The Hero's Journey: Supernatural Aid
warrior's path, she would probably never have undergone the spiritual hazards of episodes like "The Price" (X44) and "Fallen Angel" (X90), where her continued spiritual existence is very much in doubt.
Ultimately, Gabrielle does protect Xena's spirit. Her influence keeps the Warrior Princess from falling too far back into the "Destroyer of Nations" mode. Her soul is at risk, but ultimately, falls under the protection of her friend and traveling companion.
One other interesting thing to note in the early stages of their journey is that neither woman falls victim to the weaknesses she protects the other from. Xena's physical prowess keeps her in one piece, and her ability to defeat any opponent is never really called into question (even Callisto and Ares submit to her skill at various points in the first three seasons). Gabrielle, when faced with a spiritual crisis, has little difficulty choosing the proper course of action -- "The Greater Good" (X21) is one example of this.
The evidence shows that Xena and Gabrielle do, in fact, act as each other's guides. This symbiosis forms the initial basis for their friendship, and is probably the reason that the two are bound throughout time (as revealed in episodes like "Between the Lines" (X82). This relationship gets reversed in later seasons (especially in Season 5 with Xena's pregnancy) but the fundamental conceit -- that each acts as guide and protector for the heroic journey of the other -- remains intact.
Please take the time to rate this article, and feel free to use the discussion area to ask questions or provide more examples of the stages discussed so far. Come back next week for the next installment of this series, Crossing the First Threshold. Until then, enjoy the show!
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