Episode: Season One Subtext Report 

Author: CN Winters

Fandom: Subtext reports, Xena Fanfiction, Xena and Gabrielle fanfiction, 

Author Note: Many of these reports are littered with errors because I wrote them quickly and 'on the fly' so I could post them quicker to the 'Nutforum' back in the day. 

Feedback: Drop me a line at cnwinters71@yahoo.com.

Season One Subtext Report 

Okay. Now since TPTB didn't start 'putting in' subtext until Altered States I'm here to point out some of the moments that people 'read into'. Since I've already done 'Sins' I'm just going to highlight the moments from the other eps. As always feel free to mention those little moments I miss.

Chariots of War

Ahh. . .L'amour!!!!! Xena finds love with some whimpy dude farmer and Gabby falls for a Bad Boy (Now there's a switch huh? It's usually the other way around). As far as subtext is concerned there's next to nothing except for Gabby's worrying over Xena since it took her days to return for her (well, Xena had a good excuse - an arrow in her side that farmer John helped removed. I don't know if his name was John so please don't write me and tell me about it - it's just a standard name to use. Because lets face it, the only name in Xena's life is Gabrielle. Case Closed. Let's move on children, shall we?) Xena also tells Gabby upon 'meeting' the bad boy to 'remind me to talk to you about your taste in men'. Seems Gabby's mister right was just trying to kill them at the time. As an interesting side note this is one man that didn't die as a result of kissing Gabby(VBG).

Dreamworker

Gabby gets kidnapped for her blood innocence and is put through a series of 'tests' to see if she will become Morpheus' bride. Only bad thing about this 'engagement' is Gabby has to be whacked (and by 'whacked' I'm not talking hip-hop language which means crazy. I mean whacked as in killed, murdered, dare I say . . . SACRIFICED(LOL). . .Oh okay! So I gotta sick sense of humor and the season ender this year was a real tear jerker. Anyway. . .) Gabby gets stolen and Xena flips out, racing frantically through the streets calling for her Gabby. Nobody steals Xena's bard as the shopkeeper soon finds out when the warrior pays him a visit (well not a visit really. She shoves him up against a wall and crushes his windpipe but then again. . .that's Xena!) She finds out she has to go into the 'dreamscape' to save Gabs so this mystic guy helps her out. Once there we see Xena dressed in this Geisha girl get up and Gabby remarks about how good Xena looks (Ah Ha!! We have our first view of Gabby lust(BG). Anyway to make a long story short as if you didn't know Xena saves Gabby. I know. It's a big surprise isn't it(G). Another interesting side note - in this ep we get to see Gabby's brain power more than brawn and I love the exchange she has with the head priest as to why she would make a lousy wife.

Cradle of Hope

Xena and Gabby find a baby. Gabs wants to play mom and Xena wants to know why she can't shut the darn thing up. (What?! Are you holdin' it wrong or sumpthin'?!) *Side note from Absinthe: So how come she's so good with farmer boys kiddies in Chariots of War? How come she was so good with that other baby later on? What is this? Does she have maternal instincts or not???* Xena and Gabby and their newfound friend Pandora - not the real Pandora of course, that wouldn't be believable - Oh no, this is her grand daughter who just happens to be named after her. Far be it for the Xena writers to 'play' with history or legend to fit their script (VBG). Anyway, they all go to this tavern to get some food for the baby and themselves too. When they get a few odd stares in the joint, Xena asked if they got a problem with 'our' baby. Not 'this' baby. Not 'the' baby but 'our' baby(VBG) (Ahhhh. . .Xena is so protective and paternal isn't she?) Well, it all ends happily. The baby gets a home, Pandora finds a man (a king actually so that's not bad for a first time out) and Xena and Gabby ride off into the sunset.

The Path Not Taken

By far, the WORST EP IN XENA HISTORY No big subtext moments - none in fact - but that's not the reasoning behind my disgust of this ep. It was just a really bad ep in my opinion (Feel free to argue among yourselves now because I don't wish to debate it(G).

The Reckoning

Xena battles a bad, cloaked dude and tries to save some travelers. Of course she gets accused of committing the murders herself and Gabby ends up playing ‘lawyer’. When they torture her she says enough is enough and breaks her chains. In all the chaos she strikes Gabby. Xena is finally restrained again. But Gabby returns and tries to break Xena loose. Xena says no and we see the girls first ‘I’ll stick by ya through anything’ scene. Gabby agrees. Xena apologizes for hitting Gabby. Gabby accepts and realizes she was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Seems Ares was the cloaked man and he wants Xena to join him; giving her any solider she wants – dead or living. Xena agrees but only if the verdict turns out to be guilty. When the townspeople vote against her, Xena calls on Ares to bring back the men she allegedly killed (LOL) therefore making her innocent. Ares bows in respect to being outwitted but we know he won’t give up. He wants Xena has his conqueror. The subtext in this ep is the little moments that subtexters love. The gentle touches, the tender looks, the shy smiles. This ep has many so you gotta watch for them.

The Titans

Seems virgin Gabby has unknowingly released three titans Zeus had imprisoned in rock. That silly bard (VBG). She is always getting into trouble.

Of course when the titans start their destruction Xena comes to Gabby’s rescue. Or as Xena says, ‘Let’s just say I’m the goddess’ (Gab) ‘protector’.’ Very smooth Xena. Very smooth. Watching Gabby beam at this point is pretty cool too (VBG). Later when it appears that Gabby has…ahem…shared her bardly goodies with a young village guy, Xena looks stricken as she sees them in bed. Gabby asks what’s wrong. Xena begin stoic says ‘nothing. It’s none of her business’. Gabby says ‘That’s right! It isn’t! And that she’s not a child’. Xena says she knows that but she ‘doesn’t have time to prove that to her now’. Hmmmm, just how would Xena prove it and furthermore why does it look like she’s gotten stomped by a centaur when she catches the young lovers together? Just a idea (VBG)

Well it turns out village guy and Gabby aren’t ‘lovers’. She reads another scroll that turns the Titans into stone and warrior and bard save the day.

Prometheus

This is the one and only Herc/Iolaus cross over Xena ep to date. Seems Hera has chained the titan Prometheus and as a result the human race loses fire and the ability to heal itself. The only way to free him is with a special sword that Xena gets. The catch is that anyone who strikes the blow dies. The dynamic duos head to the mountain to free the titan and upon saying goodbye Gabby begs Xena not to strike the blow. Xena tells her to take care and strokes her face before and after giving her a hug.

Needless to say neither Herc nor Xena die. They find a way to strike the blow without getting killed and Prometheus is freed. Although heroes share a kiss and sidekicks share a kiss (Ahhhhhh…) Xena and Gabby end up the way they always do….with each other (VBG).

Death in Chains

Here’s our first red shirt folks (VBG). I’ll explain.

Hades pays our girls a visit and says that Celesta, his sister known as death, as been captured. She must be freed before her candle burns out or humans will never die. Dr. Jack must have loved this ep if he saw it (G) I’ve never seen such a pro-death program. In any event, Gabby meets Talus. Seems Talus is dying as the two form a deepening bond. When Celesta is finally freed she takes Talus with her much to Gabby’s confusion. But soon she understands – she’s met her first red shirt (VBG) – and Xena comforts her in her arms as Talus goes to the great beyond. Just one of those ‘ahhh’ moments; when the chips are down it’s Xena that Gabby can always turn too.

Hooves and Harlots

Gabby meets the amazons and inadvertently becomes a princess. Seems Princess Terreis’s murderer is a centaur prince named Phantes. Xena thinks something strange is afoot and investigates. Seems a warlord wants to benefit by pitting long time enemies centaurs and amazons against each other. Many different subtext moments in this one.

Watch Xena and Ephiny’s first conversation.

X: ‘Something about me you find interesting?’

E: ‘No.’

X: ‘Then stop staring before I poke your eyes out.’

(LOL) Okay so Ephiny’s got a thing for woman in leather – just like Gabby, perhaps that’s why they get along so well by the end of the ep (LOL). And the amazon’s lifestyle of no men is quite interesting; plus they study ‘boy subjects’ first in school – science and philosophy. Two things that Gabby mentions she loves. The little bard was just destined to be dyke (LOL). Okay that’s a stereotype. I know. It’s just a joke folks so settle down. Sheeshhhh! Anyway…

Later in the ep Gabby needs a champion so she, of course, picks Xena. And as always, Xena is more than willing to stick up for her little bard. Once more warrior and bard end up saving the day and walk into the sunset together just like amazon Ephiny and centaur Phantes do (I mention this because it will be important later as many of you know ;) ).

The Black Wolf

Seems a group of people is protesting the taxes in Robin Hood fashion. Xena finds the mother of an old friend crying at the jail only to learn her friend Flora has been imprisoned for being part of the ‘wolf pack’. Xena goes undercover, acting like she’s working for the corrupt King, to get inside the jail. Once there she tries to get Flora free but she won’t leave without the others.

Enter Salmoneus and Gabrielle. Sal gets thrown in when jailers think he’s throwing tomatoes at them. Of course it was Gabby trying to get thrown in the clink to help Xena. As Xena and Salmoneus ‘catch up’ Gabby comes in and tells Salmoneus that he wouldn’t be in jail if he had kept his hands off her tomatoes. If looks could kill Sal would be dead (LOL). The look Xena throws him could cut sharper than her chakram. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, touches her bard (LOL). He quickly adds, "I can explain. It’s not what you think." (Great scene. I miss Salmoneus. Have I mentioned that? Well I do (VBG).)

Anyway, Xena figures out that her ex-girlfriend Flora, erhhh… I mean ….Flora. Just Flora – no one can prove they were anything more than good friends right? ;) . Anyhow, Flora is the leader of the Black Wolf pack. Xena saves the day, frees the people along with the kingdom and they all live happily ever after. (BG)

Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts

Another ex flame of Xena looks her up…Oops I mean Helen of Troy (VBG). Seems Helen doesn’t love Paris anymore. She wants the war to end and she wants Xena to ‘take me away from all this’. (VBG) Xena goes to Troy to see Helen when low and behold who do they find? Perdyboy!!! Seems Perdicus ran off and became a soldier. Hmmm…could it be because his fiancée left him for a warrior? And perhaps if he was more warlike she would love him too?…Just a thought(VBG).

Anyway, seems Paris’ brother is in cahoots with the Greeks because HE wants Helen. Man, everybody wants this chick and if you ask me she’s not nearly as beautiful or delightful as the gal Xena’s got on her arm. (VBG). I love Gabby. Have I mentioned that? But in any case, the Trojans get tricked. The Greeks take Troy. Paris dies. The brother is uncovered. And Helen leaves to start a new life with Perdicus as her guard. And as for Xena and Gabby – once more they walk off side by side (VBG).