From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V3 #143 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, May 26 2003 Volume 03 : Number 143 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [chakram-refugees] The Chakram [IfeRae@aol.com] Re: [chakram-refugees] Re; The Chaky [IfeRae@aol.com] Re: [chakram-refugees] Re: Chakram [cr ] Re: [chakram-refugees] The Chakram [cr ] Re: [chakram-refugees] Re: Chakram [IfeRae@aol.com] Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena reviews [IfeRae@aol.com] [chakram-refugees] When Fates Collide ["Cheryl Ande" ] [chakram-refugees] Re: Chakram ["Cheryl Ande" ] [chakram-refugees] Scorpion King ["Cheryl Ande" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 02:57:08 EDT From: IfeRae@aol.com Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] The Chakram In a message dated 5/25/2003 1:06:06 PM Central Daylight Time, fsktl@aurora.uaf.edu writes: > Oooooooo, now THAT'S a very kewl thought. That the CHAKRAM wanted revenge > for the physical death of Xena. And helped Gabrielle (who also wanted > revenge upon him) so they both could get what they want. > > OR that the Chakram's magical powers made this happen. Either way, I very > much like this concept of the Chakram being active in the taking Xena's > murderer out. (Even though Xena had LET him kill her...) > You would encourage this train of thought. - -- 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, 26 May 2003 02:57:15 EDT From: IfeRae@aol.com Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Re; The Chaky In a message dated 5/24/2003 4:53:56 PM Central Daylight Time, cande@sunlink.net writes: > In the fifth season we even see a kind of duality - the chaky can now > split apart much as Xena must do in the fith season - she must become both a > gentle mother and a ruthless killer in order defend her child and so the > dual > nature of the chaky is born. There think about that for a while. > I'd rather not. I'm already having visions of baby chakys -- some lopping the heads off innocent bystanders, while others rest in their chaky cradles waiting for the proper guidance to be good little chakys. Meanwhile, Momma Chaky can't decide whether to reprimand the bad chakys or abandon the good ones as useless. Gods, the insanity has already set in. Looks like your work is done. Only for the moment, no doubt. - -- 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: Tue, 27 May 2003 09:56:48 +1200 From: cr Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Re: Chakram On Monday 26 May 2003 09:59, Cheryl Ande wrote: > IfeRae wrote: > > When Diana launched it, since she had no idea how to control it, the > > chacky > > had no target 'in mind' so just switched off its internal guidance and > > bounced off whatever happened to be in the way. > > Nah the chaky was just having a bit of fun. It bounced around, whacked the > crown off the kings head and then stuck in the tree. It probably was just > miffed Xena loaned it out without asking permission. > > CherylA Actually I wrote that, not lfe. But I'll buy the idea that the chacky was having fun on its day off. cr ========================================================= 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: Tue, 27 May 2003 09:44:26 +1200 From: cr Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] The Chakram On Monday 26 May 2003 06:05, KTL wrote: > Snipped only for bandwidth's sake most of Ife's remarkable and wonderful > post about the Chakram > > > > -- Ife > > > > Well, I would originally have preferred it had the chacky been 'just a > > weapon'. But it evolved beyond that - the powers it shows - most > > notably in 'Coming Home' - are such that that theory became gradually > > untenable. It was, at the least, an 'intelligent' weapon, able to hover > > around and home in on the Furies. (And, in FIN, able to score a direct > > hit on the general even though Gabs had, presumably, no practice at > > throwing it and seemed very surprised at the result). > > > > > > cr > > Oooooooo, now THAT'S a very kewl thought. That the CHAKRAM wanted revenge > for the physical death of Xena. And helped Gabrielle (who also wanted > revenge upon him) so they both could get what they want. Hmmm. Actually, that's not what I meant. I would interpret it that the chacky 'responded' to Xena's control in some quasi-magical way, and when Xena died, Gabby in a sense inherited Xena's warrior powers (I'm not putting this very well, and personally I don't care for the idea of *anyone* 'taking over' from Xena, and that includes Gabby, but I think TPTB intended that interpretation). So the chacky responded to Gabby's control the same way it had Xena's, much to Gabs' surprise. However, your idea's an interesting one to ponder. > OR that the Chakram's magical powers made this happen. Either way, I very > much like this concept of the Chakram being active in the taking Xena's > murderer out. (Even though Xena had LET him kill her...) > > KT Hmmm, yes. Whether one takes the 'chacky-wants-revenge' view or just the 'Gabs-inherited-it' view, it is a very fitting way to dispatch the general. cr ========================================================= 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, 26 May 2003 15:23:52 EDT From: IfeRae@aol.com Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Re: Chakram In a message dated 5/25/2003 4:53:06 PM Central Daylight Time, cande@sunlink.net writes: > IfeRae wrote: > > > >When Diana launched it, since she had no idea how to control it, the > chacky > >had no target 'in mind' so just switched off its internal guidance and > >bounced off whatever happened to be in the way.>> Um, no, that wasn't me. "Internal guidance" suggests maybe that was cr. > > Nah the chaky was just having a bit of fun. It bounced around, whacked the > crown off the kings head and then stuck in the tree. It probably was just > miffed Xena loaned it out without asking permission. > > CherylA > I found it amusing that the chaky managed to take kingy down a peg without Diana even aware of his presence. According to you and cr, this might suggest that Diana had some repressed resentment toward Pops, which the chaky picked up on. Didn't it even buzz Argo? Now *there's* a story of sibling rivalry if there ever was one. I'm surprised it didn't try to get back at Gabs for using it as fish knife. Oh, wait. She hadn't committed that indignity yet. It probably knew Xena would disown it anyway if it tried to nip Gabs. Yes, I can see a whole new area of study opening up here -- "Personality Traits, Psychoanalysis and Spirituality of the Chakram, Pre and Post Redemption." That could keep Crystal busy for years! - -- 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, 26 May 2003 15:23:54 EDT From: IfeRae@aol.com Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Xena reviews In a message dated 5/25/2003 4:30:19 PM Central Daylight Time, fsktl@aurora.uaf.edu writes: > > >>All I can say is that in Tsunami she states that her behavior patterns > >>reflect her character traits and these are obviously and expectedly far > >>more honorable and noble than another person's.>> > > > > > > > >Okay, missy (madamy?). First of all, because *we* think that, what > makes > >you think Xena sees it as any more than "The guy was drowning, I could save > >him, so I did." > > > > Because she then brags about it as proving her good character. >> Argghhhhh!!! *%$#@^^^. The woman is so insufferably circuitous in her logic that I could scream! Oh, I just did. Sorry everyone (except KT). > Not answering him is exactly what I've always thought her response to > that challenge should have been. When the bad guy asked Xena, "What'd > >> >> you expect?" she should have just given him the Sneer Look (tm) which >> says, "You piece of crap, don't even TRY to talk to me." > >> No no no no no! We agree that Xena did not see herself as superior to others (even if she acted that way, heh). She distinguished between petty criminals like Dumbo and wannabe warlords out to hurt lots of folks. Dumbo was scared, just like the young man who also nearly got them killed. He didn't challenge her. He was genuinely perplexed and asked her a legitimate question. She at least respected him enough to give him an honest answer, even though she figured he wouldn't understand. She still gave him the chance. Sorry, but I really liked that she didn't snobbishly ignore him like she was above even talking to someone like him. She saved him because he was a human being, not a piece of driftwood. Sure, he was crap, but she treated him as a *human* piece of crap. > And then > Gabrielle could have said, "From you nothing more. From her, nothing > less." That would have been absolutely "right". Or for him to scuttle off > and for Gab to then say that privately to Xena. And Xena would have kept > her angry look with just a very slight touch of amazed (and slightly > exasperated) wonder over Gabrielle always seeing so much good in > her. When she knows she's just so bad. > No no no no no! I can't believe you of all people would suggest that, except that you are just soooo invested in bad Xena. I couldn't have stood much more of Gabrielle being the apologist, cheerleader and mouthpiece for Xena's goodness. I loved that we'd get these little glimmers of Xena showing awareness of being more than a piece of crap herself. This was at the end of the third season, after they'd gone through the rift and she'd given her little speech to Tara about being able to recreate yourself. I loved the slight surprise on Gabrielle's face when would verbalize what Gabrielle had become accustomed to saying. We talk about the changes Xena saw in Gabrielle. Well, Gabrielle saw changes in Xena too. To me, these were all due signs of Xena's evolution, in terms of giving herself a break, starting to accept herself as someone who could be the kind of teacher she became in Sin Trade. Even in the end, I never doubted Xena could be bad, selfish, foolish or any of her other human flaws. But I was equally sure that she'd come to find a measure of peace and pride in the good in her. And she deserved it, as she sure as Hades worked hard enough for it. You say "bragging." I say "statement of fact." So there! - -- 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, 26 May 2003 15:28:25 -0400 From: "Cheryl Ande" Subject: [chakram-refugees] When Fates Collide When Fates Collide This is one of my favorite episodes. It is has a fascinating premises if not an original one - what would happen if one defining moment in Xena's life was different. Xena's warrior path has been strewn with life changing events - Cortese, Lyceus's death, Caesars' betrayal, Xena's tutelage by Loa Mao, her meeting with Hercules and her rescue of Gabrielle. Change any one of these events and Xena's life and the lives of those around her changes drastically. We saw that in Nothing Remembered and in Armageddon Now. In each of these previous stories the changes were unexpected and random but now some one will change Xena's past for his own purposes and strive to control the world that he will create out of this manipulation. In the temple of the Fates a very dead Caesar is reviewing his past. We see him at Xena's crucifixion at the beach and he is not thrilled with what he sees. He rewinds the time line and suddenly there he is at the pivotal moment of his life. A seductive Xena is offering him herself and chance to rule the world with her at his side. Caesar now looks to the Fates who are chained to a pillar. He explains that since Hades is gone Tarturus has really lousy security and he has escaped. He has escaped not just to get out of a lower class neighborhood but also to correct the one great error of his past - his betrayal of Xena. He is going to rewrite history and his past at the most crucial moment of his life by taking up Xena's offer. He will partner with Xena and rule the world. The Fates are appalled; they tell him if he alters the loom of fate he will alter countless lives - Caesar yes that's the point. Scanning the thread he holds as if it is a piece film he is about to edit Caesar passes his judgment on it - "mysterious, romantic, good lighting - he makes his cut. He then feeds it into the projector that is the loom of fate and the story of Caesar and Xena is re-edited to suit Caesar. In the courtyard of Rome a very alive Caesar is ordering his minions to feed the poor. Brutus announces that emissaries from Loa Mao the ruler of Chin have arrived with a treaty. Things are looking pretty good in the Roman Empire when suddenly there is a cry to open the palace gates. There sits a dark figure on a horse - dressed in leather and a helmet. It rides through the guards at break-neck speed and fires arrows from a bow. The arrows frame Brutus but Caesar stands unafraid before the dark horseman who leaps off the horse and stands before Caesar. The figure reveals herself as Xena and hails Caesar as "her emperor". Caesar acknowledges her as "his empress" and everyone relaxes - obviously Xena often greets her husband with arrows. In the palace Xena and Caesar seem a happy couple. They are comfortable with each other and appear to be affectionate. Caesar tells his wife he has treat from her homeland for their evening's entertainment. Xena looks forward to Thracian wrestlers but no it's new play from Athens. Xena is resigned to an evening of "drive from old men with tricky names" (I love that line). Brutus arrives with the Chinese emissaries. Xena excuses herself s to attend the Senate meeting about new weapons for the army. Caesar sends a surprised Brutus with her. Caesar turns his attention to the Chinese ambassadors. For the audience life in this new Roman Empire seems vastly improved from the way it was before Caesar's edit. Caesar seems benevolent. Lao Mao is the rightful ruler of Chin. Xena is the empress of Rome - happy in her marriage and an important leader in her own right. The Chinese ambassadors present their treaty when suddenly they are seized from behind and are lifted off the ground. Alti, the high priestess of Rome, has them in her clutches, literally, and is feeding on the men's' fears. We see flashes of their past lives but something is odd here - the flashes are from The Debt, and Back In The Bottle - this should not be since these things never happened. The audience is now unsettled not only because of the appearance of Alti, and Caesar's murder of the peaceful diplomats but also because it would appear that Caesar's manipulation of time isn't as successful as it seemed. Things are about to go wrong. That evening Xena and Caesar attend the Greek play. They are dressed in their finery. Xena is every inch the empress and lady - years of life at court and a patrician marriage has given her elegance and grace. The play is Fallen Angle and is apparently about lovers who have overcome death to be together (it seems a bit familiar to Xena fans everywhere). Although Caesar is bored, it isn't about him after all (well it is about him, he just doesn't know it), and Alti couldn't care less about love, Xena, however, is fascinated by the play. When the playwright, Gabrielle the visionary voice of Athens, is presented to the cheering crowd Xena is dumbstruck. She throws a rose to the shy playwright and cheers her. Caesar is also dumbstruck. Before him stands Xena "girlfriend" and he has brought them together. Suddenly the evening isn't so boring. At the reception that evening, Xena and Gabrielle talk. Xena is fascinated by this Greek playwright. She wants to know all about her. Where do her ideas come from? Does really believe in a love worth dying for? Gabrielle says the stories just seem to write themselves and she hopes that such loves exists in the world. Xena's admiration for the playwright is matched by Gabrielle's respect for Xena who is beloved by both the people and the army. Caesar nervously watches the interaction between Xena and Gabrielle and Alti misinterprets Caesar's reaction as jealously. Caesar breaks up Xena and Gabrielle's chat by announcing that the couple has to get up early to meet with the senate. Caesar also has to calm a distraught Brutus who has just discovered the murdered Chinese diplomats. That evening Caesar and Xena are getting ready for bed. Caesar in a test to see if Xena has been affected by her meeting with Gabrielle makes a pass at his wife. It is obvious that Xena and Caesar's marriage has long ago lost its passion and Xena gently rebuffs him. Caesar, a bit insulted, leaves to have a meeting with Brutus. Xena goes to her balcony and across the courtyard she is startled to see Gabrielle. Xena is flustered and hides and then realizes she is being foolish and emerges. The two exchanged embarrassed nods. Xena has little time to complete her rather odd reaction to this stranger because Alti appears. Xena is unpleasantly surprised to find Alti in her bedroom. The priestess has no place in the empress's bedchambers. Alti arrogantly says it's Caesar's bedroom too. Alti has come to kill Xena and take her place but it won't be easy. They fight but Alti gets her hands around Xena's throat and the pain from Xena's past comes back to her. For Xena the flashes are painful but also puzzling; they aren't from the past she experienced in this life. Just as Xena is about to be killed, Caesar and Brutus stop Alti. Caesar appears to have real concern over the attack and is willing to kill Alti on the spot but Xena stops him. She wants the pleasure of killing Alti herself. As Alti is lead away to prison Caesar embraces his wife. Gabrielle suddenly appears on her balcony and is embarrassed to see the couple's intimate moment. Caesar however is more disturbed - Gabrielle is the greater danger than Alti. Her bond with Xena may shatter the false world he created. The next day Xena is surprised to see Caesar's guard rushing off. She asks what's going on. Caesar says that they are off to arrest the Greek playwright. Alti has confessed that she and the playwright are assassins sent by Loa Mao. Xena is stunned. As well she should be. Despite his seemingly calm appearance Caesar has clearly panicked and has aroused Xena's curiosity. How exactly does a famous Greek playwright suddenly become a Chinese assassin in league with a Roman high priestess? He should have known Xena would never take such a bold face lie at face value. Xena is off to find out the truth. A protesting Gabrielle is led off to prison. There she is quickly condemned and readied for crucifixion. Xena arrives to interrogate the prisoner. She is meet by a guard who was Joxer in a former time. Now he is a centurion and no bumbling wanne be warrior. He is obviously battle harden and a man of authority. He also very loyal to the empress who saved his child's life when she had her personal physician treat his ill daughter. He leads her to Gabrielle's cell. In the cell Xena questions the frightened prisoner. Is she an assassin? Gabrielle is astonished at the charge. She writes plays; she lives on a vineyard by the sea; she's never hurt a soul in her life. Xena doesn't take much convincing that Gabrielle's innocence. She says that anyone who believes in love like Gabrielle couldn't be a murder. Also the very absurdity of the charges weighs in Gabrielle's favor. Gabrielle can't understand why Caesar wants her dead and neither can Xena. As the two sit together you can hear the crosses being built. Gabrielle's wonders about the hammering and Xena echoes the Caesar's offhand words from another life time: "you can't have a crucifixion without crosses". Xena is resolved to find out just what is going on. She and Joxer go to Alti's cell. She orders Joxer her to leave her alone with Alti. Joxer protests but quickly leaves when Xena offers to beat the tar out of him - the more things change the more they stay the same. Xena asks Alti why she implicated the playwright in her plot. Alti is surprised and amused by the question. She never implicated the little bard in any plot. Xena now knows Caesar wants Gabrielle dead but she doesn't know why. She however has an idea it has something to do with the strange visions she had when Alti attacked her. She orders Alti to put her hands on her like she did the night before. Alti bargains for her freedom and Xena agrees but makes sure the priestess knows Caesar will have her head if she is harmed. Alti puts her hands on Xena's throat and the visions begin again. They are confused and random. Xena watches as Caesar and Alti have sex, Xena sees herself crucified on the beach and on Mount Amarro. She sees Gabrielle in many different situations and herself doing things she has never done in her life. She watches as Caesar cuts the threads of the fate. Alti and Xena break their connection and both are confused about what they have seen. They both however know that some how Caesar has altered destiny. Joxer now informs Xena that Gabrielle has been taken to the cross. In the courtyard Gabrielle is laid on the cross. Caesar watches and is sure once Gabrielle is out of the way his plot will not be discovered. Xena arrives and she is not a happy little wife. She tells Caesar she knows exactly what he has done. He protests but when she mentioned breaking her legs on the beach, Caesar knows the jig is up. He confesses but he says they are about to conqueror the world and she can join him in the glory that is about to be. Xena says she will but Gabrielle has to be released or she will spend her life making things right - he knows she can do it because "she has many skills. Caesar agrees and Gabrielle is released. Xena now rushes to Gabrielle. Xena now knows that she and Gabrielle should be more than just strangers. She takes Gabrielle off the cross and covers her with her stole. Gabrielle is beyond grateful; she is so overcome she can hardly meet Xena's eyes. Xena tells she is free and to leave Rome as quickly as she can. As Xena turns to leave Gabrielle suddenly calls after her. Xena is no longer the imperial ruler of Rome but now just Xena - the love she has waited for all her life. Gabrielle instinctively knows that the plays she has written for years were not just imagination but somehow about the woman before her. She tells Xena that she has never known love until now. Xena is touched bit Gabrielle must flee. As Gabrielle is lead away to her horse, Xena sees Caesar sending his guards off. In the palace Alti awaits Caesar. Caesar isn't surprised to see her. He figured that it was Alti who showed Xena the truth and was rewarded with her freedom. Alti however is feeling victorious. Xena will never be Caesar's good little wife now - it's time to change partners. Caesar doesn't trust the murderous priestess but Alti cynically reassures him that she loves Rome as much as he does. This is a great moment both protagonist know that they don't love Rome - they only love power but they agree to pretend they have a higher calling. He however wants a test of Alti's abilities before accepting her as a partner and he sends her off to kill Gabrielle. On a road outside of Rome, Gabrielle, now dressed for travel but still wearing the empress's stole, is riding hard. Suddenly Alti appears before her causing her to be thrown. A terrified Gabrielle tries to crawl away from Alti but Alti uses her supernatural powers to catch her. She asks if she knows what a fate worse than death is? Alti answers for the startled bard: it's dying not knowing who you really are. Alti grabs Gabrielle by the throat and flashes of her real life with Xena are revealed to her. Just as the pain of the memories become unbearable Xena arrives. At the top of a hill, Xena dressed in her leather garb fires at Alti with her bow. She rides down the steep hill to get to Gabrielle. Alti fast-forwards out there (I really dislike that effect). Xena goes to Gabrielle but the bard is still in Alti's thrall and it obviously in great distress. Xena screams for Alti and demands that Alti let Gabrielle go. Xena tells Alti that this is not about her. Alti disagrees - it is all about her and what she knows and the power that gives her. Alti flies at Xena and they fight. Xena knocks the wind out of Alti and this breaks the spell that is over Gabrielle. Xena is beating the stuffing out Alti when suddenly Caesar and his guards arrive. Xena now takes on the guards. She kills a number of them but she is finally brought down by two cross bowmen (arrows are just going to be the death of that girl). Xena is captured. Joxer takes charge of Gabrielle and it is evident that he is going to make sure Gabrielle survives this ordeal. A haughty Caesar now confronts Xena. Xena is wounded and held at sword point by the soldiers. Caesar says that Xena just couldn't leave well enough alone and accept the new life he has given her. Xena is defiant - in any life Caesar lives he will be scum and spits in his eye. Caesar now utters the words that sealed his fate so long ago: " you will always have an honored place in Rome's heart - amongst Caesar's conquered." Xena is then bound and dragged behind a horse to her prison, as a terrified Gabrielle watches. That same day Caesar and Brutus meet. Caesar asks Brutus how things are among the troops. Brutus hedges a bit. The army is upset by their commander's arrest. Caesar says she attacked Roman soldiers and disobeyed him. That is treason. Brutus agrees. The Caesar says Alti will be joining the campaign as his new empress. Brutus is clearly surprised but when Caesar presses him on the subject Brutus accepts the fact. Caesar now approached his friend and suddenly he stabs Brutus. Caesar has burned all his bridges and all those he believes to be a danger to him are dead or soon will be. In the cell a grievously wounded Xena contemplates her lives. Joxer arrives with Gabrielle whom he gently teases. He says that he can't believe they were going to kill her for writing that bad play. A rather startled bard looks at him. Joxer says it needed more fight scenes. Gabrielle, knowing full well there will be no more plays, says she will keep that in mind. Joxer smiles gently and lets her into Xena's cell. I rather like that scene. Joxer isn't being boorish or insensitive - I think he is trying to just lighten the mood a bit and perhaps even rile the depressed woman up a bit. In his own way Joxer wants to give Gabrielle some to live for even if it is only to write more fight scenes. In the cell Xena is in a bad way. Gabrielle is heartbroken at the sight. Xena struggles to sit up. Gabrielle has seen her real fate at the hands of Alti and Xena confirms that Caesar has some how manipulated their fate to give them this "gods forsaken world'. There is no time now. They express their love for one another. In this world Xena can openly express her love for Gabrielle. There are no euphemisms; no "you are the best thing in my life". Xena says clearly that she will love Gabrielle forever. Xena now also realizes something else; she now knows that Caesar's fate and her fate are all linked to the hated cross. Things had to happen precisely as they happened. Gabrielle is unsureand she wants to stay with Xena but Xena says she must go and live. She has to go through this alone. There is an emotional farewell (Kleenexes for subtextors and I don't what the heck the non-subtextors do now since we pretty much have shot the best friend and sister theory in the head about now). The guards come to take Xena away. Gabrielle struggles and Xena tells Joxer to get Gabrielle out alive. It is raining in the courtyard and it's probably snowing on Mount Amarro. Xena is lead out; she is resigned to her death. A death that, I believe, she some how knows will lead to Caesar's fall. A triumphant Alti and Caesar watch Xena go to the cross. They are certain of their victory. They don't know that on a road outside of Rome an angry and driven woman is headed to the Temple of the Fates. Alti and Caesar go to the bed that Caesar shared with Xena to consummate their partnership. As Xena is nailed to the cross, Alti and Caesar have sex. Caesar doesn't realize that he is living out the dream he had in the Ides of March and the danger he is in. As Xena's torture at the cross comes to a climax, so does Caesar's loving make but in both cases the climax is death. Alti, at the height of Caesar's passion, viciously stabs him. Caesar has not escaped his fate - Xena's crucifixion has once again lead to his death. As Xena's cross is righted, Gabrielle reaches the Temple of the Fates. She purposely strides towards the loom. There she finds chaos. The threads of the loom have run amuck. The Fates are still chained and they have been unable to care for the loom. Gabrielle is incensed - her life, Xena's life and the lives of countless millions have been forever altered and the world is in chaos because of the loom. Gabrielle snatches a torch and approached the loom. The Fates are frantic - if she burns the loom all sill be destroyed. Gabrielle doesn't care; "SO BE IT. The chaos will end. She sets fire to the loom and collapses before it. In the courtyard Alti comes to gloat at the crucified Xena. Suddenly Alti explodes and Xena smiles a death heads smile. She knows that some how Gabrielle has destroyed the false reality. Xena dies with the words "I love you Gabrielle" on her lips. The loom burns and suddenly there is a great cosmic explosion. In a foggy woods, Gabrielle now dressed in her regular sixth season costume appears lost. Suddenly out of the fog rides Xena on Argo. Both women although a bit stunned seem their old selves. Xena says Gabrielle has brought the world back to itself but won't she regret not being a famous playwright. Gabrielle is content she doesn't need fame. Gabrielle climbs aboard Argo but she is curious about one thing. Did Xena really like her play? The taciturn warrior says yeah but it needed more fight scenes. A resigned Gabrielle says everyone is a critic. The pair rides off into the haze together as fate meant it to be. This is to be a great episode. Oh I hear the scoffs from some quarters but I love this episode. First off I like the fact that Katherine Fulgate was a fan of Xena and used her knowledge of the series so well. The fact that she can reference cannon episodes such as Fallen Angel, Ides of March, and The Debt in a meaningful way added to my enjoyment of this episode. There were no glaring errors to distract the long time viewer and the references were not so obscure that they would confuse the more casual viewer. Second I like the way she wrote both Xena and Gabrielle. Her Xena is subtly different than the Xena of the series. She is still a warrior and a great leader. She however is more refined and emotionally open. This Xena fought Cortese and lost Lyceus but she never was betrayed. This Xena didn't stump her way across the steppes, never gave up a child, and never became a mass murder. Instead she married well and lived the life of patrician exposed to art and literature. Still a warrior but a warrior who was never an outcast, instead it won her power and acceptance. This Xena never needed to hide her emotions - while the Xena we know is stoic except in grief this Xena allows herself to feel. At the play Xena is moved by the play. I think she is moved on two levels. First I think she genuinely likes the play - I always felt Xena had a very semimetal side to her. I also think on some level she recognizes that this story is about her and she is touched by the love she has missed. Also I think Fulgate hasn't soften Xena too much and there is still a toughness to her. When Caesar captures her she can still spit in his eye as she faces death. In the accepting her execution I don't believe Xena is giving up but that it is only by dying can she bring Caesar down. I also like the little details - Xena has new look one of dark menace, gone are the chakram and sword but she is lethal with the bow and arrow. Gabrielle too has changed. Yes she is still a writer and successful one but there is a difference in her too. Gabrielle is a bit tougher than we might expect a gentle playwright to be. She must have an inner core of strength. Somehow she got herself out of Potadeia and out of her arranged marriage. She made her way to Athens where she became successful and famous. She got herself a villa in Greece and tours the world with her plays. She is not the meek playwright she seems. Indeed she is searching for the love that she can only write about and despite her success she feels alienated from her life. When she meets Xena she is attracted to her immediately. She finds a champion and a friend just as she did when she was a young woman so many years ago in a previous life. She discovers the love that she has dreamed of all her life was always her fate but one man has manipulated fate to steel that love from her. Everyone discounts the bard once Xena is taken but she is more dangerous than all of Caesar's enemies. She is an idealist whose ideals have been shattered. She will put things right or she will destroy Caesar's creation. In a stunningly ruthless act Gabrielle destroys the bogus world and thus resets the world to it's proper order. I also like the fact that the Gabrielle's play is an episode from her life with Xena. At the reception that evening Gabrielle says that the stories she writes seem to just come to her. I rather like the idea that Gabrielle has been writing about her adventures with Xena for years. That her stories are half remembered memories from a past she never had. So when she meets Xena it isn't the meeting of strangers. Gabrielle may not consciously know Xena but on a subconscious level she does know this person and she has been writing about her for years. I do have criticisms of this episode. I don't like the way Caesar's character is written. I can't see Caesar making the mistake of arresting Gabrielle. He knows that Xena is interested in the bard and that she may be a potential danger. The danger however lies in Xena developing some kind of relationship with Gabrielle. My thinking would have been to keep Xena away from Gabrielle and make sure Gabrielle gets back to Greece as soon as possible. Instead Caesar puts a great big spot light on Gabrielle. On top of that he makes up the absurd story that she is a Chinese assassin. Once Xena hears this story she is going to investigate. Her investigation eventually leads her to Alti and the truth. Once the truth is revealed Caesar still can't let things rest. He has to try to kill Gabrielle and this leads to the break with Xena. Caesar now moves against his former enemies, Xena and Brutus,but he never considers the possibility that he may have different enemies in this world. He never considers how dangerous Alti is and he never even contemplates that betraying Xena again will lead to his destruction as it had in the past. I fear Caesar in any world is just too arrogant to live. Well I can't wait to hear comments especially from KT. KT just about had the vapors when she heard Fulgate was writing a Xena movies script so I expect to see some scathing comments soon. 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: Mon, 26 May 2003 18:33:35 -0400 From: "Cheryl Ande" Subject: [chakram-refugees] Re: Chakram > I toyed a little bit with thinking that perhaps Ares had put a protection > spell on it early so it couldn't be used against Xena. But then surely it > would have broken BEFORE it broke her back. And anyway, Ares likes > warriors who can take care of themselves, so I don't REALLY think he'd do > that. (Unless we figure he IS Xena's father--then all bets are off on what > he might do for her.) And again, this is negated by it cutting Xena in > Valkyrie. > > KT It is interesting that the chakram cut her in The Ring. I will try to work this into my theory. Xena's curse was that she would lose her essence and thus she loses all sense of self. I think at this point she simply forgot how to hold it. Although I think the chaky may have some kind of spirit I don't see it like somekind of dancing teapot out of a Disney film. I don't know if it can prevent Xena from hurting herself if it is not properly handled. Perhaps when Xena lost her essence the weapon got confused or simply Xena was prevented from allowing the weapon to fall into the wrong hands ie Odin ot the bad Valkary. Beowulf found it and he is a good guy and he intents on returning it to Xena. The chaky kind of made sure it found itself a good temporary home. Humm perhaps I was wrong maybe it can dance too. 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: Mon, 26 May 2003 18:38:52 -0400 From: "Cheryl Ande" Subject: [chakram-refugees] Scorpion King I watched the Scorpion King this weekend which I liked as a popcorn movie. Being A Universal flick I though I would count Xena-like occurances and I fond some. There was fire spitting, arrow catching and what appeared to be Amazons too. Now I'm not saying these are Xena homages but Xena pieces of business seem to show up in Univeral adventure flicks often enough to make me wonder. So perhaps Yniversal should just get off the stick and give us the real thing. There is one non-Xena question. What is The Rock's real name and is he a native American? I thought he was good and was surprised at the humor he brought to the role. 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. ========================================================= ------------------------------ End of chakram-refugees-digest V3 #143 **************************************