Random Notes
Summer is here, friends, and that means a couple of things. First, Xena Withdrawal Syndrome, where normally right-thinking people from all over the globe come down with the shakes because there aren't any new adventures of the Warrior Princess in the offering. Some people manage to fight off the worst effects with a dose of fan-fiction every now and then, but even that doesn't quite fulfill the addiction the way a brand-spanking-new episode does.
It also means that the weather is nicer, and folks like to spend their time outside pursuing whatever activities occupy their brains when they aren't obsessing over a raven-haired battle-hardened beauty (not to mention her golden-tressed counterpart). Up here in the wilderness of central Maine, (where this particular hard-core nutball spends his time), we're more susceptible to the siren song of the great outdoors than most, because Persephone doesn't visit her mama for very long in this neck of the woods.
All this is sort of poetic apology for the lack of content to this week's offering. I meant to get back to my series on Joseph Campbell and Xena: Warrior Princess, but found my thoughts distracted by other things.
So, I decided at the last minute to flip through my notebook and comment on a few things that don't really deserve a column all to themselves.
Jack & Cleo
These shows aired their season finales the same weekend MOTHERHOOD was shown. Since in most markets they are packaged with Xena as part of a two-hour block, I imagine most fans have at least given them a glance. My initial reviews of both shows can be found in the archives here (click the following links if you're interested).
I'd just like to mention that I hold to my initial analysis. Jack of all Trades had a more successful first season, but I will be very surprised if the series actually goes anywhere. It's a wonderful way to kill a half-hour, and doesn't bother with all the story arcs and high drama that can be found in Xena. Bruce Campbell fans should be especially happy with this show -- I know I am.
Cleopatra 2525, on the other hand, has a harder time of it. I think it has more potential than Jack to follow in the epic footsteps of its big sister. Unless the producers start answering a few of the many questions they've raised in the past thirteen episodes though, they're not going to distinguish themselves, and will probably lose viewers.
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