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THE XENA E-XINE
Volume I, Issue 4--February 25, 2000
Today's issue includes:
1. Feature Article--Subtext's Not Just Merely Dead, It's Really Most
Sincerely Dead (Continued)
2. Xena Quote/Xena Poem
3. Featured FanFic and Short Review--Lao Ma's Kiss
4. Xena News---Renee O'Conner to be Married!
5. Featured Xena Website----The Xena Multimedia Page
6. Feedback
7. PRIVACY/NO SPAM POLICY!
8. Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
9. Credits
10. Archives
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Subtext's Not Just Merely Dead, It's Really Most Sincerely
Dead... |
| (Continued
from the last issue) Lucy's dominant expression of emotion this season has been the scowl, Renee has embraced nothing but anger--which is understandable under the circumstances. This one-note playing is disconcerting when opposed to the delicate nuances of character they gave us before. Think of Renee's heartrending monologue on the yin/yang bed in Paradise Found or Lucy in The Furies, all the pain of her past, the weight and worldweariness of it etched into the still planes of her beautiful face, without a single word. Remember the heady days when they allowed us to read so much into a glance, |
| a touch... because they created it and invited us in, glance by glance, touch by touch. Inferences drawn, inflections coyly delivered. Perhaps it has been due to Lucy's condition, but the sense of fun seems to be gone. Also, there seemed almost a conspiracy to separate our girls, not just by the dark forces swirling around Xena and Gabrielle but by TPTB behind the scenes. Where once they used to share almost every |
| scene and story together it was as though there was a movement afoot to greatly lessen their scenes together. Watching has become a painful experience at times. Without that chemical spark the camaraderie is gone, and without that the partnership is gone, and without that the show is gone. If a woman was to be the genesis, the progenitor of Xena's baby then shouldn't it truly, fittingly have been her soulmate? They went that far--but couldn't bring themselves to take that extra little leap of faith. And make TV history besides. With the twin tragedy that befell them both in the deaths of their children it would be only mythically correct that their surpassing conquer-all love should've produced |
| the progeny to heal that wound finally and forever. Callisto as 'daddy' (while it's Gabby who is, ironically, more butch than ever) is certainly an interesting twist considering her back and through stories--but not as satisfying as Xena and Gabrielle. |
| Sure, you can make an argument that it's perfectly Greek in its full circularity that Callisto redeemed will be born again of Xena, her enemy, her worst nightmare, also redeemed, doing her part to return to her the life and sanity that she once destroyed. However, this plot contrivance, while arguably valid in this respect, does not possess thepure rightness that a Xena and Gabrielle solution would have...as well as the sheer satisfaction to fans. These are the two who lost their children in the most tragically Greek of all mythic moments in the series' history...due to failings (tragic flaws) in themselves and in a failure to trust in their relationship, in each other--as they had always instinctively done before. It is only fitting that the gods (or some other magical entity) should have granted them this means of healing that horrid rift. Now that would've been thematically truly satisfying. |
| They have been clearly
presented as soulmates in Between the Lines which was immediately, if not
retracted, severely stressed in The Way, with its closing image of
near-alienation from each other and sense of change in the status quo. In Deja Vu All
Over Again we are definitively given to believe in no uncertain terms that not only
are they eternally reincarnated soulmates, but, quite naturally, romantically involved.
Home is, indeed, a particular person/soul for both of them. Two halves of one soul home
again. So, forgive me if I exercise my right of cast as a bard and tell the true story of
Xena's pregnancy-- In India when, fully self-aware, they found themselves, externally, in male and female bodies, what could be more natural than that they made love (for the novelty?) while painting the henna tattoos on each other's bodies. How could they not make love during such a sensuous exchange/activity? Just look at the delicious picture of Xena reclining, eyes closed, luxuriating as Gabrielle continues to work on her back--if that ain't |
| pure post-coital lassitude than I ain't never seen it. Not only was the child conceived here in the usual way (and brought back within Xena's body in their return journey through the Karmic tunnel), but the foetus was passed back and forth between them several times when they oh so sexily, orgasmically morphed into each other in Succession--so they can both be said to be mother to the child. Though one |
| would give anything to have seen the look on Gabrielle's face when she realized..."you mean, I'm gonna be a f-f-father?" thud. "Gabrielle's gonna freak" indeed. Callisto just provided that little something extra...the soul. For those of us who have read Missy Good, this will always be Xena and Gabby's love child. I mean, if the daddy is another woman after all, then we can allow ourselves to take that extra leap of faith the producers didn't dare and see the issue as that of Xena |
| and Gabrielle. Which is as it should be. "I love your baby as if it were my own," Gabrielle said. Wouldn't it have been delightful if that had proved a prophetic bit of foreshadowing. But it is an avowel. So, let's take it in that spirit. |
| Subtext--dead or only
sleeping?--to be wakened by a kiss as Xena by Gabrielle in The Quest (the episode
that defined the subtext) out of selfless courage and love. The jury is still out. But
Hope is still alive. ¨ © 2000 |
2) Xena Quote/Xena Poem
"Gabrielle, I will always be here." Xena from
The Quest
Submitted by Critter
Xena Poem
Green Eyed Ham
I do not like this season five,
It's out of sync; it doesn't jive.
It does not grab me by my heart
This move to keep our girls apart.
I know I'm not a Joxer fan -
and NO, it's not 'cause he's a man!
Even should he remain aloof, he
is just too darn furkin' goofy.
I do not like this green-eyed ham;
I do not like him, Whoosh, wham, bam
I do not like him with my bard
THAT is just not in the cards.
His only role is to come between a
love meant just for Gab and Xena.
It's not just that he has no valor,
nor is it his pasty pallor;
I think that what I hate the most
Is that he's dumber than a post.
I do not like this green-eyed ham
I do not like him, Whoosh, wham, bam
I've tried to be a patient viewer
But what I've seen is like a sewer.
I know I can't just tell you shove it
Cause Xena's still my most beloved;
So take my advice dear Mr. Tapert
To save this season from the crapper-
Lest there be a pox on thee:
Please, make this season Joxer-free!
I do not like this green-eyed ham;
I do not like him, Whoosh, wham, bam
Submitted by Cindy © 2000
3) Featured Fan Fiction
Guest Critic Bacchae2's FanFic PickLao Ma's Kiss by Elaine Sutherland
http://pinkrabbit.simplenet.com/subtextfic/Xena/elainesutherland/eslaomakiss.htm
Review: The single best piece of Xena fan fic I have read is Elaine Sutherland's Lao Ma's Kiss at the great Pink Rabbit site. The author is framing the piece from the point of view of a professor (which she indeed is) who has translated the first-person narratives of Xena and Lao Ma of their tempestuous time together. It is not only one of the best pieces of fan fic I have ever read, but one of the best pieces of lesbian lit period. Poignant, passionate, beautiful and unforgettable. A worthy companion piece to the classic episode as she examines The Debt from the inside, layer by layer, like an intricate Chinese puzzle box.
Lao Ma's Kiss I give it FIVE ***** stars!
| ***** | A must read if you are a Xenite! |
| **** | It is worth your while to read. |
| *** | It's better than watching Cleo or Jack |
| ** | Maybe they're not so bad to watch afterall. |
| * | If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all my mama done told me...this is a good time to keep my mouth shut then. |
4) Xena News
Renee O'Conner to be Married! |
| The buzz around the
Xenaverse these past weeks is the recent announcement by Renee O'Conner of her engagement
to Steve Muir, her long time Kiwi boyfriend. This news hit the Xenaverse through Xena Fan
Club President Sharon Delaney on Renee's 29th birthday, February 15th, 2000. This engagement has long been the subject of countless rumors over the past few years, but this time it is for real. Our beloved ROC will soon join the Kingdom of Wifedom. It was shocking news throughout the Xenaverse, |
| rivaled only by the announcement of Xena star Lucy Lawless of her own pregnancy almost a year ago. |
| I hope Renee has found
the other half of her soul, as her character Gabrielle once stated that every person is in
constant search of. All the happiness and best wishes go out to Renee and Steve. ¨ © 2000 |
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5) Featured Xena Site
Silver's ChoiceHere's is a fun site if you are looking for screen grabs of our favorite show. It even has sneak peeks for those of us who cant wait for the next episode. So check out this page if you are looking for anything from the past few eps.
The Xena Multimedia Page
6) Feedback
"Very nice job on the new Xine. I look forward to
the next issue. Read the last one "cover to cover" as soon as I got it"
--Cindy
"Just read the entire e-zine for this week. Your
article was superb; I really liked the way it turned out, and the way you addressed the
problems with the show, the fan reaction, the question of whether there deserves to be a
sixth season (the way the show is now, I'd say no), without dishonoring the things that
were good about past seasons, even if some fans didn't like things like the rift. And EJ
Rain/Bacchai2's essay was really superb. She really put her finger on the problem, just as
in her the previous zines she got right to the essence of what used to be so exceptional
about the relationship. I was glad to see that she included Paradise Found from season4
and Fallen Angel from season5 as examples of when the relationship was still well handled.
Paradise Found really was an extraordinarily sensual episode, and brilliant in it's
psychological symbolism as well."
--Brian
If you have any comments, suggests for content, or articles to submit to this newsletter, then please contact Lady Adrell at exine@exine.tvheaven.com
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9) Credits
The Xena E-Xine Staff:
Chief Editor/Head Writer: Lady Adrell
Editor/Writer: Bacchae2
FanFic Critic: Creda
Website Analyst: Silver
10) Archives
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