Review: Many Happy Returns
is unhappy in its own way." Xena comedies are all alike - recycled gags and ribald jokes delivered by cardboard characters in absurd settings. Dramas, on the other hand, are individual gems with distinct feeling and nuance. They must be savored and digested like a gourmet meal.
H: You continue to amaze me. If that's the case, why didn't you like the sixth season premiere, Coming Home?
J: Because it was a mess that never found the feeling at its core.
H: I thought so. And what about For Him the Bell Tolls?
J: It's a wonderful homage to a classic film that showcases the talents of the incredibly underrated Ted Raimi.
H: Hmm.
J: What?
H: I think you're upset that you enjoyed it as much as you did. Didn't I see you tearing up at the end when Gabrielle was reading that poem?
J: -hrm- No. I was feeling the effects of my jalapeno dip.
H: Sure.
J: Oh, come on. You know that legions of subtext fans are going to take that scene as proof of Xena and Gabrielle's "intimate" relationship. It was pandering, pure and simple.
H: And that's a bad thing? The producers have always said you can take whatever meaning from the show that you want. Sappho's poetry speaks to love in its purest, spiritual form. We're not talking about the horizontal mambo here.
J: Apologist.
H: Cynic.
J: -glare- Now it's time for final thoughts. This episode was a convoluted mess that easily passes for comedy in this age of Tom Green and MTV's Jackass. Multiple cardboard characters and ridiculous situations abound, making suspension of disbelief - let alone enjoyment - impossible. I really expected more from Liz Friedman. I give it a D-plus.
H: The cast and crew had a lot of fun making this episode, and it showed. I was infected with their sense of play and enthusiasm, and felt the whole episode fit wonderfully in the rich tradition of theatrical farce. It isn't the finest comedy this series has done, but it is a long way from the worst. Considering the final three episodes are likely to be dramas, this isn't a bad comedy to end on. I give it a solid B.
J: One final thing. Was it just me, or was there a cameo appearance by Willa O'Neil during the bar fight?
H: You know, I thought the same thing myself.
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