Xena
Xena | |
---|---|
Solan (son, with Borias; deceased)Eve (daughter; reincarnation of Callisto) | |
Relatives | Unnamed maternal grandmother Mel Pappas (descendant) Melinda Pappas (descendant) Melinda Pappas II (descendant) Jonah (grandson) |
Nationality | Thracian |
Xena is a fictional character from the
Xena is the
Creation and production
Xena was developed in 1995 by John Schulian as a minor character in
The original choice to play Xena was British actress
Bruce Campbell, Rose McIver, Hudson Leick, and Ted Raimi also portrayed Xena in various episodes as a result of "body-swap" plotlines.
The name Xena derives from the ancient Greek ξένος (xenos), meaning "stranger".[5]
Appearances and development
Origins on Hercules
Xena originally appears as a
In "
Fictional character history
Initial turn to evil
Several years prior to the series pilot, "Sins of the Past", Xena commits numerous deeds from terrorism to piracy and murder, and at one point becomes known as the "Destroyer of Nations". Her journey down the path of evil arguably begins when her brother is killed during an attack by the warlord Cortese. Xena vows revenge and becomes estranged from her mother as a result.
Later she acts as the captain of a pirate ship, raiding ships and ransoming hostages. It is during one ransom attempt that she encounters a young Roman nobleman named Julius Caesar. Caesar is an experienced warrior and military commander with grand ambitions. He and Xena have a passionate love affair and plan to join forces. Caesar, however, betrays Xena. Caesar has Xena beaten and crucified (with her legs broken) on a beach to die of exposure, but she is saved by an Egyptian slave girl named M'Lila. M'Lila had originally stowed away on Xena's ship and subsequently befriends her and teaches Xena how to use pressure points. After saving Xena, M'Lila takes her to a healer who treats her injuries. While the healer is treating Xena, Roman soldiers burst in and try to kill Xena, but M'Lila shields Xena, takes a fatal shot from a crossbow and dies in Xena's arms.
This event drives Xena to the side of evil completely. Despite her injuries, she kills the soldiers but warns the last one before he dies, "Tell Hades to prepare himself; a new Xena is born tonight."[9]
First steps towards redemption
Afterward, Xena becomes the leader of an army and aligns herself with Borias, seducing him away from his family and the two join forces. The two become lovers and Xena eventually becomes pregnant with her son
Borias betrays Xena, leading to Xena running for her life and being hunted. While on the run, Xena meets Lao Ma, a woman with special abilities. She scares away the hounds chasing Xena with just a look and can move like a martial artist which awes Xena. Lao Ma cares for Xena, and under her friend's guidance, she learns to put aside much of her hatred and pain. Lao Ma heals Xena's crippled legs and it is implied that she teaches Xena fighting moves she had not yet developed. Lao Ma gives Xena the metaphorical title "Warrior Princess", intending that she be a major catalyst for change in the land.
Borias and Xena reconcile and renew their alliance, only to break it a final time and split their forces between them, with Xena proving the stronger of the two. Borias is killed in the ensuing battle, and Xena gives the newborn Solan to the centaurs to raise.
Encounter with Hercules and subsequent reform
Xena continues her life as a warlord for many years. She turns against her troops to protect a baby whose family would not pay the ransom she demanded. Her troops try to kill Xena for becoming weak in their eyes. After these events, Xena travels with Hercules for a short time and they share a brief romantic relationship. While their romance does not last long, the two form a special friendship. In "Prometheus", each acknowledges the positive impact the other had on the world.
Meeting Gabrielle
Haunted by her past transgressions, she is about to give up on her life as a warrior completely.
Gabrielle follows Xena in a quest to persuade Xena to let her be her traveling companion. Xena returns to her hometown, Amphipolis, and eventually reconciles with her mother, Cyrene.[10] She also visits the grave of her brother Lyceus. When Xena privately confides with Lyceus that it is difficult to be alone, Gabrielle—who is silently standing in the doorway of the crypt—tells her, "You're not alone." Soon, Xena agrees to allow Gabrielle to travel with her. Over time, Gabrielle becomes Xena's dearest friend and soulmate.
Subsequent travels and hardships
Gabrielle and Xena become best friends, soulmates and constant companions over the many adventures that follow. Each of the women learns from the other; Gabrielle becomes a warrior on behalf of good, while Xena develops a softer and more loving personality to balance her warrior's heart. Xena's life is marred by many tragedies. Her son Solan, who never came to know her as his mother, is killed by
The instances where Xena and Gabrielle almost part ways tend to result from the outside manipulations of others. After Gabrielle's demonic daughter Hope kills Xena's son, Gabrielle, consumed with grief, journeys to stay with the Amazons. Xena locates her and tries to kill Gabrielle by throwing her over a cliff while she is in a weakened state. Xena fails and both women reconcile with the help of Solan's spirit. Solan creates the land of Illusia wherein, through music, both women express their grief and anger at each other and the traumas they have endured. Xena confesses that she did indeed kill Ming T'ien because he killed his mother Lao Ma. Xena admits to Solan that she is his mother and asks his forgiveness.
Enemies
Soon after the start of her journeys with Gabrielle, Xena runs into
The path to redemption continues
Marcus, a warrior, close friend and lover from her warlord days, whom she persuades to follow her in choosing good, is killed while doing his first good deed.[14] Later he is allowed to briefly return to the world of the living to help thwart a vicious killer who has escaped from the Underworld. He and Xena spend a night together before Marcus has to return to the other side.[15] Several years after her first meeting with Lao Ma, a messenger is sent by Lao Ma to ask Xena to travel to China to aid in stopping a great evil. She sets out without delay, but insists that she must deal with this alone and that Gabrielle stay behind.
Xena arrives too late to save her mentor and friend
Eve/Livia
This leads to the birth of Xena's daughter,
During that time, Eve is adopted by the Roman nobleman
Final redemption and death
Xena's quest for redemption ends when she sacrifices herself to kill the Japanese demon Yodoshi, who is holding the souls of the dead. Xena single-handedly fights the Japanese army and dies. Xena, now a spirit, fights and kills Yodoshi. Xena decides to stay dead so the souls of the 40,000 she accidentally killed years ago can be released into a state of peace. The series ends with Gabrielle on a ship, holding Xena's ashes and speaking with Xena's spirit.[24]
Legacy
According to the darshan, Naiyima,[25] this is only one of many lives Xena will live throughout the ages. One such life is that of Arminestra, an Indian holy mother who leads a movement that preaches peace. Another is a transcriber of ancient languages named Melinda Pappas who uncovers the tomb of Ares during WWII and is possessed by the spirit of Xena to stop the God of War. In many of those lives, she will walk a path together with her soulmate, Gabrielle, furthering the cause of good against evil.
Skills and abilities
Xena has many skills that she acquired during her extensive travels across the ancient world throughout the years. She has remarkable skill and prowess in hand-to-hand combat, displaying numerous acrobatic tricks and the ability to disable or otherwise kill multiple opponents at once. She is also skilled in the use of pressure points – being able to cripple or even kill someone if she triggers the appropriate pressure point. Xena has extensive knowledge of first aid and herbal remedies that rivals any professional healer.
Xena's signature weapon is the
Xena is a formidable tactician, inspirational leader, and strategic thinker. She has the ability to analyze her enemy's tactics and effectively formulate a response. In responding to her enemies' attacks, she demonstrates creativity and ingenuity; at times, she has worked with little or no resources and limited time. Xena is well versed in military tactics such as forming a defensive perimeter, building defensive fortifications, organizing and leading troops, and cutting an enemy's supply lines. She also repeatedly demonstrates a talent for disguises, infiltration, and cryptography.
Although the majority of her skills are martial and mental, Xena does have some supernatural abilities. On three occasions, she used telekinesis and energy projection thanks to Lao Ma's teachings. Xena also once possessed the power to kill gods through her daughter, Eve. Outside of these specific powers, Xena knows the rudiments of most other forms of magic, enough that she can effectively battle or outwit magic-wielding opponents.
In other media
Xena has appeared in all of the series spin-offs, usually as the lead character. The animated movie
Xena is a playable character in the videogames Xena: Warrior Princess, and a selectable character in The Talisman of Fate.[31][32] In 1999, Lucy Lawless also appeared in the animated television show The Simpsons as Xena during the Treehouse of Horror X.[33][unreliable source?] In the video game League of Legends the character Sivir has a skin titled "Warrior Princess" that resembles Xena.
A statue of Xena made an appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, confirmed by the film's director Sam Raimi. However, the statue did not indicate any bigger relation to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and only served as a fun easter egg with no narrative subtext.[34]
Reception and legacy
Lesbian subtext and debates
Xena has enjoyed a particular cult status in the lesbian community. Some of the lesbian fanbase see Xena and Gabrielle as a couple and have embraced them as role models and lesbian icons.
A subject of much interest and debate among viewers is the question of whether Xena and Gabrielle are lovers.
In a 2003 interview with Lesbian News magazine, Lawless stated that after the series finale, she had come to believe that Xena and Gabrielle's relationship was "Gay. Definitely... There was always a 'Well, she might be or she might not be,' but when there was that drip of water passing between their lips in the very final scene, that cemented it for me. Now it wasn't just that Xena was bisexual and kinda liked her gal pal and they kind of fooled around sometimes, it was 'Nope, they're married, man'."[39]
The Xena fandom also popularized the term Altfic (from "alternative fiction") to refer to same-sex romantic fan fiction.[40] Many fans felt the term slash fiction carried the connotation of being only about male/male couples and was not a good description for romantic fan fiction about Xena and Gabrielle.[citation needed]
Inspired by episodes that featured Xena and Gabrielle sharing past lives or living in alternate timelines, Xena fanfiction writers created an original new genre known as Uberfic.
She was ranked No. 3 in
Popular culture
Xena: Warrior Princess has been referred to as a
The television series, which employed pop culture references as a humorous device, has itself become a pop culture reference in video games, comics and television shows, and has been frequently parodied and spoofed.Xena has been credited by many, including
In 2005, the team that discovered the
In 2006, Lucy Lawless donated her personal Xena costume to the Museum of American History.[49] In an interview the same year with Smithsonian, she was asked the question "Was the Warrior Princess outfit comfortable?" and she responded:
Not at first, because they would put boning in the corset. It would cover up those little floating ribs that are so important for breathing, so I'd feel like I was having panic attacks. But it just became a second skin after a while. It was very functional, once I got over the modesty factor. I admit to being a little bit embarrassed the first couple weeks because I'd never worn anything so short.
— Lucy Lawless, Smithsonian, November 2006, page 44
In 2004, Xena was listed at number 100 in
See also
References
- As Darkness Falls". Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. 20 February 1995.
- ^ a b "Sins of the Past". Whoosh. 11 May 2001. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
- ^ a b "Xena Gets the Axe". BBC News. 17 October 2000. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
- ^ a b "Lucy Lawless Interview: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". AUSXIP/MaryD. 30 October 1996. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
- ^ "Lucy Lawless". Archive of American Television. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
- ^ "The Warrior Princess". Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. 13 March 1995.
- The Gauntlet". Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. 1 May 1995.
- Unchained Heart". Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. 8 May 1995.
- S2CID 143461262.
- ^ a b "Sins of the Past". Xena: Warrior Princess. 4 September 1995.
- ^ "Maternal Instincts". Xena: Warrior Princess. 26 January 1998.
- ^ "The Reckoning". Xena: Warrior Princess. 16 October 1995.
- ^ "Callisto". Xena: Warrior Princess. 13 May 1996.
- ^ "The Path Not Taken". Xena: Warrior Princess. 2 October 1995.
- ^ "Mortal Beloved". Xena: Warrior Princess. 12 February 1996.
- ^ "The Debt II". Xena: Warrior Princess. 10 November 1997.
- ^ "The Ides of March". Xena: Warrior Princess. 10 May 1999.
- ^ "Fallen Angel". Xena: Warrior Princess. 27 September 1999.
- ^ "Looking Death in the Eye". Xena: Warrior Princess. 24 April 2000.
- ^ "Livia". Xena: Warrior Princess. 1 May 2000.
- ^ "Eve". Xena: Warrior Princess. 8 May 2000.
- ^ a b "Motherhood". Xena: Warrior Princess. 15 May 2000.
- ^ "You Are There". Xena: Warrior Princess. 5 February 2001.
- ^ "A Friend in Need, Part 2". Xena: Warrior Princess. 18 June 2001.
- ^ "Between the Lines". Xena: Warrior Princess. 15 February 1999.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds1LJTbHKn4 Chakram (Xena: Warrior Princess) – MAN AT ARMS: REFORGED
- ^ Amanda Kooser (22 March 2016). "Real-life Xena chakram weapons fit for a warrior princess". CNET. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ Atsma, Aaron J. (2011). "ALALA : Goddess or Spirit of the War-Cry". theoi.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
- ^ "Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus (1997)". Flixster, Inc. 24 August 2004. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
- ^ Xena & Army of Darkness: A Ridiculous Round 2, Comic Book Resources, 22 October 2008
- ^ "Xena: Warrior Princess". MobyGames. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
- ^ Matt Casamassina (7 December 1999). "Xena: Warrior Princess – The Talisman of Fate". IGN. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
- ^ "BAB0F1: Treehouse of Horror X". Last Exit To Springfield. 7 December 1999. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
- ^ "Did You Spot That Xena Easter Egg In 'Multiverse Of Madness'?". Starefacts.com. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ "Xena and Gabrielle: Lesbian Icons". AfterEllen.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2006. Retrieved 31 October 2006.
- ^ "Top Ten TV – Sex Bombs". warriorprincess.com. Retrieved 31 October 2006.
- ^ a b Leonard, Andrew (3 July 1997). "Who Owns Xena?". Salon Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 July 2006. Retrieved 2 January 2007.
- ^ a b c Young, Cathy (15 September 2005). "What we owe Xena". Salon.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2006. Retrieved 2 January 2007.
- ^ "Lucy Lawless". Lesbian News. Vol. 28, no. 6. Los Angeles, California: LN Publishing Inc. January 2003. pp. 26–27.
- AfterEllen.com. Accessed 19 July 2007.
- ^ "AfterEllen.com's Top 50 Favorite Female TV Characters". AfterEllen.com. 27 February 2012. Archived from the original on 25 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- .
- ^ Atara Stein, "XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, THE LESBIAN GAZE, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FEMINIST HEROINE " (1998).
- ISBN 978-0-8108-4946-4.
- ^ See the documentary Double Dare (Amanda Micheli, director. 2005) for more information on the role of Xena in fostering the female superhero character and the stunt woman, both of which are traditionally male categories.
- ^ "David Eick Credits".
- ^ Green, Daniel W.E. (13 September 2006). "(134340) PLUTO, (136199) ERIS, AND (136199) ERIS I (DYSNOMIA)" (PDF). Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. Retrieved 5 January 2007.
- ^ "Xena and Gabrielle" (PDF). Status. January 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2007.
- ^ Smithsonian magazine. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.Page 44: "Lucy Lawless, star of Xena: Warrior Princess, which aired from 1995–2001, has given her signature costume to the Museum of American History."
- ^ "Bravo > 100 Greatest TV Characters". Bravo. Archived from the original on 17 July 2007. Retrieved 11 November 2006.