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Aiyiyiyiyiyiyiyiyii!!! - Xena: Warrior Princess Overview
Please excuse the tardiness of this overview. The Xena driver got run over by the flu bus, which has delayed this posting.
Welcome to the![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
crack_van overview of Xena, Warrior Princess. My goal, in this short amount of time, is to familiarize you with the basics of the Xenaverse, and hopefully spark enough interest in the show in this community to make it a regular fandom. Aphrodite knows there's enough material on the 'net to make it both easy and rewarding.
A note - this summary is incomplete at the time of the initial posting. Episode summaries by season, as well as more extensive notes on each section will follow (when I can breathe without trying to hack up a lung). Just wanted to let you know that this will likely be revised before the end of the month. :)
Main Characters | Recurring Characters | Regional Characters | Weapons
General Information | Summaries by Season | Fanfiction | Links
MAIN CHARACTERS
Xena, played by Lucy Lawless
This? Is Xena. By turns a warlord and a savior, she's travelled most of the known world. She's met beggars and kings, queens and whores, generals and foot soldiers, and can relate to or emulate them all. She's wickedly intelligent, hasn't met a weapon she didn't like, is so beautiful that men AND a great portion of women lust after her, and like all great heroes, is tormented by her past.
Part of what made Xena so popular was the utterly delicious complexity of her character. Born in a small village named Amphipolis, her world changed forever when a warlord attacked her home. Xena organized a defense and they fought to save themselves, but in the end many died, including her younger brother. The town blamed Xena, and she was exiled from the only home she'd ever known. Never one to take that kind of crap lying down, this efficient, brilliant, ruthless and stunning woman got herself an army and went off to take over Greece.
She was sixteen years old.
After years of brutal adventuring, she found herself tired of the quest for power, tired the killing, and especially sick of the stench of a great mass of unwashed men wearing metal and leather in the hot Greek sun. A few questionable decisions later, she found herself running a brutal gauntlet of those same unwashed, smelly and now rather angry men, who promptly left her beaten self in the dust as the mass stampeded off, bickering amongst themselves as to who would lead now.
Aching, but vastly relieved, she decides to bury the weapons that have been her constant companion for so many years and dedicate her life to changing lives for the better. About to take her first steps into the unknown, her plans are interrupted when she comes across a small party of young women being accosted by slavers.
Enter Gabrielle.
Gabrielle, played by Renee O'Connor
A simple girl from the farming village of Potadia, Gabrielle was among a small group of young women who had gone down to the river to bathe and do the laundry. Sadly, this merry group was discovered by some nasty, brutish slavers and were to be rounded up and sold. One girl stood against these men, demanding that they let the rest go in return for her willing compliance with their wishes. Not surprisingly, this was cause for much amusement and scorn. What could one unarmed young girl do against men on horses with swords? A particularly thuggish specimin was about to show Gabrielle the back of his gauntlet when, out of no where, a peculiar cry sounded.
Enter Xena.
With her particular brand of efficiency, Xena sent the men fleeing. Brushing off the fact that she's just saved Gabrielle and the girls from a horrible life, Xena is so flustered at the effusive thanks that she immediately beats feet to other parts. She never would have expected that her actions would inspire Gabrielle to pack a bag, square her shoulders and set her feet on a course that would change the world forever.
Gabrielle may have started out as a simple farm girl, but her soul deep wanderlust, craving for adventure and her incredible gift of storytelling kept her with Xena through the good times and the very, very bad. She came along to chronicle Xena's new life, but instead found herself a part of the story. Her evolution is just as compelling as Xena's, and by the series end the two women have truly grown into one another. By turns skilled Bard, Amazon Queen and partner to Xena, she is a remarkable woman in her own right.
Together, they traveled the world and experienced more than they ever could have dreamed possible. Their destiny as soulmates kept them together through truly epic trials. Their friendship and love for one another made it possible to forgive and repair their relationship the loss of their children, spouses and even their own (numerous) deaths.
Sound slashy? You bet your ass it is. Xena and Gabrielle provide a nice, feminine balance to the vast amounts of male slash fandoms. THEY are the main characters in the show, and seeing strong, amazing women week after week handling swords and kicking ass (regardless of gender) captured the hearts and the imagination of viewers all over the world. Not to mention their loins.
RECURRING CHARACTERS
Ares, played by the wonderful Kevin Smith - The Greek God of War, he's a constant pain in both Xena and Gabrielle's sides. Xena was his Champion at one point in time, and he's thoroughly peeved that she managed to escape his influence. He is constantly trying to win her back to his side, either by enticing her, threatening her, or by making her life very, very difficult. He usually always tries to break up Xena and Gabrielle's relationship, with varying degrees of success.
As a side note, Kevin Smith is no longer with us. He died in 2002 in an accident as he was completing work on his last film. He is greatly missed, and the link above will take you to a site for a trust fund set up for his wife and sons by other members of the Xena and Hercules families.
Aprhodite, brought to life by the lucious Alexandra Tydings - You can't have a God of War without a Goddess of Love! Aphrodite delights in foiling her brother's plans, and often sides with Xena and Gabrielle just to piss him off. In time, she learns to care for the two mortals to a degree that often embarrasses her, but she is probably their biggest supernatural ally.
Callisto, brought to life by Hudson Leick - Xena set this woman on her path when she, like Cortese, leveled Callisto's village during her warlord days. She killed Callisto's family (one of Xena's biggest regrets), and tipped the girl into a nightmarish world of hate, revenge, killing and a lust for Xena's blood. An amazing warrior in her own right, she becomes one of Xena and Gabrielle's biggest nightmares when she eats a small piece of Ambrosia, the food of the gods. This makes HER a goddess, and she makes life a living hell for our heroines. Callisto's evolution as a character is one of the most pivotal and interesting in the entire series. Hudson has an amazing presence on screen, and her episodes are some of the best in the series. Plus I've got a huge massive crush on this woman!
Alti, made hot and sexy by Claire Stansfield - Alti was Shamaness to a tribe of Siberian Amazons, and she is power hungry to the core. She lives for conflict, for power and blood, killing and misery. Xena is the tastiest target she's ever tried to take on, and she, like Callisto, plays a huge role in key transitions in Xena and Gabrielle's partnership. Alti stalks their karmic footsteps, featuring in a number of episodes that are "out of time". This actress was absolutely astonishing in this role, and to this day she's one of my favorite "bad guys".
Joxer, brought to life by the strangely attractive Ted Raimi - Joxer is, well. He's kind of a bumbling idiot. He's charming though, and loyal, and he's utterly smitten by Gabrielle. He often accompanies Xena and Gab on their journies, often causing more trouble than he's worth. But in the end? "...He's Joxer the Mighty!"
Julius Caesar, a role taken by Karl Urban before he was in that other Kiwi series - Caesar also plays a role in some of the worst and most divisive episodes in our heroines lives. A master manipulator, he and Xena have a history that goes back a long way. He is ruthless, charming, cunning, hateful, and really freakin’ hot.
Hope, by none other than Renee O'Connor - Gabrielle's daughter by an evil and malevolent god named Dahok, she is insane, psychotic and quite frankly pure evil. And she creeps everyone out because she looks absolutely identical to her mother. Gabrielle's goodness is nowhere to be found in Hope's eyes or expressions, which is a testament to Renee's acting skills. Hope is a major roadblock to Gabrielle's life with Xena, and just keeps coming back to haunt them.
Livia/Eve, by the wonderful Adrienne Wilkenson - Because having one homicidal daughter isn't enough in this series! Xena gave birth to Eve, but through a long and fascinating story line wasn't able to raise the girl. She is adopted by a Roman emperor, who molded her to be a frightening replica of her mother during her warlord days. Livia is the Emperor's General. Eve, when recovered, is Xena's daughter. Unfortunately, the adage "like mother like daughter" truly does apply here, as their lives of destruction and redemption parallel each other across generations.
Ephiny, by the lovely and terribly attractive Danielle Cormack - Ephiny is Regent to Gabrielle’s tribe of Amazon’s when the Queen is absent. She is a good friend to Queen Gabrielle, as well as a warrior and a leader to her people. She often plays a larger role in fic than she does on screen. Ephiny is another remarkable woman, if only for having a Centaur husband and son!
Autolycus, infused by the ever charming Bruce Campbell - The self proclaimed King of Thieves and a handsome charmer, he’s also a good friend to Xena and Gabrielle, joining them on a few of their adventures, and providing a witty, urbane and faintly naughty twist to their journey.
REGIONAL CHARACTERS
There are so many memorable, secondary characters in this show that I think it would be easiest to break them down into regional descriptors.
Greece
Gods:
A significant number of the rest of the Greek pantheon made appearances on the show, including Artemis, Athena, Celesta, Hades, Cupid, and Discord.
Mortals:
Xena’s son Solon was hardly seen onscreen, but he had a huge impact on her character. The Greek Amazons, including Ephiny, Terreis, Velaska, Eponin, Solari and Amarice had a hand in Gabrielle’s growth as a woman, a warrior and a leader. Draco is a recurring character from Xena’s warlord days, and we meet Xena’s mother Cyrene in a few episodes. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention Argo, Xena's horse.
Other beings:
Hercules the demigod and his companion Iolaus made a few appearances on the show in crossover episodes with Hercules. The Centaurs were another recurring group, chief among them being Kaliapus, Xena’s former enemy and the new friend she left her son with. She left Solon with the Centaurs in order for him to have a normal life, away from her violent life and to keep him from becoming a target. We also meet Ephiny’s husband Phantes and her son Xenon. The Furies play a pivotal role at points in Xena’s life, and whenever they show up in an episode you know a huge shift is about to happen.
Rome
Brutus, uneasy ally to Caesar, ended up crucifying our duo. Augustus took Eve and made her into his Champion Livia. Major events tended to happen in Roman territory, regardless of whether there were many recurring characters to support those events.
Gaul
The initial Dahok fiasco took place in Gaul, as Xena was battling the Romans with Boadicea by her side. This is Hope’s first birthplace, and an area that contributes to some of Gabrielle’s worst memories.
Chin
Lao Ma (who I keep expecting to whip out a communicator) was a large factor in Xena’s transformation from uncouth warlord into someone who could brush elbows with kings and queens and hold her own in more sophisticated, less brutish diplomatic exchanges. Ming T’ien/The Green Dragon would prove a HUGE obstacle between Xena and Gabrielle later in the series.
India
Much like Rome, it’s mainly the story arc in this region, and the changes to Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship that make this stand out. It is in India that Gabrielle dedicates herself to a path of non-violence with Eli’s help, and our traveler’s get their first glimpse into the fact that they are soulmates, bound together throughout time, forever.
North Africa
Cleopatra and Marc Antony are the two biggest reasons for Xena and Gabrielle’s journey’s through this region, though there are a few stand alone eps that take place here. To be honest, aside from the Cleo episodes, I don’t have a lot of information on the duo’s experiences here.
The Norselands
Xena and Gabrielle head north to right a wrong from Xena’s past. This story arc features Valkyrie, Odin, Beowulf, Grunhilda, the Rheinmaidens, and Grindl. Oh, and flying horses.
Siberia
One of Xena’s darkest deeds took place among a tribe of Siberian Amazons. This is also the place where she met Alti for the first time. We also meet the first in a confusing number of Cyanes and Yakuts.
WEAPONS
Just as MacLeod’s katana, Buffy’s stake, Worf’s bat’telh or Clark’s superpowers help define who they are, so too do Xena and Gabrielle’s weapons.
Xena’s Chakram
There were two versions of this weapon. The original was a gift from Ares to his Chosen, and it was broken during Xena and Gabrielle’s fight for freedom from the Romans. The vengeful goddess Callisto appropriated it during the fight, and in her fury threw it at Xena’s unprotected back, breaking both Xena’s spine and the chakram.
The second version of this came about after "the great thaw", when the ice cave Ares had placed Xena and Gabrielle in (after they took a potion designed to mimic death in order to fool the gods, and save Eve) is exposed to the warmth of the sun. Xena gains this second, "improved" chakram after her reawakening. This version of Xena's unique weapon splits into two parts that can work in tandem, or be thrown separately.
Xena’s creativity
I mention this as a weapon on it’s own because the warrior uses it to make just about anything at hand into a weapon. Frying pans, apples, fish, other people…. She works with what she has available at the time, and she is very, very good at this.
Xena also always, always carries a sword. She’s also had a breast dagger and a whip at various points in the series, but the weapons that make her stand out and help uniquely identify her are her chakram and ability to make anything into a weapon.
Gabrielle’s staff
Many Xena fans see Gabrielle’s dedication to learning how to use her Amazon staff to defend herself, and her reluctance to use an edged weapon as integral and precious characteristics of the young bard.
Gabrielle’s sais
After their crucifixion by the Romans, and their subsequent deaths (and all that arc entails), Gabrielle and Xena awaken but know nothing of themselves. Amarice hands a variety of weapons to the duo, and Gabrielle proceeds to kick some serious ass with these unique weapons. Gone is her reluctance to use lethal force, knowledge that came to her only after Xena’s back was broken and she could not defend herself against the Romans. The sais become Gabrielle’s signature weapon after this particular rebirth.
Gabrielle’s diplomacy
Like Xena’s creativity, Gabrielle’s skills in the art of diplomacy get them out of more than one sticky situation.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Q: What do you get when you mix a reforming female warlord, a beautifully naive storyteller, creatures and characters straight from myth, various gods and the supernatural in Ancient Greece?
A: One of the most successful syndicated television shows in history.
Xena came along at just the right time for American and international audiences. A strong, beautiful and healthy looking woman in leather kicked ass and took names all over theNew ZealandGreek countryside. Originally introduced to the viewing public as a one-shot character in an episode of her parent show Hercules: The Legendary Journies, the character proved interesting enough to the producers to create a show around her story. Having better hair than Kevin Sorbo, which automatically meant she'd win the hearts of many, she carried her sword, chakram and sexy self all over the world for six seasons, ending with extreme finality in June of 2001.
SUMMARIES BY SEASON
This section will be updated as time allows. In the meantime, I would point you to a variety of episode guides such as the one at Whoosh!, Ausxip, or even the official Xena site.
FANFICTION
The fanfic for this particular fandom requires a bit more explanation than most. There area number of different types of fic in the Xenaverse.
Alt - I believe this stands for "alternative"? In these fics, the ones that make up the majority of the fandom, Xena and Gabrielle are very much romantically entangled.
Uber - In any other fandom, these fics would be referred to as "AU". However, Xena is one of the few shows that canonically place the characters "out of time". In a few episodes, the viewers are treated to a canon "Xena" and "Gabrielle" in places like an archeological site in the 1940s, modern day California and as clones in 2001. This is the only show I know where it's not just the fanfic author's imagination and creativity that sets the characters in different times as different people, with the essence of the show's characters. Xena's writers provided an excellent blessing and opportunity for fans of the show the day they decided to do those uber episodes. Uber-fic is a huge sub-section of this fandom's fiction, and many a writer has carried off the spirit of this sub-genre with style.
Conqueror - What if Xena never made the choice to become good and to try to atone for her evil ways? This genre delights in writing Xena as evil, and explores what her relationship with Gabrielle could be under those circumstances.
Slash - Most fic labeled as slash involve the male characters in the show in romantic or sexual relationships.
Gen - stories wherein Xena and Gabrielle are friends having adventures, and nothing more.
Het - the women may be friends, but they have needs. Needs that are met by men, thank you very much.
Of course, all of these types of fic are found in various combinations, depending on where you look. I have yet to run into an Alt/Uber/Conqueror/Slash/Het/Gen fic, but I bet there's one out there.
LINKS
General information: Tom's Xena Page, Whoosh!
Images: xenarulz.com, Michelle’s Xena Picture Library
Fic: (to be added shortly)
Other: Xena Online Resources
Well. There you have it. I hope this overview has sparked a desire in some of you to take a turn behind the wheel of the Xena van yourself. "Her courage changed the world." You can introduce some excellent fic to your fellow riders! Go sign up! Argo says so. :D
Most of the pics for this page were obtained from xenarulz.com. Xena is property of some nice production company and a larger conglomerate whose name I can't remember. No copyright fringement intended.
Welcome to the
crack_van overview of Xena, Warrior Princess. My goal, in this short amount of time, is to familiarize you with the basics of the Xenaverse, and hopefully spark enough interest in the show in this community to make it a regular fandom. Aphrodite knows there's enough material on the 'net to make it both easy and rewarding.A note - this summary is incomplete at the time of the initial posting. Episode summaries by season, as well as more extensive notes on each section will follow (when I can breathe without trying to hack up a lung). Just wanted to let you know that this will likely be revised before the end of the month. :)
General Information | Summaries by Season | Fanfiction | Links
Xena, played by Lucy Lawless
This? Is Xena. By turns a warlord and a savior, she's travelled most of the known world. She's met beggars and kings, queens and whores, generals and foot soldiers, and can relate to or emulate them all. She's wickedly intelligent, hasn't met a weapon she didn't like, is so beautiful that men AND a great portion of women lust after her, and like all great heroes, is tormented by her past.
Part of what made Xena so popular was the utterly delicious complexity of her character. Born in a small village named Amphipolis, her world changed forever when a warlord attacked her home. Xena organized a defense and they fought to save themselves, but in the end many died, including her younger brother. The town blamed Xena, and she was exiled from the only home she'd ever known. Never one to take that kind of crap lying down, this efficient, brilliant, ruthless and stunning woman got herself an army and went off to take over Greece.
She was sixteen years old.
After years of brutal adventuring, she found herself tired of the quest for power, tired the killing, and especially sick of the stench of a great mass of unwashed men wearing metal and leather in the hot Greek sun. A few questionable decisions later, she found herself running a brutal gauntlet of those same unwashed, smelly and now rather angry men, who promptly left her beaten self in the dust as the mass stampeded off, bickering amongst themselves as to who would lead now.
Aching, but vastly relieved, she decides to bury the weapons that have been her constant companion for so many years and dedicate her life to changing lives for the better. About to take her first steps into the unknown, her plans are interrupted when she comes across a small party of young women being accosted by slavers.
Enter Gabrielle.
Gabrielle, played by Renee O'Connor
A simple girl from the farming village of Potadia, Gabrielle was among a small group of young women who had gone down to the river to bathe and do the laundry. Sadly, this merry group was discovered by some nasty, brutish slavers and were to be rounded up and sold. One girl stood against these men, demanding that they let the rest go in return for her willing compliance with their wishes. Not surprisingly, this was cause for much amusement and scorn. What could one unarmed young girl do against men on horses with swords? A particularly thuggish specimin was about to show Gabrielle the back of his gauntlet when, out of no where, a peculiar cry sounded.
Enter Xena.
With her particular brand of efficiency, Xena sent the men fleeing. Brushing off the fact that she's just saved Gabrielle and the girls from a horrible life, Xena is so flustered at the effusive thanks that she immediately beats feet to other parts. She never would have expected that her actions would inspire Gabrielle to pack a bag, square her shoulders and set her feet on a course that would change the world forever.
Gabrielle may have started out as a simple farm girl, but her soul deep wanderlust, craving for adventure and her incredible gift of storytelling kept her with Xena through the good times and the very, very bad. She came along to chronicle Xena's new life, but instead found herself a part of the story. Her evolution is just as compelling as Xena's, and by the series end the two women have truly grown into one another. By turns skilled Bard, Amazon Queen and partner to Xena, she is a remarkable woman in her own right.
Together, they traveled the world and experienced more than they ever could have dreamed possible. Their destiny as soulmates kept them together through truly epic trials. Their friendship and love for one another made it possible to forgive and repair their relationship the loss of their children, spouses and even their own (numerous) deaths.
Sound slashy? You bet your ass it is. Xena and Gabrielle provide a nice, feminine balance to the vast amounts of male slash fandoms. THEY are the main characters in the show, and seeing strong, amazing women week after week handling swords and kicking ass (regardless of gender) captured the hearts and the imagination of viewers all over the world. Not to mention their loins.
Ares, played by the wonderful Kevin Smith - The Greek God of War, he's a constant pain in both Xena and Gabrielle's sides. Xena was his Champion at one point in time, and he's thoroughly peeved that she managed to escape his influence. He is constantly trying to win her back to his side, either by enticing her, threatening her, or by making her life very, very difficult. He usually always tries to break up Xena and Gabrielle's relationship, with varying degrees of success.
As a side note, Kevin Smith is no longer with us. He died in 2002 in an accident as he was completing work on his last film. He is greatly missed, and the link above will take you to a site for a trust fund set up for his wife and sons by other members of the Xena and Hercules families.
Aprhodite, brought to life by the lucious Alexandra Tydings - You can't have a God of War without a Goddess of Love! Aphrodite delights in foiling her brother's plans, and often sides with Xena and Gabrielle just to piss him off. In time, she learns to care for the two mortals to a degree that often embarrasses her, but she is probably their biggest supernatural ally.
Callisto, brought to life by Hudson Leick - Xena set this woman on her path when she, like Cortese, leveled Callisto's village during her warlord days. She killed Callisto's family (one of Xena's biggest regrets), and tipped the girl into a nightmarish world of hate, revenge, killing and a lust for Xena's blood. An amazing warrior in her own right, she becomes one of Xena and Gabrielle's biggest nightmares when she eats a small piece of Ambrosia, the food of the gods. This makes HER a goddess, and she makes life a living hell for our heroines. Callisto's evolution as a character is one of the most pivotal and interesting in the entire series. Hudson has an amazing presence on screen, and her episodes are some of the best in the series. Plus I've got a huge massive crush on this woman!
Alti, made hot and sexy by Claire Stansfield - Alti was Shamaness to a tribe of Siberian Amazons, and she is power hungry to the core. She lives for conflict, for power and blood, killing and misery. Xena is the tastiest target she's ever tried to take on, and she, like Callisto, plays a huge role in key transitions in Xena and Gabrielle's partnership. Alti stalks their karmic footsteps, featuring in a number of episodes that are "out of time". This actress was absolutely astonishing in this role, and to this day she's one of my favorite "bad guys".
Joxer, brought to life by the strangely attractive Ted Raimi - Joxer is, well. He's kind of a bumbling idiot. He's charming though, and loyal, and he's utterly smitten by Gabrielle. He often accompanies Xena and Gab on their journies, often causing more trouble than he's worth. But in the end? "...He's Joxer the Mighty!"
Julius Caesar, a role taken by Karl Urban before he was in that other Kiwi series - Caesar also plays a role in some of the worst and most divisive episodes in our heroines lives. A master manipulator, he and Xena have a history that goes back a long way. He is ruthless, charming, cunning, hateful, and really freakin’ hot.
Hope, by none other than Renee O'Connor - Gabrielle's daughter by an evil and malevolent god named Dahok, she is insane, psychotic and quite frankly pure evil. And she creeps everyone out because she looks absolutely identical to her mother. Gabrielle's goodness is nowhere to be found in Hope's eyes or expressions, which is a testament to Renee's acting skills. Hope is a major roadblock to Gabrielle's life with Xena, and just keeps coming back to haunt them.
Livia/Eve, by the wonderful Adrienne Wilkenson - Because having one homicidal daughter isn't enough in this series! Xena gave birth to Eve, but through a long and fascinating story line wasn't able to raise the girl. She is adopted by a Roman emperor, who molded her to be a frightening replica of her mother during her warlord days. Livia is the Emperor's General. Eve, when recovered, is Xena's daughter. Unfortunately, the adage "like mother like daughter" truly does apply here, as their lives of destruction and redemption parallel each other across generations.
Ephiny, by the lovely and terribly attractive Danielle Cormack - Ephiny is Regent to Gabrielle’s tribe of Amazon’s when the Queen is absent. She is a good friend to Queen Gabrielle, as well as a warrior and a leader to her people. She often plays a larger role in fic than she does on screen. Ephiny is another remarkable woman, if only for having a Centaur husband and son!
Autolycus, infused by the ever charming Bruce Campbell - The self proclaimed King of Thieves and a handsome charmer, he’s also a good friend to Xena and Gabrielle, joining them on a few of their adventures, and providing a witty, urbane and faintly naughty twist to their journey.
There are so many memorable, secondary characters in this show that I think it would be easiest to break them down into regional descriptors.
Greece
Gods:
A significant number of the rest of the Greek pantheon made appearances on the show, including Artemis, Athena, Celesta, Hades, Cupid, and Discord.
Mortals:
Xena’s son Solon was hardly seen onscreen, but he had a huge impact on her character. The Greek Amazons, including Ephiny, Terreis, Velaska, Eponin, Solari and Amarice had a hand in Gabrielle’s growth as a woman, a warrior and a leader. Draco is a recurring character from Xena’s warlord days, and we meet Xena’s mother Cyrene in a few episodes. And I would be remiss if I didn't mention Argo, Xena's horse.
Other beings:
Hercules the demigod and his companion Iolaus made a few appearances on the show in crossover episodes with Hercules. The Centaurs were another recurring group, chief among them being Kaliapus, Xena’s former enemy and the new friend she left her son with. She left Solon with the Centaurs in order for him to have a normal life, away from her violent life and to keep him from becoming a target. We also meet Ephiny’s husband Phantes and her son Xenon. The Furies play a pivotal role at points in Xena’s life, and whenever they show up in an episode you know a huge shift is about to happen.
Rome
Brutus, uneasy ally to Caesar, ended up crucifying our duo. Augustus took Eve and made her into his Champion Livia. Major events tended to happen in Roman territory, regardless of whether there were many recurring characters to support those events.
Gaul
The initial Dahok fiasco took place in Gaul, as Xena was battling the Romans with Boadicea by her side. This is Hope’s first birthplace, and an area that contributes to some of Gabrielle’s worst memories.
Chin
Lao Ma (who I keep expecting to whip out a communicator) was a large factor in Xena’s transformation from uncouth warlord into someone who could brush elbows with kings and queens and hold her own in more sophisticated, less brutish diplomatic exchanges. Ming T’ien/The Green Dragon would prove a HUGE obstacle between Xena and Gabrielle later in the series.
India
Much like Rome, it’s mainly the story arc in this region, and the changes to Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship that make this stand out. It is in India that Gabrielle dedicates herself to a path of non-violence with Eli’s help, and our traveler’s get their first glimpse into the fact that they are soulmates, bound together throughout time, forever.
North Africa
Cleopatra and Marc Antony are the two biggest reasons for Xena and Gabrielle’s journey’s through this region, though there are a few stand alone eps that take place here. To be honest, aside from the Cleo episodes, I don’t have a lot of information on the duo’s experiences here.
The Norselands
Xena and Gabrielle head north to right a wrong from Xena’s past. This story arc features Valkyrie, Odin, Beowulf, Grunhilda, the Rheinmaidens, and Grindl. Oh, and flying horses.
Siberia
One of Xena’s darkest deeds took place among a tribe of Siberian Amazons. This is also the place where she met Alti for the first time. We also meet the first in a confusing number of Cyanes and Yakuts.
Just as MacLeod’s katana, Buffy’s stake, Worf’s bat’telh or Clark’s superpowers help define who they are, so too do Xena and Gabrielle’s weapons.
Xena’s Chakram
There were two versions of this weapon. The original was a gift from Ares to his Chosen, and it was broken during Xena and Gabrielle’s fight for freedom from the Romans. The vengeful goddess Callisto appropriated it during the fight, and in her fury threw it at Xena’s unprotected back, breaking both Xena’s spine and the chakram.
The second version of this came about after "the great thaw", when the ice cave Ares had placed Xena and Gabrielle in (after they took a potion designed to mimic death in order to fool the gods, and save Eve) is exposed to the warmth of the sun. Xena gains this second, "improved" chakram after her reawakening. This version of Xena's unique weapon splits into two parts that can work in tandem, or be thrown separately.
Xena’s creativity
I mention this as a weapon on it’s own because the warrior uses it to make just about anything at hand into a weapon. Frying pans, apples, fish, other people…. She works with what she has available at the time, and she is very, very good at this.
Xena also always, always carries a sword. She’s also had a breast dagger and a whip at various points in the series, but the weapons that make her stand out and help uniquely identify her are her chakram and ability to make anything into a weapon.
Gabrielle’s staff
Many Xena fans see Gabrielle’s dedication to learning how to use her Amazon staff to defend herself, and her reluctance to use an edged weapon as integral and precious characteristics of the young bard.
Gabrielle’s sais
After their crucifixion by the Romans, and their subsequent deaths (and all that arc entails), Gabrielle and Xena awaken but know nothing of themselves. Amarice hands a variety of weapons to the duo, and Gabrielle proceeds to kick some serious ass with these unique weapons. Gone is her reluctance to use lethal force, knowledge that came to her only after Xena’s back was broken and she could not defend herself against the Romans. The sais become Gabrielle’s signature weapon after this particular rebirth.
Gabrielle’s diplomacy
Like Xena’s creativity, Gabrielle’s skills in the art of diplomacy get them out of more than one sticky situation.
Q: What do you get when you mix a reforming female warlord, a beautifully naive storyteller, creatures and characters straight from myth, various gods and the supernatural in Ancient Greece?
A: One of the most successful syndicated television shows in history.
Xena came along at just the right time for American and international audiences. A strong, beautiful and healthy looking woman in leather kicked ass and took names all over the
This section will be updated as time allows. In the meantime, I would point you to a variety of episode guides such as the one at Whoosh!, Ausxip, or even the official Xena site.
The fanfic for this particular fandom requires a bit more explanation than most. There area number of different types of fic in the Xenaverse.
Alt - I believe this stands for "alternative"? In these fics, the ones that make up the majority of the fandom, Xena and Gabrielle are very much romantically entangled.
Uber - In any other fandom, these fics would be referred to as "AU". However, Xena is one of the few shows that canonically place the characters "out of time". In a few episodes, the viewers are treated to a canon "Xena" and "Gabrielle" in places like an archeological site in the 1940s, modern day California and as clones in 2001. This is the only show I know where it's not just the fanfic author's imagination and creativity that sets the characters in different times as different people, with the essence of the show's characters. Xena's writers provided an excellent blessing and opportunity for fans of the show the day they decided to do those uber episodes. Uber-fic is a huge sub-section of this fandom's fiction, and many a writer has carried off the spirit of this sub-genre with style.
Conqueror - What if Xena never made the choice to become good and to try to atone for her evil ways? This genre delights in writing Xena as evil, and explores what her relationship with Gabrielle could be under those circumstances.
Slash - Most fic labeled as slash involve the male characters in the show in romantic or sexual relationships.
Gen - stories wherein Xena and Gabrielle are friends having adventures, and nothing more.
Het - the women may be friends, but they have needs. Needs that are met by men, thank you very much.
Of course, all of these types of fic are found in various combinations, depending on where you look. I have yet to run into an Alt/Uber/Conqueror/Slash/Het/Gen fic, but I bet there's one out there.
General information: Tom's Xena Page, Whoosh!
Images: xenarulz.com, Michelle’s Xena Picture Library
Fic: (to be added shortly)
Other: Xena Online Resources
Well. There you have it. I hope this overview has sparked a desire in some of you to take a turn behind the wheel of the Xena van yourself. "Her courage changed the world." You can introduce some excellent fic to your fellow riders! Go sign up! Argo says so. :D
Most of the pics for this page were obtained from xenarulz.com. Xena is property of some nice production company and a larger conglomerate whose name I can't remember. No copyright fringement intended.