The Convert

I liked this one better than the standard fourth season episode. Some interesting things happen to some of the characters.

Let’s take a look at what Gary thought of this one:

This episode was truly a real disappointment in many ways. It wasted the fine character of Najara, and showed us the foolishness of Gabby's "way" and Xena's unrelenting meddling.

It starts with a raid by a bunch of thugs with the same brand mark on the left side of their faces. They are attacking and murdering a bunch of monks at a temple. There is the slow-motion throat-cutting, and the slow flow of blood on the furniture.

Note: in The Way, we see that Xena has both her arms cut off with NO blood flow.

The bad guys use a dagger with metal fingers on the hilt. Xena arrives and starts fighting them, using punches and kicks. She does not draw her sword and use lethal force, EVEN THO THERE ARE A LOT OF MURDERERS THERE. She allows them to run off and Gabby and Joxer arrive late (as usual) as if ready to fight. Gabby, of course, will do nothing.

NOTE: This is the crux of the whole episode. Xena, who hates Najara, allows KILLERS to escape, even tho she knows they are guilty. This reminds me of Beware Greeks, where she let the murderers of Helen's messenger escape. Xena makes a snap decision that they can run off...a life or death decision, and condemns Najara for doing the same thing. Also, Xena, in Crusader, has Marat chained, and runs off leaving him to keep killing later. No trial and jail for him. This is rampant hypocrisy by Xena.

Back to the episode:
Since Xena does not kill any then, she has to fight them twice more before the end of the story. Gabby tries to help a dying monk who pulls out the dagger, which Joxer picks up. Why does he need it since he has a sword and dagger of his own?

The man tells Xena that the "novitiates" are outside and are being kidnapped by the warlord Kryton. Now Xena runs outside when she hears the girls screaming. Note: How does Xena miss a lot of white-clad girls and the thugs right outside the temple? They were within earshot, and we know how acute Xena's hearing is.

As the girls scream, Kryton is stomping a woman on the ground, demanding to know "who sent you?". Why does he suspect anything, since a lone unarmed woman is there? He wears the same helmet that the Sythian leader wore in Sickness and Hell.

Xena confronts him and the second fight starts. Gabby, in a weird move, blows smoke (literally) into the faces of two thugs, "confusing" them...she uses a smoke compact, as Xena later refers to it. Xena now uses her sword for real, having to fight the killers she just let run out of the temple. She uses her whip to hang from as she does the 'circle stomp' of these guys.

As the idiot Joxer stands around like the dolt he is, the warlord who was just fighting Xena, runs into the dagger, killing himself instantly. The thugs, seeing their leader dead, now run away. Joxer considers this his first kill. I say it was an accident.

Xena's attention is now focused on the injured woman; it is Najara. The novitiates say that Najara risked her life to help them and is a saint. Xena sneers at this, and checks Najara's wounds. In a rotten bedside manner, she roughly prods her ribs and says they are not broken, but has lacerations and a concussion. She cannot walk, so has to ride Argo.

Najara tells Xena she escaped the prison and helped people plant and harvest crops, and in general, is following her new "way". Xena snarls back that Najara is going back to prison, no matter what. Again, proven murderers Xena just saw are let go.

Someone asks what is to be done with the dead warlord. Xena says Kryton will be taken back to the village so the people there can "deal with it." Since when does Xena care about a killer? She always leaves them where she killed them.

In town, the men ask who killed the warlord. Joxer tells them he did it. They want to buy him drinks in appreciation. Najara is in bad shape and is lying in the dirt on the street, snuggling next to Gabby. Xena is cruel and says she sent word to the prison that she will be bringing back Najara. Najara says she changed and would anybody be able to hurt her if she didn't change to the way of peace?

In the bar, the men tell Joxer that the warlord has a son in a nearby academy. Xena hears this and tries to stop Joxer from telling the kid about this. Joxer, drunk, says, "you're always in everybody's business." In vino veritas....

He tells Xena to let him do it his way. She agrees.

In camp, Gabby helps Najara and asks why she gave up fighting. She replies that she follows the way of peace and met Eli. Gabby is impressed by this. The Jinn had left Najara after Xena and Gabby last saw her. The gist: Gabby's and Najara's lives were changed by Eli...for the greater good, there can be no violence at all. Najara wanted to see Gabby again to help fight evil by doing good works. It is "our way", she says.

Joxer is at a pond, and imagines he sees the warlord who thinks it is great that Joxer is a killer. Joxer yells shut up as Xena arrives and she knows he is feeling bad about the death...his guilt will be something he has to live with.

Campfire: We see a loosely-tied Najara away from the fire...why is she so far from Xena's watch? She gets comfy and puts her hands on Gabby's face, telling her that the way is the WAY.

Gabby feels bad about her own first kill and tries to tell Xena that Najara has changed. Also, Xena mentions the ridiculous smoke compact Gabby used. Gabby says it distracts the enemy...so that Xena can run them thru later?

Next morning: they travel to the academy. Gabby looks out of place in the sari and cape and sandals. Her old boots always wore out, so how long will the new duds last? Najara, in response to Xena's sneers, taunts Xena about Xena being the one who hurts Gabby...Najara wants life with Gabby and Xena wants to share a death with her.

Gabby tells Xena again that Najara changed. Xena says that it's just a new outfit and new religion, but it is the same old wacko underneath. It sounded as if she was talking about Gabby.

The academy: The headmaster goes to get the kid, named Arman. He arrives to see the four waiting for him. Najara, looking foolish with her tied hands covered with cloth, stands in the background. Joxer tries to tell him what happened, but stammers; Xena tells him his father was killed in a fight. The kid believes his dad was a hero and fought for good and wants revenge. Najara says killing will not help and Gabby says he should stay in school. Yawn.

Xena's messy hair looks good in this ep. She tells him to go with them. He says okay, but does not know who killed his dad or where to look.

Travel: Gabby tells Joxer he must tell the kid. Xena says he must know the truth. Joxer balks at this.

Pond scene: Najara is in the water getting patched up by Gabby. Xena is nowhere, so Najara could have escaped at this point. Najara reminds Gabby of the hospice they planned.

Arman and Joxer become pals at this point. A thug from town arrives (it is odd that Xena does not hide the camp better) and wants to know who killed the warlord so he can kill HIM. Joxer says it isn't himself, and says nobody there did it. The guy believes him and knocks Joxer down. Arman tries to help, but is knocked down too. Xena says for him to try killing her, so he charges, and is looking up from the ground at her sword. He runs off.

note: She plans to use lethal force on a thug who didn't kill anyone while she let the real killers run off...no trial and jail for them, as with Najara.

Campfire: Gabby says there is no excuse for Najara's past....Xena says "she's a NUT!" There is no point if Najara is not reformed, says Xena. There is no belief by Xena that anyone but herself can reform. Xena tells Gabby to test Najara by just saying "no" to her. That should set her off. She is a fanatic and she should not be trusted.

Joxer still cannot tell the kid the truth. He says Arman is a "hero" (an overused and demeaned word nowadays) for trying to stop the thug. Arman says they are even....how?

Najara finally escapes the loose ropes and tells the kid the truth and for him to check out Joxer's pack to find the 'murder weapon.' Gabby tells Joxer to tell the kid the truth...yawn...and Joxer says he is no warrior (surprise!) and his life is a lie.

At this point, Arman arrives with the dagger and tries to kill Joxer three times. Each time, Xena meddles and stops him. Joxer admits he is a moron and got lucky...Xena says to leave Joxer alone with his guilt---it is punishment enough. The kid slinks away as Najara comes into the campfire area...again, she could have run off. She says the Truth is important.

Arman is sneaking out of the camp as Xena watches...she does not stop him, we think, but she instantly appears in front of him and says who really died, a good guy or bad? His father was dirt and not a hero. "You're 100 times the man he was." She gives a big smile, and the scene ends. Arman really takes off after her pep-talk.

Morning: This scene really pains me to write it:
Someone asks where Arman is...Xena says scornfully that he ran off last night. She also says Najara is the same zealot she always was....Xena just can't shut up about this woman. Her hate for her with all the killers loose is stupid.

Arman runs into camp yelling that the British...I mean, the gang is coming!...heh-heh. This is just too stupid to take seriously, as we will see. Arman then launches into a speech about Joxer and his motives, his dad, his life, etc....yawn. Joxer wants to die...I mean, who doesn't, at this point?

The fight: Xena stops two spears and catches some throwing-stars with the spears. Instead of reacting to the warning quickly, she waited for the speech to end before issuing orders.

This is awful: She unbelievably orders Arman and Joxer to run away and ride off on Argo, leaving the women alone to fight the gang. Correction: only XENA will fight. She tells the women to hide in the bushes as she fights alone. The "men" run off and Arman "nobly" helps Joxer onto the horse as they flee. Some "heroes."

This reminds me of Last of the Centaurs where Xena stands alone against the attackers as Gabby and the Centaur are in the shack saying "Awww at the BABY!". Gawd!

I was embarrassed for the cast, actors, show, and the fans at this point.

Xena fights, and Gabby wants to help, but Najara tells her it is Xena's 'way' and she must do it alone. Gabby keeps trying and when she sees Xena wounded on the left leg, as in Paradise Found, she is told to stay put by Najara. Gabby says "no" which sets Najara off. Her face is distorted and she hears the Jinn, and grabs Gabby by the hair, as Alti did in Lines. Note: "it's not me...it's just the gin talking'"...(sorry)....

Now Gabby blows smoke (I know) into Najara's face and is loose. Note: Since Gabby has no pack or pockets, where does she keep this item? Never mind.....
The first time I saw this stunt, I cringed, knowing what a great fighter Gabby was. The second time, I wanted to HEAVE!

Xena finishes off the thugs and Najara confronts her. Xena taunts her saying she isn't peaceful anymore.
Najara: "Apparently NOT!"

The women climb the ropes (I can't call these obvious ropes "vines") after they mix it up on the ground. There is a lot of swinging and kicking and punching. Najara says the light will triumph. They swing to each other as Xena and Ares did in the Furies.

Najara, in a human yo-yo move, rolls down the rope and goes right back up to fight. Then on the return trip, she does her move again and picks up the dagger Joxer dropped with her teeth and moves like a Duncan Imperial to kill Xena with it. She says "guide my hand to its destiny!"...boy, what a giveaway. Just like Xena does with Milo in Pomira, Xena twists the knife and Najara stabs herself. Xena lowers herself and Najara.

In the prison, Najara is unconscious and is being attended to. Gabby asks if she will ever wake up, and Xena says if she does, she will be cared for. Was this a little sympathy from the Destroyer of Nations?

Gabby says she may be wrong about her way (no kidding) and maybe shoving back is the answer, but she doesn't want to have to do it. Xena says as long as SHE is there, Gabby won't have to.

End of episode, thank the gods!

Notes:
Who is the convert?
Why let the "men" leave the women alone to face the killers?
In town, why didn't Xena lock up Najara and let the prison get her?
Why did TPTB waste such a fine character as Najara?
Why does Xena fixate on this woman when far worse people are right there?
Was it because she was stomped by Najara before and Gabby went willingly with her?
If Xena "sent word" ahead, it would take days for the round-trip...who would do this for a stranger?

I think Najara was converted, and Xena's incessant rant and threats made her finally snap. If you had a dog and said it was bad, but it didn't do anything wrong, you could make it bad by starving it, yelling at it, and kicking it. If it then snarled at you, you could say. "see...I was right." Xena always has to be so RIGHT.

Next
Season 4
Home