THE XENA SCROLLS

The Xenaverse meets Indiana Jones' style! The year? 1940. Archaeologists dig in Macedonia. A gun fight of exceptionally poor aim ensues. Lucy Lawless is Southern Mel and Renee O'Connor is Indiana Janice. Mel translates ancient writings. "The most important archaeological find of the century" is the Xena Scrolls. And this is a clipisode! (Callisto.) Ted Raimi is Frenchman Leutenant Joxair. And a familiar villian is Smythe. (The Reckoning.) (Old B&W horror movies.) Mel finds the scrolls first. (Mortal Beloved.) They also find half of the chakram. It's magnetic-like power leads them to Smythe -who holds the other half. A fight! The 3 good guys escape into Ares' lair. The chakram unites as a whole and Ares awakens. He kills Smythe! We learn Joxair is a brush salesman from Jersey! And he's related to Joxer. (Callisto.) "It is written that only a descendant of Xena can release me back into the world," says Ares. And that's Mel! Janice is related to Gabrielle. (Callisto.) (Altared States.) Mel was putting on a show? She's actually tough? Ares calls her "Xena." (Hooves and Harlots.) (Doctor?) (Ties That Bind.) A fight! Ares gets trapped. 50 years later is a sales pitch for Rob Tapert's new TV show! (Main Title.)

A SOLSTICE CAROL

A scrooge-like king dishes out cruel punishments. He won't let the people celebrate solstice. A boy steals Xena's chakram for a tree-topper. X & G follow the thief to his orphanage. They too are under oppression there. So Xena, Gabrielle, and an ex toy maker named Sinticlese plot to non-violently change the king's mind. (Gabrielle buys a mule.) Then Xena poses as something akin to a Christmas Carol ghost. And Gabby poses as the king's dead wife. (Er...no. She didn't die; she left him!) Sinticlese goes to the orphanage in a disguise. (Hm. Looks a lot like Santa Clause!) We learn that the orphanage manager is the woman who left the king. The orphanage is under siege! A toy fight! The king has a change of heart. His wife forgives him. And Xena, Gabrielle, Argo, and the mule cross paths with a man, woman, and baby. The mule is given to them to help them on their journey. "May God smile on you always for your kindness." (And, with that, the child's face is all aglow.) Xena gives Gabrielle a toy lamb like Gabby cherished as a child. "Gabrielle, you are a gift to me." -Xena.

TEN LITTLE WARLORDS

Xena is still stuck in Callisto's body for this one. "Ares" has sent out 10 "invitations" to various warlords. Soon we discover that the real Ares is now mortal and that, as a result, common people not used to anger have turned violent. Someone's stolen his sword (godhood) -and that's why Xena's not in her original body. So Xena sets off with Ares. One of the 10 is to become the new god of war. Gabrielle and Joxer follow. Someone named Sisyphus is behind all this. "He's quite an escape artist." -Xena. (Not the same Sisyphus from Death in Chains.) The 10 draw numbers for who will fight the beast first for the sword. A fight! The 10 are slowly but steadily killing one another. In the mean time, Gabby and Joxer are fighting like siblings! And we learn the truth: whoever "wins" gets to endure Tartarus in place of Sisyphus while he becomes god of war! More killings. We find that the beast is a machine. Soon, everyone is dead except Ares and Xena. Ares gets his sword and godhood back. Ares acts like he won't give Xena her body back even though she saved his life. But, in the end, after Gabrielle pledges friendship regardless, Xena is back -body and soul.

INTIMATE STRANGER

Xena is having guilty dreams about letting Callisto suffocate in the quicksand. She and Gabrielle are following Callisto's Theodorus. So is Joxer -who takes a beating. Xena follows an apparition of Callisto and learns that somehow Callisto is back, free, and working with Ares. Xena thinks she's out to kill her mother in Amphipolis. She tells all this to Gabrielle and then we learn that it's actually Callisto in Xena's body! (Xena's in Callisto's body in Tartarus!) Argo is onto it atleast. Xena convinces Hades of the misdeed and he gives her one day to correct things. Callisto assaults Argo. Xena finds him and convinces Joxer of her true self. Callisto kills Theodorus and orders the capture of Amphipolis. A fight between Callisto and Xena ensues! Gabrielle jumps in accidentally befriending Callisto. That is until knowledge proves the truth. We learn that Callisto plans to burn Amphipolis and Ares is against the vengeance. Xena must use guilt to get to Callisto -her family. "I'm not taking the weight of your crimes anymore." -Xena. Now Xena is back -in Callisto's body. "Try not to think of the hatred you have for this body; for Callisto. Try and think of the love that you have for Perdicus." -Xena.

WARRIOR... PRINCESS... TRAMP

King Leas is dying and calls for Xena to help make a smooth transition for his daughter, Diana, as she moves into power. We later find there is a third look-alike named Meg. She and a man named Agus plan to make conquest. Meg has a thing for Joxer. But when Joxer accidentally makes a move on Diana, he gets himself thrown into the dungeon. Finally, the real Xena shows up. Joxer makes a move on her, too! Anyway, Xena poses as Meg to find Diana and set her free. Only, they find that Diana's baby is missing! Gabby and Meg fight then have a heart to heart. As Joxer had said, she is a victim of circumstance. Xena teaches Meg about doing good and leaves her to watch over the ailing king. Diana is captured again trying to save her baby. Meg is captured doing the same. Then Xena appears and sets things straight. The king may yet live and he hires Meg as his personal cook.

RETURN OF CALLISTO

Callisto escapes out of prison. Elsewhere, Perdicus shows up in Xena and Gabrielle's camp. He proposes to Gabrielle. She has no immediate answer. Callisto finds Joxer and has him deliver a message to Xena. Soon, in a village under seige, Xena sees her for herself. Callisto wants to kill Xena's SOUL. Perdicus kills again and gives fighting up for good. That's when Gabrielle decides that her answer is YES. (Why does Xena kiss Gabrielle after the wedding!) Xena learns that Callisto is after Gabrielle. Callisto kills Perdicus! Gabrielle, at his funeral, realizes that she wants vengeance. She wants Xena to teach her how to kill. We see Xena say a prayer for Gabrielle. Gabby sneaks into Callisto's camp but can't bring herself to kill. We see Joxer's loyalty to Gabrielle. (He's turned good.) Callisto captures both Gabrielle and Xena and tries to burn Gabby at the stake. (When did Gabby get a new outfit? The green one!) Xena escapes with Joxer's help and saves Gabrielle. A fight! Xena vs. Callisto! They chariot race until Callisto gets thrown into quicksand. Xena lets her suffocate!

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN

Xena and Gabrielle cross the hunting grounds of Bacchus, God of Wine. Only the music of Orpheus tames the bacchae. A single bite from a bacchae makes girls into followers of Bacchus. If she drinks his wine/blood, she becomes a bacchae forever. Next, we find Joxer being chased by bacchae wolves. Xena fends them off. He brings a talking head to Xena from Orpheus; it is Orpheus! Anyway, the gang find that the man they were looking for has been hung! They split up at some festival. During a fight, trying to capture a certain lyre, Xena gets bit by bacchae? They then head to Bacchus' lair with Joxer. (Joxer can play the lyre.) We learn that Orpheus' wife Eurydice was killed because Xena failed to protect her. A dryad bone kills a bacchae. A struggle in a graveyard! And, just when we least expect it, Gabrielle has turned into a bacchae. To the catacombs! A fight! Bacchus can only be killed by a bacchae -se Xena lets Gabrielle bite her. Then Bacchus is killed with a dryad bone. ALL return to normal. Even Orpheus gets his body back.

THE GIANT KILLER

We meet a giant named Goliath -Xena's friend. He's out for revenge against another giant named Gareth. We meet David. We meet the Philistines. (Yes, Goliath is their protector. Yes, Xena is a friend of the Philistines via Goliath. Xena, however, does not agree with their methods.) At first, David hates Xena. He thinks her a murderer. The imprisoned Israelites are sentenced to death for trying to escape. Gabrielle steps in. So does Xena's chakram. They all return to the Israelite camp. David apologizes to Xena. Goliath's desire to kill Gareth proves stronger than his loyalty to Xena. David and Gabrielle talk about stories (again.) Gabrielle is writing a story about David; we hear a bit of it. Xena tells another story of her own -about her past. A fight! Later, David volunteers -demands- to take his dead brother's place as leader in killing Goliath. David recites a psalm. Goliath faces David, Xena gets him to take off his helmet using the sun's reflection, and the rest is history. Xena remembers him as friend.

REMEMBER NOTHING

During a fast-paced fight, Xena kills "just a boy." Then the 3 fates grant a wish that Xena never "followed the sword in the first place." Everyone is made as though Xena had never become a warrior. This ends if Xena draws blood in anger. The next thing she knows, she's wearing a dress and talking with Lyceus -her undead brother! She's also back with her old suitor. Her mother, however, is dead. She's faced with the guilt of not having fought Corteze. Gabrielle turns out to be a slave! And the Amazons are mostly dead. Xena sneaks in and frees Gabrielle. They give her new clothes -her mother's old clothes. "It's beautiful." "So was she." Gabrielle thinks she is nothing like the friend she reminds Xena of. The suitor goes missing. He shows up with the bad guys and Gabrielle is captured. They're all captured. In prison, Lyseus says he'd rather die fighting than quit. A fight! "Don't fight...destiny." Even Gabrielle kills with a sword. Xena draws blood! Present day! The boy from earlier is spared. Xena is grateful for who Gabrielle is.

ORPHAN OF WAR

Xena enters centaur territory. We hear her called "Destroyer of Nations." There is a boy named Solan who believes that Xena killed his father Borias. The boy is Xena's son! But she's not there to retrieve him. She's there to keep someone named Dagnine from something called an Ixion stone. We see the flashback where Xena gives up the "son of Borias." He still doesn't know she's his mother. (He thinks his mother is dead.) Dagnine finds out that Xena has a son. Soon, they capture him and Xena sets out to the rescue. She snags the cage key from Dagnine. A fight! Xena and Solan fall into the Ixion cavern. Solan breaks his arm. Solan learns about Borias. The Ixion stone contains evil and can cause the holder to become an evil centaur. Gabrielle shows up with the centaur who has been father to Solan and they pull them out of the cave. Dagnine finds the stone. He melts it down, drinks it (ouch), and turns powerful. Solan learns to lose his hatred for Xena. The new Dagnine attacks -uglier than ever. He boasts of killing Borias! Xena defeats him. Solan decides he isn't a warrior. Xena departs -never telling Solan that she's his mother.

IS THERE A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?

On a shortcut to Athens, Gabrielle and Xena travel in a war zone. They find Ephiny (of the Amazons) pregnant and hiding. Her Phantese was captured and killed by Mitoans. Xena captures a Mitoan General and they all enter a Thessalian healing temple. The healers there rely on their gods -but Xena gets her hands dirty. (This is Xena meets E.R.) At one point, Gabrielle goes out after someone's son and comes back on a stretcher critically wounded. Xena does all she can for her for the time being. The healers take note. Ephiny has her child -a centaur. Xena performs a Cesarean section. The General has a change of heart about the war. Gabrielle suddenly gets much worse and goes under. We see how badly Xena needs and would miss her friend. (Xena accidentally invents CPR!) The war is over.

DEATH MASK

The men who attacked Xena's hometown turn up. "It was fighting him that twisted me...." -Xena. One of Corteze's raiders is Xena's brother! His name is Taurus and he, too, is after Corteze. We learn of the other brother, Lyceus, who died on the same mission. (Xena can pop a blade out between her breasts?!) Taurus is banished and Xena brought into camp. She learns that there's an inside man at the king's castle. She and Taurus go to tell the king. But the king is Corteze! He escapes. So do Xena and Taurus. We learn that Xena thinks Gabrielle wise when it comes to justice. She tries to talk Taurus out of becoming an assassin. (She doesn't want to lose another brother.) The baddies capture Taurus and set a trap for Xena. They let themselves get sent into the castle prison. She coerces the head guard into giving information about the king's location and lets Taurus leave. A fight! They all pool together in the courtyard with Corteze captured. "Fight now; talk later." -Xena. In the end, Taurus doesn't take revenge and feels all the more free.

CALLISTO

An evil warrior destroys a village in Xena's name. Then a man in a tavern is introduced to the real Xena and tries to take revenge out on her. (He lost a son.) Meet Joxer! They pass him on their way to investigate. He wants to be recruited. Later, in a battle, the evil warrior friggin' catches Xena's chakram! Her skill is equal because, as she says to Xena, "You made me." This Callisto is the poison dart woman! She's from a village called Cyrra where Xena had killed her family. "I made her -and I'll be the one to destroy her." Joxer is given a task to bring Gabrielle to Callisto so that he may join her legion. Xena has a fireside talk with Gabrielle about Cyrra. Gabrielle has a charming bit about forgiveness. Callisto's next target is an oracle. They split up. Gabby fends off Joxer. Xena captures Callisto. Gabby catches up. They take her to await a trial in prison. A lynch mob sets fire to the prison. Callisto escapes, switches Xena into the cell, and steals Gabrielle. "People like us should listen to people like Gabrielle," says Xena to the man who wanted revenge in the beginning. Xena escapes and chases them. Joxer can't bring himself to kill Gabrielle. Ladder fight! And we find that Callisto has a death wish. Finally, the whole gang is chained.

THE GREATER GOOD

(Gabrielle is getting pretty good with that staff!) We find Salmoneus posing as a Lord Seltzer. An army is out to destroy him for his bad merchandise but Xena jumps in. During the fight, by a mysterious hand, she is shot in the neck with a poison dart. (Why does Xena keep this news to herself?) During another fight, the poison sets in and Xena fails. Gabrielle, noticing something is wrong, rides off with her friend. In an attempt to convince this warlord that Xena is well, Gabrielle masquerades as Xena! When worried that Xena may die, Gabrielle is taught by Xena about the greater good. Next, Gabby throws explosives on his camp. In the struggle, her disguise is revealed. Mercenaries are sent to kill the real warrior princess. This takes the last of her strength and she dies (for the time being -but nobody knows it is temporary.) Argo comes to Gabrielle's rescue. Gabrielle grieves. Salmoneus offers himself and Xena for the town. But the warlord plans to sell the villagers as slaves anyway. A sign of life from Xena! A fight! And Xena returns! But WHO fired that dart....

TIES THAT BIND

Ares is out to replace an eager warlord with Xena's presence. Then, a fighter comes to the rescue of the warlord's slavegirls and Xena pops in to help the man. The man (Atrius) also claims to be Xena's father! The slaves are freed. We learn that one of them (Rhea) volunteered to be captured to help her sister. Soon, it's Xena's turn to save Atrius. An assassin is then sent to kill Xena. He is killed by Atrius. The point? Over and over again, in other areas besides parentage, Atrius proves himself NOT to be a liar. Gabrielle leaves so that he can spend some time with his daughter. A fight! Another fight! The gang gets split up and Xena winds up taking command of the warlord's army -whom she has just defeated. But once she sees that the villagers have strung her father "up for the vultures," a bit of evil Xena returns and she orders an attack. Gabrielle snaps her out of it. Then her father speaks. But it isn't her father! It's ARES! He's smooth-talking her into vengeance! "Join me or die," says Ares once he is revealed. Xena would rather die. But Ares can't bring himself to do it. He still has hope she'll turn. Xena tells Gabrielle that their friendship binds them "closer than blood ever could."

ALTARED STATES

A boy named Ikus is sent away from home by his mother to hide. He runs to the lake where Xena and Gabrielle happen to be fishing. (Was that a cheeky moment??) Anyway, Xena helps save him from his chasers -his family?! Karl Urban makes his debut as Ikus' older and more jealous brother. He and the band of believers are trying to sacrifice Ikus. (This is a spitting image of the Abraham and Isaac story). Xena goes to talk with the father herself. "God has commanded it," he explains of the sacrifice. He is, however, very unwilling to go through with such violence. Meanwhile, back in a cave, Gabrielle eats some of Ikus' nutbread -which she doesn't realize was spiked. Xena enters to discover Gabrielle drugged and Ike missing. Soon, Ikus is taken to the altar. Xena intercepts! It turns out that Ikus' father was being drugged, too. The brother shows up and has Xena and Gabrielle thrown into a well which they eventually climb out of. Ikus himself thinks they should obey! We learn the brother is causing the thundering and voices of "God" with a primitive megaphone. But the voice who, in the end, commands the hand to stay is a mystery.... "Killing Ikus isn't the will of any God."

THE PRODIGAL

During an ambush, Gabrielle freezes up. She then thinks herself a liability. This concerns her so much that she sets out for home. On her way, she discovers that her hometown of Potadeia is about to be under attack by a man named Damon. And they've hired Meleager the Mighty to defend them -but he turns out to be a useless drunk. So Gabrielle must use what she's learned from Xena to defend her town. Later, they set traps throughout the town. Gabrielle also clears up some hurt feelings that had developed between she and Lila since going away. Finally, Damon's men attack but are fully met! Meleager and his pay had disappeared but it turns out he'd gone to buy javelins. He finishes them off! Lila has a heart to heart with Gabrielle. She knows she has to leave. "You are destined for great things." At the end, Gabrielle is faced with the same ambush but doesn't freeze this time. And Xena finishes them off.

ROYAL COUPLE OF THIEVES

Baited with a fake jewel and coerced by his good reputation, Autolycus (the King of Thieves) is recruited by Xena to help steal the most valuable chest in the world. He masquerades as a feared man named Sinteres and Xena as some "concubine." They travel by ship, trying out their new characters. They reach the castle. Xena ("Cherish") must dance while Auto inspects and makes a mold of a key. Later, they sneak in only to find the body of the chest "owner." Now there is a hunt for the murderer. (We learn that Auto steals since his family was killed and brother died when he was young). The chest has been hidden in their room! They return it. They await the demonstration of this so-called weapon when the real Sinteres show up...with Gabrielle! The murderer is found and killed. The gang escapes. Later, a pressure point fight! (Whoosh!) Then another fight! (Gabrielle really wants in on the action.) The leader bad guy then opens the chest/weapon and only those who don't fear and run from it are spared. With the good gang still alive, the chest is returned to the people who hired Autolycus. It was the Ark of the Covenant with the Ten Commandments inside.

MORTAL BELOVED

Nice tale. The ghost of Marcus brings news to Xena that the underworld is in turmoil and they need her help. The good are being sent to Tartarus while the bad are going to the Elysian fields. Gabrielle camps lakeside while Xena dives to the bottom to enter "the other side." This unrest has been created by a bad man who has stolen Hades' helmet of invisibility. We learn that Marcus was sent to Tartarus when he died and will be sent there again when things are put right. Nevertheless, he wants to do the right thing. There is a fight and Marcus and Xena head out to see Hades. They fight off the harpes on their way. Hades gives Marcus his life back for 48 hours so they can return to the land of the living to kill the bad guy who has gone there to kill more innocents! But he has gone there by way of the lake where Gabrielle waits! A fight! Xena confesses her love for Marcus. The bad man is after a bride so the gang devise a plot to protect her. The bad man is killed and the helmet retrieved. Xena convinces Hades to let Marcus stay in the Elysian field because of the goodness in his heart.

WARRIOR ...PRINCESS

Xena goes to visit a king at his castle and is confused as to why she is treated so...royally. We learn it is because she is a spitting image of the princess, Diana. And Xena has been summoned to counteract attacks on the princess' life. It has something to do with the greed of slave traders and Diana's wedding -which will cause the outlaw of such trade. Xena and the princess must now switch places until the wedding, parading as each other. Diana is in love with the brother of the one she is to marry. Xena fends off the baddies and Gabrielle has a lot of work to make Diana a warrior! Xena figures there's a traitor in the castle. Meanwhile, Diana is learning the real troubles of her people. (It's amazing how many ways the writers try to rephrase the description of the pinch!) The man who was thought to be traitor is found dead and the ladies go back to normal...or so they let us think! Later, the bad man is captured and the real wedding between Diana and her true love takes place.

A FISTFUL OF DINARS

Xena haphazardly finds her way on a treasure (+ ambrosia) hunt with one of the clues. She teams up with two thugs. One of the men is Petriclese -once the smooth-talking fiance of Xena! They encounter a myriad of obstacles; old bosses, unsteady bridges, flying arrows.... Now Petriclese is slowly gaining the trust of Gabrielle -to Xena's chagrin. They share a kiss and Gabrielle flees. Later, they steal a ruby from a temple. The volcano where the ambrosia is hidden is about to errupt. They hurry on their way, solve a riddle with the ruby, and wait until sunrise. (Gabrielle is humorously rough with the assassin.) They follow their new path and fall into a pit to find a horde of treasure! But the assassin figures out there is ambrosia around and escapes with Gabrielle. Xena and Petriclese travel through the hall of silence and find the ambrosia just as the others do. Petriclese proves himself trustworthy in the end. Assassin dies. And the ambrosia is returned to the gods.

ATHENS CITY ACADEMY OF THE PERFORMING BARDS

Clipisode! Gabrielle learns of a bard competition and heads off for the Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards. She sneaks her housing letter in with the others and begins to prove her skills. We see clips from Xena as well as older gladiator movies! One contestant's father is out to sort of expel Gabrielle. His son Orion is having trouble storytelling due to his father's bad advice. But Gabrielle helps him. And the guys band together to keep her in the competition. Orion (whom we learn is the Homer) finally stands up to his father. Despite winning, Gabrielle decides not to stay and joins Xena to live the stories.

BEWARE GREEKS BEARING GIFTS

Helen of Troy has foreboding nightmares and sends for Xena. We find Perdicus, Gabrielle's former fiance, working as a Trojan soldier. As a Greek, Xena must fight to gain trust. As a farmer, Perdicus is advised by Gabrielle to return home. Xena discovers one f Helen's men is up to no good. Peace is feigned and the gift of a Trojan "horse" brought onto the castle grounds. Xena is thrown in prison. Once the soldiers are good and drunk, the Trojans surprise attack from inside of the horse. (Yet Gabrielle finds the time to fall for Perdicus.) Helen's Paris is killed and she is kidnapped. Xena fights the kidnapper and leaves him unconscious. Perdicus is ready to go separate ways with Gabrielle. He travels away with Helen for a while -as an escort. And Xena and Gabrielle split town, too.

THE BLACK WOLF

Someone called "the black wolf" dares to secretly but effectively stand against the corruption of the government. Gabrielle is not with Xena. Lucy Lawless has a cold. And Argo needs new shoes. Xena steps in the middle of things in town. She runs into an old friend-woman with a daughter named Flora. Xena's new mission? Get Flora back from out of Xerxes' dungeon. Xena pretends to be on the side of Xerxes...for money. She gets into the dungeon. Gabrielle arrives on scene only to learn of Xena's location. Flora isn't leaving the dungeon without the rest of the "wolf pack." Gabrielle meets Salmoneus and accidentally gets him sent to prison instead of herself. Xena is captured upon escape after helping the wolves and is taken to Xerxes. She convinces him to send her back in. She's also learned that Xerxes has a man on the inside. Later, Gabrielle finally gets sent down and delivers the chakram via her hat. Flora is taken away as the black wolf for execution. Xena fights last-minute and saves the day.

HOOVES AND HARLOTS

Meet the Amazons! Xena and Gabrielle, seeking safe passage, are brought to Queen Melosa. On their way, they are all attacked and Gabrielle is given a rite of cast for trying to save a life. Now she's an Amazon Princess! There is threat of war with the centaurs over hunting grounds. Gabrielle is taught the Amazon way. The use of a staff as a weapon makes its first real debut. Xena thinks someone else is causing the Amazon/centaur feud...a warlord. Gabrielle learns that she is supposed to carry out the death sentence with the sword of the victim. She must kill! Xena speaks with the warlord and discovers there is a centaur on the inside. Just in time, she proves that the accused is not the murderer. Melosa is not convinced, so Xena challenges her in a fight to the death. Xena's the new queen and leaves Melosa alive. Also, there will be no execution. Then the centaurs show up and the mole is uncovered. They join forces against the warlord and win.

DEATH IN CHAINS

A king finds a way to chain Death. Her candle (eternal flame) is taken away. If it burns down, Death dies. So long as she is chained, mankind cannot die. While strolling through the countryside, Xena and Gabrielle (WHAT is that outfit!) run across the warlord Toxius. They fight because Xena won't join him. Xena stabs him through and leaves, thinking him dead.... Hades finds Xena and tells of the plight of his sister, Death. Then they encounter the wounded from a landslide and give aid. There, Gabrielle meets a cute and charming boy names Talis. With all the suffering, they realize Death's release and significance. Talis, who grew up in the king's castle, offers to show them a way in. Meanwhile, Toxius "kills" all his own men as incentive to join him again. Xena sneaks into the castle while Gab and Talis help a hospice. That is until she learns Xena will die if touched by death. To the castle! Xena falls into a trap and Talis isn't far behind. We learn that Talis is very sick. Once Death is finally rescued, he must say goodbye.

PROMETHEUS

Prometheus is chained and mankind loses gifts he gave; fire and the ability to heal ourselves. Xena sees an oracle for instructions. Xena endures a labyrinth of sorts to fetch a special sword needed to cut the chains. We later learn that whomever wields this sword when it delivers the blow will die. Suddenly, Xena runs into Hercules! (He's on the same mission and would prefer to make the sacrifice). Gabrielle meets Iolaus and he sort of sparks the notion of an active sidekick. Realizing that a small scratch can now be lethal, it is no small matter when Iolaus is wounded in a fight. Next? A cave adventure! The duos split. Xena knocks out Hercules and takes the sword. Egg men! Gabrielle is bard to the dying Iolaus. Soon, Herc is back! Eventually, the sword is thrown and deflected and nobody had to actually strike the chain. Gabby and Iolaus share a kiss -as do Hercules and Xena. Xena tells Hercules that he's taught her what to look for in life.

THE TITANS

Xena leaves Gabby behind a bit and Gab goes into a cave where she hears a scroll being read...using the wrong rhythms. Gabrielle reads it correctly and thereby, accidentally, releases 3 titans. They think her a goddess and become her servant! Meanwhile, Xena has gotten into a bit of a jam and Gabrielle employs the titans to fix the situation. Titan #3 is very angry, however, to finally discover that Gabrielle isn't more than a mere mortal. The people find refuge in a temple. There is bickering amongst the titans themselves. Two of the bad guys knock Xena out and attempt to take her to the titans (who want her dead). But Xena escapes. We learn the desire is to awaken hundreds of titans in their war against the gods. Gabrielle feels Xena has no respect for her. SO she sneaks off to reat the chant that turns titans to stone. Xena, helped, though -in the end.

THE RECKONING

People have been attacked by a mysterious hooded man. Xena fights but the man disappears. She then tries to help the people and their blood ends up on her hands. (Looks bad!) Xena escapes fo a while but the rest of the town wants swift revenge. They are ambushed. Xena lets them take her to trial. In prison, the hooded man is revealed to be Ares. He wants Xena as his Warrior Queen. (She is too easy). Gabrielle is given the right to act as her advocate. Later, while being beaten, Ares seduces Xena into a fit of rage. In this fury, she accidentally strikes Gabrielle! Xena, overall, feels she's worthy of the punishment due to her past. But the judge refuses to punish her for those crimes. Then the faithful Gaby returns anyway! Xena cut a sort of deal with Ares -tricking him into bringing the slain back to life! THEY tell the truth of the story and Xena is saved.

THE PATH NOT TAKEN

A couple's joining will bring peace to two feuding families. But they are attacked and the woman carried away. The man seeks help from Xena. She goes off while he and Gabrielle wait behind. She goes to a place well known for its bad guys. There she is reacquainted with Marcus. Meanwhile, Gabby and man go to talk his fiances father out of the idea that he's kidnapped her! (It was really Mazentius: bad guy boss). Xena poses as one of them but soon loses the trust of Mazentius. The next thing we know, Gabrielle and man are chained in stocks! Marcus learns Xena has turned good. She tries to talk him into joining her. He refuses and calls the guards just as she was trying to sneak the girl out of town. But then Marcus dies saving the girl and thereby is on the path to redemption. Xena kills Mazentius and the battle ends. Funeral.

CRADLE OF HOPE

A king seeks interpretation to his dreams. Translation? A child in his possession will one day occupy his throne. He feels threatened. Having heard, the child's caretaker puts him in a basket like Moses. The child is found by Gabrielle and Xena. Later, they cross paths with Pandora and her box. They are soon found by the king's men. A tavern fight! Xena wins and the men flee. Fire breathing debuts! Pandora's box is gone! (It holds the hope of mankind). It will open itself at midnight if Pandora doesn't reset the lock herself. Xena goes to meet with this king. And she decides his motives are good. It's his advisor who is untrustworthy. Xena enters the castle disguised as one of the dancers. She sneaks around and sneaks off with the box...just in time! (Xena is so unnecessarily mysterious sometimes). The baby is then given to the king in place of his dead son to take his throne as HEIR, people! All threats are off. And we learn that the box was EMPTY! Hope lives "inside every one of us."

DREAMWORKER

Great casting. Nice writing. Gabrielle takes up interest in weapons for survival. Her curiosity and innocence about killing really show. During an attack, Morpheus' men note Gabrielle's blood innocence. "She's the one." (Morpheus is the God of Dreams). Later, back in town, more of Morpheus' men attack and disappear with Gabrielle. Xena searches out a mystic for his help. We learn Gabrielle has been taken to become a bride. She faces fights to the death in which she must NOT kill but outsmart her opponents. If she kills, which they try to trick her into doing, she will be sacrificed! We learn that the mystic had a dream in which Xena was the one to defeat Morpheus in a dream passage. She must battle her own past, too. "I'm not her anymore." Then the men go in search for Xena's bod at the mystic's place. But Xena fully enters the dream passage and defeats Morpheus' men, saving Gabrielle. The town is safe from the bad mystics once again. Xena has learned that her old self, like it or not, is part of what's made her who she is.

CHARIOTS OF WAR

Xena splits with Gabrielle to search for a possible route. On her way, she spots an attack and helps the people, saving a man's son. She gets shot with an arrow, catching the other two with her bare hands. (2 outta 3 ain't bad!) She instructs the man on how to heal her. Meanwhile, we learn of another father and son who strive to please Ares. And Gabrielle wonders why her new friend isn't back yet. Xena makes friends with the family who is housing her. The man has 3 kids. The littlest is a girl who hasn't spoken since their mother died. The man starts to fall for Xena and the feeling is somewhat mutual. However, unwelcome begins to surround the home due to Xena's presence. Back at the tavern, Gabrielle meets that Ares' man's son while trying to ward off the wooing of another. Back in the village, Xena and "man" go "downtown" for a meeting about a "peace treaty." (It's an ambush). Xena fights! The man Gabrielle met is in charge but really isn't into the whole ambush thing. (That is until told that Xena killed his brother. <-- Lies!) Xena and Gabs meet up. A chariot chase! A ground fight! Xena wins! The dude's father is killed and a new peace treaty is made -no tricks. And the little girl speaks!

SINS OF THE PAST

Xena has flashbacks of the past for which she desires to make amends. She buries her armor and weapons. Suddenly, slave traders break onto the scene. Meet Gabrielle. Xena fights them off and, back in town, we meet a version of Perdicus. Xena is unwelcome even though she saved the people. Gabrielle is persistent to follow Xena but "I travel alone." Xena then goes to the warlord, Draco, and convinces him to spare the village. He gives her her first offer back to the darkness but she refuses. She goes home even though Draco told her not to expect any forgiveness. Gabby sneaks off in the night after telling her sister Lila goodbye. She's off to join Xena because village life suits her not. CYCLOPS! (Xena blinded him!) Draco plans to invade Amphipolis -Xena's hometown...in her name! (Evil!) "The pinch" is introduced. Gabby hitchhikes. Xena is very unwelcome at home. Gabrielle even keeps her from getting stoned...by rocks. We find out that Xena has a dead brother. And that she has a friend in Gabrielle. Lastly, Xena defeats Draco and finds forgiveness from her mother.

UNCHAINED HEART

Xena, Hercules, and Salmoneus set out to stop Darfus -who is busy feeding people to his new pet monster, Gregor. Iolaus shows up. He is not comfortable nor trusting with Xena's presence in their camp. Later, the gang is ambushed in a rocky valley and Darfus thinks them dead for a short time. Xena wins back Iolaus' trust by fighting to save their lives. In an attack, Salmoneus goes missing. Iolaus goes to search for him and finds him in the bad guy's camp. Meanwhile, Xena and Hercules let each other know how they feel.... Soon, the gang is off rescuing Salmoneus from Gregor. Salmoneus, in fighting, redeems himself from former cowardice. Greggor friggin' EATS Darfus and "evil defeated itself." Salmoneus splits and Hercules talks to Xena before he and Iolaus head to their homes, too. She's off to make amends and she tells Hercules that he has unchained her heart....

THE GAUNTLET

As conniving as she is, Xena does live by a warrior's code of honor. "We are warriors -not barbarians." Hercules, meanwhile, meets up with his cousin! (Iolas is nowhere to be found in this episode). A village is then attacked by Xena and we are introduced to Salmoneus. Later, another village is destroyed while Xena is away and the women and children are not spared. One infant, however, was found to still be alive and Xena takes it into her care. Xena's army turns on her for this deed and Darfus, the new leader, makes her walk "the gauntlet." Meanwhile, the forces of good begin to pool together...just in time to run into the newly exiled Xena. A fight ensues. Hercules wins. Xena flees again. But, when yet another village is pillaged by Darfus, Xena fights against him on the side of Hercules! She finally kills Darfus. And the child she saved turns out to be the son of Hercules' "scout" -whom they met along the way. Lastly, while our gang is away, Darfus is made undead by an emissary of Ares to take revenge....

THE WARRIOR PRINCESS

Iolaus stumbles across a connivingly "innocent" woman named Xena. She sets a trap for Hercules (via a lover) while tricking Iolaus into siding with her against Hercules. Blinded by pride and jealousy, Iolaus finds nothing strange in this sneak attack against his best friend. Now Iolaus hates Hercules, Hercules leaves, and Xena still is a faker full of greed. She lies like mad and seduces like crazy. Then an old man encourages Hercules. It turns out that this old man is not the warlord Xena made him out to be, but a mere farmer. We see the chakram's debut. Xena is plotting to have Hercules kill his best mate, Iolaus, as the first bout of real damage. That bitch. But their friendship runs too deep for her plan to work. Soon the real fight takes place with Hercules and Iolaus on the same side, but Xena escapes....