37: 3x13 "One Against An Army"

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, things are getting sweaty! Vera, Katie, and Livy are swooning over 3x13 “One Against an Army,” the sweetly intimate semi-conclusion to the Rift arc. In this episode, things go from bad to worse as Gabs sprains her ankle and then gets poison-arrowed! The result is a hurt/comfort extravaganza, and we talk all about this trope’s history in fanfiction, why it’s so appealing, and the important truths it exposes about Xena, Gabrielle, and their relationship (omg Xena is the little spoon!?). This ep has a Significant Theme, movingly depicting the struggle between the characters’ personal feels (SO personal, SO MANY feels) and their commitment to the greater good. Plus: the lewks, the faces, the touches, the tears, Xena’s Home Alone-style booby traps, Gabrielle the oracle, and did we mention everyone is very, very sweaty?

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36: 3x12 "The Bitter Suite"

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, we’re not in Kansas anymore. Buckle up, Totos, we’re going on a magical mystery tour through the land of Illusia! That’s right; Vera, Katie, and Livy have reached the musical masterpiece, 3x12 “The Bitter Suite.” Join us as we explore the rich symbolism and dense cinematic referencing of this seminal episode of television. We discuss its hugely influential place in the history of TV musicals (SIT DOWN, Once More with Feeling!), its connection to tarot, Qabalah, and the occult; and its very eccentric use of CGI. Plus, a hot take on where reality ends and dream begins, the pros and cons of Broadway Gabs, Ares’ best lewk, and what REALLY caused the rift between Xena and Gabs. So click your heels thrice and repeat after us: "There’s no place like Xena’s bosom! There’s no place like Xena’s bosom! There’s no place like Xena’s bosom!"     

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35: 3x11 "Maternal Instincts"

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, Vera, Katie, and Livy take on a real mother of an episode, 3x11 “Maternal Instincts.” The conclusion to the trilogy begun with “The Deliverer” and “Gabrielle’s Hope,” “Maternal Instincts” picks up the dangling threads of the Rift arc and weaves them into the most devastating tapestry ever. We discuss the catharsis of a good tragedy, the Rift’s deconstruction of Xena and Gabrielle’s characters, the futility of Callisto’s vengeance quest, whether Hope was born bad or just born with bad hair, and finally we debate the ultimate question: what time of day is it during Gabrielle’s suicide attempt? #YIKES

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34: 3x10 "The Quill Is Mightier..."

Something smells fishy this week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST! Vera, Katie, and Livy discuss the final comedy before the Rift resumes, 3x10 “The Quill is Mightier…” This episode has a stacked cast of comedy all-stars, with Ares, Aphrodite, Joxer, and Minya all cracking wise to distract us from Xena’s absence from Greece (cuz she’s too busy starring in Grease). The presence of so many secondary characters means that a lot of new ships are launched, our favorites being Aphrodite/Gabs...and, shockingly, Ares/Gabs. We defend those choices, plus we chat about Gabrielle’s writing style, Rob Tapert’s ultimate fish fantasy, and Go-Go-Gabrielle. Go-Go to the caves!
 

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33: 3x08-09 “The King of Assassins” & “Warrior…Priestess…Tramp”

We’re seeing double this week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST! Vera, Katie, and Livy catch a doppelgänger double-header of 3x08 “The King of Assassins” and 3x09 “Warrior…Priestess…Tramp.” Is it weird to watch a bunch of comedies in the middle of the pitch-dark Rift saga? Yup! Are those comedies funny? ...Yup? Admittedly it’s a mixed bag with “Assassins,” but at least it features the easy-going bromance of Bruce Campbell and Ted Raimi, plus the utterly magnificent Gina Torres as Cleopatra. But “Priestess” is divine from beginning to end. We discuss its introduction of a new Xena doppel, Leah, who sounds like Church Lady if Church Lady were from Mars, its exploration of womanhood and sexual mores so characteristic of the multi-Xena comedies, and its many, many masturbation jokes. Real talk: if Xena deflowers Leah, does that count as self-love?

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