Xena: Warrior Princess Episode 2.07: “Intimate Stranger”

[chavalah.livejournal.com]

Overall I think this was an excellent episode, featuring stellar performances from several major cast members. Perhaps the most detrimental effect is its placement in the series. It deals with somber, Callisto-centric events last talked about two episodes ago, but last episode was completely light and fluffy, with no indication that any of the haunting events that came back this time around were still an issue. A minor continuity flare up.

It’s another episode where Lucy Lawless has to play different characters, and this time Hudson Leick gets to join in on the fun. It also reintroduces Ares, and his recurring ambition to craft a young (female) warrior into someone who will conquer the world for him. Oh, and Joxer’s back, too, though why he left Meg’s kitchen is beyond me. :P Still love him though!

I love the themes here, guilt, ambition and revenge. The show always makes them dynamic whenever Callisto is around. And come on now, did we really think something like death could stop such a dynamic character? :P I don’t think so.

Episode summary is here, courtesy of whoosh.org.


Aren’t Kevin Smith and Hudson Leick absolutely dynamic together? They just had way too much fun, playing bad guys and goading Xena. :P Though I have to wonder…Ares, really, did you think through this Callisto plan? How could you not have noticed that she’s so obsessed with revenge that she’ll never be able to lay your groundwork? Then again, you yourself have a history of tempestuousness, god of war. :P And evil Xena, as we’ll find out more and more, was so hungry for the world’s secrets that she could get herself in a pickle, too. I guess that’s the problem with warriors—all hotheads, hee. I’m always more than pleased to see Kevin, though, and what he brings to the table with his character’s sultry agenda.

I really couldn’t tell you what was more of a treat—watching Hudson play somber Xena or Lucy play feisty Callisto. Callisto-in-Xena and Gabrielle were certainly electric to watch. It was like an eerie mirror image of two episodes ago when Gabrielle was again training to fight her enemy—except last time she was vengeful and goading and this time she was the victim of that. Renee held her own well as someone still angry over her husband’s death, yet fighting to move beyond violence. And I gotta say this sort of punishment is uniquely Callisto—get Gabrielle to unknowingly kill her best friend. Two birds with one stone. (And then maiming poor Argo so Xena will have to put her down! Never been so relieved for the warrior princess’s medical proclivities.)

Joxer was mostly a plot device here to fill in holes, but you gotta admire his bravery in the face of dangerous enemies. Even Xena-in-Callisto commented on that. :P He seems firmly on the path of good now, and this will help him with his warrior identity crisis, hee. Was also nice to get a cameo of Xena’s mother, Cyrene, always played by Darien Tankle! (Another unique Callisto punishment—attempt to destroy Xena’s hometown the way hers was destroyed. Girl’s got spirit!)

The actress who played Callisto’s mother also looked a lot like Hudson. For such a deliberately crafted scene, forcing Callisto to feel guilt, it really packed an emotional punch for me. And it’s nice to see Xena maybe find some closure with the Callisto issue. She’s guilty of a lot (including Callisto’s death, which was wonderfully explored this episode) but there comes a time when even your victim’s faults are her own. I also love the callback, however tangential, to the Marcus in Tartarus storyline. Continuity ftw!

And so marks a series of episodes where Xena is played by Hudson Lieck! A very convenient way to get around Lucy Lawless’s ankle injury. :P Will she ever reprise her leading role? We’ll just have to wait and see!

RIP Theodorus. I guess that’s what being Callisto’s second in command gets you. :/

Disclaimer: Argo was not harmed during the prooduction of this motion picture. However, she is undergoing intensive psychotherapy to help her work through her resentment and feelings of distrust toward Xena.

Favorite Quotes:
*Ares and Callisto guilt-taunt Xena*
Xena: Ares. What do you want?

Ares: Want? Well, I told you-- I just wanted to welcome you back into my fold.

Xena: I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Ares: I’m talking about your execution of Callisto.

Xena: That’s not what happened.

Ares: No? Didn’t you serve as judge, jury, and executioner? Or am I missing something? A young girl was before you. She had committed-- unspeakable crimes-- but, just like you. You were given a chance to reform-- a chance you never gave Callisto.

Callisto: Xena, help me, please. Don’t let me die. You can’t let me die. I am you.

Xena: No.

Callisto: Who are you to judge the things I’ve done? I can change, Xena. I can change. You did-- I can. Please help me. Hurry, help me! I’m scared, Xena. Please, please.


*Xena’s nightmares get worse*
Gabrielle: Callisto chose her own path-- not you. I’m sure that, maybe, there was some goodness that could be mined, but—it wasn’t your responsibility. Just because you didn’t try to change her-- just because you didn’t show her the mercy that other people have shown you, doesn’t make you a murderer.

Xena: What are you saying?

Gabrielle: I’m saying, that if Hercules had treated you-- the way that you treated Callisto-- you’d be dead now. And you deserve it more than her. After all, she didn’t create you.

*Joxer tries to better his odds*
Joxer: Oh, no, no! No, wait, wait-- wait a minute! You don’t--you don’t want to kill me! You’re gonna need a hostage for the Athenian army.

Theodorus: That’s Xena!

Joxer: And the entire Athenian army!


*Gabrielle tells a harrowing truth*
Gabrielle: This is such a mess. You wish you hadn’t killed her; Joxer wishes he had killed her; and I wish she had never been born. I guess Callisto won after all.


*Xena admits her crime*
Xena: I didn’t kill her, Ares.

Callisto: Oh, keep telling yourself that, dear, and maybe, someday, you’ll believe it. See, you let me sink into the quicksand. What’s the difference?”

Ares: Personally, I always preferred an up-front, face-to-face--killing worthy of a warrior. Simply allowing someone to die doesn’t soften it. You murdered her-- and it’s time you admitted it.

Xena: All right! I am guilty of murder.

Callisto: I’ve been waiting for you to say that. *body switch!*


*Callisto-in-Xena breaks the fourth wall*
Callisto: That is not what we’re talking about. Callisto is already dead. We need to send her back to Tartarus. Now, come on. This-- is your weapon-- and this is your enemy. Now strike! Come on, Gabrielle. Brace with your back foot and lunge with your whole body. All right, Gabrielle. I’m Callisto-- right here in front of you. I just look like Xena, but really, I’m Callisto. So, kill me. I said, kill me, little girl! Come on, right here in the chest. Put me out of my misery! You are pathetic! Remember, I killed your love. I took my sword and stuck it through him, and I felt his warm blood on my hand. You can’t even avenge his death.


*Callisto-in-Xena plays with Xena-in-Callisto’s emotions*
Xena: Where’s Gabrielle?

Callisto: Gabrielle? Gabrielle? Oh, well, I’m Xena now. So she’s my little friend. Of course, if anything ever happened to Gabrielle, pretty Xena would be crushed, wouldn’t I? Maybe something has already happened to Gabrielle. Maybe I’ve already killed her, and hung her up from that tree. *distraction lunge!*


*Callisto-in-Xena’s compassion*
Cyrene: Xena? Xena. What are you doing? Please-- let’s go.

Callisto: Look into my eyes, old woman. Xena’s not home.

Cyrene: Who are you?

Callisto: Just another loving daughter. *to guard* That woman-- make sure the first torch lands at her feet.


*Ares loses the upper hand*
Ares: You think you know her-- but you don’t. I do, and you are giving her ever opportunity to beat you! Now, I forbid this!

Callisto: You?! Forbid me?! No one, god or man, forbids me from doing anything. All my anger-- all my hatred-- it’s for Xena, alone. When I’m done with her, you can have what’s left. I won’t care.

Ares: This-- was not my plan.

Callisto: Funny, it was always mine. Yes, I used you. But you can still claim victory if you let me finish what I came here for.

*No good villain thinks of herself as evil*
Callisto: Mm-mm. However evil you think I am, Xena-- my soul is clean, because it’s all on you. You started this when you killed my family.

Xena: Are you thinking of your family now? Because when you think of the dead--

Mama: -- the dead can hear you.

Callisto: Mama? Look at her, Xena. You look at my mother! She’s here to remind you of your past.

Mama: No-- I’m not here because of Xena. I’ve come because of you.


*Xena finds absolution*
Xena: I’ve got my own past to deal with. But I’m not taking the weight of your crimes anymore.

*Callisto’s mother attempts to help her daughter*
Mama: I love you, Callisto. You’ll always be my daughter. You have to face your crimes.

*Maybe Gabrielle can even find peace with Xena-as-Callisto*
Xena: Try not to think of the hatred you have for this body-- for Callisto. Try and think of the love that you have for Perdicas.

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