Fallen Angel

And fifth season begins with a visually stunning and very interesting episode.

I know that fifth season is not a favorite among many fans, but it is quite possibly my favorite season for a number of reasons.
A. Eternal Bonds, a fifth season episode, was the one that first caught my attention. For weeks, the only exposure I had was to fifth and first seasons.
B. I'm sorry for all the subtexters out there, but I love the Xena/Ares relationship.
C. And once again, I'm sorry for those who disappear, but I love Baby Eve. I didn't care for her nearly as much after she aged, but when she was a baby, I loved the interaction between Xena and her daughter.
D. A few particular episodes…Eternal Bonds, Amphipolis Under Siege, and Antony & Cleopatra are among my top ten. And Kindred Spirits, Them Bones, Them Bones, Chakram, God Fearing Child, Fallen Angel, Livia, etc. all rank very highly with me.

One word about Fallen Angel…this is not a good episode to come in during the middle of, if you haven't seen it before. I remember coming home from work one Saturday night, turning on the TV and seeing Gabrielle try to figure out Callisto's motives. Xena was already a demon and it was a bizarre way to come into an episode! Thankfully, I was taping it, so as soon as it was over, I rewound the episode and got the full scoop.

Lucy already has that "pregnancy glow" about her, even this early in the season. It becomes her.

It's kind of ironic, because I saw this episode months before I ever saw Ides of March. I was very curious about the crucifixion episode, but like this one so much better than Ides.

Rome is so bleak! It's absolutely gray!

Amarice's hair looks kinda stringy in this one. Of course, if she's been trekking incessantly to retrieve Xena and Gabs' body, that would be expected.

Joxer's been having nightmares? Wow, I find that amazing!

But what a horrible way for him to have to see Xena and Gabrielle, nailed to the crosses!

It makes him tear up.

And Amarice, as well, eventually.

It looks as if Xena and Gabs have ended up in purgatory. All there is to see is lots of sky and lots of tall cliffs. And they are dressed in white.

The effect of the angels coming down is awesome!

And it serves to make both Xena and Gabrielle look particularly gorgeous!

Xena tries to hold Gabs back when the angels come for her.

But Gabs and her windblown look are determined to go!

It's so sad when Xena holds her hand out while Gabs is being swept away. It looks like Xena isn't going to get to go!

But then…she smiles for Gabs.

And her own lift arrives.

I like that thought. Maybe Xena HAS done enough good to make it to heaven.

They both certainly looked pleased with their trip north.

I love Xena's disgusted unsure look when she realizes what's below them.

Okay, I have a REAL problem with the thought that God would let two of his saved be taken away by a demon attack. God would never allow that to happen.

The male angel with Gabs is played by the same actor who played Ikus, way back in first season's Altared States.

Why does Xena rate all girl angels for her trip to heaven? So the guy angels won't look weak as Xena is stripped from their grasp?

It's so hysterical that Xena is pissed when she's rescued from the demons! Only she could react that way!

Michael tells Xena that she's not even an angel. She is to be reborn into a new body.

Technically, she couldn't "become" an angel anyway. Angels are soulless creations by God, designed to help mankind. People don't die and become angels.

Xena's got incredible guts just diving off the cliff from heaven into hell. She doesn't even hesitate.

Xena is absolutely incensed when Michael grabs her feet.

Michael demands: Are you insane?
Xena quips: Depends on who you talk to.

I love Callisto's line: "I'm sure The Powers that Be will try to ROB me of that joy." Seems to me that the producers might be poking a little fun at themselves!

Callisto is pretty funny, as usual, especially when she's a demon. "Eat up my little Dumpling," she tells Gabrielle. "You must be famished."

Gabs is pretty smart. She figures out very quickly NOT to eat the fruit.

When Amarice battle cries, it sounds a lot like Xena's.

That sound of Xena being pried off the cross is horrible!

I've heard people say they don't understand Xena's having to make a choice between trial by fire and water. It was always fairly obvious to me:
A. Both fire and water have a cleansing effect…however, in order to be truly saved, a person has to suffer, sometimes greatly.
B. The fire burns away Xena's transgressions and flaws, destroying them completely. Water would just rinse them off her, and they could easily return.

Ooo…Xena's hot stuff when she exits the cave!

First, Michael thinks she spends too long in the fire, and then, he worries about her in the water. Xena's got a lot to work through, I'm sure…I wish Michael would have more faith.

I love that moment when Xena emerges from the water and unfolds her wings!

Xena has a slight smile on her face, even when she's hanging on the cross. Maybe it's because her spirit has already left her.

I know it would be extremely hard to remain completely still, but you can see Lucy's eyelids flicker briefly when Amarice plays barber with her.

Amarice makes a vow to follow in Xena's footsteps. Funny, I thought her loyalty laid with Gabrielle.

Amarice says she knows she'll never be as wise as Xena.

She's now wearing her sword strapped to her back, very reminiscent of Xena.

I really like this exchange of dialogue between Amarice and Eli:
A: What do you know about it, Peace Lover?
E: What?
A: You got them killed. You infected Gabrielle with your peace and love talk. You made her helpless. She never would have gotten captured if she hadn't lost her warrior spirit.
E: I'm sorry you feel that way.
A: It's not a feeling; it's a fact. You slowed them down just enough to kill them. You might as well have driven in the nails yourself!
Joxer: Enough!
E: It's all right, Joxer. It's all right.

It's a pretty intense scene, and well done. I like seeing Amarice stick up for Xena and Gabs.

So the rules in the Xenaverse is that a denizen from Heaven can give their "light" to someone in Hell, and they switch places permanently. Okayyyy….

Gabs tears at her clothes in Hell.

The demons force her to eat, whether she wants to or not.

It's messy and sloppy, and Gabs looks wicked during it.

You gotta love Gabrielle's line…"Callisto…when Xena burned your family, did you see them on fire? Did you smell their flesh sizzling? You know what I think? You wanted them to die so you'd have a reason to be a bitch!"

That pisses Callisto off, of course, but the Angel troops have arrived!

Callisto knows she's beat by Xena. "I will never stop hating you, Xena. Do you hear me? Never!"

In a twisted sort of way, it is understandable that she would feel that way, especially seeing Xena as an angel.

And strangest of all, Xena won't even let Callisto have the satisfaction of revenge.

Callisto raves about an eternity of hating Xena, and Xena disputes her with a single "no." She even sounds kind of surprised that she said it.

Then she gives Callisto her light.

Check out Xena's eyes and teeth clenching shut as the scene fades to commercial. I love that!

Ikus worries about Gabrielle an awful lot.

When Gabs comes to in heaven, her very first words are, "Where's Xena?"

Xena makes a wild demon!!

If you think about it, Xena probably would make a SUPREME demon.

She manages to take over Hell immediately.

I love this. "Paradise will be ours!" Check out the big spray of spit Xena gives as she spouts this line!

Then she gives a delightfully wicked and gleeful laugh.

Meanwhile, Gabs has her own purification ritual to go through.

Callisto looks SO different all calm and serene.

And her hair grew too.

Gabrielle says, "You murdered my husband and many innocent people."
Callisto: NO!

I have one question, is Gabs saying Perdicus wasn't an innocent? Shouldn't it have been "other innocent people"?

Hearing Callisto apologize is just plain weird.

Check out what Michael has to say: Xena is a demon. Even before she had wings she may have been a match for me. Now the balance may have shifted."

Basically, he is saying Xena, a mere mortal, is a better fighter than an Archangel. Uh huh.

Michael seems like a pretty good guy in this one.

Gabs is willing to cut Xena up and let her spend eternity in pieces. She doesn't really hesitate. Thanks, Gabs!

Gabs was right when she said Xena gave Callisto her light because of her guilty conscience over killing Callisto's family. But Xena has ALWAYS felt guilty over this.

Gabs just can't buy Callisto's innocent act. I can't blame her.

She can touch Callisto, but won't allow Callisto to touch her.

Finally, when Callisto gets through, Gabs starts to cry.

Callisto wipes Gabs tears away, and Gabs cups Callisto's face.

Gabs becomes an archangel.

Xena's a horny demon! Hee hee.

And Gabs makes a gorgeous angel.

Demon Xena is good. "I wanted to spend eternity with you," she tells Gabs.

When Gabs resists, she continues, "Gabrielle, the love that we have is stronger than Heaven or Hell. It transcends good or evil. It's an end in itself."

Then, "Gabrielle, you can't let me walk through Hell alone."

All Gabs can say is, "I'm sorry."

Xena could never sneak up on anyone with that Demon voice of hers! It sounds a lot like the voice she had in Paradise Found.

She snarls, "I can smell you." And then sticks her tongue out, like a snake.

And still trying to convince Gabs, she tells her, "There's fun to be had down there!"

Eli is taking a heck of a chance talking back to God the way he does!

Eli: The Way of Love wasn't for Gabrielle.

Eli looks like he's going to do a brain transplant on Xena and Gabs.

Gabbers does an admirable job holding Xena off for a while.

But then Xena drops her on her back.

Love the way Xena rushes feet first toward the earth. Uh…that should be hooves first!

Did I mention I love Xena's hooves?

What's the significant of the green feather floating to the ground? Did only Gabs wear green?

And somehow, Demon Xena does truly seem to care somewhat.

Is Gabs' back broken?

Love the way Gabs pleads, "Xena…don't."

Xena almost looks like she's not gonna do it, then Michael shoves them over.

Xena doesn't seem to like Michael much.

When Gabs calls out his name, Xena mocks it, "Michael!"

Love her, "Oh no…we're going to Hell!" It's so gleeful!

And then, suddenly, Xena and Gabs are alive again.

You see a hand reach over and take the other's. It is Xena taking Gabs' hand and giving it a squeeze.

Why does Callisto touch Xena's stomach? I mean in this episode? Is Xena suddenly pregnant with a soulless child? Callisto doesn't inhabit the child until Seeds of Faith.

It's kind of nice to see Callisto back with her family.

Joxer touches Gabs face, and she looks at him with such a wistful, lost look.

And then her eyes are on Xena.

They just look at each other forever it seems.

And thus starts the adventure that is Fifth Season. This is kind of a strange episode on many accounts, but I like it a lot.

These are Gary’s thoughts:


This is the opener for Season 5. Amarice attacks Joxer at the crucifixion site. She hears that he was friends with Xena and Gabby , and Joxer says he came there because he has bad dreams about the girls being in trouble. Hey! They are ALWAYS in trouble. Amarice shows him he is too late, since the dead girls are on crosses. Eli appears, and seems to know Joxer, even tho they never met. How does he know Joxer at all?

Why isn’t Amarice cold wearing her brief outfit? It is snowing out. Joxer says he wants to take the bodies back to Greece for burial, but Amarice says the Romans are still there guarding the bodies. She attacks and kills three Romans, and Eli, she, and Joxer climb ladders and pull the nails holding the girls to the crosses. The bodies are brought down and put in a cellar-like area on a slab.

Xena and Gabby are sitting on rocks in the afterlife, and they see a halo of angels coming to pick them up. Gabby is lifted first, then Xena. Gravity still plays a part in the afterlife, and when demons from hell attack, both girls are dropped. Callisto, looking fiendish and not merely pretty as in IDES, catches Gabby , and Michael, the Archangel, catches Xena. He insists on his proper title. Cal wants to deliver Xena to ‘her lord”. Other angels keep Cal busy and she drops Gabby; Xena tries to fall after her, and defying the laws of physics, is able to fall faster than Gabby, almost reaching her. Mike stops her as Gabby falls.

Heaven is a pile of rocks, not much different from hell. There are a lot of jerky landings by the angels with their wings .Mike says Gabby has gone to hell….how? Who does the judging there? There is no mention of a “him” there.

Xena says she heard of hell (from Cal in IDES). Mike says it is a war of good and evil? What other kind is there?

Mike tells Xena that for her to reform, and get a new body, she must pass a test. Xena jumps anyway, only to be caught again by him. Xena wants her wings and says she and Gabby have a destiny together.

In hell, Gabby awakens next to Callisto, who has bat-wings and taloned hands and feet, plus some nasty-looking teeth. The supple Cal crouches on a rock and fluffs her wings, wanting Gabby to eat of the food of hell and become one of them. Gabby sees the food, and refuses. Cal is gleeful and orders some demons to force-feed Gabby, spilling food and wine on her.

In heaven, a cave, Xena has a choice to purify herself by fire or water. She takes the fire, and Mike is worried she is taking too long. She emerges on fire but is not burned. She goes into the divine water is cleansed, and comes out in a new outfit and has black wings. She sort of hangs and bounces in air, since the wings are not flapping.

Amarice cuts off a lock of Xena’s hair as a keepsake, saying she will pick up where Xena left off. She will honor her memory. She does not cut a lock of Queen Gabby’s hair, tho…even tho Amarice is an Amazon (we think).

Amarice blames Eli for the girls’ deaths because he made Gabby helpless…she had lost her warrior spirit, and Xena had to try to save her. Joxer protests, but Eli knows it is true.

Heaven: There is to be a raid on hell to rescue Gabby while there is still time. Xena has a sword. Mike says anyone who gives the damned her light will be released, but the giver will go to hell.

Hell: Gabby is hungry and resists…Cal taunts her and Gabby, after eating the food, is now a horny little devil, and her voice is changed. She calls Cal a bitch. As she and Cal start to fight, Xena and the angels arrive and the fight starts. Xena yells for Mike to get Gabby out of there…again, Xena orders everyone around. Xena and Cal fight, and Xena cuts off one of Cal’s bat-wings. Cal cries, saying she will never forgive Xena for burning her town, killing her family, destroying her soul, and her reason to live and love. Xena realizes Cal is right, so Xena gives Cal her light, now becoming a demon while Cal is saved.

Heaven: Gabby is tossed into the holy water and emerges without horns…she asks where Xena is and Mike tells her.

Xena is ugly in hell, and is a demon in charge. She wants to attack heaven and take over, and also get Gabby back.

Note: Where is this “him” Cal referred to in IDES?

Heaven: Gabby sees Callisto, who looks beautiful with her long hair again, and she is wearing a white gown. Cal does not remember her past, and Gabby hates her still for killing Perdicus and others. Cal cannot say she did it. Mike says Cal is what she would have been if Xena hadn’t destroyed her life. He also says Xena is a demon and can’t be stopped.

Cave: Joxer says Gabby looks as if she is only sleeping. The three say they can’t get the bodies past the Romans so they agree to bury them there.

Heaven: Gabby knows Xena will be lured to get her back. Mike says she will have to be cut into a million pieces so she can’t do any more harm. Gabby agrees. Gabby must be purified to get her wings…she also has to forgive Cal. Gabby does not believe Cal’s’ words, but is later convinced as Cal wipes away Gabby’s tears. Gabby now gets new wings and a sword. She has breast-armor a lot like Boadicea. did in DELIVERER.

The Attack: Xena leads the demons against heaven. Xena faces Gabby and wants peace, but Gabby knows it is impossible. Xena says Cal can never change, and Xena’s and Gabby’s souls are supposed to be joined together. Gabby flies off as Mike orders the trap sprung. There are a lot of angels and demons, and some are wounded. How can spiritual beings bleed or feel pain? There is a bad stunt double for Gabby, who appears to trip a lot. The other angels are hovering on wires, not moving their wings. Cal just watches.

Xena goes after Gabby and there is a good scene of the clouds and Xena saying “I can SMELL you.” I hoped Gabby used a deodorant. They fight a lot and finally Gabby falls (fallen angel?”) Xena picks her up and says there is fun to be had down there. She jumps down and Mike leaps after them.

On earth, Eli laments that his way of love was not for Gabby. He says he cannot protect the ones he loves (since he will not lift a finger to fight.) Cal hears this and says love is the way. She now has her wings…she says for him to go to Xena and Gabby. Eli places his hands on their heads as Cal superimposes her hands over his. As Gabby, Xena, and Mike fall, they disappear and the girls wake up from the dead…They are alive! They are helped to sit up, and nobody says anything. Joxer just smiles, and Amarice stays in the background.

Mike and Cal are there…Cal gets the nod and puts her hand on Xena…there is a light of sorts.

Cal can now see her family. Note: They have been in heaven for years and do not have wings.

Gabby:” We’re going to be together for eternity.”
Xena: ”Yeah.”

What a great comeback…not nearly as good as ARMY when Xena says “even in death, I will never leave you.” What a letdown. There should have been more from the Warrior Princess. As far as I can see, she has been to heaven and hell, so has paid for all her crimes, but we will see in Friend in Need, that she always owes more.


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