Page 5
9 Tributes
From: "Devon Hansen Chastain"
Email: bardsmuse21@home.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 1:31 PM
I am here in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Xena Warrior Princess, and all it encompasses, changed my life in many ways since I started watching only 3 yrs ago. By accident on a sleepless night at 3 am, channel surfing on the television, I chanced on this astounding woman in leather armour. It was one of the campier eps, and I watched and was not really impressed. Just something to do. Next couple nights I was still not sleeping well as my sister in law was battling breast cancer. She was my best friend too, so it was hard.
By chance again both nights I happened on Xena...this time, I watched and the more regular fare of the show came forth. I remember weeping in surprise and relief, that there was this Warrior who was so very human, so unforgiving of her own helplessness against her past, her life's path and yet so determined to change, succeed, and grow. I was moved and the love affair between myself and the show was born. Like Xena said once, "You can toss a pebble into the water, and it causes ripples on the surface, and even though in time the water stills and the lake looks again the same, it is forever changed. The pebble that caused the ripples is still there."
This is a poor paraphrase, but the meaning is very true. Xena has been a pebble for many people. As a lesbian, and woman who is in her 40's, a parent, and a person, what I have taken away from Xena Warrior Princess, has effected me deeply. I am forever changed. I think deeper thoughts, forgive myself more readily, encourage younger people more often, and feel such a love for the characters that it is painful, as losing my sister in law to breast cancer was, in it's own way, to know that no longer will my "friends" and my own private Hero's, Gabby and Xena, Joxer, Aphrodite, and even old Ares... will not be making more magic, love, and truth -- along with the campy stuff I grew to love, afresh and on going.
I loved the history, the beauty of the land, the stepping out of my own time to a place I think many of us feel was harder but better in someways. Simpler and more honest if brutal and containing life short lived for many and for many reasons. It was visceral and honest. Rob Tapert said "Hercules is the Hero we hope is out there. Xena is the Hero we hope is inside us." That is the best "truth" about Xena I can express here. Xena and Gabby - straight or gay - will live in me always. My personal pebble under the surface of who I am.
Reminders to try always to be better, think deeper, love harder, and strive for the higher road even on the darkest day. That real love has no gender or boundery and only requires faith, and steadfast devotion to live and survive. Even when there is a Bitter Suite, or The Way, in ones life can leave little to hope for and move on from. I don't mean to sound idealistic, and I am not a person devoid of life other than TV, or a person who is generally a Fan of anyone or thing at all in the typical sense. I am not a kid anymore, with time to day dream the future, and imagine myself as my Heros are in my eyes. I am a woman who was caught unaware, fell in love with something very unique, and very good in this world who mourns it's passing, but will ever keep the memory, and enjoy the legacy via reruns and videos.
I have a replica of the sword and chakram from the propmasters hands, my touchstone to persons who may well be fictional characters, but by the graces of the women who brought them so very much to life, added something good and special to this life. Thank you to ALL at Ren Pics, all the people who helped bring this to life and to us. You really won't ever know how much you did change things for so many, how great it was to have you in our lives, and how dearly you will be missed in the magic you bring to us.
Thank you most of all, to Lucy and Renee' , who by not caring what anyone thought, didn't say "No Way!", when their characters became a symbol to those of us who are woman identified and who have never had a respectful and multi dimensional icon who even remotely represented how un-queer we are, and the root of where such a love can come from between women. Sex has little to do with it. Passion, and devotion of the sort between Gab and Xena, is rare and precious. I guess for me, they represent how I feel about my own sexuality and it's origins in my soul. Thank you for being graceful and fearless enough, to not care what anyone thought, and to not discard the potential for Gab and Xena's lover relationship, even if it was never blatently spoken of or admitted to or whatever.
It is Love, and that is what mattered. Somehow to have given a yea or nay to the sexuality piece would have lessened it, and demeaned it. You honored that love by not explaining to anyone what or why it was, or from where. Just leaving it plain, that it IS. God Bless you and yours. I hope one day before too long, you will give us a movie, even though Lucy said she wouldn't do that. You have the rare honor of being one of those shows that people truly loved and could not get enough of, even when the chips were down during Season 4. Thank you for changing my life. Devon Hansen Chastain
From: "Thanasis Nikoloyiannis"
Email: thaenik@hotmail.com
Sent: Monday, May 28, 2001 9:59 PM
I first saw XWP in June 1996, and I was not quite sure what I watched. My friends call me a tv maniac and probably they have a point. Having watched many TV shows, I have created my own criteria about TV and, why not, about cinema. I watch a serial or a movie only if I like it. But with XWP I follow my instict! I remember that during the first season I said many times to myself "Stop watching this!" but I didn't. "Xena:Warrior Princess" has something that the other shows don't have. Every year is better than the past one! And something else: either you love this show or not! The other shows you would probably like but not love! What I like more in this show: the adventure,the strong feelings,the comedy, the drama, but most of all the development of the characters. Xena a fierce, cruel warrior learn about compassion and love. And Gabrielle a pure nice, girl became a skillfull warrior. I could speak for hours for this show, but I want to end this tribute with many thanks to Lucy and Renee for their great performance, and message to the producers of XWP. The idea of this show was amazing, one in a hundred years! Hear in Greece we are expecting season 6, but the fact of the end of the show reminds me a greek poem(in my own words)-"In your travel to Ithaca you wish the journey would be longer". We finaly reach Ithaca and we are sad. Anyway nothing lasts for ever. We expect a Xena movie! I hope our expectation would be fulfil.
Sakis, Athens, Greece
From: "Jacque"
Email: jacque@marlin.com.br
Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2001 5:06 AM
Now that this fantastic show is ending, I have to leave my msg to these wonderful actresses, actors, writers, producers and all the anonymous people that made everything possible. The first time I saw Xena Warrior Princess it was because my nephew insisted a lot. He was 10 y.o. at that time and I thought the show was for children. Today I thank him too much for opening my eyes to it. I fell in love completely, I was hooked. The characters, the stories, the art direction, the amazing locations, everything was perfect. I started watching and taping everyday. The next step was looking for Xena fans like me and the best place was internet. I've made so many friends that I can't count. I had the opportunity to be in Pasadena this May 4th, 5th and 6th and it was marvelous. I have to thank Lucy, Renee, Rob and everyone involved with the show. You were and you are wonderful!!! Thank you so much!!
Jacqueline (Brazil) jacque@marlin.com.br
From: "Donald Breeding"
Email: breeding@eastky.net
Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2001 12:30 PM
From: Granddad
The Xena show didn't change my life, cure my depression, or get me through any personal crises. It was just damn good TV.
I like the Xena show because every episode is part of a bigger overlying story. Not like a serial or a soap opera, but more like chapters of a book.
I like the Xena show because they realized that a big part of their audience was young people and kids, and made sure that the stories taught useful life lessons, such as "Everyone makes mistakes. When you mess up, you should try to make it right." or "There are some things more important than you are."
Most of all, I like the Xena show because it is character - driven. The girls could go from Greece to Siberia, from Africa to China, from India to Norway, and it didn't matter. The time could jump ahead 25 years, back ten, or come to modern times, and it didn't matter. The episode could be an adventure, a comedy, a romance, a musical, a heavy drama, a fantasy, or an opera, and none of the changes really mattered because the characters were what made the show, not the setting.
I like how the show didn't take itself too seriously. I like how the producers weren't afraid to take chances. I liked when they decided to make the Gabrielle character sexier, they displayed her back and abs (B&A instead of T&A?). I liked how the people at the Xena show knew that men preferred strong, intelligent women, even though the rest of the TV world apparently hadn't figured that out.
I'm really looking forward to the last three episodes, and I really hope Xena finally finds redemption. As far as I'm concerned, she's earned it.
From: "Jared =^. .^="
Email: olthof@powerup.com.au
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2001 6:35 PM
It's incredibly hard to capture in words what XWP means to me. The progression of Xena and Gabby's lives mirrors my own. Their strength, courage, and binding love is nothing short of inspirational. I'm a sucker for the action, the humour, and the grace which Lucy and Renee bring to each episode. Not to mention the locations, the costumes, the writers and supporting cast. Most of all, I'm grateful for being witness to their eternal friendship. Through Hell and high water (literally) these women have survived- together. At 21 years of age, love & life can be somewhat doubtful, but the love that is Xena and Gabby holds true in my heart and anchors me to what life is all about. I haven't seen Season 6 here in Australia, I'm a tad rusty on episode names and numbers, I wasn't at Pasadena-- but when XWP airs for the final time in the States it's gonna hurt. Cheers girls! Thanx on behalf of all the boys.