Feelings

» desertblue - thanks, Josh

All along Xena believed she had to ultimately sacrifice herself in her quest for redemption. I knew she would die at the end. Anyone carefully watching the six years of eps would realize this.

Xena's Warrior Code would not accept less. She lived uneasily with herself, and only Gabrielle's love kept her stay of execution for so long.

And as for Gabrielle's journey, in all the Mythic stories, the mentor has to die, leaving the student to grow into her own mastery. What if Obi-Won had stayed alive throughout Star Wars, telling Luke what to do at every step? It was bad enough his spirit would pop in from time to time (like Xena?), but this still follows Mythic precedent.

I don't think the series could have ended any other way and still feel right. They left an out for a movie (the whole weird Egypt foreshadowing, Gabrielle with the ashes).And fans can also place When Fates Collide as the finale in their minds. WFC certainly FELT final.

We also have the knowledge of many lifetimes, clones and descendants with X and G together. I think the last season emphasis on this was just a gift to the fans from TPTB, to help us lessen our loss.

I am satisfied with the ending, although I found the episode itself somewhat sloppy in its handling of the explanation. Other things have been sloppy, though, like Xena's near-apology for chakking Gabrielle in Coming Home. But then, other things were done right: the closure I finally felt in the Abyss, when a delerious Gabrielle talks to Hope, and Xena allows herself to see how Gabrielle suffered through all that.

In each place they travelled, the characters were subject to the local customs, gods, and rules of honor. So I don't have a problem with Xena's beheading and'defilement'; she was highly honored in Jappa's terms. I never thought the series would end out of Greece, but it makes sense that eventually Xena's habit of "cleaning up her messes" would do her in. It was only a matter of time.

I hope Gabrielle learns to move on from her loss, and to not have Xena's spirit lingering around indefinately. This would demean her own journey and future growth. She has a lot left to do, being only in her mid-twenties after all!

We all have to learn to cope from insufferable losses without losing our minds or killing ourselves in turn. I take hope from this. If Gabrielle can be brave enough to do it, maybe so can I.

-- posted by desertblue

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» silentsophi - Xena gone

Well we have done our fair share of over analyzing Xena, Gabby, and the whole redemption atonement thing.

It all boils down to it being a great show because if it wasn't then we would not be discussing it.

But it's over whoa! I am 17 and I have been watching it since the first episodes and before Xena it was Hercules, but for some reason Xena had a bigger impact and for some reason always
stirred more thought and emotion.

It was superficial and deep all at the same time with its fair share of half naked girls and religion all balanced out oddly enough.

And in watching the final episode i was overjoyed for so many reasons:
1) Gabby kicking butt finding, her own individual strength, and becoming her own strong ass woman
2) That whole Xena redemption atonement thing.
3) The continuation of the inconsistences in the writing (continuing the tradition to the end!)
4) Leaving room for a possible Gabby series with a few Lucy guest appearances.(but lets not over do it!)
5) Gabby using Xena's weapon (which i can not spell) successfully

Its the end of an era and this time i did not cry during the last episode unlike Star Trek Deep Space Nine and X-men (i am still petitioning for the returned of those originals)

In conclusion Xena ROCKED! and i am sad to see her go.

-- posted by silentsophi

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