Locked up and Tied Down
Xena and Gabby are debating the mysteries of life while Gabby
gives Xena a backrub (ahhhh...she takes such good care of our warrior doesn't
she?(G))
Some potential bad guys jump outta the bushes and Gabby does this neat cartwheel
flip. I was very impressed with the Gabster. After beating the tar outta
them (g) Xena finds out she's being arrested for killing some girl, during
her warlord days, who was just like Gabby. Xena gives Gabby possession of
the chakram (Is 'that' subtext? I'm not sure.(G)But it's nice to see Xena
giving Gabrielle something that is so much a part of her (VBG)). Xena tells
Gabby that she's looking for something to make her complete - maybe serving
time will do the trick. Ahh.. .Hello?! Xena?! Anybody home darlin'?! You
want to feel complete it's right there in your face sweetie. It's about 5'4''
to 5'6'' about 140 pounds (mostly in the toned abs(G)) and has blonde hair
(well this week anyway(G). I think this is where the fanfic term - big, dumb
warrior - comes in nicely (G).
Anyway, they go to trial. Gabby defends Xena and the judge asks if Xena has
done anything questionable since her 'redemption' time. Gabby doesn't tell
her about the time Xena tied her feet, dragged her across half of Greece
and all the obsticals on it before getting ready to throw her off a cliff.
No. She tells him nobody's perfect but Xena does have a perfect body so she
stays with her (Okay. I made that up about the 'perfect body' but you gotta
admit, it's a pretty good reason to stick around(g))
Gabby's mouth doesn't work this time. Xena is condemmed to Shark Island Prison.
At the dock, Gabby and Xena exchange a fond farewell until some jerky guards
steal Xena before she has the chance to stroke Gabby's face. I think that
was our one shot at a kiss scene folks and those horrible brute guards stole
it. Anyway, Gabby goes to the tavern to drown her troubles in a drink (G)
while she plays with Xena's chakram at the bar. A guy comes in and says he
quit the healers job on Shark Island and you can see Gabby's lightblub go
on when he says they don't have a replacement yet.
When Xena gets there they treat her (and others) badly. After she gets fed
up and beats up the guards. We see Theasa, Valasa, Balasa. .. whatever her
name is - anyway she's the one Xena was on trial for killing! She's the warden!
They throw Xena into a pit with some ugly rats for being a bad girl. Around
this time, Gabby arrives.
It appears the warden got away from the flesh eating craps when they chewed
her arm off. Gabby looks at the wound that the warden still has. As Gabby
works on the warden they talk about evil, redeption, you know. . .the usual
small girl talk. (G) But as they talk, check out the looks that Gabby gets.
The warden admires Gabrielle I'm sure. Perhaps in more ways than one.
Maybe it's just me but I've noticed that most of the subtext we've seen in
the last year or so isn't between our two ladies but other people they encounter.
Just food for thought. Anyway back to our story.
Gabby finally sneaks away and gets Xena's chakram to her but gets caught.
The warden isn't to thrilled about having her new friend betray her by helping
Xena and Gabby gets a hard knock to the face that made me cringe. I love
Gabby. They shouldn't beat up on Gabby. She's my bard(G) Have I mention that
I love Gabby?(VBG)
So now Gabby is going to serve as an example and is about to be hanged. As
soon as the floor gives out the chakram breaks the rope and Gabby falls to
the ground. Xena comes out and kicks butt as the prisoners start to revolt.
Xena frees Gabby's hands and tells her to get the warden to safety because
the inmates are going to kill her so they can escape.
Gabby and the warden run upstairs while Xena tries to bring order to the
courtyard. The tough girl gang chase Gabby. She knocks them all out except
for the leader who promptly throws Gabby against a wall knocking her out.
But Xena shows up, kicks a little a** and brings order.
Since Theasa, Valasa, Balasa, whatever her name is - is alive. Xena is free
to go. The warden tells Xena that since spending time with Gabby she's no
longer going to let anger darken her heart or something like that. Gabby
tells Xena that Xena should forgive herself and Xena said she's doing just
fine since she has Gabby in her life (ahhh). Gabby helps Xena up and they
leave arm and arm together (another ahhh).
All and all not a bad ep. I liked the story line even if the subtext was
low. The opening scene, however, was a delight.(G)
As for my next report, Crusader - - boy o boy! For those who say subtext
is dead, they might be right. Because this is some heavy duty maintext stuff
if ever I saw it. Actually I'm sure with all the altfiction out there, I've
probably already read it. (G)
Disclaimer: No rabid, flesh eating craps were harmed during the making of
this motion picture.
CN Winters