TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Xena Warrior Princess - Series 5, Part 1 [1999]


RRP: £34.99
Our Price: £19.99 (subject to change)

Hit and Miss (but mostly miss)
Review date: 2002-11-22 Rating: 6 out of 10

Season Five; or the year that fans went WHAT?

But, first things first, the DVDs are back, looking and sounding good, but still no extras. Zip, nada, not even so much as a photo gallery. Is it really asking so much? (the obvious answer being YES.)

Anyway, on to the meaty stuff; the episodes! Where to start....

Let's begin with the good. 'Fallen Angel,' the season opener, is ACE! Picking up where 'Ides of March' left off, this ep features the adventures of our favourite duo as they negotiate the (literal) ups and downs of the afterlife. Meanwhile, back in the 'real' world, Joxer, Amarice and Eli work together to reclaim the bodies of their friends. This episode is fantastic right from the start; all the cast put in great performances, but special mention has to go to Ted Raimi, on shining form as Joxer. His performance is gut wrenching and painful to watch, and shows what he is capable of when he is not shoe-horned into the role of comic relief.

Just a great episode. Watch it!

Next up we have 'Chakram' and 'Succession.' 'Chakram' is an interesting concept (Xena without her dark impulses), but after the kick ass season opener, it feels a little flat, but, I hasten to emphasise, still good! 'Succession' is also a solid episode, with Xena and Gabrielle battling against one of Ares' new recruits. This ep is notable mainly for the interesting dynamic between Ares and Gabrielle, as the God comes to realise what the rest of us have known for years; the 'irritating blonde' kicks butt!

The issue of LL's pregnancy is finally addressed in the fourth episode 'Animal Attraction,' which is entertaining just for the whole concept of "Gabrielle's gonna FREAK!" I have to say, check out the eye movement of Amarice when Xena tells the gang her big news; hilarious! (She looks like she's expecting the Bard to explode!) Otherwise it's a fairly mediocre ep, although it's good to see Alison 'Queen Melosa' Bruce (from Season 1's 'Hooves and Harlots') again. And the biggest plot development of the season... Gabrielle gets a HORSE! Called... well, 'Horse.' Sort of.

'Them Bones, Them Bones' is a chance to revisit the Northern Amazon's from 'Adventures in the Sin Trade,' and also gives Claire 'Alti' Stansfield a chance to chew the scenery. The scenes between Alti and Gabrielle are great, some nice Bard-WP moments, and Gabrielle finally gets her own pair of antlers! Woo hoo.

'Lyre, Lyre...' is the second musical episode; very different in tone to the outstanding 'The Bitter Suite.' The episode is fun, the cast are obviously having a great time, and ROC gets to shake her stuff in a white bikini. Make sure you watch all the way to the end of the end credits to see LL like you've never seen her before!

And that's the good. The bad? Oh dear.

My problem with the rest of the episodes is just that they are either mediocre, or just plain bad, in relation to the standard that this programme is capable of. And most of this problem lies in the treatment of the relationship between the two lead characters.

Now, I understand that due to LL's pregnancy she needed a lighter work load. And to facilitate this, she and ROC would have to be split up on screen somewhat. Fair enough. But what I object to is the complete mis-handling of such a complex relationship.

Take the two China episodes. 'Purity' and 'Back in the Bottle.' Now, last time the girls were in China ('The Debt' two-parter) they didn't have a good time of it. In fact, the death of Ming T'ien was a contributing factor to the Rift arc. Ouch. So, in the S5 episodes, when Ming T'ien pops up in all of his glory I would expect SOMETHING. Even, "Gee Xena, Ming T'ien's back. Gosh." But we get nothing! Nothing! Add to this the poorly constructed love interest for Gabrielle, and the fact that Xena seems to be more emotionally attached to the guest star than her soulmate, and you have one very unhappy viewer.

'Seeds of Faith' begins to establish the major 'Twilight' arc of the season, but its plot is non-sensical (methinks they cut large chunks out), and when a recurring character finally bites the dust I found myself hard-pressed to care. The whole 'mini-rift' has little impact because it's hardly begun before it's over, and Xena's lecture to Gabrielle about the use of violence (Hello, pot? This is kettle...) kinda annoyed me. It could have been great, but it's not.

And that really sums up this batch of episodes! Watch them because it's Xena and the cast are still giving their all, but take deep breaths, think about Season 6, and remember; it DOES GET BETTER.

Or failing that, stick the kettle on, and watch 'One Against an Army' again. Always does the trick!

BATTLE ON!

Similar Products

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Lucy Lawless

Creators:
Lucy Lawless (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: Playback
Manufacturer: Playback
EAN: 3259190247192
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 3
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2002-11-04
Number of discs: 3
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 468 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1995-09-15
Language: English (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional