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Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V3 #121
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chakram-refugees-digest      Monday, May 5 2003      Volume 03 : Number 121



                               Today's Subjects:
                               -----------------
  [chakram-refugees] <<To Helicon And Back>>  ["Cheryl Ande" <cande@sunlink.]
  Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the bonus disc offer!!  ["Creation (Sharon Delaney)" <outback@creatio]
  Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the  bonus disc offer!!  [mirrordrum <aemoses@co]
  Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the bonus  disc offer!!  ["Creation (Sharon Delaney)" <outback@creati]
  Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the bonus disc offe...  [IfeRa]
  Re: [chakram-refugees] <<To Helicon And Back>>             [IfeRae@aol.com]
  Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the  bonus disc offe...  ["Mark B." <mab961@sa]
  Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the bonus  disc offer!!  [cjlnh@webtv.net (Chery]
  Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the bonus  disc offer!!  [cjlnh@webtv.net (Chery]
  Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on thebonus  disc offer!!  [Cousin Liz <eas01@]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 4 May 2003 16:47:04 -0400
From: "Cheryl Ande" <cande@sunlink.net>
Subject: [chakram-refugees] <<To Helicon And Back>>

#
#
#
#
To Helicon and Back



This episode is one of my favorites simply because it is an episode that
explores the changes in Xena and Gabrielle's characters.  This piece can be
seen as a companion piece to The Price.  In that episode Xena turns to her
dark side to save an Athenian garrison and Gabrielle from the Horde.
Gabrielle is appalled at the choices Xena makes - denying the wounded food and
water and killing the enemy with ruthless abandon.  In that episode Xena in
exasperation tells her young companion that in war there are no good choices
only lesser degrees of evil.  In To Helicon and Back a more mature and battle
harden Gabrielle now must make choices that are neither good nor bad just
lesser degrees of evil.



The episode takes place just after Paths of Vengeance.  Varia is about to be
made Queen of the Amazons and there is going to be a ceremony.  Gabrielle is
an invited guest but Xena, because she is not an Amazon, is to be excluded.
This doesn't seem to bother Xena at all - she has never been a fan of Amazon
ceremonies.  With a good-humored warning to Gabrielle not to do anything she
wouldn't she is off to her more peaceful campsite.



There ceremony seems to a pretty typical Amazon gathering: dancing, some blue
women and some ceremonial bloodletting.  Things go wrong when, once again, the
Amazons are taken surprise by a troop of masked and hooded men.  The Amazons,
rudely awakened from their trances, begin to fight back.  Xena having heard
the raiders advance soon joins the fray.  In a terrific fight scene the
Amazons fight with abandon.  Xena and Gabrielle for the first time that I
remember fight back to back as equals.  The masked leader seems surprised to
see Xena but he is undaunted.  He conks Varia on the head and takes off with
her and the raiders retreat.



The Amazons are stunned.  They've lost another queen and a number of their
sisters.  Xena has discovered that the raiders have come from the fortress of
Helicon on the coast.  The Amazon queens decide to mount a rescue mission for
their queen but since none of them are familiar with Greece they ask Gabrielle
to lead them.  Gabrielle is never comfortable leading people into battle
defers her command to Xena but the Amazon's will not accept Xena - they must
be lead by an Amazon queen and Gabrielle is the only Greek queen around.
Gabrielle reluctantly takes command.



A strategy now is planned.  Helicon is a fortress on the seacoast.  Xena tells
the Amazons the fort faces the inland and that is where the defenses are.
Gabrielle decides the best attack would be from the sea and Xena agrees.  The
strategy seems a bit hasty but I am assuming since Xena readily agrees with
Gabrielle, she must know something of Helicon.  She was the one who identified
the raiders from a mace found after the battle therefore I assume Xena is
familiar with the fortress.



Xena is now off on her own to kill the leader of Helicon.  Gabrielle gathers
up the best Amazon warriors and is off to hire a ship - I assume the Amazons
don't have a navy.  In Helicon Varia is being taunted by Belleraphon, her
captor.  Varia says that the Amazons will come and rescue her and Varia is
shocked when Belleraphon is not shaken by this news but elated.  That night
Xena sneaks into he fortress and encounters Belleraphon.  There is a fight and
Belleraphon knocks around Xena pretty easily.  She's impressed but a bit
non-plussed - the only people who have punched her like that were gods.
Belleraphon informs her he is half-god.  He is the son of Artemis and wants
vengeance against the Amazons for  abandoning his mother during her time of
need and Xena for killing his mother.   He will kill her and the Amazons
starting with "those fools bobbing up and down in the water" outside of his
fort.  Xena is stunned he has figured out the plan and now knows it is a trap.
She forgoes killing Belleraphon, a mistake, and leaps out of the window into
the ocean to help Gabrielle and the Amazons.



On the ship the Amazons are not a happy bunch.  They are seasick and scared.
Cyan and Gwen-Tier, the British queen, are talking.  Cyan asks to borrow some
money.  Gwen-Tier laughs saying they don't use the same coin.  Cyan says if
she owes someone money she is bound to survive.  Gwen-Tier laughs but Cyan is
deadly serious.  Another young Amazon is frightened and ashamed of it.
Gabrielle comforts her saying everyone is frightened.  Gabrielle moves about
the ship trying to calm the jittery warriors when suddenly a strange sound is
heard and fiery bombs launched by the fort's catapults hit the ship.



The ship is destroyed and the Amazons are now in the water.  Gabrielle knows
they can't stay there and orders her warriors to take the beach.  The Amazons
storm the beach and are met by firebombs and a hail of arrows.  The beach
becomes a killing ground.  The Amazons can do only one thing and that is run
for their lives.  Stopped at the line of beach defenses the Amazon's are
stuck.  Gabrielle needs a diversion to draw off the incoming fire.  She spies
a warrior and decides she will be the diversion.  It will be the first of
Gabrielle's hard choices.  She has picked a woman and deliberately sends her
to her death and although the warrior could obviously refuse, Gabrielle knows
she won't and a bit of Gabrielle's soul dies with the warrior's death.



The diversion works and the Amazons break through.  Now Gabrielle is trying to
get them to the shelter of some large dunes where they will be out of the line
of fire.   They make it to shelter with great loss of life.  Cyan suddenly
sees Xena emerge from the water and she now joins them.  Before she can
explain what has happened an Amazon accuses Xena of failing the Amazons and
that they will all die on the beach.  Xena tells the woman to pull herself
together and orders the other Amazons to stay calm.  Gabrielle again tries to
give command to Xena but she says the Amazons won't follow her.  Gabrielle is
it - a fact Gabrielle knows but doesn't like.



Varia in the fortress obviously knows that a slaughter is happening on the
beach.  Belleraphon tells her he planed to kill all the Amazons in revenge for
his mother.  Belleraphon however seems to be willing to bargain.  He was
surprised to find Xena and Gabrielle among the Amazons and now he offers Varia
a deal.



On the beach the Amazons are safe for the moment - the catapults have stopped
firing.  One Amazon urges her companions to move up the beach but Xena and
Gabrielle know it's a trap.  The young woman does not listen and when she runs
out she is cut down and blown up.  Though the death of the woman is horrible,
Xena sees an opportunity.  She tells Gabrielle to get ready to get her troops
to the large dunes where they will be safe.  Xena rises up and is able to use
her chakram to blow-up on of catapults.  Gabrielle gets the troops to the
shelter of the large dune.



Varia is now appears blindfolded and in chains.  She is walking towards the
Amazons.  She tells the Amazons that Belleraphon has sent her to die with her
tribe.  Gabrielle now turns her command over to Varia.  Varia says they will
wait for night and they will retreat.  Gabrielle is surprised.  Xena has told
her about Belleraphon and she knows they can't retreat.  They are fighting for
the very life of the Amazons.  The rest of the Amazons agree with Gabrielle.
Varia, obviously upset, agrees.



A new strategy is arrived at.  They will flank the castle by going by sea and
attack the fortress from the forest.  Gabrielle says that they should leave
the wounded behind because taking them would poses too much of a danger to the
troops.  Varia is incensed - she will not leave anyone behind.  Xena is
stunned and she tells Gabrielle the wounded will be at the enemy's mercy.  At
that moment Xena and Gabrielle have reversed roles.  In The Price it was Xena
who would sacrifice the wounded and Gabrielle who argued against it.  Although
the scene is never referenced you can imagine that suddenly Gabrielle
remembers that encounter from long ago and is troubled by her own cold logic
because a very subdued Gabrielle agrees to take the wounded with them.



On the dune Gabrielle and Xena talk.    Gabrielle knows Xena is thinking of
giving herself up in order to save the Amazons.  Gabrielle says that it
wouldn't matter he would still come after the Amazons.  Xena agrees saying
that vengeance is never satisfied.



Xena then tells Gabrielle she will have to eventually rally the troops to
fight again and more will probably die.  Gabrielle is resigned to that
eventuality.  Xena looks at her friend and says she isn't acting like the
Gabrielle she knows.  Gabrielle agrees she isn't acting like herself but she
is acting like an Amazon queen.  That is who she needs to be now.  Like Xena
in The Price she has put a way the side of her personality that will interfere
with saving the people for whom she is responsible.  The compassionate and
contemplative bard is gone and in her place is the queen who without qualms
must send her people into battle they must win.



Gabrielle now joins Varia as she studies the hill she came down.  She tells
Gabrielle that she came down a path.  Gabrielle is interested if there is a
way to the fort from the beach then they won't have to go through the water.
Varia says she will get a volunteer to scout the path.  Gabrielle, however,
will do it herself.  As she makes her way to the path Varia takes aim with her
bow and she is about to shoot Gabrielle when Xena grabs the arrow.  Xena
shouts for Gabrielle and when the bard turns she sees Varia with her arrow
pointed at her.  As she runs toward Xena, the catapults fire at her and she
barely makes it back alive.



At the ridge a livid Gabrielle confronts Varia.  She tells the other Amazons
that Varia tried to kill her.  Varia has betrayed not only her but also the
ideals of the Amazon sisterhood.  Xena is more phlegmatic she has figured out
that Varia made a deal with Belleraphon to trade Gabrielle's life for the
Amazons.  She knows that this would his revenge against Xena.  Xena doesn't
say this with anger only a profound disappointment in Varia's judgment.  Varia
knows Belleraphon hates the Amazons as much as he does Xena.  She shouldn't
have trusted him to keep his word.



 Indeed Varia has not shown the judgment of a great queen and that is what
Varia is suppose to be.  Varia had an opportunity.  It was wise of her to
accept Bellerphon's offer because it got her released but carrying it out was
another matter.  The murder of Gabrielle at this crucial juncture of the
battle would have demoralized the troops.  Varia had no idea how Xena may have
reacted to Gabrielle's death and if she would have been willing to help the
Amazon's after Gabrielle's death.  If Belleraphon had kept his word and let
the Amazon's go, she could have been in Belleraphon's power in the future
simply because he knew of her treachery.  On the other hand if she would have
revealed the deal to Xena that may have lead to a plan in which the deal could
have been used against the enemy.  Instead Varia once again goes it alone
unwilling to seek advice or counsel of those with more experience.



The other Amazons at this point have decided they have had enough of Varia.
Cyan wants to kill her on the spot.  Gabrielle won't stand for that but she is
more than willing to leave Varia stranded on the beach.  She doesn't want her
at her back.  Xena intervenes and says they can't just leave her behind.
Gabrielle relents but not before stripping Varia of her title.



That night the Amazons begin the swim to the castle's flank.  They women are
towing a seriously wounded Queen Gwyn-Tier.  Suddenly one of the women spots a
shark and this causes panic among the troops.  Gabrielle quickly makes a
decision.  She takes the comatose Gwyn-Tier and sacrifices her to the shark in
hopes that he will distract by his snack.  Gabrielle's actions are shocking
and no one is more shocked than she is.  She has in her own estimation acted
without honor but Xena sooths her fraying conscience.  She asks if Gabrielle
would have sacrificed herself for her friend.  Gabrielle sadly agrees she
would but you have the impression this doesn't make the bard feel any better.



The Amazon's finally make it to the forest.  Gabrielle makes her battle
speech.  She reminds the Amazons to fight for the Amazon nation and to honor
those who died.  The speech is nice and ROC delivers it well but it lacks the
passion of say Henry V's Crispin Day's speech.  Now we don't expect
Shakespeare but Gabby is bard you would have expected something a bit more
dramatic and yes we know Gabrielle is really depressed by now but I believe
she would played the part of confident queen better at this point.
Nevertheless the Amazons seem to take heart.



After the speech Xena goes to Gabrielle and now decides on a sensitive chat.
Gabrielle is not in the mood.  Right now she doesn't need a sympathetic
shoulder to cry on.  She needs to be cold and ruthless and she must maintain
that for the coming battle.  Xena listens to Gabrielle and we see clearly
Xena's distress at her friend's pain.  It is a wonderful a bit of acting on
Lucy's part.  Lucy listens as well as any of the great actors - she pays
attention to what the other actor says and reacts in character with real
conviction.



Xena now goes off to do her part.  At the fortress she calls Belleraphon out.
The demi-god is arrogant; he believe he can't be killed because he is part
god.  They fight.  Xena has to pretend to loose the fight to Belleraphon and
you can tell she is none to happy about it.  She does play her part well and
finally slinks off in defeat.  A jubilant Belleraphon calls for his horse and
with his army chases after Xena.



In the clearing Xena faces Belleraphon and his army.  Belleraphon arrogantly
asks if she is facing her reputation.  She says know she is facing his.
Suddenly the forest erupts with enraged Amazons.  They finally have their
chance.  No longer are the hiding from a faceless enemy.  They have flesh and
blood men to fight and they do so with lethal abandon.  The fight is bloody
and vicious.  Gabrielle, Varia, Cyan and the rest of the Amazons kill without
mercy.  Xena takes on Belleraphon and finally has him down.  She practically
begs him to stop this war saying there has been enough killing but
Belleraphon, convinced of his invulnerability, won't listen.  Xena slashes him
in the stomach and the startled man realizes his wound is mortal.  Xena says
he has forgotten that he is also half mortal.  She says it didn't have to end
this way but Belleraphon says that yes it did.



Belleraphon is dead as are most of his troops; the battle is over.  Gabrielle
however is caught up in battle lust.  When a young soldier flees from her she
pursues him in a murderous rage.  Xena watches this with grief and finally
calls Gabrielle off as she is about to kill the man.  Gabrielle stops and
suddenly comes to herself.  In shock she turns away from her relieved prey who
scuttles off into the woods.  Xena tells Gabrielle she has won but Gabrielle
knows better.  Yes the Amazons have victory but she has lost a part of her
soul.  Xena knows only too well that this is true.  Yet Gabrielle has to pick
up the pieces of her shattered soul and be queen again.  She reconciles with
Varia and once again leads the Amazons in their toast  "to a great Amazon
nation."  There is however no triumphant here - it is a melancholy moment -
the war has changed the nation and the women forever and it is yet to be
determined if the change is for good or ill.



This was for me a powerful episode.  Yes it was written as homage to Saving
Private Ryan and all war movies.  The stock characters are all there - the
naove young recruit, the paniced soldier who gets killed, the steady veteran
(Cyan), the young commander who proves her worth (Gabrielle), and even the
experience second in command who is deferred to by the commander (Xena).  Yet
within the confines of the genre the actors and director, Michael Hurst, are
able to pull off a griping drama.  Everyone here makes choices that are hard
and may not be wise.  Xena doesn't kill Belleraphon because she wants to save
the Amazons on the beach.  Varia tries to kill Gabrielle in a sincere belief
that she must save the Amazons.  Gabrielle pursues her war even when her
troops are decimated also in the sincere belief she must do so to save her
nation.  Varia and Gabrielle must challenge their very image of themselves.
Varia who believes in Amazon honor beyond all else finds herself a would- be
assassin.  Gabrielle who sees herself as compassionate and merciful finds
herself sacrificing good people and becoming tainted by the very darkness she
so often found disturbing in Xena.  The Amazons themselves now must see
themselves very differently.  They pride themselves on their heroism and
fearlessness but on the killing field of the beach facing a technology that
kills with dispassion they are reduced to frightened and very vulnerable human
beings.  Even Xena who prides herself on her dispassionate warrior persona
suddenly finds herself in the odd position of being the compassionate and
merciful one.  When all assumptions about characters are thrown out the window
and when an audience is surprised, that is good drama.  This is good drama.



Now whether is makes sense in the realm of good strategy for war or battle
planning is questionable.  I don't know and frankly I don't care.  I don't
know if Helicon is on the seacoast or if you can attack it by sea.  Yes I will
agree that the Amazons should have had better intelligence but recent history
shows that lousy intelligence and a wacky battle plan can still win wars.  I
do know that probably feeding someone to a hungry shark is a bad idea since it
would probably cause a feeding frenzy.  Again I don't care I watched this as a
character study not as a realistic war documentary.



Before I finish up I would like to also mention Joe Doluca's score, which was
outstanding especially in the final battle scene.  Morgan Reese Fairhead was
once again the outstanding as Cyan who hopefully now becomes queen of the
Amazons since Varia has proven an idiot once again.  Craig Parker was good as
the villain who loved his mom just a bit too much.   (BTW was he in the LOTR;
The Two Towers as the elf commander who relieves the Towers).  Michael Hurst
did a fine job as director.  Finally ROC and LL gave great performances.
ROC's Gabrielle is an amazing creation - it's a character that has grown
beyond it original concept of the funny sidekick to true co-star .  ROC, LL
and TPTB should be give full credit for having the guts to take a character so
far from its original concept and to make it a powerful character in its own
right.



Well that's it for today.  I hope those who missed me - if there is anyone -
enjoy this weeks review.



CherylA
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------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 09:20:53 -0700
From: "Creation (Sharon Delaney)" <outback@creationent.com>
Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the bonus disc offer!!

Unfortunately, there is no behind-the-scenes footage for any episodes
except Gurkhan -- which we filmed -- and Friend -- which Rob filmed.
Sharon
Official Xena Fan Club


>The only thing that would be even better in succeeding seasons if some
>of the behind the scenes footage could be included with the
>commentary....more of the how it was done with visuals.
>
>C
=========================================================
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To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with
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------------------------------

Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 14:55:44 -0400
From: mirrordrum <aemoses@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the  bonus disc offer!!

well, uh, couldn't you just go back and make some? i mean, like, you know it
would sell.

md--feeling slightly fraught and giddy after having to COMPLETELY RESTORE MY
COMPUTER'S hard drive.

- ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Creation (Sharon Delaney)" <outback@creationent.com>
To: <chakram-refugees@smoe.org>
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2003 12:20 PM
Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the bonus
disc offer!!


> Unfortunately, there is no behind-the-scenes footage for any episodes
> except Gurkhan -- which we filmed -- and Friend -- which Rob filmed.
> Sharon
> Official Xena Fan Club
>
>
> >The only thing that would be even better in succeeding seasons if some
> >of the behind the scenes footage could be included with the
> >commentary....more of the how it was done with visuals.
> >
> >C
> =========================================================
> 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 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, 5 May 2003 12:19:37 -0700
From: "Creation (Sharon Delaney)" <outback@creationent.com>
Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the bonus  disc offer!!

I'm assuming we're talking time travel here? <G>
Sharon



>well, uh, couldn't you just go back and make some? i mean, like, you know it
>would sell.
>
>md--feeling slightly fraught and giddy after having to COMPLETELY RESTORE MY
>COMPUTER'S hard drive.
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Creation (Sharon Delaney)" <outback@creationent.com>
>
>> Unfortunately, there is no behind-the-scenes footage for any episodes
>> except Gurkhan -- which we filmed -- and Friend -- which Rob filmed.
>> Sharon
>> Official Xena Fan Club
>>
>>
>> >The only thing that would be even better in succeeding seasons if some
>> >of the behind the scenes footage could be included with the
>> >commentary....more of the how it was done with visuals.
>> >
>> >C
>> =========================================================
>> 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.
>> =========================================================
=========================================================
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------------------------------

Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 16:30:34 EDT
From: IfeRae@aol.com
Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the bonus disc offe...

And thanks to you for your report.  I have the first season on my own and the 
commercial videos, but darned if you haven't whetted my appetite for the DVDs 
now.

- -- Ife


In a message dated 5/4/03 5:32:33 PM Central Daylight Time, cjlnh@webtv.net 
writes:

<< First of all a big thank you to Sarah Ann.  If it were not for her post
 on Best Buy I wouldn't have cancelled my Amazon order and missed out on
 the cheaper and more complete offer.
 
 I received my set this week and at $59 and free shipping it would be
 great with just the eps, but I enjoyed the extra interviews with the
 Xena directors, etc. even more than I expected.  >>
=========================================================
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Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 17:32:30 EDT
From: IfeRae@aol.com
Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] <<To Helicon And Back>>

Yay!  She's baaaaackk!  (About time <mumble mumble>)

In a message dated 5/5/03 7:20:10 AM Central Daylight Time, cande@sunlink.net 
writes:

< This episode is one of my favorites simply because it is an episode that
 explores the changes in Xena and Gabrielle's characters.  This piece can be
 seen as a companion piece to The Price.>>

Oh, excellent observation!  I too enjoyed the character turnabouts in this, 
but not in the context of The Price.  

<<In a terrific fight scene the
 Amazons fight with abandon.  Xena and Gabrielle for the first time that I
 remember fight back to back as equals.>>

Yes, that was my impression, too, tho it seems to me they did it in season 5. 
 Anybody recall another time?  At any rate, I wondered how intentional that 
was, given how often the two had fought together previously.

 << The
 strategy seems a bit hasty but I am assuming since Xena readily agrees with
 Gabrielle, she must know something of Helicon.  She was the one who 
identified
 the raiders from a mace found after the battle therefore I assume Xena is
 familiar with the fortress.>>

Whaddya mean, "I assume Xena is familiar."  *Of course* she is!   She's 
familiar with *everything*.  Probably showed somebody how to build the fort 
35 winters ago.  <g>
 
 
 << Belleraphon informs her he is half-god.  He is the son of Artemis and 
wants
 vengeance against the Amazons for  abandoning his mother during her time of
 need and Xena for killing his mother. >>

I cracked up at this -- one of the few times some god/demi-god knew what Xena 
was up to prior to the whole "downfall of Olympia" thing.

<< She forgoes killing Belleraphon, a mistake, and leaps out of the window 
into
 the ocean to help Gabrielle and the Amazons.>>

Hmmm, I thought she did the most practical thing, seeing as how Bellybaby 
wasn't that easy to kill.  I'll have to review that ... someday.  <g>
 
 <<She has picked a woman and deliberately sends her
 to her death and although the warrior could obviously refuse, Gabrielle knows
 she won't and a bit of Gabrielle's soul dies with the warrior's death.>>

I thought that bit player did her part well.  Convinced me she knew she'd 
die, but was ready to give it up for her comrades.
 
<<Cyan suddenly
 sees Xena emerge from the water and she now joins them. >>

That Xena's one helluva swimmer, ain't she?

<< Varia is now appears blindfolded and in chains.  She is walking towards the
 Amazons.>>

Heh.  I recall the actress laughing about having her hands tied in front of 
her and wondering why she didn't just reach up and pull the blindfold off.

  
 <<Gabrielle says that they should leave
 the wounded behind because taking them would poses too much of a danger to 
the
 troops.  Varia is incensed - she will not leave anyone behind.  Xena is
 stunned and she tells Gabrielle the wounded will be at the enemy's mercy.  At
 that moment Xena and Gabrielle have reversed roles. >>

Yes, I thought Lucy did a great job of showing both compassion and 
consternation at Gabrielle's decisions.

 <<In The Price it was Xena
 who would sacrifice the wounded and Gabrielle who argued against it.  
Although
 the scene is never referenced you can imagine that suddenly Gabrielle
 remembers that encounter from long ago and is troubled by her own cold logic
 because a very subdued Gabrielle agrees to take the wounded with them.>>

Hmm, not sure she remembered that.  What struck me was how caught up in the 
moment Gabrielle was - so focused on surviving that her idealism got pushed 
into the background.
 
  
 <<On the dune Gabrielle and Xena talk.    Gabrielle knows Xena is thinking of
 giving herself up in order to save the Amazons.  Gabrielle says that it
 wouldn't matter he would still come after the Amazons.  Xena agrees saying
 that vengeance is never satisfied.>>

Yes, another great change in roles -- Xena contemplating an altruistic but 
useless sacrifice and Gabrielle being the practical one.
 
  
<< Xena then tells Gabrielle she will have to eventually rally the troops to
 fight again and more will probably die.  Gabrielle is resigned to that
 eventuality.  Xena looks at her friend and says she isn't acting like the
 Gabrielle she knows.  Gabrielle agrees she isn't acting like herself but she
 is acting like an Amazon queen. >>

Another turnabout.  Xena knows full well that Gabrielle is doing what she has 
to, but still regrets the effect on her soul.

   
 
 << Varia says she will get a volunteer to scout the path.  Gabrielle, 
however,
 will do it herself.  As she makes her way to the path Varia takes aim with 
her
 bow and she is about to shoot Gabrielle when Xena grabs the arrow.>>

Amazing how the WP always knows where her partner is, eh?

 
<< That night the Amazons begin the swim to the castle's flank.  They women 
are
 towing a seriously wounded Queen Gwyn-Tier.  Suddenly one of the women spots 
a
 shark and this causes panic among the troops.  Gabrielle quickly makes a
 decision.  She takes the comatose Gwyn-Tier and sacrifices her to the shark 
in
 hopes that he will distract by his snack.  Gabrielle's actions are shocking
 and no one is more shocked than she is.>>

Yeah, I found that a bit over the top myself.  TPTB sure wanted to show what 
lengths a leader might go to in saving her troops.

  << The Amazon's finally make it to the forest.  Gabrielle makes her battle
 speech.  She reminds the Amazons to fight for the Amazon nation and to honor
 those who died.  The speech is nice and ROC delivers it well but it lacks the
 passion of say Henry V's Crispin Day's speech.  Now we don't expect
 Shakespeare but Gabby is bard you would have expected something a bit more
 dramatic and yes we know Gabrielle is really depressed by now but I believe
 she would played the part of confident queen better at this point.
 Nevertheless the Amazons seem to take heart.>>

Huh.  I thought the speech was appropriate.  Not too unrealistically rah rah, 
not doom and gloom.  She reminded them of their tradition and honor, with 
obvious understanding of the price they would all have to pay.  I thought it 
was in character with herself and the person the troops knew as a reluctant 
leader.  I feel she appealed to their confidence in themselves, respecting 
that this would be enough.
 
 
 
 <<After the speech Xena goes to Gabrielle and now decides on a sensitive 
chat.
 Gabrielle is not in the mood.  Right now she doesn't need a sympathetic
 shoulder to cry on.  She needs to be cold and ruthless and she must maintain
 that for the coming battle.  Xena listens to Gabrielle and we see clearly
 Xena's distress at her friend's pain.  It is a wonderful a bit of acting on
 Lucy's part.  Lucy listens as well as any of the great actors - she pays
 attention to what the other actor says and reacts in character with real
 conviction.>>

Oh, I absolutely agree.  Xena wants to relate to Gabrielle as her friend, but 
Gabrielle doesn't want or need that then. Lucy shows so much in her brief 
expression, ending in a resolve to honor Gabrielle as a leader.  One othe 
things I liked most about seaons 4 and 6 was how much Xena was forced to 
listen to and react to Gabrielle, when usually it's the other way around.  It 
brought out some of Lucy's best moments IMHO.
 
   
<<
 Belleraphon is dead as are most of his troops; the battle is over.  Gabrielle
 however is caught up in battle lust.  When a young soldier flees from her she
 pursues him in a murderous rage.  Xena watches this with grief and finally
 calls Gabrielle off as she is about to kill the man.  Gabrielle stops and
 suddenly comes to herself.  In shock she turns away from her relieved prey 
who
 scuttles off into the woods.>>

Yes, another example of her being caught up -- lost -- in the moment.

 <<Yet Gabrielle has to pick
 up the pieces of her shattered soul and be queen again.  She reconciles with
 Varia and once again leads the Amazons in their toast  "to a great Amazon
 nation."  There is however no triumphant here - it is a melancholy moment -
 the war has changed the nation and the women forever and it is yet to be
 determined if the change is for good or ill.>>

I remember how startled I was that G said this directly into the camera.  
It's the only time I can remember her or X doing that (not counting the 
camera in "You Are There").
 
 
<<When all assumptions about characters are thrown out the window
 and when an audience is surprised, that is good drama.  This is good drama.>>

Another excellent point.
 
 << Now whether is makes sense in the realm of good strategy for war or battle
 planning is questionable.  I don't know and frankly I don't care. >>

I'm with you there.  Half of XWP battles don't make sense to me, but that 
doesn't take away from what I get out of it.

 << ROC's Gabrielle is an amazing creation - it's a character that has grown
 beyond it original concept of the funny sidekick to true co-star . >>>

Amen to that.

 << Well that's it for today.  I hope those who missed me - if there is 
anyone -
 enjoy this weeks review.>>

You came back with a bang!  I forgive you for your absence.  Just don't do it 
again.  <g>
 
 
 -- Ife
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Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 17:40:44 -0500
From: "Mark B." <mab961@satx.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the  bonus disc offe...

After all the complaints I heard over the past few years about  various 
problems with the commercial videos, I was [somewhat] content to just 
keep viewing my home-recorded eps.  I finally did order the season 1 
from Best Buy and have really enjoyed the quality of these DVDs.   I've 
always liked trying to pause and slo-mo all the different stunts.  The 
frame quality on the DVDs it outstanding!  The only problem is not it is 
taking me about 1 1/2 hrs to make it through an ep <G> .  Oh well......

And isn't this price range about *half* of what Panzer Davis was 
charging for a season???!



Mark



IfeRae@aol.com wrote:
> And thanks to you for your report.  I have the first season on my own and the 
> commercial videos, but darned if you haven't whetted my appetite for the DVDs 
> now.
> 
> -- Ife
> 
> 
> In a message dated 5/4/03 5:32:33 PM Central Daylight Time, cjlnh@webtv.net 
> writes:
> 
> << First of all a big thank you to Sarah Ann.  If it were not for her post
>  on Best Buy I wouldn't have cancelled my Amazon order and missed out on
>  the cheaper and more complete offer.
>  
>  I received my set this week and at $59 and free shipping it would be
>  great with just the eps, but I enjoyed the extra interviews with the
>  Xena directors, etc. even more than I expected.  >>
> =========================================================
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> To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with
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Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 19:58:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: cjlnh@webtv.net (Cheryl LaScola)
Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the bonus  disc offer!!

I don't know if time travel is viable, but are ou saying that they only
filmed the making of 2 shows in 6 years (including ameteur stuff)?  That
is a real shame.

Oh I guess I will have to settle for adding lots of out takes and or
lost bits from the cutting room floor.  If a show ran long, what is
edited is lost forever??

C
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Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 20:01:18 -0400 (EDT)
From: cjlnh@webtv.net (Cheryl LaScola)
Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on the bonus  disc offer!!

I don't know if time travel is viable, but are ou saying that they only
filmed the making of 2 shows in 6 years (including ameteur stuff)?  That
is a real shame.

Oh I guess I will have to settle for adding lots of out takes and or
lost bits from the cutting room floor.  If a show ran long, what is
edited is lost forever??

C
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Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 20:11:22 -0400
From: Cousin Liz <eas01@fast.net>
Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena Season 1 dvd - the details on thebonus  disc offer!!

Cheryl LaScola wrote:

> lost bits from the cutting room floor.  If a show ran long, what is
> edited is lost forever??

I also would have thought that *someone* has kept the raw film
footage. I personally would love to see raw film footage of
Renee and/or Lucy working through fight routines with the stunties,
heck, even getting to see footage of the 2nd unit shoots and
all of the hard work of the stunt doubles.

- -- 
Cousin Liz  eas01@fast.net

Soulmates
Xena Dinosaur Bards
http://cousinliz.com
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End of chakram-refugees-digest V3 #121
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