Xena is set up for murdering some villagers. Ares, played by the late Kevin Smith, makes his debut in the series. He wants Xena back as his number one warlord. He plays a seductive temptation game with her. Making promises to help her, and for her to rule as a warlord her way, if she would just come back to him. The sexy charismatic Kevin Smith plays Ares to perfection as a smooth operator. Great casting. Meanwhile Gabrielle is in detective mode trying to prove Xena didn't kill the villagers.
Xena struggles with her dark self to not strike back as she is being beaten by a stinky farmer. To tell you the truth, I was glad she turned on him and gave him a beating. He was nothing but a violent bully. Sorry. Not sorry.
Gabrielle gets her first glimpse of dark Xena as Xena lashes out against her. A great play on emotions as we watch Xena at first lose control, and then feels remorseful at what she has done. This is one of the first indications that Gabrielle is becoming her conscience in the series. The power of that bond gives Xena great inner strength to reign herself in. The touching thing here is that Gabrielle sticks by her friend. Xena: "How could you come back after what I did to you?" ; Gabrielle: "What you did wasn't you; I know that."
The episode wraps up nicely with Xena cleverly outwitting Ares resulting in another touching moment as grateful villagers reunite with their loved ones and praise Xena. You can see how moved Xena is on her face. 10/10
Xena struggles with her dark self to not strike back as she is being beaten by a stinky farmer. To tell you the truth, I was glad she turned on him and gave him a beating. He was nothing but a violent bully. Sorry. Not sorry.
Gabrielle gets her first glimpse of dark Xena as Xena lashes out against her. A great play on emotions as we watch Xena at first lose control, and then feels remorseful at what she has done. This is one of the first indications that Gabrielle is becoming her conscience in the series. The power of that bond gives Xena great inner strength to reign herself in. The touching thing here is that Gabrielle sticks by her friend. Xena: "How could you come back after what I did to you?" ; Gabrielle: "What you did wasn't you; I know that."
The episode wraps up nicely with Xena cleverly outwitting Ares resulting in another touching moment as grateful villagers reunite with their loved ones and praise Xena. You can see how moved Xena is on her face. 10/10