. FINALLY! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! BATTLE ON XENA! Xena Torres: Warrior Writer http://www.geocities.com/bitchofrome "Her anger was as natural as breathing and as comfortable." - TENEBREA RISING _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus ========================================================= 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: Mon, 3 Mar 2003 21:46:02 -0500 From: "bookdaft" Subject: RE: [chakram-refugees] XENA DVDs - no, seriously! Maybe they will have more extras than Davis-Panzer (Panzer-Davis?). They have also done Evil Dead, Evil Dead II (I'm not sure what the difference is between Evil Dead II and Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn - I would bet someone on this list knows) and Army of Darkness. Not all of the titles are on DVD. The URL is: http://www.anchorbayentertainment.com/ bd - -----Original Message----- From: owner-chakram-refugees@smoe.org [mailto:owner-chakram-refugees@smoe.org]On Behalf Of Xena Torres Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 7:23 PM To: chakram-refugees@smoe.org; pnwxenite@yahoogroups.com Subject: [chakram-refugees] XENA DVDs - no, seriously! Now, THIS I consider a reliable source, for both US AND Canada! TV Guide lists: COMING TO DVD It looks as if Xena: Warrior Princess starring Lucy Lawless and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys will be hitting the DVD shelves soon. Anchor Bay Entertainment has bought the home video rights. FINALLY! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! BATTLE ON XENA! Xena Torres: Warrior Writer http://www.geocities.com/bitchofrome "Her anger was as natural as breathing and as comfortable." - TENEBREA RISING _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 with e-mail virus protection service: 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus ========================================================= 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. ========================================================= _____________________________________________________ This message scanned for viruses by CoreComm ========================================================= 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 #63 *************************************