Filling the Void

The chemistry between the two lead characters in Sheena felt a little bit forced to me, but that may be the result of first year syndrome, as the actors slowly make the characters their own. I have yet to sit down with a few more episodes to see if this series is worth following.

There are other shows that also feature strong female characters in fantasy (or pseudo-fantasy) settings. Whoosh! (http://www.whooosh.org) has a pretty good list of other shows that might be worth checking out in their episode guide (including the three shows I have mentioned here).

Of course, television isn't the only place to get a dose of female-empowered fantasy. The hit film Tomb Raider owes quite a bit to the ground that Xena has carved out over the years. Likewise, the new animated feature Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within features a strong female character in the lead role. TNT is premiering The Mists of Avalon this weekend - a look at the Arthurian legend from the feminine perspective.

Or you could always give the screen a rest, and read a book. Bruce Campbell's autobiography If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Movie Actor is available, and is a joy to read (I'll have a more complete review in a couple of weeks). Ru Emerson has a trilogy of Xena novels out in bookstores that you might enjoy (though I must admit, I have heard mixed reviews about them myself).

Of course, there's always fan fiction online, which seems to have received a boost from the end of the series (a lot of fans, unhappy with the way the series ended, have taken it upon themselves to either write their own ending, or bring the itinerant warrior back to life.

In short, while Tapert & Company may have written the closing chapter in Xena's saga, there are plenty of ways to fill the void left by the show. Don't be too quick to judge replacements, though. Xena set a very high benchmark, and it is a bit much to expect any replacement to meet the same standards right away.

If you have any replacements of your own, shows you think fans of Xena might enjoy, why not share your thoughts? I'm sure any ideas would be welcome.

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