Comedy of Eros
In a nutshell: Cupid's arrows fly everywhere, and everybody's in love with somebody unexpected.
We should just call this episode the Tweak-O-Rama. I knew the show was
gonna be way outta control the minute a villager started chasing a cow
across the town square. The writers threw a barrage of knuckleballs at
us to get reactions. Homosexuality and bestiality don't get your, pardon
the phrase, goat? OK, how about more double-entrendres than you can keep
up with?
"I love cherries."And if that doesn't strike sparks, I don't suppose an occasional naughty word from Xena ("Ain't love a bitch?!") will get a rise out of you? Ah, I got it, Joxer! Joxer always works - look! Love with Joxer! The reprise of "Joxer the Mighty" - not once, but twice! Xena calls someone "sweetie!" Gabrielle utters the word "Pookie!" How about food? Bananas and grapes and cherries take on new and fascinating connotations! We'll manage to tweak EVERYbody with SOMEthing tonight!
"Me, too."
"Did I mention I'm a widow?""Sorry, I was kinda tied up..."
I'm always up for a good Xena tweakfest. I'm not so sure about ending the season on one; tweakfests generally have to sacrifice some story consistency and depth in order to accomplish their missions, and this one was no exception.
But it was still an awfully funny episode, even if I do wonder whether season 3 is going to open up with Gab finding Xena in a waterfall and asking her "What happened to all that business with Draco? And is Joxer still madly in love with me?", to which Xena will respond that it must have all been a dream and to lay off the squid before bedtime from now on.
I love the premise. Cupid's arrows flying around like darts in the hands of a drunken taverner. I spent the episode anxiously awaiting the next shower of sparks. How powerful ARE Cupid's missiles? If we can cross gender and species, how far will these arrows go?
"Grass! Sweet, beautiful grass! I love grass!"Going back to that earlier point about consistency, though, the kid shoots half a quiver of arrows in the midst of a group of Hestial virgins, but they all chase the soldiers instead of each other? C'mon, that Scooby-Doo scene in the castle would have been just as funny (or more so) if it had been virgins chasing virgins and soldiers chasing soldiers through the halls. Or maybe that Tweak-O-Rama would have tweaked the networks a wee bit too much.
"By the gods, who built this wonderful wall?"
"Look! Dirt!"
Time for minor quibbles: Xena hid the virgins among the villagers - but they all kept their robes and veils on? Greeeeat camoflauge, there, girls. Oh yeah, that'll fool 'em. And now we know that Gabrielle's bag contains a spare set of the amazon garb, including one of those headpieces left over from Mardi Gras . Where the heck did THAT come from? Just wanted to give the old wardrobe a spin for two scenes? And what was the point - if she can dress in a leather bikini, she must be an Amazon princess? Granted, it was fun to see that card finally get played; Gabrielle doesn't usually make much mention of her royal heritage (probably because no one would believe her). It was nice to see her get to pull out the Amazon credentials.
I loved the long, slow tease about who Gabrielle was going to see after
she was shot. No one else got that kind of suspense. The lesson of this
episode - barring shower scenes where we find out it's all a dream - is
that for all her romantic ideas, our dear bard is just clueless when it
comes to love. She never figures out why Xena's going so mad for Draco,
she doesn't think twice about suddenly finding Joxer irresistible, and
she has no idea Joxer's love sticks around after Cupid clears things up.
It would have been quite a stitch to see what clues Cupid's arrow would
have given her about Xena. Ah, well, maybe next time.
No surprises in the differences in our heroines' ideas of hot times on
the town. For Xena, it's arm-wrestling, sensual (and back-breaking)
massages, and rough tumbles. Gab goes for picnics and songs under the
trees. Both, though, don't seem to have any need for tidiness with
clothes or weaponry.
Xena and Draco get THIIIIIS close to mad, passionate love-making, and
Xena (and the viewers) end up with a cold dip in the pond. No harm, no
foul; no one ends up doing anything "under the influence" that will
cause problems after the sun goes down. Did the producers want us to be
strung along right with Draco, or was sex with Draco just going a bit
too far? Was this a) yet another tweak, or b) a limit to the tweaks? Or
maybe an oxymoronish combination of both?
Speaking of more permanent problems, though, did anyone else notice the
fact that Xena was slaughtering those soldiers left and right in the
final battle? I haven't seen her sword edge get that much use in ages;
the bodies were stacking up like cordwood. It was a brutal moment in the
midst of a light comedy episode; it really knocked me off kilter.
Draco is still a neat character. That is an excellent, excellent villian
- cold and ruthless as all get out, but with principles that don't waver
an inch. Extremely competent, sharp strategist, highly dangerous. Let's
see some more of Draco, even if he's now trying to figure out how to be
a good guy. ("Livestock?")
Poor, poor Joxer. Didn't feel sorry for him when he was depressed about
being a warrior. Heart broke for him at the end of this episode. Sure,
the Joxer-haters can say he just loved having somebody around who was
willing to feed his ego, but our poor Wanna-be had fallen hard.
Gabrielle *really* comes out golden in this ep. At the end, Draco is
travelling the world doing good deeds in her name, Joxer's almost in
tears at the campfire over her, and she and Xena are off sharing a
bath in the river. How much did THAT bribe to the writers set Renee back?
Return to the Wool-Gatherings.
Rate-A-Xena is brought to you by the letter omega, the number IV, and
Beth Griese. Feel free to send any
comments or questions my way!