A pig (is that Porkules' girlfriend?) watches as the vortex Hercules threw Callisto into opens, familiar hands appear, followed by a torso (I'm imagining this is how she emerged from the womb), before she screamingly dives out, basically declaring her sheer awesomeness being why it couldn't contain her (I don't disagree). It appears she's going to get her cookout after all (the pig's either very dumb or paralysed with fear as it just stands there/squeals), but instead of frying some bacon, Callisto simply shoos it away with her finger. Her pouty expression as she strokes her neck (minus the hind's blood pendant), watching the pig flee, amuses me. We cut to dancing-midriffs-of-scantily-clad-mask-wearing-women-who're-apparently-NOT-Amazons and priests who're about to sacrifice Gabrielle's childhood friend, Seraphin, until Xena intervenes (considering how annoying Seraphin is throughout the episode, they should've just let it happen). Xena offs some priests, then Callisto stops by for a little priest-throat-slitting before disappearing.
Xena/Gabrielle think the worship/sacrifices are for Callisto, who's taken the 'Priest of the Flesh' into a cave where there's some really disturbing sounds going on. Hudson Leick somehow manages to make words such as 'pumpkin' and 'flesh' (when she's talking about carving up the PotF like he's a Sunday roast) sound so fun/interesting. Ares, creeper that he is, freely admits to having been watching Xena all this time. He asks her about the hind's blood, she expositions about Callisto having killed Strife with it, he's offended that someone-not-born-a-god wants to be like the rest of them and Xena DGAF about his concern for himself/other gods. Sacrifice Time, Take 2! The cultists think the PotF's gone to a better place, now it's time for Priestess of the Blood...who's actually Xena in disguise, whooping butt until Callisto arrives. The following is an excellent scene, as there's SO much history between their characters, which both Lucy/Hudson convey.
Xena asks to hear Callisto's plan, but she's doesn't fall for that classic villain mistake. Again, Hudson seemingly relishes every word/makes the most of her dialogue, whether it's her 'tsk-tsk-tsk' at Xena or saying 'decoration' (in reference to her sword), which she says SO deliciously while fighting/flirting with Xena. When Callisto wonders if she's toying with Xena or vice versa, it sounds totally flirtatious, then her annoyed reaction/scoff upon realising Xena's actually delaying her is quite funny. She sends a fireball Xena's way, but Ares gets hit instead as he materialises (amusingly patting out his flaming chest), wanting vengeance against Callisto for using him/killing Strife in the H:TLJ crossover. Callisto blows Ares a kiss...albeit loaded with a fireball, he catches it/shoots it back, she dodges, grabs the head priest, then disappears. Xena figures out this is all about Hope, Seraphin continues being annoying as she praises the murderer of Xena's son...earning her a well-deserved-sword-pointed-at-her-face-whilst-essentially-being-told-to-STFU by Xena (Seraphin appears satisfyingly rattled by this).
Ares reappears, he's all for Xena killing Hope, and wants her leading his army...which she wants no part of. Callisto's preparing to sacrifice the head priest (who Hudson Leick likened to Sméagol from LotR in her commentary for the episode), but learns that won't work/it's *Seraphin's* blood that's needed. Meanwhile, Ares prepares to assemble the 'largest army ever'...which somehow I doubt will actually happen. Not just because of this show's budget, but also because he's visited by a pillar of flame (wonder who THAT could be?). Gabrielle/Seraphin reminisce boringly before Seraphin walks off all offended-like after learning Gabrielle is Hope's mother. Apparently that 'better place' the PotF went to involved his flesh being stripped from his bones/used to mold Hope's cocoon/egg (when Sméagol-priest's surprised Callisto knew to do this, she's all like "It's pretty self-explanatory."). Callisto wants Sméagol-priest to translate/speak egg, ensuring Hope knows why 'Auntie Callisto's' doing all this for her (ie. She wants oblivion in return). Note Hudson's rubbing-the-palms-of-her-hands-together movement as Callisto expresses her *need* for her own existence to just be OVER already.
Seraphin's *still* boring, things improve once Xena locates the cave, Callisto's "Oh, she's so good." is almost sexual in Hudson's delivery. They flirt/fight some more, Xena chops off Callisto's hand (eliciting an amusing "Ouch! Don't do that."), which she instantly regrows. I love Callisto's half-bow/arm-sweep whilst saying, "Welcome to my world...now get ready to leave it!". She's smart enough NOT to fall for Xena's attempt at getting her to use her powers, thereby bringing the cave down upon herself/trapping her like last time. Unfortunately, what she DIDN'T see coming was Xena having a hidden shield *outside* the cave, which she uses to bounce back Callisto's fireball that she hurls (Hudson's delivery of, "Can you say...nighty-night?" followed by her magnificent scream is awesome), causing her temporary-burial-under-rocks after all. Before Xena can kill Eggbert, Ares disappears with it back to his pad. Obviously his chat with Daddy Fire Pillar's got him making with the nice-nice since he's letting cocooned-Hope sit upon his throne, saying he's forgiven her/Callisto for killing Strife and trying to kill him too.
Seraphin's Priestess-of-the-Blood-ness attracts Dahak-worshipping-zombie-villagers, Xena fights them whilst Gabrielle hides Seraphin in a hut. There's a great moment where Seraphin stubbornly won't leave, so Xena punches her lights out, before flying straight up through the roof (carrying the unconscious nuisance on her back!), Once she's awake, Seraphin's BS seems to be working on Gabrielle, who lets her go free...but it's all an ELABORATE RUSE to lead Xena/Gabrielle to where Hope's at. Ares kidnaps Gabrielle, calling in his favour for getting her to Chin ahead of Xena, saying the Fates will cut Xena's life-thread (making amusing scissor-cutting-noises/finger-gestures) if she kills Hope. Xena fights Sméagol-priest...who Seraphin gets her fool self stabbed by, she wipes her blood on the cocoon (which Gabrielle prevents Xena from killing), Callisto appears, Hope hatches in gloriously gross/gooey detail (the sound-effects are particularly note-worthy). She's got her mother's eyes...and everything else (she's Gabrielle's doppelgänger). Xena/Gabrielle look shocked, while Callisto-being-Callisto finds it highly amusing. I'll forever remember reading somewhere that Hudson hilariously said all the goo was "yeast infection and snot". While this episode was mainly setup-for-Part-II...it was *entertaining* setup.
Xena/Gabrielle think the worship/sacrifices are for Callisto, who's taken the 'Priest of the Flesh' into a cave where there's some really disturbing sounds going on. Hudson Leick somehow manages to make words such as 'pumpkin' and 'flesh' (when she's talking about carving up the PotF like he's a Sunday roast) sound so fun/interesting. Ares, creeper that he is, freely admits to having been watching Xena all this time. He asks her about the hind's blood, she expositions about Callisto having killed Strife with it, he's offended that someone-not-born-a-god wants to be like the rest of them and Xena DGAF about his concern for himself/other gods. Sacrifice Time, Take 2! The cultists think the PotF's gone to a better place, now it's time for Priestess of the Blood...who's actually Xena in disguise, whooping butt until Callisto arrives. The following is an excellent scene, as there's SO much history between their characters, which both Lucy/Hudson convey.
Xena asks to hear Callisto's plan, but she's doesn't fall for that classic villain mistake. Again, Hudson seemingly relishes every word/makes the most of her dialogue, whether it's her 'tsk-tsk-tsk' at Xena or saying 'decoration' (in reference to her sword), which she says SO deliciously while fighting/flirting with Xena. When Callisto wonders if she's toying with Xena or vice versa, it sounds totally flirtatious, then her annoyed reaction/scoff upon realising Xena's actually delaying her is quite funny. She sends a fireball Xena's way, but Ares gets hit instead as he materialises (amusingly patting out his flaming chest), wanting vengeance against Callisto for using him/killing Strife in the H:TLJ crossover. Callisto blows Ares a kiss...albeit loaded with a fireball, he catches it/shoots it back, she dodges, grabs the head priest, then disappears. Xena figures out this is all about Hope, Seraphin continues being annoying as she praises the murderer of Xena's son...earning her a well-deserved-sword-pointed-at-her-face-whilst-essentially-being-told-to-STFU by Xena (Seraphin appears satisfyingly rattled by this).
Ares reappears, he's all for Xena killing Hope, and wants her leading his army...which she wants no part of. Callisto's preparing to sacrifice the head priest (who Hudson Leick likened to Sméagol from LotR in her commentary for the episode), but learns that won't work/it's *Seraphin's* blood that's needed. Meanwhile, Ares prepares to assemble the 'largest army ever'...which somehow I doubt will actually happen. Not just because of this show's budget, but also because he's visited by a pillar of flame (wonder who THAT could be?). Gabrielle/Seraphin reminisce boringly before Seraphin walks off all offended-like after learning Gabrielle is Hope's mother. Apparently that 'better place' the PotF went to involved his flesh being stripped from his bones/used to mold Hope's cocoon/egg (when Sméagol-priest's surprised Callisto knew to do this, she's all like "It's pretty self-explanatory."). Callisto wants Sméagol-priest to translate/speak egg, ensuring Hope knows why 'Auntie Callisto's' doing all this for her (ie. She wants oblivion in return). Note Hudson's rubbing-the-palms-of-her-hands-together movement as Callisto expresses her *need* for her own existence to just be OVER already.
Seraphin's *still* boring, things improve once Xena locates the cave, Callisto's "Oh, she's so good." is almost sexual in Hudson's delivery. They flirt/fight some more, Xena chops off Callisto's hand (eliciting an amusing "Ouch! Don't do that."), which she instantly regrows. I love Callisto's half-bow/arm-sweep whilst saying, "Welcome to my world...now get ready to leave it!". She's smart enough NOT to fall for Xena's attempt at getting her to use her powers, thereby bringing the cave down upon herself/trapping her like last time. Unfortunately, what she DIDN'T see coming was Xena having a hidden shield *outside* the cave, which she uses to bounce back Callisto's fireball that she hurls (Hudson's delivery of, "Can you say...nighty-night?" followed by her magnificent scream is awesome), causing her temporary-burial-under-rocks after all. Before Xena can kill Eggbert, Ares disappears with it back to his pad. Obviously his chat with Daddy Fire Pillar's got him making with the nice-nice since he's letting cocooned-Hope sit upon his throne, saying he's forgiven her/Callisto for killing Strife and trying to kill him too.
Seraphin's Priestess-of-the-Blood-ness attracts Dahak-worshipping-zombie-villagers, Xena fights them whilst Gabrielle hides Seraphin in a hut. There's a great moment where Seraphin stubbornly won't leave, so Xena punches her lights out, before flying straight up through the roof (carrying the unconscious nuisance on her back!), Once she's awake, Seraphin's BS seems to be working on Gabrielle, who lets her go free...but it's all an ELABORATE RUSE to lead Xena/Gabrielle to where Hope's at. Ares kidnaps Gabrielle, calling in his favour for getting her to Chin ahead of Xena, saying the Fates will cut Xena's life-thread (making amusing scissor-cutting-noises/finger-gestures) if she kills Hope. Xena fights Sméagol-priest...who Seraphin gets her fool self stabbed by, she wipes her blood on the cocoon (which Gabrielle prevents Xena from killing), Callisto appears, Hope hatches in gloriously gross/gooey detail (the sound-effects are particularly note-worthy). She's got her mother's eyes...and everything else (she's Gabrielle's doppelgänger). Xena/Gabrielle look shocked, while Callisto-being-Callisto finds it highly amusing. I'll forever remember reading somewhere that Hudson hilariously said all the goo was "yeast infection and snot". While this episode was mainly setup-for-Part-II...it was *entertaining* setup.
