Amazons are being hunted by Morloch, a prince from another country. He likes to hunt for sport. He killed Queen Marga and now Varia is out for revenge. Xena and Gabrielle show up and Marga gets Xena to promise to protect Varia and train her to become a warrior.
A lot of fans don't care a lot for this because 1, very little of Gabrielle, 2, too much of Varia, and 3, Morloch was kind of a lame villain with no depth and layers. Fun fact, Renee O'Connor, who plays Gabrielle, directed this one, which may explain why this has very little of her, especially since there are a lot of action scenes.
I don't hate Varia, but her hot temper which leads her into trouble can be cringe-worthy. Also, and this is not the character, but the writing -- it doesn't seem very believable that Varia is not better trained, given she has been with the Amazons her entire life and is next in line to be queen. She can't spot traps on the forest floor? Trip lines? I mean I probably wouldn't be able to either, but I haven't lived in the forest/woods all my life training to be a warrior, as Varia has. I thought a lot of things were too contrived to set up the whole Varia/Xena pairing in this episode. Besides we just went through 6 seasons of Xena training Gabrielle to become a warrior. I really didn't need to her train someone so immature in the final season.
Speaking of which, since it is the final season, I think a lot of people would have rather have seen more Xena and Gabrielle centric episodes. This was a Varia-centric episode. She/Amazons were the target. It was her struggle. Her conflict. Her, that had to grow-up and not be her own worst enemy. There's nothing here that has personal stakes/growth/consequences for Xena and Gabrielle. It was about someone else. I heard that apparently, they were considering Varia for a possible spin-off. So that could be why much screen time was devoted to her in season 6. But the character, tho she looked good and her athleticism in action scenes was great, just wasn't compelling and interesting enough.
Morloch was silly, with his hunting complex. Kind of hammy. No depth and layers. A one-off villain that would not come back later. He was a self-entitled narcissist. But here's the trick to watching this, these things make it very satisfying when Xena takes him out in the end. Especially given the way he was taken out. Ouch. Lol.
Morlock: "Know what I like about swords? When I kill you, I get to see the look in your eyes."
How much did you love seeing Xena raise his head up after she took him out and look into his dead eyes and say: "You lose." That right there is classic Xena. She may have redeemed herself and is a hero now, helping people, but she hasn't lost her humourous dark edge. Love it.
Wonder what happened to Razcar, Morloch's head thug. He came to see what Morloch was and didn't like it. Funny play of the character. I mean, after all, he did help Morloch capture the other Amazons so that Morloch could kill them. It's only when almost all his men are wiped out and Morloch forces him to kill two others did he starts to get upset. He probably went back to his country and told everyone Morloch died a hero, and he miraculously got away.
The action scenes were great. All the scenes were great. So bravo to Renee O'Connor on the directing. Love the log fight.
Is this the first episode where Xena refers to herself as "Warrior Princess?"
Anyway, I think the ending being so satisfying when Xena takes out Morloch, makes this episode a pretty good watch, along with the action scenes and great direction by Renee O'Connor. 8/10.
A lot of fans don't care a lot for this because 1, very little of Gabrielle, 2, too much of Varia, and 3, Morloch was kind of a lame villain with no depth and layers. Fun fact, Renee O'Connor, who plays Gabrielle, directed this one, which may explain why this has very little of her, especially since there are a lot of action scenes.
I don't hate Varia, but her hot temper which leads her into trouble can be cringe-worthy. Also, and this is not the character, but the writing -- it doesn't seem very believable that Varia is not better trained, given she has been with the Amazons her entire life and is next in line to be queen. She can't spot traps on the forest floor? Trip lines? I mean I probably wouldn't be able to either, but I haven't lived in the forest/woods all my life training to be a warrior, as Varia has. I thought a lot of things were too contrived to set up the whole Varia/Xena pairing in this episode. Besides we just went through 6 seasons of Xena training Gabrielle to become a warrior. I really didn't need to her train someone so immature in the final season.
Speaking of which, since it is the final season, I think a lot of people would have rather have seen more Xena and Gabrielle centric episodes. This was a Varia-centric episode. She/Amazons were the target. It was her struggle. Her conflict. Her, that had to grow-up and not be her own worst enemy. There's nothing here that has personal stakes/growth/consequences for Xena and Gabrielle. It was about someone else. I heard that apparently, they were considering Varia for a possible spin-off. So that could be why much screen time was devoted to her in season 6. But the character, tho she looked good and her athleticism in action scenes was great, just wasn't compelling and interesting enough.
Morloch was silly, with his hunting complex. Kind of hammy. No depth and layers. A one-off villain that would not come back later. He was a self-entitled narcissist. But here's the trick to watching this, these things make it very satisfying when Xena takes him out in the end. Especially given the way he was taken out. Ouch. Lol.
Morlock: "Know what I like about swords? When I kill you, I get to see the look in your eyes."
How much did you love seeing Xena raise his head up after she took him out and look into his dead eyes and say: "You lose." That right there is classic Xena. She may have redeemed herself and is a hero now, helping people, but she hasn't lost her humourous dark edge. Love it.
Wonder what happened to Razcar, Morloch's head thug. He came to see what Morloch was and didn't like it. Funny play of the character. I mean, after all, he did help Morloch capture the other Amazons so that Morloch could kill them. It's only when almost all his men are wiped out and Morloch forces him to kill two others did he starts to get upset. He probably went back to his country and told everyone Morloch died a hero, and he miraculously got away.
The action scenes were great. All the scenes were great. So bravo to Renee O'Connor on the directing. Love the log fight.
Is this the first episode where Xena refers to herself as "Warrior Princess?"
Anyway, I think the ending being so satisfying when Xena takes out Morloch, makes this episode a pretty good watch, along with the action scenes and great direction by Renee O'Connor. 8/10.
