62: 4x18-19 "The Convert" & "Takes One to Know One"

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, get your aloe vera ready because the Queen of Sick Burns is back! Vera, Katie, and Livy go up against Najara again in 4x18 “The Convert,” discussing her Greatest Hits and whether her characterization in this episode is consistent with the woman we met in “Crusader,” plus actual character development for Joxer, vines!?, and Gabrielle working through her emotions via bad salads. Next, it’s 4x19 “Takes One to Know One,” which tries to solve the mystery of ‘how many Clue jokes is too many?’ One! One is plenty! 

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61: 4x17 "The Play's the Thing"

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, all the world’s a stage! Vera, Katie, and Livy go to the theater in 4x17 “The Play’s the Thing,” the show’s most meta episode yet. The writers waste no time in sending up the just-finished India arc and the still-underway pacifism arc, while also making light of every criticism ever made of Xena; from its skimpy costumes and hot tubs to its gratuitous violence and subpar acting, the show claps back with a gleeful vengeance, while also interrogating its own choices and history. We discuss the importance of examining Gabs’s character through a humorous lens at this critical stage of her journey; Zehra, Milo, and this episode’s debt to meta-theatrical movies; thespians!!!; why Spartacus is SO GOOD; a salute to foley; and Buffus the Bacchae Slayer, which you may have heard is playing just across the street.

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60: 4x16 "The Way"

Watch out, because this week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST we are armed and dangerous! Vera, Katie, and Livy have found 4x16 “The Way,” the final episode of the India arc, and it is SOMETHING ELSE. We discuss the backlash that led to this ep’s temporary removal from syndication, and the cultural identity issues and prejudices on both sides of the debate. Something tells us we’re gonna need a bigger Problematic Jar for this one... But despite its missteps, we agree that “The Way” is a bold, transporting, ultra-ambitious exploration of Hinduism and spiritual truth-seeking in general, as Xena and Gabrielle look for guidance in how to live correctly in a violent world. We discuss the Hindu epics that inspired the plot, David Blaine??, King Solomon, Gabrielle’s open heart, Hanuman’s secret identity, the many kinds of religious pluralism, Heidi Klum??, and too many arms!

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59: 4x15 "Between the Lines"

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, karma’s a bitch! Vera, Katie, and Livy move on to the second episode of the India arc, 4x15 “Between the Lines,” and good mother, we’re afraid we don’t understand a lot of this. So many questions, like how does the mendhi work? Like really, how does it work? What happens to Arminestra and Shakti’s consciousnesses when Xena and Gabrielle inhabit their bodies? What is Naiyima’s deal? What is Alti’s favorite Terminator movie? How is the female gender symbol going to help Xena and Gabs recognize each other in the next life? Who will be the next New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker? But who cares about any of this when we have the show’s greatest, most brutal fight scene yet, climaxing with, oh yeah, GABRIELLE GETTING A HAIRCUT.

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58: 4x14 "Devi"

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, the power of Eli compels you! Vera, Katie, and Livy take a passage to India in 4x14 “Devi,” the lushly produced first stop on Xena and Gabrielle’s tour of the subcontinent. Ready the Problematic Jar because we kick it off with a whole montage of Indian stereotypes as Xena and Gabs do their best impressions of ignorant tourists, and a white lady becomes a savior only to find out that the real savior is (gasp!) a white man. But hey, despite its missteps this episode still manages to be really effing fun. We discuss the sneaky irreverence of Eli’s first appearance, priest Vikram’s sexy voice, buying Ganges water on the Internet, and, the main attraction, Renée’s magnificently vampy performance as the Hindu demoness Tataka. MY PEARLS!

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