Xena: Warrior Podcast

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, welcome to the doghouse! Vera, Katie, and Livy are proud to present 5x05 “Them Bones, Them Bones” recorded LIVE AT XENITE RETREAT 2018! First we give you the deets on our pre-Retreat brush with celebrity and we introduce our special guest for the live show. Then we break down this episode’s experimental visuals, its exploration of identity and belonging, and the behind-the-scenes staffing transitions that affected its production. Plus: Gabs goes way beyond Test Day, Xena embraces motherhood, the glorious return of TV CPR, hat bangs, Amarice’s confusing secret, Yakut’s private heartbreak, the mechanics of skeleton fights, and Alti can’t decide whether she wants to be Xena’s lover or her baby. Paging Dr. Freud! The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/xenawarriorpodcast Website: x

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, Vera, Katie, and Livy clip on their deputy’s badges and prepare for a showdown with 5x04 “Animal Attraction.” We discuss the show’s baffling decision to reveal Xena’s pregnancy in a rom-com western, pregnancy coat homages, 90’s lady gunslingers, and what ‘race you to Greece’ really means. But before we break down the episode, we give you the play-by-play of our own adventures at Xenite Retreat 2018, including our die-hard allegiance to Callisto’s Cut-Throats, our many leaps of faith, howling at the moon to Katy Perry, the recording of our very first live show, and meeting Steve Sears while dressed as cows. Moooo! (Note: "Animal Attraction" begins at 58:00.)   The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/xenawarriorpodcast Website: xenawarriorpodcast.com ———————————————————————— Vera

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, may the odds be ever in your favor! Vera, Katie, and Livy get their Hunger Games on with 5x03 “Succession,” a high-concept, small-scale gem and Steve Sears’s final credited contribution to the series. We discuss the episode’s intriguing triangulation between Xena, Gabs, and Ares, the tension that Gabrielle’s battle prowess puts on her relationship with Xena, and how these character dynamics might have evolved if Steve had continued writing S5. Plus: if you combine Xena and Gabs you get one amazing person, Mavican or Mavican’t, Xena wears pants, Gabrielle squats, Xena watches TV, Ares’ little dumpling, very important rocks, legacy in all its forms, and Gabrielle has a wound and absolutely everyone is concerned about it! The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/xenawarriorpodcast

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, our prayers are answered! Vera, Katie, and Livy take a spin with 5x02 “Chakram,” an episode with an inspired premise and a less-than-inspiring execution. We discuss its disappointingly reductive take on Xena’s morality and identity, the sketched-in origin story for Xena’s iconic weapon, and the shifting power dynamic as Gabrielle steps into the role as Xena’s protector. Plus: the good, the bad, and the ugly new lewks; why hair beads tho?; Kal Kal Kal Kal Kal; Ares gives bad massages; Eli’s got a gun; Caleb’s got a hot tub?!; kiss the girl; and our opinions of the SuperChakram. Catch you around the Acropolis! The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/xenawarriorpodcast Website: xenawarriorpodcast.com ———————————————————————— Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl) Katie: (@katetocci) Livy: (@Ponde

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, oh no, we’re going to hellllllll! Vera, Katie, and Livy take flight in 5x01 “Fallen Angel,” the spectacular season premiere and the most technically audacious Xena episode yet. We discuss the then-cutting edge digital effects, the religious art that influenced the look of heaven and hell, and the importance of the realistic B-plot in bringing this otherwise outrageous episode back to earth, with especially big props to Ted Raimi for his restrained and dignified performance. Plus: the ambivalence experienced when Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship, more emphatically articulated than ever, is set against the greater good; Callisto’s arc concludes with her becoming a creepy doll; sweet baby demon Gabs; so many lewks; compassion and forgiveness; the Good Touch and the Bad Touch. MICHAEL!  The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.c

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, queer fans deserve better! Before Vera, Katie, and Livy embark on S5, we’re talking about Queerbaiting (and Why Xena Isn’t), the topic chosen by patrons in our Patreon poll. From Supernatural to Supergirl, Rizzoli & Isles to Sherlock, Once Upon A Time to The 100, we examine how creators sour their relationships with fans via manipulative advertising, false promises, recriminations, insults, and other harmful and exploitative behaviors. We also look at Hannibal, a positive example of a show evolving to meet the expectations of its fanbase. Finally we go back in time to Xena, examining the context in which the show was made, the producers’ intentions, how fan desires molded the trajectory of the show, and how Xena and Gabrielle are freaking canon, y’all!  The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorp

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, we’ve got mail! Vera, Katie, and Livy (along with special guests, Borias and Satrina!) celebrate the end of Season 4 by answering the questions you sent to our ultra-chic Hermes Mailbag! Discussions include: whether we’d have been satisfied with “Ides of March” as the series finale, the importance of Gabrielle’s pacifist interlude to her overall arc, desert island seasons, Xena and Gabrielle’s favorite subscription services, what is transcendent love, does the concept of soulmates negate free will, managing a fandom-work-life balance, Callisto makes a friend, and Cyrene’s Tavern: Where Everybody Knows Your Name!    The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast ———————————————————————— Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl) Katie: (@katetocci) Livy: (@PonderousLivy) Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, become your breath, and on the count of ten, think yourself back to Ancient Greece! Vera, Katie, and Livy clarify their remembrances of 4x22 “Déjà Vu All Over Again,” the inexplicable Season 4 finale and Renée O’Connor’s directorial debut. We discuss why this clip show/bottle episode maybe wasn’t the best assignment for a first-time director, its nostalgic use of Season 1 clips, the many layers of texts and meta, how Harry is the worst even though he’s Xena, how to make the kisses on the show less frustrating, and the queer af identity scrambling that messes with normative views of gender and sexuality. Plus: Ares’ hair is out of control, set design by Spencer Gifts, we finally ship Gabs/Joxer, even the birds ship Xena/Gabs, and holy sh!t we finished Season 4 you guys! The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorp

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, we choose the Way of Friendship. Vera, Katie, and Livy fulfill their destinies in (beware!) 4x21 “The Ides of March,” the sorta season finale, the culmination of several major long-running arcs, and a perfect expression of the ecstatic emotionalism Xena is capable of. We discuss why Callisto is so well-suited to the role of stage manager in the Last Temptation of Xena, Caesar and Brutus as the bizarro version of Xena and Gabs, what being a vessel of perfect love means for Gabrielle, when visual storytelling is so powerful that words become unnecessary, the use of parallel editing to create new meaning in the episode’s spectacular climax, and the radical portrayal of female love toppling the patriarchy and ascending to heaven. Plus: "Kyle" Urban, get a room Jesus, finding Mount Amaro on Google Maps, theramin ghost music, Xena’s best hair, Gabs’s missing henna, Hi Zoë!, The Walking Dead, and it’s my spine!!! This is our longest episode yet, so hold on to your butts!!!  The po

In our village, every Monday we listen to a new episode of XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST! Vera, Katie, and Livy play for keeps with 4x20 “Endgame,” where shit gets real and major characters who’ve been part of the show for YEARS get killed...in the teaser!? We discuss how they done Ephiny dirty, the final Brutus and his sexual chemistry with Gabrielle (at least according to Renée), Amarice’s hat, Pompey the capitalist, can Gabrielle be a pacifist and an Amazon queen?, Xena’s many surrenders, plus Phil the French Bulldog weighs in with his opinions on the episode.  The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/xenawarriorpodcast Website: xenawarriorpodcast.com ———————————————————————— Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl) Katie: (@katetocci) Livy: (@PonderousLivy) Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, get your aloe vera ready because the Queen of Sick Burns is back! Vera, Katie, and Livy go up against Najara again in 4x18 “The Convert,” discussing her Greatest Hits and whether her characterization in this episode is consistent with the woman we met in “Crusader,” plus actual character development for Joxer, vines!?, and Gabrielle working through her emotions via bad salads. Next, it’s 4x19 “Takes One to Know One,” which tries to solve the mystery of ‘how many Clue jokes is too many?’ One! One is plenty!  The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/xenawarriorpodcast Website: xenawarriorpodcast.com ———————————————————————— Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl) Katie: (@katetocci) Livy: (@PonderousLivy) Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, all the world’s a stage! Vera, Katie, and Livy go to the theater in 4x17 “The Play’s the Thing,” the show’s most meta episode yet. The writers waste no time in sending up the just-finished India arc and the still-underway pacifism arc, while also making light of every criticism ever made of Xena; from its skimpy costumes and hot tubs to its gratuitous violence and subpar acting, the show claps back with a gleeful vengeance, while also interrogating its own choices and history. We discuss the importance of examining Gabs’s character through a humorous lens at this critical stage of her journey; Zehra, Milo, and this episode’s debt to meta-theatrical movies; thespians!!!; why Spartacus is SO GOOD; a salute to foley; and Buffus the Bacchae Slayer, which you may have heard is playing just across the street. The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com

Watch out, because this week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST we are armed and dangerous! Vera, Katie, and Livy have found 4x16 “The Way,” the final episode of the India arc, and it is SOMETHING ELSE. We discuss the backlash that led to this ep’s temporary removal from syndication, and the cultural identity issues and prejudices on both sides of the debate. Something tells us we’re gonna need a bigger Problematic Jar for this one... But despite its missteps, we agree that “The Way” is a bold, transporting, ultra-ambitious exploration of Hinduism and spiritual truth-seeking in general, as Xena and Gabrielle look for guidance in how to live correctly in a violent world. We discuss the Hindu epics that inspired the plot, David Blaine??, King Solomon, Gabrielle’s open heart, Hanuman’s secret identity, the many kinds of religious pluralism, Heidi Klum??, and too many arms! The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumb

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, karma’s a bitch! Vera, Katie, and Livy move on to the second episode of the India arc, 4x15 “Between the Lines,” and good mother, we’re afraid we don’t understand a lot of this. So many questions, like how does the mendhi work? Like really, how does it work? What happens to Arminestra and Shakti’s consciousnesses when Xena and Gabrielle inhabit their bodies? What is Naiyima’s deal? What is Alti’s favorite Terminator movie? How is the female gender symbol going to help Xena and Gabs recognize each other in the next life? Who will be the next New Zealand’s Hottest Home Baker? But who cares about any of this when we have the show’s greatest, most brutal fight scene yet, climaxing with, oh yeah, GABRIELLE GETTING A HAIRCUT. The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/xenawa

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, the power of Eli compels you! Vera, Katie, and Livy take a passage to India in 4x14 “Devi,” the lushly produced first stop on Xena and Gabrielle’s tour of the subcontinent. Ready the Problematic Jar because we kick it off with a whole montage of Indian stereotypes as Xena and Gabs do their best impressions of ignorant tourists, and a white lady becomes a savior only to find out that the real savior is (gasp!) a white man. But hey, despite its missteps this episode still manages to be really effing fun. We discuss the sneaky irreverence of Eli’s first appearance, priest Vikram’s sexy voice, buying Ganges water on the Internet, and, the main attraction, Renée’s magnificently vampy performance as the Hindu demoness Tataka. MY PEARLS! The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast Instagram: instagram

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, the real you is bleeding through! Vera, Katie, and Livy do their best sun salutations in 4x13 “Paradise Found,” a sexy, thinky yogafest that kicks off the India arc with its own unique mix of Hinduism, Taoism, and New Age esotericism--with some Sapphic massage and freaky body horror thrown in. This ep is a lot, you guys! We discuss director Rob Tapert’s actor-focused approach, the many visual references from Maxfield Parrish to Alice in Wonderland to Buddhist art, and how lighting, camera placement, and sound design externalize Xena and Gabrielle’s internal struggles. Plus: Xena breaks the hair scale, Aidan’s abuses of power, 69-ing on the yin-yang bed, Gabrielle’s ‘hot little number,’ so many baths, lotus symbolism, and the most psychologically fraught scene in all of Xena. It’s a TORTOISE, Vera!   The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tum

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful podcast called XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST. And on this podcast there were three maidens named Vera, Katie, and Livy who lived in a little house in the woods where they did nothing all day except watch episodes of Xena and talk about them. One day, they watched 4x12 “If the Shoe Fits” and had a lot of things to say about it. They talked about the relative merits of outdoor showers, why Xena sleeps with rope, Gabrielle’s excellently tailored sack, everybody’s Freudian issues, Alesia’s bizarre speaking voice, the launching of one of the show’s greatest ships, and how obvious it is that the script was written in just one night. And once they were finished talking about this episode, the three maidens never had to watch it again, so they lived happily ever after! The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorp

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, it’s the child custody battle of the century in 4x11 “Daughter of Pomira.” Vera, Katie, and Livy discuss this episode’s major cinematic influence, The Searchers, and the ways in which this episode fails to live up to the moral nuance and ambivalence of that seminal American Western. We talk about the subtextual reemergence of Gabrielle’s Hope issues, Vanessa’s blue dress of domesticity, and Milo, who is just the worst. So many coins in the Problematic Jar!!! The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/xenawarriorpodcast ———————————————————————— Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl) Katie: (@katetocci) Livy: (@PonderousLivy) Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

Come with us across the sea of time this week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST as we tackle Hercules & Xena: The Animated Movie - The Battle for Mount Olympus! Vera, Katie, and Livy have a lot of questions about this feature length animated spectacular, and most of them can be boiled down to: "WHY?" Like, why are their faces this way? Why is Xena's hair red in splotches? Why is Gabrielle a bird? Why doesn’t anyone talk about the romantic Arthurian/Sleeping Beauty imagery and subtexty goodness of "Xena's Song?" Why are the Titans the worst? Why is this happening?? Why was this an idea???! Etc. Boom shaka laka laka boom boom, everyone! The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/xenawarriorpodcast ———————————————————————— Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl) Katie: (@katetocci) Livy: (@PonderousLivy) Music: http://freemusica

Oh baby, it’s time for another episode of XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST! This week Vera, Katie, and Livy are in search of 4x10 “The Key to the Kingdom,” a starring vehicle for… *record scratch* Bruce Campbell? WTF, is this a joke? You’re telling us Xena and Gabs aren’t even in this one?!? After we’re done complaining, we discuss this ep’s zany spin on the Coen Brothers, its comedic undermining of Xena’s heroic persona, Joxer the Mighty Dad, and whether the new Meg revelations are consistent with her character. You can call us Punkin! The power, the passion, the podcast! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast  iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM Twitter: @xenawarriorpod Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/xenawarriorpodcast ———————————————————————— Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl) Katie: (@katetocci) Livy: (@PonderousLivy) Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/