======================================= FALLING IN LOVE WITH XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS IAXS Project #429 By L. N. Cisneros (chulat@mail.hooked.net) Copyright 1998 held by author 1774 words ======================================= Author's Note This was the result of a 3 page letter I had written which made me wonder: why the 'heck' do I like this show so much (that I would write a 3 page letter)? And a special note of thanks to SheWho...posted an email one day that found the humor from an intense episode and made me laugh at (and with) the show. FALLING IN LOVE WITH XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS [01] I wonder if it would have been possible not to fall in love, which is why, before I start to rant on about how much I love the show, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS (XWP), I have to make a couple of confessions. Love at First Sight...Not [02] I did not get hooked on the show straightaway. I had watched some pieces of the episodes as I was channel surfing, but they were not enough to keep my interest. Nevertheless, I kept hearing about the show via TV spots, and consequently, I read a couple of articles, including the TV GUIDE with Xena on the cover (May 3-9, 1997). They were all singing the show's praises, about it being a breakthrough series, especially in that it had a strong woman lead and a loyal woman sidekick. Mostly for that reason, I thought I should give the show another look. However, I found the parts of episodes I did watch corny and I could not understand what all the fuss was about. Here a Text, There a Text, Everywhere a Subtext [03] Then I started to hear all the hype about the subtext (a.k.a. lesbian innuendo) that was supposedly in the show. (My inquiry into these theories was greatly aided by some very insistent World Wide Web pages). I thought, subtext?, huh? [04] So, I looked up the definition: 1. the complex of feelings, motives, etc. conceived of by an actor as underlying the actual words and actions of a character being portrayed, 2. An underlying meaning, theme, etc. [05] I have to admit, I was very intrigued (to arouse the interest, desire, or curiosity of). [06] The show was already into the re-runs for the second season, so the first full episode I watched was DESTINY (36/212). I found out about Xena's past and what had made her really bad before she "turned good". Next, I watched THE QUEST (37/213), and got to see Gabrielle in action, and got a taste of the style and humor in the show. (A kiss anyone?) Then, I saw A DAY IN THE LIFE (39/215) and got a big dose of comedy and lots of innuendo. I was watching the show with "new eyes" and really started enjoying it. Lawless Impressions [07] What finally hooked me, however, was more than just the show and the promise of subtext. It was the reaction to the subtext: not from the fans, but from those involved in the show itself. Their reaction was, at first, surprise: "[I]t took us by surprise..." (Liz Friedman in CURVE July, 1997), then later, acceptance and now even reflects an appreciation: Lucy Lawless even showed up at a New York City lesbian club, "Meow Mix", to show her appreciation to these fans, twice ("HX for Her", 1 October 1997). It has even been implied that the subtext and innuendo are now, at times, done on purpose: "[T]here are times to make a little innuendo, and we'll keep doing that." (Lucy Lawless in GLAMOUR, October 1997). [08] In many interviews with Lucy Lawless, there are always similar questions regarding "Are you a lesbian?" and/or "What do you think about your lesbian following?" She always responds openly and positively: [T]hey [the lesbian following] are the sanest... [fans] of fandom", ("Late Night with Conan O'Brien", 9/19/97); "[T]hey make the show hip", (NY TV station interview, 9/97); "Why should it bother me that I'm a sex symbol to women more than men? It doesn't mean that I'm in the market for either...But no, I don't have a problem with that sort of thing at all", (CNN interactive, U.S. News Story Page, August 1, 1997); "[N]o, I'm not [a lesbian], but if I was, I would say so loud and proud" (Howard Stern interview, 9/97). [09] I can imagine the stress and pressure on someone who becomes this popular, but she always remains gracious and positive, even in the Howard Stern interview (about which I wondered, "Why do this interview?" but, I digress). She takes being a role model seriously so she quit smoking ("TV Times Star", 12-18th July 1997). She has integrity and heart. [10] One night, I had gone to the stage door after "Grease!" to try to get Lucy's autograph on my Playbill (me and everyone else it seemed). Once the show had ended, a fairly large crowd had formed behind the pink barriers. A small boy to my right was sandwiched in between people and was trying to wait patiently for Lucy to come out. He asked his parents several times, "When is she coming out?" They wondered if they should leave because he was so squished. When Lucy finally came out, she immediately started signing autographs as fast as she could. The boy was so worried about getting her autograph that he tried to go under the barrier but was stopped and told to go back into the crowd. As Lucy was frantically signing autographs, all of a sudden, she stopped, look down to my right and said, "Oh, how sweet", looking straight at the small boy. He sheepishly handed her his playbill to be autographed, which she did. Then, she leaned over the barrier and kissed him on the cheek. I got an autograph too. [11] This is the same person who, in front of a large audience of fans, said, "I am tired of all this gay bashing. This show is not about sexuality. It is about love. The love between people and what they do in their own personal time is their own d*mn business. I think love is love and whoever you choose to love is wonderful, and as long as you find love, how can that be wrong" (Creation's Xena/Hercules convention in New York City, 9/28/97.) I looked out across the sea of people who heard this including all the kids and the kid's parents and smiled. You could have heard a pin drop. [12] How could I not admire and respect someone who is so genuine, honest, sincere, and incredibly accepting? There's No Business [13] And, then there is the show. [14] As I continued to watch episodes of XWP, including previous episodes, thanks to the ever abundant helpful fans on the Internet, I came to appreciate the "tongue-in-cheek" style and the progression and maturing of the characters and themes in the show (especially the first season and many episodes in the second season). [15] What about all that sometimes "over the top" action and sound effects, silly humor, and historical inaccuracies? I like them. They remind me not to take things too seriously. Why else would Stonehenge appear in the midst of the smoke and ruins of a destroyed temple at the end of an intense episode [THE DELIVERER (50/304)]? Why else Joxer? At the same time, the characters, stories and humor have feeling and depth. Even Joxer ("conceit in weakest bodies strongest works" [HAMLET]). [16] What about all that innuendo? What I explain to my friends as one of the reasons that I love XWP so much now is that it is similar to my love for the Warner Brothers cartoons, like Bugs Bunny: I loved them as a kid, but how much more fun they are as an adult now that I get the jokes of all the innuendo that runs through them. I have always argued that those cartoons (and now XWP) were made for adults and kids happen to enjoy them too (and I am just a kid at heart). Besides, Bugs Bunny was the first guy I saw in drag. [17] Here is a show where boundaries are pushed. The lead character is a strong, independent woman, who makes no apologies for who she is, but yet is striving for acceptance and redemption, and trying to do so without losing herself. This is a struggle so many people, whatever their gender or sexual identification, are very familiar with. Some of her toughest battles are fought inside herself, which is where the lessons are learned. She has grown to love and be loved by someone who is also a strong, independent woman who has deep-rooted ideals. And, they have fun. [18] How could I not fall? Disclaimer [19] My cat, Rusty, was in no way harmed as I kept tossing him off of me while I wrote this at the computer. Biography L. N. Cisneros (chulat@mail.hooked.net) http://whoosh.org/pictures/nopic.jpg On this past 'coming out day', I came out to all my friends and co-workers as a XWP fan. It was strange, but everyone said that they already knew. The best part was that for Christmas, my sister gave me a Xena II doll. However, before Xena came along, I was born and raised in Houston, TX (which is why I have a soft spot for Renee O'Connor) and, after completing a BS and MS in Computer Science, I spent 8 « long years in Los Angeles, CA. Thankfully, 4 years ago, I landed a great job in San Francisco, CA where XWP gets shown twice a week! Since the entrance of Xena in my life, I have become an avid collector of comics, major surfer of the web, reader of fan fiction, internet lurker extraordinaire, gun tote'n, gum chewin', VCR tapin' obsessed Xenite (ok, so I don't really have a gun). For the third year in a row, on May 31 to June 6, I will be riding my bicycle 560 (well, last year it was 583) miles up and down mountains from San Francisco, CA to Los Angeles, CA as rider #2294 in CA AIDS Ride 5 (for which I need to raise a minimum of $2,500.00 in the battle against AIDS. Sponsor me?). Favorite episode: A DAY IN THE LIFE (39/215) Favorite line: Toris: "She is brave because that's the way she is." DEATH MASK (23/123) First episode seen: DESTINY (36/212) Least favorite episode: FOR HIM THE BELL TOLLS (40/216) and THE XENA SCROLLS (34/210)