A Friend in Need Changes Made for the Director's Cut

1. There is no teaser for part 1…the episode starts with the opening credits, then moves into the action.

2. After Xena and Gabrielle confirm there's someone looking for them, Xena whistles to give off their location.

3. Kenji's friend gets a little added attention in the hot tub.

4. Kenji holds out the katana to Xena. "Xena, you must save Higuchi from destruction. Gabrielle says, "The Land of the Rising Sun…that's beyond Chin. I didn't know you were there Xena." Xena looks sad and regretful as she says, "Yes, I was there, I was there. Gabrielle, this is not going to be the trip that I promised you, but if Akemi calls, I must go."

5. There is a little added footage of Gabrielle's sparring with Kenji.

7. There is a short long shot of Xena and Akemi traveling towards Grandpa's house.

8. When Xena enters the forge to get the katana, first she just stands in the doorway with her head lowered.

9. After Xena and Gabrielle jump in the water, there is a shot of Yudoshi doing one of those "camera rushes" to the house. Akemi isn't disturbed at all by his sudden approach. Yudoshi says, "The katana. You sent it to the foreign whore. Thank you." He laughs evilly, then "She's traveling now to the city of Higuchi. My general awaits her, and when he captures Xena and MY katana, she'll lose her head to the sting of its blade. So thank you, Daughter."

NOTE: This segment is particularly revealing…we learn that Yudoshi is Akemi's father, and he gives a "prediction" as to Xena's demise.

10. After Xena and Gabrielle release the water from the tower, the General with the strong Kiwi accent stops his horse and looks up at Xena: "A wise general knows when a fight is lost, but I think we will meet again soon." He gives a slight bow to Xena and she nods back.

11. There is much more footage of Xena fighting with her emotions as Akemi's ashes blow away. She screams out her pain.

12. Gabrielle listens a little longer to the sounds around her.

13. After they discuss Gabrielle's listening to nature, Xena says, "At least three armies are gathering. The general we met at the water tower was right. We will meet again."

NOTE: Once again, a precursor to what will be happening.

14. While Xena and Gabrielle are still kneeling in the room after Gabrielle learns the pinch, Ghost Killer enters with a "Are you ready?"

15. There is a long, brief shot of the fortress.

16. There is a slow motion silhouette of Xena running through the woods toward the battle.

17. There are lots more shots of Xena shooting arrows. She does an amazing kick and cuts a bunch of the bad guy's swords into two pieces. The tops stick in the ground and Xena kicks them one at a time, sending them into bad guys' chests. She sends one flying at the Kiwi general, but he catches it.

18. There is another shot of the bloodied chakram, and Gabrielle's eyes looking around it.

19. While sitting on the bridge, Xena tells Akemi, "I have a job to do; the job that you called me for."

20. A moment later, still on the bridge, Akemi says about Yodoshi, "He seems to be getting mightier every day. Xena says, "You're going to have to trust me, Akemi."

21. When Akemi asks if Xena knows she's being followed, Xena replies, "I can still hear your heart beating. There's someone I have to meet who can help us."

Akemi: "You know you are being watched." Xena answers, "Akim, I can still hear your heart beating. And I can hear every one of Miyuki's clumsy footfalls."

22. There is a brief look from Xena when she hears Miyuki following her.

23. There is a shot of Ghost Killer and Kenji in meditation while Gabrielle gets her tattoo.

24. There is a shot of Ghost Killer handing the katana to Kenji, who hands it to Xena, who then hands it to Gabrielle.

25. There is a flash of lightning. Gabrielle and the Kiwi General slowly bow, then draw their swords.

26. There is a slightly longer shot of Xena comforting Ghost Killer.

27. As they are preparing to head to Mt. Fuji, Akemi tells Xena, "Xena, my soul will soon join the other's trapped in Yodoshi's grasp. You must finish the job, and release us all."

28. This is the most important change of all, at least to me. Still out in the open, getting ready to find Yodoshi, Akemi says, "Yodoshi is very weak." Yodoshi spots a hawk, turns himself into a vapor, and enters the hawk. Yodoshi flies off. Somehow, Xena knows what he has done. Akemi tells her they don't have to stay in the forms they're in. Xnea asks about a snow owl and another smaller bird she sees nearby, and Akemi confirms they can take those forms. Akemi starts talking about Gabrielle succeeding on her mission. Xena says with a confident smile. "She'll succeed, don't worry. She's very good at what she does." Akemi then says she has to tell Xena something. She feels she may have doomed her own soul. The camera focuses on Xena's concerned face. The scene cuts to a moment later. Xena says, "I know you did what you thought you had to do, Akemi. :Perhaps by releasing those souls, we'll all be redeemed." Xena looks shocked, but is still willing to forgive Akemi.

NOTE: Of all the emotions I felt after watching the finale, the strongest one was anger at Xena for allowing Gabrielle to go to all the trouble to retrieve her body, only to have Xena tell her she couldn't be revived. Afte r viewing this scene, I felt much better about the situation. Up until that point, Xena had every intention of allowing Gabrielle to save her. It doesn't make me any happier with the resolution of the series, but DOES make me feel better in Xena's actions and motives.

29. There is a short of Gabrielle's horse rearing up on her.

30. The camera shows the hawk flying then landing on Mt. Fuji, and turning back into Yodoshi, followed by the owl and the smaller bird landing.

31. The little bird lands and turns into Akemi. Obviously, the owl was Xena. 32. Xena stretches really hard to reach one of the icycles, and Yodoshi spits a fire bomb that knocks her backwards quite a distance.

33. In the very final shot of the episode, as the camera pans upward, there isn't the shot of Gabrielle standing alone. The viewer is left with the impression that Xena will always be by Gabrielle's side. NOTE: This scene really didn't do much for me, because the original is still very fresh in my mind. However, just seeing the scenes we weren't shown when FIN first aired whet my appetite for more Director's Cuts. Let's hope TPTB decide to show us more!

Season 6
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