Paradise Found
| Xena: Warrior Princess episode | |
|---|---|
| “Paradise Found” | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 13 |
| Guest star(s) | Jeremy Roberts (Aiden); Mervyn Smith (Garr, the Caretaker) |
| Writer(s) | Chris Manheim; Jim Prior (editor) |
| Director | Robert Tapert |
| Production no. | #V0611 |
| Original airdate | 1999 Feb. 1 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "If the Shoe Fits..." | "Devi" |
Xena & Gabrielle travel to India for Gabrielle's quest. They fall down a hole (like Alice in Wonderland) and enter a strange world, encountering a strange sculptor, Aiden, who knows meditational and breathing techniques. While Gabrielle seems to be gaining inner peace and learning new techniques, Xena may be losing herself to her dark side.
Notes (& spoilers)
As with Crusader, Xena looks on with jealousy and perhaps despair as Gabrielle spends time with Aiden. Xena thinks it's not just inner peace — Lao Ma had inner peace, but this seems so numbing, she says. Meanwhile, Xena is wondering about the nature of the healing she experienced when she entered the new land: her wounds reappear and then disappear again. But Aiden suggests that those might be signs of Xena losing her way to her dark side.
The episode includes a number of sensual scenes: Gabrielle dressing; Xena and Gabrielle in the hot tub; Gabrielle and Aiden, and Xena, doing their separate routines; Xena massaging Gabrielle (although rather more disturbing than simply sensual). And one rather beautiful shot when Gabrielle is lolling about on the white half of a yin-yang bed. Xena, rather than resting on the dark side, is busily doing sit-ups on the floor beside the bed.