Chakram

Written by Chris Manheim
Directed by Doug Lefler

The old magic was back. This episode had the right mix of drama, humor and action. There were (as usual) one or two minor quibbles that I had with, but not anything that made me sit up and question what Manheim may have been smoking when she penned this one.

A quick plot summary, for those who missed it. After being brought back from the dead at the end of Fallen Angel, we learn that Xena is, for some reason, incomplete. Her "dark side" -- the part of her that makes her the incredibly successful warrior and hero she is -- is missing. Not only that, the chakram is still broken (by Callisto in the climactic Ides of March).

It turns out that there is a second chakram, a mirror-twin to the one Xena had been carrying all those years. Hers was, apparently, the "dark chakram" and the other is the "light" one. Only the purest soul can wield it and live. Fortunately, Xena fills that bill nicely. (To quote Dana Carvey's Church Lady, "Isn't that conveeenient?")

Ares (and another deity, Kal) hope that, once she has the new chakram, Xena can be persuaded to use it for their own ends (did we mention that it kills gods?). However, Xena binds the two chakrams together, and returns to her fierce warrior ways.

All of this is backed by a story where Gabrielle starts coming to terms with her own darkness -- a theme that runs throughout the fifth season of the show.

Plot summary done, let's address some of the finer points, shall we?

Quibble Number One -- Just where did Amarice manage to get a hold of the shattered chakram? I seem to recall it still being inside the prison, which clearly hadn't been abandoned. The guards over the bodies showed that. Even broken, I imagine the chakram would be quite a prize. Did the Roman goofballs just say "Duuuh... it's broke. Let's toss it out." (Maybe that's why the Romans are villains! They don't recycle!)

Another question that was never really answered -- just why exactly was Xena brought back incomplete? The impression seems to be that the "Big Guy" up in Heaven or wherever did it on purpose so that Xena could recover and neutralize the Chakram of Light. I suppose I can buy that argument, but it just doesn't seem to work for me. I'm inclined to think that it has something to do with the fact that Xena was in full "Demon Mode" when she was brought back from the dead (in Fallen Angel).

There are several things to celebrate about this episode. First, the Gabthwacker is back. She went through the fires of Hell (literally and figuratively) and came through the other side knowing herself. The Amazon Queen comes of age in this episode. She is a mature woman who knows her place in the world -- alongside Xena, fighting the good fight.

Second, Ares is back! After a total absence in Season 4 (and a couple of rather lame appearances on Hercules) the God of War returns with the old hidden agenda... well, okay it isn't that hidden. He wants to score with Xena! (And can anybody really blame him?)

Honestly, though, can we get any more blatant in the symbolism folks? The dark chakram is broken, and Xena is lacking her dark side? Granted, better they should be blatant because then it's a lot easier to explain things. When you're subtle, folks may just miss what you're going at. I doubt anybody can mistake what The Powers That Be were doing with this.

Some clues about the chakram's background are given here. It appears that Ares gave it to Xena at some point after her defeat at Corinth (when Solan was born). And Kal, a rival god of war (whose presence here is really to demonstrate the power of the Light Chakram without offing any "regularly appearing" deities), wasn't too happy about it. And clearly it's shattering is symbolic of the loss of Xena's "fire". But beyond that, we don't really now anything more about it -- nor do I think we should.

The chakram is pretty clearly in the realm of the mythic weapon -- like Excalibur. We know how Arthur obtained the blade (he pulled it from the stone where his father Uther Pendragon had stuck it, and Uther had obtained it from the Lady of the Lake) but as for where the weapon came from... we are never really told. All that is important is that the weapon's destiny is tied to the destiny of its wielder. Ares gave the chakram to Xena. As far as I'm concerned, that's enough.

Xena retrieves the Chakram of Light and repairs the Dark Chakram on the altar. Combining them, she neutralizes the god-killing power and gets herself a fun new toy -- the "double whammy" flexibility this new blade offered the writers and effects people a new toy to play with. This was clearly the same thought evident on Xena's face when she looked at it after the fight. You could just see the joy in her eyes.

As a "B-plot" we have the amusing moments of Joxer trying to work up the cojones to tell Gab how he feels. "Trouble is, she keeps dying before I can tell her." (If that wasn't a nod to the fans, nothing is.) The moments were sweet without being intrusive, and Joxer provides amusement without being a punching bag or pratfalling doofus. He even managed to get some licks in -- he knocked some soldiers aside when the group was surrounded, and even took out one or two in the temple battle.

I think my favorite line in the episode was when Gabrielle was talking to Xena in Caleb's sanctuary before they went after the Chakram of Light. "I think you have to know the darkest part of yourself to be whole." The role reversal that had been happening during the India Arc last season is brought full circle -- Gab offers "Warrior Wisdom" to the innocent Xena. They are clearly the words of someone who knows what she is talking about.

Another sign of Gabrielle's newfound maturity is how she assumed the leadership role when it was clear Xena couldn't. This developed into an interesting plot thread during the season, as Xena would keep treating Gabrielle like the pacifist who needed protection during the latter half of season 4.

In this episode Gabrielle displays all the skills she has picked up in several years of wandering with Xena. Tracking, fighting, tactics. It's all there.

One problem though -- I thought Gab's killing of the grunt with the thrown sword through the chest was a bit excessive. Sure Gabrielle changed and accepted her role as a fighter for good, but did it really have to go that far? I was a trifle bothered by the callousness with which Gabrielle treated it.

Despite having lost her penchant for violence, Xena still displays some of her almost miraculous physical abilities -- popping up in front of Amarice without a sound. Sneaking away from the temple where Kal and Ares were going at it. She still had some of it.

Watch for the priceless moment when Kal and Ares attack each other and just kind of stood there looking annoyed before extracting their swords. It's just another example of the sly humor in this wonderful episode, and in the series overall.

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