The Last of the Centaurs Part 1
I am SO going to miss Xena and Gabrielle. Every time I think I have my
thumb on the pulse of what makes them tick, they pull a surprise. That's
one of the things I love most about them!
Xenan is a white centaur, with long blonde wavey hair. It's easy to
picture the young Xenan from Maternal Instinct growing up to look the way
he looks in this episode. In the beginning of the episode, Xenan is
travelling with two other centaurs. Xenan is in a hurry, his face
jubilant, but suddenly they are under attack. One of his fellow centaurs
gets shot with an arrow, but draws his sword anyway, and begins to fight,
as do the others. The attackers are dressed in maroon robes and turbans,
and one of them declares "That's him...that's the one we want!", as he
points at Xenan. Meanwhile, the centaur who was already shot takes another
arrow, and collapses. The other centaur shouts for Xenan to get out of
there, but Xenan tells him no, and continues to fight. We see his two back
hooves catch a bad guy in the chest, sending him flying. But there are too
many attackers. The other centaur takes a spear to the stomach, finishing
him off. Xenan gets hit in the arm with an arrow, and realizes he is now
alone...his companions are dead. He rips the arrow from his arm, and takes
off running, the attackers in hot pursuit.
Cut to a village, and Xena and Gabrielle leisurely walking though it.
Gabrielle spots a goofy looking hat and shawl she wants to try on, and Xena
holds her hands out like I used to when I had to go clothes shopping with
my mom: "Gabrielle, you'll never buy that." "Xena, I'm not buying..."
Gabrielle returns..."I'm shopping." That's EXACTLY what my mom used to
tell me (when did my mom inhabit Gabs' body?) and I never understood it
when Mom said it either. Why try stuff on if you have no intention of
buying it?
Anyway, wearing the two items, Gabs walks away from the stand she procurred
the items from, and for a moment, I thought the bard was going to go down
on a shoplifting rap. But no, she's just looking for a mirror so she can
check out how she looks in the clothes she wouldn't buy in a million years.
As she admires herself in the mirror, she hears her name called, and
assuming it's Xena admits, "All right...it's not me." In the meantime, we
can see Xena in the background, talking to a merchant and trying
out...something. It looks as if she puts it in her mouth and inhales and
it doesn't quite go down smooth. At any rate, it wasn't her that called
Gabrielle's name. Gabs removes her hat and the voice says "You look
beautiful." Gabs realizes the voice came from in front of her, and all of
a sudden, there's Ephiny looking at her from the mirror.
I must say that Danielle Cormack looked terrific in this episode! Her hair
is a little redder, but I've missed her and her curls. Gabs stares and
says, "Ephiny? It can't be." Xena's done trying out the peace pipe (or
whatever it is), and approaches Gabs who's still staring at the mirror. It
seemed odd that Xena didn't look to see what Gabs was staring at, but she
just looks at Gabbers, saying, "It can't be what?" Gabs tells her it's
Ephiny and Xena tells her Ephiny has been dead for years. Uh huh, like
Gabs didn't already know that. But Gabs confirms Ephiny is there...she's
not seeing things...and then adds, even as her eyes are filling with tears,
"Well, I am...Ephiny's spirit is here." Xena gets that bemused look and
smiles at the thin air in front of her...she apparently doesn't doubt
Gabrielle. "Ephiny...we've missed you," she says. We hear Ephiny's voice
saying, "I've missed you friends," but Xena's smile fades as she looks off
in the wrong direction, obviously not hearing the voice. Ephiny tells
Gabrielle, Xenan is in danger, and as Gabrielle repeats that, Xena asks if
she can hear Ephiny. Gabs says yes, and wonders why Xena can't hear her.
Xena's still looking off into space, a bit befuddled, but tells Gabs it's
because she's an Amazon...they're bonded through her rite of caste. Ephiny
agrees. Gabs asks Ephiny how she knows her son is in danger, but Xena
answers again, "She can sense it." About this time, a man approaches,
calling for attention. Ephiny tells Gabs to look, and the man is holding a
wanted poster with a crude drawing of Xenan, saying there is a bounty on
his head. Xena whirls the man around, wanting to know who's putting up the
bounty. The man tells her "Lord Belach," and Xena walks off, followed by
Ephiny, and then by a still shocked Gabs. Xena says they're going to offer
their services to Lord Belach.
It's easy enough for Xena and Gabs to find him, because after the
commercial break, they're already inside Belach's rather large house.
Belach has his back to them, but when he turns to face them, Xena reacts
visibly, taking a couple steps forward. Gabs notices and asks if she's all
right, and Ephiny (who is standing at Gab's shoulder, as she will be for
most of this episode) tells her, "She's staring at the face of her past.
He's the spitting image of Borias...he was Xena's lover." Balech wants to
know if they've found Xenan. Xena takes a second to regroup, then tells
him, "Not yet, but we will." She wants to know what Xenan has done.
Belach tells her that Xenan has taken his daughter. When Xena wants to
know how he managed to get her out of such a well-guarded house, Belach
tells her that "thing" snatched her up and carried her away. He refers to
Xenan as a monstrosity, as well. Xena asks why he would kidnap the girl,
Nikka, and Belach says he hasn't received a ransom demand and can only
assume the worst.
Ephiny is just boiling away, understandably so, as Belach declares he will
hunt down every last centaur until he has his daughter back. He refers to
the centaurs as animals and Ephiny roars, "You're the animal!" "Take it
easy!" Gabs tells her, and of course, since Belach can't see Ephiny,
assumes Gabs is talking to him. So does Xena, as she turns with a
questioning "What?" but Belach starts yelling at Gabs who puts her hands up
with a head shake, not sure how to clear this up. Xena steps forward and
tells him not to pay attention to Gabs. She gives Belach an intense stare.
"Your father...was Borias." Belach tells her that name is not to be
spoken here, and Xena's the one with teary eyes as she says "I meant no
offense." Belach describes Borias as a warlord with a cold heart. He tells
her everything he has been able to do was despite his father's reputation.
Xena tells Belach that Borias died when Belach was a child, and Belach
wants to know how she knows this. She quickly tells him she's heard the
legend, then goes on to tell Belach that his father was a hero to the
centaurs. If he admits his parentage, he might be able to get his daughter
back much more quickly. Belach isn't listening as he tells her he let
those "freaks" (watch Ephiny rear up at that one!) live on his land for
years which was a mistake. His wife died when Nikka was born, and his
daughter is all Belach has left. Xena's expression has gone from horrified
to sad when she looks at the painting of Belach's late wife. "I'll bring
your daughter back," she tells him, and stalks out, Gabs at her heels.
Ephiny stays behind to watch closer to Belach, who is obviously really
grieving. She sneers at him, before leaving the room as well.
They're trekking out through a field of wild grass, and after Ephiny tells
Gabs who tells Xena they're on the right track, Gabs asks the obvious
question, "Xena, if Belach (she pronounces it Baylock while everyone else
says Bell-lock) is Borias's son, does that mean that he's your -" "No,"
Xena cuts her off. She tells the bard that Borias had a son before she
came along. It looks like there's yet another secret from Xena's past that
she never told Gabs about. Gabs says they're something about Belach that
makes him dangerous. Xena says he's grieving, and Gabs replies, "It is
Xenan we're supposed to be helping, right?" Xena whirls on her telling
her, "I owe Belach." Ephiny tells Gabs that her son never would have taken
the girl against her will. Gabs tells Ephiny she knows, and Xena speaks up
again, saying Belach's daughter was taken by a centaur, and he won't listen
to reason until she's back. "You can't blame him for that." She walks off
again, followed by Ephiny, and then Gabs.
Now we see Xenan again, standing in the woods, looking around. Ephiny
appears to him, and begins speaking to him, but he can't see or hear her.
He is reacting to something though. Ephiny says, "You can sense me", and
he says, "Someone's there", confirming that. Then Xena and Gabs approach,
and Xena asks where Nikka is. He asks Xena how she knows his name, and
Xena beams with pride as she says, "You were named after me. I'm Xena. I
delivered you at birth." Uh...forgive me...but isn't that redundant? How
else could she have delivered him? Oh well, Xenan tells her she's not old
enough to be Xena. Gabs tell him, "It's a long story...but it's true...I
was there too." Ephiny tells him they're here to help...and Xena dutifully
waits before she delivers her next line about Belach being after him and
his centaur brothers. Xenan tells her it's none of her concern, but Ephiny
tells Gabs to tell him his mother is there. Gabs replies, "All right,
Ephiny" and Xenan demands to know how she knows his mother's name. Gabs
tells him her spirit is there, and Xenan retorts, "Can you say anything
that doesn't insult my intelligence?"
Ephiny asks Gabs if she knows the Amazon lullaby. Gabs answers, "Yeah, "
then adds "It's okay" to Xena who must be getting riled, although she's
off-screen. Ephiny wants Gabrielle to sing it with her. He'll understand
because she changed the words when she used to sing it to him. Gabs gives
Xena a slightly sheepish look, and Ephiny begins to sing. Gabs moves her
mouth, but her voice is barely audible. The only voice you can clearly hear
is Ephiny's...which is very timid and emotion broke. The words are:
Moon shines bright,
By fire's light,
Amazon baby sleep tonight.
Hushabye,
Please don't cry,
Xenan sings his lullaby.
Halfway through, Xenan declares a lot of people know that song. After
Ephiny sings the last line, Gabs repeats it aloud, and if I'm not mistaken,
that's Renee O'Connor's own voice, which sounds great, if not overly
confident. There's not a dry eye in the scene as Xenan finally recognizes
it..."Mother?" Ephiny tells him, "I'm here, my love," and tries to embrace
him, but can't. Gabs confirms, "She's here...she brought us to you."
Xenan calls for Nikka then, telling her he's found friends. A pretty young
blonde approaches, and kisses Xenan. Xena, Gabs,and Ephiny all notice that
she is obviously pregnant.
After the break, Dr. Xena approaches Nikka and gets down on one knee. She
asks for Nikka's hand and takes it in her left as she feels Nikka's stomach
with her right. She tells them "It's a boy...a centaur." One of Dr.
Xena's many skills no doubt. Ephiny is overjoyed at having a grandson, and
Gabs wants to know, "How long?" I thought for a moment Dr. Xena was going
to tell her the baby's height and weight, but she says, "Any time now,
right, Nikka?" Nikka tells her she's right as she's already having pains.
Gabrielle says, "Your father didn't mention this...I take it it hasn't
slipped his mind?" Xenan tells them he doesn't know. Nikka says no one
does as she's been keeping to herself the last few months. You know, she
definitely looks pregnant, but not NEARLY as pregnant as Ephiny did in Is
There a Doctor in the House? It's hard to believe there's supposed to be a
baby CENTAUR in there, if it's truly almost time for it to be born. Nikka
adds, "He hardly looks at me anyway. I think I remind him too much of my
mother." She doesn't sound bitter...she sounds very hurt. Xena tells her
that Belach loves her, to which she replies, "I love Xenan, and he loves
me." Xena wears this odd half smile for most of the episode up to this
point. You see her face visbily change as Gabs tells her they can't take
Nikka back to Belach at this point. Xena tells her they have to talk to
him, but Xenan says Belach has declared war on the centaurs...it's gone
past the point of talking. Xena declares, "The centaurs should not be at
war with the son of Borias!" Xenan didn't know that Belach was Borias's
son. "The blood of Borias is in your son," Xena answers, as the smile
returns. Gabs smiles too, and Xenan touches Nikka's stomach, as it all
sinks in. Xena asks where Xenan's brothers are now, and he tells her
they're camped in a secret place. Xena says they'll escort them all to
ANOTHER secret place. Then she and Gabs will negotiate peace with Belach.
"He may think differently when he finds out his daughter is pregnant."
Lucy is doing an amazing job with her emotional expressions here. She
smiles almost endearingly at the young couple, then the smile is gone in an
instant as she transforms back to Warrior Princess mode.
They're walking across the same field they crossed earlier. Nikka and
Xenan lead...she has her arm across his back. Ephiny is next and trailing
a few steps behind are Xena and Gabs. Gabrielle tells Xena she doesn't
understand what Xena owes to Belach. She replies, "When I met his father
Borias, he was a rising warlord...and me...I was just ambitious."
Flashback time!
We're at Borias's camp where some of his men are fighting each other,
apparently, just for kicks. Borias exits his tent, looking as much like a
handsome Klingon as ever. We see Xena's feet...she's still got her limp
from the crucifixion. She tosses aside her crutch, and despite her bad
legs, still manages to sway seductively as she approaches Borias from
behind, sliding her arms around him. One thing I love about Evil Xena is
how much she grins, and she's grinning now. She tells him, "It gets lonely
at the top," And he tells her she's pressing her luck. "Always," she
replies, and moves her hand some. He elbows her back though, telling her
"Natasha will see us." Borias...Natasha...get it? Hee hee! Xena replies,
"She knows what kind of man she has." Does that mean Borias isn't known
for his faithfullness? Anyway, Xena wants to know if he's considered her
campaign for the East? He tells her she already knows he can't feed and
transport his army halfway across the world. Xena tells him that's why
they should ditch the army and start from scratch. Borias puts a hand on
her shoulder, telling her before he'd do that, he'd have to split the
treasure among the men. Then he realizes Xena wants them to just up and
leave. Xena tells him by the time his army catches up with the two of
them, they'd be so formidable the army would dare not take them on. She
tells Borias his army is thugs who would slit his throat for a dinar.
Borias tells her this campaign would take him away from Natasha. He and
Xena would be together for a long time. "For all time," Xena whispers.
Her eyes turn so light they look icy colored. "So do you want to live here
in squallor or ride to glory with me?" Borias has her around the hips.
"How can I decide when I've never ridden with you?" What? With her
reputation, Evil Xena has been holding out? Not anymore, apparently, as
she delivers the line of the episode, at least for me, "Giddyap!" and with
a come hither look, she leads Borias into his tent.
A young boy with a wooden sword approaches the tent and pulls open the
flap. He is dressed very similarly to Lord Belach and his men. He peers
in the tent to see Xena sitting astraddle Borias as they taste each other's
toothpaste. "Wait just a minute," Xena husks, and she walks out of the
tent, holding a large piece of cloth. She covers the boy with the cloth and
picks him up, hobbles a few steps, and throws him down on top of a few
sacks. "Word of advice for you, kid...Never step between two people and
their passion."
Cut back to the present, and Xena's regretful face as she concludes, "I
shamed his mother and stole his father, Gabrielle. I can't let him lose
his daughter as well."
Now they're approaching the spot Xenan left his brothers in hiding. The
few structures there have been burned down. It is desolate looking. Gabs
asks "Where are they?" The second I saw the raised earth, I knew what had
happened. As the group approaches the edge of the pit, Xena sobs, "Son of
Borias, what have you done?" The pit is full of the bodies of slaughtered
centaurs, stacked haphazardly one over another. As an amateur student of
the Holocaust, that's immediately what I compared the devastation to.
Ephiny says, "It was prophecy; I haven't changed anything," and walks away
with a hand to her face. Xena says Belach's men must have rounded up the
centaurs and driven them into this pit. There was no escape. Xenan is
looking on shocked as Gabs asks "Who could do this?" Then he begins to
speak. "They're gone...every last one...all dead." His tearful face
contorts with rage. "Belach will pay for this!" he shouts. He tries to
leave but Gabrielle jumps in front of him, telling he can't risk himself
now. Xenan isn't listening, but Nikka goes to him too, telling him he
can't leave with his son about to be born. "Then who will see justice
done?" he demands.
"I will," Xena ferally replies, and she stalks off as Xenan begins to weep
openly at the horrible sight.
Xena makes her way back to Belach's place He has dismissed his guards and
is staring at the portait of his wife, until he hears Xena's approach. He
sees she doesn't have Nikka, but Xena tells him she spoke with her. He
wants to know where she is, and Xena replies, "She is with her
husband...mourning his people." Belach is astounded, and Xena hisses,
"Xenan didn't kidnap her...she's carrying his baby. They're in love,
Belach...Do you have any idea what you have done?" Xena is about as
furious as I've ever seen her! Belach tells her he did what he had to.
"You are the son of Borias," Xena fires back. "How could you have betrayed
your father's legacy?" Belach asks what Xena knows about his father. She
tells him Borias defended the centaurs when they were betrayed. "Yes," he
snarls back, "by that faithless bitch that took my father from me when I
was a child." Xena looks like she's been struck by a blow. Belach
continues telling all he has built and acquired means nothing if his
daughter can't give him an heir. He wants a grandson to love and cherish,
not the bastard offspring of a centaur. The rage is back in Xena as she
approaches him, her voice shaking, "The centaurs are a proud and noble
race. Your father knew that." He ain't listening. He tells her they're
savage, and then calls out for his men to sweep the land until they find
"that centaur". When they find him, kill him.
Xena stares out the window for a second, her eyes narrowing, and then she
draws her sword, whirling on Belach. "A tip for your kid," she tells him,
"Never step between two people and their passion." His eyes fire up with
recognition as he stares at her. He flashes back to the scene we saw
moments ago, then gasps, "You? It can't be!" "It is," she nods, her teeth
bared. "Now, you're coming with me." Belach draws his own sword, but Xena
knocks it away with one fell swoop. Borias bellows for his guards to
"Seize her!" and as familar first season music flares up, Xena takes them
out. She goes to Belach who is trying to retrieve his sword, knocks it
away from him, and punches him in the gut with her sword hilt. She cuts
some drapery binding free and ties his hands, then punches him in the face
to get him out of the way as more guards approach. They circle here with
their spears, but she breaks free easily and tells Belach, "After you." As
he turns to stare out the open window, she handily kicks him out so he
lands on a most conveniently placed horse. Uh huh. She jumps out the
window and lands on her own horse, and drawing her whip, she catches his
horse's reins with it, and leads him away at a full gallop. The guard's
exit the house and mount their own horses as they take off after her.
The Last of the Centaurs Part 2
Home