Livia

Written by Chris Manheim
Directed by Rick Jacobson

First of all, a little bit of self-serving ego stroking on my part. I was right (well, mostly). When I first learned Xena and Gabrielle were going to be flash-frozen I began speculating what the situation would be when they were finally freed. My predictions were pretty much on target. I only wish I had made them publicly available at the time so that my precognitive abilities in regards to this show would be better known. But enough of that... what did I think of the story's execution?

I thought it was pretty good. Aside from a slightly wooden performance, and an initial concern with the avalanche escape "deus ex machina", the episode continued a very solid storyline -- a story I am still intrigued by. Plus, there are a couple of really good moments that just grab your heartstrings and make them sing with utter joy. All in all, an excellent effort.

As I said, I was a little bit bothered with the avalanche escape -- it struck me initially as a bit of an excessive plot device. As the episode progressed, however, I found out why it was necessary -- nobody had gone back to the cave since Ares had sealed it up 25 years earlier. Not even Ares himself. Thus, the only way they were going to get out was if something happened -- and it did.

This isn't an unusual theme. Many epic legends claim that the hero isn't gone, merely waiting for the appointed time to return. King Arthur for instance (and Merlin for that matter) are "destined to return in England's darkest hour" or some such. So it is with Xena and Gabrielle. From the wider, mythic perspective, the hero's return is by its very nature a deus ex machina, so why should I complain about how they get freed?

I had some flashbacks of Return of the Jedi in this sequence -- remember when Leia freed Han Solo from the carbonite? His voice was all croaky and he looked like garbage? Well Xena and Gabrielle have similar attitudes here. They may not have aged a day, but when a chill sets into your bones, it takes a while to loosen up (trust me -- Maine winters will teach you that). Plus, the injuries sustained at the end of Looking Death in the Eye are still there when Xena wakes up. It's a nice bit of continuity.

Backing up a bit, Livia's entrance in the episode brings to mind the appearance of several different characters (mostly villains) in the series -- Callisto and Najara spring to mind without any real thought on my part. I get the feeling, however, that there was a specific episode that was supposed to be recalled with this opening, but darned if I can figure out which one it was.

It seemed pretty clear to me that Livia was Eve. It wasn't intended to be that big a secret -- like Ares says later, it should have been obvious. The eyes, the ferocity, even the battle cry were all clear indicators of which tree this apple fell from (and it didn't fall far).

Sadly, I wasn't especially impressed with Adrienne Wilkinson's performance. It wasn't bad, but her emotion seemed to be a bit forced, her portrayal of this hellion struck me as a bit wooden. Compared with the relish Lucy attacked her roles as the Destroyer of Nations, this just wasn't up to snuff. Most glaring was during the scene in the coliseum, after Xena had called her Eve. She screams back, "My name is Livia!" and then proceeds to attack with heightened ferocity. In theory, the scream should mark the transition between the mildly-amused-but-in-control Defender of Rome and the mad-as-hell-and-I-want-to-eat-your-heart orphan girl. But I didn't buy it -- there didn't seem to be enough rage behind it.

Don't get me wrong, Adrienne certainly has the moves. It looks like she studied the physical aspects of Lucy's work as Xena and Hudson Leick's as Callisto (because I detected aspects of both), but the acting didn't feel up to that level.

One thing I was wrong about (and glad to be) was that Octavius would have "turned to the dark side" in the intervening twenty-five years. He didn't. He held to his principles about maintaining peace throughout the Empire. It isn't really his fault that he was blind to Livia's plot through love. When Xena arrived and showed him the truth, he did the right thing.

I was frustrated by Joxer's role in this episode. I figured that after twenty-five years, a failed search for Gabrielle, and a new life with Meg and the kids, he would have changed a little bit. I can understand his desire to go on one last adventure with them (that's another common theme in legend), but to see the same buffoonery present bothered me. Perhaps because it seemed even more pathetic with an older Joxer.

Still, signs of the guy's true character are present. He takes care of Argo (and Argo's daughter). He went looking for them. He maintains a "Hard Rock"-style cafe in honor of the lost heroes. He continues to regale his kids with stories of their adventures (even if he exaggerates his own role in them a little). He even stands up to the Roman guards collecting for Ares' temple. It's obvious he's had a rough life. Yet he's still feeling his oats and doesn't realize he can barely life a sword anymore?

Perhaps its supposed to be tragic... and it is, but not in a way that makes me feel sorry for him. It makes me angry with the writers for limiting the character's last chance at some growth and dignity.

I like Virgil. Here's a guy who has been raised on tales of Xena and Gabrielle, and in the (imaginary) shadow of his father's place at their side. It's clear that he and Joxer have a good relationship, even if Joxer doesn't like Virgil's writing. And the disregard for history so prevalent in the series is actually really nice here. Joxer's legacy is his son, one of the greatest classical poets, inspired by Gabrielle. It's a nice touch.

Ares has been simply amazing this entire season. Look at his initial reaction when he first sees Xena in the arena. Witness his continued obsession with the Warrior Princess. It plays beautifully. I especially like his moment of triumph when he realizes that he screwed up Xena's plan with his coffin stunt -- he's been defeated by Xena so many times he takes his victories when he can.

One other thing that bothered me in this episode. When Xena and Gabrielle are talking about Livia, Xena says that she has Xena's dark side and Callisto's soul. I get that, but how Callisto's soul is supposed to explain anything is beyond me. First of all, Callisto had been purified through Xena's sacrifice (way back in Fallen Angel if you don't remember) and it was that Callisto that migrated into Xena's unborn child.

Not only that, the whole idea that being Callisto reborn as some sort of reason for Livia's behavior bothers me conceptually -- as if saying, "It isn't her fault, it's her heritage." This concept removes responsibility from the individual for their actions -- a theme that puzzles and bothers me in a show that usually champions personal responsibility. It also seems a bit hypocritical on Xena's part -- Eve is part Callisto, so she needs to be saved. Hope was part Dahak -- and needed to be destroyed. It seemed to me that a thought along those lines crossed Gabrielle's mind (though I might have been imagining it), and it is a testament to Gabrielle's love for Xena that she doesn't throw it in her friend's face.

There were several great moments in the episode as well. Xena's gauntlet punching up through the cover of her icy coffin. Meg's line when she sees Gabrielle -- "You look like her, but she wasn't as butch." Joxer's reaction when he sees the two of them. Xena saddling Argo II and jumping the fence. Ares's expression when he sees Xena in the arena. Xena's "Kiss this" and head-butt when Ares tries to kiss her. Gabrielle wiping the tear from Xena's cheek in their rooms.

Another thought just struck me -- it seems a bit of a stretch for the new horse to be Argo's daughter. Argo is at least six years old when Xena and Gabrielle get frozen (and probably closer to seven). We don't have any indication of how long Argo lived beyond that, but Joxer says he looked for them until she died (presumably of old age). Typical life expectancy of horses is (if I recall correctly) around fifteen-twenty years. Which means that it has probably been at least ten years since Argo I died. Which means that Argo II is at least ten years old. I don't know about you, but this stretches credibility a little.

I can understand the reasoning behind it -- it's a great narrative conceit -- it just doesn't make much sense.

So all in all, a very enjoyable episode. However, the wooden performance of Adrienne Wilkinson, the lack of change in Joxer, and a couple of other moments caused some problems with my suspension of disbelief. The dramatic potential of Xena's daughter being the new villain cannot me underscored enough, and I am pleased to see that The Powers That Be seem willing to explore it. Ares is in top form (as usual) and the relationship between our warrior women seems as solid as ever (though I would like to see a bit of strain put on their friendship because of the difficulties with Eve). This is an episode with quite a bit going on, but didn't quite capture the utter joy I felt at the conclusion of Looking Death in the Eye.

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