The Rheingold

Written by R.J. Stewart
Directed by John Fawcett

This episode, in my humble opinion, is one of the finest hours this series has seen. It may not be everybody's cup of tea, but it contains many of the elements that have made other episodes classics. I would most closely compare it to The Debt from season three. The Rheingold has the same epic feel, and could probably survive the transition to the big screen with no loss of impact.

This episode opens with a scene where a Valkyrie-clad Xena is forging a ring. It brings to mind the opening sequence from he movie Conan the Barbarian. This opening sequence raises several questions: Why is Xena dressed that way? What is this ring, and why does she look at it with the naked lust for power we know from the old days? What is the big plant-looking monster that she fights and locks away after she forges the ring? What the heck is going on here?

Fortunately, patience brings answers to many of the questions (along with more questions, but they are answered in future episodes of this arc). We learn that the events depicted in the opening (the forging of the ring and the fight against the monster) took place thirty-five years earlier. Taking into account the 25-year deep freeze we're in that mysterious land of "ten winters past," an indication that we were seeing Xena before her conversion.

This raises one of my two problems with the story. Just where dies it fit in the chronology of Xena's backstory? It takes place after The Debt, because Xena has come from Chin. But does this happen before or after Solan's birth and Borias's death?

It must be after, because there isn't enough time for her to have run off for this little side adventure between the past events shown in Adventures in the Sin Trade and Past Imperfect. It also looks like it happens before she gets her chakram (an event we still haven't witnessed in the show). However, in the cross-fade (when Brunhilda is telling Gabrielle the "legend" of Xena) Xena has the chakram hanging from the saddle.

YAXI? Possibly. Despite this minor inconsistency, the story is wonderfully rich and textured. R.J. Stewart does a fabulous job weaving a bunch of different myths and legends together into a seamless whole. The only inconsistency is with the Xenaverse itself -- Odin gets a lot older between this episode and the time Hercules meets him in that show's Norse Arc (Norse by Norsevest and Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bridge).

As I said in the past though, when the story is this exciting what's a little inconsistency? Xena's past is largely apocryphal anyhow. I get the feeling that the details have drifted as the stories have been told over time.

I'm a little rusty on my Norse mythology, but I'll point out interesting points I noticed.

Xena's first meeting with Odin is taken (partially) from actual myth. According to what I found, Odin hung himself from the World Ash, Yggdrasil, for nine days to learn the secret of the runes. His two ravens were named Hugin and Munin (Thought and Memory), and they went out into the world each day to gather knowledge for their master.

The Valkyries were servants of Odin (they were not actually mortal, as described in this episode) who escorted the souls of fallen warriors to Valhalla, where they would fight all day and feast all night, in preparation for Ragnarok (the apocalypse of Norse myth).

All of this Norse myth is combined with the legend of Beowulf and Grendel, which is actually an Anglo-Saxon legend (as far as I could find, there is no direct connection between Norse myth and the Beowulf legend). The epic of Beowulf is the first great English literary masterpiece (at least according to the folks at the electronic Beowulf project), and tells the story of Beowulf's fight against three foul monsters (one of which is Grendel).

The third tale borrowed from is Wagner's Ring Cycle (get more info here), itself based on Norse Myth. How much of an influence this particular piece plays remains to be seen, because it looks like the next chapter (The Ring) will focus more on the item Xena created with the Rheingold.

Despite the liberties taken with the legend (indeed, we've come to expect legendary liberties where this series is concerned) R.J. blends the disparate elements together into the first chapter of what seems to be a compelling story.

There are a few highlights I'd like to emphasize.

The first is actually my other problem with this episode. If the people in Norseland remember Xena as a demon, why is Gabrielle so accepting of Brunhilda so quickly? I would think that somebody who spent their life studying (and wanting to fight beside) a person viewed as a demon would elicit a bit more doubt and mistrust on Gabrielle's part. Brunhilda's actions in this episode don't indicate that she's a power hungry warlord, but there must be more to the story than we see here.

Still, I'm willing to let this quibble slide for now, mostly because it is likely Gabrielle is looking for all the help she can get in this foreign land.

Another detail I'd like to emphasize is the way the oral tradition of Norse myth is supported with the tales told by the old skald (Norse bard) and by Brunhilda. It was a nice, but subtle nod to the mythic tradition that inspired this story arc.

Gabrielle's devotion to her friend, and her obvious distress when she finds Xena's bloody armor, emphasize their relationship. In fact, there are several wonderful nods to their close friendship (however you happen to interpret it) in this episode. Note the lip marks on Xena's note to Gabrielle -- they're right after the "X" for her signature.

Another important moment comes when Gabrielle is describing Xena's mission to Brunhilda. "She is seeking a redemption she'll never allow herself to have." This is, I think, one of the most significant descriptions ever given of Xena's character. Despite all the good she's done, Xena will never stop trying to atone for her evil past. The only thing that will stop her is her death. In fact, one could argue that is exactly what she is searching for.

This episode gives us more insight into how evil Xena was before her conversion, and why she will never forgive herself. Her desperate quest for temporal and supernatural power continues, and she will go to any lengths to achieve her ends. Seducing and deceiving a god are all in a day's work for this villain.

And yet, we see glimpses of decency, and some questions are raised. Why does Xena spare Grinhilda when the Valkyrie is at her mercy? What does Xena mean when she says she created Grendel? Why did the evil Xena lock the monster away? And what is the significance of the lighting change just before Grendel drags Xena off?

These questions are, of course, answered in the next episodes. Wonderful performances are turned in all around. Lucy always enjoys a turn as "Evil Xena", and Renee carries her part of the story as well. Beowulf doesn't play a significant role in this episode, but the actor does a good job with what he's given.

The effects are well done. Grendel is especially well handled. It seems that the lessons learned with the Destroyer (back in A Family Affair) were taken to heart, and we are given a creature that is frightening and deadly. The scenes of the Valkyries flying across the sky are clearly green-screened, but the battle high above the snowy forest is a thrilling sequence.

John Fawcett does a good directing job here, letting the story develop at its own pace, and letting the atmosphere show us we're clearly in dark territory.

All in all, this is an excellent episode that sets us up for one heck of a ride in the Norse arc. A solid story, dramatic tension, good effects, and a dark, cold atmosphere all contribute to this fine example of Xena excellence.

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