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....