This episode seems to be very popular with fans. It's okay, in my opinion, but I wouldn't rank it in my top twenty-five.
Where did Gabrielle manage to scare up such a nice coffin for Xena? Gabrielle looks SO alone in the beginning of this one...I'm very glad when Iolas steps into the picture. However, Gabrielle is doing a fine job agains the bad guys! Gabs says, "Xena just left me." Maybe that's the way it feels to her, but there was more to Xena's departure than that. Gabs and Iolas share at least four warm hugs. What are the odds? Gabs comes across two people in her travels to Amphipolis. They turn out to be...Iolas and Ephiny...two of her best friends. "Xena was a true Amazon, even though she denied it." I'd have to argue with that statement. Xena was an ally to the Amazons, at least in latter years, but she didn't act like an Amazon. Autolycus reacted relatively calmly to all the strange things that was happening to him. Ephiny talks about Xenan during the episode...where is he? Xena's a great answer to AA! She sure kept Autolycus from drinking! Where are Xena's clothes when she's in the spirit form? When she appears to Gabs later on, she'll be in her regular leathers, but when she appears to Autolycus, she appears to be naked. Still, I like the effect of Xena's appearance rippling with the water. I can only laugh at the way Xena handles Autolycus's nature call! Gabrielle is determined to take Xena's body to Amphipolis....is that where she's headed at the end of Friend in Need 2? Interesting...even without Xena, Gabrielle doesn't want to return to her family in Potodeia. Autolycus is one ugly, hairy Amazon! Gabrielle isn't making the queen desicion lightly. She takes it very seriously. Gabrielle almost got her face taken off by Velasca! But I love the way she plays "psych" with the mask! It was a very gutsy move, and she did it just right! The scene where Gabbers talks to Xena's coffin is very, very touching. "You know, there are two kinds of tears...tears for those who leave you...and tears for those you never let go." I can think of a lot more kinds of tears, but I understand what Gabs is saying. Gabs won't say goodbye because "we'll be together again...one day." Then she kisses the chakram and lays it on the casket...all in great reverence. I love it when Xena tells Autolycus to "Let go and hold on." How's that again? And Gabbers makes me giggle with her..."It can't be..." By the time Autolycus/Xena manages to whistle for Argo, Gabrielle is beaming with knowledge. And I love her casket surfing, brief as it may be! Xena looks great in the dream sequence...tan and tall. I know Lucy had to be hurting, but she masked the pain well. I love the way Gabs tears up big time the very second she actually sees Xena. A lot has been made of the kiss from this scene. I've got to admit, it IS bizarre. But I don't think it is nearly as revealing as kisses and scenes later on in the series. Autolycus certainly seemed surprised though. I feel it was Autolycus's hand on Gabrielle's butt...he was just taking advantage of the moment. Why else would Xena pop him? When Gabs hears Xena is gone from Autolycus, she gets all tough acting. She knows what she has to do. Why did Velasca kiss Autolycus before smacking him? I must have missed something! "Well, in for a dinar...in for a kingdom." Another quaint saying. Why did Xena wait so long to appear in Gabrielle's body? And where was her spirit in the time between Autolycus and Gabbers? I like Autolycus's "Get up there, Gabrielle...and Xena...whoever you are." Gabs didn't seem to have any trouble at all letting Xena take over her actions. You'd think there would be flashes of uncordination. I love the glint in Gabs' eye when Xena takes over. That vine fighting was vicious! What a way for Velasca to have to die! Xena looks pretty...errr...fresh...for someone who's been dead a few days. I wonder if Lucy had any problems laying there in the coffin? I would have had bad dreams! She didn't act as if her muscles had stiffened at all. How in the world could Velasca had survived that fall on those spikes? I like the way Xena tells Autolycus he's a nice person...she almost makes it out to be a distasteful description. Xena holds up her hand to be kissed this time. Last time, she held it up to shake hands with Autolycus. And note...Xena promises NOT to die on Gabs again. Talk about breaking your promises! Xena looks uncomfortable when Gabs said she knew what it was like to be her. I guess Xena was embarrassed by that. Gabrielle describes it as "warm, loving, and protected." I really like the ending of the episode...it always gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. The next episode, A Necessary Evil, will pick up where this one leaves off. Here are Gary's thoughts on this one: This is the second of a three-parter involving Xena and Gabby with the death and rebirth,so to speak,of Xena.Also,we see Gabby becoming the Amazon Queen(not the boat). The story opens with Gabby waking up in the cave with Xena's coffin.Gabby is in mourning for her dead friend,and her tears seem real.ROC always could make our eyes water with her great expressions. She takes the coffin back towards Amphipolis,dragging it on a sled behind Argo. She is set upon by some thugs who want the body to sell to a warlord for the bounty. Gabby fights with her staff,and she is joined by Iolaus,who just happens to be nearby. Michael Hurst must have been on the set at that time,and could have used the extra money,heh-heh. Anyway,he hugs Gabby about four times to comfort her...a far cry from the kiss they shared in Prometheus. He leaves,and Gabby goes on. Note: The thugs do not hang around for a second attack. In the woods,Gabby sees a few Amazons drop from the trees,like in Hooves and Harlots,and the Amazons know of Xena's death...how? Velasca,the stand-in queen,is there with Ephiny. Gabby wants to tell Queen Melosa about what happened,but Melosa is dead---killed in a fight for the queenhood by Vel. Ephiny scorns the fight,implying that it was not a fair fight,but Vel says it was. The whole tribe usually witnesses a fight like that,so I think Ephiny just didn't like her at all. Back at the Amazon village,Ephiny wants Gabby to be the queen...she has the rite of caste...Vel does not. Gabby wants to take Xena back as planned,tho. Vel and Gabby walk and Vel wants Gabby to give up the queenship---Vel is ALREADY queen,and it just has to be formally confirmed. Gabby will think about it. Gabby tells Xena's spirit that she will burn the body,take the ashes back to Amphipolis,and come back to be the queen for good. Ephiny was told this already,and Ephiny is glad to be rid of Vel as leader. At the queen ceremony,Gabby goes to put on the mask,and Vel throws a dagger at it,pinning it to a post. Gabby takes the mask and dagger and offers them to Vel,who reaches for the dagger first. Gabby puts on the mask,and makes herself queen,really ticking off Velasca. Running alongside this story is Autolycus,who is in a temple trying to steal the Dagger of Helios. He does this,and also gets a map,which he has no idea of WHY he has it. Someone(Xena) took over his body and he acts like he is insane in the town square. The gist:Xena is iside him(without his permission)and wants him to use the map to find the Ambrosia near the Amazon lands.(It seem that Ares is right in Coming Home when he knows there is Ambrosia in the Amazon lands). The dagger will open the door/panel to get the mbrosia,and it will bring Xena back to life. Great plan,but he has to stop Gabby from burning Xena's body and get the Amb. soon. Xena's body will be a bit ripe if he waits. He disguises himself as an Amazon to walk into the camp.He will try to make it look as if the body were stolen,and breaks into the hut. He is discovered,and he tries to tell Gabby that Xena is controlling him...nobody believes that. Gabby has him locked up,and she goes out. Auto breaks out and stops the body-burning by doing Xena-flips,and kicks away the flaming wood. Now Gabby believes that it is Xena. The coffin is dragged away behind Argo,and Gabby hitches a ride. In the woods,Xena tells Gabby to close her eyes,then open them. Xena appears as herself,and tells her what must be done with the Amb. Auto's body is used for a kiss at the end...he and Gabby look surprised. The scene was a moving one,and Gabby's reaction seeing Xena again was great. Auto is captured,and Vel kisses him,and then beats him up,breaking his arm. She sees the dagger and instantly recognizes it as the Helios one...how? After breaking out of jail,Gabby and the wounded Auto,go back and find the Ambrosia cave. Auto,as Xena,cannot climb the ropes,but Velasca appears and knows where to look.There is a circulat panel at the top of the ropes,and there is fire at the bottom. Also,there are sharp spikes and a few skeletons of those who tried this before. Some "secret" cave. Also,how can anyone else get the Amb. without the dagger? Xena jumps into Gabby's body and Gabby climbs the ropes with Vel,racing for the top. They fight,and Vel opens the panel by inserting the dagger into a cutout.The panel opens a door above and Amb. starts falling out. Vel catches it,and instead of eating it at once and becoming a god,smells it as if savoring it. Gabby acts then,and shakes the rope...Vel drops it into the fire below. Vel tries to kill Gabby with the dagger,but it is turned to cut her own rope. She falls and "dies". Gabby climbs down and finds a bit of the Amb. in her halter top. She puts the Amb. in Xena's mouth(Ephiny has brought back the coffin to the Amb. cave) and then Xena awakens,like Sleeping Beauty. At the end,Gabby and Auto are thanked by Xena. Auto says that Xena should thank him for letting her know what it is like to be the King of Thieves...what an ego---and Gabby says it was a warm feeling. At the end,we see Vel's hand reaching for a small piece of Amb. that missed the fire. Good scenes: Gabby looked great in her regal Amazon Queen outfit. I bought the numbered print and have it framed and lighted(I know...I am obsessed). She acted as a queen should and was decisive whan she said she would take Xena's ashes back and then come back as queen for good. She gives no thought of her family, tho, which was odd. The woods scenes with Auto/Xena kissing was visually great and was very moving. Vel is a good villainess,whech we will see later. The quest for power by Vel is her downfall. Note: how can Xena be the only one who does not have to go to an afterlife...how can she wander around invading bodies with or without their permission? And here's what Andrew had to say: Gabrielle must contend with a rival for the Amazon crown as she struggles to reunite Xena's body and soul. Autolycus, meanwhile, is worried about his sanity - he's started hearing voices... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * XENA AND GABRIELLEThis episode marks Gabrielle's "coming of age". Firstly, she demonstrates how good she's become with that staff by demolishing a band of brigands with only a little help from Iolaus. She also remembers the Amazon "peace" signal, first seen in HOOVES AND HARLOTS. Most importantly, she quickly comes to terms with Xena's death. Gabrielle realises that Velasca would lead the Amazons to ruin, and agrees to become their Queen - clearly she recalls Xena's lessons regarding the "Greater Good". I have to say, Gabby looks stunning in her royal regalia! I love the way she slaps Velasca down at the coronation ceremony, and her farewell soliloquy to Xena is very moving. Xena, meanwhile, is demonstrating that even as a disembodied spirit she's a force to be reckoned with, occupying the bodies of first Autolycus and then Gabrielle as she attempts to return to her body. The "astral plane" reunion between her and Gabrielle is another touching scene, although the kiss she plants on Gabby's lips fuelled the great subtext debate. Some fans saw this as "proof" of a lesbian relationship, but it could equally well have been a gesture of sisterly love and comfort. Xena seems to have trouble keeping her promises, as she takes full control of Autolycus whenever she feels like it, even though she promised to do so only with his permission. Their relationship puts me in mind of that between Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin in the comedy "All of Me"! Special mention must go to Renee O'Connor for her performance after Xena takes over Gabrielle's body - she manages to look (and sound) like Lucy Lawless! Interestingly enough, Gabrielle must be pretty fit and agile as, even with Xena's will controlling it, her body had to be capable of performing the same moves as the Warrior Princess. I also like the final scene in which Gabby tells Xena what it felt like to be her for a little while. It does a lot to emphasise the bond between the two friends. GENERAL OBSERVATIONSMichael Hurst has a nice cameo as Iolaus, who helps Gabby out and then hightails it to inform Hercules of Xena's death. Ephiny seems to imply that Velasca defeated and killed Queen Melosa by underhand means, but this avenue is left unexplored. Bearing in mind Velasca's ruthless ambition, it's quite possible. It seems that a large number of Amazons still longed for the "good old days" to which Velasca promised to return them, which would explain the tribunal finding in her favour. Bruce Campbell turns in a hilarious performance as Autolycus, who's convinced he's going mad when he starts hearing Xena's voice in his head. The sight of the King of Thieves in full Amazon dress (bare midriff and all!) is one I won't forget in a hurry. I'll certainly try, though! Even when captured and beaten by Velasca he keeps up the bravado. My favourite line comes when Velasca, having obtained the Dagger of Helios, leaves him on the floor - "Hey, I paid for an hour!" The scene in the prison cell, where he borrows Solari's bra clasp to use as a lockpick, is also very funny. Autolycus looks startled to find himself kissing Gabrielle, which confirms that it was Xena who was responsible for the kiss rather than the King of Thieves. He can't resist copping a feel, however, but with Gabby that close who can blame him? Despite his monumental ego, Autolycus is a good person at heart, something Xena learns when she inhabits his body. He's clearly embarrassed by this, as such a revelation could ruin his selfish reputation! The sight of the mortally wounded Velasca's hand desperately reaching for the ambrosia sets up the conclusion of this trilogy, A NECESSARY EVIL. MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS "At Mother's Tomb" from REMEMBER NOTHING is used again as Gabrielle takes her leave of Xena. FAMILIAR FACES Jodie Dorday, who played the priestess in PROMETHEUS, makes her first appearance as Solari, my favourite minor Amazon character. Her role would be expanded in the next episode, A NECESSARY EVIL. LITTLE PROBLEMS That's an awfully ornate sarcophagus. Where did Gabrielle obtain it? Perhaps Niklio the healer also runs a funeral parlour - he'll be able to do something for his patients, one way or the other! Iolaus and Hercules seem to be the only ones who don't know Xena's dead - the brigands, the Amazons and Autolycus all know. News certainly travels fast, especially when you consider Gabby and Niklio were the only ones with Xena when she died. That's a really good lockpick Autolycus uses - it barely touches the padlock and it springs open! Wasn't it awfully convenient that the keyhole happened to be on that side, instead of on the front or bottom as with most padlocks? Velasca claims the crown as her "birthright", but she was adopted. She later points out that she, unlike Gabrielle, was born an Amazon, which is a more valid argument. If ambrosia can save the dying, why didn't Xena give some to the mortally wounded Petracles in A FISTFUL OF DINARS? How does Xena know the Amazons have her body, and how does she know the book is hidden in the statue? When Gabrielle tells her Amazon escort to put Autolycus in jail, there's a creaking sound identical to that heard later as two Amazons draw their bows to light Xena's funeral pyre. In the earlier scene, however, the Amazons are carrying crossbows. These are already cocked and loaded, so why the creaking? How does Velasca find the Ambrosia cave so quickly? She could have followed the tracks left by the sarcophagus as far as the river, but after that the trail would have gone cold. Most room doors open inwards, yet the cell in which Gabby, Autolycus and the Amazons are put has a door which opens outwards, allowing it to be smashed into a guard's face. This strikes me as a very insecure arrangement! For the last time - you can NOT light a torch by bashing two rocks together! How do Gabby and Autolycus catch up with Velasca so quickly? She has a head start, and Autolycus even stops to change back into his usual clothes! Xena looks remarkably fresh for a corpse, especially one who's been dead for a week or more! The clue seems to lie in Xena's statement to Gabrielle that she's "not quite" dead. Even today, people have been known to slip into a state mistaken for death and later revive - in one case in Brazil during the funeral! My guess is that's what happened to Xena, and her spirit is having the mother of all "out of body" experiences. Ephiny's son Xenan is listed in the cast but never seen - presumably his footage ended up on the cutting room floor. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Despite my many minor criticisms, this episode easily makes my Top 10. It boasts a great central performance from Renee O'Connor, ably assisted by Bruce Campbell, and marks a watershed in Gabrielle's character development. This is quite an achievement when you consider the episode was written to cover for Lucy's riding accident! It's worth noting that the story was conceived by Steven L. Sears (who was responsible for most of the better Gabrielle-centred scripts) and Chris Manheim (who wrote THE PRODIGAL), as well as R. J. Stewart. THE QUEST was actually the second-highest rated episode of XWP, being surpassed only by A NECESSARY EVIL.