I'd consider this the first real comedy of XWP, and as far as comedies go, this is a very gentle one. However, it's obvious those involved were having a grand time!
Xena is taken aback by the guards outside the castle's reaction to her, but gives them a "thanks" anyway. Then with the guards inside, she is surprised again, but by the end of their little spear lowering ceremony, she's giving the "I'm worth it" look. I love to watch Xena blow fire! But how did you know it was an attacker behind her? It could have just as easily been someone with very soft shoes. The king looks so silly with that rubber crown and nighshirt combo! Love Diana's line..."It's like looking in a mirror...before I brush my hair." Princess Diana...is that a homage to the late Princess of Wales, or to Diana Prince, Wonder Woman's alter-ego? Liberia? Was it in existense then? Xena is going to eat that poor little dog? Hee hee! Why didn't she just give the little mutt the same treatment as the one in Cradle of Hope? Xena and Diana are truly twins...they even have the same scars on their breasts. Argo...being ridden side-saddle? There's a sight I never thought I'd see! Argo must have been mortified! Lucy does a really amazing job in this episode. I can tell when she's Xena, when she's Diana, when she's Xena being Diana, and when she's Diana being Xena. I enjoy the fight where Xena has to fight without revealing to Philemon that's she's fighting. All right, this is really WAY out there, but when Xena does that floating repeating kick in the air move, I always get a mental image of Princess Toadstool from Super Mario 2. Xena's moves are identical to hers, and their dress is nearly the same! Xena's "you were so brave" with a couple of pats to Philemon's hand are so insincere and forced...and funny! As soon as Diana finally dismounts, Argo is out of there like a shot, as if she doesn't want to be seen near the Princess! Diana in the fight is pretty funny to see, but Gabs' reaction is even better! I can't even begin to imagine the thoughts flying through the bards head when the Warrior Princess takes off running like a...GASP...a girl! I could NEVER have sat still for 1000 brushstrokes of my hair...I'm surprised Xena lasted as long as she did! Xena's curtsy may have been "abominable", but Mineus's bow was even worse! "He looks like a used chariot salesman," Xena says of Romeus...and she's right! He reminds me of Sintares in Royal Couple of Thieves. What was up with all of Xena/Diana's toasting? The first time I watched this one, I wondered how Xena would handle the harp playing. Quick thinking! I probably would have panicked and fainted dead away. Diana's okay...she really cares about her subjects. But seeing her tall muscular frame hiding behind Gabrielle's diminutive one is too funny! Lucy even has different posture and ways of standing for the different characters...very nice! Xena caught the fruit. I would have thought she would have checked herself and missed. Diana can't catch? And she runs like a girl? What good is she? Heh heh. I'll bet Xena was surprised to hear she had made "lots" of mistakes in her portrayal of Diana. The bad guy with firebomb looks like a cross between Tom Hulce and Richard Gere. Xena should have been a quarterback! She could have played for the Amphipolis Armadillos or the Thrace Thrashers or the Grecian Formulas. "You got that right, Plato!" Heh heh! Love the dripping sarcasm! The actor playing the guard that tells Philemon about using the chair to cut down the hanged man also appeared in Mel Brooks' History of the World Part 1. He played...a guard. Gabbers likes Xena's pink dress? Uh huh. Xena doesn't seem to share that opinion. Diana sure picked up her riding skills fast! Gabrielle is an awesome teacher! As always, I love it when Xena ditches her skirt for the fight! And Xena shows she can play the harp afterall! Xena's reaction to Mineus' declaration that he's not marrying her is classic! It's kind of weird seeing Diana as Xena kissing Philemon. At the wedding dance, Xena and Gabs' conversation is both teasing and humerous. Gabs comments on Diana's shining hair and Xena counters it should be as much as it's brushed. Then Gabs comments Xena as Diana had people waiting on her hand and foot, handing her her every whim. "Hey, that's what you're here for," Xena responds. That statement sent my mind reeling for a while. When comments being a princess is "just not me", but manages to snag the whole dessert bowl, it closes out the episode with a laugh. This is my least favorite of the Xena lookalike episodes, but that's not to say it's a bad episode. It's quite entertaining. And here's Gary's comments: This is the first of the Xena look-alike episodes.The plot is easy. A King calls Xena to pose as his daughter,who looks exactly like Xena. Princess Diana has rarely been out of the castle and knows nothing of the ways of the world. Xena arrives and the guards think it is the princess and bow to her. She finally sees why she is needed. Meanwhile,Diana,in Xena's warrior outfit,is to meet Gabby on the road with a note explaining it all. An attempt had been made on Diana's life when Xena arrived,but Xena chased the attacker away.Diana sees Gabby being attacked by a robber,and tries to help Gabby,but instead runs away. Gabby thinks it is a test,and whacks the robber with her staff. Gabby does not believe it is Diana until Diana starts crying. Back at the castle,Philemon,whose brother is to marry Diana,thinks Xena is Diana. There is a fight in the courtyard,and Xena helps fight a bunch of bad guys without him seeing it.He fights well,and looks at Xena as if he suspects something. Later,he knows it is not Diana because Diana faints at the sight of blood and cannot catch. Philemon tells Xena that he loves Diana,and his brother is marrying her because it will unite two kingdoms and end slavery. Xena,as Diana,raises her glass in three toasts and says "death to traitors",knowing someone in the castle is the ringleader to kill Diana. Xena tries to play the harp,at others' request,and breaks the strings.It was a funny scene,and by the end of the show,she uses it (rebuilt) as a multiple arrow-launcher.It was cleverly done. Diana and Gabby are outside during all of this,and Diana hates the bread and cheese Gabby offers her.She also does not want to sleep on the ground. Some starving people come to her for help,and she cannot believe there are starving citizens in her realm. Gabby gives them what little food they do have and Diana now knows the truth about"the little people",whom she now calls "the ordinary people". Philemon goes to get Xena near the end after the "traitor"is hanged(a suicide) they think. Really,he was murdered,and as usual,Xena sorts out the bad guys and wins the day.Phil's brother does not want a woman who fights and refuses to marry Diana. Philemon,thinking Diana is Xena,tells her he loves Diana,and Diana then reveals her true identity. Happy dancing at the end,with Gabby and Xena eating special treats.Phil and Diana marry. This episode was pretty much laid-back and interesting,and was played well by Lucy as Xena and Diana. Even her voice was different,and her mannerisms were interesting. A funny scene was when Diana tosses the Chakram(her "round killing-thing") and after it bounced off some rocks and trees,it took off the top of the king's crown,not hurting anybody. Gabby did not have a lot to do in this ep.,but she was amusing trying to make words rhyme before the robber attacked her