Many thanks to Bridget Patrella for contributing
the article to the AXIP Magazine ArchiveUPBEAT Entertainment News Online
June 2001
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Saying Farewell To 'Xena Warrior Princess'— A Final Tribute
by Bridget Petrella with additional writing by Sonia Satra
The sun is finally
setting in the Xenaverse... As I sat down to write this, a final editorial tribute to a
show that I genuinely believe will become a cornerstone of American pop culture for
decades to come, I must confess, I actually felt rather saddened. It was like trying to
say goodbye to old friends. Not such a simple task. I found myself wallowing a bit in an
effort to effectively describe that which has become so indescribable. I don’t think
I have ever, nor will I ever, watch another television show in quite the same way that
I’ve watched ‘Xena Warrior Princess‘. I’ve often felt it was like
gazing at an exquisite Salvador Dali painting, in that each time you stopped and stared at
the masterpiece, really looked at it, there was something else, something even more
innovative and spectacular to uncover and analyze... layers upon layers of intricately
woven meanings all fused together with such perfection. Not to mention the fact that an 80
foot vertical leap is pretty damn cool, but I digress... As a writer, I found myself
marveling in the sheer cleverness of it all. This wasn’t just your basic
action/adventure series dialogue, this was something much broader in scope. Xena
wasn’t just some stereo-typical kick-ass protagonist with an equally sharp partner.
She was, and will always be, for all intent purposes, the ultimate anti-hero, a flawed
woman with a deep dark past who taught us all that life is precious and that we are each
responsible for our own paths, our own choices... that the balance of existence is
essential. But most of all, both Xena and Gabrielle have showed us that love, true love,
goes far beyond the boundaries of time and space. The love between Xena and Gabrielle
transcends the soul and any other would-be label that one might feel compelled to attach
to it.
As a hopeless romantic, I too became completely engulfed by the sheer magnitude of
the love story... Yes, I did say a love story, because, to be perfectly frank, regardless
of how one may inevitably "choose" to perceive each and every aspect of this
show, when all is finally said and done... and the insurmountable evidence of season six
is tabulated... oh what an epic love story this has been. Xena and Gabrielle first meet in
‘Sins Of The Past’ when she (Xena) saves her (Gabrielle) from a band of slave
traders led by the evil warlord Draco. There is an "instant" connection between
the two women, a spiritual bond that the show’s die hard fans are powerlessly drawn
into like unsuspecting moths to an ever-mounting flame. Although seemingly young and
innocent, Gabrielle is actually one tough little counterpart, headstrong and independent,
not exactly the kind of girl who fits well into a small village. Gabrielle discovers in
Xena, over the course of each episode, everything that had been missing in her life,
everything that allows her to essentially breathe again— the freedom to cut loose and
have fun, to grow and learn, the ability to have conversations on ideology and living...
and of course, the wondrous feeling of being free to explore and discover one‘s
self— not tied down by all of those rigid rules and restrictions. As the two
characters meld and develop together, we as an audience were treated to six astonishing
years of laughter and pain, sorrow and loss... unconditional love and pure devotion. Our
emotions were constantly engaged within the infinite world of ‘Xena Warrior
Princess‘, a place where anything is possible and love does conquer all...
So what about the love? Is this what has encouraged seemingly endless
internet debates as to the sexual preferences of both characters? If Gabrielle seductively
removed Xena's warrior boots or Xena touched Gabrielle‘s foot— forget about it.
It was white hot internet subject-matter for months at a time. I even found myself looking
up, in a foot massage guide book no less, the significance of erogenous zones on the human
foot. It was positively mind boggling... even for me. Why have the fans (Xenites as they
affectionately refer to themselves as) felt so compelled to create an alternate universe
on the web, with millions of fan fiction interpretations of each and every character
relationship, some of which are so well done that it‘s scary? The exceptionally woven
tales are shining tributes to an irreplaceable television legacy, an astonishing folklore
that is certain to remain in tact for generations to come. What is it about this
particular television show that has given so many people around the world such enduring
hope? There are endless testimonials online from fans who have found reasons within this
show, reasons to endure terminal illnesses and abuse, loss and depression... the lists go
on and on. Legions upon legions of devoted fans have been motivated, positively driven in
some cases, to give so much of themselves (and their pocketbooks) to a virtual plethora of
charitable causes. Did you know that Xena fans actually saved an endangered section of
rainforest— or that they continue to donate thousands upon thousands of dollars each
month to numerous children’s charities around the world? It sincerely was, as Lawless
and O'Connor themselves have said, all about the "love"...
But regardless of the obvious "power" of that love... the question for
most mainstream journalists and media types has always been, what undisputed dynamic made
‘Xena Warrior Princess’ into such a cult phenomena— and for that matter,
was there just one? Was it just the celebrated subtext references? Was it merely the
originality of two female action heroines, who have continued to trigger off countless
knock-offs, ’Tomb Raider’ and ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’ to name
but a few? Was it the undeniable chemistry (which occasionally felt like we were watching
a millennium fireworks display in full swing) between the show’s stunningly gorgeous
leading ladies? Could it have been the "no rules" approach to the show’s
intensely woven concept? Or will it all remain as much of an eternal mystery as the
Bermuda Triangle or Stone Henge? Well... my own personal query as of late is this—
has anyone in the mainstream media ever "really" watched ‘Xena Warrior
Princess’?
Our pals over at TV Guide recently composed a Xena send off that
inspired me to ask whether or not the writer ever sat through more than 30 seconds of the
show’s opening credits as he perused the official press kit... looking for signs of a
column. Okay, perhaps I am being a bit harsh here, but trust me, it isn’t without
just cause. While I will indeed say Lucy Lawless is an exceptionally gifted actress
(and I DO enjoy her immensely), she’s certainly NOT the entire show, nor does she
single-handedly hold the show’s foundation in place while the remainder of the cast
struggles to break apart from the lush New Zealand scenery, as the TV Guide journalist
practically eluded to in the piece. What show has he been watching? I couldn’t help
but feel the true depth of this show was virtually lost amid campy tongue-in-cheek
references to Xena’s wrought-iron bra, Tony Soprano and Gabrielle’s
ever-shrinking wardrobe... Only 10 things to miss? Give me a break. We here at UPBEAT can
list at least 265 things right off the top of our collective heads... there just
isn’t enough column space to cover it all.
What about the substance? What about actress Renee O’Connor, the show’s
"other" shining star, who has continued to turn in momentous performances (and
who we here at UPBEAT find to be an extraordinary human being in her own right)?
O’Connor radiates onto the screen just as powerfully as Lawless does. These two
actresses have clearly been equal halves of the same coin throughout the course of the
show’s syndicated run, and in my humble opinion, both deserve the same accolades.
That being declared... okay, so maybe the mainstream media will never quite
"get" the bona fide essence of ‘Xena,’ or how much heart and soul has
gone into it... and I guess when I stop to ponder it... that’s probably as it should
be. If mainstream embraces it completely, it’s usually been politically infused or
watered down in some capacity. For me, watching ’Xena’ was like uncovering a
priceless treasure... an intellectual buffet of unsurpassed romance.
The fabled magical world Xena and Gabrielle (the Forrest Gumps of
mythological times) inhabit, which is distinctly neither the "literal" present
era nor any "real" definable moment in the human past (although from time to
time actual events were emphasized somewhat) is a wide-eyed expedition beyond any/all
realistic proportions. But then, after watching ‘Xena’, who needs reality? For
the most part, Xena and Gabrielle’s universe is a place uninhibited by present-day
society's obsessions with sexual identity and politics. 'Xena Warrior Princess' is
certainly not obliged to provide any historical connotation. This makes it possible for
the show to remain a timeless realm unto itself... open to the imagination, culturally,
spiritually and erotically. Fans also recognize this as a contributing factor to the
poetic symmetry which envelops each character. Are Xena and Gabrielle perfect? No. In
fact, they are often far from perfection— each struggling to find some truth in an
uncertain world filled with boundless passion, constant perils and never-ending trials of
faith. But therein lies the beauty of these two outstandingly complex, especially diverse
character studies. Everyone can relate to this type of raw honesty on some level, to the
imperfections, to the hopes and dreams, to the unwavering love between these two women.
It’s within these basic human needs that we can each connect with Xena and Gabrielle.
The show’s message to both men and women is vastly clear, be exactly who you are, not
who anyone expects you to be, put forth your best effort and all will come to pass
precisely as it should.
So... will we miss the warrior princess and her bard? You can bet on it. Do we love
BOTH Lucy and Renee? Most definitely. Will we ever see something as world-shattering and
avant-garde as ‘Xena Warrior Princess’ again? Perhaps... but we sincerely doubt
it... In reality as we know it to be, this show has been so much more than elementary
logic could ever hope to describe or duplicate. UB
Bridget Petrella is the Publisher
and Editor in Chief of UPBEAT Entertainment News Online. At this point in her life, she's
seriously contemplating a complete and unbridled abandonment of " typical"
network television... opting instead for The Cartoon Network, Xena Warrior Princess,
V.I.P., WWF Wrestling, Nick At Nite's TV Land, All HBO Original Programming and of
course... TNN's Roller Jam.
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