Xena and Gabrielle find themselves yet again defending an innocent community from violent warlords. However, they're up against an old friend of Xena's who also happens to be a giant.
SYNOPSIS
Xena takes Gabrielle to a giant gravesite where she will meet an old friend on the 10th anniversary of a battle they fought together. Xena's friend is a giant, and he informs her that he's been working as a hired gun for a militia who is doing battle against a band of freeloaders. He's saving his money for a journey that he's planning in order to exact revenge on those who killed his family. Xena warns hims that centering your life around revenge is dangerous, and one might lose his way and become the bad guy.
It turns out that Xena's giant friend, Goliath, is working for a Philistine army, and he reports directly to a warrior known as Dagon. Dagon is familiar with Xena, and he tries to recruit her. However, it becomes clear to Xena and Gabrielle that the people Dagon's army are fighting against are not criminals. Instead, they are a clan known as the Israelites who are under attack since they are foraging their land for game. Their leader is King Saul, and the Philistines want to seize and develop the Israelite land for their own uses. Xena and Gabrielle help some of the imprisoned Israelites escape, and King Saul invites Xena and Gabrielle to stay at his camp. His heir is Jonathan, and his household includes younger son David who is selfless and brave when defending his loved ones. Gabrielle befriends young David who also happens to be a writer of psalms. Meanwhile, under cover of darkness, Xena tries to convince Goliath to stop fighting the Israelites, but he's dead set on his plan to defeat them and then move on to seek revenge for his family.
Xena and the Israelite leaders become aware that the Philistines are marching upon their camp, and Goliath is at the head of their army. Unfortunately Jonathan had been killed in a skirmish with Goliath and the Philistines. Given the weak state of the Israelite forces, Xena decides to propose a battle to the death between her and Goliath in lieu of an all-out battle between both forces. However, Xena and David discuss matters and agree that David should be the one fighting. Morale among the Israelites is extremely low after Jonathan's death, and they need a hometown hero like David to come to their rescue.
David will use his slingshot against Goliath. Fortunately, Xena knows that Goliath's weak spot is his forehead, and one shot there could easily kill him. Unfortunately, Goliath appears to be aware of this weakness and shows up to battle wearing a helmet. The duel begins, and David is struggling to say the least. However, upon Xena's command the Israelites use the reflection of their shields to cast rays of sunlight upon Goliath's helmet. The intense heat forces him to remove his headgear, and he's suddenly knocked out by a shot from David's sling. The Israelites are freed and have a new hero in David. Xena bids farewell to her old giant friend as he passes away, and she hopes that he sees his lost family on the other side.
NOTES
Story taken from the Judeo-Christian saga of David and Goliath, but here Goliath is a conflicted personality who had long been a friend of Xena. Gabrielle's love of the arts shows when she encourages David to embrace his psalm writing and to share it with others.
Enter: Goliath, David, King Saul
SYNOPSIS
Xena takes Gabrielle to a giant gravesite where she will meet an old friend on the 10th anniversary of a battle they fought together. Xena's friend is a giant, and he informs her that he's been working as a hired gun for a militia who is doing battle against a band of freeloaders. He's saving his money for a journey that he's planning in order to exact revenge on those who killed his family. Xena warns hims that centering your life around revenge is dangerous, and one might lose his way and become the bad guy.
It turns out that Xena's giant friend, Goliath, is working for a Philistine army, and he reports directly to a warrior known as Dagon. Dagon is familiar with Xena, and he tries to recruit her. However, it becomes clear to Xena and Gabrielle that the people Dagon's army are fighting against are not criminals. Instead, they are a clan known as the Israelites who are under attack since they are foraging their land for game. Their leader is King Saul, and the Philistines want to seize and develop the Israelite land for their own uses. Xena and Gabrielle help some of the imprisoned Israelites escape, and King Saul invites Xena and Gabrielle to stay at his camp. His heir is Jonathan, and his household includes younger son David who is selfless and brave when defending his loved ones. Gabrielle befriends young David who also happens to be a writer of psalms. Meanwhile, under cover of darkness, Xena tries to convince Goliath to stop fighting the Israelites, but he's dead set on his plan to defeat them and then move on to seek revenge for his family.
Xena and the Israelite leaders become aware that the Philistines are marching upon their camp, and Goliath is at the head of their army. Unfortunately Jonathan had been killed in a skirmish with Goliath and the Philistines. Given the weak state of the Israelite forces, Xena decides to propose a battle to the death between her and Goliath in lieu of an all-out battle between both forces. However, Xena and David discuss matters and agree that David should be the one fighting. Morale among the Israelites is extremely low after Jonathan's death, and they need a hometown hero like David to come to their rescue.
David will use his slingshot against Goliath. Fortunately, Xena knows that Goliath's weak spot is his forehead, and one shot there could easily kill him. Unfortunately, Goliath appears to be aware of this weakness and shows up to battle wearing a helmet. The duel begins, and David is struggling to say the least. However, upon Xena's command the Israelites use the reflection of their shields to cast rays of sunlight upon Goliath's helmet. The intense heat forces him to remove his headgear, and he's suddenly knocked out by a shot from David's sling. The Israelites are freed and have a new hero in David. Xena bids farewell to her old giant friend as he passes away, and she hopes that he sees his lost family on the other side.
NOTES
Story taken from the Judeo-Christian saga of David and Goliath, but here Goliath is a conflicted personality who had long been a friend of Xena. Gabrielle's love of the arts shows when she encourages David to embrace his psalm writing and to share it with others.
Enter: Goliath, David, King Saul
