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scifi_rewatchThis is one of those episodes that I couldn’t automatically remember, just given the title, but by the time that our major guest star appeared on stage, slinging oatmeal at Gabrielle in a bar, I was groaning. “Not this brat.” I remembered her as an ill-advised decision on behalf of the “Xenaverse,” an annoying character who didn’t even have the decency to go away after just one episode. Not annoying in the way that Joxer is annoying (spoken as a “team Joxer” fan over here, who appreciates Ted Raimi’s stylings) but annoying in the way that Gabrielle sums it up best to Xena, who identified with the kid—“I knew you were evil, but you were obnoxious, too?” :P
But through the course of actually watching through the 45 minutes again, I realized that actress, Shiri Appleby, was an inspired choice. She made Tara funny, and then have hidden depths when the script demanded it. The girl had talent—unlike whoever played another guest star, the wooden Micah, I’m sorry to say. Sometimes, even those who play obnoxious characters can remind you that acting is an art.
The episode also delves into other interesting topics, like the meaning of forgiveness and ritual items vs personal resolve when it comes to faith. It doesn’t have the historical undertones of the last hour, or quite the gravitas of other previous ones, but the last scene is surprisingly thoughtful, and less of a tidy wrap up than usual.
Summary is here, courtesy of whoosh.org.
We open with a communion-style ritual in a temple of Apollo. The priests pour blessed water out of a holy urn to absolve people of their sins. It’s a very nice urn, of course, and among the prostrate flock are two warriors, who are not who they say! They steal the urn, and the head priest goes to Xena and Gabrielle in order to get it back. As Xena prepares Argo for travel, Gabrielle, left alone in the tavern, is accosted by this surly street rat named Tara. Though Gabs tries to avoid it, they do get into a barroom brawl before Xena can put a stop to it. Tara explains that she wants to become Xena’s new sidekick, and leave the life of juvenile delinquency that she’s been leading. Plus, she knows a bit about the goons that took the urn, so it’s a win win for Xena—complete her quest and save someone who reminds her of herself. Gabrielle is less enthused, and it takes her and Tara a little while longer to warm up to each other. Along the way, hotheaded Tara doesn’t follow directions and occasionally gives hints that she’s not really on the level. The biggest betrayal of trust comes when she sneaks away from Xena and Gabrielle at night to meet up with her boy toy, Micah. Apparently Micah was hoping that Xena would steal the urn from the head goon, give it to Tara, and then he and Tara could abscond with it. Tara is certainly struggling…but with the support of the warrior princess, who thinks of the right thing to say thanks to Gabrielle, she ultimately chooses the right path. We end on the topic of forgiveness—Gabrielle and Tara kneel to get blessed by the holy water from the Apollo priests, but Xena decides against it, and instead walks off into the sunset.
So RJ Stewart claimed on the DVD commentary that the Tara part was actually originally written for Selma Blair! Some of the “Xena” producers had worked on another project with her, and they liked her style. Of course, other folks over in Hollywood felt the same way, too, and by the time this episode rolled around, her career was a little too big to make a pit stop in New Zealand, alas. So instead, they gave the part to Shiri Appleby, whom as I’ve stated above brought some real gravitas and nuance to the role. I think it worked out pretty well. Plus, I’m pretty sure that I’ve heard of Shiri Appleby from more recent projects, too, if mostly “Lifetime” movies and the like. :/ Man, just like Hudson Leick, Shiri has gone under-appreciated by Hollywood. Anywho. The other big thing that Liz Friedman focused on in the commentary was making sure that Xena’s sense of personal forgiveness didn’t come too easy. She’s done a lot of horrible things in her life, and a little bit of unconnected ritual can’t absolve them. Really, the point of the show, how she’s going on all of these “do-gooder” quests, is her atonement.
It’s interesting, in a way, the identification that Xena feels towards Tara. Xena’s crimes haven’t been quite so petty in a long, long time. She kidnapped Caesar! She attempted to start a huge war in Chin! She bears at least some responsibility for unleashing Callisto on the world, and she was the protégé of none other than the god of war himself. Even her occasional pillaging in Greece is far more serious than whatever brawling and burglary Tara’s gotten into with her hometown gang, I’d think. It’s unclear, even, if she’s ever killed anyone. That’s not to wave a blind hand to Tara’s lying and cheating and stealing. She definitely had some issues to work out. What interests me is Xena’s sense of empathy, and how it connects back to the beginning of her journey, from before even her brother was killed. She may not have the capacity to forgive herself easily, but she remembers how easy it is to get started down the wrong path, when you’re young and unsure of yourself.
In between Tara and Xena’s journeys, we have Gabrielle. Despite everything that’s happened she still retains a bit of her faith—she gets, for example, the importance that the ritual with the urn has on people. She takes it upon herself to ask for that brand of forgiveness, despite all of her faults with Hope and Ming Tien and even killing the Dahak priestess. But it’s worth it to notice that she achieved the act of physical and mental atonement before accepting the ritual. She and Xena went through the gauntlet of “The Bitter Suite,” and Gabrielle also apologized to Xena along the way in the real world, working hard to rectify wrongs where she could. Although this Apollo communion ritual is certainly modeled after Christianity (and not, say, actual Apollo worship :P) I’m partially reminded of Yom Kippur, too. Through the ten days of awe between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Jews must go out and ask forgiveness directly from the people they’ve wronged throughout the year. Then, on Yom Kippur proper, the conversation of forgiveness and atonement is between the person and Gd. That’s in line with how I think Gabrielle used the urn ritual. She’d gotten forgiveness from Xena, and now she needed to forgive herself.
I think that’s where I come down on this whole ritual items vs personal resolve question that I posed above. The ritual is about making peace with yourself, and your sense of connection to the larger world, but you can only truly earn it after doing the hard interpersonal work. But let’s move on here to some highlights from whoosh.org, however scant they might be for this episode. All the wiki really has to offer is that this is the first of two Tara episodes. Anywho. Whoosh.org points out the similarities between the urn toss while fighting at the end of this episode and the baby toss in “Cradle of Hope.” I agree, it’s less comedic with a piece of pottery. :P And also, there’s a minor gaff with some of Xena’s armor in the scene where they are walking to the castle; a strap has come off of her left side. Woops.
But to end on a positive note, I’m going to go more in depth into Tara’s actions this hour, rather than just claim ad nauseum that she’s a complicated brat. :P She has a bit of everything inside of her, including a sadistic streak, for how eagerly she lured a former friend over to Xena, in hopes of seeing the pinch in action. In general she’s pretty brash and rushes into the fray against the wishes of Xena and Gabrielle. Worst case scenario, she and the bard get caught and are buried up to their necks in sand; what can you do. :P But probably her strongest moment comes from the second time she challenges Gabrielle, and when Gabrielle fights back, she finally breaks down about her situation. She goes into a backstory about how her home life led her to want to be accepted by a menacing gang; Shiri’s performance elevates it out of melodrama and into something real. From there, she finally lets go of some of her obnoxious sass and starts questioning how to make sure you’re on the right path in life. She maintains a little bit of sarcasm when it comes to overt shows of affection, hee. But it’s all very human, for a character who, in the beginning, came off as something of a nuisance. Huzzah, Shiri, and huzzah, show. :D
Disclaimer No street-talking, cat-fighting, barroom-brawling juvenile delinquents were harmed during the production of this motion picture.
Favorite Quotes:
*the blessing recited in the ritual involving the urn of Apollo*
Priest of Apollo: Worshippers of Apollo. You have come to this temple on this day of cleansing to be purified for past misdeeds. This blessing is of no worth if you leave here and once again soil your souls with willful and selfish acts. But if you truly desire to make a new start-- the blessed urn of Apollo will anoint you with the purity of hope. Please come forward. You are forgiven for past misdeeds. Now go and do good. You are forgiven for past misdeeds. Now go and do good.
*the priest entices Xena and Gabrielle’s help, with a little bit of a moral argument thrown in*
Priest of Apollo: You see-- the urn of Apollo gives a new start to so many people.
Xena: No urn can do that-- that comes from within.
Priest of Apollo: Well, not all of us are strong enough to face the jaws of our conscious alone. People come to me who are close to being driven mad by remorse and guilt. Soldiers, who have killed too often in battle-- rich men and women-- who have nightmares about what they did to accumulate their wealth. The urn gives them strength to face those demons within. Do you understand?
Gabrielle: I do.
Xena: We’ll get your urn back.
Priest of Apollo: Oh-- thank you. Oh!
*Gabrielle and Tara don’t have the most friendly introduction*
Gabrielle: OK. Huh! Did you throw that?
Tara: Yeah.
Gabrielle: What’s your problem?
Tara: Your face.
Gabrielle: “Then don’t look at it. *Tara throws goop in her hair* Huh! Look-- if you don’t like the food, may I suggest you find some other way to express it.
Tara: What kind of wimp are you?! I just threw a plate of gruel on you, and all you do is talk! You and I are gonna settle this right here.
Gabrielle: Look-- I think you have me confused with somebody else.
Tara: Yeah, you wish.
Gabrielle: I don’t know what’s bothering you-- but I have no intention of fighting.
Tara: I think you’re a coward.
Gabrielle: Well, I don’t care what you think.
*Xena’s not too keen at first, but ultimately she feels something for Tara’s dilemma*
Gabrielle: Xena-- I’ll understand, just this once, if you’re so angry, you wanna pummel her for a while.
Xena: I’m not gonna do that.
Gabrielle: Well, then, hold her while I do it!
Tara: You want some more, Blondie?! Come on! Huh?! Come on!
Xena: You listen to me, little girl. I’ve got no interest in making a change. Blondie-- ! Gabrielle, here is my partner, and that’s the way it’s gonna stay. So, get lost, huh?
Tara: But, you don’t know how valuable I could be you!
Xena: Take some advice. Don’t get in our way again, or—next time you’re gonna get a real beating.
Tara: I know who stole Apollo’s urn-- the Red--
Xena: -- Valley gang. They’re the only bunch in the area who’d make a move like that. I’m not impressed.
Tara: Well, I know where one of their hideouts is!
Xena: How do you know that?
Tara: I used to hang with some of them guys.
Gabrielle: Figures.
Tara: Hey, look! I never said I was a goody-two-shoes, but I’m here to turn it around! I wanna be a hero and fight for good--protect wimps and kick the crap out of jerks! I know I could do it if somebody would just give me a chance! Come on! Let me just show you where their hideout is! I won’t pick on your little buddy, anymore.
Xena: We don’t need your help.
Tara: I heard you were pretty bad once upon a time. Somebody must have given you a chance to turn it all around. What a crock!
*Xena goes back and forth about whether she can have Tara along*
Xena: OK. I’m not gonna fight’cha. I just wanted to tell ya, you don’t need me to turn your life around. You wanna do good? Do it! Then you’ll be good.
Tara: That’s what I’m here for. I wanna get that urn back for those suckers who believe in that kind of thing. That’s good, isn’t it?
Xena: Yeah, but, me and her-- we don’t need any help.
Tara: Come on! Let me just show you where their hideout is! It’ll be my first step.
Xena: You made a real bad start with my friend.
Tara: All right-- I’ll give you that. I’ll kiss up to her if you want. I can be just as phony as the next gal.
Xena: Look, this is not gonna work. I am sorry.
Tara: Fine. You think I’m a lost cause, don’t you? Well, everybody else does, so why should I be surprised?
Xena: Hold it. Come on.
*Tara has a funny way of apologizing to Gabrielle :P*
Tara: Yeah. I’m sorry I gave you such a whipping back there in the tavern. I shouldn’t have kicked your butt like that.
*Xena explains her reasoning to Gabrielle*
Gabrielle: Why do we need her? We can follow their tracks like we usually do.
Xena: Gabrielle, she is trying to turn her life around.
Gabrielle: Xena, listen to me. She bit off part of my ear.
Xena: Well, only a little bit-- and she apologized.
Gabrielle: You call that an apology? Look-- there’s something that I’m not getting here-- something you’re not telling me.
Xena: She reminds me a little bit of me.
Gabrielle: Oh, no. I knew you were evil, but you were obnoxious, too?
Xena: When I was young, before my village was attacked, I used to hang with the young bucks in Amphipolis. I was pretty wild. If somebody had’a given me a little guidance, then maybe I would’ve been better equiped to handle what lay ahead.
*Tara leads a former friend over for the pinch, and they get intel on the urn*
Tara: *as the pinch sets in* This is so great. You’re gonna die, Lark, unless you start singing.
Xena: Tara, shut up! *to Lark* Where’s the urn?
Lark: It, it-- it-- it isn’t here.
Tara: May you rest in peace.
Lark: I’m telling the truth-- I swear. Wayan and some of the others took it north. They’re gonna meet up with some Silesian traders who’ll give gold for it.
Tara: He’s telling the truth. He hasn’t got the guts to play this tough a game of chicken.
Xena: Hey-- what do you think you’re doing?!
Tara: I’m gonna knock him out. This guy’s real scum.
Xena: You wanna work with me? You don’t kick people when they’re unconscious!
Tara: All right-- fine. As long as I know the rules. It’s OK to knock ‘em out after you put the pinch on ‘em, but no smacking them after it. I got it.
*Gabrielle promises to give Tara another chance, and imparts some advice to Xena about reaching her*
Gabrielle: She didn’t listen to you. You let her get away with that?
Xena: I’m trying to encourage her to turn her life around. Isn’t that what you’d do?
Gabrielle: What?
Xena: Turning people away from their dark side isn’t my specialty.
Gabrielle: Xena, I have learned a lot in these last few years. And one of the things I’ve learned is that you can’t save everyone.
Xena: Then you and she do have something in common.
Gabrielle: What’s that?
Xena: You both think she’s a lost cause.
Gabrielle: OK. I get what you’re saying. I’m being too hard on her.
Xena: Well, it’s understandable-- she did try to bite off your ear.
Gabrielle: Well, it’s not hurting as much now, so I can be civil to her.
Xena: Thanks.
Gabrielle: Xena-- if you can say with a straight face that you believe in her-- that’ll go a long way with a confused kid like that. It did with me. It’s easier to believe in yourself after someone else has believed in you first.
Xena: Thanks.
*…this truce between Gabrielle and Tara isn’t going very well :P*
Gabrielle: You put my staff in the fire?!
Tara: Oh, was that important? What?
Gabrielle: You see-- I, I sleep next to Xena.
Tara: Well-- you can sleep on the other side.
Gabrielle: I don’t like to sleep that close to the fire.
Tara: Well, I don’t know what to tell you. First come first served.
Gabrielle: Is that right?
Tara: Oh, yeah-- that’s right.
Gabrielle: Who was here-- ?
Xena: What‘s right?
Gabrielle: Nothing-- not a thing. Not a thing. It’s nothing. Everything’s fine. The world’s just a bowl of cherries. Good night.
*Xena imparts her first moral advice to Tara*
Tara: This doing good thing-- how do you know what’s really good and what’s not? I mean, those boys from the gang—they think they’re good. How do you really know?
Xena: It’s not always that simple. I usually go with my gut. And when in doubt, I ask her.
Tara: No-- She would know?
Xena: Not always-- but I know that her first instinct is usually an unselfish one-- and that’s a really good place to start.
Tara: Do you think she was born good? I mean, my father always told me that I was bad from day one.
Xena: That is not true. You are what you do. You can re-create yourself every second of your life.
*Tara is not a very trusting person*
Gabrielle: Let’s just try to get along, OK? What?
Tara: She told you we had to get along or else, right?
Gabrielle: Forget it.
Tara: You know, you’ve got her convinced you’re the real thing.
Gabrielle: What does that mean?
Tara: She thinks you’re perfect.
Gabrielle: She knows I’m not perfect. She loves me anyway. That’s what friendship is about.
Tara: wouldn’t know. I haven’t had a lot of friends in my time.
Gabrielle: I wonder why.
*after Xena finds Tara and Gabrielle buried up to their necks, courtesy of the old gang*
Xena: This had better be good!
Gabrielle: Wonder girl took matters into her own hands again.
Tara: Everything would have been fine if you just let go of my foot!
Gabrielle: You would be dead if I didn’t grab your foot!
Tara: Uh!
Xena: Oh, boy!
*Tara cracks under the pressure and lets go of some of her prickly shell*
Xena: You asked me how you know what’s good and what’s bad. Let me make it real simple for ya. Acting like a selfish brat is bad. So you better start putting others first, or I will leave you by the roadside in a flash.
Tara: *to Gabrielle* Well, congratulations! You got what you wanted!
Gabrielle: What’s that?
Tara: She hates me now, thanks to you.
Gabrielle: Thanks to me? Tara-- you’re not only obnoxious-- you’re deluded.
Tara: I don’t know what that means-- but you better take it back-- right now!
Gabrielle: Don’t push it. Don’t you know-- ?!
Tara: What are you gonna _do_ about it?! Oh-- you think I’m scared because you’ve got that stick, huh? OK. Let’s go, Blondie! *they fight, and Gabrielle uses her superior staff skills*
Gabrielle: Be smart for a change! Stay down. What are you doing?! I don’t wanna hurt you anymore!
Tara: Don’t do me any favors.
Gabrielle: Stay down, Tara!
Tara: Go away! I was just-- I was just giving her my best shot! I’m bad! I know I am! I’m really-- I’m really, really bad!
Xena: No, you’re not.
*Tara’s backstory*
Tara: My mom was good-- I know that. She died when I was about four. I remember when we had to bury her, I stood by the grave and I said, ‘Mom, you better get up, now! The men are throwing dirt on you.!’ Pretty dumb, huh?
Gabrielle: Not at all.
Tara: My father wasn’t bad from the beginning. It’s just that he missed my mom so much-- he started to drink. Pretty soon, he was beating up on me, telling me how worthless I was. It went on forever. So when I met the boys from the gang, I--
Xena: You just wanted to belong.
Tara: I guess that was it, yeah. Why are you guys being so nice to me, anyway?! You guys are acting like a bunch of suckers! I’ve done some really bad things!
Xena: You wanna compare bad deeds, I’ll bury ya.
*Gabrielle has a more permanent change of tune about Tara*
Gabrielle: Thanks, Xena.
Xena: For what?
Gabrielle: I had so much anger for that poor, little kid-- I never gave her a chance, and-- you helped me deal with that.
Xena: You did everything just right-- including a little bit of, uh-- tough love.
*Gabrielle invents charades, but she’s a little more cultured than the other gals :P*
Gabrielle: Sss!
Xena: Zeus and the Cyclops?
Gabrielle: No-- it’s not a legend. Don’t you remember when I did this? And this?
Xena: Yeah-- yeah, we do.
Gabrielle: That’s the mask of comedy and drama.
Tara: “So?”
Gabrielle: So, that means it’s a play.
Xena: Oedipus.
Gabrielle: No, don’t-- don’t guess-- you have to use the clues. Watch. *elaborate pantomime*
Xena: We don’t-- know.
Tara: Come on-- will you just tell us?
Gabrielle: Iphigenia at Aulis.
Xena: How are we supposed to know that?!
Gabrielle: Well, it’s not my fault you don’t keep up with contemporary theater.
*Tara seems to be trying to justify something, after secretly meeting with Micah in the woods…*
Tara: Gabrielle? This urn-- mm-- do you believe it has some kind of power?
Gabrielle: They say it gives people a sense of peace. Whether that power comes from the mind or the urn-- I don’t know.
Tara: But it could just be an old piece of pottery with really pretty gems on it, right?
Gabrielle: I guess so.
Tara: So-- if, for some reason, we don’t get it back, it’s not the end of the world.
Gabrielle: Maybe-- but I know this. For people who need to forgive themselves in order to move on in life-- this urn can be very meaningful.
Tara: Like somebody like you knows anything about feeling guilty.
Gabrielle: I know. Believe me, I know.
*Xena’s contemplating a change of heart about Tara herself…*
Tara: Nothing there. *steals the urn*
Gabrielle: *to Xena* What’s the matter?
Xena: You may be right, Gabrielle. Maybe you can’t save everyone.
*Tara grapples with her moment of truth in front of Micah*
Micah: You are the best. You should be proud of yourself. I love you, Tara.
Tara: I love you too, Micah.
Micah: Not many people play Xena, Warrior Princess, for a sucker. When word gets out-- she’ll be a laughingstock. Come on-- give it to me. What are you doing? Give me the urn. Look-- we’ve gotta get out of here before Wayan realizes what’s going on.
Tara: Micah, we don’t need this urn.
Micah: Well, you’re right, there. But we do need the money we’ll get from selling it.
Tara: You know-- if you and I head to Athens, we could get some action going there.
Micah: Fine-- we’ll to to Athens. Now, give me the urn.
Tara: No.
Micah: Tara! You’re beginning to make me very angry.
Tara: Look, I don’t think we should sell this urn.
Micah: Well, what should we do with it?
Tara: Return it to the temple. People believe in it-- and Xena believes in me.
Micah: You know? I wasn’t gonna kill you until we were clear from the castle-- but now will do fine.
Xena: Hello, handsome.
*after the gals save the day and take back the urn*
Tara: You knew, didn’t you?
Xena: Yeah, I knew.
Tara: Then why did you-- ?
Xena: A very wise friend of mine once said that no one can believe in herself unless someone else believes in her first.
Tara: You two are such suckers!
*and when Xena refuses the Apollo urn ritual, Tara asks the question that defines the series :P*
Tara: What’s Xena doing? Doesn’t she wanna be forgiven?
But through the course of actually watching through the 45 minutes again, I realized that actress, Shiri Appleby, was an inspired choice. She made Tara funny, and then have hidden depths when the script demanded it. The girl had talent—unlike whoever played another guest star, the wooden Micah, I’m sorry to say. Sometimes, even those who play obnoxious characters can remind you that acting is an art.
The episode also delves into other interesting topics, like the meaning of forgiveness and ritual items vs personal resolve when it comes to faith. It doesn’t have the historical undertones of the last hour, or quite the gravitas of other previous ones, but the last scene is surprisingly thoughtful, and less of a tidy wrap up than usual.
Summary is here, courtesy of whoosh.org.
We open with a communion-style ritual in a temple of Apollo. The priests pour blessed water out of a holy urn to absolve people of their sins. It’s a very nice urn, of course, and among the prostrate flock are two warriors, who are not who they say! They steal the urn, and the head priest goes to Xena and Gabrielle in order to get it back. As Xena prepares Argo for travel, Gabrielle, left alone in the tavern, is accosted by this surly street rat named Tara. Though Gabs tries to avoid it, they do get into a barroom brawl before Xena can put a stop to it. Tara explains that she wants to become Xena’s new sidekick, and leave the life of juvenile delinquency that she’s been leading. Plus, she knows a bit about the goons that took the urn, so it’s a win win for Xena—complete her quest and save someone who reminds her of herself. Gabrielle is less enthused, and it takes her and Tara a little while longer to warm up to each other. Along the way, hotheaded Tara doesn’t follow directions and occasionally gives hints that she’s not really on the level. The biggest betrayal of trust comes when she sneaks away from Xena and Gabrielle at night to meet up with her boy toy, Micah. Apparently Micah was hoping that Xena would steal the urn from the head goon, give it to Tara, and then he and Tara could abscond with it. Tara is certainly struggling…but with the support of the warrior princess, who thinks of the right thing to say thanks to Gabrielle, she ultimately chooses the right path. We end on the topic of forgiveness—Gabrielle and Tara kneel to get blessed by the holy water from the Apollo priests, but Xena decides against it, and instead walks off into the sunset.
So RJ Stewart claimed on the DVD commentary that the Tara part was actually originally written for Selma Blair! Some of the “Xena” producers had worked on another project with her, and they liked her style. Of course, other folks over in Hollywood felt the same way, too, and by the time this episode rolled around, her career was a little too big to make a pit stop in New Zealand, alas. So instead, they gave the part to Shiri Appleby, whom as I’ve stated above brought some real gravitas and nuance to the role. I think it worked out pretty well. Plus, I’m pretty sure that I’ve heard of Shiri Appleby from more recent projects, too, if mostly “Lifetime” movies and the like. :/ Man, just like Hudson Leick, Shiri has gone under-appreciated by Hollywood. Anywho. The other big thing that Liz Friedman focused on in the commentary was making sure that Xena’s sense of personal forgiveness didn’t come too easy. She’s done a lot of horrible things in her life, and a little bit of unconnected ritual can’t absolve them. Really, the point of the show, how she’s going on all of these “do-gooder” quests, is her atonement.
It’s interesting, in a way, the identification that Xena feels towards Tara. Xena’s crimes haven’t been quite so petty in a long, long time. She kidnapped Caesar! She attempted to start a huge war in Chin! She bears at least some responsibility for unleashing Callisto on the world, and she was the protégé of none other than the god of war himself. Even her occasional pillaging in Greece is far more serious than whatever brawling and burglary Tara’s gotten into with her hometown gang, I’d think. It’s unclear, even, if she’s ever killed anyone. That’s not to wave a blind hand to Tara’s lying and cheating and stealing. She definitely had some issues to work out. What interests me is Xena’s sense of empathy, and how it connects back to the beginning of her journey, from before even her brother was killed. She may not have the capacity to forgive herself easily, but she remembers how easy it is to get started down the wrong path, when you’re young and unsure of yourself.
In between Tara and Xena’s journeys, we have Gabrielle. Despite everything that’s happened she still retains a bit of her faith—she gets, for example, the importance that the ritual with the urn has on people. She takes it upon herself to ask for that brand of forgiveness, despite all of her faults with Hope and Ming Tien and even killing the Dahak priestess. But it’s worth it to notice that she achieved the act of physical and mental atonement before accepting the ritual. She and Xena went through the gauntlet of “The Bitter Suite,” and Gabrielle also apologized to Xena along the way in the real world, working hard to rectify wrongs where she could. Although this Apollo communion ritual is certainly modeled after Christianity (and not, say, actual Apollo worship :P) I’m partially reminded of Yom Kippur, too. Through the ten days of awe between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Jews must go out and ask forgiveness directly from the people they’ve wronged throughout the year. Then, on Yom Kippur proper, the conversation of forgiveness and atonement is between the person and Gd. That’s in line with how I think Gabrielle used the urn ritual. She’d gotten forgiveness from Xena, and now she needed to forgive herself.
I think that’s where I come down on this whole ritual items vs personal resolve question that I posed above. The ritual is about making peace with yourself, and your sense of connection to the larger world, but you can only truly earn it after doing the hard interpersonal work. But let’s move on here to some highlights from whoosh.org, however scant they might be for this episode. All the wiki really has to offer is that this is the first of two Tara episodes. Anywho. Whoosh.org points out the similarities between the urn toss while fighting at the end of this episode and the baby toss in “Cradle of Hope.” I agree, it’s less comedic with a piece of pottery. :P And also, there’s a minor gaff with some of Xena’s armor in the scene where they are walking to the castle; a strap has come off of her left side. Woops.
But to end on a positive note, I’m going to go more in depth into Tara’s actions this hour, rather than just claim ad nauseum that she’s a complicated brat. :P She has a bit of everything inside of her, including a sadistic streak, for how eagerly she lured a former friend over to Xena, in hopes of seeing the pinch in action. In general she’s pretty brash and rushes into the fray against the wishes of Xena and Gabrielle. Worst case scenario, she and the bard get caught and are buried up to their necks in sand; what can you do. :P But probably her strongest moment comes from the second time she challenges Gabrielle, and when Gabrielle fights back, she finally breaks down about her situation. She goes into a backstory about how her home life led her to want to be accepted by a menacing gang; Shiri’s performance elevates it out of melodrama and into something real. From there, she finally lets go of some of her obnoxious sass and starts questioning how to make sure you’re on the right path in life. She maintains a little bit of sarcasm when it comes to overt shows of affection, hee. But it’s all very human, for a character who, in the beginning, came off as something of a nuisance. Huzzah, Shiri, and huzzah, show. :D
Disclaimer No street-talking, cat-fighting, barroom-brawling juvenile delinquents were harmed during the production of this motion picture.
Favorite Quotes:
*the blessing recited in the ritual involving the urn of Apollo*
Priest of Apollo: Worshippers of Apollo. You have come to this temple on this day of cleansing to be purified for past misdeeds. This blessing is of no worth if you leave here and once again soil your souls with willful and selfish acts. But if you truly desire to make a new start-- the blessed urn of Apollo will anoint you with the purity of hope. Please come forward. You are forgiven for past misdeeds. Now go and do good. You are forgiven for past misdeeds. Now go and do good.
*the priest entices Xena and Gabrielle’s help, with a little bit of a moral argument thrown in*
Priest of Apollo: You see-- the urn of Apollo gives a new start to so many people.
Xena: No urn can do that-- that comes from within.
Priest of Apollo: Well, not all of us are strong enough to face the jaws of our conscious alone. People come to me who are close to being driven mad by remorse and guilt. Soldiers, who have killed too often in battle-- rich men and women-- who have nightmares about what they did to accumulate their wealth. The urn gives them strength to face those demons within. Do you understand?
Gabrielle: I do.
Xena: We’ll get your urn back.
Priest of Apollo: Oh-- thank you. Oh!
*Gabrielle and Tara don’t have the most friendly introduction*
Gabrielle: OK. Huh! Did you throw that?
Tara: Yeah.
Gabrielle: What’s your problem?
Tara: Your face.
Gabrielle: “Then don’t look at it. *Tara throws goop in her hair* Huh! Look-- if you don’t like the food, may I suggest you find some other way to express it.
Tara: What kind of wimp are you?! I just threw a plate of gruel on you, and all you do is talk! You and I are gonna settle this right here.
Gabrielle: Look-- I think you have me confused with somebody else.
Tara: Yeah, you wish.
Gabrielle: I don’t know what’s bothering you-- but I have no intention of fighting.
Tara: I think you’re a coward.
Gabrielle: Well, I don’t care what you think.
*Xena’s not too keen at first, but ultimately she feels something for Tara’s dilemma*
Gabrielle: Xena-- I’ll understand, just this once, if you’re so angry, you wanna pummel her for a while.
Xena: I’m not gonna do that.
Gabrielle: Well, then, hold her while I do it!
Tara: You want some more, Blondie?! Come on! Huh?! Come on!
Xena: You listen to me, little girl. I’ve got no interest in making a change. Blondie-- ! Gabrielle, here is my partner, and that’s the way it’s gonna stay. So, get lost, huh?
Tara: But, you don’t know how valuable I could be you!
Xena: Take some advice. Don’t get in our way again, or—next time you’re gonna get a real beating.
Tara: I know who stole Apollo’s urn-- the Red--
Xena: -- Valley gang. They’re the only bunch in the area who’d make a move like that. I’m not impressed.
Tara: Well, I know where one of their hideouts is!
Xena: How do you know that?
Tara: I used to hang with some of them guys.
Gabrielle: Figures.
Tara: Hey, look! I never said I was a goody-two-shoes, but I’m here to turn it around! I wanna be a hero and fight for good--protect wimps and kick the crap out of jerks! I know I could do it if somebody would just give me a chance! Come on! Let me just show you where their hideout is! I won’t pick on your little buddy, anymore.
Xena: We don’t need your help.
Tara: I heard you were pretty bad once upon a time. Somebody must have given you a chance to turn it all around. What a crock!
*Xena goes back and forth about whether she can have Tara along*
Xena: OK. I’m not gonna fight’cha. I just wanted to tell ya, you don’t need me to turn your life around. You wanna do good? Do it! Then you’ll be good.
Tara: That’s what I’m here for. I wanna get that urn back for those suckers who believe in that kind of thing. That’s good, isn’t it?
Xena: Yeah, but, me and her-- we don’t need any help.
Tara: Come on! Let me just show you where their hideout is! It’ll be my first step.
Xena: You made a real bad start with my friend.
Tara: All right-- I’ll give you that. I’ll kiss up to her if you want. I can be just as phony as the next gal.
Xena: Look, this is not gonna work. I am sorry.
Tara: Fine. You think I’m a lost cause, don’t you? Well, everybody else does, so why should I be surprised?
Xena: Hold it. Come on.
*Tara has a funny way of apologizing to Gabrielle :P*
Tara: Yeah. I’m sorry I gave you such a whipping back there in the tavern. I shouldn’t have kicked your butt like that.
*Xena explains her reasoning to Gabrielle*
Gabrielle: Why do we need her? We can follow their tracks like we usually do.
Xena: Gabrielle, she is trying to turn her life around.
Gabrielle: Xena, listen to me. She bit off part of my ear.
Xena: Well, only a little bit-- and she apologized.
Gabrielle: You call that an apology? Look-- there’s something that I’m not getting here-- something you’re not telling me.
Xena: She reminds me a little bit of me.
Gabrielle: Oh, no. I knew you were evil, but you were obnoxious, too?
Xena: When I was young, before my village was attacked, I used to hang with the young bucks in Amphipolis. I was pretty wild. If somebody had’a given me a little guidance, then maybe I would’ve been better equiped to handle what lay ahead.
*Tara leads a former friend over for the pinch, and they get intel on the urn*
Tara: *as the pinch sets in* This is so great. You’re gonna die, Lark, unless you start singing.
Xena: Tara, shut up! *to Lark* Where’s the urn?
Lark: It, it-- it-- it isn’t here.
Tara: May you rest in peace.
Lark: I’m telling the truth-- I swear. Wayan and some of the others took it north. They’re gonna meet up with some Silesian traders who’ll give gold for it.
Tara: He’s telling the truth. He hasn’t got the guts to play this tough a game of chicken.
Xena: Hey-- what do you think you’re doing?!
Tara: I’m gonna knock him out. This guy’s real scum.
Xena: You wanna work with me? You don’t kick people when they’re unconscious!
Tara: All right-- fine. As long as I know the rules. It’s OK to knock ‘em out after you put the pinch on ‘em, but no smacking them after it. I got it.
*Gabrielle promises to give Tara another chance, and imparts some advice to Xena about reaching her*
Gabrielle: She didn’t listen to you. You let her get away with that?
Xena: I’m trying to encourage her to turn her life around. Isn’t that what you’d do?
Gabrielle: What?
Xena: Turning people away from their dark side isn’t my specialty.
Gabrielle: Xena, I have learned a lot in these last few years. And one of the things I’ve learned is that you can’t save everyone.
Xena: Then you and she do have something in common.
Gabrielle: What’s that?
Xena: You both think she’s a lost cause.
Gabrielle: OK. I get what you’re saying. I’m being too hard on her.
Xena: Well, it’s understandable-- she did try to bite off your ear.
Gabrielle: Well, it’s not hurting as much now, so I can be civil to her.
Xena: Thanks.
Gabrielle: Xena-- if you can say with a straight face that you believe in her-- that’ll go a long way with a confused kid like that. It did with me. It’s easier to believe in yourself after someone else has believed in you first.
Xena: Thanks.
*…this truce between Gabrielle and Tara isn’t going very well :P*
Gabrielle: You put my staff in the fire?!
Tara: Oh, was that important? What?
Gabrielle: You see-- I, I sleep next to Xena.
Tara: Well-- you can sleep on the other side.
Gabrielle: I don’t like to sleep that close to the fire.
Tara: Well, I don’t know what to tell you. First come first served.
Gabrielle: Is that right?
Tara: Oh, yeah-- that’s right.
Gabrielle: Who was here-- ?
Xena: What‘s right?
Gabrielle: Nothing-- not a thing. Not a thing. It’s nothing. Everything’s fine. The world’s just a bowl of cherries. Good night.
*Xena imparts her first moral advice to Tara*
Tara: This doing good thing-- how do you know what’s really good and what’s not? I mean, those boys from the gang—they think they’re good. How do you really know?
Xena: It’s not always that simple. I usually go with my gut. And when in doubt, I ask her.
Tara: No-- She would know?
Xena: Not always-- but I know that her first instinct is usually an unselfish one-- and that’s a really good place to start.
Tara: Do you think she was born good? I mean, my father always told me that I was bad from day one.
Xena: That is not true. You are what you do. You can re-create yourself every second of your life.
*Tara is not a very trusting person*
Gabrielle: Let’s just try to get along, OK? What?
Tara: She told you we had to get along or else, right?
Gabrielle: Forget it.
Tara: You know, you’ve got her convinced you’re the real thing.
Gabrielle: What does that mean?
Tara: She thinks you’re perfect.
Gabrielle: She knows I’m not perfect. She loves me anyway. That’s what friendship is about.
Tara: wouldn’t know. I haven’t had a lot of friends in my time.
Gabrielle: I wonder why.
*after Xena finds Tara and Gabrielle buried up to their necks, courtesy of the old gang*
Xena: This had better be good!
Gabrielle: Wonder girl took matters into her own hands again.
Tara: Everything would have been fine if you just let go of my foot!
Gabrielle: You would be dead if I didn’t grab your foot!
Tara: Uh!
Xena: Oh, boy!
*Tara cracks under the pressure and lets go of some of her prickly shell*
Xena: You asked me how you know what’s good and what’s bad. Let me make it real simple for ya. Acting like a selfish brat is bad. So you better start putting others first, or I will leave you by the roadside in a flash.
Tara: *to Gabrielle* Well, congratulations! You got what you wanted!
Gabrielle: What’s that?
Tara: She hates me now, thanks to you.
Gabrielle: Thanks to me? Tara-- you’re not only obnoxious-- you’re deluded.
Tara: I don’t know what that means-- but you better take it back-- right now!
Gabrielle: Don’t push it. Don’t you know-- ?!
Tara: What are you gonna _do_ about it?! Oh-- you think I’m scared because you’ve got that stick, huh? OK. Let’s go, Blondie! *they fight, and Gabrielle uses her superior staff skills*
Gabrielle: Be smart for a change! Stay down. What are you doing?! I don’t wanna hurt you anymore!
Tara: Don’t do me any favors.
Gabrielle: Stay down, Tara!
Tara: Go away! I was just-- I was just giving her my best shot! I’m bad! I know I am! I’m really-- I’m really, really bad!
Xena: No, you’re not.
*Tara’s backstory*
Tara: My mom was good-- I know that. She died when I was about four. I remember when we had to bury her, I stood by the grave and I said, ‘Mom, you better get up, now! The men are throwing dirt on you.!’ Pretty dumb, huh?
Gabrielle: Not at all.
Tara: My father wasn’t bad from the beginning. It’s just that he missed my mom so much-- he started to drink. Pretty soon, he was beating up on me, telling me how worthless I was. It went on forever. So when I met the boys from the gang, I--
Xena: You just wanted to belong.
Tara: I guess that was it, yeah. Why are you guys being so nice to me, anyway?! You guys are acting like a bunch of suckers! I’ve done some really bad things!
Xena: You wanna compare bad deeds, I’ll bury ya.
*Gabrielle has a more permanent change of tune about Tara*
Gabrielle: Thanks, Xena.
Xena: For what?
Gabrielle: I had so much anger for that poor, little kid-- I never gave her a chance, and-- you helped me deal with that.
Xena: You did everything just right-- including a little bit of, uh-- tough love.
*Gabrielle invents charades, but she’s a little more cultured than the other gals :P*
Gabrielle: Sss!
Xena: Zeus and the Cyclops?
Gabrielle: No-- it’s not a legend. Don’t you remember when I did this? And this?
Xena: Yeah-- yeah, we do.
Gabrielle: That’s the mask of comedy and drama.
Tara: “So?”
Gabrielle: So, that means it’s a play.
Xena: Oedipus.
Gabrielle: No, don’t-- don’t guess-- you have to use the clues. Watch. *elaborate pantomime*
Xena: We don’t-- know.
Tara: Come on-- will you just tell us?
Gabrielle: Iphigenia at Aulis.
Xena: How are we supposed to know that?!
Gabrielle: Well, it’s not my fault you don’t keep up with contemporary theater.
*Tara seems to be trying to justify something, after secretly meeting with Micah in the woods…*
Tara: Gabrielle? This urn-- mm-- do you believe it has some kind of power?
Gabrielle: They say it gives people a sense of peace. Whether that power comes from the mind or the urn-- I don’t know.
Tara: But it could just be an old piece of pottery with really pretty gems on it, right?
Gabrielle: I guess so.
Tara: So-- if, for some reason, we don’t get it back, it’s not the end of the world.
Gabrielle: Maybe-- but I know this. For people who need to forgive themselves in order to move on in life-- this urn can be very meaningful.
Tara: Like somebody like you knows anything about feeling guilty.
Gabrielle: I know. Believe me, I know.
*Xena’s contemplating a change of heart about Tara herself…*
Tara: Nothing there. *steals the urn*
Gabrielle: *to Xena* What’s the matter?
Xena: You may be right, Gabrielle. Maybe you can’t save everyone.
*Tara grapples with her moment of truth in front of Micah*
Micah: You are the best. You should be proud of yourself. I love you, Tara.
Tara: I love you too, Micah.
Micah: Not many people play Xena, Warrior Princess, for a sucker. When word gets out-- she’ll be a laughingstock. Come on-- give it to me. What are you doing? Give me the urn. Look-- we’ve gotta get out of here before Wayan realizes what’s going on.
Tara: Micah, we don’t need this urn.
Micah: Well, you’re right, there. But we do need the money we’ll get from selling it.
Tara: You know-- if you and I head to Athens, we could get some action going there.
Micah: Fine-- we’ll to to Athens. Now, give me the urn.
Tara: No.
Micah: Tara! You’re beginning to make me very angry.
Tara: Look, I don’t think we should sell this urn.
Micah: Well, what should we do with it?
Tara: Return it to the temple. People believe in it-- and Xena believes in me.
Micah: You know? I wasn’t gonna kill you until we were clear from the castle-- but now will do fine.
Xena: Hello, handsome.
*after the gals save the day and take back the urn*
Tara: You knew, didn’t you?
Xena: Yeah, I knew.
Tara: Then why did you-- ?
Xena: A very wise friend of mine once said that no one can believe in herself unless someone else believes in her first.
Tara: You two are such suckers!
*and when Xena refuses the Apollo urn ritual, Tara asks the question that defines the series :P*
Tara: What’s Xena doing? Doesn’t she wanna be forgiven?
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