From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V3 #188 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 Friday, July 4 2003 Volume 03 : Number 188 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 2 [cr ] Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 2 ["Cheryl Ande" ] Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 2 [cr ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 4 Jul 2003 21:47:53 +1200 From: cr Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 2 On Wednesday 02 July 2003 19:10, IfeRae@aol.com wrote: > > << 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. >> > > I always chuckle in these eps where dead people try to kill each other and > worry about dying. Where do they go next? Some kind of ghost mortuary? I finally realised what it is that Xena smashes the ice with. The wooden stand for the sacred katana. > > 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. >> > > I have to admit, I shuddered at the thought of Xena's body being burned, > even tho I still had hope it wouldn't matter. Yes, does make me feel a bit 'ouch' too. But, the Amazons did it all the time. > > << 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. > > Now, here's what I don't get. I'm glad they left that scene in the longer > version, but it still doesn't explain why Akemi waited so long to tell > Xena. Was it because of meeting Gabrielle and realizing that she and Xena > might actually succeed in restoring Xena? If so, why tatoo Gabs and let > her go off on a wild-goose chase? To give them the chance to make the > decision themselves about what Xena should do? That's a nice theory, isn't it? And as good as any is likely to be, I'm afraid. I tried reading the 'Yellow' draft to see if it explained any better. In a sense the problem doesn't arise - the encounter between Gabrielle and Akemi is a very brief greeting in the forest. No tattoo scene. Akemi would not necessarily be expected to say to a stranger "Your friend has to stay dead." So I guess the inconsistency just crept in with successive rewrites without RT or RJS noticing. > > << 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 >> > > Guess Yodoshi didn't have access to Gabs' scrolls. (It's okay for me to > mention the scrolls now, cr?) Yeah. Even the one with the corner torn off, if you like. ;) > > Gabrielle has had enough. > > She throws the chakram and kills the general. >> > > Do we know for sure that she killed him? Not for sure on screen. He's just lying there. ROC thought he was dead, Lucy wasn't sure: RT: With a whole new throwing style than Xena's. Gabrielle, Warrior Princess is born. ROC: It felt quite strange killing him. Trying to find that moment there, but ... LL: You know what, I didn't understand that he was killed. > > < > so sanguine about the sacrifice - this isn't right she says and frankly > > she doesn't care - she wants Xena alive. >> > > Lucy said she loved that Gabrielle said, "I don't care." She seemed more > moved by that and by ROC's performance of that moment, than anything else. > > > 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. >> > > I thought it interesting that Lucy also seemed unimpressed by "the final, > the good, the right thing to do." Does sound a little pompous. But LL couldn't think of anything better, and ROC and RT liked it. > > 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. >> > > More goosebumps, seeing the two from behind watchng the sunset. That was definitely goosebump territory... and when Xena faded in over the sunset (a pic from the very first day's shooting), it was magic. > > 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. >> > > I agree with that also. The broadcast ending is much more poignant, but > preserves the true sacrifice and heroism of Gabrielle, as well as a new > future for her. Yes, I preferred remembering them together as in the > second ending, but it wasn't the "bold" (to use Lucy's word) choice that > made XWP a "cut above" so much other TV fare. Rob had a vision and stayed > true to it, which I admire him for greatly, even though I well understand > how painful it was to many viewers. We're seeing the very last episode ever of Xena. It *should* be sad, and painful, and poignant. I can only answer for myself, but a 'happy' ending would have felt just as sad, as all partings are, but not nearly so moving. > > 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. >> > > I also thought that originally. But I remember hearing the rumors that > Xena would die and preparing myself for that possibility. As I watched, I > suddenly found myself hoping otherwise. I started thinking Gabs' mission, > with all its problems, would be the major drama. And so I was as stunned > as Gabs when Xena made her announcement. I felt like I'd been put through > the ringer. Did I feel a little tricked? You betcha. Would I have rather > felt serene and joyful at seeing Xena walk off alive with Gabs into the > sunset. You betcha. But it wouldn't have lived up to my expectations of > how I wanted XWP to leave the stage. I watch the long version, but the > version that my heart and head will remember is the one that aired, tricks > and all, because it had me on the edge of my seat the whole ride. And I > still haven't found the socks it knocked off. I'd suffered from spoiler leakage, I knew Xena died in battle. But like you lfe, I didn't know for sure if she stayed dead (though I had a shrewd suspicion). Still, that small lingering doubt was enough to let me watch the episode, hoping that Xena would come back to life. And when she didn't? Well, that was fine with me, too, even though I watched it on a Saturday and did nothing but wander about in a daze all the rest of the weekend. > <<> Now I will try torture an explanation from these > > > meager observations. >> > > Yes! Trust Cande to go where others fear to tread. > > 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! >> > > Nice try. Really. No, I mean it. Let's just say that's certainly as good > as all the other explanations I've heard. My own is rather simple -- Papa > Yodoshi made up the avenged thing (which nobody else seemed to know about) > to discourage Xena. Even if she managed to defeat him, he'd still have his > revenge on her postghostumously. He derisively whispered this in Akemi's > ear, knowing she'd probably warn Xena. Since Akemi was an illusion under > his control, she bought it. ta daa. Hmm, that logically makes sense, but I can't accept it. It would mean that Xena stayed dead quite unnecessarily simply because Akemi and Xena were both fooled. And while I delight in irony and I'm a connoisseur of cock-ups, I just can't accept Xena's death as a result of that. > > Also I want to once again say what a great job Michelle Ang did as Akemi. > > >> > > I second that. I said earlier that I wouldn't have cared diddly about > Akemi if not for what Ang brought to the character. For a 17-year-old, > that young lady is awesome. I feel very sorry for Michelle that her character was so badly received by the fans. Probably the best role she's had to date, maybe the best she'll ever get (and in saying that I'm not denigrating Michelle, but roles that good don't come around very often). Yet, Ebonie Smith, say, (M'Lila - who I like heaps) can be a guest at a con and be appreciated by all the fans. And Michelle probably can't - certainly not just after the series ended. Maybe in a year or two, she could. > And a fine job you have done! Sometimes singlehandedly keeping us going. > You know, there's some new blood on Flawless that I think we should invite > to join Chakram. I doubt they've seen your reviews. Gee, you might have > to start all over again! Yes, I noticed that (the newbies on the Flawless list, that is). Happily discussing the series and going way OT for the Flawless list, but it would be On Topic for this one. > A heartfelt "thank you" for your tireless efforts! I'll second that! 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: Fri, 4 Jul 2003 15:44:05 -0400 From: "Cheryl Ande" Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 2 - ----- Original Message ----- From: "cr" > So, umm, which katana was which? > > I'm a bit lost here. There were two katanas - one, the sacred katana that > Xena 'won' in the forge, that she beheaded Akemi with, and that (presumably) > turned up in the teahouse (did Akemi put it there?) and Kenji took on his > mission to fetch Xena, that she used in the battle, and that evaporated and > reappeared in the teahouse when Xena died. Was this the one that Xena gave > Gabby? It had a red hilt. Gabby took it to Mt Fuji and Xena used it to > fight and kill Yodoshi. > > Then, there was Harukata's katana, last seen stuck through Yodoshi when he > took off through the roof of the teahouse. It had a black hilt. > Presumably it rematerialized at Mt Fuji when Yodoshi did. Akemi tried to > kill Yodoshi with it, but he repossesed it, and used it in the final fight > against Xena. Well I'm a bit confused over the katana's too. I didn't realize that until I started the synopsis because I kept losing track of the katana's. Xena carried a red one in her battle with Morimoto (at least she has red one in my poster). Gabrielle carried that one to get Xena's body back (just checked the DVD). She then gave it back to Xena on Mt Fuji. > > I thought Xena's head looked quite >handsome, if a little bit tired. Like > she'd had a hard night the night >before. ;) I was surprsied when I head the head was actually was Lucy's head. She had to dress up in a green suit and be photographed against a back drop for the effect. I guess I assumed it was a wax head like something out of a wax museum. When they had the prop auction I kept expecting it to show up. > > The trap was a disaster, but not a complete failure - since Yodoshi is > seriously weakened by it. Xena might never have caught him otherwise. Well nothing Xena does is a complete disaster! > > > All this bird stuff was omitted from the TV version. I read it in the draft > script (the 'Yellow' script) and thought it sounded absurd. But, on the > DVD, it looks convincing. Yeah I liked it. I know you don't read fan fiction but I wonder if anyone ever used the bird thing in a post-FIN story. You know Gabrielle and her owl and her pot waundering around the world. > > It's an Indian Mynah bird. An import to New Zealand but very widespread. > You can never run them over, they have excellent judgement where cars are > concerned. Not that it's relevant... Should I be placing an emergency call to the Audubon Society? > > > Akemi: There's something I have to tell you... > [cut to hawk flying] > [cut back to Xena, looking serious] > > That was just a little bit unsubtle, the way it was done. I think the scene was necessary but it wasn't Rob's finest moment as a director. It was just a tad awkward. > > That was a beautifully sad moment (I know that sounds like an oxymoron but it > isn't). And the fade-in of Xena's face in the sunset was very nicely done. Yes I agree it was beautiful - visually and emotionally. > > > I don't think it matters (except in an academic way) if Xena was 'guilty' or > not. It wouldn't have made any difference to Xena's decision if she'd been > a hundred miles from Higuchi when the fire broke out. Circumstances placed > Xena in a position where she had the power and the responsibility of deciding > what happened to the 40,000 souls. Xena wouldn't have been Xena if she > didn't take the whole load on her shoulders. I agree Xena's guilt or innocence isn't the point at all. Suddenly Xena is put in the position of having the responsibilty of saving these people and does what she sees as her duty. That is the her redemption - not that she makes right her past sin but that she lays down her life for strangers. > > > Gabrielle's actions are equally heroic regardless of what Xena subsequently > decides. This was one ep where Gabby did good. Gabrielle will be so pleased to hear this. > >> > > As I mentioned, Xena makes two attempts to tell Gabrielle Something Serious > (you can tell by her tone), so it wasn't entirely out of left field. I agree you knew something was ups but the actual rules of the Japanese underworld suddenly being introduced was sudden. > > > I would dearly like to find a cast-iron explanation for this, too. If only > to counter the suggestion that Akemi was somehow playing a double game. > > I think Akemi was quite sincere when she gave Gabby the tattoo to help her > and protect her in her quest to recover Xena's body and bring Xena back. > The alternative explanation is that she wanted to get Gabby out of the way - > but why would she? There are some trivial explanations, such as she may > have thought Gabrielle would be a hindrance in the fight or (ta-daaaa) screw > it up somehow, but I don't really give them any credence. No Rob said he wanted Akemi to give something to Gabrielle. He said Akemi didn't want Gabrielle killed because Xena loved her. No I think Akemi was sincere in her gift to Gabrielle. > > I think your suggestion about Harukata is probably the best one. He could > 'speed the souls on their way' - but, presumably, not when he was a ghost > himself. (Maybe that's another reason why he couldn't just kill himself in > order to get to Yodoshi. It seems that all his powers lapsed when he died). > > So, when he died, that left it all up to Xena. Yes he couldn't just kill himself because once he was dead he got eaten too. So he needed assistance from a shost Yodoshi wouldn't eat. I guess they figured Yodoshi just couldn't resist making Xena on of his geishas. Afterall she is a beautiful woman and she certainly would be a great enticement to men plus the sheer sadistic joy he got out of thinking he could use Xena to his own purposes. > > > 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. > > > My first reaction was 'No way could Gabrielle replace Xena'. But you've > *almost* persuaded me. I'm just too easy ;) Well I agree that no one can "replace" Xena. I just read Missy Good's interview in Chakram and she said she didn't think Gabby could be a warrior because she lacks the sheer loveof battle. She could be a fighter but not a warrior. I think actual that is what Gabrielle will be - a champion of the greater good. She will never be the warrior Xena was but she could use Xena's example and what she learned from her to use own natural abilities to be that champion. I think that Xena would probably be disappointed if Gabrielle did just take up where Xena left off. I think Xena wanted more for Gabrielle than just to be a warrior. > > > > Errrm, make that *especially* when I disagree with them ;) Quite Right! We don't argue we discuss vigorously. > 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: Fri, 4 Jul 2003 16:17:58 -0400 From: "Cheryl Ande" Subject: [chakram-refugees] Re: FIN Part 2 - ----- Original Message ----- From: "chakram-refugees-digest" > > > > > > Well, she was alive that time Grindle got her. She's been alive all those > other times. I can see why Gabs was so confident that buckets of blood, Xena's > chakram and no Xena could be taken with a grain of salt. Oh I agree Xena's tough to kill and Gabrielle always has been right about Xena being alive. I also Always like the fact Gabrielle's friends always think poor Gabrielle is in denial about Xena's ability to cheat death. > > > << 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. >> > > Bwhahahaha! Don't ya love the shorthand developed between X&G? > Yeah I just love the way Lucy delivers the line - she tands up straight announces it as if it explains everything abn Gabby just seems to think yeah but why the red dress? I always have the feeling Xena is stalling for time a bit just so she doesn't have to announce her death. > > > << 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. >> > > > Now, that part I did understand. Obviously everyone understood that part except me - and I ususally so perceptive ;o > > > > Yes, I agree with ROC too, and that's certainly what I got out of it. And > what delicious irony -- that she destroys the man by *not" killing him. Yeah I think Gabby doesn't give one whit about this guy. She probably would have killed him if she knew what a pain he was going to be. > > > > > I always chuckle in these eps where dead people try to kill each other and > worry about dying. Where do they go next? Some kind of ghost mortuary? Yeah Xena is in such a panic to save Akemi from drowning - the girl is dead - no breathing ergo no drowning. > > > > He is furious that she denied him his honorable death and now in vengeance > > he > > will not allow Gabrielle to save her friend. >> > > > Apparently the secret restoration ritual wasn't so secret after all. You know I didn't think of that at the time. If this common knowledge wouldn't thee be a line of people trying to restore loved ones. > > > > What's funny is, RT says he saw that as a kiss, while LL & ROC originally > thought it was all about the water transfer. Whatever, ROC looks like she didn't > take any chances, so did a thorough job of both. I would love to see the outtakes with ROC relentless trying to kiss Lucy while Lucy just as relentless trying to put distance between them Now it would seem that since Lucy lives with Rob he might have let her in on the kiss thing and not make her guess what he wanted. Perhaps they don't discuss work at home. > >> > Gabrielle has had enough. > > She throws the chakram and kills the general. >> > > Do we know for sure that she killed him? Yes Rob said so - this howver surprised ROC a bit. > > > > I thought it interesting that Lucy also seemed unimpressed by "the final, the > good, the right thing to do." I think she wanted a better explanation here. She said she wished that there had been a couple of lines where both women admitted that if the did sacrifice the 40,000 to save Xena neirther could live with that choice. > > > > > Cande, I could be wrong, but I'm detecting a teensy bit of ... disdain? ... > sarcasm? ... in your use of "her warrior pot." That's Xena in there. Have > you no respect for our hero's ashes? Is there the slight implication that Gabs > might not appreciate them as much as the live person? Tsk tsk. Perhaps sacasm but not distain. I just really like that pot. My favorite post FIN cartoon was Gabby riding Argo with the pot in front of her yelling whee. I have to think of that pot as a character - it just seems so Xena - dark but with lovly lines. > > > What I liked about this was that Xena finally found value in her soul -- that > in the end she needed/used it, rather than the physical body she relied on, > to give other souls peace. To me, that was the greatest redemption -- the > worth of her soul in her own eyes. Excellant point. For once she save them with violence or she brute strength but with her compassion and mrecy. > > > I also thought that originally. But I remember hearing the rumors that Xena > would die and preparing myself for that possibility. As I watched, I suddenly > found myself hoping otherwise. I started thinking Gabs' mission, with all > its problems, would be the major drama. And so I was as stunned as Gabs when > Xena made her announcement. I felt like I'd been put through the ringer. Did I > feel a little tricked? You betcha. Would I have rather felt serene and > joyful at seeing Xena walk off alive with Gabs into the sunset. You betcha. But > it wouldn't have lived up to my expectations of how I wanted XWP to leave the > stage. I watch the long version, but the version that my heart and head will > remember is the one that aired, tricks and all, because it had me on the edge > of my seat the whole ride. And I still haven't found the socks it knocked > off. When I first saw the episode I assumed Gabrielle would dump the ashes and I thought 'jeeze we're going to do the same old resurrection plotline" Then she is stopped and I was shocked. Rob always said he regreated that death almost became meaningless in the Xenaverse he certain rectified that in this epsiode. > > > Nice try. Really. No, I mean it. Let's just say that's certainly as good > as all the other explanations I've heard. My own is rather simple -- Papa > Yodoshi made up the avenged thing (which nobody else seemed to know about) to > discourage Xena. Even if she managed to defeat him, he'd still have his revenge > on her postghostumously. He derisively whispered this in Akemi's ear, knowing > she'd probably warn Xena. Since Akemi was an illusion under his control, she > bought it. ta daa. Sorry that doesn't fly for me simply because it means Xena's sacrifice is meaningless. It was all a trick and Xena emerges not as a hero but as a fool. > > > Yes, she said the Akemi thing puzzled her because she hadn't payed as much > attention to it during the rush and hubbub. Frankly, I'm not sure that would've > made much difference. If she reacted mainly on "gut," that's probably as > good as she could've done under the circumstances. In fact, if she'd had more > time to think about it, she might not have done as well. Lucy had very had time understanding Xena's attraction to Akemi. She said at one point that Akemi wasn't at all like Borias so why was she attracted to her. Now notwithstanding the rather startling image of a woman like Borias it seems Lucy couldn't concieve of the fact the fact that Akemi's diffrence from the people Xena did know made the girl interesting to Xena. > > And a fine job you have done! Sometimes singlehandedly keeping us going. > You know, there's some new blood on Flawless that I think we should invite to > join Chakram. I doubt they've seen your reviews. Gee, you might have to start > all over again! Well get whoever has the invitation list to invite them over at once. Then I can start again. BTW you tell me how to join the Flawless list they actually discuss Xena and not a 110 other things. 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: Fri, 4 Jul 2003 01:10:54 +1200 From: cr Subject: Re: [chakram-refugees] Friend In Need Part 2 On Wednesday 02 July 2003 13:51, Cheryl Ande wrote: (snips) > > In the teahouse Akemi is playing her musical instrument. On the katana > stand the katana she had sent to Xena reappears. That was a beautiful effect - the way it materialised from one end to the other (rather than just fading-in in the obvious way). Nice CGI, somebody. > 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). Not that *we* can hear, but then we're not Xena. :) > 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). Well, don't we all think that? ;) > 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. I think that was pretty obvious to me. In previous scenes, the anklet summoning Yodoshi had been emphasised. Or maybe it's just obvious in hindsight ;) > 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. Hmm, when Xena says "See you there" I think I detect a shadow of doubt in her expression. Not directed at Gabs' ability, maybe, but just uncertainty at what lies ahead. So, umm, which katana was which? I'm a bit lost here. There were two katanas - one, the sacred katana that Xena 'won' in the forge, that she beheaded Akemi with, and that (presumably) turned up in the teahouse (did Akemi put it there?) and Kenji took on his mission to fetch Xena, that she used in the battle, and that evaporated and reappeared in the teahouse when Xena died. Was this the one that Xena gave Gabby? It had a red hilt. Gabby took it to Mt Fuji and Xena used it to fight and kill Yodoshi. Then, there was Harukata's katana, last seen stuck through Yodoshi when he took off through the roof of the teahouse. It had a black hilt. Presumably it rematerialised at Mt Fuji when Yodoshi did. Akemi tried to kill Yodoshi with it, but he repossesed it, and used it in the final fight against Xena. I can't remember if Morimoto had a katana at Mt Fuji but presumably if he did, he brought his own. That's two very well-used katanas ;) I just like to get these things straight :) I must admit I'm going by memory for a lot of this, please someone correct me if I'm wrong. > 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. Agreed. They were quite brief shots, but certainly shocking. But then, they shocked Gabrielle too.... I think that was the point. Pity about Morimoto's accent when he finally appeared... that almost lost me. I thought Xena's head looked quite handsome, if a little bit tired. Like she'd had a hard night the night before. ;) > Yodoshi falls into the bath > and becomes vapor, which rises to the ceiling. He reforms and Xena fights > with him. This fight was really well choreographed, the way Yodoshi swung forwards and sent Harukata flying through the air. Notice the way Yodoshi fights Harukata, Xena, and Akemi all at once - the guy is multi-talented. :) There's a moment where Yodoshi is about to hit Xena with the katana, and Xena kicks him and neatly catches the katana as he lets go of it - I'm sure I've seen that exact move in a previous fight, but I can't remember when. (It wasn't the fight in the forge, I just checked). The trap was a disaster, but not a complete failure - since Yodoshi is seriously weakened by it. Xena might never have caught him otherwise. > 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. Nicely observed, I hadn't noticed that. > Morimoto attacks > and kicks the pot out of Gabrielle's hand. Gabrielle and Morimoto fight on > the mountainside jumping from rock to rock. A bit of Hong Kong cinema action there.... > 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. All this bird stuff was omitted from the TV version. I read it in the draft script (the 'Yellow' script) and thought it sounded absurd. But, on the DVD, it looks convincing. > 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. It's an Indian Mynah bird. An import to New Zealand but very widespread. You can never run them over, they have excellent judgement where cars are concerned. Not that it's relevant... > 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. Akemi: There's something I have to tell you... [cut to hawk flying] [cut back to Xena, looking serious] That was just a little bit unsubtle, the way it was done. > 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). I think, maybe, he was just shocked that the daughter he'd held captive as a ghost for 30 years should have the courage to go up against him directly. > 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. "Gabrielle, there's something you ought to know....." In fact, Xena tries to talk to Gabrielle in a serious tone twice before she goes off to fight Yodoshi. Even in the original screened ep, where the Xena-Akemi chat was missed out, this was an 'Uh-oh' moment. By which I mean, it was a pointer to the fact that killing Yodoshi was not going to solve all problems. > 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. Nice move that, with the sword. Always looks good, though I imagine it wasn't too reliable in Real Life. ;) > 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. That was a beautifully sad moment (I know that sounds like an oxymoron but it isn't). And the fade-in of Xena's face in the sunset was very nicely done. > 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. 'A life of journeying has brought you to the farthest lands, to the very edges of the Earth.' That line always gets to me. > 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. Agreed. Xena at that time wasn't the sort of person to care about anyone she didn't know personally. > 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. I don't think it matters (except in an academic way) if Xena was 'guilty' or not. It wouldn't have made any difference to Xena's decision if she'd been a hundred miles from Higuchi when the fire broke out. Circumstances placed Xena in a position where she had the power and the responsibility of deciding what happened to the 40,000 souls. Xena wouldn't have been Xena if she didn't take the whole load on her shoulders. > 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. Gabrielle's actions are equally heroic regardless of what Xena subsequently decides. This was one ep where Gabby did good. > 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. That, too. > 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. Ironically, of course, that was the only change that RT made in response to the fan complaints. I agree with you, the original was better - more in keeping with the ending of the episode. > 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. As I mentioned, Xena makes two attempts to tell Gabrielle Something Serious (you can tell by her tone), so it wasn't entirely out of left field. > 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! I would dearly like to find a cast-iron explanation for this, too. If only to counter the suggestion that Akemi was somehow playing a double game. I think Akemi was quite sincere when she gave Gabby the tattoo to help her and protect her in her quest to recover Xena's body and bring Xena back. The alternative explanation is that she wanted to get Gabby out of the way - but why would she? There are some trivial explanations, such as she may have thought Gabrielle would be a hindrance in the fight or (ta-daaaa) screw it up somehow, but I don't really give them any credence. I think your suggestion about Harukata is probably the best one. He could 'speed the souls on their way' - but, presumably, not when he was a ghost himself. (Maybe that's another reason why he couldn't just kill himself in order to get to Yodoshi. It seems that all his powers lapsed when he died). So, when he died, that left it all up to Xena. > 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. Well, with hindsight, we can see it coming from Episode One. Which is not to say it was inevitable, the ep could have had a quite different ending and still have been consistent with the series. All the previous 130 eps ended with Xena still alive. But it was always likely that she would die violently some time, if not in FIN then in the (unscreened, unwritten) adventures that followed it. With FIN, we just got to see the end of the story. > Gabrielle has become what she said she wanted to be in the > first episode of the series - a hero like Xena. My first reaction was 'No way could Gabrielle replace Xena'. But you've *almost* persuaded me. I'm just too easy ;) > 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. I'll risk the listmistresses' ire - you've said exactly what I think so well I can't add anything but I don't have the heart to snip it. But there were hints of it right through the series. Unfortunately it's 1a.m. so I don't have time to hunt them up right now.... > 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. Beautifully put. And I have to say that in FIN, Gabrielle didn't put a foot wrong. In fact she did well. > 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 I'd like to think so. Your commentaries are *always* good to read, even when I disagree with them. > - especially as long as cr > is around to argue with Errrm, make that *especially* when I disagree with them ;) > 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 ;-). Due in about six weeks, I reckon, by KT's usual timing. 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. ========================================================= ------------------------------ End of chakram-refugees-digest V3 #188 **************************************