The Ring

Written by Joel Metzger
Directed by Rick Jacobson

The second part of Xena's "Ring Cycle" continues the compelling storyline that started in The Rheingold. I was initially concerned that a different writer would result in a less-than-cohesive storyline, but my fears proved groundless.

There are two major themes running through this episode, and they are what I would like to focus on in this commentary.

The first theme that I noticed was that everything that happened in this episode was (directly or indirectly) a result of Xena's choices. The theft of the Rheingold, the creation of the ring and Grinhilda's transformation, even Odin's corruption happen because of young Xena's lust for power and her decision to forsake love.

This is familiar territory. Xena has performed a "clean-up" missions before to atone for choices she made in the past. In fact, this strongly parallels the storyline from another epic, The Debt, where Xena travels to Chin to repair damage she caused as a bloodthirsty warlord.

There is a noticeable contrast between the Ring Arc and The Debt however. Both involve (at least initially) Xena traveling to eliminate a monster she created, the reasons she goes are very different. In The Debt she is driven by a need for vengeance, while in this story she is driven by the need to atone for a crime committed against another. Xena feels responsible for the trouble the monstrous Grinhilda has caused, and wants to put the former Valkyrie to rest.

Gabrielle is different in this cycle as well. In The Debt she was emotionally vulnerable, desperately clinging to Xena as an anchor in a life that had been turned upside down. The events in Britannia left her scarred and vulnerable to manipulation by Ares, believing she was acting in Xena's best interest.

In this storyline, she is a more mature, emotionally secure woman who understands her role as Xena's boon companion. She doesn't follow Xena to stop her, but rather she goes to help her accomplish the mission. Alone, Xena is attempting a suicide mission. Together, they have a chance to defeat the forces allied against them.

The theme of choice and consequence manifests in other situations as well. Brunhilda's defiance of Odin's order is an example, as is Xena's desperate use of the Ring's power. Choices are made, and the consequences of those choices are gladly faced.

The other major theme running through this episode is love -- mainly Gabrielle's love for Xena -- and how her love affects those around her. For the first time in her life Gabrielle has people fighting at her side out of devotion to her, just as she fought with Xena out of devotion to the Warrior Princess.

Brunhilda is especially changed by the bard's presence. A Valkyrie who followed in Xena's legacy of battle for the sake of battle, she comes to love Gabrielle's compassion and devotion. Brunhilda learns that it is better to fight for something than simply to fight.

But she misunderstands the lesson as well. A fascinating love triangle develops between Brunhilda, Xena, and Gabrielle. In fact, it brings to mind the relationship between Xena, Gabrielle, and Najara in season four's Crusader and The Convert.

At first Brunhilda's love is selfish, interested in protecting Gabrielle for her own need. It is only when Gabrielle (in a wonderful speech) shows Brunhilda the error of her ways that the former Valkyrie understands that the way to prove her devotion to Gabrielle is not through the death of others, but through her own death.

This death is figurative, but Brunhilda's transformation is a sacrifice to protect not only Gabrielle, but the Ring as well. Its power must not fall into the wrong hands, and Brunhilda gives her life to make sure that doesn't happen.

These themes are played out against a very active backdrop. The plot moves along at a quick pace, and story revelations crop up in between the brief breathers between battles. Grinhilda was pregnant when she was transformed into the monster, and it is her son that has been terrorizing the neighborhood. Grindl's death allows Odin and Grinhilda to ally against Xena, and they make a frightening pair.

Joel Metzger does a wonderful job of weaving together the different threads from myth and legend into a rousing tale of adventure. The expected Xenaverse twists are present, but there are no major plot holes that I could pick up on. The major plot elements of the Beowulf saga and the Ring Cycle are present.

One potential question still lurks in my mind. I'm not certain what happened with the Ring. It was a minor case of muddy writing, I believe.

We were supposed to believe that Grindl was, in fact, Grinhilda. We were supposed to believe that she had forsaken love and used the Ring to escape from her prison. But then we learn it wasn't Grinhilda who was dead -- it was her son. He had the Ring, and Xena took it from him after he was killed.

My question is this: Did Grindl use the Ring to escape, or did Grinhilda? If Grinhilda used it, when did she give it to her son? It would appear that Grinhilda cared for her son, as monstrous as he was. If that's the case though, she didn't forsake love, and couldn't use the ring. There may be a reasonable explanation for this apparent plot knot, but it was never addressed, and the resolution of that sequence got brushed aside in the onslaught of action scenes that followed.

Overall, The Ring is a wonderful continuation of The Rheingold, and a wonderful cliffhanger for stunning conclusion (Return of the Valkyrie). This episode was a roller-coaster ride of action and suspense, filled with wonderful heart-pounding moments.

Among the most notable moments were Gabrielle's frenzied attack on Grindl with Xena's chakram, Xena's fight with Grinhilda, Odin, and the Valkyries after she puts on the Ring, and the moment when the chakram cuts into her hand.

That was, incidentally, only the second time in Xenaverse history the chakram has wounded Xena. The other time was in The Ides of March when Callisto threw it at her.

Xena has returned to "superhero" warrior status in the sixth season. She was badly beaten in this episode, but her wounds were not as severe as they were during season four when opponents like Najara and Milo left her worn down and bloodied. Here she takes on a god, two monsters, and a flight of Valkyries. Yet she emerges looking a lot less hurt than in either of those earlier battles I mentioned.

I think it is safe to say that this story arc -- indeed, much of the sixth season -- combines the best elements of past years into a wonderful mix. High adventure, intense action, and powerful storytelling have combined in a mix that had fans old and new cheering "the return of the Warrior Princess".

Overall, I enjoyed this hour of television a great deal. Some questions from the last episode were answered, while other questions were raised. The stakes have been pushed almost to the breaking point, and this fan was perched on the edge of his seat, waiting to see how it will all turn out. There are a couple of minor problems present in the script, but nothing earth- (or plot-) shattering. Stories like this are why this show is so wonderful. I give it an A.

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