Issue14

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Today's issue includes:

1. Feature Article -- "The Year of Loving Dangerously" (Season Four)
2. Xena quote/Xena Joke
3. Featured FanFic and Short Review -- "Something I Need," "A Scar in the
Shape of a Shark," "So Close: Reflections on Ides of March," "So Close, So Far: Reflections on Crusader," "Madness and Discovery," "The End," "Letters to Ephiny," "Crusader: Away from the Light," "Ides of March," "Inside, Outside," and a surprise review!
4. Xena News -- "How I Met The Goddess of Love And Survived," "ROC In The
Guide," "Xena In Australia For A Limited Engagement!" "Prayers For A
Xenite"
5. Featured Xena Links -- Rate-A-Xena, The Staked Chakram, Logomancy's
Xena Page
6. Xena: Warrior Princess Episode Guide -- "Beware of Greeks Bearing
Gifts," "Athens City Academy of Performing Bards"
7. Feedback
8. PRIVACY/NO SPAM POLICY!
9. Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
10. Credits
11. Archives

1) Featured Article
"The Year of Loving Dangerously"
Season Four
E.J. Rain
7/13/2000

"There is no obstacle to love in gender or in absence, for souls, as you are well aware, transcend both sex and distance." Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a 17th century nun in Mexico....a poet, playwright, a feminist....possible lesbian...

How quickly may "bright things come to confusion" to paraphrase the Bard (the other one). It was a very uneven year; coming after two of the best seasons any series ever had, a prelude, then, to one of the worst seasons (5) any series ever had. Replete with pivotal episodes such as "Between the Lines," "A Good Day," "Crusader," "Past Imperfect," "Endgame," and, of course, "Ides of March." And some real duds like "Key to the Kingdom," "Tale of Two Muses," "Takes One to Know One," etc. which, still, overall, were somewhat more watchable episodes compared to the truly deadly duds of Season Five (Note: "Fishsticks" may be thawed for reheating, but, I am assured, they will stink to high heaven just the same.)

As an old thespian myself, I admit to hugely enjoying "The Play's the Thing" as my favorite comedy ep of this season. In Comparison to Season Five, Four looks very good indeed. From the confusing "Adventures in the Sin Trade," which improves and makes more sense upon subsequent viewings, to the post-cliffhanger clips show "Deja Vu All Over Again;" from an inconsolable suicidal W.P. in mourning for Gabrielle to a bit of relatively amusing, more-or-less light-hearted, fan bashing at a difficult year's end this was a passionately restless time for our heroines. Xena, troubled all season long by Alti's vision and therefore attempting to push Gabrielle away before it's too late; Gabrielle, discontented and painfully
aware of it, searching outside herself and her relationship for some greater meaning to her life and chosen path. The year the Hare Krishnas (are they even supposed to own TVs?) bashed the subtext at the end of which TPTB apparently started to rethink the direction of the series in a vain attempt not to offend anybody and, thus, please no one in the long run. The year of loving dangerously, of India and Siberian amazons and soulmates and big changes. The year Gabrielle's ardor seemed to cool for her big dumb warrior and Xena suffered through it in silence (except for those over-the-top acting-out moments in "Paradise Found," "Devi," "Crusader," "Convert," and "The Way"). In "Locked Up and Tied Down" she
even humiliates herself to do prison penance, not only for the past crime of destroying a young woman's life, but, most of all, as it is brought fully home to her senses, because the victim, a once-joyful young maiden, was so like Gabrielle. She reaches for the bard with regret in one of the series' most poignant and tender moments as she allows herself to be taken away, actively denying herself the comfort of her companion.

In the previous season everything led to Gabrielle's declaration of love and sacrifice, now it's Xena's turn to display selfless devotion and self-sacrifice for her partner's sake by attempting to leave her (in "Paradise Found" and "Crusader"), to spare her the hurt she fears she causes the once-innocent young woman. Willing to die herself to follow Gabrielle to whatever underworld or afterlife the bard has been assigned, whether the amazon more-or-less-happy hunting ground or their souls consigned to the new paradigm of heaven or hell.

Is there a more heart-breaking moment in the series than when Xena asks Brutus if it is snowing on Mount Amoro? And, inevitably, she will follow Gabrielle to their fate, their shared destiny as Gabrielle followed her at the beginning of their personal journey, to the road, to Shark Island and Chin and Brittain and to find their way back from India and other karmic journeys, through which, we now know, they will always be together.

2) Xena Quote/Xena Joke

Xena Quote

"You are my way." Xena to Gab in "A Family Affair."

Xena Joke

Top 10 shortest Xena books
1. The Appeal of Joxer the Mighty--Confessions of Subtexters
2. Proud Parents of Warlords
3. Xenites Who Have Lives
4. Healthy Stew Recipes by Joxer the Mighty
5. How to Make War to a Woman
6. Sappha's Treasury of Number Sixes
7. Warlords Who Support "Feed the Children"
8. Aphrodite on Formal Wear
9. Ouchless Arrow Removal
10. Who's Who of Heterosexual Amazons

*Posted originally to alt.xena newsgroup.*

Guest reviewers:
Fluffsterbrian
Bacchae2 (and Cindy)

"Something I Need"
by Rooks
http://www.njdingle.hispeed.com/xena/fanfiction/need.shtml

Reviewed by Fluffsterbrian: Check out "Something I Need" by Rooks, one of his most explicit stories, but nonetheless a superb examination of some of the darker aspects of the Xena/Gabrielle relationship. The story was inspired by "Crusader", and was Rook's attempt to deal with the question of what is it beyond just love that leads Gabrielle to stay with, and need, Xena. It's short and highly recommended by yours truly, and you'll find it on his website http://www.njdingle.hispeed.com/xena/ Just click on fan fiction when you get to the site's mainpage, and you'll find it listed.
{Note: this story is rated NC-17}

I give "Something I Need" ***** (5 stars)

********************

"A Scar in the Shape of a Shark"
by Katelin B.
http://members.tripod.com/~Katelin_B/shark.html

Reviewed by Fluffsterbrian: Katelin B. has a story directly inspired by the season four episode "Locked Up and Tied Down", a sort of hurt/comfort follow up to the episode. Surprisingly, it's one of a handful of her X/G stories that is not explicit, but it deals very well with the relationship and emotions following that harrowing episode. The story is called "A Scar in the Shape of a Shark" and can be found on her website: http://members.tripod.com/katelin_b It also carries the Fluffster seal of approval.

I give "A Scar in the Shape of a Shark" **** (4 stars)

********************

[Editor's Note: The following Season Four inspired fanfic were sought out by Cindy our researcher and reviewed by Bacchae2 while Cated is occupied with that crazy little thing called life. They are all rather brief and only one (as noted) contains sexual content of a graphic nature, most of the remainder are subtextual, but may be read by a general audience.]

"So Close: Reflections on Ides of March"
by IseQween
http://ausxip.com/fanfiction/s/soclose.html

Reviewed by Bacchae2: A heart-tearing pair of first-person narratives voiced by Gabrielle, then Xena on their 'final' hour together. Very touching inner monologues.

I give "So Close: Reflections on Ides of March" **** (4 stars)

********************

"So Close, So Far: Reflections on Crusader"
by IseQween
http://ausxip.com/fanfiction/s/soclosesofar.html

Reviewed by Bacchae2: The same treatment as the above for this all too memorable ep by the same bard. A very introspective and affecting technique. Covers the girls' reflections in the aftermath of their
shattering run-in with Najara.

I give "So Close, So Far: Reflections on Crusader" **** (4 stars)

********************

"Madness and Discovery"
by TZ
http://www.fortunecity.com/village/villageplace/334/madness-and-discovery.html

Reviewed by Bacchae2: A short but powerful evocation of the Warrior Princess' deepest thoughts and feelings (first-person again) as she searches for Gabrielle, or her spirit, in the territory covered in
"Adventures in the Sin Trade."

I give "Madness and Discovery" **** (4 stars)

********************

"The End"
by CN Winters
http://ausxip.com/fanfic4/theend.html

Reviewed by Bacchae2: Just what it portends to be...the final thoughts of Xena and Gabrielle prior to and during their crucifixions. Short and bittersweet.

I give "The End" **** (4 stars)

********************

"Letters to Ephiny"
by TZ
http://www.fortunecity.com/village/villageplace/334/letters-to-ephiny.html

Reviewed by Bacchae2: A charming concept. A selection of Gabrielle's letters to Ephiny covering certain eps in the first, third and fourth season (letter Number Five) which we are concerned with here...it is a
missive in the aftermath of "A Family Affair" and surprisingly amusing (I mean...what a situation! afterall) as well as poignant. The letters in toto cover the growing relationship of the partners culminating, finally, in the subtext subgenre known as 'the first time' story (yes, even at that late date, some bards are still finding a way to get them together for the 'first time').

I give "Letters to Ephiny" **** (4 stars)

********************

"Crusader: Away from the Light"
by Blind Faith
http://ausxip.com/fanfic5/crusader.html

Reviewed by Bacchae2: The bard classes her own story as PG-13 (some kissing). A surprisingly gentle re- affirmation between our girls (compare with Rooks' exceptional, though emotionally and physically
hard-core, version recommended in this issue) in the wake of the relationship damaging passage of a certain Crusader through their lives.

I give "Crusader: Away from the Light" **** (4 stars)

********************

"Ides of March"
by Shalon
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/3897/ides.html

Reviewed by Bacchae2: Another short vignette, first-person, from Xena's point of view as she painfully watches Gabrielle turn into a wild woman and killing machine in a fruitless attempt to save her warrior.

I give "Ides of March" **** (4 stars)

********************

"Inside, Outside"
by CN Winters
http://lynka.simplenet.com/inside.htm

Reviewed by Bacchae2: Another great concept (you bards never cease to amaze and amuse me); first person narrative once more, but along with Xena and Gab are now included the musings of Gab's mother and father all in the aftermath of "A Family Affair." This is also a first time story and a bit more light-hearted than you might expect.

I give "Inside, Outside" **** (4 stars)

********************

And now for something completely different:

A little surprise by Chris M.
http://bearblue.simplenet.com/STO/brose/flopsie.html
NO REVIEW

I give this story ***** (5 stars)

"How I Met The Goddess of Love And Survived"
Lady Adrell
July 23, 2000

San Diego California held the biggest annual comic book convention in North America this weekend. People from all over the world came to buy and sell comics and other related merchandise. This four day long event brings all the geeks out of hiding to assemble in the grand daddy of all events. Being one of them I proudly came out for this event to partake in the wonders of a world that I so love.

Right about now you are probably wondered what this would have to do with Xena, right? One of the featured perks to attending such an event is seeing the celebrates that show up every year to promote their latest work or to get close and personal with their fans. This year Alexandra Tydings (Aphrodite) and Paris Jefferson (Athena) were on the list of Individual Artists to sign autographs. My chance to meet and speak with Paris at her very first convention passed me by without so much as a whisper because of
scheduling changes, but I was fortunate enough to talk briefly with Alex Tydings.

For those of you who have never seen the Goddess of Love out of costume let me tell you that she wears a beautiful mane of long dark hair.* The blonde hair in the show...it's a wig. That's right. I knew this before I saw her and easily spotted her when I approached the booth she was signing at. Though, she is still a stunningly beautiful woman no matter the hair color. Alex was very friendly and down to Earth. She wore a friendly smile and carried warmth in her eyes when she spoke to me or any of the other people around her.

Luckily I caught her right at the start of her signing session and there were literally no people around to make me move along after I got her to sign the Xena Magazine I bought just for that occasion. I asked her if she was going to be on the show this next season (I feel stupid about it now because I KNOW she's going to be on the show having read the Season Six information at Whoosh and also at MaryD's site). She confirmed that she would be returning for Season Six and was thankful they didn't kill her character off, which I promptly stated how could they kill her off, she was the Goddess of Love after all.

Though our meeting was short and sweet, I came away with a feeling of sincere caring from Alex. I have always liked her character on the show and how she plays her, but now I rank Alex Tydings up there with Danielle Cormack, Gina Torres, and Kevin Smith as one of my favorite Xena actors that I've seen in person.

*Upon further investigation, I found out that Alex is actually a blonde but died her hair for the play she is doing.

********************

"ROC In The Guide"
Renee O'Conner will be one of many featured Women of Sci-Fi in the July 29th issue of TV Guide. She will grace one of the eight different covers printed. Be sure to get your copy.

********************

"Xena In Australia For A Limited Engagement!"
Saturday July 22 was a day Aussie Xenites had hoped for. Channel 10's showing of "Ides of March" and "Fallen Angel". Though a small victory for these Xenites, this is a victory nonetheless. Any chance to watch the Warrior Princess in action is a good one. Let's hope Channel 10 doesn't do what they did last year and decide the ratings aren't good enough to show more than 2 episodes year.

********************

"Prayers For A Xenite"
For those of you who do not know yet fellow Xenite Becky Calvert will be heading to surgery once again this Wednesday morning July 26. She has a para-esophageal hernia, which is described by Becky as her stomach having punched it's way through her diaphragm and is currently residing in her thoracic (chest) cavity.

She has requested that all of us send good vibes her way to help her through not one but TWO surgeries, one on her stomach and one on her diaphragm, and also to help in a speedy recovery. Even if like me you do not know her, please spare her some good thoughts and prayers. Stay tough Xenite sister!�

5) Featured Xena Links

Rate-A-Xena
http://bgaynor.pair.com/xenarate.htm

Ever want to vote on each and every Xena episode to let everyone know how good or how bad you thought each one was? Take a trip over to Beth Gaynor's website and do just that! Your vote DOES count.

********************

The Staked Chakram
http://homepages.go.com/~stakechak/home.html

Lots of fun stuff for Xena and Buffy fans. There are quite a few fans who like both shows and this site delves into both with pics, downloads, wallpaper, quizzes, and other fun things.

********************

Logomancy's Xena Page
http://www.klio.net/XENA/index.html

Chalked full of fun, fun, fun for all Xenites! This site is filled with so much cool stuff you'd have to take my word for it and just check it out for yourself.

********************

The Nutbread Brigade
http://www.nutbread.com/

This is the site I went to for most of “The Way” information last year when we were trying to get the episode put back on the air. This also happens to be Becky Calvert’s website. Drop by and check it out.

by Bacchae2

Episode Twelve Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts and Episode Thirteen Athens City Academy of Performing Bards

Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts

The classic Trojan Horse tail...ur tale retold (revised) Xena-style. Paris is an ambitious, thoughtless dweeb, Helen an abused woman. A little recasting magic and the once gruff, unattractive (and far too tall for Gab) character of Perdicus (see the pilot ep "Sins of the Past") becomes a sympathetic and likeable guy though definitely hunk-of-the-week fodder for the find-Gabby-a-guy gristmill of het propriety--but is this calculation or backfire? He will only last until a second ep which unleashes the inner workings of an almost series-long arc worthy of any Greek Tragedy and displays for anyone with eyes to see the true nature of Xena's feelings for her Bard. It's clear Gabby is swept away by the passion of the moment (there's a war on) and caught up in their shared history (though she herself is fighting fiercely now with her defensive staff, she is much saddened at how he's changed, that he could kill out of revenge and anger...another lost soul, like Xena, for her to reclaim...she can't say no, it's just her nature) she finds herself in an unexpected position in reconsidering her childhood friend and arranged-marriage betrothed, one of the initial reasons she ran away from home. And is she feeling just a little panicked about the true nature of her growing bond with her taciturn travelling companion? Impulsively she kisses Perdicus, leaving Xena out in the cold looking in--and the pain will intensify for her when next they meet.

Subtext Rating: Ouch. How can one little bard inspire such depth of emotion and heartache? Beware of Greek Boys bearing their souls to impressionable and empathetic bards. Don't ask, don't tell, Xena knows
all too well. The real gift evoked in the title occurs when Xena goes hungry to give Gab her apple, a sweet gesture from the former warlord.

************************

Athens City Academy of Performing Bards

Gab's first act of straying from Xena's side to search for something...else. An irresistible opportunity to better her bardly skills. And Xena, who had, at first, been skeptical of the bard as companion (till only partway through the first ep) looks downright unhappy at the prospect of suddenly losing her. We are moving into the territory of friends as "family." Though the "you're like a sister to me" line is completely unworthy of them, even at this early stage. We already have the childhood friendship of "Black Wolf" and Gab's own sister to provide female siblings for the girls. Gab is still a wide-eyed kid (even after Troy?) lusting for the sights of the big city and all the experience life has to offer, which is why her stay there is brief as she finds herself once again longing, even more keenly, for the road--and for Xena. This all seems a bit after-the-fact re Gab's developing skills as a sidekick, but if you gotta do a 'clips show'...this series generally knows how to do one. The teen versions of Homer (wide-eyed as well and not blind, as rumored) and the pompous Euripides are charming touches. As are the scenes from old spaghetti gladiator movies and from the film classic "Spartacus." In adding to the bardic fun, Gab's spirited stories of Xena, related in co-ed dorm rooms of the ancients where she seems to be the only female rooming with the guys, serve to display to no one more clearly than the bard herself just how much she misses her warrior and the subject of her scrolls, too much to stay away--it is a clear and palpable longing.

Subtext Rating: Athens makes the heart grow fonder. The little bard realizes she is incomplete without her warrior (and vice versa).

7) Feedback

Comments on Issue 13

"Great xine again you guys! And all about season 3 - my absolutely favorite year. Ah!....I was in heaven reading this issue. It brought back all the wonderful nearly maintext moments from the season as well as
remembrances of the Rift. I thoroughly enjoyed ArdenTly's feature article. She showed not only the extent to which season 3 brought out deeper issues in X & G's relationship, but also how the line delineating the role each had previously played in the other's life had blurred. Without that blurring the Rift would not have been possible - and the Rift is what brought the show out of "just being another kiddie television show" territory, imo. It's also what made the season so eminently watchable and compelling.

"Also very much enjoyed the episode guide/subtext reviews. Indeed, "Hooves and Harlots" has always been one of my favorite eps. I found the Amazons to have great dignity here - it would have been so easy for the TPTB to just show them as two dimensional T & A characters. This ep also introduced my favorite character (outside of X & G) to the series, Ephiny. It was very sad day for me when they let her die such an ignominious death. The Amazons haven't been portrayed with nearly the same dignity as
in "Hooves and Harlots" ever since. Witness the eps "Lifeblood" and "Kindred Spirits" from season 5....Yeck!

"And Bravo to LadyA's Lowered Expectations Training article! Marvelous tongue in cheek stuff. Very humorous way to show exactly what it is that had so many of us fuming last season. While I intend on using the LE rating scale going into next season....let's all hope it's no longer necessary! All TPTB need to do is read this article to know what, precisely, it is they need to do to fix their show. Perfect!"
-- Sue Winter

"Thanks again for another thoughtful Xine. It was interesting to read ArdenTly's take on season three. She is certainly right about how the show took on more meaty issues and stories and character development than ever before. The best episodes really are living examples of the series transcending its fantasy/adventure genre.

"I personally saw this in the show in season two as well, though. "The Price", for example, certainly got very seriously into the psychology of Xena and Gabrielle's characters, their relationship, as well as issues
relating to war, violence, and morality.

"Destiny" was certainly a very substantive, rich and dark look into what made Xena into the person she is, and the depth of feeling in "The Quest" between Xena and Gabrielle is unsurpassed in the series, in my opinion.

"Substantive themes of existential tragedy, self-sacrifice, and the value of true love could be seen even in the rip-roarin' adventure episode "Lost Mariner".

"I'm not disputing in any way the points about the amazing substantive developments of season three. I just don't feel that XWP was a "kiddie" show up until the start of season three--I see real substance in the
characters and relationship starting all the way back in the first season.

"Bacchae, enjoyed your reviews as always. I have to admit that I can't even remember "The Black Wolf". It might be one of a handful of season one eps I haven't seen, or it may be one of a number of forgettable eps I literally have forgotten.

"Hooves and Harlots" is a season one favorite of mine. I really love the introduction of the Amazons, Ephiny, and the transformation of sidekick Gabby into Amazon Princess Warrior Gabby. A great mix of character development, imagination, humor and high adventure.

"Too bad about Chris Manheim leaving. It's hoping for an awful lot for only one writer from the show's glory days (RJ Stewert) to be able to produce a first-rate season with an ALL new writing staff. Manheim tended to be prolific as well as talented, so it leaves a big hole script-wise in next season.

"Lady Adrell, nice bitingly funny-sarcastic Lowered Expectations lesson. With expectations lowered that far, Gilligan's Island would seem like Shakespeare. *g*
-- Brian Davis

"A note of thanks for such a wonderful issue (I'm referring to issue 13, by the way.) I had first subscribed to the EXine after joining the Yahoo Xena Subtext Club. Browsing around, I found the link to XTS [did I spelled it right?] and the EXine newsletter archives! By issue 3 I knew that I just had to subscribe. Anyhoo, I'm pretty sure that the EXine staff is pretty used to readers' gushings but bear with me, o.k.? I have to admit that, despite the fact that I love to read fan fic I have always been somewhat apprehensive about reading uber-fic [yeah,shame on me, I know.] However, I can happily say that it was the past issues of the EXine focused on uber-fic that tweaked my curiosity. O.k, this is sounding like one of those cheesy informecials on late night TV, but really, thank you for opening my mind into the amazing world of uber fic. I have even begun to delve into the works of the super talented Missy Good."
-- Stella

If you have any comments, suggestions for content, or articles to submit to this Xine, then please contact Lady Adrell at exine@exine.tvheaven.com

(We are accepting submissions for featured articles. Send to above address.)

9) PRIVACY/NO SPAM POLICY!

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11) Credits

The Xena E-Xine Staff:
Chief Editor/Head Reporter/Writer: Lady Adrell
Editor/Head Writer: Bacchae2
Assistance Editor/Researcher: Cindy
FanFic Critic: Cated
Website Analyst: Staff
Episode Guides: Bacchae2

The Fourth Season was not harmed in the production of this Xine, but our
sanity definitely was!

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The contents of this E-Xine may be copied, reproduced, or freely distributed for all nonprofit purposes without the consent of the author as long as the author's name and contact information are included, unless where otherwise stated. Example: Reproduced with permission from Lady Adrell or said author.

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*****	A must read if you are a Hard Core Nutball!
****	It is worth your while to read.
***	It's better than getting punched in the face by Xena.
**	Maybe a go-round with Xena isn't a bad idea..
*	Shoot me...shoot me now!