Déjà Vu All Over Again
| Xena: Warrior Princess episode | |
|---|---|
| “Déjà Vu All Over Again” | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 22 |
| Guest star(s) | Robert Trebor (Marco, the receptionist); Ted Raimi (Harry); Kevin Smith (Ares); Lucy Lawless (Annie); Renee O'Connor (Dr. Mattie Merrill); Tammy Barker (Mattie Acting Double) |
| Writer(s) | R. J. Stewart |
| Director | Renee O'Connor |
| Production no. | #V0618 |
| Original airdate | 1999 May 17 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "The Ides of March" | "Fallen Angel" |
Another "future history" episode, in which Lucy Lawless plays a nerdy reincarnation of Joxer (Annie), and Renee O'Connor plays a New Age past-life therapist.
Notes (& spoilers)
Gabby is hilariously excellent as the woo-woo New Age past-life therapist. So appropriate given her "spiritual quest" this last season.
Fourth Wall? What fourth wall?
This episode breaches the fourth wall, by direct references to Xena fandom and the Xena: Warrior Princess show. Annie has a cardboard cut-out of Xena in her home, along with simulacra of the chakram and Xena's sword.
While at the past life therapist's office, Harry (Annie's husband) hears a radio newscast:
- She is back again. Two muggers were apprehended early this morning. Police have no idea who the Xena vigilante is, but do theorize it's an overexuberant fan of the show. The vigilante last struck two nights ago. Although she has great support in the community, police warn that it is never appropriate for citizens to take the law into their own hands. That's the local news. And now, for a check on our weather. Early-morning clouds [Etc.]--
After undergoing a regression, Renee O'Connor's character has a discomfiting moment of realization. She hastily goes to talk with her employee/co-conspirator Marco:
- G: "Marco, something went wrong, just now."
- M: "What?"
- G: "OK, I went back with her to one of her previous lives, and ... I experienced something-- something very real."
- M: "Self-hypnosis. I told you that was a danger with this scam. You're gonna blow it."
- G: "You don't understand. Uh, it was like technicolor, you know? I mean, I-- I felt like I was really there."
- M: "Ah, you're probably watching too many episodes."
- G: "No, I don't watch that show-- bunch of chop-socky crap. Besides, this was so repulsive. It couldn't have been an episode."
- M: "Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-- you never know with that show."
- G: "No, the sights-- the sound-- "
- M: "They're sneaky-- they'll try anything."
- G: "That smell."
- M: "One week, they're melodrama-- the next week, they're three stooges."
- G: "Marco-- I'm telling you. For a moment there, I believed it."
- M: "And they're way too serialized."