Gabrielle's friend, Meleager, from the episode 'The Prodigal,' is convicted of murder. His punishment is to be executed. Gabrielle is certain he didn't do it and will do anything to free him. Xena believes Meleager isn't being entirely truthful and is unsure if he did it or not. This pits Gabs against Xena.
Was it me, or did Gabrielle come off as very immature here? "Whatever he did, I'm sure he didn't do it." "You find that one-eyed man and clear yourself." See what I mean? I just found her logic and rationality were gone. Suddenly she's like this little 5-year-old. When Xena was accused of murders in 'The Reckoning,' Gabs used logic, clues, and rationality to try and prove her innocence.
Meleager was a lot more fun in 'The Prodigal.' Drunk Meleager was hilarious. Sorry. Not sorry. Here he was kind of boring. And when did Gab's become so close to him? They had like one episode together. She barely knew him. Just came off as weird, making one think did they miss an episode or something?
Xena had the best line in this episode.
Salesman: "Here you go, little lady, the perfect souvenir for the occasion!"
Xena: "I'm not a little lady."
Lol. Loved her expression when she said that. Speaking of which, Xena also gives her most surprised expression when she catches the arrow with her mouth. Xena does indeed have many skills, but even she surprised herself with that one. I also loved when she went after the guy in the tree shooting the arrows, and flips into the tree, "You dropped these!" she says with a laughing expression. Then loops him in the rope, the entire time enjoying getting the upper hand over him. Let's face it, Xena loves being a warrior. She loves the battle and beating the opponent, especially in a situation like this where she doesn't have to kill anyone.
Xena was right to think Meleager wasn't being completely honest. She was in detective mode. I see this kind of stuff in true-life crimes, where it takes having all the facts in order to figure something out. Gabrielle meant well, but she should have been in detective mode right alongside Xena.
I think the weakest part was the ending. It seemed rushed and a little confusing and weird when Judge Arbus capitulated his guilt. Though he didn't exactly admit to anything. And the little fella didn't even testify. So it comes around in a circle again back to justice. Where's the justice with actual evidence and the witness against Arbus? If Xena was the one that really killed the man, why wasn't she put on trial to clear her name, using the witness? How did Meleager know about Volkur? Are we to assume Xena got to Meleager and filled him in? Doesn't seem like there was much opportunity to do that. Why did all those people enter when "dead" Meleager was confronting Arbus? Xena went out and got them all? While she wanted by the town's authorities? Why would they even listen to her then? See, it was a very messy resolve. I think the writer just kind of glossed everything over, not wanting Xena to be arrested and having to deal with that, and so had the story just kind of quickly end.
I thought the action was really good and fun. As for Gabs going up against Xena, she meant well, but the writer shouldn't have had her acting like a 5-year-old. I should really give it a 7 because of the messy ending and the writing for Gabs, but I liked a lot of other things enough that I gave it an 8/10.
Was it me, or did Gabrielle come off as very immature here? "Whatever he did, I'm sure he didn't do it." "You find that one-eyed man and clear yourself." See what I mean? I just found her logic and rationality were gone. Suddenly she's like this little 5-year-old. When Xena was accused of murders in 'The Reckoning,' Gabs used logic, clues, and rationality to try and prove her innocence.
Meleager was a lot more fun in 'The Prodigal.' Drunk Meleager was hilarious. Sorry. Not sorry. Here he was kind of boring. And when did Gab's become so close to him? They had like one episode together. She barely knew him. Just came off as weird, making one think did they miss an episode or something?
Xena had the best line in this episode.
Salesman: "Here you go, little lady, the perfect souvenir for the occasion!"
Xena: "I'm not a little lady."
Lol. Loved her expression when she said that. Speaking of which, Xena also gives her most surprised expression when she catches the arrow with her mouth. Xena does indeed have many skills, but even she surprised herself with that one. I also loved when she went after the guy in the tree shooting the arrows, and flips into the tree, "You dropped these!" she says with a laughing expression. Then loops him in the rope, the entire time enjoying getting the upper hand over him. Let's face it, Xena loves being a warrior. She loves the battle and beating the opponent, especially in a situation like this where she doesn't have to kill anyone.
Xena was right to think Meleager wasn't being completely honest. She was in detective mode. I see this kind of stuff in true-life crimes, where it takes having all the facts in order to figure something out. Gabrielle meant well, but she should have been in detective mode right alongside Xena.
I think the weakest part was the ending. It seemed rushed and a little confusing and weird when Judge Arbus capitulated his guilt. Though he didn't exactly admit to anything. And the little fella didn't even testify. So it comes around in a circle again back to justice. Where's the justice with actual evidence and the witness against Arbus? If Xena was the one that really killed the man, why wasn't she put on trial to clear her name, using the witness? How did Meleager know about Volkur? Are we to assume Xena got to Meleager and filled him in? Doesn't seem like there was much opportunity to do that. Why did all those people enter when "dead" Meleager was confronting Arbus? Xena went out and got them all? While she wanted by the town's authorities? Why would they even listen to her then? See, it was a very messy resolve. I think the writer just kind of glossed everything over, not wanting Xena to be arrested and having to deal with that, and so had the story just kind of quickly end.
I thought the action was really good and fun. As for Gabs going up against Xena, she meant well, but the writer shouldn't have had her acting like a 5-year-old. I should really give it a 7 because of the messy ending and the writing for Gabs, but I liked a lot of other things enough that I gave it an 8/10.
