From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V3 #184 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, July 1 2003 Volume 03 : Number 184 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [chakram-refugees] "Heart on the sleeve" ["H.J.J. Hewitt" ] Re: OT: Re: [chakram-refugees] Yahoo & Spam [cr ] Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 1 [cr ] Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 1 [cr ] [chakram-refugees] Trivial Pursuits: Virgilius and the Great Seal ["mirro] Bit Players (Was Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 1) [IfeRae@ao] Re: [chakram-refugees] Hercules DVD [IfeRae@aol.com] Re: [chakram-refugees] "Heart on the sleeve" [IfeRae@aol.com] [chakram-refugees] Chakram No.22 [IfeRae@aol.com] Re: [chakram-refugees] Trivial Pursuits: Virgilius and the Great Seal [KL] [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 2 ["Cheryl Ande" Subject: [chakram-refugees] "Heart on the sleeve" No, no, no! You can't 'redefine' an existing idiom by deciding to do so. Neither words nor idioms have intrinsic meanings. Meanings are based on the \general/ agreements within a culture as to what the words, etc., it uses refer to. It is only because of such agreement that communication is possible. Within a small group such as here, you may 'agree' to use "heart on her sleeve" to refer to nuances of behavior that subtly reflect emotional attachments. But out in the real world it means flagrantly displaying one's (generally unreciprocated) emotional attachment to someone. TEXena, academically certified "linguistician" ========================================================= 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, 1 Jul 2003 18:35:08 +1200 From: cr Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Hercules DVD On Tuesday 01 July 2003 10:26, IfeRae@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 6/30/03 2:05:35 AM Central Daylight Time, > cr@orcon.net.nz writes: > > << As Darkness Falls was in the first season. (And I have to say, Lucy > looked > absolutely delicious). > > The sequel, The Outcast, in which Lucy appeared much more briefly, was in > Season 2. > > > Crap. Now I have to consider whether to add this Herc DVD to my budget. I > guess they didn't go for my suggestion that they do a compilation of all > the eps with Xena in them. Wonder why? Thanks for the info. > > -- Ife Errrm, As Darkness Falls and The Outcast featured Lucy as Lyla, not Xena. cr ... wondering if lfe has crossed the line between reality and Xena... :) ========================================================= 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, 1 Jul 2003 18:52:35 +1200 From: cr Subject: Re: OT: Re: [chakram-refugees] Yahoo & Spam On Tuesday 01 July 2003 01:46, S. Wilson wrote: > Isn't it a bit insane that as consumers in the age of technology we have to > have our phones protected by the government, our email thwarted by spam > blockers, our TiVo's snipping commercials and our computers outfitted with > popup killers, just to get a moment of ad-free privacy? > Makes me miss the simple days when I was so frustrated by the amount of > junk mail in my snail-mailbox. > > S. At least the junk mail in my snail-mail box gives me the staisfaction of tearing it in half and hurling it into the bin. I have just one wish for spammers - Kill 'em All! 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, 1 Jul 2003 19:46:46 +1200 From: cr Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 1 On Tuesday 01 July 2003 15:58, H.J.J. Hewitt wrote: > In response to one of cr's happily multitudinous posts-- > > >> I don't know. Perhaps since he doesn't seemed surprised when she nods > >> her head and we all know what she is about to do. > > > >There's an obvious question here - but I won't steal anyone's thunder. > >(Looking in the general direction of Texas.... ;) > > I do hope it's somebody ELSE in Texas... I'm one of the steadfast who chose > to avoid FIN, sacrificing 2 hours of X:WP rather than experience actually > \seeing/ Xena die. (Speaking personally... it is even more painful to > witness the death of a loved one than to receive the news of it when it has > happened elsewhere.) Errrm, nope. I know there's plenty of spare acreage around Texas but the finger was pointing directly at you! After all, you *did* ask..... > >*everybody* in NZ has had a bit part on Xena. > > OT, but "Whale Rider" has just opened at the art cinema here and I have > been wondering if any of "our" X:WP bit part players are in the cast. Googlegooglegoogle.... Keisha Castle-Hughes - Pai Rawiri Paratene - Koro Vicky Haughton - Nanny Flowers Cliff Curtis - Porourangi Rawinia Clarke - Miro Tammy Davis - Willie Grant Roa - Rawiri Mana Taumaunu - Hemi Rachel House - Shilo Taungaroa Emile - Dog Mabel Warekawa-Butt - Maka Tahei Simpson - Miss Parata Roi Taimana - Rewi Elizabeth Skeen - Rehua Tyronne White - Jake Taupua Whakataka-Brightwell - Ropata Tenia McClutchie-Mita - Wiremu Peter Patuwai - Bubba Rutene Spooner - Parekura Riccardo Davis - Maui Apiata Whangaparita-Apanui - Henare John Sumner - Obstetrician Sam Woods - Young Rawiri Pura Tangira - Driver Jane O'Kane - Anne Heemi Taumaunu - Fisherman Nope, none I'd recognise. According to Logomancy, Rawiri Paratene was in ep 605 as Tazere. Vicky Haughton was 'Old Lady' in 406 and 'Woman' in 501. Elizabeth Skeen was Sera in 123. I may have missed a couple... OK, so I was wrong. Not everybody in NZ has had a bit part in Xena. I know of at least two people who haven't, one of them being me. Happy now? ;) 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, 1 Jul 2003 20:19:26 +1200 From: cr Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 1 On Monday 30 June 2003 14:59, IfeRae@aol.com wrote: > In a message dated 6/29/2003 3:13:15 AM Central Daylight Time, > > cr@orcon.net.nz writes: > > >I guess I'm saying that I think people can wear their "heart on their > > >sleeve" without necessarily being blatant. That Xena had "heart" (love, > > >passion, courage, etc.) in every sense of the word was so integral to > > > her "being" that she could "mask" it however she wanted and it was > > > still there. Don't know if that makes sense, but it's like saying I see > > > this as a case of "both/and," not "either/or." > > > > > >-- Ife > > > > Okay. I'll buy that. You're right with reference to Xena. Though > > it's not how I interpret the usual meaning of the phrase. > > LOL! I didn't think of it quite that way either, until Cheryl said it in > relationship to Xena. I suddenly found myself redefining the concept, or > perhaps more accurately seeing it as more multi-dimensional. Admittedly, > it connoted a potential "weakness" to me (perhaps wrongly) before. But it > "fit" my idea of Xena, just as the "mask" idea did. Now I see that the > "mask" can connote vulnerability (what she's trying to hide), while the > "heart on sleeve" can connote strength (passion and feelings as part of her > arsenal). That's probably going beyond what Cheryl meant, but it's > something else that occurred to me as I was trying to reconcile those two > seemingly contradictory aspects. > > -- Ife Respectfully, I have to agree with what TEXena wrote. I don't think you can redefine a common phrase to suit local circumstances. You can argue that the phrase may not actually apply, or that there are other more subtle factors in the present circumstances, but I don't think you can change the meaning of the original phrase. 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, 1 Jul 2003 12:57:47 -0400 From: "mirrordrum" Subject: [chakram-refugees] Trivial Pursuits: Virgilius and the Great Seal well greetings sisters and brothers in xena--it's been a long time since i've posted a trivial pursuit item. segued to this bit from the text of a bill moyers' speech and thought i'd pass it on. i don't recall it being mentioned during virgie's tenure on xena. the text on the great seal of the US may apparently have come from one of virgil's classics. i found this quite interesting. Great Seal Mottoes Novus Ordo Seclorum A New Order of the Ages Beneath the pyramid on the reverse side of the Great Seal is the Latin phrase "Novus ordo seclorum." Charles Thomson chose this motto, probably borrowing it from Virgil, the famed Roman poet who lived in the first century B.C. Virgil wrote the phrase, Magnus ab integro seclorum nascitur ordo, in the fifth line of his classic Eclogue IV. It has been translated in different ways, including: A mighty order of ages is born anew. The great series of ages begins anew. The ages' mighty march begins anew. The majestic roll of circling centuries begins anew. The phrase is part of a prophecy about the fate of the Roman empire: "Now the last age by Cumae's Sibyl song has come and gone, and the majestic roll of circling centuries begins anew . . . the Iron age shall cease, the Golden race arise . . . and shall free the earth from never-ceasing fear." Thomson coined the motto: Novus ordo seclorum. The correct translation, according to the U.S. State Department, is: "A new order of the ages." Thomson explained: "The date underneath [the pyramid] is that of the Declaration of Independence and the words under it signify the beginning of the new American Fra, which commences from that date." NOTE: Novus ordo seclorum does not mean "new world order." http://www.greatseal.com/mottoes/seclorum.html if you're interested, you can also hear leland thomas faegre's post 9-11 composition "novus ordo seclorum" (orwellian overture) at: http://www.ontopofacloud.com/musicportfolio/webpages/Novus%20Ordo%20Seclorum.htm virgie lives! cheers all, md ========================================================= 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, 1 Jul 2003 15:51:54 EDT From: IfeRae@aol.com Subject: Bit Players (Was Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 1) In a message dated 7/1/03 3:31:24 AM Central Daylight Time, cr@orcon.net.nz writes: << OK, so I was wrong. Not everybody in NZ has had a bit part in Xena. I know of at least two people who haven't, one of them being me. Happy now? ;) cr >> LOL! Speaking of bit players, I get a warm feeling when I see certain players over and over again, many of whom never say a word. My favorites? - -- The guy I first noticed in "Greater Good." He's roundish with short cropped hair. He's the one Xena straddles (some folks get all the dirty work, eh?) and then gets his neck snapped. I noticed him later in OAAA, where Xena does him in again. I can't think of the other eps, but as I rewatch them, I keep seeing him. - -- The slender stunt woman with long, straight brown hair, whose full face is rarely shown. She appears in nearly every fight scene with townspeople in it, though she was also one of the dancers in "Two Muses." In "Been There," you see her sliding off a roof at the end of the melee during which Xena measures for her chakram throw. - -- A big guy on horseback wielding a chain-like weapon or throwing a net. He was in "When in Rome" during Xena's bout in the Coliseum and may have been the Berserker in "Sin Trade." Then there are thos who played bit parts early on, whom we later see as guest stars. For example, I think the head Hestian virgin in "Comedy of Eros" also played Meridian, whom Gabs stabbed. And one of the ghosts in "Dreamworker" played Pili's father in that second Horde ep. I know we could do a computer cross match, but I'm wondering if there are bit players in the background who stood out for some of you too. - -- 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, 1 Jul 2003 15:51:55 EDT From: IfeRae@aol.com Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Hercules DVD In a message dated 7/1/03 3:31:19 AM Central Daylight Time, cr@orcon.net.nz writes: << Crap. Now I have to consider whether to add this Herc DVD to my budget. I > guess they didn't go for my suggestion that they do a compilation of all > the eps with Xena in them. Wonder why? Thanks for the info. > > -- Ife Errrm, As Darkness Falls and The Outcast featured Lucy as Lyla, not Xena. cr ... wondering if lfe has crossed the line between reality and Xena... :) >> Grrrr. That may be, but I meant to say "Lucy." Grrrrr. - -- 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, 1 Jul 2003 15:51:57 EDT From: IfeRae@aol.com Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] "Heart on the sleeve" In a message dated 6/30/03 11:33:01 PM Central Daylight Time, hjjh@mail.utexas.edu writes: << No, no, no! You can't 'redefine' an existing idiom by deciding to do so. >> LOL! Sure we can! We do it all the time. Heck, XWP has redefined notions about "fights like a woman," "hero," "soulmate," and more (even in popluar culture), depending on one's idea of "existing" idiom. Besides, this is the Xenaverse, where we define and redefine at will. Kidding aside, I wasn't interested in redefining the concept, so much as using what Cande said to reexamine my notions about Xena. Heck, I don't even know for sure what Cande meant by it. Cande? You there? << Neither words nor idioms have intrinsic meanings. Meanings are based on the \general/ agreements within a culture as to what the words, etc., it uses refer to. >> Exactly. "Meaning is in people, not words." << It is only because of such agreement that communication is possible. Within a small group such as here, you may 'agree' to use "heart on her sleeve" to refer to nuances of behavior that subtly reflect emotional attachments. But out in the real world it means flagrantly displaying one's (generally unreciprocated) emotional attachment to someone. << Well, actually I did mean Cheryl's comment made *me* look at the concept differently - redefine it for myself in general and specifically as related to how I saw Xena. I assumed we were talking within the context of the Xenaverse. Mind you, you and I might have different cultural influences for what is "commonly accepted" in the "real" world. My dictionaries define "flagrant" as "conspicuously bad, offensive, or reprehensible." I've seen "heart on sleeve" perceived negatively in the sense of being naive, vulnerable or obvious, but not as "bad" or obnoxious. That said, I do believe Xena's passion, her love for Gabrielle, were as "obvious" as if she'd proclaimed it from the rooftops. Yes, she tried to hide them sometimes for defensive reasons, but she wasn't afraid to let them show quite powerfully. True, I generally think of people who are very verbally or physically expressive, particularly with "I love you" or hugs. But when I thought about it, I realized I know very shy, quiet, undemonstrative people whom everyone knows feels strongly about someone or something. Remember the kid in the back row at school whom everyone kidded because they knew he was head over heels for a girl in the front row, even though he did everything in his power not to show it? That's the kind of obvious "heart on the sleeve" I'm used to, whether the obviousness is intended or not. Some people (usually the girls) thought it was "sweet," while the boys ridiculed it as "weak" and "stupid." I suspect that hasn't changed much. Admittedly, I didn't see it as a good thing myself, but my redefinition, reinterpretation or whatever has expanded to regard it as having a positive, more subtle aspect that I hadn't considered before. I figured everybody else would continue to think of it however they think of it. << TEXena, academically certified "linguistician" >> -- Ife, student of words as means, more so than ends :-) ========================================================= 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, 1 Jul 2003 17:31:11 EDT From: IfeRae@aol.com Subject: [chakram-refugees] Chakram No.22 Got my new Chakram newsletter! Haven't had time to read it yet, but Gab/ROC fans should be pleased. A huge photo of early Gabs adorns the cover. Once I got past the wonderful inside cover shot of Xena on Argo (Iooking angst-ridden, I'm pretty sure in "Sins"), I thumbed through pages and pages of an interview with ROC. There's also an interview with Steve Sears on "Dreamworker" (yes!) and Missy Good on "Legacy," as well as some photos from the 2003 Pasadena con. (I kept wondering who that woman was on stage with ROC. Oh, it's Lucy! ) - -- 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, 1 Jul 2003 18:51:53 EDT From: KLOSSNER9@aol.com Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Trivial Pursuits: Virgilius and the Great Seal /A mighty order of ages is born anew. /The great series of ages begins anew. /The ages' mighty march begins anew. /The majestic roll of circling centuries begins anew. That would be Virgil making propaganda for the Emperor Augustus. His contemporary the poet Ovid neglected to do this and was exiled to the Black Sea. Boeotian Return-path: From: KLOSSNER9@aol.com Full-name: KLOSSNER9 Message-ID: Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 18:50:30 EDT Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Trivial Pursuits: Virgilius and the Great Seal To: aemoses@comcast.net MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" X-Mailer: 6.0 sub 10578 X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: from multipart/alternative by demime 0.97c X-Converted-To-Plain-Text: Alternative section used was text/plain /A mighty order of ages is born anew. /The great series of ages begins anew. /The ages' mighty march begins anew. /The majestic roll of circling centuries begins anew. That would be Virgil making propaganda for the Emperor Augustus. His contemporary the poet Ovid neglected to do ths and was exiled to the Black Sea. 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. ========================================================= ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2003 21:51:08 -0400 From: "Cheryl Ande" Subject: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 2 Friend In Need Part 2 Lucy Lawless (Young Xena) Michelle Ang (Akemi) Marton Csokas (Borias) Mac Jeffery Ong (Kenji) Adrian Brown (Yodoshi) Yvonne Tan (Ayako) Shiori Terada (Miyuki) Venant Wong (Morimoto) Gary Young (Saburo) Travor Sai-Louie (Kao) Ric Chan (Master Swordsman) Gregor Mclennan (Captain) Kazuhiro Muroyama (Harukata) Now where was I - oh yes. Xena has fought a great battle with Yodoshi's general Morimoto. Xena has been shot full of holes and has apparently lost her head. Gabrielle is off with Kenji, the young monk, looking for supposed archers in another part of the forest. Gabrielle however has suddenly realized that Xena is up to something and has gone back to find her. Gabrielle is walking through the foggy woods where Xena's battle with Morimoto has taken place. It is obvious that there has been a horrific battle here. Suddenly Gabrielle sees something - it is the chakram covered in blood. She also sees a river of blood running from it into the forest. In the teahouse Akemi is playing her musical instrument. On the katana stand the katana she had sent to Xena reappears. Now a figure appears at the teahouse door - it is Xena. She is nude but whole and very beautiful. As she enters the teahouse the other geishas dress her in a red kimono. Xena moves to Akemi as if she is floating on air (as ROC said these are the beauty shots). Akemi is very happy to see her friend she says she has dreamed of this. On the battlefield Harukata is killing spirits. Gabrielle asks Kenji what he is doing. Kenji says he is killing the ghosts and sending them on their way before Yodoshi can capture their souls. Kenji then helpfully suggests that Harrukata might see Xena's soul. Gabrielle is not pleased - XENA IS ALIVE. In the teahouse Akemi is writing a poem about her joyful reunion with Xena. Xena who has visited a lot of lands of the dead asks why she feels different this time. Akemi, keeping a watchful eye on Miyuki, tells Xena their bodies are only illusions created by Yodoshi. As Xena thinks about this Miyuki summons Yodoshi by stamping her foot that has an anklet with small bells attached. Yodoshi roars into the teahouse and with a whip of fire he flings Xena around the room. He then strips her naked and makes her bow to him. Xena feigns submission and Yodoshi is satisfied that he has new whore to entice souls to their death. Latter outside of the teahouse Akemi and Xena sit back to back on the small dock of the moat. They appear to be innocently wasting some time but they are talking. Akemi says she is glad Xena showed Yodoshi respect but Xena assures her it wasn't respect. She's come to kill the Lord of the Darklands. Akemi doesn't seem surprised but she warns Xena about Miyuki who is creeping around within earshot. Xena tells Akemi tells she can still hear her heartbeat (dead people have heartbeats?) she sure as heck can hear Miyuki's clumsy footfalls (that always cracks me up since Miyuki isn't making any noise at all). She tells Akemi she is off to meet her accomplice and Miyuki will follow her and she should let her. In the fog covered forest Gabrielle is still looking for Xena. She tells Kenji that Xena may have been captured and that she has seen something. As she goes off to look for Xena on her own, Kenji looks after her with a just a trace of pity. Gabrielle has suddenly now entered a place that is very different than the forest; a peaceful Japanese garden. She can just see glimpses of someone or something running through the forest around her. As she crosses a small stream a figure emerges behind her. She starts but it is Xena. Gabrielle is overjoyed and the two women embrace. Gabrielle is just bit surprised when she notices Xena's new costume. Xena says she is going to kill Yodoshi, as if this explains the new red kimono. Well Gabrielle says she has found Xena's chakram - there was so much blood she was worried - but any way here it, is she will need it. Xena reaches for the chakram but her hand passes through it. Both women are shocked. Xena says that it's hard to explain but Gabrielle has one right away; Xena is dead. Gabrielle can't believe Xena let herself be killed (I love that line "let herself be killed" Gabrielle has so much faith in Xena that she can only conceive of Xena's death as a deliberate act on her part). Xena tries to explain that she had to die to kill Yodoshi and if she told Gabrielle of her plan she would tried to stop her and then they both would be dead. Gabrielle doesn't seem mollified but Xena reminds her they have beaten death before. Gabrielle may have had an argument about this point but Harukata shows up. Gabrielle draws her sword to defend her ghost from the ghost killer. Xena calms Gabrielle telling her she is working with the older man. Xena then signals Harukata and suddenly pulls Miyuki for the underbrush. She flings the woman to the ghost killer and he kills her. As she disappears the anklet falls and Xena makes a diving catch for it. I never understood why Xena was in such panic about the falling anklet. I assumed she just didn't want it lost but according to RT if it hit the ground it would have rang and summoned Yodoshi. Xena now brings Gabrielle, Kenji, and Harukata back to the teahouse. As Xena goes to talk to Akemi and the other geisha, Harukata and Kenji ask Gabrielle if she would risk her life for Xena (silly question). Gabby says of course. They tell her there is a way to bring Xena back from the dead. She has to find Xena's body, burn it, and sprinkle the ashes in the Fountain of Strength on Mt Fuji before the second sunset after Xena's death. She also will need the sacred katana and Harukata will say an incantation over it to protect it from evil spirits. Nothing is ever simple in the bard's life but Gabrielle's now got a mission! But before she's off its time to meet Xena's old girlfriend. Xena doesn't mince words - Akemi meet my soul mate; she's a bard too. The Japanese have impeccable manners Akemi bows and greets Gabrielle. Gabrielle tells Xena she is off on her mission. Just as Gabrielle is about to leave Akemi call her back. She wants to give Gabrielle something to protect her. In the teahouse Akemi tattoos Gabrielle's back with an elaborate dragon (yes such a tattoo would take hours but we are in the land of the dead perhaps things moves slower here) while Harukata says his incantation. Anyway this is a beautiful scene. Gabrielle in pain and Xena comforting her. Then Rob gives us ROC's beauty shot as Xena and Akemi drape Gabrielle's nude body in silk cloth. On the dock Gabrielle is now dressed as warrior (I really liked this outfit). Xena gives her the blessed katana and Gabrielle assures Xena she will get her body back. Xena shows all the confidence in the world in Gabrielle and says they will meet on Mt Fuji soon. That night there is a fearsome thunderstorm. Gabrielle strides into Morimoto's camp. She takes out the guards with her whip. She looks around the camp and sees something hanging from a tree. She goes to it. As the lightening flashes she sees her friends lifeless body, naked, headless and displayed like a prized stag. Gabrielle is forced to her knees in shock and revulsion - a revulsion that is soon replaced by rage. She rises and cries out for Xena's head. She then cuts her friend down and wraps her in a blanket. As she is doing this Morimoto come up behind her. Morimoto, I assume is trying to be polite, says Xena was a great adversary and she makes a fine trophy for an honorable samurai. Gabrielle is no mood for polite talk of trophies. There is no honor here - Xena was out numbered a thousand to one. Morimoto is confused by this woman's anger but things get worse. Besides Gabrielle smugly adds Xena couldn't have been killed (especially by you) if she hadn't wanted to be killed. Morimoto is insulted he accuses Gabrielle of having a death wish. Gabrielle accepts the implicit challenge. In the rain the two warriors face off. They crouch before each other with katanas raised and exchange ritual bows. They rise and begin a slow formal dance of death. Gabrielle remembers to listen as Xena taught her. Morimoto's troops watch in fascination as their general faces this small foreign woman. The tension mounts as we hear the feet sliding on mud, the horses whiny, and the fire crackle. There are close-ups of Gabrielle's eyes as she watches Morimoto, judging his every move. Suddenly, the general strikes. Gabrielle parries and Morimoto is on the ground with Gabrielle's blade at his neck. Morimoto is defeated and shamed - only if Gabrielle takes his head will his honor be saved. Gabrielle hesitates then she strikes, knocking the man unconscious. There will be no honor for Morimoto this day. The troops all bow to the victor and reveal Xena's head. Gabrielle now places her friend's body on her horse and as she rides out of camp as the army bows to her. This is perhaps one of the best set pieces in the entire episode. Expanded in the DVD the scene just build in tension at each passing moment. The close-ups of the actors especially of Gabrielle are mesmerizing. ROC said she never felt as staunch as Gabrielle as she did in this scene. Rob, in this one scene, elevates Gabrielle's character to hero status - she now becomes the heir to Xena. She alone must defeat this man - there is no Xena to rescue her. There can be no failure if she is to save Xena and she rises to the challenge. She also makes a very interesting decision not to kill Morimoto. Rob says it was because Gabrielle still won't kill in cold blood but ROC felt it was done deliberately to deny Morimoto his honor. I agree with ROC. When she knocks Morimoto out she turns and lashes her sword as if she has just swatted a bug. I don't think she has any regard for this man. ROC is wonderful in this scene. Her Gabrielle falls to pieces when she finds her friend's body but she recovers quickly. She contains her grief and assumes an air of quite dignity even as she seethes. This is wonderful acting. I also have to applaud RT's patience in this scene - nothing is hurried. He lets the scene build it's own momentum and he has a great payoff. This was difficult scene to shoot. It was cold and wet and took hours. RT said her originally wanted the actors bear footed but he took pity on them - I truly don't think being bear footed would have added to the scene and may have been a distraction. ROC had to return to do the close ups and on the second Creation's doco on FIN you see what a painstaking process those close-ups were; the camera is nose to nose to ROC as water is dumped on her head. On last thing about this scene, Xena being strung up upset a lot of people. RT said he needed it for Gabrielle's reaction. I'd say it worked for that purpose. It is also realistic - the bodies of defeated enemies were often displayed - heck in the American West the bullet ridden bodies of outlaws were often laid out for the public to see. Now the question is did we need two shots of Xena's headless corpse. Lucy though it was too much. Rob said he thought he needed two because he wasn't sure people understood what had happened. I agree with Rob - the first time I saw it I didn't understand what I was seeing. Once I saw Gabrielle's reaction and saw the body again - I understood what was going on. Back at the teahouse Xena and her crew are getting ready to take on Yodoshi. Harukata is saying an incantation and Kenji is playing the part of victim ready to have his soul eaten. Xena is disguised as Miyuki and is wearing the anklet. Xena stamps her foot and the anklet rings. Yodoshi rushes through the forest and bursts into the teahouse. He is at first pleased to have a new victim but when he sees Xena dresses as Miyuki he is stunned. Harukata rises from the bath where he was hiding and stabs Yodoshi in the back but the demon doesn't die. Yodoshi falls into the bath and becomes vapor, which rises to the ceiling. He reforms and Xena fights with him. Yodoshi throws a fireball and one of the geishas is killed and Akemi's arm is set on fire. Xena knocks her into the bath and while Xena struggles with Yodishi, Kenji is accidentally beheaded. While Xena reacts to this, Yodoshi freezes the bath trapping Akemi. Yodoshi knocks Xena down and skewers Harukata. Xena gets the katana and chops Yodoshi's arm off and he flees in a ball of fire. Xena frees Akemi from the ice but the trap has been a bloody disaster. In another part of Japa, Gabrielle has burned Xena's body. She remembers Xena's vow that even death would not separate them. Gabrielle renews her vow to bring Xena back to life. Back at the teahouse Xena and Akemi are tending the dead and wounded. Xena asks the dying Harukata what went wrong. He says Yodoshi must be drinking from the Fountain of Strength on Mt Fuji. Xena now must also drink from the fountain and use the sacred katana and kill Yodoshi. Akemi is following the conversation and when Xena pledges to kill Yodoshi she looks a trifle ill. Akemi is about to reveal a secret. Gabrielle now with Xena in her little pot is riding hell bent for leather to Mt Fuji when suddenly her horse is shot out from under her. The irate Morimoto now confronts her; some people don't know when to let a thing alone. He is furious that she denied him his honorable death and now in vengeance he will not allow Gabrielle to save her friend. Gabrielle is equally pissed and now realizes she should have taken this sucker's head - an error she would like to rectify as soon as possible. Morimoto attacks and kicks the pot out of Gabrielle's hand. Gabrielle and Morimoto fight on the mountainside jumping from rock to rock. Finally they get into a fistfight and Gabrielle knocks the stuffing out of Morimoto (perhaps she can go back to the Amazons and finally knock Varia on her kester too). Unfortunately as Morimoto falls he hits Xena's pot and it rolls off the cliff and lands in an eagle's nest. Gabrielle scrambles after it only to see it land far below her. In another part of the forest Yodoshi has landed sans one arm and very weak. He sees a hawk and possesses the bird and flies off to Mt Fuji to drink from the Fountain of Strength. Xena and Akemi now outside see Yodoshi fly off as a bird. Xena figures he can make it to Fuji in a few hours. Akemi says that since Yodoshi is weak, they aren't bound by their bodies. Xena spies an owl and little bird and she says they can transform into them. Akemi however has weightier matters on her mind. She asks about Gabrielle's mission to the Fountain. Xena says not to worry Gabrielle is good at what she does. Akemi however is really worried and she has a confession to make and she sits Xena down for a heart to heart. The audience is left in the dark about what Akemi said but from the expression Xena's face it wasn't good. Xena however rallies and takes Akemi by the hand and they turn into birds and fly off. Yodoshi lands and goes to the cliff side and using his sword turns the lock on the fountain to release the water. Xena now lands and tosses Yodoshi aside and now is waiting impatiently for the water. Yodoshi freezes the water before Xena can get it and throws a fireball at Xena knocking her back. Akemi lands and picks up Yodoshi's sword and tries to kill him. Yodoshi is shocked his daughter would try to kill him (he obviously has forgotten how he original got his demon hood). He knocks Akemi back. Xena is now up again and trying to reach an icicle that is just out her reach (perhaps she has forgotten she can flip really high). Yodoshi fires another fireball at her and she is hit hard and flies through the air and bounces off a rock and is hurt badly. Yodoshi now uses his really long tongue and gobbles up an icicle and is now in fine working order. Akemi again tries to attack but Yodoshi eats her (nifty scene but I wondered how he digested all the rocks he sucked up with her). Gabrielle still trying to figure out how to get the pot back when she hears Xena's cry. She finds her friend gravely injured. Xena says she said they would meet on Mt. Fuji but now she needs water. Gabrielle runs to the now flowing fountain and, having forgotten her travel mug, takes a handful of water and sips it into her mouth. Yodoshi sees this and hits Gabby in the back with a fireball. Gabrielle's dragon tattoo springs to life and the fireball bounces back and hits Yodoshi. Gabrielle, a little singed, rushes to Xena and kisses ...uh no... she just passes the water from her mouth to Xena's (although Gabrielle does appear to making a rather thorough job making sure that water gets to the proper place). Xena wakes up seems to really appreciate Gabrielle's oral water carrying skills. Xena is now transformed - she is free from Yodoshi's grasp and she is once again a warrior. Gabrielle has no time to talk to Xena - the sun is setting and she must get the pot. Xena tries to talk to her but Yodoshi calls her to battle. As Gabrielle scrambles down the cliff face to retrieve Xena's pot, Xena begins her battle with Yodoshi. Flying through the treetops Xena and her foe leave a trail of fire as they clash. They appear to be almost evenly matched. At one point they leap up and as they kick out, their feet smash into one another and they are hurled apart. They fight until they come to earth. Yodoshi taunts Xena saying he will destroy her and then take the head of her little tattooed friend. It is always a mistake to threaten Gabrielle - she tosses him aside and as he rushes her from behind Xena thrusts her sword back impaling Yodoshi. As the stunned Yodoshi falls she removes his head. As Yodoshi's head rolls away all the souls he has captured rush from his body. They are crying out in joy. Xena sees Akemi's spirit and she joyfully tells Xena she has redeemed the 40, 000, she has redeemed her and finally Xena has redeemed herself. Meanwhile Gabrielle is dangling off the cliff. She is trying her best to get to the little pot. The pot tips precariously on the nest's edge (RT said he actually wanted a bird in the nest trying to throw the pot out but everyone laughed when he mentioned it - it is a funny image but I thought at the time that was what was going to happen). Finally the pot falls but Gabrielle kicks it in the air and catches it. Xena is saved. Gabrielle scrabbles up the cliff only to be met by Morimoto who is blocking her way. Gabrielle has had enough. She throws the chakram and kills the general. The chakram bounces around a bit and returns to Gabrielle. An astonished Gabrielle catches it. The chakram now has a new mistress. Gabrielle, with the pot and the sun setting, runs to the fountain. Just as she is about to dump the ashes Xena stops her. Gabrielle is confused but Xena has some very bad news; she must remain dead. Gabrielle is flabbergasted she wants to know why. Xena says that in order for the 40,000 to be saved she must remain dead. Gabrielle protests; they are saved but Xena says they are only safe from Yodoshi in order for them to enter a state of grace they must be avenged. Akemi kept this a secret because she was afraid Xena wouldn't help if she knew the truth. Xena however is ready to accept her responsibility and do her duty to those she killed. Gabrielle however is not so sanguine about the sacrifice - this isn't right she says and frankly she doesn't care - she wants Xena alive. Xena in tears says she wants to come back too but she can't. This is what she learned from Gabrielle to do the right thing no matter what. Gabrielle is grief stricken but defeated. She sits dejectedly beside the fountain. Xena is her whole life. How can she go on? Xena says she will always be with her. The two friends now sit together. Gabrielle leans her head against Xena shoulder like she did when Xena had overcome death before. This time there will be no reprieve. The two friends watch the sun go down. Xena fades away and in the twilight sky Gabrielle sees the face of her warrior. But the story of Gabrielle and Xena is not over. On a ship sailing away from Japa stands Gabrielle with her warrior pot. She says that a lifetime of wandering has caused Xena to travel to ends of the earth. Suddenly there is a hand on Gabrielle's shoulder and it is Xena's spirit. Xena says all her traveling has ended where she will always remain - in Gabrielle's heart. She asks Gabrielle where are they off to next. Gabby says to the land of the pharaohs - she hears they need a girl with a chakram. Xena smiles and says where Gabrielle goes she will be by her side. And so the pair is off to their next adventure - there is new warrior princess but she will always have her sidekick. Well there we have it. Xena dies and remains dead. She has found her redemption and her story is over. This one episode caused so much angst among the fans. People have debated endlessly if Xena made the right choice to stay dead and were furious that Gabrielle didn't save Xena. I think Xena did make the right choice perhaps not the choice I wanted but it was the right choice for her. Xena killed the people of Haguchi - it doesn't matter if they were mean to her or if she was carrying out Akemi's last request or if she was crazy drunk. She chose to set fire to the people - oh she didn't know 40,000 would die but frankly, I believe, Xena wouldn't have cared that they did. The person Xena is now recognizes that the sin of her younger self was not just murder but a self-absorption that made the suffering of others unimportant to her. Xena knows she must pay the price for this. She also has a desperate need to make things right. In the ROTV, The Last Centaur, and Fallen Angel she fought and risked everything even her very soul to mend the damage she did. The only way she can make right what she did is to stay dead and avenge the people she harmed. Only Xena could be both murder and the avenger of her own crime. Gabrielle on the other hand does appear to also be a victim in this. She after all risked her life to save Xena and the audience wants Gabrielle to be rewarded for her efforts. They want Gabrielle to be reunited with Xena and be the hero. They feel Gabrielle has been cheated out of this. I however see Gabrielle as the hero because she puts the souls of the 40,000 and Xena's need for atonement before her own desires. Gabrielle heroism isn't fighting Morimoto but letting Xena go. Gabrielle, I believe, knows that neither Xena nor she could have a life knowing that they ignored the suffering of others. Gabrielle allows Xena to finally be at rest - she allows her the atonement she has so needed for her own peace. Gabrielle does suffer for this but that is what makes her a hero. Actually that is why I liked the original ending of FIN. In the broadcast version Gabrielle stands proudly alone on the ship facing the future by herself. She now is on a hero's journey that was begun on the side of Mt. Fuji when she accepts Xena's sacrifice. The DVD ending with the two women together suggests nothing has changed and it negates in some way the sacrifice both women made. Now I do believe that people who have criticized the sudden plot development, which requires Xena to remain dead, have a legitimate complaint. It does seem to come out of left field - especially in the broadcast version. In the DVD you know at least that Xena has been given some really bad news by Akemi. No one besides Akemi seems to know about the 40,000 souls needing to be avenged. Kenji and Harukata apparently don't know about it or they wouldn't have sent Gabrielle on her perilous quest to retrieve Xena's body. Akemi also doesn't seem to be concerned about it when she gives Gabrielle the tattoo, which would help her succeed in her mission. No the question is what changed? Is Akemi lying? That seems doubtful. Akemi's own actions in the past where she died avenging her family demonstrates her own belief in the need for justice for the victims. Akemi only reveals the truth after the teahouse disaster and she only starts to be concerned when Harukata is fatally wounded and tells Xena she must kill Yodoshi. Now I will try torture an explanation from these meager observations. Perhaps Harukata in his role as Ghost Killer would have been able to speed the 40,000 on to paradise without the need for them to be avenged. Once Harukata is gone Xena has to step up the plate to kill Yodoshi. She has that power to that, but the only way she can get the souls to paradise is to avenge them. She has to sacrifice herself to do this because she doesn't have Harukata's power as the Ghost Killer, TA DAA! Overall the episode was a terrific ending for the series. It had a symmetry that revisited all the themes that have been the bases for the series. Xena has struggled always with her past and her guilt. Finally Xena can free herself from the past and find her final redemption in a grand sacrifice. Gabrielle has become what she said she wanted to be in the first episode of the series - a hero like Xena. She of course doesn't become a hero like Xena who is haunted by guilt but she becomes a hero who will know that heroism comes at a price. She also has the knowledge that she has been able to form a relationship that does transcend the boundaries of life and death. Xena also has had the experience of finally of having a relationship that doesn't end in disaster - Gabrielle is not the worst for knowing Xena - she is a better and stronger person because of Xena. It is because of what she learned by the warrior's side that she is able to face the future with a smile on her face. She also knows that Xena's long ago promise that she would always be with her even in death was a profound truth. Finally a bit of praise for Rob Tapert. He had the courage of his conviction in that he ended the series the way he wanted. He perhaps under estimated the flack he would get from some fans but he certainly knew that killing his main character is something that just isn't done in TV. It makes selling reruns difficult. He however felt that Xena was a character that could only be redeemed by death. That death should not have surprised any one who followed the series. Xena always knew she was headed to an early grave and said as much but it never dimmed her enthusiasm for life or a good fight. Tapert also had a vision for Gabrielle. Gabrielle emerges as a hero because of her compassion and her honor. In the episodes he directed Gabrielle always plays a principle role. It is she who calls Xena back in Destiny, it is Gabrielle who calls Xena back from madness in Paradise Lost, and in FIN it is Gabrielle who finally allows Xena her final rest. It is perhaps ironic that Tapert was once accused of "hating" ROC by some fans. Yet he directed her in some of her finest acting moments and has shot some of her most beautiful scenes. Lets not forget Lucy and Renee. Lucy was very tired during this episode and I felt she believed she didn't do her best work. I think she did an excellent job. Her young Xena was masterful and her scene with Gabrielle at the fountain was heart breaking. ROC did a good job of bringing out Gabrielle's uncertainly and subtle fear as she slowly began to realize that Japa was not going to be a typical adventure and began to sense a kind of doom hovering over Xena. Then she had her character recover and she was staunch as Xena's defender and rescuer. In the end ROC managed to convey both Gabrielle's utter defeat when she accepts Xena's sacrifice but also Gabrielle's resiliency as she faces the future with confidence and joy with Xena's spirit beside her. Also I want to once again say what a great job Michelle Ang did as Akemi. Also Joe DeLuca's was as always superb. Lighting, set direction, costume design were first rate. It still irks me to no end that this series was never nominated for an Emmy for costume design or set decoration. What an embarrassment for the industry! Well that's the last episode. It has taken me almost exactly 2 years to the day Xena ended to rewatch all the episodes and write commentaries. I am still watching Xena on DVD - I never seem to tire of this series. I always find something new in the show. A new perspective or something I never saw before. So, I'll probably still be commentating on episodes as long as there is a list and people to read them - especially as long as cr is around to argue with and IfeRae to add her insights and certainly I hope that everyone else can add their thoughts too. KT I am still waiting for you Fates attack ;-). 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 #184 **************************************