Altared States

Well this viewer nearly copped an eyeful as Xena and Gabrielle are in the water skinny dipping.

The episode is rather fishy and it is not because Xena beats up some villagers with a wet fish as they chase a young kid who is due to be sacrificed.

It is the reworking of the Abraham and Issac story.

Anteus believes in one all powerful god who is having second thoughts about sacrificing his youngest son, Icus. However it is all a ploy by his eldest son Mael who has drugged his father's food and pretends he is god by using a bullhorn to amplify his voice and making a loud gong type noise. Mael wants to get rid of his brother as he is seen as a rival.

A youthful Karl Urban plays Mael. It just about stays on the right side of camp. Anteus being is a drug induced state means Judeo-Christians are less likely to be upset.

And this is where they went wrong. Not only the ark, but "god" speaking? Not in a bloody show in this time frame, thank you.