Young women are disappearing and Xena knows that Bacchus, the god of wine and trouble, is behind all of this. She and Gabrielle will need to work with an interesting team in order to save these innocent young maidens.
SYNOPSIS
Xena and Gabrielle learn that young women are being kidnapped from their villages. Xena knows that this is the work of Bacchus who wants to turn them into his Bacchae who are crazed vampire-like followers of his cult. She and Gabrielle are joined by endearing fool, and poor man's warrior, Joxer the Mighty. Along in his satchel Joxer carries the talking head of Orpheus who has been robbed of his body by Bacchus. Xena and Orpheus have a difficult past. Xena's army was once involved in a battle where Orpheus' wife was accidentally killed in the fog of war. Xena emphasizes her sorrow for this regrettable accident, but Orpheus still places some of the blame on Xena.
The group knows that they can defeat Bacchus by getting Orpheus' lyre back. Since Orpheus is currently missing his body, Joxer volunteers to play it while Orpheus sings. They go into town to get the instrument back from Orpheus' friend, but the man is dead and the lyre is missing. This was the work of Bacchus' lady Bacchae who must have already taken it back to his lair. While in the village, Xena and Gabrielle look out for these Bacchae, and they're everywhere. A brief skirmish results in the Bacchae running off with the lyre, but Joxer is left worried that they bit Xena and thus infected her so that she'll turn into one of them. He warns Gabrielle. The group ventures the Bacchus' lair, but as they recover from a small attack they see that it's Gabrielle who is infected with the Bacchae curse! She runs off, and now the situation is very dangerous indeed.
Entering Bacchus' lair shows Xena and crew that all the young maidens, including Gabrielle, are close to being indoctrinated forever. This will happen at the right moment when they drink his blood, but he's delaying this ritual in anticipation of capturing Xena and adding her to his brood. A battle ensues, and Joxer gets his lights knocked out by Bacchus before he gets a chance to play the lyre. Turns out that now the only way to kill Bacchus is for one of his Bacchae to strike him down. Xena lets Gabrielle bite her and turn her into a Bacchae, and of course Bacchus watches this unfold with much glee. However, suddenly the two turn upon Bacchus and Xena kills him. All the possessed woman are freed from his grasp on them, and everyone is good to go home. Orpheus gets his entire body back, and he's grateful for Xena's help. As Xena and Gabrielle say goodbye to Joxer for the time being, they can hear beautiful music that Orpheus and his late wife are playing together.
NOTES
Joxer is somewhat of a buffoon to be sure, but he's righteous and actually can be very helpful to Xena and Gabrielle. Gabrielle and Xena's friendship is stronger than the spell cast by greedy Bacchus.
Enter: Orpheus, Bacchus
SYNOPSIS
Xena and Gabrielle learn that young women are being kidnapped from their villages. Xena knows that this is the work of Bacchus who wants to turn them into his Bacchae who are crazed vampire-like followers of his cult. She and Gabrielle are joined by endearing fool, and poor man's warrior, Joxer the Mighty. Along in his satchel Joxer carries the talking head of Orpheus who has been robbed of his body by Bacchus. Xena and Orpheus have a difficult past. Xena's army was once involved in a battle where Orpheus' wife was accidentally killed in the fog of war. Xena emphasizes her sorrow for this regrettable accident, but Orpheus still places some of the blame on Xena.
The group knows that they can defeat Bacchus by getting Orpheus' lyre back. Since Orpheus is currently missing his body, Joxer volunteers to play it while Orpheus sings. They go into town to get the instrument back from Orpheus' friend, but the man is dead and the lyre is missing. This was the work of Bacchus' lady Bacchae who must have already taken it back to his lair. While in the village, Xena and Gabrielle look out for these Bacchae, and they're everywhere. A brief skirmish results in the Bacchae running off with the lyre, but Joxer is left worried that they bit Xena and thus infected her so that she'll turn into one of them. He warns Gabrielle. The group ventures the Bacchus' lair, but as they recover from a small attack they see that it's Gabrielle who is infected with the Bacchae curse! She runs off, and now the situation is very dangerous indeed.
Entering Bacchus' lair shows Xena and crew that all the young maidens, including Gabrielle, are close to being indoctrinated forever. This will happen at the right moment when they drink his blood, but he's delaying this ritual in anticipation of capturing Xena and adding her to his brood. A battle ensues, and Joxer gets his lights knocked out by Bacchus before he gets a chance to play the lyre. Turns out that now the only way to kill Bacchus is for one of his Bacchae to strike him down. Xena lets Gabrielle bite her and turn her into a Bacchae, and of course Bacchus watches this unfold with much glee. However, suddenly the two turn upon Bacchus and Xena kills him. All the possessed woman are freed from his grasp on them, and everyone is good to go home. Orpheus gets his entire body back, and he's grateful for Xena's help. As Xena and Gabrielle say goodbye to Joxer for the time being, they can hear beautiful music that Orpheus and his late wife are playing together.
NOTES
Joxer is somewhat of a buffoon to be sure, but he's righteous and actually can be very helpful to Xena and Gabrielle. Gabrielle and Xena's friendship is stronger than the spell cast by greedy Bacchus.
Enter: Orpheus, Bacchus