The Abyss
This one has a lot going on besides the plot, and it's going to be hard to project the actual
"feel" of the episode. Before I go on with the review, I have to make some comments that
have been bugging me for weeks now. I LOVE the new opening for this season. I think the
clips are well chosen, and do a good job of representing the various elements of XWP.
However, I'm just curious if anyone else is like me, and misses the SOUNDS of the old
opening...the sound of Xena's cry as she raises her sword to Poseidon, the shout after "forged
in battle", and the war cry after "the danger" in particular. I like the new sounds for the new
opening, and they reflect the changes in Xena's tones from season to season, but it's taking
some getting used to. And has anyone ever found out what causes the scrapes on the inside of
Xena's right arm as she raises her sword in the final shot? Inquiring minds want to know!! And
while I'm asking, has anyone ever bothered to explain how and why the Warrior Princess has a
vaccination scar? Okay, enough stalling, now for "The Abyss."
Parts of this episode reminded me of The Price, which is one of my top ten favorite episodes.
I think it was inevitable...Xena and Gabrielle are up against a group of people they know
nothing about and can't communicate with. And these people are fierce. It's got to be
disconcerting to be doing hand-to-hand combat with an opponent who just leans in and takes a
BITE out of you! Eeeesh!! The episode opens in a way reminescent of Girls Just Wanna Have
Fun, only this time, instead of Joxer being on the run, it's Joxer, Jr. aka. Virgil. If I refer to JJ,
that's Virgil, because that's how I think of him in my twisted mind. Actually, I came away
from this episode feeling better about his character, but more on that later... By the way, for
the record, there is absolutely NO mention of Eve in this episode. There are no shots of her or
Virgil in next week's previews either, so perhaps they're not going to be seen for a while. They
may have her own battles to fight. Okay, back to The Abyss, Virgil and some friend are
high-tailing if through the forest. The friend is refered to as Hoseph, but I have no idea if the
spelling is correct. It doesn't matter, as you only see about sixty seconds of him alive. They are
being chased by grunting growling men in pig heads, who are apparently intelligent enough to
set some traps in the forest. Hoseph falls into one, and is immediately captured. He screams to
Virgil for help, and while JJ looks very angst ridden, he isn't stupid (smart?) enough to try to
rescue his friend. Instead, he maintains a safe distance, and follows them. Cut to Gabbin
Hood, who is looking adorable in her tan long coat. I don't know what the weather conditions
were when this was shot, but it certainly LOOKED cold. Gabbin Hood takes aim at a deer
with her (is it really hers?) trusty bow and arrow, and THWACK! misses the deer completely
and hits a tree that will never live to eat someone's garden again! Xena approaches in her long
leather cloak and quips, "Nice shot! Just don't know what kind of wine goes with bark."
(Enjoy the humor while it lasts, because there is VERY LITTLE in this episode). Gabs says
"So we'll have fish. That's what people do while they're on the river." Xena replies after a very
funny eye roll, "Fish is all right with me...you're the one who said she wanted venison." Gabs
gives a slight sheepish smile, and says "I'm having a bad day." Xena says, referring to the deer,
"Nah, he's having a good day. It's all on how you look at it." Despite the light talk, there's a
very somber note to this scene...the music is very reflective and the expressions in Xena and
Gabs show that not all is right with the world. A very effective set up is in place.
The next scene cuts to Xena and Gabs in a canoe, once again reminescent of The Price.
Gabrielle comments "This river is so calm," to which Xena replies with a warm smile, "I was
hoping it would have an effect to you." That earns a nice smile from Gab. They spot Virgil's
and Hoseph's campsite, and Xena: Warrior Tracker determines it's four hours old. Gabs says
everything is covered in blood, and Xena decides they escaped in their canoe, running
(paddling?), for their lives. Now we cut back to Virgil, who is hiding and watching what's
happening at the pig people's camp, and I'll tell you, it ain't pretty!! TPTB seem to be going
for broke this season with the shock effect...it's extremely disturbing to see a human being
covered in SOMETHING, slowly being turned on a spit. There's some rather large object
shoved in Hoseph's mouth, and he is in an unusual position, sort of a somersalt position, and is
slowly being turned so he cooks evenly. Blech!! Cut to opening credits...and yes, that IS Virgil
that Gabs is hugging in the new opening, as you'll see before the end of the episode. After the
commercial, Xena and Gabs are still in the canoe, and the first serious conversation unfolds.
Gabrielle comments she doesn't know what's wrong with her, and she and Xena discuss the
events of The Legacy. Xena is trying to reassure Gabs that she did what she had to do, but
Gabrielle isn't buying. She comments, "My reflexes are those of a warrior, I'm afraid my
judgement's not. I think that's a bad combination." Interesting thought there. Gabs goes back
to calling out Virgil's name. He is terrified, watching the roasting of his friend, and takes off
running. He trips over a vine, and a crow calls out, alerting the pig people. Anyone seen The
Stand? I'd swear that was Randall Flag calling out to the Pig People! Hee hee!
Xena and Gabrielle find Virgil's canoe and Xena ascertains by examining it that it broke up "no
more than a few hours ago." Gabs asks "how can it break up?" but Xena: Warrior Psychic
kicks in and says they're being watched. They need to keep going, but there's a waterfall up
ahead so they'll have to travel by land. Of course, they're being watched by people that are on
land. Oh yeah, ominous storm clouds are moving in. Things are looking bad. JJ is on the run
from the Pig People, but he can't avoid being captured. Uh huh. He's netted and hauled off
from the picture. Cut back to Xena and Gabs who haven't ditched the canoe yet, and more
very serious conversation. Gabs wants to know if she'd listened to her heart, would Desert
Boy still be alive. Xena replies, "You did listen to your heart. You thought he was going to kill
me. You thought you were trying to protect me." Then Xena proceeds to tell her a trained
warrior would have never come up behind her. Was that supposed to make Gabs feel better?
It certainly didn't make me feel any better! That made Desert Boy sound like even less of an
actual threat! Anyway, Xena's ears prick up and she says she's glad she can trust Gabs with
her life, and here comes the attack! The pig people must have studied with the Hoarde,
because they hide under the water too! Xena and Gabrielle make it to shore, and the real fight
begins. There are pig people all over the place, and it's quite a battle!
More than once Xena is overwhelmed, and although no blood is shown, apparently, more than
one pig gets a mouthful of her! Gabs gets one of the pig people on the ground, raises her sai
for the kill, and you guessed it, can't do it because she sees Desert Boy's face. Instead, for her
trouble, she takes a knife in the side! Yeow! Xena screams in horror, but has to keep fighting,
and Gabs does the same, although she's wounded seriously. One of the pig people takes a
chunk out of Gab's thigh, then picks her up and tosses her in the river. It's so good to hear
Gabrielle yell out Xena's name when she's in trouble! Xena takes out a couple more pig
people, then dives in the river rampage after her, and begins screaming out Gab's name. Cut to
some really bad editing where one second, Xena has on the overcoat and the next second she
doesn't, and then a really interesting thing happens. Gabs is still screaming for Xena, but her
foot catches on a vine under the water, and she quits screaming. My question is, did Gabs
even try to escape the vine? It doesn't look like it would have been that difficult to pull her leg
away, but she doesn't try. She just goes under the water and stays there. As the fade to
commercial ensues, Gabs is floating lifeless under the water. Did I mention this episode was
intense? Xena, Warrior Lifeguard finds Gab underwater, and hauls her butt to the surface.
She takes her to a small cave in the river bank, talking to her the whole time. There's no place
that's totally dry, but Xena gets her in as shallow a spot as she can. Xena doesn't even have to
try mouth-to-mouth, Gabs spits some water on her face and she's awake. Xena kisses her
forehead audibly; then they have to take care of her side. If I'm not mistaken, Xena reaches
into Gab's boot for one of her sais to take the "bit of blade" out of Gabrielle's side, and more
serious talk ensues. Xena is chiding Gabrielle for hesitating in the fight...she knows what
happened. Gabrielle is actually agreeing with her, and Xena lets ups on her, telling her she
needs to conserve energy. She tells Gabs she'll be right back. Now it's time for Xena: Warrior
Rockclimber. I'm a person who talks to the television screen, and i was yelling almost
immediately. Why would Xena try to climb a cliff when she knows the pig people are at the
top of it? I don't have warrior sense, and I knew they were there. Oh well, hee hee, they throw
some rocks and bones down on her, and knock her off the cliff, and she falls back into the
water and goes back to Gabrielle. Now comes the REALLY serious stuff. The big secret.
Actually, I'm not sure if I missed something during this scene. From rumors I heard earlier in
the week, I expected something REALLY earthshaking... I only felt it to be a little tremor, but
maybe I missed something. I'm sure someone will correct me if I did....Here's the scene. Last
chance to turn back!! Xena swims back to the cave, and takes Gabrielle on her lap, rubbing
her to warm her.
Xena: You're wound's getting worse.
Gabrielle (shivering) We're in a pretty tough spot.
X : We've been in rough scrapes. We're gonna' get you out of her. Count on it.
(These girls are really cold. And it makes the colors in the face all the more vivid. Wowee!)
The scene moves to JJ threatening the pig people by saying he knows Xena the great warrior is
going to rescue him before he sees the remains of Hoseph. As for Hoseph's remains, all I can
say is blech again! He makes a break for it, but it doesn't work. More ominous storm clouds
roll in, thunder rumbles, and we're back in the cave. At this point, Xena is looking almost
worse than Gabrielle. She is pretty distraught. As she strokes Gabrielle's head...
G: Hope...
X: Did you say something?
G:My baby...
Gabrielle reaches up with her hand. Xena takes it, kisses it, then holds it to her face, tears in
her eyes.
G: Is it you?
X: Yeah, it's me.
G: I love you. I would never hurt you. You know that don't you?
X: I know.
G: You're my child.
Now I have to interject here, before I continue. Anyone who has seen Fins, Femmes, and
Gems, knows that look on Xena's face when Gabrielle is talking about the one person for her,
whom Xena assumes it's her, and then finds out is Gabrielle. Forgive me, but the look on
Xena's face reminds me of that episode. It's not the same expression, and the tones of the
scenes are TOTALLY OPPOSITE, but Xena's look of disappointment when she realizes
Gabrielle is talking about Hope instead of her is DEVASTATING. My heart aches just to
watch it. Wow!! The facial expressions of these two are so revealing. Unbelievably painful!
Okay, back to the scene...
G: We have to go. We have to go, she'll hurt you...she'll take you away from me.
X: You have to rest. You don't have to go anywhere.
Tears are pouring down Xena's cheeks.
G: You don't understand...
X: I do understand.
She reaches down to draw Gab's face to hers.
X: I understand everything.
And that's it. Seeing it in print is not going to make up for seeing it on screen, but anyone who
can watch this exchange without feeling pain is beyond me. I always assumed Gabrielle and
Xena understand the other's actions during the third season, but maybe they didn't discuss it in
full. At any rate, it's obvious that Xena now fully comprehends Gabrielle's thoughts when she
spared Hope. Sheesh...I'm getting choked up as I type this!! Back at the camp, Virgil is locked up in a
room with another prisoner and a table full of food and drink. Virgil learns that he is suppose
to fatten up, so he'll be a more tasty morsel for the pig people. The only other real humor is in
this scene. Virgil tells the other prisoner (Rubio), that Xena will save him, and Rubio wants to
keep calling her some warrior named Zebra. Virgil corrects him, but I couldn't help picturing
Meg..."That's Xena, with a capital Z!" The emotional roller coaster continues as we cut back
to the cave...Rain, thunder and lightening are pounding the night sky. Gabrielle is shivering
violently with the cold. It's night, and Xena swims into the cave. You guys are going to love
this part! I'm getting more Kleenex out...
X: Gabrielle, Gabrielle?
G: Yeah...
X. The time's come. We're getting you out of here, all right?
G: Yeah. (Xena starts tying a vine around Gab's waist.)
G: Xena, I have a last wish.
X: I don't want to hear it.
G: No. I'm serious....You don't want to know?
X: What is it, then?
(Personal note...I LOVE THIS PART!!!)
G: I don't want to be buried with the Amazons
X (trying to make light of it): All right, well in fifty years when the time comes-
G: Xena...I wanna lie with you. With your family...Please?
X: What about your family?
G: I love them...but I'm a part of you...I want it to be like that forever.
She grasps Xena's hand and pulls it close to her.
G: I love you.
Xena is speechless...just one big tear rolling down her cheek. The expressions on their
faces...well...I'm speechless too.
G: This is all my fault.
X: This is not your fault. This is not your fault. It's mine for setting you on a path
you were never meant to walk.
G: Any path is okay, Xena, as long as it's with you.
X (her confidence restored, temporarily) I'm setting you on a path that's warm and
dry.
It ain't over yet, folks, but now Xena: Warrior Stretcher takes over, and with Gabrielle
strapped to her back, Xena scales the cliff. This time, there are no pig people to throw rocks at
them, and with a huge cry of anguish, Xena makes it to the top and lowers Gabs to the
ground. This next part is a little tricky, but it's my overactive imagination at work... Gabrielle is
in bad shape. She can't walk on her own. Xena looks up and sees the pig people approach with
torches. She knows she can't escape with Gabs. She rouses Gab and tells her to not be afraid
and to trust her. Then Xena stands up and does her war cry, alerting the pig people to their
location. Xena retreats to the trees and hides. The rain is pouring down. The pig people
surround Gabrielle and haul her off. Gabrielle is desperately screaming Xena's name. Xena
watches, but her expression is unreadable. As we fade to commercial, the camera focuses on
Xena's face. Gabrielle's final scream sounds, and the look on Xena's face is terrifying.
Something is very wrong.
Did I mention this episode is intense? The pig people are carrying Gabrielle back to camp.
Xena is watching from a distance, her face reminding me of her expressions in Ties that Bind,
when she went ballistic at the end. There's an excellent shot of her face moving into a spotlight
of sorts. Man! Some of the pig people spot Xena and attack. No problem for Xena, and she
secures a nifty pig's head in the process. That'll come in handy. Gabrielle is thrown in the same
place as Virgil and Rubio. I like Virgil in this scene. He immediately moves to comfort
Gabrielle, and tells Rubio to shut up. When the pig people come in, he tells them to take him
instead. Of course, they don't listen, and instead, lay Gab's down on a table. They force her to
drink something. She doesn't like it, but has to swallow. They do a little voodoo over her, and
leave. Virgil says they were healing her, but I wasn't sure what was going on. Virgil says she
needs to rest, because he's going to get her out of here. Gabs looks up and whispers "Be ready
when Xena comes." Poor JJ...he had to feel like Dad did when Gabs would spurn him for
Xena! But it's well acted, and Virgil is very good in this scene. He doesn't overestimate
himself, and says "I will." Meanwhile, Xena has ditched the pig's head (it had to smell in
there!), and is skulking around the camp. She sees the pig people eating some human back
ribs, and takes off. Hmmm....My brain was saying what's up with this? I suppose her
expressions were misleading for a reason, but I was beginning to wonder if all was right in
Xena's brain. Cut to the next day and Xena: Warrior Lumberjack. It seems like Xena is doing
some redecorating at the river. I love the music that plays over these scenes! I don't know if
I've heard it before, I'm not the best at remembering musical scores, but the music was
awesome! It sounded so triumphant, and watching Xena's expression as she cut down trees
with her sword made me realize she was well aware of what she was doing, and didn't doubt
her success. Whoo! A breath of fresh air!! Back at the camp, Virgil and Gabrielle talk about
Gabs hesitation to kill the pig person. Her fever has broken and she's totally lucid now. She
gives him the hug shown in the opening credits Virgil says: "Never apologize about your
compassion, Gabrielle. It's one of the most beautiful things about you." Very nice!
The pig people come in and take Gabrielle. Virgil tries to stop them, but he can't. He sounds
more authoritative than his dad, but isn't much more effective. I do think he has the same
heart as his father though. He screams Gabrielle's name, and Xena: Warrior Hearing Aid hears
it from across the forest. She takes off at a run, fighting off a few pig people in the process.
One of them takes a nice chunk out of her ankle. You know, this is really demented, but I was
thinking those pig people would really love to get a hold of Xena. Here's a woman with some
meat on her bones! Back at the camp, Gabrielle is getting to witness in the daylight, some of
these people at mealtime. Someone needs to teach them some table manners! Nothing more
disgusting than watching a cannibal at work! Xena is very feral in this fighting. No gleeful
laughs or wicked grins here...only snarling and menacing sneers. I think it's because she really
didn't know if Gabs was all right or not. Gabs has been tied into the tuck position and is being
covered in a nice cornmeal breading. Gushy! I'm sure you've seen it in the previews. A toilet
paper tube is stuck into her mouth, and the commercial comes...darn it! Okay, it wasn't really
a toilet paper tube, but at least you can picture in your mind what it looks like! It's hard to read
Gabs expressions with that tube in her mouth, but when Xena's war cry sounds, the relief is
very evident in her eyes. Virgil is estatic. Xena: Warrior Acrobat arrives on the scene right after
her chakram cuts Gabs loose, and the fight is on! Gabs seems fairly recovered, picks up the
spit she was on, and begins using it as a staff. There's no time for mushy talk, but the grins on
Xena and Gabs' faces as they get close to each other are heartwarming. Xena breathlessly tells
Gabrielle to get Virgil and get to the horses, then blows fire at a few pig people.
It's shown from head on, and if it isn't Lucy blowing her own fire again, it's very good special
effects! Just as a slight aside, how does Xena always know whatever liquid she picks up is
going to be flammable? Must be the Xena: Warrior Arsonist in her. It would be so anticlimactic
to see her put out the torch because what she thought was alcohol was actually water! Xena
continues to do damage at the camp, torching it in places, and doing some damage with her
chakram. The ones who don't believe in the magical powers of the chakram, ala. Coming
Home are going to hate this part! Gabs frees Virgil, who proceeds to do quite a bit of fighting
that his father was never capable of. Xena is enjoying this part of the fight much more, and a
few grins slip through. She knows Gabrielle is safe. Suddenly, out of thin air, three horses
appear. Maybe they were shown earlier, but that's the first I saw of them! Rubio hops on with
Gabs and the group rides into the forest. They come across the spot in the woods where Xena
had been playing Home Alone, and Gabs comments, "Looks like the cannibals weren't the
only ones cooking something up." Virgil asks what the plan is, and Xena says she's going back
to lead the pig people into her trap. Gabs and Virgil are to cut the vine to spring the trap. Rubio
is to take the horses and get out of Dodge. He doesn't argue, and neither do Gabs or Virgil.
Xena runs off through the forest, and does a cry to get the pig people on her trail. That girl sets
a mean pace. Meanwhile, Gabs and Virgil have to face a few pig people who apparently didn't
like their meals on the run. Gabs has an extended flashback to Legacy. Her struggle isn't over.
By the way, she's still covered in breading. Xena is taunting her pursuers. At one poiint, she
turns and says, "Come on, Piggies". Hmmmm...who does that remind anyone of? "Dinner's
calling!" Xena jibes as she continues to run. Meanwhile, Gabs and Virgil are struggling up
above. Xena is shouting, "Gabrielle, now!" but isn't getting a response. Her back is against the
cliff at the edge of the river, and the pig people are closing in. Xena calls again, desperate now.
Guess what? Gabs HAS to kill one of the pig people, and this time, she does it, an almost
joyful expression on her face. She KNOWS she has to kill, or Xena will be the main course at
a human barbcue without the barbcue. She skewers the pig, and cuts fhe vine. Xena: Warrior
Flywoman hangs on to the side of the cliff as all the pig people are swept into Lucifer's lair.
Xena had dammed the river in more ways than one. There will be a pork fest in Hell tonight!
Okay, enough bad puns, the final scene has Rubio gorging on fruit, he can put some meat on
his bones now. Xena is bemoaning the condition of her sword, but stops to ask Gabs how she
is upstairs. Gabrielle says: I did what I had to do. I will learn to live with my mistakes, no
matter how terrible they may be. That's the way. Rubio asks, "What way?" Xena looks at him,
and says, "Who are you, anyway?" Heh heh! Virgil shuts Rubio up, and then there's a slow mo
shot of Xena and Gabrielle looking at each other. It's very weird to me...why slow motion? It
has a note of finality to it that doesn't settle well with me.
But I like their pink cheeks...it looks like it was VERY cold there. So that's it...of all the
episodes this season, this one had the most Classic Xena feel to it. There are many plot holes
in it, and in reality, nothing is learned about the cannibals, but it's obvious the focus of this
episode was to be the relationship between Gabrielle and Xena, and Gabrielle's guilt. It was an
emotional journey, at least for me, and extremely well acted. I give it two thumbs up. The
disclaimer, for anyone interested, is "Virgil's appetite was suppressed during the making of this
motion picture." Next week's previews are intriguing, with Xena in a gold Hermes hat talking
about creating monsters. Only one shot of Gabs though, so it may be less of a Xena/Gabs
excursion. Still looks very intriguing though!
And here's Gary's review...
This episode had a lot of scenes which were reminiscent of other
episodes...almost a "clip show".
First,the girls are in a reed boat identical to the one in The Price.
Also,as in the same episode,they are fighting a wild bunch of
weird-looking,violent tribesmen who are almost completely unreasoning.
The fight when they are attacked where Gab gets stabbed is strange. Xena
keeps hitting these wild boar heads the cannibals are wearing and they
go down.I believe that the heads were almost like helmets and would have
stopped most of Xena's punching force.
These creatures live by eating human beings,and when one has Gab in his
clutches,does he carry her away? No...he tosses her in the river.
The water-cave scene was a lot like One Against an Army(my favorite of
all time),but lacked the gut-wrenching feeling. Gab thinks that Xena is
Hope and warns her to run or Xena will kill her.Why does Hopes name have
to enter this scene? Gab knows she is evil.
Gab later knows it is Xena and says"I love you",but Xena does not say it
back,which is rare for her.
When Xena ties Gab to her and scales the cliff,it reminded me of Xena
hauling herself and Gab up the well in Altared States.
The cannibals have to be the most stupid of all the foes Xena has had to
fight. When she leads therm to the base of the dammed waterfall,they
don't even seem to notice that the falls where they live have stopped
flowing.Notice....there are no cannibal women ever seen.
Before that,at the camp,they are running around pell-mell in
confusion,when it is apparent where Xena,Virgil,and Gab are....nobody
seems to know what to do.This reminds me of God-Fearing Child,where 3
temple armies have only Gab and Xena to attack.Those armies run around
mindlessly,too. They do not rush the girls all at once,as in the
waterfall scene,too. The Chakram may have confused them at the camp,but
not EVERYBODY....
I believe this episode had the makings of another great bonding with the
girls,but it fell far short again.
This business of Gab always doubting herself in battle is wearing
thin...let's get on with it....either be a warrior or a bard who fights
with her staff.This reminds me of Gab's search for her "way". Notice
that Gab uses the spit as a staff....the second time this season we see
her with her trusty fighting implement.
Her sais (which the stupid cannibals let her keep) cut the vine at the
end.How? They do not have a blade...they are round,and the "point" is
blunt.Why didn't Virgil and Rubio grab a sai each from Gab when she was
asleep so they could fight to protect themselves and Gab?
I give this one a grade C-minus.
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