Gabrielle gives Ephiny the Amazon Queen mask now that she's leaving and asks Xena whether an Amazon Queen beats a Warrior Princess. Ephiny's got no appreciation for Gabrielle's sense of humour (then again, Gabby's 'joke' about Amazon parades isn't particularly funny, whereas Ephiny's deadpan response actually *is*). They're interrupted by a screaming Velasca, who's miraculously survived her impalement from last episode (Xena's SO surprised, she makes head whooshing noises for no reason) and politely put up with all that pain on her long walk back just so she could make a big show of eating the Jell-O/ambrosia (which we see THREE TIMES) that creates swirly lightning around her face, gives her all-white eyes, and seemingly makes her a GIANT...except not.
Amazons get blasted by Velasca's Emperor-like lightning fingers, Xena saves Gabrielle/Ephiny and is apparently the *only* one to realise that retreat is the SMART option, so Ephiny makes a cuckoo call (which probably confused some birds). Xena also notices Velasca's momentarily weakened when using her powers. I know Velasca was the show's attempt to give Gabrielle her very own nemesis...but, honestly, Melinda Clarke just seems to be using playing a god as an excuse to overact/yell a lot. She's no Callisto, that's for sure. Again, Ephiny's great at understated humour, as her response to Xena telling her to get more cannon fodder/Amazons to delay Velasca is, "Shouldn't be a problem. I think I'm high on her list of things to do.", and after pointing out Xena's dislocated arm (which she hasn't even noticed), I loved Xena making it 'all better' by casually ramming it into a wall, then showing Ephiny (whose simple "Yeah." response amused me).
Gabrielle maintains she's 'alright' with being #1 on Velasca's hit list...but clearly *isn't*. Xena's expression after realising she knows where she can 'find an immortal to fight an immortal' tells us everything. Cut to Callisto who, after her crossover to Hercules' show (where he scarred her with fire/trapped her), is unfairly putting all her ill-will towards Herc on a poor innocent rat (which she reassures ISN'T food). Hudson Leick (deservedly receiving 'Special Guest Star' status this episode) brilliantly plays how cuckoo-for-cocoa-puffs Callisto's become with her line deliveries, rocking back and forth as she strokes the rat before letting it free (only to end its life) and disturbing laughter. Understandably, Gabrielle's p.o.'d at Xena's solution. Meanwhile, the Amazons lure Velasca into a trap that, non-surprisingly, achieves very little.
There's excellent creepy music playing/atmosphere as Xena's lowered into Callisto's 'little resort' and calls out her name, receiving a reply that would unnerve most people. As Callisto always does, she flips her way into the scene, before catching Xena up on what's occurred with her, sounding even MORE unhinged than usual. I loved Xena's threat about being able to "still do damage. How'd you like to spend eternity in five pieces?". Callisto agrees to help Xena after being promised a shot at some ambrosia. She greets Gabrielle in her unique Callisto way, earns a staff across the face (which obviously has no effect) for asking if Gabs has any new hubbies, then shows just how crazypants she is, helping inflict pain on HERSELF by plunging her sword into her own midriff (neat effect!) and pulling it out like some bizarre party trick. Immortals don't bleed and heal fast (except in pieces, apparently). I enjoy Gabrielle's antagonistic dynamic with Callisto, who's adamant about them making 'a wee little stop' (leading to one of the episode's BEST scenes).
In a village, Callisto's forced Xena to confess her past sins, starting with "Some call me the Warrior Princess. Some call me murderer." (not 'the space cowboy'?), then admitting to burning Callisto's village of Cirra/killing everything there/destroying young Callisto's soul. Lucy's great with Xena's guilt/confession, but Hudson's acting throughout is something else. Just watch her expression change, as at first Callisto takes joy in watching Xena confess, but then she appears to show FEELINGS. The look she gives Xena says SO MUCH. The villagers just want to get back to their lives; Xena's all business, whilst Gabrielle's freaked out at Callisto displaying human emotions. Elsewhere, Velasca's ranting/raving at Artemis, destroying her temple and obviously DOES believe in 'killing the messenger'. At a canyon, Callisto suggests she and Xena both eat ambrosia so they can fight each other for eternity. Xena seems amused by this prospect, while I'M amused by the looks/winks Callisto gives Gabrielle (and her reactions to them).
When Velasca arrives, Callisto seemingly betrays Xena and tries to make a new friend, but Velasca's not interested...even when Callisto warns her Xena's tricking her into draining her powers (Callisto shoving Velasca to the ground like they're kids on the playground amused me). Callisto reteams with Xena, their synchronized swordfighting pushes Velasca back, and by the combined power of Gabrielle's staff/Xena's chakram, Velasca's buried under rocks. The excellent campfire scene that follows involves Gabrielle/Callisto trading questions. Gabrielle asks whether she felt anything back at the village. Callisto claims she feels nothing/only 'bits and pieces', and Gabrielle even looks to be sympathising, but then there's that twisted Callisto humour as she asks her how long it took her hubby to die.
Velasca-as-a-tornado tracks them down, Xena's plan is to get her onto a rope bridge/dump her into the lava pit below. Gabrielle ends up hanging from it after gaining possession of the ambrosia and, at Xena's behest, gives it to Callisto who eats it greedily, becoming a god and doing a freaky tongue thing whilst saying, "Here comes trouble.", testing her lightning against Velasca's. Neither one notices Xena cutting the rope bridge and just continue throttling each other as they fall into lava. After Xena's death-defying leap (that's shown THRICE!) to save Gabrielle, she asks Xena whether she thinks Callisto felt sorry about the things she'd done. Xena's blunt "No!" is amusing, but Gabrielle disagrees and thus forgives Callisto so she can move on. Apparently lava turned Callisto/Velasca into bronze statues (accompanied by reused footage of their faces from minutes ago hovering above).
Amazons get blasted by Velasca's Emperor-like lightning fingers, Xena saves Gabrielle/Ephiny and is apparently the *only* one to realise that retreat is the SMART option, so Ephiny makes a cuckoo call (which probably confused some birds). Xena also notices Velasca's momentarily weakened when using her powers. I know Velasca was the show's attempt to give Gabrielle her very own nemesis...but, honestly, Melinda Clarke just seems to be using playing a god as an excuse to overact/yell a lot. She's no Callisto, that's for sure. Again, Ephiny's great at understated humour, as her response to Xena telling her to get more cannon fodder/Amazons to delay Velasca is, "Shouldn't be a problem. I think I'm high on her list of things to do.", and after pointing out Xena's dislocated arm (which she hasn't even noticed), I loved Xena making it 'all better' by casually ramming it into a wall, then showing Ephiny (whose simple "Yeah." response amused me).
Gabrielle maintains she's 'alright' with being #1 on Velasca's hit list...but clearly *isn't*. Xena's expression after realising she knows where she can 'find an immortal to fight an immortal' tells us everything. Cut to Callisto who, after her crossover to Hercules' show (where he scarred her with fire/trapped her), is unfairly putting all her ill-will towards Herc on a poor innocent rat (which she reassures ISN'T food). Hudson Leick (deservedly receiving 'Special Guest Star' status this episode) brilliantly plays how cuckoo-for-cocoa-puffs Callisto's become with her line deliveries, rocking back and forth as she strokes the rat before letting it free (only to end its life) and disturbing laughter. Understandably, Gabrielle's p.o.'d at Xena's solution. Meanwhile, the Amazons lure Velasca into a trap that, non-surprisingly, achieves very little.
There's excellent creepy music playing/atmosphere as Xena's lowered into Callisto's 'little resort' and calls out her name, receiving a reply that would unnerve most people. As Callisto always does, she flips her way into the scene, before catching Xena up on what's occurred with her, sounding even MORE unhinged than usual. I loved Xena's threat about being able to "still do damage. How'd you like to spend eternity in five pieces?". Callisto agrees to help Xena after being promised a shot at some ambrosia. She greets Gabrielle in her unique Callisto way, earns a staff across the face (which obviously has no effect) for asking if Gabs has any new hubbies, then shows just how crazypants she is, helping inflict pain on HERSELF by plunging her sword into her own midriff (neat effect!) and pulling it out like some bizarre party trick. Immortals don't bleed and heal fast (except in pieces, apparently). I enjoy Gabrielle's antagonistic dynamic with Callisto, who's adamant about them making 'a wee little stop' (leading to one of the episode's BEST scenes).
In a village, Callisto's forced Xena to confess her past sins, starting with "Some call me the Warrior Princess. Some call me murderer." (not 'the space cowboy'?), then admitting to burning Callisto's village of Cirra/killing everything there/destroying young Callisto's soul. Lucy's great with Xena's guilt/confession, but Hudson's acting throughout is something else. Just watch her expression change, as at first Callisto takes joy in watching Xena confess, but then she appears to show FEELINGS. The look she gives Xena says SO MUCH. The villagers just want to get back to their lives; Xena's all business, whilst Gabrielle's freaked out at Callisto displaying human emotions. Elsewhere, Velasca's ranting/raving at Artemis, destroying her temple and obviously DOES believe in 'killing the messenger'. At a canyon, Callisto suggests she and Xena both eat ambrosia so they can fight each other for eternity. Xena seems amused by this prospect, while I'M amused by the looks/winks Callisto gives Gabrielle (and her reactions to them).
When Velasca arrives, Callisto seemingly betrays Xena and tries to make a new friend, but Velasca's not interested...even when Callisto warns her Xena's tricking her into draining her powers (Callisto shoving Velasca to the ground like they're kids on the playground amused me). Callisto reteams with Xena, their synchronized swordfighting pushes Velasca back, and by the combined power of Gabrielle's staff/Xena's chakram, Velasca's buried under rocks. The excellent campfire scene that follows involves Gabrielle/Callisto trading questions. Gabrielle asks whether she felt anything back at the village. Callisto claims she feels nothing/only 'bits and pieces', and Gabrielle even looks to be sympathising, but then there's that twisted Callisto humour as she asks her how long it took her hubby to die.
Velasca-as-a-tornado tracks them down, Xena's plan is to get her onto a rope bridge/dump her into the lava pit below. Gabrielle ends up hanging from it after gaining possession of the ambrosia and, at Xena's behest, gives it to Callisto who eats it greedily, becoming a god and doing a freaky tongue thing whilst saying, "Here comes trouble.", testing her lightning against Velasca's. Neither one notices Xena cutting the rope bridge and just continue throttling each other as they fall into lava. After Xena's death-defying leap (that's shown THRICE!) to save Gabrielle, she asks Xena whether she thinks Callisto felt sorry about the things she'd done. Xena's blunt "No!" is amusing, but Gabrielle disagrees and thus forgives Callisto so she can move on. Apparently lava turned Callisto/Velasca into bronze statues (accompanied by reused footage of their faces from minutes ago hovering above).