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To write to the editor regarding your comments, observations, and questions about Whoosh!, send an e-mail to ktaborn@lightspeed.net and mark the subject "Letter to the Editor" to expedite the process. All letters received by the editor are subject to publication and may be edited. Due to the volume received, some letters may not be answered individually or receipt acknowledged and may be published at the editor's discretion. Letters received after the 15th of the month may be reserved for a later issue.
The Genesis and Deconstruction of a Hero
Night Of The Decided Disappointment (Bret's Editorial)
The End Of Xena: Another View (Cynthia's Editorial)
About that Wacky Ending (Kym's Editorial)
Thanks for the Poll
A Bell Rings
SIN TRADE Question
Xenites Fight Back!
Kudos
Xena Goes Virtual
Petition Corner
A New Newsgroup
The Dafyd Thomas Corner
Surprised and Entertained #194-224
Group Therapy #082-099
Disappointed #201-255
Cut That Cord...NOW! #051-085
Surprised and Entertained #225-259
Group Therapy #100-116
Disappointed #256-301
Group Therapy #117-129
Disappointed #302-352
Group Therapy #130-150
Disappointed #353-405
The Genesis and Deconstruction of a Hero
[01]
From: Andrew Shaughnessy
Sent: Friday, July 13, 2001 2:41 PM
Subject: Letter to the EditorI found Whitesword's article, "The Genesis and Deconstruction of a Hero", both thoughtful and thought provoking. It takes courage to stand up and say "Listen, this hero's not so heroic", and her views will doubtless come under attack. This is probably due to the erosion of XWP's fanbase. Many fans gave up on the show due to the change in Xena's character, and those who remain are thus more likely to fall into the "Xena can do no wrong" camp. Since I am one viewer who has sometimes found himself watching the show despite Xena, rather than because of her, I feel I should offer Whitesword my support.
The original concept of a flawed hero struggling towards redemption was a good one. Xena was initially overwhelmed by the enormity of her task, and it was not until she heard those magical words "You're not alone" that she truly believed she could succeed. With Gabrielle seemingly following, but in fact guiding her, Xena set out towards the light. The journey was not an easy one. On several occasions, most notably in TIES THAT BIND and THE PRICE, Xena's inner darkness threatened to rise up and engulf her. In both episodes it was Gabrielle who pulled Xena back from the brink, stressing the importance of the relationship between the two women. It was made abundantly clear that Xena NEEDED Gabrielle, who possessed qualities the Warrior Princess lacked. Who can forget Xena's anguished cry of "Don't leave me!" in IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
All that changed in the 3rd Season. Suddenly Xena began making arbitrary decisions, with catastrophic results. In THE DELIVERER she gave in to her hatred for Julius Caesar and determined to destroy him. Although this occurred only six episodes after THE PRICE Gabrielle, surprisingly, raised no objections. The direct result of this enterprise was the loss of Gabrielle's blood innocence in the Temple of Dahak. Xena, unforgivably in my opinion, never once said "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought you here." Nor was she able to accept her indirect responsibility for the death of her son at Hope's hands. Instead she vented her anger on Gabrielle in one of the most horrific acts of the entire series. This was followed by FORGET ME NOT, an episode so laden with plot holes that its primary purpose seems to have been merely to blacken Gabrielle's character, the only way in which Xena could be made to look better after the opening scenes of THE BITTER SUITE.
The unpleasant streak of self-righteousness which emerged in Xena during Season 3 continued during Season 4. CRUSADER saw Xena's "Kill first, ask questions later" philosophy (look at the problems it caused in REMEMBER NOTHING) pitted against Najara's "Repent or die" message. Actually, by the standards of the day Najara was remarkably lenient, yet Xena seemed horrified by her actions. Why? Were they really so very different? How many potential reformees had Xena killed in the previous three years or so? At least Najara admitted that she might occasionally have made mistakes. To make matters worse, Xena then planned to cold-bloodedly murder Najara, and was prevented from doing so only by Gabrielle's intervention.
Whitesword rightly stresses Xena's lack of respect for Gabrielle, as exemplified in IF THE SHOE FITS. This actually surfaced as early as Season 2, namely the infamous "scroll" incident in A DAY IN THE LIFE. Gabrielle increasingly became Xena's doormat during Season 5, and there were two events which almost drove me away from the show entirely. The first was Xena's appalling mistreatment of a distraught Gabrielle in SEEDS OF FAITH, which showed her as not only insensitive but hypocritical. The second occurred in KINDRED SPIRITS when Xena prepared to pack up and leave her friend - because she was BORED! So much for ONE AGAINST AN ARMY's wonderful line, "Even in death, Gabrielle, I will never leave you".
Xena also showed a remarkable lack of moral courage in her failure to deal with Livia. Compare her indecision - which cost not only Joxer's life but the lives of many innocent civilians - with Gabrielle's poisoning of Hope in MATERNAL INSTINCTS. Indeed, the only swift action Xena took in those final episodes was against her best friend, opening up Gabrielle's skull with her Chakram. Once again, Gabrielle dismissed Xena's belated apology as unnecessary, having already defended Eve against the justifiably outraged Amazons in COMING HOME.
Frankly I have no idea what TPTB had in mind when they allowed the series to take this course. There have been times when I wondered who, if anyone, was actually steering the ship. Ironically, I see hope in the manner of XWP's ending, especially in the way it parallels late Arthurian legend. Lancelot was supposedly the greatest knight in Christendom, a reputation based on his martial prowess, yet his moral flaws caused his downfall. It was his son, Galahad, whose purity enabled him to complete the quest for the Holy Grail. In the series finale the purehearted Gabrielle was left to continue Xena's work. As one hero fell, another rose to take her place. A kinder, gentler hero, with no stain of darkness on her soul. Xena is dead - long live Gabrielle.
Night Of The Decided Disappointment (Bret's Editorial)
[02]
From: Deborah Wood
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2001
Subject: Your comments/opinionAmen Brother!
[03]
From: Marilyn Cristiano
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2001 9:55 PM
Subject: Your Xena Whoosh ReviewI read your Whoosh Review of FINS and totally agree with your interpretation. I find FINS to be a socially irresponsible series finale for Xena. Thank you for writing such a thoughtful review.
Marilyn
[04]
From: GABSTERR
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 8:45 PM
Subject: ResponseYour words on the series finale expressed how most of the fans who have watched the show from day one feel. Although, irrelevant at this point, it would be nice for Mr. Tapert to read your words and realize although he created these characters it seems he lost sight of who these characters had become.
Gaby
[05]
From: Annette King
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 1:42 PM
Subject: another producer-induced destructionJust as an aside, a third TV show that, like "XWP," was like nothing else on television, was "Moonlighting." The producer/writer, whose name escapes me, not only killed the goose that was laying the golden egg for him by eliminating everything that had been charming & funny, he said that he had never been writing the shows to entertain anyway. The show was canceled soon thereafter and then ground down to an embarrassing end. I thought of this during "The Rift" & was really afraid, at that point, that "WXP" would die the same awful death. Apparently, I went into huge denial about the series finale, as I didn't remember that the same guy who was writing the 2-part ender was the same guy who gave us "The Rift." If I'd had a brain, I probably would have seen the handwriting on the parchment. Also, if I'd had a brain, I wouldn't have stayed spoiler-free.
You're right--the whole of "XWP" was more than the sum of its parts. For some of us, it was a way of life &, altho, I'm not gonna burn or throw away all of my Xena stuff, it's kind of hard to look at right now. (However, for some reason, listening to "The Bitter Suite" soundtrack is helping.)
I understand that Xena belonged to Rob Tapert & that he could do what he liked with the character but if he'd wanted to kill her off, I thought that the story could have been better--as you noted, she was manipulated by Akemi ( Borias' comment about Akemi was not in the show I saw but the situation was clear nonetheless). It's hard to believe that Xena could be manipulated by anyone, which is what I find so difficult to wrap my mind around.
Eeek! I seem to be babbling. I'll end by saying that I've enjoyed Whoosh! immensely over the past 5 years &, especially, your many contributions. I always looked forward to your interviews & thought that your one-on-one with Rob Tapert was terrific. Thanks for everything you've given the Xenaverse & I hope I'll keep reading your writing in Whoosh! in the coming months.
Annette King
[06]
From: Gary
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 10:03 PM
Subject: Couldn't agree moreI couldn't agree more with your assessment of the series-ender. I think Many Happy Returns would have been a better last episode because of the hope for an eventual movie. I am 53,and am an old Trekker. We got after Desilu Productions and lobbied for a third season...got it, and then after Star Wars,they saw the way to go was keep the characters alive. We Xena fans wanted better. Why have Xena as a survivor for 6 years and then toss her away? You were right..the last 10 minutes left me flat,saying "what the heck?"...this is IT? She fades away...like Gen. MacArthur.
Best to you,
Gary in Vermont
The End Of Xena: Another View (Cynthia's Editorial)
[07]
From: Amy Skalinder Anich
Subject: series ender comments
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 08:28:34Just read your comments on the series ender, and I must say I was glad to see them. Although I was sad (OK, make that distraught) after watching the final ep, upon reflection, I completely agree with everything you said about why this ending was in fact appropriate. It's disappointing to me to read all the comments about why the ending was so terrible -- I would rather see fans joined together in mourning Xena's death -- ongoing hope for Gabrielle (who can now throw the chakram - what a sign of growth that is for her) -- and appreciation for 6 years of incredible storytelling -- rather than complaining about the artistic choices of TPTB. Thanks for being a different (and in my opinion, sensible) voice on this one.
Amy Skalinder Anich
[08]
From: A A Green
Subject: Thank you for your article on Xena's ending
Date: Tue, 3 Jul 2001 17:09:48I really appreciate your thoughts on the last episode of Xena. You helped me clarify my own thinking about it, and I was feeling decidedly mixed up. I think you're right.
Sincerely yours,
A A Green
[09]
From: Jazzwater
Subject: Thanks for Whoosh Editorial
Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2001 19:53:24 -0500I just wanted to thank you for your editorial in Whoosh. I loved the finale for many of the reasons you expressed. It has been very difficult to go through the process of watching this much loved series end and at the same time witness so much pain in fandom over the finale.
Ironically, I felt isolated from the very community that I expected to find solice among. However, Xenites have been distantly respectful despite for appreciation for the integrity of the finale episode. Your editorial made me feel a little less lonely.
[10]
From: Connie
Subject: Xena finale editorial
Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2001 12:42:45 -0700I'd like to thank you for your editorial at Whoosh expressing your satisfaction with the finale of XWP. I also was satisfied with the ending, once I got over the sadness that; 1) the series was ended and 2) Xena was really dead this time.
I especially liked your comments on Xena choosing her death. That is exactly what I saw as well. She chose her ending so that she could take as many of the enemy with her as possible.
Thank-you again for putting your comments out in public view.
Connie McKibben
About that Wacky Ending (Kym's Editorial)
[11]
From: Amy Murphy
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2001
Subject: About That Wacky EndingVery good and true. I liked some of it, but you can tell this was the big kiss off. Seeing Renee bloom was something, but this ending left me feeling nothing but confused, betrayed and sad. I think one of the worst things you can do to anyone is take their hope. (No pun intended) That's what they took, they took the easy way. You have to earn redemption. Gabrielle in Legacy killed that man by accident, they gave her death and she wanted it. Xena wouldn't let it happen. OK, Xena taught that woman to kill, but didn't tell her to do what she did, but she gives up her life and Gabrielle lets it? Confusing? Yep! There are many other holes that shows they took they easy way out. Very good Kym
Murphy!
[12]
From: Karen Altman
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2001 6:44 AM
Subject: Your editorial about the final Xena showBeautifully written. I don't know how anyone could not be touched by your editorial. I wish I had said it myself. Thank You.
Karen E. Altman
[13]
From: Xenara
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2001
Subject: your editorialJust wanted to say nice work on the editorial. Transcendent is the word alright.
Xenara
[14]
From: Sonia Barrera
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2001
Subject: Your "Whoosh!" editorialHey. Just wanted to thank you for your hard work all these years. I've appreciated it. And wanted to say that this one elegant line captured this for me: "We can watch everyone else in the universe die. But the strength in Xena is how she lives."
sonia
[15]
From: Shelley Miller
Sent: Saturday, June 23, 2001
Subject: Thanks for the wonderful editorialI thoroughly enjoyed reading your thoughts on FIN. I also want to thank you for Whoosh - it was the first Xena site I discovered on the web and remains my favorite.
Shelley Miller aka Riverquest
From: Karen
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2001
Subject: Xena editorialI just read your editorial and it was wonderful. It's nice to know someone such as yourself feels as I do. Thank you so much for all your hard work over the years. I have really enjoyed your Whoosh site. It has bought me alot of joy and entertainment. I just wish I wasn't so sad and disappointed along with so many others but this too will pass. Thanks again.
Karen Altman.
[16]
From: JaneC
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2001 8:59 PM
Subject: #58 editorialWhen I read your editorial about the finale. I cried. Thank you for writing that in such a level-headed objective way. :) To all Whoosh staff and just Whoosh itself, thank you all for being there for us fans. You were my Xena school when I first got hooked. I learned everything there is to know about Xena from your site. Thank you; your heart and soul are very much appreciated. :)
Jane
[17]
From: kristy
Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2001 6:36 PM
Subject: RE: WACHY ENDING AND KUDOSAMEN.
Kris Roberson
Atlanta, GA
Thanks for the Poll
[18]
From: Rich
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2001
Subject: Thank you for offering this poll.Your tireless efforts have given many a Xena fan access to resources that they were looking for. Instead of looking all over the web, they could find most of what they wanted and needed right here.
For this, we thank you!
Rich (HeroJoxer@aol.com)
A Bell Rings
[19]
From: Bongo Bear
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2001
Subject: Letter to the Editor: A Bell RingsEarlier, I wrote about a light coming on when I realized a woman who fights back is still an anomaly in the mass media. Now a distant bell is dinging softly about The Relationship.
That a relationship was even depicted between unrelated women is remarkable. Women have been more typically portrayed as competitors for men's attentions or as auxiliary personages to their bosses, children, parents, or spouses. Rarely have women been portrayed outside of their interdependence on others. When women are seen alone, they are usually pining after someone. Unless women are related to each other as sisters or mothers and daughters, they are often shown as divided against themselves.
What is different about Xena and Gabrielle is that they are women who seek each other's company because they want to. Not because they want to compare pictures of their kids; no sizing up swimming trophies. Not because of a desired relationship with a man; no cat fights here. Not because of societal obligations imposed by gender roles; i.e., no one plays the maid. They want to be together because they are attracted to each one another. They see each other as individuals, complete human beings with something unique to bring to The Relationship.
Now, XWP has consistently portrayed X&G together, though the show vacillated between depicting a team and an outright couple. So XWP fits the model of depicting women in a relationship. FRIEND IN NEED ends with Gabrielle standing alone on the deck of a ship. Her fate fits the model of a woman pining after someone she loves. Well, sort of. Xena doesn't really go away for good. The difference is that Xena and Gabrielle chose to be together. There was no peer pressure pushing them together like Perdicus was thrust upon Gabrielle. There was oddly no peer pressure pulling them apart either. Whatever reasons they had to stay together were theirs alone. In the end, XWP showed me one of the purest relationships I've ever seen on TV.
Bongo Bear
SIN TRADE Question
[20]
From: David Milligan
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2001
Subject: Letter to the EditorNow that the ending had finally and tragically come, and no new eps are forthcoming, I have a question about a past episode (actually two). I have posted this question time and again on alt.tv.xena and atl.tv.renee but no one will, or can answer, so I am turning to the final authority --
"Adventures in the Sin Trade" pts 1 and 2. It has always been my understanding that the "sin trade" was slavery. Since the story obviously was not about that, then
A.) What was the Sin?David E. Milligan
B.) What was being traded?
Xenites Fight Back!
[21]
From: Jeannie Brownsberger
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2001
Subject: Re: Xena Warrior PrincessI thought, for kicks, you might be interested in an email I sent to the local station that airs Xena in my area. Mind you, it is not typical of my character to send complaints to TV stations, this is my first. Neither am I accustom to responding to "fan" polls. However, when the mood hits . . . .
Dear WSB-TV I just finished viewing Xena Warrior Princess, the series finale, this afternoon. And now I am soothing my sore fist after slamming it into the wall in total frustration with your station. You have succeeded, through your incompetence, of robbing any pleasure I might have reaped from watching this show. But this pattern began before this final season started. It was then that you moved the airing of Xena to the graveyard shift of 3:05 a.m. Sunday. And that was only when you felt like being consistent. Sometimes it was 2:05, sometimes 4:05, but mostly 3:05, unless of course, some other local, obscure programming didn't pre-empt it. Other times during the broadcast, there was 10 minutes of black screen or static to suffer through because the broadcast was lost. But I am a follower of the show and I can be tenacious. I stuck with it, countering your inconsistency by always checking the TV schedule from various sources, setting my VCR and checking it twice. So here we come to the series ending, the much-hyped finale, a show most cities had the pleasure of viewing a week ago in a 2-hour prime time slot. But, I didn't complain, I waited patiently. Last week I dutifully set my VCR to the 3:05 Sunday time slot to record Part 1 of the finale, even waking up to make sure I captured it. This Sunday, 3:05 again, same ritual for Part 2. But no, another episode, a repeat from earlier in the season, was aired. Ah, but I still have a chance, because the finale was schedule for a 2 hour viewing Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Great. So, again, I set my VRC, purposely taping over Part 1 to get the 2 hours together. But it was not to be mine. In your continuing pattern of incompetence and disregard for the viewing public, you screwed up this show as well. A full 10 minutes of the end of Part 1 is cut out, a crucial part. We stare at a bleak screen and then the logo of Channel 2. Then Part 2 begins, now disjointed because of what was omitted from Part 1. Finally, we are subjected to commercial after commercial to fill the void of what was cut out. At one point we had 5 minutes of commercial, 30 seconds of show, and 5 more minutes of commercial. Now you may be thinking that this is a trivial complaint; that the issue of viewing this fantasy show will be forgotten tomorrow. Maybe it will. It certainly doesn't rank up there with world hunger, Aides, or Teresa Junqueira, a widowed, blind, destitute victim of Angola's war, profiled in today Atlanta Journal. But there are a few pleasures I get out of life. And I was certainly hoping I could count on you to simply broadcast a show in its entirety when you advertised you would. I guess some expectations are just too high. Jeannie Brownsberger Marietta, Georgia
Kudos
[22]
From: Carolyn Parral
Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 2:20 AMjust to let you know how much i"ve enjoyed reading "whoosh"...it is a remarkable undertaking! it is so well done and very very entertaining. it seems wherever there is anything xena mentioned....or questions about the characters , plots etc. someone always directs the seeker to "whoosh"...i found you by accident...and have been gratefully informed about my favorite tv series through your tireless efforts..please know there are many who feel as i do...in my family and circle of friends no one is interested in xena ..so i read "whoosh" to get the latest scoop on all things xena! i recently found out about the netforum & tho' i've never posted anything yet , (i've been lurking) I am amazed at how many people are or were addicted to this offbeat,campy wonderful show! it is great to know there is /was a "xenaverse" so i know i'm not the only nut around ! you know what ??....you got a great life!
a very grateful fan
[23]
From: Merlin3409
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2001 8:29 PM
Subject: Letter to the EditorA letter of thanks to you all for creating and maintaining a wonderfully resourceful site! I have turned to this site many a time during what will be fondly remembered as the Xena Years of my life.
Your articles, information, episode guides and interviews, so often came in handy as I and many, many other die hard fans discussed our favorite show.
Thanks again to everyone on the staff!
Melanie Rochette
Xena Goes Virtual
[24]
From: MacavityCat
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2001 4:43 PM
Subject: Virtual SeasonJust thought that you would like to know that the site is up and running. First season episode is to air on or about 9/24/01
The site is an all new season of Xena: Warrior Princess. Episodes will be in manuscript format and the site contains: an introduction, how to become a volunteer, Fan Art, Forum for fans to chat, a FAQ, Xena Episode Guide (in production), Virtual Season, Spoilers, What's new, Contact information, Disclaimer information, Affiliation Links and we are going to be adding a chat room soon also.
The URL for the site is: http://xwpvs.tripod.com
MacavityCat
xwpvs team
Petition Corner
[25]
From: Amy Skalinder Anich
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 6:28 AM
Subject: xena on dvdI have located an online petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/xenadvd/petition.html).
Thanks for your great work on the Whoosh site for all these years. Although I've never contributed, I've thought about it often - and have read just about everything out there in the episode guide. What a great resource!
Amy Skalinder Anich
Evanston, IL
[26]
From: Jennifer Treadway
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2001
Subject: Xena PetitionHi there, I've created a petition which has been growing rapidly to reunite Xena with Gabrielle one last time! If you are interested, i would love for you to put a link to your site and support it if you feel the same. I will continue to battle on until i make a difference!
Thank you,
Jennifer (always a loyal fan)
http://www.petitionpetition.com/cgi/petition.cgi?id=1952
[27]
From: anonymous
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 4:41 AM
Subject: Xena Movie PetitionI have just read and signed the online petition: "Xena : Warrior Princess Motion Picture" hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition service, at: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/xena/. I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider signing yourself.
A New Newsgroup
[28]
From: Anya
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2001
Subject: alt.fan.lucy-lawless newsgroup createdOn June 26, 2001, I got the alt.fan.lucy-lawless newsgroup created on the Usenet. Also, in support of the newsgroup, I got a webpage uploaded with "Lucy only" pics in keeping with the new focus on Lucy, the actress, not just Lucy aka Xena. Hope you like it. Please let me know of good links, etc., to add to it. Whoosh, is, of course, on it.
It's at: http://member.newsguy.com/~herblady/lucylawless.htm
It includes the Charter and Justification statement that you can mail to your ISP to ask them to add the Newsgroup, if they haven't already done so.
It might be nice, also, if you could announce the NG on Whoosh, because your visitors may find their ISP added it, or they can find out how to petition them to add it.
Anya http://member.newsguy.com/~herblady
The Dafyd Thomas Corner
[29]
From: Michaela Richards
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2001 2:03 PM
Subject: Letters to the editorOH DEAR!
I have several issues I would like to address in this letter the first being a cyber punch in the chops to that fool Dafyd Thomas. You are mental, what on earth do you talk about, and what goes on in your head! With people like you around it is no wonder that Lucy and Renee and scared to meet their fans!
In May's issue you insult that name that Lucy and Rob have chosen for their baby, in this months letter you insult the love that Rob so clearly has for his wife! There is such a thing as slander. Why are you so horrid about everything, yes I'm sure that their are episodes of Xena we all don't like but that doesn't change our enjoyment of the programme. You Mr Thomas are silly little man who needs to live in the real world these people do a job and frankly they are bloody good at their jobs I am sure the last thing they want or need is you being so down right rude!
On a different note. The convention in the UK was wonderful all the actors behaved wonderfully they enjoyed meeting all their fans and it was a pleasure to meet them, it really was. Thankyou so much guys and special thanks to Hudson Leick she is probably the most genuine and sincere person I have ever had the good fortune to meet.
Michaela
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