A Friend In Need Part 2 (B)
Gabrielle is galloping on a white horse, towards the foot of the mountain.
She is dressed in a turquoise robe. An arrow pierces the neck of her
horse, which collapses, and Gabrielle deftly rolls free and to her feet.
She spots the enemy leader, the same man whose life she spared, watching
her from some rocks. He jumps down, sword drawn. "I will not allow you to
find the fountain...and revive your friend," he declares. Gabrielle draws
her own sword, then picks up the urn that holds Xena's remains.
This is a great fight, albeit short! After Gabrielle gets a few shots in,
the man kicks the urn from Gabrielle and sends it flying. Gabrielle
watches the flight, dodges an attack, and then scrambles up the mountain to
get to the urn. The man won't give up however, and leaves Gabrielle little
choice. She pummels and kicks the man senseless. However, as the man hits
the ground unconscious, he hits the urn and it begins rolling. Gabrielle
screams "no!" and makes a dive for it, but the urn rolls off a cliff's
edge, leaving Gabrielle grasping at thin air.
Okay, this is it...the last segment...get ready for some strong emotions.
For those of you that have read previous reviews of mine, you know I wear
my heart on my sleeve, and it's going to be on permanent display here, so
beware. After the break, Gabrielle is assessing the situation. She sees
the urn below her, but has to figure out how to rescue it safely.
Meanwhile, Yodoshi is at the mountain now, and despite still missing an
arm, he inserts a sword into some kind of lock at the foot of the mountain
and turns it. The mountain begins to rumble, and then water begins to
bubble up from the rock. As Yodoshi prepares to drink, Xena sounds her
warcry, jumps into the picture, and tosses Yodoshi aside. She holds her
head up like a baby bird waiting on its mama to feed it, waiting for the
water with a "Come on, come on!" But Yodoshi sucks in his breath, and
breathes out. Just as the water is about to touch Xena's lips, the water
freezes, and Xena is caught up in the wind. It hurtles her backward, out
of control for a long time, until eventually, upside down, she hits her
upper back on a large rock and lands hard on the ground, within
Gabrielle's hearing range. Three icicles fly twirl through the air, and
land near Yodoshi. Gabrielle takes one last look at the urn, then turns to
investigate the sound.
Meanwhile, Akemi (out of nowhere) has picked up a sword, and raises it
toward Yodoshi. "What? My own daughter?" he gasps, sounding appalled.
She killed him last week, why shouldn't she kill him again? With a short
gust of air, Akemi is sent flying backward.
Xena is lying on the ground twitching and gasping. Her spine is injured
again, and I don't know how Lucy does it, but she has the same pain filled,
vulnerable expression as she did in Ides of March. Gabrielle has spotted
her, and is running to her side, calling out Xena's name over and over.
Yodoshi sees the icicles nearby, and snakes out an impressive lizard tongue
to draw one into his mouth. He stands and regains his strength, as his arm
regenerates itself.
There are two things going on here, and both are incredibly difficult to
watch. The first is Yodoshi, taking a great intake of breath, and sucking
Akemi toward that gaping mouth of his. Akemi hangs on to the sword which
is dragging along the ground...doing her best not to be sucked in. She
doesn't succeed. The other image, much more painful, is of Xena and
Gabrielle. Xena is cradled in Gabrielle's arms, in an identical position
to Ides of March. "Told you I'd see you here," Xena manages to smile.
Gabrielle smiles back, but the tears are there again. Xena tells Gabrielle
she needs strength, and tells her to get water. Gabrielle goes to the
fountain to get a drink, and as she holds her cupped hand to her mouth,
Yodoshi turns to her and breathes fire at her.
Thank the gods for the tattoo which glows brightly, and as the robe is
burned off her back, the tattoo reflects the fire back at Yodoshi.
Gabrielle feels the hit of the flames, but not the heat obviously, as the
glowing tattoo turns back to normal. Xena is still convulsing on the
ground, and I was knocked for a loop by the next part. Gabrielle turns,
sees Yodoshi is out of action for a while, and she makes her way back to
Xena. She falls to her knees beside Xena, grabs her face, and presses her
lips to Xena's. I don't know why I was so taken aback by this...it wasn't
because I was shocked by this, but this was a real kiss, not a "Wake up,
Sleeping Beauty" kiss or "I guess I have to congratulate you for your
wedding" kiss. Xena and Gabrielle's mouths move against each other, and
although Gabrielle had opened her mouth on the way to Xena's side, I
suppose we're too assume she's giving Xena some of the water from the
fountain. There's a lot more to this kiss that though, and as Gabrielle
draws her head away, her lower lip clings to Xena's upper one for a second,
before their noses rub and they part. This was a kiss so many fans have
been waiting on, and it was delivered so abruptly, it almost loses it's
impetus.......Almost! Wow!
Xena's eyes open slowly, and she looks up at a smiling bard. "Gabrielle"
she whispers, and as Gabrielle starts to pull her up, something catches
Xena up and she's suddenly dressed in her leathers, looking very healthy.
Gabrielle is amazed, but Xena holds her hands out, asking for the sacred
katana. Gabrielle hands it to her, then notices the sky and tells Xena the
sun is setting and she has to find Xena's ashes. I dunno why, but when I
saw Xena revived in her leathers and armor, I thought she was already
revived, but this is still Xena's spirit. Xena starts to say something
very serious to Gabrielle, but is interupted by a "Come on!" from Yodoshi,
who is on his feet again and ready to finish this.
Xena turns to look at Yodoshi, and Gabrielle darts off to retrieve the urn.
Xena starts to call her name, but gets an expression that says she knows
it's not worth trying, and turns to fight her nemesis. He has turned into
a whirlwind of flames, and spirals into flames, hurtling through the sky.
Xena does the same and as they rush toward each other, they set trees
ablaze in their paths. They meet in the sky with an explosion, which
Gabrielle has turned to witness. Xena returns to earth, and as she lands,
the flames disappear and she stands unharmed. Yodoshi comes back in pieces
of flaming rock, but he too, appears, unscathed. Gabrielle meanwhile, has
scrambled over the edge of the cliff. Xena looks so much like classic Xena
as Yodoshi barks at her, "Enough of this" and they begin to duel. It's a
pretty traditional sword fight, but Xena finally delivers a kick into
Yodoshi's chest which sends him backward and out of sight. As the camera
focuses in on Xena's face as she tries to pinpoint where he is, Gabrielle
is struggling at the cliff, hanging on by her fingertips and nearly losing
her grip. Yodoshi finally swoops down again, to come to a skidding stop on
the snow covered ground, and the fight continues. At one point, Xena and
Yodishi's boot bottoms come together in an identical kick, which sends them
both skyward again. They fly toward each other (I guess being a spirit
does have its advantages), and clash in midair, then land back on earth.
Yodoshi makes a big mistake when he taunts Xena. He tells Xena she's about
to join the 40000 souls she has condemned. "And the first thing I'll do,
is take the head off your friend with the tattoo." There is new
determination in Xena's eyes as she snarls, "You won't live that long,"
and outfights him, kicking him away again. She pointedly turns her back to
him, and as he flies forward again, delivers a sword thrust to him with a
cry of victory, not having to look back to know she had hit her mark.
Yodoshi screams, Xena does some impressive (and very cool) girmacing, and
Gabrielle kicks the urn from it's resting place up into her free hand. She
has it! Xena whirls around and beheads Yodoshi with one fell stroke. The
souls he has consumed are released from his body, and swirl around Xena.
Gabrielle has climbed back to safety, and ahead of her stands the leader
she has already defeated twice. He points to the sun, which is rapidly
setting, and tells Gabrielle, "I deserve the dignity of a warrior."
Gabrielle reaches to her side, and takes the chakram. "Dignity huh, like
you showed my friend?" I swear I got goosebumps as Gabrielle let the
chakram fly, and watched the trajectory of the weapon as it swiped across
the leader's forehead, ricocheted off a couple of rocks and ended up back
in Gabrielle's hand. Gabrielle's look of astonishment (she's got to be
thinking...this is just TOO cool) should be joyous, but is overshadowed by
her glance at the rapidly sinking sun.
Meanwhile, Xena is watching the swirling souls, a look of bemusement on her
face. One of them hovers in front of Xena, and it is Akemi, whom Xena
identifies. Akemi is radiant as she tells Xena, "You redeemed me...you've
redeemed them...you've redeemed yourself." Xena's eyes are tear filled,
but she is placidly smiling as she says, "Go in peace, Akemi. We'll meet
again...one day." The spirits move skyward, as Xena walks off.
Gabrielle has made it to the fountain, and reverently takes the cover off
the urn. I was breathing a sigh of relief, but the next moment, I felt the
pain as if I had been pierced by a sword. Xena's arm comes down,and tries
to take the urn from Gabrielle. "No, Gabrielle, no." She replaces the
lid on the urn as Gabrielle says, "Xena, Xena, The sun is setting I have to
bring you back to life." I was violently agreeing with her, but Xena says
it again. "No." I've got to give Renee real credit for an incredible job
in this scene. Her expressions and words mirrored all of my expressions
and words perfectly. "Their souls are free," she tells Xena, not
understanding. Xena explains, "They're free from Yodoshi's grasp. Akemi
didn't want to tell me this, in case I wouldn't to come back to help."
Gabrielle looks lost and confused as she studies Xena's face. Tears
trickle down Xena's cheeks as she continues,"But for those souls to be able
to enter a state of grace, they must be avenged. I must stay dead."
Gabrielle hears it, but doesn't want to understand it. She shakes her head
in denial..."But if I bring you back to life..." "Their souls will be lost
forever," Xena finishes.
The emotions flood over Gabrielle, and she turns for a moment. When she
looks back, she is crying. "That is not right," she says. She is correct.
She steps forward and repeats what I had just said. "I don't care." Xena
smiles softly, knowing Gabrielle is speaking her heart. The tears are
really flowing as Gabrielle puts her hand to her own face, telling Xena,
"You're all that matters to me."
"Don't you think I want to let you do this?" Xena replies."But if there is
a reason for our travels together, it's because I had to learn from you.
Enough to know the final, the good, the RIGHT thing to do." It's a
beautiful sentiment, but by that time, I was so bitterly angry and
disappointed, it almost seemed meaningless. Gabrielle lowers her head
briefly, but when she looks at Xena again, Xena is shaking her head..."I
can't come back," she says, her voice sounding as if she is really
realizing it herself for the first time. "You can."
Gabrielle sits down, the urn still in her hands. "I love you, Xena," she
says softly. "How am I supposed to go on?" Xena sits beside her. "I'll
always be with you, Gabrielle." Gabrielle leans her head on Xena's
shoulder, and Xena slips an arm around her back. Xena is smiling, her eyes
sparkling as she looks into the sunset. "Always."
The two sit and watch the sunset they are supposed to ride off into, and
Xena slowly closes her eyes and disappears. I don't know how to describe
the pain from that moment...I don't have any words that could reflect the
feeling I have in my gut. I don't think anyone will.
Gabrielle continues to watch the sunset, then notices Xena is gone. She
looks back to the horizon, and whispers "Xena" with a shake of her head and
Xena's face is superimposed over the horizon. My anger was rapidly building.
Gabrielle is on a boat, apparently returning home. She has on her regular
clothes, and is smiling. In her hands, is the urn. She is alone. She
speaks, "A life of journeying has brought you to the farthest lands, to the
very edges of the earth. She looks down at the urn and the water, as a
hand touches her shoulder. It is Xena, and she is smiling too, "And to the
place where I'll always remain...your heart." Gods, the music throughout
this whole episode has not helped any! It's so sad...so haunting... "So
where to now?" Xena asks, her hand still in place. "I think we should go
south, to the land of the Pharoahs," Gabrielle replies. "i hear they need
a girl with a chakram." "Where you go," Xena whispers, "I'm at your side."
Gabrielle's smile brightens. "I knew you'd say that." Xena grabs her head
and gives her a kiss on the side of it, but as the camera moves out, we see
Gabrielle is still alone on the boat, the urn still in her hands.
It was at this point I began my raving. I was and still am furious at the
way this episode ended. The disclaimer, "Xena was permanently harmed in
the making of this motion picture, but kept her spirits up" does not make
it any easier to take. I feel betrayed and hurt. Xena is killed off in the
first five minutes of the episode, and the whole episode focused on two
things...Xena destroying Yodoshi and Gabrielle reviving Xena. Up until the
very end, there was no doubt that both would be successful. Why did Xena
let Gabrielle retrieve her ashes if she had no intention of being brought
back? When did Xena find out she had to stay dead? There were no clues, no
hints that SHE would be the one to say it couldn't be done. Her ending was
noble, and she found the redemption she wanted, but I fell so cheated and
angered. I do not see how The Powers That Be can feel they have made a
final episode that will settle well with the viewers. Despite the kiss
which was truly a wonderous moment, the bitter pain in my heart is what I
am going to come away with. I am going to go scream now.
As always, all comments and questions are most welcome!
And here are Gary's thoughts on the series finale:
Well,this is it...the end...the FINALE. Xena dies (again) this time for
good. Why this is will never make sense. I think this Japan show should have
come before the finale,which should have been Many Happy Returns,which would
have left us with the hope of Xena and Gabby coming back in a special or
even a movie.But,NO,since RenPics destroyed one of the finest characters
ever to grace television,not to mention Renee,who was as good,too.
First,this episode opens a lot like The Debt,where a person from the
East,the Orient, comes to tell Xena that she is needed to save some people
from a monster. Notice,Xena had to do this in the Debt because the monster
then was Ming T'ien,a relative of a good person,Lao Ma. This monster is the
father of Akimi,a young Japanese girl whom Xena befriended years ago,who,as
Xena said,broke Xena's heart.
Xena had just asked Gabby "where are we going?",and wants for them to get
away from it all.
The monk who asks for Xena's help tells a stroy of himself and another monk
who take refuge from a storm by entering a teahouse. There are three girls
there,and two end up in a tub with the weak monk and the strong monk sees
Akimi,who plays a stringed instrument.
A woman in the tub calls Yodoshi (Y),to come for the monk's soul,and she
calls him by ringing tiny bells on an anklet she wears. Yoshodi comes thru
the sliding door as a giant head,but returns to his normal shape and freezes
the monk and sucks him into himself,body and soul.There were a lot of
special effects in this episode...in fact,WAY too many,and I feel they
detracted from the story line a LOT.
Akimi tells the monk to bring a special sword to Xena so she can fight the
demon. Xena tells Gabby the back-stoey(yet another,and thankfully the last)
and I wonder why she never told it before...it was like Xena not telling
Gabby about Xena being a Valkyrie.
This time,Xena is with Borias. They are in Chin and want to buy a young
girl,Akimi,for ransom...this girl was taken by a Chin warlord,and he does
not want to sell her. Xena puts the pinch on him and stomps the other
guards. Meanwhile,Borias does not fight...he has a drink and watches Xena
mop the floor with them.
Xena's hair appears lighter in color and has a sort of dreadlock
arrangement.Borias takes the gold from the dying warlord and says he should
have taken the gold.
Borias tells Akimi that Xena loves no one...Xena gives him a dirty look.
Aboard ship bound for Japan,Xena tries to teach the girl how to fight.
Borias laughs when she gets knocked down by Xena. Xena tells her to trust no
one.
Borias is now out of the show for good,and he ridicules Xena as a teacher.
The girls end up in Japan in the snow,and are at a grave marker for Akimi's
grandfather. She needs his blessing for something.We see what that is
later.Akimi is
Xena is told that she needs a special sword,the sacred katana,a Samurai
sword.There is a fight at the blacksmith shop,and Xena gets the top of her
breastbone pierced lightly,but the point of the knife broke off. I thought
that it would be like when Gabby got a piece of blade stuck in her as in The
Abyss.Maybe that is a way to explain the scar on Xena's right breast we
see...it is also on the Xena look-alikes,Meg,and Diana..I don't know if it
was on Priestess Leah.
Akimi knows that Xena was not in Japan just for the ransom...was it for
love?
Gabby,hearing this story,learns that Xena showed Akimi how to put on the
pinch...Gabby only learned how to take it off,but is angry that Xena showed
a girl it at once,when after 6 years,she still didn't show Gabby.
Gabby and Xena arrive in Japan during a battle,and fireballs are being
lobbed at the town. Xena now asks what Gabby would do to save the town. They
emerge from the water like Xena did in the Debt,and try to get to a water
tower to spill its contents and put out the fire.
Gabby says she saw acrobats do a rope swinging thing,so both of them swing
on a convenient rope and get to a rooftop. Then they are both on a ladder
which is spun around to get to the tower,as in CALLISTO. There is also the
see-saw ladder trick where Gab gets tossed to the tower.Xena does her
typical swinging form a bar to get there. Gabby turns the valve to the right
which normally would shut water off...no water. Xena chops the tower with
her sword and the water comes out and sprays the fire out.Success.
Meanwhile,the fireballs stop and the attacking army retreats. A guy with a
sword called Ghost Killer sees and remembers Xena. She had caused a
fire(really not her fault) and the firestorm killed 40,000 people years
ago,and their spirits are captive by Y.
Akimi,in the backstory,used the pinch to kill her father who killed most of
her family...not her. He dies,and G.K. says that Y. became a demon because
he was so evil,he was not wanted in the afterlife.
Akimi,after killing him,kills herself and wants Xena to cut her head off to
regain her honor.Xena complies,but with real anguish.
We are never told why Y. kills his relatives.
Dying,Akimi says 'time and love go on."
In another back-story,Xena has short hair and carries Akimi's ashes to be
placed in the graveyard. The villagers don't want this,since she would
pollute it. They hound Xena,and it looked like The Gauntlet all over again.
Xena,beaten,sprays fire as we have seen so much. The victims run into
buildings and set more fires,and the whole town goes up.
Akimi's ashes blow away from the broken urn...Xena keeps being drunk and
walks on
Now,Xena knowing of Y.,says she must put things to right.She tells Gabby
to listen to what is behind the sounds...a training for survival.We suppose
that this is going to be a one-way trip for Xena.
Note: In Ides of March,Xena leaves Gabby to kill Caesar,and it looked like
the same deal.
Ghost Killer says whoever fights Yoshodi must be a ghost,too...uh-oh...
Xena knows she is going to be the one.
Xena kneels and wants to talk to Gabby. Xena puts the pinch on herself to
say if she had thirty seconds to live,she would like to spend it looking
into Gab's eyes. She teaches Gab the pinch so she would know all Xena
knows...about 6 years late,I would say.
Xena twists her own head and takes the pinch off.
Three armies are converging on them. Xena has Gab lead their troops in one
direction while Xena goes alone.Xena tosses the Chakram at a torch a warrior
carried and it fell on some spilled fireball stuff.The blast looked like an
atomic bomb blast,which looked weird. Xena then climbs a tree and shoots a
lot of bad guys with arrows.
A shower of arrows from all directions come at Xena...she catches some,but
is hit about seven times.
She then draws her sword and fights to the death...on purpose,we know,so she
can be a spirit and fight Y....also to keep Gab from being killed in the
process.
There was a scene like in Sins of the Past where Xena buries her sword and
armor,but uses her Chakram to cover it up...this was before the battle.
Xena has a golden brief armor outfit whih looked great,but didn't really
offer much protection...as she planned to die anyway.
At the end,Xena dies like the warrior she always was....in battle against
1000 guys...weakened,but still killing,Xena has her head cut off by the
warlord.Too bad she didn't turn the army to stone as in Chin.
Before she dies,Xena keeps calling Gabrielle's name to the last.There were
flashbacks of their life together as she died...very moving.
The next scene shows Gabby finding a bloody Chakram,and she tells G.K that
Xena is alive...not this time,tho.
Xena enters a strange spirit world and sees Akimi.Xena says she was in the
underworld before but it was never like this.She has a solid body,and Akimi
says they have them because of Y.The bodies are a projected illusion,and
they must obey his will.Solid...they can touch...but projected,too?
Enter Y: he uses his right arm as a whip to make Xena submit to his will and
desire for more souls to devour.The fire whip is a lot like Dahak's in
Bitter Suite.
Gab meets Xena at a pond/waterfall and does not realize Xena is a ghost at
first. They hug,but Xena cannot hold the Chakram...Gab realizes Xena is
dead.Gab asks "how could you let yourself be killed?"
Gab says,"we've overcome death before"...Xena has to convince Gab that it's
the only way to beat Y.
The anklet that a spy has is taken as G.K. kills the spy.It summons Y.
Gab meets Akimi at the tea house...Xena introduces Gab as her "soul
mate".There is a way to bring Xena back.Gab must find and burn Xena's body
and take the ashes to Mt. Fuji to a magic fountain in two days at
sunset.Then Xena can be brought back.Akimi puts a big tattoo on Gab as
protection from Y. Gab also is given the katana sword.
Gab finds Xena's arrow-feathered body and it has her head missing.The
warlord has it as a trophy. He offers to fight Gab for it. Gab accepts,and
listening to the sounds before the fight,she defeats him in one move. He
wants her to kill him,but she just knocks him out. His army bows and she
departs with the entire Xena.She had told the warlord that 1000 to one odds
is not honorable.
Gab burns Xena's body...all of it,and puts her ashes into an urn to go to
Fuji.Gab says "you will return to me,my friend."
Back at the tea house,Xena uses the bells to summon Y. He arrives,kills the
monk,and fights Xena,who cuts off his arm,and sticks the sword in him. He
disappears and we hear his voice going away in the night. Meanwhile G.K. was
killed by Y.
Gab rides to Fuji and her horse gets struck by an arrow...from the warlord
she let live. She fights him,and in the process,the urn rolls off a cliff.It
lands in a bird's nest.
Meanwhile,Y. turns a dial in the cliff with a sword,and a fountain wells up.
He waits for it to drop so he can drink and get strong again.Xena
arrives...she needs the water too...she waits and Y. tosses her aside..she
is getting weaker.Also present are Gab and Akimi.Y. sucks in Akimi's
spirit.Gab gets some water for Xena via taking a drink herself and kissing
Xena...some water got into Xena that way. Y. eats some ice from trying to
freeze Xena,and his arm grows back.
Y. breathes fire at Gab and the tattoo protects her.He is hit with his own
fire.
Xena must kill him by sunset...it is getting close,and Gab tries to rescue
Xena's ashes.
The big fight scene comes next,and it lasted way too long. Ultimately,of
course,Xena kills him and cuts off his head. Now all the captive spirits are
free.
Gab kills the warlord with the Chakram...the first time she ever used it as
a weapon...she looked surprised.
Akimi says Xena has now redeemed herself...the spirits are free.Xena now
tells Gab not to put her ashes in the fountain...she must stay dead.Gab says
it is not fair...Xena freed the souls(remember when Xena freed the Amazon
souls by killing Alti,I ask?).Xena must stay dead or the souls will be
lost..the souls must be avenged for them to be really free.Gab wants Xena to
reconsider,but Xena says no.
Why did Xena put Gab thru the body-fetching and burning,facing a warlord and
army,and have her risk her life if all along,Xena knew she would not agree
to come back?
The next scene is very moving.It is almost sunset,and the lighting is
beautiful. They sit together as they always did,with Gab's head on Xena's
shoulder.Xena says she had to learn from Gab to learn the right thing to do.
Xena says she will always be with Gab in her heart.Xena fades away at the
last part of sunset and Gab is alone.A vision of a young Xena is seen at the
setting of the sun.
The final scene is aboard ship.Xena appears to say to Gab that she will
be with her no matter where she goes. She says they need a girl with a
Chakram in the Land of the Pharaos.
This episode left me drained at the end. I believe Xena never should have
died for good...she certainly has atoned for her sins.I think she and Gabby
should have gone on as on Hercules,where he and Iolaus just keep doing good
and kicking warlord butt
What a loss of a fine character as Xena...where does Gab go in the future
while still alive in that time period,and how does she finally die? She has
the new Chakram,and Alti gets it in the future,in CLONES.
How did long strands of Gab's and Xena's hair get to be with the Chakram in
CLONES since Gab burned Xena?
Too many questions to ask here.
Thank you,RenPics for the first three seasons,part of the fourth,Antony and
Cleo in the fifth,and Many Happy Returns in the sixth...also When Fates
Collide. Excellence in the first three and a half years will live on.
Gary in Vermont.
A Friend in Need Part 2 (A)
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