"Coming Home" is the weakest season premiere of "Xena" mostly due to a poorly written script. The biggest problem with this episode was that, rather than having a main a sub plot, the episode instead trips over two A plot lines; Ares' army and Eve and the Amazons. Neither story can take a back seat to the other, but the episode constantly tries to make the Amazons and Eve a sub-plot. "Coming Home" would have been stronger if it had focused on only one of these stories, while making the other one a separate episode. "Xena" rarely does B plots and the fact that The Powers That Be felt the need to force a major plot into a side note of this episode speaks to the issues with the main plot.
Despite the failings of the writer, the talented cast was able to rise above the script and they kept things entertaining. Top props go to Kevin Smith for being able to pull off the over-the-top crazy Ares. The extreme level of madness could have very easily been far overdone by another actor.
Tsianina Joelson joins the regular guest cast as the new Amazon, Varia, who seems to be a cross between Amarice and the early Ephiny from "Hooves & Harlots". Her scenes with Adrienne Wilkinson are some of the most enjoyable of the episode because those are able to overcome the dialogue with their performances.
Despite the failings of the writer, the talented cast was able to rise above the script and they kept things entertaining. Top props go to Kevin Smith for being able to pull off the over-the-top crazy Ares. The extreme level of madness could have very easily been far overdone by another actor.
Tsianina Joelson joins the regular guest cast as the new Amazon, Varia, who seems to be a cross between Amarice and the early Ephiny from "Hooves & Harlots". Her scenes with Adrienne Wilkinson are some of the most enjoyable of the episode because those are able to overcome the dialogue with their performances.
