From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V8 #58 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 Thursday, November 19 2009 Volume 08 : Number 058 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [chakram-refugees] Animal Attraction and Them Bones [cr ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:18:47 +1300 From: cr Subject: [chakram-refugees] Animal Attraction and Them Bones Animal Attraction is not one of my favourite episodes. Partly this is because the 'western' flavour is so obvious that it's highly disconcerting, seems like a major anachronism - though on re-viewing, there are no obvious major YAXIs, no elements that are impossible-in-Xena's-time. So I'm a little more charitable towards it on second viewing. The fact that dress is typical Western is, I guess, not impossible, considering the number of different dress styles we've seen on Xena. And there were a number of genuinely funny moments, mostly to do with Xena's pregnancy. I didn't like the 'romance' between Amarice and the oh-so-cute never-to-be-seen-again Armon, I thought it did nothing for Amarice's character. The sequence where Talia was facing Darcon and Xena's hand was hovering over her chakram was quintessential Western, but paradoxically I liked that. Them Bones was a re-visit to Sin Trade land. There seems to be a rule that the more successful the original, the harder it is to do it justice with a sequel. IMO Them Bones suffers by comparison with Sin Trades, otherwise it would be quite a respectable ep. Again Amarice was not done justice by the plot, it seemed very contrived that 'only a true Amazon' (i.e. Gabrielle) could fetch the magic amber, while Amarice it turned out all-of-a-sudden was not a 'true' Amazon, whatever that is. I was quite indignant when the guardian said Amarice had not earned the identity of an Amazon - just look at Endgame and Ides and then try to say she didn't qualify! I think this was just a device to add a little twist and, maybe, allow Gabrielle to be gracious towards her - which Gabrielle was, and I have to admit, Gabrielle did that very nicely. And of course Jennifer Sky was off to do Cleopatra 2525. But that leaves just three good episodes that Amarice was in - Endgame, Ides, and Chakram. Pity, I would have liked to see her in a lot more. It could be said that, with Gabby's new fighting ability, Amarice was kind of superfluous - but, considering Xena was about to lose much of her own ability, I think there would have been room for both Amarice and Gabrielle. A look at the way they operated in Chakram demonstrates tha they went well together. Anyway, it was not to be. This ep was written by 'Buddy Williers', reputed to be Steve Sears. Why he didn't want his name on it I don't know, it wasn't bad. 'Back in the Bottle' which seems to be popularly regarded as a far worse ep, has his name on it (along with Rob Tapert's). So I dunno. 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 V8 #58 *************************************