CHANGING TIMES:
THE PATH NOT TAKEN and THE RECKONING
THE PATH NOT TAKEN
It all started with bad saki and a gal that broke her heart...
[01] In THE PATH NOT TAKEN (#05), Xena deals with a bit
of her past which has invaded her present, Gabrielle
gets herself into trouble all with the best of
intentions, and Argo starts showing her many skills.
The Changing Xena
[02] This is the first episode in which Xena is
approached for help rather than just running in to save
the day. At first she brushes it off, saying she
doesn't work for nations or money, just for people who
need her. She is purposely not fighting for the things
she used to fight for: money and power.
[03] When the boy convinces her his plea is personal
and worthy of help, Xena sends him to give her 'pay' to
the poor. Again, she's thinking of other people not
immediately around (the poor), rather than just
herself. Xena is now looking out for people she never
used to think about.
[04] When Xena tells Gabrielle she's going back to
Trakus and is strangely looking forward to it, she also
says she is certain she is coming back to Gabrielle.
She has become confident enough in her control over her
evil side that she feels safe going into an 'evil'
place she wants to see again.
[05] Xena thinks she can pull off her being a warlord
still, but it doesn't work. The other fighters let
themselves be fooled at first, but don't fall for it
long. Marcus even comments, "The old Xena would have
laughed her head off at that story. You where so
determined, like you had something to prove. Now, it's
like you have the answer and I've never even found the
question." Xena has already changed enough that she
noticeably doesn't have that driving force she had that
made her so evil.
Gabrielle knows her way around a tavern
[06] At the beginning of this episode, Xena and
Gabrielle walk into a bar full of the lower sort of
clientele. When several men try and hit on her, she
calmly knocks them down until they leave her alone.
When Xena meets up with her old love, Marcus, and he
starts kissing her near the well, things are different.
The very fact that she lets him kiss her and then only
verbally protesting she has to go, shows she cares for
him and doesn't want to harm him. Since Marcus and
Xena fought together when she was evil, this is the
first love interest (versus Xena using men who love
her) we know she had back then. The Warrior Princess
was able to feel love.
[07] Xena has now changed someone from evil to good,
like Hercules did for her. Marcus did do most of it
himself. Yet it was Xena's code of honor (what saved
her and turned her back to good) about not killing the
defenseless that made him try to change the first time.
Marcus had no one to help support him and keep him to
the side of good, so he changed back...until Xena once
again showed him the way to good.
Xena -- she's changeable!
[08] There are a few more interesting points about this
episode. Xena shows yet again how quick of a thinker
she is. She has to deal with a clever man like
Mezentius with very little warning about what was going
to happen next. Also, Xena really does love Marcus.
She wanted to tell Marcus about her plan, even when she
still refuses to tell Gabrielle her plans. She wanted
to trust him, something warlords don't do, yet she was
basing her trust from the knowledge of Marcus she
learned when she was a warlord. At the end, she calls
Marcus her friend, which is quite a high honor with
Xena. Finally, Xena tells Marcus at the end she could
have killed Mezentius and Marcus didn't have to die,
yet Xena's throw was a little too slow. Imagine the
guilt.
The Changing Gabrielle
Um, Gabrielle changeable too!
[09] Gabrielle doesn't play a huge part in this
episode, but she still changes some. At the beginning
she asks, "Without adventure, what's the point?" She's
still the spunky innocent who thinks talking and logic
will solve everything. This time she talks not only
herself, but another, into a death sentence. She was
only trying to help, but she still simply doesn't
understand how evil or sorrow-torn people react yet.
[10] A few other things are noticeable in this episode.
Gabrielle is again left behind and out of the thick of
things, but this time Xena has a valid reason: she
simply doesn't fit in Trakus. Gabrielle is also
concerned that Xena might just leave her and return to
her old ways. This shows Gabrielle really does
understand how much of a battle it is for Xena to fight
her past.
Gabrielle knows a lot more than she lets on at times
Argo Struts Her Stuff
[11] In this episode Argo starts to show off her many
skills as a war-horse. She kicks the drunk at the
beginning on a whistle command. Xena whispers in
Argo's ear and sends her away before going into Trakus,
obviously knowing Argo can take care of herself and
follow instructions. Maybe the fact that Argo is a
WAR-horse is what makes Gabrielle so jumpy to ride her.
THE RECKONING
Ares knows what he wants and has no problem going after it
[12] In this episode (#06), Xena begins her direct
fight against the god of war, Ares, but wins by cunning
rather than force. Gabrielle plays a major part in
saving Xena's hide, but she also learns that justice
isn't always served. Argo gets to show off a few
more
skills.
The Changing Xena
"If I run now, I'll be running forever."
Xena, THE RECKONING
[13] Xena meets Ares for the first time. When Xena
first fights him, she later tells Gabrielle she was
equally matched, if not the lesser talent, yet during
the whole fight she was smiling that smile of enjoyment
she gets when fighting. As Ares says, "Danger excites
you and, as you know, I am somewhat dangerous." He
tempts her with power and an army, then decrees she
could pass "if it would make you happy," and finally
her life. Xena admits that she almost calls out his
name, but only because she wants to live. Here Xena
takes the step in deciding that death for "doing what's
right" is more valuable to her than living as Ares'
queen.
[14] Xena also learns how strong a friendship she has
with Gabrielle. She tells Gabrielle to leave, but the
bard stays to defend her best friend. Xena is put into
a fighting daze, through pain and Ares' power, to the
point she blindly hits Gabrielle, yet the bard still
comes back to help Xena escape. Gabrielle even says,
"I trust you. I never thought you meant to hurt me."
Trust is something Xena values and her loyalty might
have been what was needed to free her. Xena was almost
ready to let the villagers kill her because of her
guilt at hitting Gabrielle. She was ready to die for a
crime she didn't commit because of the crimes she has
committed and felt she is still capable of committing.
Xena had the quick thinking to win herself free from
Ares, but Gabrielle gave her the will to do it.
[15] Finally, Xena refuses to fight the farmers,
despite being threatened, because it would be
slaughter. She has taken her code of not killing the
defenseless (those with no weapons) to not killing
anyone innocent, even if they have weapons.
The Changing Gabrielle
Gabrielle appears to have misplaced her peasant dress
[16] Gabrielle is the logical and quick thinker again.
At the trial, she finds points to put doubt into the
villagers' minds while having very little time to think
of answers. She also shows her usual gutsy (and loyal)
side by staying to defend Xena with her life. She puts
the executioner's rope around her neck to assure Xena
of a trial. She also stands up against a bunch of
angry villagers at the trial and even when it was not
in session, probably. She even was willing to break
the law to get Xena out in the end, trusting in Xena
and her goodness, over the accusations of the villagers
and the hit Xena gave her.
Gabrielle discovers her lawyerly tendencies in THE RECKONING
[17] Gabrielle loses yet another bit of her innocence
in THE RECKONING, though. She is so confident that
justice always wins that she isn't worried that Xena
will be found guilty. Then the villagers almost don't
give Xena a trial. Xena tells her, "I've seen what can
happen to people who's loved ones were killed. Their
vision gets bent and twisted; there's no telling what
they'll do." Xena knows that from personal experience,
or at least saw it when she conquered villages. Also,
when Gabrielle decides to break Xena out, she says, "I
also learned there's a big difference between what
justice is and what the law is." Gabrielle has lost
her complete belief in the law, but not in justice.
Argo Struts Her Stuff
Argo sees all and knows all
[18] Argo gets to rear twice in this episode, the
second time tossing Gabrielle to the ground. Gabrielle
even has the guts to then go find Argo and ride her
back to Xena's cell. Also, Argo has got to be pretty
strong, considering Gabrielle was going to have Argo
pull down some pretty secure jail bars.
