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scifi_rewatchThis is a true origin story for “Xena” (not meta-origin, like “The Xena Scrolls.” :P) But serious, dramatic, incredibly well-acted backstory for Xena the character and what really started her down her dark path. Half-baked Cortese could get her ass out the door in order to loot other towns for her hometown’s defense. But in order to become a true “warrior princess” with a legacy that everybody and their moms know about, she needed something much more.
And she got it through Caesar, Karl Urban’s third (and undoubtedly most noteworthy) character in the Xenaverse. Caesar, I think, caps off the triumvirate of “Xena” villains. (There are others, and some, especially Alti, aren’t just forgettable goons.) But the cream of the crop are Ares, Callisto and Caesar. Ares is Xena’s on-and-off mentor. Callisto is Xena’s creation. Caesar, as this episode proves, is Xena’s peer.
Karl and Lucy really steal this show—though I also have a soft spot for M’Lila (and her “breastplate” shirt :P), just as Xena has a soft spot for innocent, spiritual young girls. But in terms of acting, well Karl just simmers with young Caesar’s smarmy arrogance. And Lucy gets to play a very different side of Xena—she puts aside what FemPop calls the “steel blue” Xena of the present for a fiery, yet hopelessly naïve warrior on the cusp of choosing her dark destiny.
Also, yanno Xenaverse likes playing with history some, but I appreciated making Xena and co into the pirates who actually kidnapped real Caesar in his youth. Teehee.
Summary is here, courtesy of whoosh.org.
Gah, where to begin? Well, the sort of tipping point of this episode starts in the present, when Xena rides to Cirra to try and understand how she became a ruthless warrior whose army would kill women and children. Gah, I thought the girl who played young Callisto in the flashback was spot on. And I love how visibly affected present Xena was by the memories. But mostly this was set up, so that when Xena was knocked into a tree, fighting warlords who had kidnapped some girls nearby, and losing consciousness, her thoughts would lead her back to her first meeting with Caesar, and how that altered her destiny. (See what I did there? :P)
So ten years ago (though granted, sometimes even Xena’s own history seems a little loose,) Xena was this cocky thug who took to the seas to pirate wealth from an expanding route of towns for the defense of Amphipolis. And she wore a jeweled veil in her hair, which made her look a little like Captain Jack Sparrow, perhaps. :P Her crew has kidnapped Caesar, and is on the brink of executing the smarmy prisoner, before Xena realizes he’s a Roman noble and ergo worth a ransom. Later, she finds a mysterious, clocked stow-away who kicks major martial arts ass, killing Xena’s second in command and hurting her leg (foreshadowing?) before our warrior princess subdues her. (Gasp—it’s a her! :P) And ergo, we also get the backstory of how Xena learned the pinch.
Caesar provided a linchpin for Xena at this point of her journey. Even as a captive, he was arrogant and self-assured in his quest to become a conqueror. Obviously intriguing for our warrior princess, not only because of his immediate circumstances as a hostage, but because his motivations weren’t provincial. He wasn’t in this game for looting wealth. It was the prestige of attaining the seemingly impossible and becoming infamous that drove him. Xena was doing the looting thing, but as she told Caesar in this ep, it was beginning to bore her. She was basically looking for a promotion at work. :P Caesar offered that opportunity, and hence the scene where she’s wearing that amazing red dress (one of my favorite costumes in the series) and propositioning an alliance. Girl was obviously attracted to his ambition, too, (smooch smooch), and Caesar was obviously attracted to her as well, but our less developed, still kinda childlike Xena didn’t realize that his attraction manifested itself in “conquering” her until too late. Caesar is still primarily in love with Caesar. :P But gah, Karl and Lucy had great chemistry. And I just really loved this whole storyline; it introduced intriguing characters and elements, it flowed nicely and felt so genuine to me.
Xena’s childishness really manifested itself with M’Lila, where she eagerly encouraged the girl to show her the pinch, and then got pissed off and vengeful when M’Lila tried to press her advantage with her captor. :P But ultimately, particularly this youthful Xena could forgive folks, especially young girls, when they give her something in return. So Xena learned the pinch, and although M’Lila stayed on board the ship, presumably as a captive (with a gorgeous singing voice; loved that “time passing” montage), she still cared enough about our protagonist to try and warn her about Caesar’s true intentions. Unfortunately, some things have to be learned through experience. :P In terms of M’Lila’s backstory…well, Robert Tapert apparently wanted her to be black. I have mixed feelings…mostly because of the trope where the black character is killed off almost immediately to advance the white character’s story arc (M’Lila’s death led to Xena deciding to embrace her lethal path.) The girl was obviously an inspiration to Xena—I actually liked the final scene, despite the silly CGI, where Xena on the cross goes to talk to her mentor—but we don’t see her again after this episode. Ebonie Smith did a great job, especially given that most of her role was unspoken communication. (Caesar, we know we’ll see him again, on and off in later seasons. :P I’d feel bad for spoiling, but…we know he’s too dynamic to have just one cameo, right? He’s off conquering Europe and this is Karl Urban we’re talking about. :P)
So then we have the beach crucifixion scene (which I believe is true to history—Caesar palled around with his pirate captors for a year, joking that he’d kill them when he got the chance, and wuddaya know. :P) Poor, snarly Xena, tied up on her first cross like that, still kinda hurt that Caesar went back on his word. It was kinda a treat to see Lucy play the naïve Xena, trusting until the very end when Caesar grabbed her and ordered the attack on her men; quite the change from the present where she’s cautious and stoic. And seeing her legs get broken was surprisingly brutal—especially, as I learned later, that it was Lucy’s brother who played that part! :P My big (and silly) beef with this scene is the Brutus character. I wish “Xena” had found David Franklin earlier, so he could be the one and only Brutus on the show…of course, I am recapping some of his appearances in “Farscape” right now, so I’m kinda in love. :P
M’Lila and Gabrielle taking Xena to the same healer obviously was meant to be parallel, but Xena wasn’t actually intended to die (or cross into death, briefly, for the first time :P) this episode. Lucy’s accident basically made it a necessity for her to sit out the next ep…meanwhile, Xena in the past was kicking ass on two broken legs, so I bet Lucy felt kinda wimpish. ;) Like I said, I kinda liked the last scene, just to have some closure with M’Lila and present Xena’s quest to come to terms with her more brutal past. I also liked Gabrielle’s obvious despair over losing her friend (and the way that was juxtaposed with past Xena’s dark endgame.) I mean, I know and we all know, that Xena isn’t gone for good, but in a show that’s driven, largely, by the relationship between our two costars, I found this emotional outpouring to be very moving, if perhaps, just a little bit schmaltzy. :P The next ep should move past that, a bit, into more robust action and inner turmoil. Stay tuned!
Disclaimer: Julius Caesar was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, the Producers deny any responsibility for any unfortunate acts of betrayal causing some discomfort.
Favorite Quotes:
*Gabrielle’s metaphor for Xena’s present-day path*
Gabrielle: You’ve changed, Xena. Like this valley. Once it was a place full of death and violence. But now it’s full of beauty and life. The same kind of change has happened to you.
*it doesn’t go well when warrior goons mistake Xena for a goddess*
Goon: Lord of the Moon, Mistress of the stars-- we-- the children of the sun ask you for an omen. Send us a sign. Hail, goddess! We are your servants. Tell us our future.
Xena: I got nothing but bad news for you.
*Xena’s priate-y path from ten years ago*
Xena: People of Neopolitis. Friends-- you’re free to go. But spread the word. My army will punish any village that allies itself with the enemies of Amphipolis. And I will do anything to ensure the safety of my homeland. Those who don’t heed my warning-- will pay a terrible price.
*Xena’s first meeting with Caesar*
Xena: Tellus-- look at him-- the robes; the bearing, the poise. Why, we have a Roman nobleman-- a valuable commodity.
Tellus: What are you talking about?
Caesar: Ransom-- she’s talking about ransom, pig.
Xena: That’s right, we can get 20,000 dinars for him.
Caesar: 20,000 isn’t enough.
Xena: Oh, really?
Caesar: They’ll never believe you have me, if that’s all you’re asking. I’m worth five times that.
Xena: Very well. But if you’re wrong, it’s your neck. Lyserius-- send out a ransom demand to the nearest Roman settlement. Tell them to send 100,000 dinars if they ever want to see-- what’s your name?
Caesar: Caesar, Julius Caesar.
Xena: Caesar, Julius Caesar, again. You really weren’t afraid to die, were you?
Caesar: I knew someone would stop him.
Xena: And, how could you know that?
Caesar: I know what I’m fated to do with my life.
Xena: And what’s that?
Caesar: Rule the world.
*Caesar introduces M’Lila’s backstory and intrigues Xena with his talk of destiny*
Caesar: Be careful. Runaway slaves are very dangerous people.
Xena: How do you know she’s a runaway?
Caesar: She speaks Gaelic-- but she’s clearly from the land of the Pharaoh-- probably abducted as a child by raiders from Western Gaul.
Xena: Western Gaul, huh? Why do you say that?
Caesar: Gaul is divided into three parts. Each area speaks its own different dialect. One day I’ll conquer all three provinces.
Xena: How can you be so sure of yourself.
Caesar: I told you. I’m--
Xena: Oh, that’s right. You’re fated to rule the world. Do you really believe that?
Caesar: Of course. Each event in our life is part of a great plan. There are no accidents. Only destiny.
Xena: And who shapes this destiny-- the gods?
Caesar: Perhaps. Or it’s the blood in our veins, our-- souls, our desires-- our will. They’re all in it-- together, weaving a tapestry we call-- ‘destiny.’
Xena: Well, I can tell you _one_ thing about your destiny-- you’re fated to have dinner in my cabin tonight.
*Xena refusing to take the pinch off of M’Lila for a few seconds, after M’Lila does the same to her*
Xena: You see-- I can play, too.
*conquering has never been sexier*
Xena: Why don’t you and I work together?
Caesar: What do you mean?
Xena: This life I’m living is beginning to bore me. I’d love to join forces with you.
Caesar: So-- you wanna help me conquer the world.
Xena: Why not? We’d make an unstoppable team.
Caesar: Indeed. I bet you know a lot-- about conquest.
Xena: Yes-- I love it. Pursuing the enemy; breaking down his defenses; cutting off his only path of retreat; and then closing for the kill.
Caesar: Some enemies are-- harder-- than others.
Xena: Oh, I count on it. (smooches)
*when M’Lila warns Xena not to trust freed Caesar and his men*
Xena: It’s all right. He’s my friend.
*Caesar’s remarks upon betraying Xena*
Caesar: This-- is my destiny. You’re a part of it. And I’m a part of yours.
*Caesar’s arrogance only leaves room for him*
Xena: We were going to conquer the world together. What happened to those plans for us?
Caesar: Us-- there was never any us, Xena-- only Rome. And I am Rome. Still-- don’t think that what we had was meaningless. I’ll always remember it-- and you’ll have a special place of honor-- among my conquered.
*famous quotes, out of context :P*
Brutus: She was an easier prey than I expected.
Caesar: Divide and conquer, my friend. You divide a woman’s emotion from her sensibilities-- and you have her.
*upon M’Lila saving Xena and taking her to the healer*
Xena: M’Lila, huh? Ask her why she saved me?
Healer: [Speaks Gaelic]
M’Lila: [Speaks Gaelic]
Healer: She says it’s not your time to die.
Xena: Well, if not now, then when?
*Xena declares her new purpose in the wake of M’Lila’s fate*
Xena: Tell Hades to prepare himself. A new Xena is born tonight-- with a new purpose in life-- death.
*Gabrielle and M’Lila remind Xena to choose her true destiny*
M’Lila: Hello, Xena.
Xena: You should have left me to die back there on that beach.
M’Lila: You have a destiny, Xena. But you have to choose it.
Xena: I did choose it.! I chose evil!
M’Lila: Now that you know evil-- were evil-- you can fight evil. When the living think of the dead-- the dead can hear their thoughts. Listen.
Gabrielle: Xena-- I know you can hear me-- wherever you are. I know you always told me to be strong. I can’t be-- not now. You can’t leave me. I know it’s not your time. I can feel it in my heart. I feel this emptiness that I’ve never known before, and it scares me. Xena-- above all-- just remember your destiny. Remember it and fight. Just, fight to come back. This world needs you. I need you.
___
And she got it through Caesar, Karl Urban’s third (and undoubtedly most noteworthy) character in the Xenaverse. Caesar, I think, caps off the triumvirate of “Xena” villains. (There are others, and some, especially Alti, aren’t just forgettable goons.) But the cream of the crop are Ares, Callisto and Caesar. Ares is Xena’s on-and-off mentor. Callisto is Xena’s creation. Caesar, as this episode proves, is Xena’s peer.
Karl and Lucy really steal this show—though I also have a soft spot for M’Lila (and her “breastplate” shirt :P), just as Xena has a soft spot for innocent, spiritual young girls. But in terms of acting, well Karl just simmers with young Caesar’s smarmy arrogance. And Lucy gets to play a very different side of Xena—she puts aside what FemPop calls the “steel blue” Xena of the present for a fiery, yet hopelessly naïve warrior on the cusp of choosing her dark destiny.
Also, yanno Xenaverse likes playing with history some, but I appreciated making Xena and co into the pirates who actually kidnapped real Caesar in his youth. Teehee.
Summary is here, courtesy of whoosh.org.
Gah, where to begin? Well, the sort of tipping point of this episode starts in the present, when Xena rides to Cirra to try and understand how she became a ruthless warrior whose army would kill women and children. Gah, I thought the girl who played young Callisto in the flashback was spot on. And I love how visibly affected present Xena was by the memories. But mostly this was set up, so that when Xena was knocked into a tree, fighting warlords who had kidnapped some girls nearby, and losing consciousness, her thoughts would lead her back to her first meeting with Caesar, and how that altered her destiny. (See what I did there? :P)
So ten years ago (though granted, sometimes even Xena’s own history seems a little loose,) Xena was this cocky thug who took to the seas to pirate wealth from an expanding route of towns for the defense of Amphipolis. And she wore a jeweled veil in her hair, which made her look a little like Captain Jack Sparrow, perhaps. :P Her crew has kidnapped Caesar, and is on the brink of executing the smarmy prisoner, before Xena realizes he’s a Roman noble and ergo worth a ransom. Later, she finds a mysterious, clocked stow-away who kicks major martial arts ass, killing Xena’s second in command and hurting her leg (foreshadowing?) before our warrior princess subdues her. (Gasp—it’s a her! :P) And ergo, we also get the backstory of how Xena learned the pinch.
Caesar provided a linchpin for Xena at this point of her journey. Even as a captive, he was arrogant and self-assured in his quest to become a conqueror. Obviously intriguing for our warrior princess, not only because of his immediate circumstances as a hostage, but because his motivations weren’t provincial. He wasn’t in this game for looting wealth. It was the prestige of attaining the seemingly impossible and becoming infamous that drove him. Xena was doing the looting thing, but as she told Caesar in this ep, it was beginning to bore her. She was basically looking for a promotion at work. :P Caesar offered that opportunity, and hence the scene where she’s wearing that amazing red dress (one of my favorite costumes in the series) and propositioning an alliance. Girl was obviously attracted to his ambition, too, (smooch smooch), and Caesar was obviously attracted to her as well, but our less developed, still kinda childlike Xena didn’t realize that his attraction manifested itself in “conquering” her until too late. Caesar is still primarily in love with Caesar. :P But gah, Karl and Lucy had great chemistry. And I just really loved this whole storyline; it introduced intriguing characters and elements, it flowed nicely and felt so genuine to me.
Xena’s childishness really manifested itself with M’Lila, where she eagerly encouraged the girl to show her the pinch, and then got pissed off and vengeful when M’Lila tried to press her advantage with her captor. :P But ultimately, particularly this youthful Xena could forgive folks, especially young girls, when they give her something in return. So Xena learned the pinch, and although M’Lila stayed on board the ship, presumably as a captive (with a gorgeous singing voice; loved that “time passing” montage), she still cared enough about our protagonist to try and warn her about Caesar’s true intentions. Unfortunately, some things have to be learned through experience. :P In terms of M’Lila’s backstory…well, Robert Tapert apparently wanted her to be black. I have mixed feelings…mostly because of the trope where the black character is killed off almost immediately to advance the white character’s story arc (M’Lila’s death led to Xena deciding to embrace her lethal path.) The girl was obviously an inspiration to Xena—I actually liked the final scene, despite the silly CGI, where Xena on the cross goes to talk to her mentor—but we don’t see her again after this episode. Ebonie Smith did a great job, especially given that most of her role was unspoken communication. (Caesar, we know we’ll see him again, on and off in later seasons. :P I’d feel bad for spoiling, but…we know he’s too dynamic to have just one cameo, right? He’s off conquering Europe and this is Karl Urban we’re talking about. :P)
So then we have the beach crucifixion scene (which I believe is true to history—Caesar palled around with his pirate captors for a year, joking that he’d kill them when he got the chance, and wuddaya know. :P) Poor, snarly Xena, tied up on her first cross like that, still kinda hurt that Caesar went back on his word. It was kinda a treat to see Lucy play the naïve Xena, trusting until the very end when Caesar grabbed her and ordered the attack on her men; quite the change from the present where she’s cautious and stoic. And seeing her legs get broken was surprisingly brutal—especially, as I learned later, that it was Lucy’s brother who played that part! :P My big (and silly) beef with this scene is the Brutus character. I wish “Xena” had found David Franklin earlier, so he could be the one and only Brutus on the show…of course, I am recapping some of his appearances in “Farscape” right now, so I’m kinda in love. :P
M’Lila and Gabrielle taking Xena to the same healer obviously was meant to be parallel, but Xena wasn’t actually intended to die (or cross into death, briefly, for the first time :P) this episode. Lucy’s accident basically made it a necessity for her to sit out the next ep…meanwhile, Xena in the past was kicking ass on two broken legs, so I bet Lucy felt kinda wimpish. ;) Like I said, I kinda liked the last scene, just to have some closure with M’Lila and present Xena’s quest to come to terms with her more brutal past. I also liked Gabrielle’s obvious despair over losing her friend (and the way that was juxtaposed with past Xena’s dark endgame.) I mean, I know and we all know, that Xena isn’t gone for good, but in a show that’s driven, largely, by the relationship between our two costars, I found this emotional outpouring to be very moving, if perhaps, just a little bit schmaltzy. :P The next ep should move past that, a bit, into more robust action and inner turmoil. Stay tuned!
Disclaimer: Julius Caesar was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, the Producers deny any responsibility for any unfortunate acts of betrayal causing some discomfort.
Favorite Quotes:
*Gabrielle’s metaphor for Xena’s present-day path*
Gabrielle: You’ve changed, Xena. Like this valley. Once it was a place full of death and violence. But now it’s full of beauty and life. The same kind of change has happened to you.
*it doesn’t go well when warrior goons mistake Xena for a goddess*
Goon: Lord of the Moon, Mistress of the stars-- we-- the children of the sun ask you for an omen. Send us a sign. Hail, goddess! We are your servants. Tell us our future.
Xena: I got nothing but bad news for you.
*Xena’s priate-y path from ten years ago*
Xena: People of Neopolitis. Friends-- you’re free to go. But spread the word. My army will punish any village that allies itself with the enemies of Amphipolis. And I will do anything to ensure the safety of my homeland. Those who don’t heed my warning-- will pay a terrible price.
*Xena’s first meeting with Caesar*
Xena: Tellus-- look at him-- the robes; the bearing, the poise. Why, we have a Roman nobleman-- a valuable commodity.
Tellus: What are you talking about?
Caesar: Ransom-- she’s talking about ransom, pig.
Xena: That’s right, we can get 20,000 dinars for him.
Caesar: 20,000 isn’t enough.
Xena: Oh, really?
Caesar: They’ll never believe you have me, if that’s all you’re asking. I’m worth five times that.
Xena: Very well. But if you’re wrong, it’s your neck. Lyserius-- send out a ransom demand to the nearest Roman settlement. Tell them to send 100,000 dinars if they ever want to see-- what’s your name?
Caesar: Caesar, Julius Caesar.
Xena: Caesar, Julius Caesar, again. You really weren’t afraid to die, were you?
Caesar: I knew someone would stop him.
Xena: And, how could you know that?
Caesar: I know what I’m fated to do with my life.
Xena: And what’s that?
Caesar: Rule the world.
*Caesar introduces M’Lila’s backstory and intrigues Xena with his talk of destiny*
Caesar: Be careful. Runaway slaves are very dangerous people.
Xena: How do you know she’s a runaway?
Caesar: She speaks Gaelic-- but she’s clearly from the land of the Pharaoh-- probably abducted as a child by raiders from Western Gaul.
Xena: Western Gaul, huh? Why do you say that?
Caesar: Gaul is divided into three parts. Each area speaks its own different dialect. One day I’ll conquer all three provinces.
Xena: How can you be so sure of yourself.
Caesar: I told you. I’m--
Xena: Oh, that’s right. You’re fated to rule the world. Do you really believe that?
Caesar: Of course. Each event in our life is part of a great plan. There are no accidents. Only destiny.
Xena: And who shapes this destiny-- the gods?
Caesar: Perhaps. Or it’s the blood in our veins, our-- souls, our desires-- our will. They’re all in it-- together, weaving a tapestry we call-- ‘destiny.’
Xena: Well, I can tell you _one_ thing about your destiny-- you’re fated to have dinner in my cabin tonight.
*Xena refusing to take the pinch off of M’Lila for a few seconds, after M’Lila does the same to her*
Xena: You see-- I can play, too.
*conquering has never been sexier*
Xena: Why don’t you and I work together?
Caesar: What do you mean?
Xena: This life I’m living is beginning to bore me. I’d love to join forces with you.
Caesar: So-- you wanna help me conquer the world.
Xena: Why not? We’d make an unstoppable team.
Caesar: Indeed. I bet you know a lot-- about conquest.
Xena: Yes-- I love it. Pursuing the enemy; breaking down his defenses; cutting off his only path of retreat; and then closing for the kill.
Caesar: Some enemies are-- harder-- than others.
Xena: Oh, I count on it. (smooches)
*when M’Lila warns Xena not to trust freed Caesar and his men*
Xena: It’s all right. He’s my friend.
*Caesar’s remarks upon betraying Xena*
Caesar: This-- is my destiny. You’re a part of it. And I’m a part of yours.
*Caesar’s arrogance only leaves room for him*
Xena: We were going to conquer the world together. What happened to those plans for us?
Caesar: Us-- there was never any us, Xena-- only Rome. And I am Rome. Still-- don’t think that what we had was meaningless. I’ll always remember it-- and you’ll have a special place of honor-- among my conquered.
*famous quotes, out of context :P*
Brutus: She was an easier prey than I expected.
Caesar: Divide and conquer, my friend. You divide a woman’s emotion from her sensibilities-- and you have her.
*upon M’Lila saving Xena and taking her to the healer*
Xena: M’Lila, huh? Ask her why she saved me?
Healer: [Speaks Gaelic]
M’Lila: [Speaks Gaelic]
Healer: She says it’s not your time to die.
Xena: Well, if not now, then when?
*Xena declares her new purpose in the wake of M’Lila’s fate*
Xena: Tell Hades to prepare himself. A new Xena is born tonight-- with a new purpose in life-- death.
*Gabrielle and M’Lila remind Xena to choose her true destiny*
M’Lila: Hello, Xena.
Xena: You should have left me to die back there on that beach.
M’Lila: You have a destiny, Xena. But you have to choose it.
Xena: I did choose it.! I chose evil!
M’Lila: Now that you know evil-- were evil-- you can fight evil. When the living think of the dead-- the dead can hear their thoughts. Listen.
Gabrielle: Xena-- I know you can hear me-- wherever you are. I know you always told me to be strong. I can’t be-- not now. You can’t leave me. I know it’s not your time. I can feel it in my heart. I feel this emptiness that I’ve never known before, and it scares me. Xena-- above all-- just remember your destiny. Remember it and fight. Just, fight to come back. This world needs you. I need you.
___
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