Return of Callisto
If you know much about me, you'll know that I don't believe Xena and Gabrielle are lovers. There have been a few episodes that made
me sincerely question that belief though. This is one of them.
Callisto's jailer is not a nice man...but I wouldn't want to have his job...that would be enough to give anyone a bad attitude!
How does Callisto go to the bathroom since she's strapped in that chair all the time?
The guard's are idiots, obviously.
I love Callisto's "thank you." It's almost as sincere as one of Xena's!
Why didn't they give her prison clothes? She was dressed in her regular clothes.
For someone who's been locked in a chair for so long, she's awfully strong! Shouldn't her muscles be weakened from disuse?
This is only the second episode that doesn't have a single shot of Xena or Gabrielle in the teaser. The first one was...Callisto.
I don't know who looks more shocked when Perdicus proposes...Gabbers...or Xena.
Renee is adorable, and in this episode her chipmunk cheeks make her look even younger than usual. It must have to do with the lighting
of the episode.
The fact that Gabs didn't say "yes" right away, should have been a clue to Perdicus.
When Gabs goes on about Perdicus's good qualities, Xena just rolls her eyes like she's heard it all before.
Gabs says there's no one she's more comfortable around...except Xena. I'm glad the comfort level has grown...Gabrielle probably wouldn't
have made that statement in the first season, at least through the first part of it.
I love the little exchanges between Xena and Callisto:
Callisto: I've missed you.
Xena: You never wrote.
Question: What do Callisto and Ilanus, Athena's right hand woman, have in common?
Answer: They both shoot at little girls so Xena can save them in the nick of time.
Have Callisto's men been fighting all day and into the night? Could they really fight that long?
Why are two men fighting on the roof of a house? I can't help but wonder how they managed to move the fight up there.
Xena's fighting without using her sword...and apparently has all along...The whole fighting scene just doesn't make sense to me.
Xena borrows Gabs' staff to take out a bad guy, which is kind of cool.
Gabrielle's nose must be running. When she tells Xena she's going to marry Perdicus, it sounds like she says, "I'm going to bury him."
It's almost prophetic.
Where did Gabrielle get her wedding dress? Out of the wonderous saddlebags?
Right after the ceremony, when everyone is congratulating the bride and groom, the exchange between Xena and Joxer is hysterical. It lightens
that scene for me every time.
The look on Xena's face during the wedding is enigmatic. It certainly isn't a happy look, but it's difficult to discern exactly what it is.
Can you see Xena knocking on Gabs' door for a visit? Uh...no...
The kiss from this episode is probably the main thing that made me question the nature of Xena and Gabrielle's relationship. When
Xena kisses someone she really cares for (ie. Marcus or Hercules), her eyes soften and become hooded right before she kisses them.
This is exactly what happens when she kisses Gabrielle at the wedding. Also, where I come from, adult women do not kiss each other
on or near the lips. That part really surprised me too. It's a very tender moment, and when they hug, the look Xena gives over Gabrielle's
shoulder gets me every time. She truly look as if her heart is breaking.
Great reaction by Xena when Gabs hands her the bouquet. "Uh huh," then the eyebrow goes up.
Xena's quiet "Goodbye, Gabrielle" isn't unexpected, but it's still poignant.
Gabs wants to name her daughter Xena? Where did "Hope" come from?
Gabs says, "I've never been with a man before." Two things come to my mind immediately...#1...Does that mean she may have
been with a woman? #2...The classic scene from Airplane where the guys, donkeys, nuns with lead pipes are waiting in line for the
young girl who thinks she's going to die in a plane crash and has never been with a man before.
Then Gabs asks Perdicus if he's ever been with a man...heh heh.
Callisto licks her lips right before she moves in to kill Gabrielle. Hmmm...
Xena and Callisto are pretty well-matched in the fighting department.
It's too bad about Perdicus, but not unexpected, really.
What exactly does Xena mouth after Callisto kills Perdicus? Some claim she is saying "thank you". I don't think so, but it really
looks like it could be. It's an odd gesture, at any rate.
That's some pretty tough talk coming from Gabrielle in the profile shot by the campfire.
And I'm sorry, but that little tiny hair stuck to Lucy's lower lip during that shot drives me crazy every time!
Is Gabrielle using Perdicus's sword?
Interesting battle of wills between Xena and Gabrielle concerning teaching Gabrielle to use the sword. It takes a long time before
Xena finally relents.
Gabs strikes the tree and thunder rumbles...Impressive!!
I can't believe Xena lets Gabrielle poke her in the guts like that! Gabrielle is the ONLY person in the world who could get by with that!
Gabs is looking pretty evil when Xena finally begins to show her.
There is something really disturbing about hearing Gabrielle say, "Teach me how to kill."
"Love is a trick that nature plays to get us to reproduce." A classic line, straight from the lips of Malibu Xena herself!
Gabbers is still trying to get tough; but Xena is pissed now.
Xena's prayer is very heartfelt. And it had to have affected Peeping Gabs.
The lack of real communication between Xena and Gabrielle in this one is a real problem.
That is a very cool image of the sunrise becoming the chakram.
How did Xena fall for Callisto's trap? That isn't like Xena!
Callisto fell for the very trick she had pulled earlier in the episode. Ironic.
That chair always makes me think of an electric chair. It's a stupid, pointless device.
Good background voices in Callisto's lair.
And very nice staff work by Gabrielle!
And very cool of Xena to catch the whip.
Why does Xena go to the trouble to bend over and pick up a dropped sword instead of simply drawing her own? Is it to keep someone else from picking it up?
Gabs's "Get her, Xena" and look is very much out of synch.
It was very convenient of Callisto to have not one, but two chariots waiting outside.
Dunno why, but I don't really care for the chariot race...I get tired of the repeated "yah!"'s.
There's a nice Indiana Jones stunt move by Xena when she's dragged behind the chariot.
The first time I watched this, I was sure Xena would save Callisto...and was shocked when she didn't.
Great fake by Xena when Joxer tells her he has to be moving on.
Wonderful ending!! Great silhouette!
We get to see Gabrielle's more fiery side in this episode, and it is well-acted by all involved.
And here's how Gary saw it:This was one of the early eps. I saw when I discovered XENA...I didn't know
who Perdicus was,never saw Greeks Bearing Gifts,and thought that Joxer was a
regular on the show.
The story opens up with a prison scene. Callisto and her gang of cut-throats
from CALLISTO are in prison. The guards are feeding the prisoners.
Immediately,there were some bad bloopers which later settled down to more
credibility.
First,one guard says that each prisoner gets one ladle FULL of mush...he
then puts half in one cup and half in another.
Then he puts Callisto's mush in a bowl and pushes it thru the bars of her
own cell on a long spatula. The problem is,she is strapped and chained head
to toe in a grotesque chair,and cannot get at her food.
She jeers at the jailer,and he comes in to beat her. She sneaks his dagger
from his belt and gets beaten,saying thank you.
He leaves,and Callisto cuts the straps,breaks out of the cell by using the
dagger to pick the lock,and procedes to kill the guards. Note: She has a
dagger,but we do not see it as she attacks.Her dagger scabbard is empty and
she has none in her hands,but uses ones she wrests from her victims.She is
barefoot and covered in their blood,still looking a bit elegant,tho quirky.
She then tells Theodorus,her second in command,to let the others out,but to
kill the weak ones.
Meanwhile,at Xena and Gabby's campsite,Xena kicks an intruder...it is
Perdicus,who,after Troy,fought in other battles. He is tired of fighting and
wants Gabby to marry him and go back to Potadiea.
Gabby looks flustered and tells Xena.
The next day,the three are walking along the river and Joxer is on a cliff
yelling that Cal escaped.
Xena also knows that Gabby loved Perdicus when at Troy.
There is a fight in a village.It is Cal and her men,and as usual,Xena and
Gabby try to save the people. Perdicus is there,too.
Cal tosses a dagger at a little girl,and Xena grabs it at the last
second,but it was a trick so that Cal could have time to hold a sword at
Xena's throat. This could have been the end of Xena and the
series,because,as Cal said in CALLISTO,"I'm as good as you are."
Cal wants to destroy Xena bit by bit,so escapes.
Interesting at the start of the fight: Cal was about to kill a villager with
her sword,but Xena's Chakram knocks it out of her hands.The camera sees Cal
thru the circle,just as Cal saw Xena thru the Chakram in CALLISTO. There
were many similarities in this ep. Why didn't Xena just kill her outright
and get it over with?They do fight but Cal rides off.
Perdicus tells Gabby that he will fight no more,and this makes Gabby decide
to marry him.
The next scene is a good one. Gabby marries Perdicus,and Xena talks to Gabby
after the ceremony. She says that if Gabby is happy,then SHE is happy. They
share a chaste kiss,and a hug. Gabby goes off with her new husband,and Xena
says "Good-bye,Gabrielle" as she does in subsequent episodes.
The honeymoon scene as well-done.Gabby fears that Xena will miss her more
that she will miss Xena. Perdicus admits he had other women before Gabby,but
Gabby doesn't mind that much. They kiss tenderly,and the scene was just
perfect. Compare that to the scenes of Xena and Borias,on the horse,and
under the animal skins.How the show changed in later years.
The next morning ends in tragedy. Gabby and Perdicus are outside kissing and
up rides Cal. The two don't seem to hear a horse at all. Perdicus is slashed
and kicked by Cal,and Gabby is kicked down. About to deliver the death
blow,Cal doesn't hear Xena ride up. Maybe the acoustics will not let people
hear a half-ton beast and rider approach.
Xena and Cal fight,and as Cal escapes yet again,she stabs Perdicus to death.
The scene ends with Gabby crying for her dead husband.
Gabby is practicing with Perdicus' sword by attacking a tree. She tries to
get Xena to show her how to use it properly,and Xena says no,but later gives
in. Gabby is filled with hate and the desire to see Cal's blood.
Xena prays that night to the gods that Gabby not lose the light within her.
Gabby overhears this,and tells Xena later that she is going to go home to
mourn her husband. Xena tells her that she will get Cal for her,and that it
is for the best.
Gabby does not go home,but manages to sneak into the cave where Cal and her
men are. Gabby holds the sword at Cal's throat,but cannot kill her. Cal and
the others awaken,and Cal decides to burn Gabby at the stake,knowing that
Xena would try to rescue her friend.
Xena and Joxer come to the cave,but Xena goes in alone. She is immediately
captured and tied in the same chair Cal was in before.Cal tells Xena that
she is about to lose her best friend,and there is no way to escape.
As the fire is lit,Joxer appears,and knocks down one thug. Cal stomps
Joxer,and then sees him hit with an arrow. This diversion gives Xena a
chance to do what Cal did: grab a weapon(the Chakram) with her foot and cut
her way out of the chair. The women fight,after Xena throws the Chakram and
lets Gabby loose. Gabby fights well with a staff,and Cal escapes in a
chariot. Xena gives chase,leaving Gabby with Joxer out of action and a few
thugs still standing. At least Xena knows Gabby can take care of these goons
and get Joxer out safely.
The chariot chase is like the horse chase in CALLISTO,along a sandy track.
The girls fight and fall out of the chariot,ending up in a quicksand area.
They both are sinking,but Xena throws the Chakram and it sticks in a log.
She then uses her whip as a rope and it wraps around the Chakram,so Xena can
pull herself out.
Cal begs Xena to save her,but Xena never speaks during this scene and
watches Cal die.
Later,Joxer is found to be okay,after Xena fixes his wound.
Gabby is looking in the distance "loving" Perdicus,and Xena puts her arm
around her friend for comfort.
Joxer was pretty brave during this ep. Usually he faints or runs,being the
buffoon,but here he really saved the day. Gabby told Xena after Prrdicus'
death,that he was the "last one",meaning she will never love another or
marry again.
This interesting episode showed the talents of all three women,mostly the
best villainess ever,Callisto.
And here are Andrew's thoughts:
Everyone's favourite psycho returns for a rematch, and Gabrielle marries Perdicas - say WHAT?????
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XENA AND GABRIELLEI'll be dealing with the whole Gabrielle-Perdicas romance later, so don't expect to find anything about it here. Xena puts on a brave face at Gabrielle's wedding, but she's clearly distraught at losing her friend to Perdicas - read into that what you will!
The murder of Perdicas very nearly turns Gabrielle into another Callisto - the sight of Gabby running on pure hatred is a scary one. Xena's prayer is very touching, and clearly demonstrates how much Gabby means to her. Eventually, however, Gabrielle's aversion to killing overcomes even her hatred of Callisto, and she spares her. Both Lucy and Renee handle their scenes extremely well in this episode.
Xena's leaving Callisto to go down in the quicksand is disturbing. This isn't killing in the heat of battle - it's a cold-blooded execution. Apparently they filmed Xena throwing her whip out to Callisto then snatching it away, but then decided that was going too far and cut it.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONSThat's a nasty contraption Callisto's strapped into at the beginning - very "Silence of the Lambs". Her line to the head jailer, "Here, piggy-piggy-piggy-piggy" is a hoot! She clearly hasn't lost her skill with one-liners.
Callisto stresses the fact that Xena should have killed when she had the chance, an observation I made in my review of CALLISTO. Just think of all the trouble it would have avoided, especially Solan's death and the "Gabdrag".
That's a nice shot of Callisto through the chakram in Xena's hand - a complete reversal of the scene in CALLISTO where Xena is framed instead.
Perdicas' line, "Hey, I never said that I was good at it!" actually had me liking the guy. All in all Gabrielle's wedding night is handled with great sensitivity, which is as it should be.
Callisto's smart. She's already worked out that Gabrielle is Xena's weak spot. How long does it take Ares to reach the same conclusion? Sheesh, gods!
This episode is possibly Joxer's finest hour. It's not his fight, but he gets involved because Gabrielle's his friend. He distracts Callisto long enough for Xena to retrieve her chakram, and then takes an arrow in the shoulder. He gets a chance to show his true nature here, and it's a great pity he was wasted in so many later episodes.
Interesting line from Callisto regarding Gabrielle: "I envy her in a way - she gets to leave this life so pure. Wonder if I could have been her?" FALLEN ANGEL answers this question with an emphatic "Yes".
The chariot chase is a nice tribute to the classic movie "Ben Hur".
LITTLE PROBLEMSThe head jailer says Callisto's never let out of her chair. I hope it has a built-in potty!
This is the only episode in which Joxer calls himself "the Magnificent" instead of "the Mighty".
I'm sorry, but I just can't see Gabrielle marrying Perdicas. According to R. J. Stewart they wanted to have a two-part episode with Gabby meeting a guy, falling in love and marrying him, then Callisto coming after them. When it was cut to a single episode they realised Perdicas was the only guy she had enough of a "history" with to marry. It just doesn't work for me - I mean, why would his totally losing his nerve in the middle of a fight persuade her that he was Mister Right?
For two people always on the move, Xena and Gabrielle sure are easy to find. First Perdicas does it, then Joxer. Convenient, huh?
That's a nice dress Gabrielle wears for her wedding - shame about the boots!
Why did they have Gabby lie to Xena about going home, then sneaking off to kill Callisto?
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Despite its flawed premise this episode still makes my Top 25, mainly due to the performances of Lucy and Renee, ably assisted by Hudson Leick and Ted Raimi. It also kicks off an entertaining trilogy, rounded out by INTIMATE STRANGER and TEN LITTLE WARLORDS. Callisto may be dead, but it takes more than that to stop a gal like her!
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