One of the fun things about the whole Xena series is, they're not afraid to make fun of themselves and put their own spin on old tales. In this one, we have a nasty, miserly king who hates Solstice because his wife walked out on him 30 years before on that special day. His latest vile act: evicting an orphanage because they can't pay their taxes. Xena wants to bust heads, but Gabrielle talks her into trying a peaceful way: set him up to think the three Fates are showing him his past, present and future and get him to change his ways. Along the way we meet a toy maker named Senticles, who comes to the rescue by bringing toys to the children and helping set the king up for the shock of his life. Senticles, of course, manages to get the toys to the kids by dressing up in a disguise - bright red suit and big white beard - and sneaking into the orphanage through the chimney. Hmm, Senticles, Santa Claus, ya think???? The king finds his soul, and there are a couple of not-unexpected twists at the end that I won't mention. It's all very predictable and sappy, but that unique Xena slant on things makes it great fun. And of course, Xena does get to bust a few heads, though she uses rubber swords, pillows and the like to do it. Quite enjoyable and worth watching if just for the laughs.
4 Reviews
A Solstice Carol
Prismark107 July 2020
A festive cheer, although this is A Christmas Carol disguised as a Winter Solstice story.
Xena and Gabrielle strive to keep an orphanage from closing down. King Silvus has no time for the winter solstice and the orphanage cannot pay its taxes.
His assistant Senticles was once a toy maker now fallen on hard times as toys have been banned.
Xena goes to King Silvus as three spirits. His wife left him at this time of the year and that his why he comes down hard when people try to celebrate this time of the year.
It is Christmas done the Xena way. Although it also comes across as a lazy retread which the show has been guilty of in the past.
Senticles even ends up in a Santa costume dishing out presents to the kids. There is a donkey that Gabrielle acquires and I suspect that Silvus will discover the errors of his way.
Xena and Gabrielle strive to keep an orphanage from closing down. King Silvus has no time for the winter solstice and the orphanage cannot pay its taxes.
His assistant Senticles was once a toy maker now fallen on hard times as toys have been banned.
Xena goes to King Silvus as three spirits. His wife left him at this time of the year and that his why he comes down hard when people try to celebrate this time of the year.
It is Christmas done the Xena way. Although it also comes across as a lazy retread which the show has been guilty of in the past.
Senticles even ends up in a Santa costume dishing out presents to the kids. There is a donkey that Gabrielle acquires and I suspect that Silvus will discover the errors of his way.
Salute to Xena - A 25th Anniversary Review
skullface202022 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The Winter Solstice is a special time of year where people sing carols and give each other gifts. But grumpy King Silvus is out to ruin it all, and it's up to Xena and Gabrielle to save this special holiday.
SYNOPSIS
King Silvus runs a brutal tax collection scheme where no exceptions are given to those down on their luck. With the help of his accountant Senticles, Silvus is throwing a bunch of tax delinquents into prison. He's even about to shut down an orphanage at midnight on the Winter Solstice simply because they can't pay a 1,000 dinar tax bill. Silvus just doesn't care. This is about the time that Xena and Gabrielle enter town for some holiday shopping. A boy steals Xena's chakram and they chase him down only to find that he's using it to decorate his orphanage's Winter Solstice tree. Xena gets the weapon back, and she and Gabrielle get along well with the orphans and their keeper since there are no hard feelings.
Xena and Gabrielle are shocked when they find out that the orphanage will be shut down, and on Winter Solstice of all nights. When conversing with Senticles they find out that he's actually a former toy maker, but he went out of business when King Silvus banned toys. Now he has to work as the king's minion. Apparently the king became a grinch after the passing of his wife a long time ago on Winter Solstice Night. Xena pays the king a visit, but his heart remains hard. However, as she escapes his palace she finds the abandoned Winter Solstice tree he and his wife had many years ago. She decides to pose as the three fates and show King Silvus a little about his past, present, and future. Maybe this will open his eyes and change his tune. In order to get gear for this ruse, Xena and Gabrielle pool together all the cash they have on hand. It's 35 dinars, and Gabrielle wisely spends it all on a donkey named Tobias who was on his way to the slaughter house.
Xena appears in King Silvus' room, and he's not playing this game. However, a little bit of special effects done thanks to Gabrielle and Senticles convince Silvus that Xena is actually one of the magic fates goddesses. He "sees" his past which is all sad since it revolves around his beloved late wife. After consuming a drugged cocktail he got from Xena, he wakes up in his bed once again. Xena, dressed as another fate, takes him out to view the misery his policies are creating. His soldiers encounter him, but don't believe he's the king. Basically Xena beats up on the soldiers attacking the orphanage while Gabrielle and Senticles try to break in with the latter's toys he's bringing for all the girls and boys. They enter via the chimney, Senticles is of course sporting a fake beard and an all red suit for whatever reason. King Silvus notes his wrong ways, and he has a little surprise when he meets the woman running the orphanage. It's Melana, is wife from many years ago who left him (she didn't actually die, but maybe that was the story he told people). She left because he had a cold heart. He tells her he's reformed now, and asks for her forgiveness. All is well in the kingdom now, and the people can celebrate Winter Solstice Night. The orphanage will be forgiven of it's debts, and Xena and Gabrielle are off on the road out of town. They gift Tobias the donkey to a nice young couple with a baby whom they meet on the road.
NOTES
Gabrielle really has a soft spot for holiday cheer. Xena knows that being evil and cold-hearted is no way to live, but everyone can be redeemed. There's little action here, but it's important to note that Lucy Lawless was recovering from an injury that will partially sideline her for the rest of season 2.
Enter: King Silvus, Senticles, Melana
SYNOPSIS
King Silvus runs a brutal tax collection scheme where no exceptions are given to those down on their luck. With the help of his accountant Senticles, Silvus is throwing a bunch of tax delinquents into prison. He's even about to shut down an orphanage at midnight on the Winter Solstice simply because they can't pay a 1,000 dinar tax bill. Silvus just doesn't care. This is about the time that Xena and Gabrielle enter town for some holiday shopping. A boy steals Xena's chakram and they chase him down only to find that he's using it to decorate his orphanage's Winter Solstice tree. Xena gets the weapon back, and she and Gabrielle get along well with the orphans and their keeper since there are no hard feelings.
Xena and Gabrielle are shocked when they find out that the orphanage will be shut down, and on Winter Solstice of all nights. When conversing with Senticles they find out that he's actually a former toy maker, but he went out of business when King Silvus banned toys. Now he has to work as the king's minion. Apparently the king became a grinch after the passing of his wife a long time ago on Winter Solstice Night. Xena pays the king a visit, but his heart remains hard. However, as she escapes his palace she finds the abandoned Winter Solstice tree he and his wife had many years ago. She decides to pose as the three fates and show King Silvus a little about his past, present, and future. Maybe this will open his eyes and change his tune. In order to get gear for this ruse, Xena and Gabrielle pool together all the cash they have on hand. It's 35 dinars, and Gabrielle wisely spends it all on a donkey named Tobias who was on his way to the slaughter house.
Xena appears in King Silvus' room, and he's not playing this game. However, a little bit of special effects done thanks to Gabrielle and Senticles convince Silvus that Xena is actually one of the magic fates goddesses. He "sees" his past which is all sad since it revolves around his beloved late wife. After consuming a drugged cocktail he got from Xena, he wakes up in his bed once again. Xena, dressed as another fate, takes him out to view the misery his policies are creating. His soldiers encounter him, but don't believe he's the king. Basically Xena beats up on the soldiers attacking the orphanage while Gabrielle and Senticles try to break in with the latter's toys he's bringing for all the girls and boys. They enter via the chimney, Senticles is of course sporting a fake beard and an all red suit for whatever reason. King Silvus notes his wrong ways, and he has a little surprise when he meets the woman running the orphanage. It's Melana, is wife from many years ago who left him (she didn't actually die, but maybe that was the story he told people). She left because he had a cold heart. He tells her he's reformed now, and asks for her forgiveness. All is well in the kingdom now, and the people can celebrate Winter Solstice Night. The orphanage will be forgiven of it's debts, and Xena and Gabrielle are off on the road out of town. They gift Tobias the donkey to a nice young couple with a baby whom they meet on the road.
NOTES
Gabrielle really has a soft spot for holiday cheer. Xena knows that being evil and cold-hearted is no way to live, but everyone can be redeemed. There's little action here, but it's important to note that Lucy Lawless was recovering from an injury that will partially sideline her for the rest of season 2.
Enter: King Silvus, Senticles, Melana
My least favourite Xena episode.
brontejosephine4 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is going to come across as hysterically dramatic, and it is, but I couldn't help but be deeply disappointed by the episode. "A Christmas Carol" is one of my most beloved stories of all time; the older I get, the more I feel I understand it, and the more relevant it seems to me.
Santa Claus as a claustrophobic coward working for a greedy king, I understood. Xena's shakram on the top of a Christmas tree, I loved that. Baubles being thrown left and right, candy-cane cross bow - I loved all of that.
This show is a lot of fun, and it portraying Christmas iconography is cool, and I am exactly the kind of person who would have really enjoyed it.
But you should not do "A Christmas Carol" in 40 minutes, especially not with a B plot about Santa Claus and a Christmas donkey. That, clearly, cannot be done well. The writers missed the very essence of the story itself and replaced it with the shallowest interpretation of the character Scrooge, who is the most powerful character ever associated with a Christmas tale. Don't come at me Jesus stans, you know it's true.
And I realise that a TV show from the 90s is a weird thing to be going after in this the year 2019, but honestly, I get the feeling no one making this even read the novel. While the removal of the anti-Semitic aspects is always nice, the removal of everything else is not.
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