This episode is the follow-up to the Hell arc, which was previously featured in the Haunting of Amphipolis. As a sub-string connective plot point episode, this one also rocked hard. It portrayed the deadly and dark emotions lurking inside mortals when they are engrossed by the darkness in their hearts. First off, after Xena has slain Mephistopheles (my favorite villain in the entire series), she ends up being forced into taking his throne by the Archangels who were sent to enforce this agenda. To this end, they are unsuccessful to do so because Xena is smart enough to trick them in her own game. She lures the archangel Lucifer with her own evil intentions, forcing him to commit the seven deadly sins and pretty much making him the new Devil. Of course, Xena has that wonderful statement in the end to boot: "That's what makes us human, Lucifer. But in you, an Archangel, to succumb to such temptation, that's what makes you a monster." And then, we see the wonderful effects of Lucifer's transformation into the red-skinned horned devil. Of course, he is then kicked down to hell, where he is now Mephistopheles' replacement as the king of hell. The whole concept of Xena killing the devil Mephistopheles and then tricking Lucifer into committing the biblical seven deadly sins and having him succumb to the bowels of hell make this episode a very awesome one as well. When it comes to the overall moral value as well as the initial creative writing for characters like Mephistopheles and Lucifer, these episodes shine all the way through with their proper usage of brilliantly designed villains.
2 Reviews
Excellent Interpretation of the Devil's Displaying of the Seven Deadly Sins
Zabon13 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Heart of lustness...
xenatorres22 September 2007
"Heart of Darkness" played more like a soft porno than an episode of "Xena". An episode all about hell spilling onto earth could have and should have been a lot more powerful if it had played with emotions besides just lust.
Though it's clear the actors were having fun and their performances are top notch as always, so much more could have been done with this episode if it had dealt more with, as the title would suggest, the heart of darkness; the episode should have been dark, not lustful. In fact, "Heart of Darkness" was a phrase used by the darkest villain of the "Xena" series Alti and in a series where your lead character (and her daughter who was also in the episode) was a murderous warlord, one would have expected the writers to have delivered something more along the lines of "The Price", but to a whole new level.
The costume designers also seemed to be enjoying themselves as well as sets and lighting. "Heart of Darkness" did have a very distinctive look to it, which fans expect to see on a series that constantly pushes the envelope of design.
Though it's clear the actors were having fun and their performances are top notch as always, so much more could have been done with this episode if it had dealt more with, as the title would suggest, the heart of darkness; the episode should have been dark, not lustful. In fact, "Heart of Darkness" was a phrase used by the darkest villain of the "Xena" series Alti and in a series where your lead character (and her daughter who was also in the episode) was a murderous warlord, one would have expected the writers to have delivered something more along the lines of "The Price", but to a whole new level.
The costume designers also seemed to be enjoying themselves as well as sets and lighting. "Heart of Darkness" did have a very distinctive look to it, which fans expect to see on a series that constantly pushes the envelope of design.
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