82: 5x18 "Antony & Cleopatra"

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, walk like an Egyptian! Vera, Katie, and Livy are cruising the Nile with 5x18 “Antony & Cleopatra,” a sultry and extravagant romance unafraid to show Xena and Gabrielle in a morally ambiguous light. We discuss director Michael Hurst’s use of close-ups and slow motion to visually tell a story of manipulation, intimacy, and violence; the importance of Gabrielle’s reaction shots; the many nods to Shakespeare and Elizabeth Taylor; the parallels between Gabrielle and Brutus; and the infamous ‘Carnival’ scene. Because who doesn’t love oral fixations paired with Natalie Merchant? Plus: Vera won’t shut up about ancient aliens!

Apple Podcasts    |    Google Play    |    Download     |    Patreon

81: 5x17 “Kindred Spirits”

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, we were on a break!!! Vera, Katie, and Livy find domestic bliss with 5x17 “Kindred Spirits,” a mixed bag of Joxer nonsense and Xena/Gabs amazingness. We discuss the return of our favorite tea-spiller Josh Becker and his insights into this episode’s eleventh-hour overhaul, Xena and Gabrielle renovate their dream home, the importance of private looks, “you read my scrolls?”, the most polite breakup in history, our favorite subtext-y line maybe ever, and just how comfortable would it be to sleep in a shamaness outfit?

Apple Podcasts    |    Google Play    |    Download     |    Patreon

80: 5x16 "Lifeblood"

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, we’re going back in time, all the way back to 1997 when Rob Tapert thought he could sell the world on ‘Selma Blair goes to Prehistoric Times to Teach the Amazons How to Dance!’ Vera, Katie, and Livy are listening to their ancestors with 5x16 “Lifeblood,” a clip show cobbled together with footage from Renaissance Pictures’ unsold pilot, Amazon High. We discuss the surprising reason why Katie has affection for this episode, Amazon High’s all-star cast, our fave Selma Blair movies, and the weirdness of TV pilots. Plus: Xena and Gabs are also there, sort of, doing not much of anything; baby Eve steals the sai and the scene; and we love Claudia Black, Claudia Black’s voice, and also Claudia Black’s hair.

Apple Podcasts    |    Google Play    |    Download     |    Patreon

79: 5x15 “Married with Fishsticks”

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST!!! This week, Vera, Katie, and Livy break out their bikinis and put little umbrellas in their Tiki drinks for 5x15 “Married with Fishsticks,” which according to some fans is the worst Xena episode ever made, but according to us is a work of unrivaled genius. Get ready for a Party Podcast as we dive into this heteronormative nightmare land of fishfolk, synchronized swimming, and water beds! We discuss this ep’s surreal visualization of Gabrielle’s inner life and past trauma, its immersive worldbuilding through production design, its pastiche of sources as varied as Esther Williams, the Simpsons, and Overboard, and its criticism of the romantic comedy genre as inherently creepy and abusive. Plus: guest hosts Salmonia, Crawfia, and Tuna with a cameo appearance by Lil Prawn, Jane Holland finally finds her niche, prejudice and the patriarchy in Bikini Bottom, and our favorite character, BABY ROE!!!

Apple Podcasts    |    Google Play    |    Download     |    Patreon

78: 5x14 "Amphipolis Under Siege"

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, it’s a battle on the home front! Vera, Katie, and Livy return to where it all began with 5x14 “Amphipolis Under Siege,” a rousing episode that marks the beginning of the show’s return to form. We discuss comeback kid R.J. Stewart’s strategic use of Xena continuity to remind the audience why they fell in love with the show in the first place, Xena back in her beloved Warrior Princess duds!!!, Ares as an object of pity and sympathy, and the long overdue introduction of Athena, a magnificent character underserved by not enough screen time and not enough costume. Plus: dusty temples, Cyrene remains the greatest, our frustration with long cons, textual girlfriends, Casablanca, and what an Ares/Xena/Gabs threeway would look like. Glede ma glede!

Apple Podcasts    |    Google Play    |    Download     |    Patreon