Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series) A Necessary Evil (1997) User Reviews

Salute to Xena - A 25th Anniversary Review

[skullface2020 · 8/10 · 4 May 2020]

Gabrielle is to be crowned as an Amazon queen, but a surprise guest ruins the coronation. In order to survive the wrath of a new god of chaos, Xena and Gabrielle must get some help from the person they distrust most.

SYNOPSIS

Now with Xena back alive, Gabrielle is on set to be crowned the new Amazon queen. However, she's really looking forward to going on new adventures with Xena, and she would therefore be unable to properly lead the Amazons. She gives authority to their good and trustworthy friend Ephiny. Suddenly psycho Velasca emerges from the woods and enters the coronation ceremony! She's in possession of ambrosia, the food of the gods, and so now she is a god herself! She's all screaming and livid at the Amazons, but she's especially upset with Gabrielle. Velasca starts blowing up the Amazon camp with her new lightning powers, and everyone runs for cover. Since Gabrielle is the one Velasca really wants to kill, Xena tells her to run for it and Xena will catch up with her after trying to stall Velasca. They catch up shortly, but it's a pretty bad situation. How can you protect yourself from a god? Xena has a plan, and it involves getting help from someone who is immortal. Without time to hunt down Hercules and ask for help, Xena decides that they need to enlist the much hated Callisto for this fight.

Obviously Gabrielle is really bothered by the decision to seek Callisto for help. The cold blooded murder of Perdicus is still a fresh in everyone's mind, and there is no reason to believe that Callisto can be trusted. Xena asks Gabrielle to trust in her plan. Entering the underworld cavern where Callisto was immortalized so that she can rot for eternity in solitary confinement, Xena is immediately attacked. After a brief skirmish Callisto's curiosity causes her to listen to Xena. Xena tells her that Velasca has ambrosia, and if they defeat her together she can have some. Callisto agrees, and doesn't hesitate to taunt Gabrielle once she's above ground in her presence. Xena knows that Velasca is following them, and that her god like powers are still limited since they are in their infancy. They go to a small gorge area when Xena wants Callisto to fight Velasca until the latter is below a bunch of small boulders, and then Xena will chakram the boulders and they'll fall on Velasca. However, once Velasca arrives Callisto jumps out and offers to join her. Velasca is confused at first, and then Xena jumps out and pretends that Callisto has succeeded in trapping Velasca. Velasca starts to use her lighting powers, and Callisto yells at her saying that she was tricked by Xena and is now using up all her powers. Xena chakrams the boulders, and the temporarily weakened Velasca is trapped under them for now. Xena, Gabrielle, and Callisto run out of the gorge.

Callisto betrayed Xena and Gabrielle, but this of course was expected by Xena. Now Callisto is on Velasca's bad side, and she will have to work with Xena and Gabrielle in order to ensure that she's not broken up into a bunch of pieces for eternity. Now the plan is to go near a lava river and lure Velasca over so that they can toss her into it which should destroy her. Xena confides in Gabrielle that they will get Velasca and Callisto to fight on a rope bridge over the river, and then cut it so that both evil beings fall to their demise in the lava. However they are surprised when Velasca suddenly appear, and Gabrielle is tossed over the river of lava. She's barely hanging onto the rope bridge, and Velasca and Callisto start fighting on it. Some of Velasca's ambrosia is snatched up by Callisto, and suddenly its two gods fighting! Xena cuts the bridge while using a rope to tie herself to the cliff edge as she grabs hold of Gabrielle. The two evil goddesses are in the lava, and Xena and Gabrielle are finally safe.

NOTES

Having a god out to kill you is a real problem, and Xena was far from certain her plan would work.

Callisto is wicked-funny. Good action and adventure. A solid story. Frenemies. All female-led episode, how cool is that!

[reb-warrior · 10/10 · 28 March 2021]

Velasca eats some ambrosia and becomes a God. Now she's after Gabrielle whom she feels took away the position of Amazon Queen from her. Xena comes up with the idea to "ally" with Callisto, who is an immortal now, in order to defeat Velasca.

Just in case you're wondering Callisto became an immortal in a crossover episode of Hercules TLJ, season 3, episode 12 'Surprise.'

This is my favorite Callisto episode. She is hilarious. It's at Gabrielle's expense as she torments her, but it's funny with stuff like winking at Gabs, or saying Gabrielle is the sacrificial lamb, or asking how's she's been since she killed her husband. She's wicked-funny. Poor Gabs tho!

Callisto and her interactions with both Gabrielle and Xena put her in the interesting position of a frenemy. Though Xena is cleverly using Callisto and planning all along to get rid of her too.

In the village when Velasca first takes the ambrosia and becomes a God, does she momentarily become a giant? That was the impression I got as the Amazons looked at her with horrified awe, their gazes looking up. I was never really clear on that since she's just regular size after that, but at that moment that's what it seemed like.

Love this dialog by Velasca:

"Artemis, you fake! Where were you when our nation died?! Where were you when the many Amazon tribes were scattered and destroyed?! Where were you when the word 'Amazon' became a joke told by old men in taverns?! I was once your subject. Now, I'm your equal...and your enemy!"

Mainly I find she has a point. She can't be the only Amazon that wondered where Artemis was when it came to the Amazons. That Goddess could have been an interesting addition to the show, but they only ever had her in a non-speaking barely-there role in the Twilight of the Gods episodes arc.

You know Callisto lied when Gabrielle asked if Xena's speech to the village caused her to feel anything. She says she never feels anything, but it was right there on Callisto's face showing how the speech affected her. Speaking of which did anyone notice how the villagers reacted. They all listened, then just kinda walked away afterward like "whatever." Lol.

Xena is the real Amazon leader every time. Have you ever noticed that? Despite others being the Queen it's really Xena who is in control. This time we have her giving out orders to Ephiny and the Amazons. And they are perfectly ok to listen to her. Just goes to show the respect Amazons have for her, but also the idea the show mentions from time-to-time that Xena should have been an Amazon.

Love that this is an all-female-led episode: Xena, Gabrielle, Callisto, Velasca, Ephiny, and the Amazons. How cool is that!

Gabrielle is able to find some closure as she forgives Callisto. Some terrible growing pains for Gabrielle which helps the character to develop.

Good action and adventure. A solid story. Comedy(via Callisto) and drama. Xena, Gabrielle, and the all-female-led cast were fantastic. 10/10.

How is it Hudson Leick/Callisto manages to *still* look good even with a big-a$$ scar on her face?

[Chalice_Of_Evil · 10/10 · 11 March 2022]

Gabrielle gives Ephiny the Amazon Queen mask now that she's leaving and asks Xena whether an Amazon Queen beats a Warrior Princess. Ephiny's got no appreciation for Gabrielle's sense of humour (then again, Gabby's 'joke' about Amazon parades isn't particularly funny, whereas Ephiny's deadpan response actually *is*). They're interrupted by a screaming Velasca, who's miraculously survived her impalement from last episode (Xena's SO surprised, she makes head whooshing noises for no reason) and politely put up with all that pain on her long walk back just so she could make a big show of eating the Jell-O/ambrosia (which we see THREE TIMES) that creates swirly lightning around her face, gives her all-white eyes, and seemingly makes her a GIANT...except not.

Amazons get blasted by Velasca's Emperor-like lightning fingers, Xena saves Gabrielle/Ephiny and is apparently the *only* one to realise that retreat is the SMART option, so Ephiny makes a cuckoo call (which probably confused some birds). Xena also notices Velasca's momentarily weakened when using her powers. I know Velasca was the show's attempt to give Gabrielle her very own nemesis...but, honestly, Melinda Clarke just seems to be using playing a god as an excuse to overact/yell a lot. She's no Callisto, that's for sure. Again, Ephiny's great at understated humour, as her response to Xena telling her to get more cannon fodder/Amazons to delay Velasca is, "Shouldn't be a problem. I think I'm high on her list of things to do.", and after pointing out Xena's dislocated arm (which she hasn't even noticed), I loved Xena making it 'all better' by casually ramming it into a wall, then showing Ephiny (whose simple "Yeah." response amused me).

Gabrielle maintains she's 'alright' with being #1 on Velasca's hit list...but clearly *isn't*. Xena's expression after realising she knows where she can 'find an immortal to fight an immortal' tells us everything. Cut to Callisto who, after her crossover to Hercules' show (where he scarred her with fire/trapped her), is unfairly putting all her ill-will towards Herc on a poor innocent rat (which she reassures ISN'T food). Hudson Leick (deservedly receiving 'Special Guest Star' status this episode) brilliantly plays how cuckoo-for-cocoa-puffs Callisto's become with her line deliveries, rocking back and forth as she strokes the rat before letting it free (only to end its life) and disturbing laughter. Understandably, Gabrielle's p.o.'d at Xena's solution. Meanwhile, the Amazons lure Velasca into a trap that, non-surprisingly, achieves very little.

There's excellent creepy music playing/atmosphere as Xena's lowered into Callisto's 'little resort' and calls out her name, receiving a reply that would unnerve most people. As Callisto always does, she flips her way into the scene, before catching Xena up on what's occurred with her, sounding even MORE unhinged than usual. I loved Xena's threat about being able to "still do damage. How'd you like to spend eternity in five pieces?". Callisto agrees to help Xena after being promised a shot at some ambrosia. She greets Gabrielle in her unique Callisto way, earns a staff across the face (which obviously has no effect) for asking if Gabs has any new hubbies, then shows just how crazypants she is, helping inflict pain on HERSELF by plunging her sword into her own midriff (neat effect!) and pulling it out like some bizarre party trick. Immortals don't bleed and heal fast (except in pieces, apparently). I enjoy Gabrielle's antagonistic dynamic with Callisto, who's adamant about them making 'a wee little stop' (leading to one of the episode's BEST scenes).

In a village, Callisto's forced Xena to confess her past sins, starting with "Some call me the Warrior Princess. Some call me murderer." (not 'the space cowboy'?), then admitting to burning Callisto's village of Cirra/killing everything there/destroying young Callisto's soul. Lucy's great with Xena's guilt/confession, but Hudson's acting throughout is something else. Just watch her expression change, as at first Callisto takes joy in watching Xena confess, but then she appears to show FEELINGS. The look she gives Xena says SO MUCH. The villagers just want to get back to their lives; Xena's all business, whilst Gabrielle's freaked out at Callisto displaying human emotions. Elsewhere, Velasca's ranting/raving at Artemis, destroying her temple and obviously DOES believe in 'killing the messenger'. At a canyon, Callisto suggests she and Xena both eat ambrosia so they can fight each other for eternity. Xena seems amused by this prospect, while I'M amused by the looks/winks Callisto gives Gabrielle (and her reactions to them).

When Velasca arrives, Callisto seemingly betrays Xena and tries to make a new friend, but Velasca's not interested...even when Callisto warns her Xena's tricking her into draining her powers (Callisto shoving Velasca to the ground like they're kids on the playground amused me). Callisto reteams with Xena, their synchronized swordfighting pushes Velasca back, and by the combined power of Gabrielle's staff/Xena's chakram, Velasca's buried under rocks. The excellent campfire scene that follows involves Gabrielle/Callisto trading questions. Gabrielle asks whether she felt anything back at the village. Callisto claims she feels nothing/only 'bits and pieces', and Gabrielle even looks to be sympathising, but then there's that twisted Callisto humour as she asks her how long it took her hubby to die.

Velasca-as-a-tornado tracks them down, Xena's plan is to get her onto a rope bridge/dump her into the lava pit below. Gabrielle ends up hanging from it after gaining possession of the ambrosia and, at Xena's behest, gives it to Callisto who eats it greedily, becoming a god and doing a freaky tongue thing whilst saying, "Here comes trouble.", testing her lightning against Velasca's. Neither one notices Xena cutting the rope bridge and just continue throttling each other as they fall into lava. After Xena's death-defying leap (that's shown THRICE!) to save Gabrielle, she asks Xena whether she thinks Callisto felt sorry about the things she'd done. Xena's blunt "No!" is amusing, but Gabrielle disagrees and thus forgives Callisto so she can move on. Apparently lava turned Callisto/Velasca into bronze statues (accompanied by reused footage of their faces from minutes ago hovering above).

A Necessary Evil

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 20 January 2021]

Carrying on from the previous episode. Velasca has survived her fall.

She also has taken Ambrosia and become a god. Gabrielle is in Velasca's sights for revenge.

While her powers are growing. Xena needs an immortal to take on Velasca. The only one she knows that is readily available is Callisto.

Gabrielle thinks this is a bad idea as Callisto cannot be trusted.

There are some double crosses here as Gabrielle's suspicion are correct. Then again Xena has anticipated them.

It is all gloriously daft but fun. The finale over a lava river is a mixture of bad special effects and campy action. It is also clear that Callisto is more compelling than Velasca.