#xena and gabrielle are beautiful together

[mylesficfavs]

Repost of this fantastic thriller romance based on the Xena and Gabrielle characters of Xena Warrior Princess ❤️. This repost includes an epub version of the story.

[lucyllawless]

[girl4music]

WAVERLY: “Even though you were in the thrall of a powerful, super-evil demon and her unearthly baked goods, you said…”

NICOLE: “I said… that you are the only luscious, funny, hot as hell baby that I need. And she got super pissed and threw me into the dresser and that’s when the ring fell.”

WAVERLY: “And it burned her?”

NICOLE: “Yeah. Then she got even more pissed and tossed me into the closet. Ironically.”

WAVERLY: “Ugh.”

NICOLE: “Hey, she’s gone now. That’s what’s important, right?”

WAVERLY: “Right. But the ring coming back to you was…”

NICOLE: “Yeah, kind of creepy boomerang vibe.”

WAVERLY: “Mm. But it kept you safe from her. I’m sorry. Sometimes things are so completely nuts. And you, you… Well, you seem okay. And sane. Safe. So I forget to give you the completely-nuts update.”

NICOLE: “Yeah. How about you just… update me later, okay?”

You’re all nuts. So you all need to keep each other in the know-how of the nuttiest updates. Stop hiding things from each other. It’s never a good thing. Even when it’s out of love or the need to protect each other.

Be transparent. You’re all warriors. Proven many many many times. You can handle the pain of the truth. So always give each other the cold hard truth. No matter how much it hurts - because when you have each other, the hurt can be comforted and the wounds made from it can heal. That’s what it means to love.

[xwpseaweird]

XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS | UNBOUND | XENA & GABRIELLE [IN HD]

A sensual tribute to Xena & Gabrielle from Xena: Warrior Princess upscaled to HD.

These two are so incredibly beautiful together ❤️

Song: Unbound (Glen Ballard Mix)

Artist: Robbie Robertson

[flutterbyoz]

5 OTPs and 1 ultimate OTP

Deciding on my ultimate OTP was the easy part, it was picking the 5 others that took some time. I've had many ships over the years, some I obsessed over more than others but these are what I decided on as my top 5.

John/Aeryn - Farscape

John and Aeryn were one of my very first ships, before I even really knew what shipping was. I discovered them back in the very early 2000s and quickly fell head over heels for them. For a wacky, crazy, sexy and wonderfully weird sci-fi show, Farscape told one of the best love stories I've ever seen. The chemistry, the natural build up, the tension and their whole journey's, individually and together makes these two one of the best ships ever.

Sometimes it seems shows can be reluctant to put their two leads together, even when they are clearly right for each other, because they think it won't be as interesting once they are romantically involved. However, Farscape proved that with good writing it can work exceptionally well and add to the story in such a positive way. They also stayed clear of some of the more cliched storytelling, not just when it came to John and Aeryn's romance but the series in general. Farscape gave us a truly memorable romance and after 4 seasons it was finished up in the most perfect way in a miniseries.

For over 2 decades, John and Aeryn were my ultimate OTP, even when I found new ships I always came back to them because they were written so amazingly well and got the happy ending that many of my other ships never did. They had drama, angst and they even both died on separate occasions but they won out and the mini series gave them the perfect happy ending. John and Aeryn will always hold a special place in my heart, they are an example of how love stories can be told right.

Hetty and Trevor - Ghosts US

Okay, this is a very new ship for me having only discovered them at the end of last year and I really couldn't help but fall for them. Hetty and Trevor are two people who really shouldn't work together at all but somehow they really do. Ridiculous, hilarious and adorable, these two just drew me in but what's a little different for me from my other ships is I'm still not sure whether I want them to be a true romantic couple or if I just want them to get back to where they were in season 2. Their hook ups were so wonderful and they play off each other so well that I just really need these two to get back together in some way. Ghosts US writers, please make it happen, these two have way too much potential and chemistry to be pushed aside. I need more H-Money in my life!

Jack and Sam - Stargate SG1

Jack and Sam were a ship who were never explicitly said to be together but there were many hints, in later seasons, that they were. Rules and regulations pretty much forbad a romantic relationship, though in many alternate realities they were together. The feelings between them were clear, showing themselves at various moments throughout the series, some more subtle than others but they were always present in some form. This is another pairing who had wonderful chemistry on and off screen and I love them both dearly. I know Jack and Sam are together and living happily ever after, I won't except anything else.

Xena and Gabrielle - Xena: Warrior Princess

Another ship where it was never explicitly said in the show they were together but was very much implied. These two are beautiful and had this show been made today, they most definitely would have been together. I've had a few F/F ships over the years, one which hurt me quite badly despite actually getting a happy ending and another which has yet to really set sail but Xena and Gabrielle, though I wish their ending was different, are still a ship I return to quite often and are still very dear to me.

Miranda and Gary - Miranda

Miranda and Gary are the most adorable ship and I love them to pieces. I'm not often a fan of ships in sitcoms, for some reason they don't seem to hit the right notes for me but there is something about these two and how their story was told that I just fell in love with. They really bring out the best in each other, they get each other on a level that few others do and they get their happy ending, which it seems isn't always a thing for many of my ships. Miranda is a show I can watch over and over, it's one of my comfort shows and always picks me up if I'm feeling down. They are just the most lovable and sweet ship and just make me so happy.

Honourable mentions:

Jo and Bill - Twister

Connie and Jacob - Casualty

Iain and Lily - Casualty

Jeff and Tamzin - Casualty

Lara and Patrick - Casualty

Jack and Rose - Titanic

Claire and Owen - Jurassic World trilogy

Ten and Rose - Doctor Who

Caitlyn and Vi - Arcane

Evan and Dylan - Primeval New World

Jack and Rose - Titanic

John and Maureen - Lost In Space

Now comes my ultimate OTP and it could only really be one couple

Rick and Michonne (Richonne) - The Walking Dead

Now, what can I say to describe these two beautiful people and their amazing love story?

Finding such a gorgeous love story in a show with zombies was never something I thought I'd do, I never thought it would be the kind of show I'd watch either but here we are. I discovered Richonne during a search on Tumblr for another ship I was into at the time, a ship which sadly did not end well, but I did find these two so something positive came out of it. I was drawn in by GIFS, their chemistry and connection shone through in just a few seconds and I was so intrigued to find out more about them. I watched TWD just for them and in all honesty they are the only reason I still keep up with the show.

Richonne have something I've not seen in any other ship I've had, though I'm not sure I can quite put my finger on what that is. Their chemistry is electric and so natural that they really make the love story believable and realistic. Andy and Dania's off screen friendship is also beautiful, the love, care and trust they have for each other is clear to see and I love watching their off screen interactions too. They really are friendship goals! Plus they are just as big Richonne shippers as us and it makes me love them even more.

Rick and Michonne are one of a kind, they are in a league of their own when it comes to chemistry and storytelling and are the only ship I've had that not only have their own show dedicated to their love story, but both actors are also co-creators, co-writers and executive producers. Not only that but Danai wrote an episode herself and I don't think I'm exaggerating here when I say it is one of the best episodes in the history of TWD. Though to me it is the best.

From the moment they met at the fence to the final scene in TOWL 1x06, Richonne have proved time and time again why they are not only the best couple on TWD but to me, the best couple to have ever graced my screen. They could give lessons on how a love story should be told, how longing, romance and deep unbreakable love should be portrayed on screen. They love each other so purely, so intensely and so completely that it's palpable and being the love of each others lives is not just assumed but proved and vocalised too.

This is a couple who are both warriors, they have had to resort to extreme measures to survive and to keep the people they love safe and while that is one side to them, they are also very soft, gentle and loving with each other. They are both willing to do anything to keep each other and their kids safe.

Also, they are both extremely attractive people who make an insanely good looking couple!

This is why Richonne is my ultimate OTP and I have a feeling they may just remain in that spot forever.

[raisinchallah]

idk why return of callisto seems to be regarded as less good than callisto and less popular from my random snoopings about and perusing of old fic archives it does seem some people didnt care for it because of gabrielle marrying perdicus and like really really hated perdicus which is so crazy to me hes literally a plot device for gabrielles development do u not love and appreciate like the classic gay drama tragedy of xena kissing gabrielle at her wedding absolutely heartbroken like theyre literally right back together at the end.... its such a load bearing episode to me and such a beautiful like moment where xena realizes so intensely how much gabrielle means to her plus all the craaaaaazy homoeroticism with callisto its literally delicious gabrielle getting her first taste of true bloodlust are you not entertained...

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

on the topic of classic wlw anime ships, I'm still deceased over Nanoha sharing a room with Fate, including a BED, despite having a dorm of her own. the scene where she wakes up early, tucks their adopted daughter Vivo back under the covers, and is just SO THRILLED when Fate and the kid instinctively snuggle together like the soft implication that she WANTS her best friend forever and her new daughter to be a FAMILY

the way this quietly backs up Fate instantly volunteering herself as mom 2 for Vivio, how they naturally fall into the roles of Slightly Strict / Supports Independence parent (Nanoha, due to her lonely and self-sufficient but otherwise happy childhood) and the This Child Will Always Know They Are Safe And Loved And Can Come Crying To Me Whenever They Want parent (Fate, in reaction to literal child abuse from her mom and lots of research into not repeating that) balancing each other out so Vivo gets the best of both worlds

the moment when Nanoha our plucky lead who is always strong and determined and hopeful and ready to kick butt breaks down crying on Fate's shoulder bc Vivio was kidnapped and Nanoha is SCARED and you realize Fate is the only one she lets hold her like this, the only one she cries in front of, this girl Nanoha couldn't stop thinking about because of how beautiful and sad her eyes were, Fate who she helped save, who let herself be saved by her, who is her best friend, who she wants to build a family with, who promises her they will get Vivio back- And they do, they save their kid go on and get a house together, Vivio has two mothers and gets an amazing childhood with them, Fate is Nanoha's special person they never ever kiss they are COMMITTED TO EACH OTHER AND TO THEIR DAUGHTER

listen. Nanofate is like, anime Xena and Gabrielle in some ways. the word 'gay' will never ever be used for them outside of VA's shipping it and i don't care. they've made a life together. no external excuse or pressure. nothing about boys have cooties or there's no other way. no gimmick. just two grown women, raising their kid, sharing a home, being each other's 'special person' always

i still haven't seen anything else in anime like it

[ingek73]

How we made

Culture

‘I was attacked by a bloody rabbit’: how we made Xena: Warrior Princess

‘The studio was hesitant about suggesting Xena and Gabrielle were in a romantic relationship. But as time went on, they decided to look the other way and just let us get on with it’

‘Somebody once asked me if they had ever had sex’ … Lucy Lawless as Xena and Renee O’Connor as Gabrielle.

Interviews by Chris Broughton

Follow Chris Broughton

Mon 1 Jul 2024 16.19 CEST

Steven L Sears, writer and co-executive producer

I was in a meeting with an executive from Renaissance Pictures when he mentioned a series they were going to do: “A hip, updated version of Hercules.” Xena was a character in that, compellingly brought to life by Lucy Lawless. When Hercules: The Legendary Journeys became a big hit, they decided to spin her off into her own series. That’s when I became involved.

Building on Xena’s backstory, we developed a character who has been turned into a feared warrior because of things that happened during her childhood and early adulthood, but at heart she is a good person keen to help others. The common take was that she was on the path to redemption, but my belief was that she felt she could never redeem herself for the thousands she had killed.

Gabrielle, meanwhile, is a simple village girl given the chance to realise her dreams of adventure. Since she recorded the duo’s escapades on scrolls, fans started calling her the battling bard. Right from the start, though, we refused to make her just a sidekick. She offered a beautiful innocent perspective on Xena’s darker, more barbaric character. Ultimately, she became Xena’s saviour.

Steven L Sears in 2022.

‘We went from drama one week to satire the next’ … Steven L Sears in 2022. Photograph: Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

The show’s co-creator Rob Tapert would present us with wild ideas and leave us to make them work. I can’t think of a regular show that did a musical episode with original songs before we did The Bitter Suite. One time, Rob wanted me to change the word “camouflage”. He said: “It’s a French word and this is not a French show.” I said: “You’re having a problem with a French word in a series set in ancient Greece with a protagonist played by a New Zealand actress using an American accent?”

Later, we expanded our universe quite a bit. In one episode, clones of our heroes interacted with Xena fans in the present day. Another, set in an alternative reality, saw Xena ruling over the Roman empire with Karl Urban’s Julius Caesar after their marriage. Xena offered the opportunity to go from drama one week to satire the next and, more importantly, had a cast and crew that could pull it off.

People called Xena a sword and sorcery show, even though our universe had swords but no magic. There were mythological creatures and entities with powers, but those powers had restrictions. Most of the gods echoed the pettiness of mankind, with all their egos and desires.

Back then, the studio was very hesitant about suggesting Xena and Gabrielle were in a romantic relationship. They even objected to a moment in the title sequence where Xena is seen walking seductively towards the warlord Draco, because he was shot from the back and had long hair, so could be mistaken for a woman. But as time went on, they decided to look the other way and just let us get on with it. Somebody once asked me if Xena and Gabrielle ever had sex. I said: “It’s none of my damn business. They do social and domestic duties together, they have fought for each other and died for each other. If you’re defining the relationship just on sex, you’re really missing the whole point.”

We had a very varied following, from children to students to older people. My dad once spotted a neighbour, in his 80s, waving a stick in his front yard as if sword fighting. “I’ve been watching my favourite show, Xena: Warrior Princess,” he explained. “You should see it – there’s a guy called Sears who works on it.”

Renee O’Connor, played Gabrielle

My focus with Gabrielle was how to make her feel empowered and not just the damsel in distress. The time I’d spent doing gymnastics at school probably helped with some of the moves I had to perform: handstands, backflips and so on. I loved working with weapons and dancing around stunt people. During one fight, my stunt double was standing in for the antagonist and, as we were twirling around, we stepped too close to each other and she ended up with a broken nose.

Even in the first season, we started to hear from people who thought Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship was more than just friends. Later, that subtext started to develop. We didn’t get a sense of how big the show was becoming until Lucy came back from a convention in the US and said: “Oh Renee, it’s like you’re a rock star!” At that point, the show hadn’t started airing in New Zealand. So, as we filmed in our little sacred space in Auckland, we could still walk around anonymously.

I tried showing Xena to my kids when they were young, but my daughter was terrified, seeing her mother repeatedly getting beaten up – or even attacked by a bloody rabbit. I kept the weapons Gabrielle used and still have a few boxes of costumes. My daughter’s 18 now and I know she’ll end up wearing them on a date or something.

I can relate to the young Gabrielles I meet at conventions who appreciate that kindness doesn’t mean you’re weak. Being able to live through my character emboldened me, helped me stand up to the bully. That’s definitely carried on for the rest of my life.

[eddysocs]

Preference: Xena Warrior Princess + Jealousy?

Adonis Katsaros: Adonis doesn’t tend to get very jealous. Though there are many who would like a chance with the God of War, Adonis rests pretty securely that no one could take him away from him. Adonis has godly beauty on his side, and a heavy dose of charm to boot, so if anyone made an attempt, likely all he’d have to do is show up, and any rival would back down.

Alyria Polantis: Alyria doesn’t have a lot to be jealous about. It’s not like there’s a line of people clamoring for Joxer, but she does get a little jealous of his bond and playful banter with Gabrielle. She knows he was interested in her in the past, as he’s been open and honest about that, but time has passed and things have changed, and it’s only every once in a while she feels that little pang of jealousy when they interact.

Andromeda Angelos: Autolycus is a natural flirt, so if Andromeda were the jealous type, that’d be a problem pretty quick. That’s not to say she never gets jealous. She’ll feel it every once in a while, but if his flirting with someone else gets a little too cozy for her liking, she’ll just flirt with someone else herself, and that usually gets Autolycus's attention.

Eusebeia Adamos: You’d think Eusebeia would be riddled with jealousy due to Aphrodite’s many admirers, and before they got together, she absolutely was. It was the pining that made that jealousy flare up. But, when she finally has Aphrodite's love, she doesn’t really get jealous anymore, feeling safe and secure in Aphrodite’s love for her.

Kana Saito: Listen, Kana has a ton of problems dealing with her feelings for Gabrielle, and jealousy is absolutely one of them. She bottles up her feelings for a while, knowing that Gabrielle is grieving Xena, and that just festers into yearning and pining, and yes, jealousy. With anyone Gabrielle seems particularly close to, Kana feels that sting, and she can’t ever quite let go of it.

Niantha Corleone: Oh yeah, Niantha gets jealous. When she and Xena are actually together, she’ll kick the ass of anyone who dares make an untoward comment about her. And even after they’ve parted ways and run into one another again, that jealousy can easily flare up for her. At that point, it’s mostly the thought of what could have been that gets her feeling jealous of those Xena's close to now.

Preference requests are open!

Forever Tag: @baubeautyandthegeek, @kmc1989, @curious-kittens-ocs, @fanficanatic-tw, @gcthvile, @immyowndefender

[myfaveisfuckable]

Susie:

Played the amazing Alex Borstein, Susie Myerson has possibly the biggest dick in show business. This woman, working as a janitor at a comedy club in New York in the 50s, decides to become a manager for a future famous comedian, having no prior experience with managing or comedy. Throughout the series, there are the three moments that defined her brass balls the most. The first is telling a famous comedian who recently hired her as a manger to get fucked after the famous comedian insulted Susie's friend and client. This comedian was so famous that Susie basically could have just gone and personally crapped on everyone single doorstep in the industry and come away with more favorable results. The second instance was she was literally kidnapped by some Batman the Animated Series looking goons who were paid to intimidate her onto leaving the managing business. Her big dick energy manifested when she smooth talked her way into befriending the goons through shared shitty childhood experiences AND THEY TOOK HER TO THEIR HOUSE AND INTRODUCED HER TO THEIR FAMILY. She probably could have gotten away with fucking their wives but I digress. The final time was during the series epilouge. Susie has made it famous and rightly becomes obsessed with fancy birds. The final scene involves her and her first client/friend sitting, watching jeporday together, each in their own homes across the country, after a conversation with her friend who had just sent her a beautiful parrot.

* it's spiritual

Xena:

1. The confidence. The badassery. Played by Lucy Lawless, who radiates BDE herself. Partially responsible for my bisexual awakening.

2. She has THE big dick energy. Like, the entire show is about her adventures with her (implied) girlfriend Gabrielle after she quit being a mercenary (or smth similar). She is so badass, and there's even a beauty pageant episode where she discovers one of the other contestants (she's trying to prevent assassinations bc politics) is (heavily implied to be) biologically male, and they ask her to let them at least let them quietly withdraw instead of revealing "the truth about them" (it's unclear if they're trans, a drag queen, or something else) and Xena is such an ally about it. In a show from the 1990s. She takes absolutely no shit while being absolutely amazing nearly all the time

* it's spiritual* it would be canon if it were up to me

[lonelydiary]

Tagged by my lovely mutual and my broski in crime @beefcake-penguin 🐧💜🐧

Three ships: Supercorp (they have ruined me, honestly), Raylla (thinking about them almost religiously and also Taylor and Amalia are simply sweethearts), and Brittana (they helped me realize so so much about myself and who I am. I know, Glee was a trash show, sometimes lol, but their relationship was one of the best things that happened there). Honorable mention of course to Mulder and Scully, I truly truly loved that show (tho it scared me sometimes, lol)

First ship: Xena and Gabrielle. It was so funny, honestly, how innocent in my admiration and shipping was I back then. I didn't even realized that I ship and more importantly CAN ship them together romantically. Forever grateful for Lucy and Renee for their talent and their beautiful chemistry together. And they are both so so kind to the fans. ❤️

Last Song(s): All Too Well (Taylor Swift), Ta Peine (Lara Fabian 💖), Redemption (Amalia Holm)

Favorite color: Purple and Blue (eyes)

Last movie: Me before you (not so bad actually) and also Emilia 💋

Relationship status: *sigh*

Currently consuming: A coffee and a chocolate bar to keep me at least a little presentable at work, lol

Currently working on: I have this idea for a set of gifs (Supercorp related), which I'm trying to give a life to. Wish me luck to remember how to create pretty gifs. 🙏

Tagging: All who sees this and wants to participate, no pressure. 💜

[loki-is-my-kink-awakening]

G, O, T for your ask game!

Thank you so much for these asks. This really got my brain thinking and, well, the following happened.

G - Do you remember your first OTP, if so who was in it

My first conscious "they are perfect for one another and must be together" was Lokius. I know there have been other ships that have crossed my mind in the past, but I never gave it much thought, my brain hyper focusing on "keeping myself busy" because of trauma.

Now I've had therapy, I can spend all the time devoting my brain to thinking about Lokius (and other ships) because it makes me happy.

But I do remember being frustrated by Mulder and Scully dancing around each other and thought Xena and Gabrielle should be together.

O - Choose a song at random, which ship or character does it remind you of

Lmao, I clicked on my "On Repeat" Spotify playlist and selected random play. It picked this.

You and I both know I've been listening to this A LOT recently.

And in truth, I see connections with the following ships because, clearly, I have a type.

🎵 Half in the shadows, half burned in flames

Priley—because, duh, they kinda have to stay out of the sun, but also the push and pull of their relationship.

🎵 If I could take your hand, oh, if you could understand

That I can barely breathe, the air is thin, I fear the fall and where we'll land

Lokius—because of that scene in episode 6 where Loki has lost everything. 😭😭😭

🎵 We can't look back for nothin', take what you need, say your goodbyes

I gave you everything, and it's a beautiful crime

Geraskier—and my poor Jaskier's broken heart after the mountain breakup 😭😭😭

🎵 Leaving the things we lost, oh, leaving the ones we've crossed

I have to make an end so we begin, to save my soul at any cost

Steddie—with Steve grieving Eddie and what they could have been

T - Do you have any hard and fast headcanons that you will die defending, about anything at all (gender identity, sexual or romantic orientation, extended family, sexual preferences like top/bottom/switch, relationship with poetry, seriously anything)

Jaskier

Is genderqueer, bisexual, biromantic, has a family he no longer sees, is a service switch (he'd top or bottom, whatever, he's flexible). Open to polyamory/non-monogamy. The king of poetry.

Mobius M. Mobius

Is male—cis or trans. He's gay, homoromantic, has a sister, a niece and nephew (on the timeline). He'd happily fulfil most (but not all) of Loki's sexual wants, so a service switch. He needs monogamy. Clueless about poetry but will happily listen to Loki wax lyrical.

Loki

Is canonical genderfluid but I sometimes see him/them as nonbinary. Canonically bisexual. See him as biromantic. We know his family already. Definitely a switch and decides what sex he wants now that he doesn't need to woo someone he intends to betray. Never really thought he'd be in a relationship so hadn't thought about monogamy, but wants it with Mobius. Another king of poetry.

Eddie Munson

Is nonbinary or male—cis or trans. He's gay, homoromantic, canonically has an uncle, but I believe his dad is in jail and his mom is an alcoholic. He's a Dom/top. He'd liked to have a small harem of submissives but as soon as Steve wants to be with him, he'll happily put that dream aside and be monogamous. King of poetry in music form, would join a spoken word club.

Riley Flynn

Is male—cis or trans. He's closeted gay, biromantic, top or bottom depending on my mood, sometimes switch. Monogamous but would let their partner be non-monogamous. Thinks poetry is nice but doesn't read much of it.

[girl4music]

Yep. That’s how you do friendship/platonic love.

The thing about Willow and Xander is all their really authentic and beautiful scenes together never involved any sexual intimacy but the few scenes that did looked so forced and gross and it just didn’t work with me at all. But I suppose that was the intended reaction since they were never meant to be anything more than that.

I compare this to the Xena and Gabrielle friendship/platonic love scenes and it feels like the reason why those scenes work so well with me is because they’re naturally progressing to something romantic between them that is just as authentic as their friendship is and then they both work together to build on one another so you get a development in both friendship and romance - which obviously is a realistic domestic parternship.

And when a love relationship in TV art/entertainment is developed properly - you can always see and feel the difference. You can tell which way it’s meant to be or how it works best. Not only the storytelling between the characters but the chemistry between them as well and I feel like that’s only something you can do if they allow it to be slow burn otherwise you’re forced to look at it a certain way. You’re not given any ambiguity with which to make up your own mind with on their relationship.

I will say that I’ve had more of an experience where romance is general just doesn’t work than I have where it does. And this has nothing to do with sexuality or gender identity. This is just purely based on how the relationship is written. Whether anything romantic is intentional and purposeful all the way through the TV show/movie or you’re left to your own devices on how you wish to interpret those characters in those scenes and the writers pick up on it and then intend romance.

Your better example is probably the difference between Buffy and Angel and Buffy and Spike. Buffy and Angel was entirely intentional and purposeful from the get go and yet, that never resonated at all with me. But Buffy and Spike. Not only was that ship never intentional or purposeful but many writers for both characters were actively against it even when the fans picked up on it - and yet it STILL developed naturally. It still felt right. Buffy and Spike worked better for both the storytelling and the chemistry for that to have a more romantic/sexual arching to it to me than Buffy and Angel ever did.

Nice job with this Willow/Xander video edit. It’s only short but it illustrates so well why their love is purely platonic and why their relationship works best that way as opposed to anything romantic that they tried to do.

this might be some of my best work

[girl4music]

‘When In Rome’ doesn’t seem all that important of an episode at first. But then you realize Xena basically commissioned Gabrielle to kill Crassus. It’s painful cause you know Gabrielle is a person that genuinely does appreciate human life and won’t kill just for the sake of it. If it can be avoided, she will avoid it. Yet, she’s forced to decide time and time again for what to do in the heat of the moment and the conclusion seems to always be for somebody to die. Whether it be herself, Xena or other, and sometimes even at her own hand. She said she accepted the consequences of living her life with Xena early in their travels together, but I don’t think she accounted for the fact she’d have to kill just to keep her and Xena alive. Or, like in the case of this episode, to save Vercinix, a good, innocent man and a hero to his people, from being executed at the order of Caesar. It wasn’t just about sacrificing her own life, it was also sacrificing and betraying everything she stood for so that her and Xena could survive. Season 4 was the storyline for this. Choosing pacifism because she believed it was the right Way for her, then breaking it again when Xena was left vulnerable and defenceless and she had no other option but to make that split-second decision to kill those soldiers that were going to kill her. It was inevitable the way she’d end up. Whether it is a good thing or not is up to you and how you perceive the situations that happen within the episodes. Your better judgement.

This is the life Gabrielle chose. To experience and face all the violence, blood and pain again and again, being just as much a partaker in it as trying to stop it from happening… Just to be with Xena. That’s got to be the most tragically romantic, beautiful and powerful thing I’ve ever known. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Xena and Gabrielle truly are the greatest love story ever told, and I’m not just saying it because they’re my OTP. I’ll be damned if I ever find anything more romantic than Gabrielle’s insistence to throw away her morality for Xena. She’s going against her own sense of self time and again just to protect and defend people’s lives. Especially Xena’s. It’s a testament to how much and how deeply she really loves her and that’s so incredibly romantic. Wouldn’t you agree?

This is another episode where no one really cares about the Xena/Caesar fued. This episode belongs to Gabrielle and her struggle to betray her ideals by personally sending Crassus to the executioner. Commissioned and expected to by Xena, no less.

She's the heart of the whole story here. It all wraps tightly around her.

Just like 'The Deliverer', without what's going on with Gabrielle, it's just another cat-and-mouse Xena VS Caesar game and even though I love the Rome episodes, they're not as interesting as you think they are without Gabrielle’s stuff. And as great as all the other writers are with Gabrielle’s representation and development, only Steven truly gets what Gabrielle’s about. Him and Renee really make this show resonate far beyond a villain-turned-hero seeking redemption story.

Without Gabrielle - this show is half its watch value. Well and truly.

[raisinchallah]

ok well i watched a friend in need..... not a good episode the first part i think is essentially fine its derivative of other xenas past episodes and feels like retreading old ground and feels kinda devoid of the context and meaning that really stitched together all the borias era xena flashbacks and made them so so good in season 3 and 4 and very much still part of the weird orientalist styles that always are taken on when the show dabbles in other cultures and the various racist stereotype characters that follow with it... the second half of a friend in need is just god its a mess the confused rules and mythology the bad effects the final fight like fully sucks the town burning stunts from the first episode were fun and felt like a really nice send off of the show and had some fun callbacks to previous iconic fights and it flowed and like felt finale worthy but the stupid bad cgi magic powers and everything honestly one of the worst major fights in xena i think the like looney tunes antics with xenas ashes and random magical rules and whatever i think really made the entire choice to kill xena feel even dumber and worse that it had to be couched in all these weird linking fake made up ghost rules that kept changing and being explained as the episode went on rather than this being the natural consequence of any actions its just a mess like i do think allowing her final scenes to be beautiful and peaceful with gabrielle are like really sweet and moving and maybe the benefit of her dying from magic ghost rules and by her own choice rather than going out in a major sacrifice but like it just doesnt make up for the sheer messiness of the episode oy...... well there are other television show finales <3 like ides of march <3