Xena: Warrior Princess: Difference between revisions
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'''Xena: Warrior Princess''' is a TV series that aired from 1995 to 2001. A [[camp]] historical fantasy about a warrior woman and her companion/sidekick, with lesbian [[subtext]]. | '''Xena: Warrior Princess''' is a TV series that aired from 1995 to 2001. A [[camp]] historical fantasy about a warrior woman and her companion/sidekick, with lesbian [[subtext]]. | ||
The series was notable in many ways, not least of which was that Xena started her series life as a villainess, a murderous conqueror intent on killing and destruction, exacting terrible revenge for the murder of her brother, Lyceus, by the army of another warlord, Cortese. In a series of interactions, including one in which she is severely beaten and cast out by the army she commanded for preventing a child from being murdered, Xena is convinced by the good Hercules to renounce her evil ways and fight the good fight for truth, justice, and the Ancient Greek way. Xena's ferocity was thus revealed as a tragic reaction to her own abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder, as evidenced by her instinctive protection of the child even though this act of mercy resulted in terrible consequences for herself. | The series was notable in many ways, not least of which was that [[Xena]] started her series life as a villainess, a murderous conqueror intent on killing and destruction, exacting terrible revenge for the murder of her brother, Lyceus, by the army of another warlord, Cortese. In a series of interactions, including one in which she is severely beaten and cast out by the army she commanded for preventing a child from being murdered, Xena is convinced by the good Hercules to renounce her evil ways and fight the good fight for truth, justice, and the Ancient Greek way. Xena's ferocity was thus revealed as a tragic reaction to her own abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder, as evidenced by her instinctive protection of the child even though this act of mercy resulted in terrible consequences for herself. | ||
But the spin-off quickly eclipsed its parent because it drew in a new audience, women. | But the spin-off quickly eclipsed its parent because it drew in a new audience, women. | ||
The series became much more complex as it dealt with issues of warfare versus pacifism, whether fighting for "the good" can lead to evil results, the power of love, and a strong ''subtext'' of lesbian | The series became much more complex as it dealt with issues of warfare versus pacifism, whether fighting for "the good" can lead to evil results, the power of love, and a strong ''subtext'' of a [[Xena-Gabrielle relationship|lesbian relationship]] between [[Xena]] and [[Gabrielle]], her putative ''sidekick''. | ||
In many ways, ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' was an action/adventure soap opera, with sudden betrayals and plot reversals a staple element of the storyline, and with a few parallel universes thrown in when even the loose conventions of soap opera proved too restrictive. | In many ways, ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' was an action/adventure soap opera, with sudden betrayals and plot reversals a staple element of the storyline, and with a few parallel universes thrown in when even the loose conventions of soap opera proved too restrictive. | ||
Revision as of 18:26, 21 March 2007
Xena: Warrior Princess is a TV series that aired from 1995 to 2001. A camp historical fantasy about a warrior woman and her companion/sidekick, with lesbian subtext.
The series was notable in many ways, not least of which was that Xena started her series life as a villainess, a murderous conqueror intent on killing and destruction, exacting terrible revenge for the murder of her brother, Lyceus, by the army of another warlord, Cortese. In a series of interactions, including one in which she is severely beaten and cast out by the army she commanded for preventing a child from being murdered, Xena is convinced by the good Hercules to renounce her evil ways and fight the good fight for truth, justice, and the Ancient Greek way. Xena's ferocity was thus revealed as a tragic reaction to her own abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder, as evidenced by her instinctive protection of the child even though this act of mercy resulted in terrible consequences for herself.
But the spin-off quickly eclipsed its parent because it drew in a new audience, women.
The series became much more complex as it dealt with issues of warfare versus pacifism, whether fighting for "the good" can lead to evil results, the power of love, and a strong subtext of a lesbian relationship between Xena and Gabrielle, her putative sidekick.
In many ways, Xena: Warrior Princess was an action/adventure soap opera, with sudden betrayals and plot reversals a staple element of the storyline, and with a few parallel universes thrown in when even the loose conventions of soap opera proved too restrictive.
Further reading
- List of Xena episodes
- Significant female-centered episodes and characters on Xena
- Themes and motifs on Xena
Characters
External Links
- Whoosh! When Popular Culture is Not Enough... An online scholarly journal dedicated to all things Xena.
- The Australian Xena Information Page A good source of information about Xena, Lucy Lawless, and Xena fandom.