Story by Rob Tapert & R.J. Stewart
Teleplay by R.J. Stewart
Directed by Rob Tapert
I didn't think they'd do it, but it ended in the best way possible.
Several weeks ago, I wrote a piece about the end of the series (Black Armband Days), and how I would end it if I had creative control. I saw three possible endings: Xena and Gabrielle could walk off into the sunset and other adventures, Xena could retire and Gabrielle could carry on the hero work, or Xena could die.
Personally, the death of Xena seemed to be the only satisfactory way to end the show. The premise of the series was Xena's quest for redemption. Despite everything that has happened in the past six years, I don't think that she would have quietly accepted retirement. Her conscience bothers her too much for that. In Xena's mind, only the greatest sacrifice would be able to redeem her - the loss of her own life in defense of others.
Cynic that I am, however, I didn't think that they would do it. The possibility of a movie a few years down the line, and the money that could still be made seemed too great a temptation. Would Rob kill the golden goose? I honestly didn't think it was very likely.
While I haven't read anybody else's actual comments on the episode, I do know that there is quite a bit of negative feeling in the fans because Xena was killed. I can certainly understand this attitude - after all, we have come to love this dark-haired warrior over the years, and it is never easy to let someone we love go. There is bound to be a period of mourning, and the various stages of grief will all (I am sure) make themselves known at some point.
Xena (the series) is myth. The purpose of myth (among other things) is to instruct. What lesson can be drawn from this final tale? There are two lessons that I feel can (and should) be learned.
First, the greatest - and most heroic - sacrifice that any person can make is that of his or her own life. Xena knew the cost of saving the souls trapped by Yodoshi was her own life. It was a price she was willing to pay. I'm sure that her self-assumed responsibility for their torment made it easier (that hyper-active conscience acting up again), but it was still a tremendously heroic act.
