This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, the horror, the horror! Vera, Katie, and Livy plunge into the heart of darkness with 2x20 "The Price." We discuss the anti-imperialist war films that inspired this very ambitious episode, the subtlety of Xena's inexorable slide into evil, the problematic *coin in jar* presentation of the Horde, and pretty braided hairdos. Who let the Gabs out? [who, who, who, who?]
‘Til death do us part this week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST! Vera, Katie, and Livy tackle a couple of Season 1 throwbacks: the entertaining standalone 2x18 “Blind Faith” and maybe the worst episode ever??? 2x19 “Ulysses.” Both episodes feature our leading ladies contemplating marriages to men: Gabrielle against her will to King Solus, who’s just dying to be her husband (*wink*), and Xena to Ulysses, who is The Actual Worst. We discuss the mixed signals of Xena’s punky nemesis/junior gunslinger Palaemon, Gabrielle as a boobalicious Pygmalion, the eternal debate of “them” vs. “him,” the suspenseful conveyor belt climax, and the many reasons why Ulysses is the absolute WORST, did we mention? He sucks so much he can’t even string his own bow. But at least we’re on a boat, motherf*ckers!
Ring a bell and flip it out for XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST! This week Vera, Katie, and Livy talk love and war and Law & Order. First it's 2x16 "For Him the Bell Tolls," in which Ted Raimi is way sexier than he has any right to be. We discuss Joxer's self-awareness or lack thereof, Gabrielle's insecurities about being a sidekick, and the delightful introduction of The Californians (a.k.a. Aphrodite and Cupid). Then it's on to (DUNN DUNN) 2x17 "The Execution," the return of washed-up warrior Maleager. We discuss the way this episode's clever plot challenges the audience's loyalties; Xena's favorite coping mechanism, flipping; and why court fandom is the scariest. Galeager Forever!!!
The subtext is text this week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST. Vera, Katie, and Livy let it all hang out in 2x15 "A Day in the Life." We discuss this beloved episode's break from formula: its handheld camerawork, fearlessly goofball performances, and self-referential dialogue creating a new level of intimacy not only between Xena and Gabrielle -- and my goodness what a level of intimacy that is!! -- but also between the audience and the show itself. That's why this ep is the G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time)!!! Plus: the male gaze as it applies to hot tubs and hair flips, relationship advice for Minya, Vera's favorite goon returns from the dead (sort of), and Xena's completely unforgivable choice of toilet paper -- that's a DEALBREAKER, ladies!
Oh my Goddess, it’s time for another episode of XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST! This week Vera, Katie, and Livy embark on a quest: 2x13 “The Quest,” that is! This integral ep is a wild ride, with tragic soliloquies following right on the heels of screwball silliness. We discuss Autolycus’s swaggering return to the Xenaverse, Gabrielle’s emerging leadership skills, Xena’s lookalike coffin, and most importantly, THE KISS. The plot is so epic it continues into 2x14 “A Necessary Evil.” We compare/contrast the ep’s two lady villain-gods: the thinly sketched, high camp Amazon autocrat, Velasca, and increasingly complex, self destructive live wire, Callisto. Plus: Gabrielle moves on from dead BFOTW Perd (finally!), Callisto goes full Gollum, and nothing good ever happens near a lava pit!
