![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
chavalah.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
scifi_rewatchMichael Hurst’s (aka Iolaus) directorial debut is a fan favorite for the entire series, according to fansites. It’s a clever parody that spoofs the show by asking “what’s a day in the life with Xena and Gabrielle?” Of course, even an “off” day, where you’re not fighting a big baddie or risking certain death, involves saving two villages, plus other random acts of greatness. :P
The thing that really makes this episode is the interaction between our warrior princess and bard; though Lucy and Renee said on the commentary that they were playing versions of themselves, I definitely felt the married couple vibe, with all of the minor bickering, silly hijinks and relaxed banter. It feels like some real growth for Gabrielle, who, although she performs some crazy stunts, is a little more ;grounded than her past incarnations. Xena, perhaps paradoxically, is a little more loose on her feet, and less stoic. Certainly fits the mood of the episode, and it’s nice to know that the warrior princess can take her boots off a bit. :P
The main guest stars are also a treat; kudos to Murray Keane and Alison Wall. Will explain more about them under the cut!
Summary is here, courtesy of whoosh.org.
We open in true “mockumentary” style by labeling each part of our subjects’ days, from “Waking Up” to “Making a Decision” and “A Call from Nature,” to name a few. Of course, along with English these were also written in Greek script. :P And although part of me would like to believe that it’s, in fact, unusual for Xena and Gabrielle to be woken up by a bunch of goons, the fact that Xena used both the kitchen knife as well as the frying pan as weapons on two separate occasions says otherwise. No rest for our adventuring heroes.
The “using cutlery as weapons” vs “using weapons as cutlery” argument was just the cream of the crop, which escalated into Xena using some of Gabrielle’s scrolls as toilet paper and Gabs trading Xeen’s whip. :P Lucy and Renee played these spats to perfection, with the affectation of two roommates (certainly a term everyone can agree on) who’ve lived together too long slightly getting on each other’s nerves. Other casual encounters between them included a “who am I?” guessing game that spanned, on and off, most of the length of the episode , Gabs attempting to sneak-attack Xena several times which has been a running gag on the show, and discussing Xena’s latest unwanted crush while at the same time trying to reconcile him with his girlfriend. I kinda love that playing “Dr. Phil” was as important to our team as fighting the goon army and defeating the evil giant. :P
These guest stars, the last-standing defenders of a town that the giant, Gareth, has slated for destruction (no worries; this is a comedy ep, so the rest of the villagers are just in hiding,) are so presh. Murray Keane plays Hower as a doe-eyed little schoolboy with a crush on Xena, which grows more annoying and dickish as he sticks to his delusions about settling down with her, even at the expense of his already-awesome girlfriend. (Honestly, I kinda wish she’d dumped his ass rather than jumped his bones at the end.) Alison Wall as Minya as a dynamite; a “tough broad” who goes from adoring Xena to disparaging her (hilariously) once Hower’s crush is out in the open. It works especially because Xena is unusually portrayed as “just human” rather than “larger than life,” and it feels totally natural that this nobody could slip into “yeah, and what’s so great about her?” (Turns out Minya is just as sexy in leather—and able to take down warlord goons. :P) I’m glad to report that the actress will be back in future episodes.
We also take a look back at old episodes, most prominently through Xena and Gabrielle’s “who am I?” game, which centers on someone that our warrior princess has killed during the tenure of the show. …well actually, Callisto killed this person while in Xena’s body earlier in the season, which Gabrielle thinks is a cheat. :P I have to agree! But the most prominent call-back is to “The Giant Killer,” because in killing Gareth, Xena finally avenges Goliath and his family. In the process she invents the kite and uses it to kill the giant via a lightning strike. I love how, on this show, Xena can think up the perfect design on the first try, but need some time to figure out how to keep it up in the air. :P (And later she named the Big Dipper, lol.) Oh, and also, Gabs is in the middle of writing down the story from “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” just saying! Bard continuity ftw.
Other favorite X/G gags include our bard trying to decide which town to help first through careful consideration of the dangers, vs Xena just flipping a coin; Xena throwing fish at Gabs and Hower for breakfast (including a bunch of trout, which seem to land in Gabrielle’s cleavage); Gabs sitting on the soap and Xena splashing her; and even all of Gabby’s goofy attempts to jump her friend, running gag on the show, which ended with an affectionate kiss *swoon* She even achieved it at the end of this ep, with a well-placed whack to Xeen’s schnaz! :P All that being said, however, our girls are obviously working better as a team. I mean, Xena even suggested that Gabrielle interrogate people under the pinch! And Gabs even suggested the mirror tricks to Xeen as a way to kill Gareth, but our warrior princess always has to be original. :P
If there was one glaring problem with this ep, I’d point to the names of the villages—Piedmont and Laurel. Piedmont is a region in northern Italy and Laurel is a county in Maryland! I mean, come on. :P Also, I don’t think Gabrielle sticking a sign in the ground that read “Laurel” really served a purpose, other than for more banter with Xena, but whatevs.
Disclaimer: No Slippery Eels were harmed during the production of this motion picture despite their reputation as a fine delicacy in select cultures of the known world.
Favorite Quotes:
*first fight of the morning*
Gabrielle: Xena, this was our only frying pan. Why do you do that?! You do have weapons, don’t you?
Xena: I like to be creative in a fight. It gets my juices going.
Gabrielle: Can we cook with your juices?
*this part is entitled “Making Decisions”*
Gabrielle: All right-- now I’ve made a list of the pros and cons. Which village is in greater danger; which has the most to lose; giant versus warlord, and so on. Now, I’m sure with careful consideration of the facts, we can come to the right decision.
Xena: *flips and catches coin* Heads-- we take on the giant.
*the start of “Who am I?” guessing game*
Gabrielle: Are you male or female?
Xena: Male.
Gabrielle: Living? Dead?
Xena: Oh, I am very dead.
Gabrielle: Were you killed by a certain Warrior Princess?
Xena: Yes.
Gabrielle: Well, that narrows it down-- a little.
*discussing unwanted advances*
Xena: Why does this always happen?
Gabrielle: It’s the blue eyes, the leather. Some guys just love leather.”
Xena: I think a wardrobe change is in order.
Gabrielle: You could wear chain mail.
Xena: Yeah, but I think that’d just attract a kinkier group.
Gabrielle: You’re probably right.
Xena: On the other hand, I could just stop bathing and wear a smelly wolf skin. That’d turn ‘em off.
Gabrielle: That’s true. Of course, you’d also be travelling alone.
*hygienic problems*
Gabrielle: You used my scrolls?!”
Xena: Now, take it easy. There were no good leaves in the bush. I used a piece that didn’t have much writing on it!
*Gabrielle the sidekick hasn’t made as much of an impression on first-look Minya*
Minya: *to Xena* You are the main thing, the real deal, you know?! The number one attraction! *to Gabrielle* And, um-- you must be ah-- uh—oh ho-- um-- Lariel. What’s it like to travel with the hottest warrior in the butt-kicking bizz, huh?
*Minya catches on to Hower’s crush*
Minya: Hello, Hower! Xena’s here! Isn’t she incredible?! So strong, so-- confident, so brave, so--
Hower: *as Xena comes out of the bath house, half-dressed and shaking out her wet hair* -- beautiful.
Minya: Well, she’s all right-- if you like that type.
*perhaps a slightly more important character note*
Gabrielle: Hey, don’t get defensive. I just don’t share your vision here.
Xena: There were plenty of other times when you didn’t share my vision.”
Gabrielle: “Yes, and you were right those other times. But, eventually
you’re going to be wrong. Call it the law of averages.
*Gabrielle’s reaction to the unnamed kite*
Gabrielle: Yes! Woo-hoo! We did it! We did it! We did it! We did it! Yeah! When Gareth gets here, we’re gonna have a-- piece of parchment floating in the air, with a belt-buckle hanging on it. Xena, what is this supposed to do?
*Hower kinda turns into a delusional douche*
Hower: Xena. I was just brushing Argo down fo you. I think she likes me.
Xena: Hower, Minya’s a good woman. She loves you. You’re lucky to have her. And you got a snowball’s chance in Tartarus with me. You got that?
Hower: I think you’re denying your feelings, Xena. But I can be patient. You’ll come around. Hmm?
*nice continuity; Xena and Goliath had a touching, if brief, relationship*
Xena: You know-- if this works, I’ll repay an old friend a debt.
Gabrielle: Goliath?
Xena: Yeah-- I’ve always regretted that he had to die. But at least now I get to even the score for him. The giant that killed his family is headed toward the wrong village.
*Minya takes down a baddie goon*
Minya: Hey! Tough guy! You wanna talk or fight?
*a Xena mockery session*
Xena: Come on, Gareth-- you couldn’t catch a cold!
*Gabrielle won’t let sleeping dogs lie, even when she’s accomplished her ends*
Gabrielle: Did you just let me hit you?
Xena: No, you nailed me fair and square.
Gabrielle: You did, didn’t you? You-- you let me hit you, because you feel sorry for me.
Xena: Go to sleep.
Gabrielle: All right. I know you let me hit you.
___
The thing that really makes this episode is the interaction between our warrior princess and bard; though Lucy and Renee said on the commentary that they were playing versions of themselves, I definitely felt the married couple vibe, with all of the minor bickering, silly hijinks and relaxed banter. It feels like some real growth for Gabrielle, who, although she performs some crazy stunts, is a little more ;grounded than her past incarnations. Xena, perhaps paradoxically, is a little more loose on her feet, and less stoic. Certainly fits the mood of the episode, and it’s nice to know that the warrior princess can take her boots off a bit. :P
The main guest stars are also a treat; kudos to Murray Keane and Alison Wall. Will explain more about them under the cut!
Summary is here, courtesy of whoosh.org.
We open in true “mockumentary” style by labeling each part of our subjects’ days, from “Waking Up” to “Making a Decision” and “A Call from Nature,” to name a few. Of course, along with English these were also written in Greek script. :P And although part of me would like to believe that it’s, in fact, unusual for Xena and Gabrielle to be woken up by a bunch of goons, the fact that Xena used both the kitchen knife as well as the frying pan as weapons on two separate occasions says otherwise. No rest for our adventuring heroes.
The “using cutlery as weapons” vs “using weapons as cutlery” argument was just the cream of the crop, which escalated into Xena using some of Gabrielle’s scrolls as toilet paper and Gabs trading Xeen’s whip. :P Lucy and Renee played these spats to perfection, with the affectation of two roommates (certainly a term everyone can agree on) who’ve lived together too long slightly getting on each other’s nerves. Other casual encounters between them included a “who am I?” guessing game that spanned, on and off, most of the length of the episode , Gabs attempting to sneak-attack Xena several times which has been a running gag on the show, and discussing Xena’s latest unwanted crush while at the same time trying to reconcile him with his girlfriend. I kinda love that playing “Dr. Phil” was as important to our team as fighting the goon army and defeating the evil giant. :P
These guest stars, the last-standing defenders of a town that the giant, Gareth, has slated for destruction (no worries; this is a comedy ep, so the rest of the villagers are just in hiding,) are so presh. Murray Keane plays Hower as a doe-eyed little schoolboy with a crush on Xena, which grows more annoying and dickish as he sticks to his delusions about settling down with her, even at the expense of his already-awesome girlfriend. (Honestly, I kinda wish she’d dumped his ass rather than jumped his bones at the end.) Alison Wall as Minya as a dynamite; a “tough broad” who goes from adoring Xena to disparaging her (hilariously) once Hower’s crush is out in the open. It works especially because Xena is unusually portrayed as “just human” rather than “larger than life,” and it feels totally natural that this nobody could slip into “yeah, and what’s so great about her?” (Turns out Minya is just as sexy in leather—and able to take down warlord goons. :P) I’m glad to report that the actress will be back in future episodes.
We also take a look back at old episodes, most prominently through Xena and Gabrielle’s “who am I?” game, which centers on someone that our warrior princess has killed during the tenure of the show. …well actually, Callisto killed this person while in Xena’s body earlier in the season, which Gabrielle thinks is a cheat. :P I have to agree! But the most prominent call-back is to “The Giant Killer,” because in killing Gareth, Xena finally avenges Goliath and his family. In the process she invents the kite and uses it to kill the giant via a lightning strike. I love how, on this show, Xena can think up the perfect design on the first try, but need some time to figure out how to keep it up in the air. :P (And later she named the Big Dipper, lol.) Oh, and also, Gabs is in the middle of writing down the story from “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” just saying! Bard continuity ftw.
Other favorite X/G gags include our bard trying to decide which town to help first through careful consideration of the dangers, vs Xena just flipping a coin; Xena throwing fish at Gabs and Hower for breakfast (including a bunch of trout, which seem to land in Gabrielle’s cleavage); Gabs sitting on the soap and Xena splashing her; and even all of Gabby’s goofy attempts to jump her friend, running gag on the show, which ended with an affectionate kiss *swoon* She even achieved it at the end of this ep, with a well-placed whack to Xeen’s schnaz! :P All that being said, however, our girls are obviously working better as a team. I mean, Xena even suggested that Gabrielle interrogate people under the pinch! And Gabs even suggested the mirror tricks to Xeen as a way to kill Gareth, but our warrior princess always has to be original. :P
If there was one glaring problem with this ep, I’d point to the names of the villages—Piedmont and Laurel. Piedmont is a region in northern Italy and Laurel is a county in Maryland! I mean, come on. :P Also, I don’t think Gabrielle sticking a sign in the ground that read “Laurel” really served a purpose, other than for more banter with Xena, but whatevs.
Disclaimer: No Slippery Eels were harmed during the production of this motion picture despite their reputation as a fine delicacy in select cultures of the known world.
Favorite Quotes:
*first fight of the morning*
Gabrielle: Xena, this was our only frying pan. Why do you do that?! You do have weapons, don’t you?
Xena: I like to be creative in a fight. It gets my juices going.
Gabrielle: Can we cook with your juices?
*this part is entitled “Making Decisions”*
Gabrielle: All right-- now I’ve made a list of the pros and cons. Which village is in greater danger; which has the most to lose; giant versus warlord, and so on. Now, I’m sure with careful consideration of the facts, we can come to the right decision.
Xena: *flips and catches coin* Heads-- we take on the giant.
*the start of “Who am I?” guessing game*
Gabrielle: Are you male or female?
Xena: Male.
Gabrielle: Living? Dead?
Xena: Oh, I am very dead.
Gabrielle: Were you killed by a certain Warrior Princess?
Xena: Yes.
Gabrielle: Well, that narrows it down-- a little.
*discussing unwanted advances*
Xena: Why does this always happen?
Gabrielle: It’s the blue eyes, the leather. Some guys just love leather.”
Xena: I think a wardrobe change is in order.
Gabrielle: You could wear chain mail.
Xena: Yeah, but I think that’d just attract a kinkier group.
Gabrielle: You’re probably right.
Xena: On the other hand, I could just stop bathing and wear a smelly wolf skin. That’d turn ‘em off.
Gabrielle: That’s true. Of course, you’d also be travelling alone.
*hygienic problems*
Gabrielle: You used my scrolls?!”
Xena: Now, take it easy. There were no good leaves in the bush. I used a piece that didn’t have much writing on it!
*Gabrielle the sidekick hasn’t made as much of an impression on first-look Minya*
Minya: *to Xena* You are the main thing, the real deal, you know?! The number one attraction! *to Gabrielle* And, um-- you must be ah-- uh—oh ho-- um-- Lariel. What’s it like to travel with the hottest warrior in the butt-kicking bizz, huh?
*Minya catches on to Hower’s crush*
Minya: Hello, Hower! Xena’s here! Isn’t she incredible?! So strong, so-- confident, so brave, so--
Hower: *as Xena comes out of the bath house, half-dressed and shaking out her wet hair* -- beautiful.
Minya: Well, she’s all right-- if you like that type.
*perhaps a slightly more important character note*
Gabrielle: Hey, don’t get defensive. I just don’t share your vision here.
Xena: There were plenty of other times when you didn’t share my vision.”
Gabrielle: “Yes, and you were right those other times. But, eventually
you’re going to be wrong. Call it the law of averages.
*Gabrielle’s reaction to the unnamed kite*
Gabrielle: Yes! Woo-hoo! We did it! We did it! We did it! We did it! Yeah! When Gareth gets here, we’re gonna have a-- piece of parchment floating in the air, with a belt-buckle hanging on it. Xena, what is this supposed to do?
*Hower kinda turns into a delusional douche*
Hower: Xena. I was just brushing Argo down fo you. I think she likes me.
Xena: Hower, Minya’s a good woman. She loves you. You’re lucky to have her. And you got a snowball’s chance in Tartarus with me. You got that?
Hower: I think you’re denying your feelings, Xena. But I can be patient. You’ll come around. Hmm?
*nice continuity; Xena and Goliath had a touching, if brief, relationship*
Xena: You know-- if this works, I’ll repay an old friend a debt.
Gabrielle: Goliath?
Xena: Yeah-- I’ve always regretted that he had to die. But at least now I get to even the score for him. The giant that killed his family is headed toward the wrong village.
*Minya takes down a baddie goon*
Minya: Hey! Tough guy! You wanna talk or fight?
*a Xena mockery session*
Xena: Come on, Gareth-- you couldn’t catch a cold!
*Gabrielle won’t let sleeping dogs lie, even when she’s accomplished her ends*
Gabrielle: Did you just let me hit you?
Xena: No, you nailed me fair and square.
Gabrielle: You did, didn’t you? You-- you let me hit you, because you feel sorry for me.
Xena: Go to sleep.
Gabrielle: All right. I know you let me hit you.
___
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}