April 2012 Archives   25 April 2012 2013 Xena Convention The Final Journey II Creation Entertainment has announced that the 2013 Xena Convention will be known as the Final Journey II since the 2012 Xena Convention was known as The Final Journey. Creation Entertainment changed their minds after seeing how many of the fans (both Amazon Elders and Con Virgins/Newbies) showed up to bid farewell to their friends and cast so they decided to have one more convention. Creation has started to announce the guest list:         Adrienne Wilkinson (Livia / Eve)             Brittney Powell (Brunnhilda)   No ticket information is available yet on the Creation Entertainment site.     22 April 2012 AUSXIP & Legendary Heroes DVD Giveaway Winner Announced Our friends at Legendary Heroes approached me back in March about this wonderful giveaway to the Xena fans. As most of you know there was the AUSXIP Charity Auction that going to start and it was decided that we didn't want it to clash so the giveaway was held back. We were giving away one Xena Warrior Princess DVD Set from Legendary Heroes, which includes ALL SIX seasons (plus bonus content) of Xena's adventures.     The winner of this set is Van Lord! Congratulations Van and thank you to Legendary Heroes for this special prize.     22 April 2012 Subtext Virtual Season 10 Episode 6 Life In Paradise Italian Version The Subtext Virtual Season 10  in Italian have now been updated with episode 6. They are also available in English, Portuguese and Spanish #1006 - Life in Paradise Italian Version Tara’s daughter has married and run off with her husband.  Is there trouble in paradise?  Only Xena and Gabrielle know for sure. PDF RB PDB RTF Also available in English Portuguese and  Spanish     21 April 2012 MaryD's Xena Episode Review: To Helicon and Back This review has taken a long time to come; in fact To Helicon and Back is the only Xena episode I have never watched until today. First let's start with the necessary info about this episode To Helicon & Back  Episode Review by MaryD Season 6 Episode 15 Rating: 6/10 SCRIBES & SCROLLS: Written by Liz Friedman and Vanessa Place. Directed by Michael Hurst. Edited by Robert Field. PASSING PARADE: Tsianina Joelson (Varia); Craig Parker (Bellerophon); Morgan Reese Fairhead (Cyane); Kirstie O'Sullivan (Gwyn-Teir); Madeleie Sami (Tyro); Marise Wipani (Kanae); Michelle Blanchard (Mawu-Ka). DISCLAIMER: No shark bait was harmed during the making of this motion picture. STORY SO FAR: Gabrielle leads the Amazons into battle against Bellerophon, son of Artemis, who is seeking vengeance against the tribe over his mother’s death. View Episode Stills |  MaryD's Art |  Sheryl-Lee Kerr Review | Screen grabs I was looking forward to this episode because it was the only one I hadn't seen so I settled on this weekend as being the best time to see it. I did something I never do and that is live tweet an episode. That was interesting. Some thoughts to ponder: Xena taking a back seat to all of this from the first scene towards the end of the scene was not to my liking; I want the Big X to lead; it's her natural way of being. She let Gabrielle lead and I have to say I just didn't enjoy Gab leading and being so bloodthirsty. So much so that she was racing after a soldier who was trying to escape from her. She was ready to kill him and would have, had not Xena called her out. Hello? Where has our Gabrielle gone? A killing machine? I accept her as such when she is defending Xena in Ides of March (I welcomed it because she was defending a defenseless Xena) but defending a group of women she didn't know all because she was an Amazon? Don't buy it. When Gabrielle was giving her Amazon rally the troops, the look on Xena's faced mirrored my reaction. Not good at all. The words were coming out of Gabrielle's mouth but it was like Pod Gabrielle that I was watching. When did the Amazons become her focus and not Xena? Watching Renee fighting as Gabrielle with both sais is ALWAYS impressive. I did enjoy that. Watching Lucy fight as Xena is never dull and she had some great scenes; she did cop a hammering for her love in this episode but it was for the greater good: her greater good was Gabrielle and always would be. Gabrielle forgot who her greater good is in this episode. It's been a long time Xenaverse in-joke that Xena only got sliced on one arm; always the same arm for 6 seasons..until this ep where she got sliced in both arms. (we won't talk about FIN 2). I was appalled at Gabrielle's action of feeding the injured Amazon to the shark. REALLY? It was only after the shark did Gabrielle ask if it was honourable. A bit late for that Gabrielle. I was wondering why Xena risked her life to save the redheaded Amazon (now isn't that the ultimate in the redshirts of all redshirts?) and bring her to safety when she didn't do that for any of the others. It was for shark bait later on..those writers, you just need to watch what they do! What truly astounded me was Xena giving her "end of cycling of killing" chat to Bellerophon while Gabrielle was killing a soldier in the background! That was just one of the most incredible scenes in this show for me. Gone are the days when Xena knelt in the moonlight and begged the Gods to save Gabrielle's innocence. Gone were the days when Gabrielle urged Xena to end the cycle of violence. It was out of Xena's mouth that those words came out while Gabrielle was killing in the background.  Smack in the head amazing. I think I might go watch In Sickness and In Hell or A Tale of Two Muses for the sheer joy of it. Love watching Xena and Gabrielle dancing always perks me up. Battle On! MaryD     18 April 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Final Tally: $21,000 for Starship $21,000. No that is not a typo. At the end of the AUSXIP Charity Auction on 27 March, the amount pledged via winning biddings came out to $20,022. Now that is a mind blowing figure to begin with. Double and then some of last year's auction amount raised for Starship of $9500. I received the latest spreadsheet from Starship this morning from Jenni, the wonderful lady at Starship who I have been working with on this. In addition to the winning bids there has been just under $1000 given as donations. Lucy Lawless is amazed and sent in the following message on 2 April 2012 To Mary and the fans: I have been very remiss... In not expressing my humblest thanks for all your kindness to the Starship Foundation over the past weeks (and years). You raising over $20,000 for Starship this past week shocked me. Mary, you, your posse and the greater Xenaverse have challenged my own view on my career and it's place in the world. I honestly just took the role of Xena because the chips fell my way. Ren and I acted the words that someone else put in our mouths and wore the costumes given us. We were paid pretty well for that time and we were grateful. But, and I think Ren would agree, we NEVER foresaw the kind of community spirit that has long survived the show itself. How could we? I do not believe there has ever been a precedent for this kind of fandom. The Xena fans are beyond generous, beyond loving and ever faithful. No wonder Bill Shatner filmed the last Con. (When's that out, by the way?) Because of your Kindness to the Starship Foundation, the sickest children of NZ have been the recipient of so much love from afar. Please rest assured that every penny is appreciated and thoughtfully spent. Brad and his team are worthy members of our team. I love you all! I wish you peace and laughter all the days of your life, Yours truly, Lucy Lawless Starship is amazed. - Read Brad Clark, CEO of Starship, message to the fans on 30 March 2012 On behalf of Starship kids and families from all over New Zealand who will benefit from your support - a huge Starship Foundation thanks to all the winners and bidders in the recent Lucy/Xena memorabilia auction! - Brad Clark, CEO Starship Foundation EVERYONE is amazed (myself included) Thank you to everyone who donated, who bid, who won and who supported. I know it's not possible without your support, without the support of the actors/writers who gave of their time and energy. It is also not possible without the support of my right hand, Roger who has been with me on this since September 2006 when the idea surfaced and Christa who also gives of her time and energy. Thanks everyone. Battle On! MaryD     17 April 2012 Warlord Xena in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Episode Stills Xena first appeared in the first Season of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Is was just going to be a 3 story arc but Lucy Lawless was so impressive as the Warrior Princess that USA Studios/Universal gave the green light for her own show  which went on to eclipse Hercules in the ratings and the Warrior Princess finally beat son of Zeus!  This is the start of Xena's Journey from Evil Warlord to Warrior seeking redemption for her past sins. The first episode aired on 13 Marc 1995 in the US and on 04 September 1995, Xena: The Warrior Princess show was aired on US TV and went on to create magic for Six Seasons. These episodes are the birth of the legendary Xena Warrior Princess and my favourite  Hercules episodes.   Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Season 1 Episode 9: Warrior Princess Click here for episode stills After Hercules helped him forge a swell knife, Iolaus finds out his village sweetheart Syreene just married another. On the rebound he falls for Xena; Hercules' distrust at first sight is waved by his mother Almene. Xena tells Iolaus she was preparing with some men to chase war lord Petrakis, who terrorizes her native Arcadian fields, to get him to come help; meanwhile she pushes her actual lover Theodorus to go kill Hercules, but he falls to his death in the duel, saying he regrets failing Xena. As Alcmene predicted, Iolaus won't believe his friend over his lover, so Hercules refuses to help the countrymen shed the warrior princess's oppression, till he meets Petrakis, actually an old farmer whose son died another victim of Xena's seduction... Written by KGF Vissers Iolaus falls in love with a woman called Xena, but she is not the generous warrior she pretends to be. She is an evil warrior princess who wants to break Iolaus and Hercules' friendship in order to eliminate the son of Zeus as an enemy in her way to conquer Greece. When Hercules discovers Xena's true identity, he tries to separate his friend from Xena, but her influence over Iolaus has already grown too strong.   Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Season 1 Episode 12: The Gauntlet  Click here for episode stills The evil Xena and her mercenaries return; after destroying six villages on a single peninsula, she's heading for Parthis. Begging for his life as a cross-dresser, salesman Salmoneus is spared for her amusement. Hercules sets out when his help is enlisted by his adolescent cousin Roran, whose mother lives in Parthis. When Xena learns her lieutenant Darphus chose which village to attack and ordered women and children slaughtered, she resists and saves a baby, for which Salmoneus finds a shepherdess. The men choose Darphus's side, so Xena is exiled and must run the gauntlet by clobbering, which she survives. Spiros, whose family was killed while he was away trying to get help, attacks Hercules's party and wounds the boy with an arrow, thinking they did the killing. Her scout Deros, who was captured and released by Hercules, warns Xena of his approach. Salmoneus has fled and finds Hercules. Xena captures but releases Spiros, hopes to get her men back by bringing Hercules' head in a duel, but looses and runs. Hercules' quartet faces Darphus' band alone; Xena seizes the opportunity to vanquish Darphus in a duel, but Ares has him resurrected and gives him a monster to destroy Hercules. The baby is Spiros's son. Written by KGF Vissers Xena's back and Hercules decides to face her. However, Xena has got her own problems: she disagrees with her lieutenant, Darphus, who doesn't mind killing women and children, and she decides to save a baby from death. This disagreement makes Darphus overthrow Xena and put her trough the usually fatal gauntlet, yet she refuses to team up with Hercules, who was asked for help by his cousin Roran and brave villager Spiris.   Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Season 1 Episode 13: The Unchained Heart  Click here for episode stills Darphus, revived by Ares, is pillaging everything in sight to feed a monster called Graegus. Hercules and Xena (now turned to good) are determined to stop him. Iolaus joins Hercules but has trouble believing she is really reformed Xena is set on the road to redemption and on the road to Amphipolis via Potadeia where she is destined to meet the woman that would change her life forever.     14 April 2012 New Artist and Art to Lucy Lawless Artwork: Agnes I'm pleased to welcome Agnes to the AUSXIP Lucy Lawless Artwork section with her drawings of Lucy.     14 April 2012 Added New Artwork by Aiglon Added new artwork by Aiglon to her artwork galleries on AUSXIP Artwork   -  Lucretia -  Save The Arctic -  Xena Warrior Princess     13 April 2012 New Aiglon Art: Xena Movie Posters New Xena Movie Posters added to the Xena Movie Posters section of Aiglon's Art All images used are (C) 2012 Aiglon. NO REPRODUCTION, SALE OR OTHER USE OF ARTWORK IS PERMITTED WITHOUT PERMISSION.     13 April 2012 New Aiglon Art: AUSXIP Tribute Banner Aiglon has created a gorgeous new AUSXIP Tribute banner which I've posted in her art gallery under AUSXIP Special Art   Click here to view     11 April 2012 Will There Be a Xena Movie? Lucy Lawless Responds Will there be a Xena Movie; the Xenaverse has been wanting this movie since the end of A Friend In Need Part 2 and the campaign for one has been non stop since. I'm in the camp that says if they create a Xena movie now, Lucy and Renee will not be in their rightful place and that is no Xena movie at all. No Lucy Lawless and no Renee O'Connor FORGET ABOUT IT. If they do create a Xena movie is is more than likely they will not pick up from FIN 2. They will create it for the masses which means a "re-imagining" of the series which can mean to appeal to a broader audience rather than the fanbase. That's how Hollywood works. Look at what Hollywood has done to Charlies Angels, Bionic Woman, Wonder Woman (that tv show didn't even make it the screen, it was so bad) etc. Yes let's have a Xena Movie but only with Lucy and Renee in their lead roles. Anything else is a dud in my book. Lucy has been asked (quite a few times) on @RealLucyLawless - her official twitter page about this and this is her response: Just, once and for all: no Xena movie planned. @Spartacus was amazing but all good things come to an end. Something wild will likely follow. -- Lucy Lawless (@RealLucyLawless) April 10, 2012 You can follow all the news about the Xena Movie ongoing campaign on AUSXIP Xena Movie news subsite which has been following the news about a possible yes/no movie since 2001 and officially went live in 2003 - we live in hope for a movie with Lucy and Renee but that hope has faded with each passing year. Hollywood reality has set in.     10 April 2012 Aiglon's Site Update: New Banner Aiglon has created a spiffy new banner for her artwork section. Click here to view Aiglon's Art - the new AUSXIP subsite     9 April 2012 New Artist and Subsite to AUSXIP: Aiglon Art I'm very pleased to announce a new artist and artist subsite to AUSXIP Art - Aiglon. Aiglon has created some INCREDIBLE artwork and I invited her to host her artwork on AUSXIP. Click here to view Aiglon's new art subsite Click here to view Aiglon's art galleries Continue reading New Artist and Subsite to AUSXIP: Aiglon Art.     4 April 2012 Xena Radio Now Live! I found the idea of a Xena Radio show quite fascinated and ask Ron to tell more about it. See below and go and visit. I do love unique sites that go outside the box. Lucy Lawless is a talented actress and singer. Her angelic voice along with the Emmy Award winning XWP soundtrack is celebrated on the newly launched – Xena Radio. Additional content includes original show promos, classic quotes, and Xenite requests for some of today’s hottest hits. Broadcasting around the clock, Xena Radio is a steady online companion when you’re on the computer at home or at work. And you can take your warrior princess soundtrack on the go with a friendly app for your iPhone or Android. Future features include: Xenite Playlist Spotlight – where Xenites can share their individual taste in music. Cast & Crew Playlist Spotlight – where they can share what gets their groove on. And the ambitious goal is to pick up where FIN left off. The dream is to produce a weekly radio drama series continuing the adventures of the beloved Xena and Gabrielle. www.live365.com/stations/xenaradio Facebook.com/XenaRadio Twitter @XenaRadio     3 April 2012 Xena Warrior Princess Legendary Heroes Season 1-6 DVD Set Giveaway Our friends at Legendary Heroes approached me a few weeks ago about this wonderful giveaway to the Xena fans. As most of you know there was the AUSXIP Charity Auction that going to start and it was decided that we didn't want it to clash so the giveaway was held back until today! It's limited to those from the mainland states (excludes Hawaii and Alaska) and not overseas. So today I'm very stoked to announce the Xena Warrior Princess DVD Set giveaway! We’re giving away one Xena Warrior Princess DVD Set from Legendary Heroes, which includes ALL SIX seasons (plus bonus content) of Xena’s adventures. Score the entire set by emailing us using the  AUSXIP DVD Giveaway Form with your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address. Sweepstakes Rules: THE SWEEPSTAKES ENDS APRIL 20, 2012, at which point the winner will be selected randomly.  Please note that this contest is limited to those from the mainland states (excludes Hawaii and Alaska). Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.  Thanks and good luck!   Includes ALL 6 Seasons of Xena Warrior Princess plus Xena 10th Anniversary DVD Collection Valued at $129 USD Showcased within a 54-disc, library-quality boxed set, each individually preserved season includes Xena's extraordinary adventures uncut and commercial free, plus countless hours of exclusive season-specific bonus material, like Lost Scenes, Series Trivia, Photo Galleries, and more. Starring: Lucy Lawless, Renee O'Connor, Ted Raimi, Adrienne Wilkinson, Hudson Leick, Kevin Smith Release Date: 07/26/2005 Director: Mark Beesley, Eric Brevig Runtime: 6312 Minutes Rating: Not Rated DVD Features 51 disc set featuring all 134 episodes plus three bonus CD-ROMs Alternative director's cuts plus special featurettes, bloopers, audio commentary, and interviews Fully remastered in the original full frame presentations All-new Dolby Surround 5.1 Bonus CD-ROMs includes trivia, Xena chronicles, extensive production designs & sketches, actor, writer and director bios     3 April 2012 AUSXIP Charity Auction Update 03 April 2012 Hey folks, did everyone see the Lucy message last night? Amazing what this fandom can achieve. We can move mountains and your generosity just proves we can achieve fantastic things. If you didn't win an item and would like to be part of the AUSXIP Charity Auction amazing total of $20,022 then you can donate as well. Click here to read Lucy's message |  Click here to read Starship CEO Brad Clark message If you have not paid yet - click here How to Pay |  Donate Good news is that last week Jenni from Starship sent me the spreadsheet of payments and over the weekend, I matched it to the spreadsheet that I had. 90% of payments have been made. I think that's a record and even Jenni commented on how fast payments have flooded in! Imagine a sea of donations just streaming into Starship - in two days they got $15,716.67! How's that for a mental image. Now that is a lot of dinars! This week shipments will commence if you have paid up till 30 March. I received another spreadsheet this morning from Jenni and will process them. We are running into Easter which means the next spreadsheet will come on Thursday and then we go into Good Friday and the Easter break. Starship takes a break then so if you haven't sent in your payment please do so before Thursday (or Wednesday US date) so I can get the info and process it. If you won multiple items - the items may be in several locations (either in Sydney with me, in Seattle, in Los Angeles and a few other places where fans have donated and will ship out). We will try and combine items for shipping but sometimes that isn't possible so they will come in multiple packages. You all know one of my favourite quotes is by Helen Keller: “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” -Helen Keller You guys prove it each and every time! This fandom runs on love. Battle On! MaryD     2 April 2012 Message From Lucy Lawless About The AUSXIP Charity Auction for Starship Received the following note from Lucy just now and this is in response to the AUSXIP Charity Auction that was held last week. Thank you Lucy on behalf of myself, my team and the fans. If you wonder why AUSXIP and me personally supports Lucy Lawless, see the heartfelt message below it speaks for itself. Here's Lucy's message To Mary and the fans: I have been very remiss... In not expressing my humblest thanks for all your kindness to the Starship Foundation over the past weeks (and years). You raising over $20,000 for Starship this past week shocked me. Mary, you, your posse and the greater Xenaverse have challenged my own view on my career and it's place in the world. I honestly just took the role of Xena because the chips fell my way. Ren and I acted the words that someone else put in our mouths and wore the costumes given us. We were paid pretty well for that time and we were grateful. But, and I think Ren would agree, we NEVER foresaw the kind of community spirit that has long survived the show itself. How could we? I do not believe there has ever been a precedent for this kind of fandom. The Xena fans are beyond generous, beyond loving and ever faithful. No wonder Bill Shatner filmed the last Con. (When's that out, by the way?) Because of your Kindness to the Starship Foundation, the sickest children of NZ have been the recipient of so much love from afar. Please rest assured that every penny is appreciated and thoughtfully spent. Brad and his team are worthy members of our team. I love you all! I wish you peace and laughter all the days of your life, Yours truly, Lucy Lawless     Read More Archives