A Friend in Need, Part 1

Story by Rob Tapert and R.J. Stewart
Teleplay by R.J. Stewart
Directed by Rob Tapert

It is always difficult to review the first part of a two-part episode. The penultimate installment in the series is no exception -- in fact, it is obviously intended to be followed by the second half. I wondered if it would be worth writing a review at all.

As should be expected for the finale of the series, R.J. Stewart and Rob Tapert wrote the story. Even less of a surprise, Rob Tapert is behind the camera. This episode is important on so many different levels; I doubt they wanted to let anybody else get their hands on it.

A scan through my Encyclopedia of Mythology hasn't uncovered any direct connection with Japanese (or Chinese) myth, but wandering monks, evil demons, beautiful maidens (dead or alive) held against their wills, revenge, and honor are all staples of Japanese folklore. Indeed, I have found that ghosts factor more heavily in Japanese myth than any other culture we've seen in the six-year run of the show.

This episode most closely recalls The Debt in both structure and style. A young Xena encounters a woman who touches her heart. Years later, Xena returns to the area to repay an old debt.

The woman who touches the heart of the young Xena is Akemi, played by Michelle Ang. The character seems to have a peace about her -- a certainty that recalls Lao Ma. Unfortunately, Michelle doesn't have the poise that Jacqueline Kim brought to Lao Ma. Akemi comes across as more smart, but less wise. I can understand how she weasels her way into Xena's heart. There are many similarities between the characters, and Xena has just left the company of Lao Ma (so she's emotionally vulnerable).

All around though, I'm not quite fitting this time into the emotional development of the Warrior Princess. This happened after the flashbacks in The Debt but before the flashbacks in Adventures in the Sin Trade. If she trusted (and loved) Akemi enough to teach her the pinch (and I thought Gabrielle's reaction was wonderful when she learned), then why would she revert to the heartless warlord in Sin Trade? Akemi's betrayal might explain that -- but Xena cared enough to try and honor her final wish. It isn't a huge bump in the road, but it is still a bump (at least in my opinion).

It may be that there is more back story here that will be revealed next week, and all my worry and speculation will be moot. After all, we still don't know why she doesn't have the katana anymore.

What I find most ironic in this episode (and the series in general) is that Xena feels most responsible for events that she had little to no control over. Xena had no way of knowing that teaching Akemi the pinch would result in Yodoshi becoming a demon lord. She didn't know that Yodoshi would hold the people who died in the fire captive. It was a series of coincidences stemming from a disastrous accident.

I'm not going to say that Xena shouldn't right this wrong. She is, after all, the hero; that's her job.

There are two beautiful moments in this episode. The first is when Xena teaches Gabrielle the pinch. It is, in my opinion, the final lesson from the master to the pupil.

The other moment is at the very end -- you can almost read Xena's thoughts. As Gabrielle fades into the mist, it seems clear that Xena doesn't expect to see her again. It is the finest moment of the episode, and a cliffhanger that is perhaps more powerful than any other the show has had in six years.

I'm not sure what else to say about this episode. This episode has plenty of moments that recall the best of the series -- humor, action, love, and drama. While in the end it may not rank as highly as The Debt in terms of sheer quality, it seems a very fitting end to the series.

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