When I watched this episode when it first aired in 2001, it literally took my breath away. 6 years worth of storytelling distilled into on crystallized gem of a script, impeccably rendered by a seasoned cast and crew in top form.
The fans online and around the world thought so too, naming it the Xena Argo Awards all-time favorite episode. You have to go through Xena and Gabrielle's journey together though first in order to get the full impact of its emotional conclusion so watch out for spoilers ahead of you haven't watched seasons 1-5 already.
When Karl Urban returns to revive Caesar, Julius Caesar and his fated vendetta against Xena, you know it's going to be good because his chemistry with Lucy Lawless was always full of sparks and it was here again. Caesar uses the Fates to force a do-over with Xena so they can rule the world together. Seems like a good plan but the women in Xena's life will have something to say about it and he'll learn by the end that you can't change your destiny after all.
In this "What If..." alternate reality, Xena is now the empress of Rome as her daughter was, ruling at Caesar's side. This ruthless pair is augmented by Alti, the witchy high priestess of Rome played by Claire Stansfield at her rip roaring best. She dispenses with emissaries from Chin where Xena's previous mentor Lao Ma is seen as a threat to the empire.
Caesar's old pal Brutus (fan favorite David Franklin) thinks this refusal to negotiate with China's most powerful leader will ironically invite assassins into the court but it's all part of Caesar's plan to eliminate history repeating itself. He slips up though when he invites an Athenian playwright to Rome for a command performance of her play "Fallen Angel" and of course it's Gabrielle, no longer the battling bard of Potedeia but the visionary voice of Athens.
Since Xena and Gabrielle are meant to be together, of course they gravitate towards one another and that's when Caesar's plan starts to fall apart. Alti uses her powers on Xena to open up her vault of pain and suffering from her real life and soon she too realizes this reality they're in is all his fault.
Caesar tries to correct this problem by having Alti and Gabrielle put in chains to go on the execution schedule but Xena stops him by reminding him of her many skills. She makes a deal with Caesar to spare Gabrielle's life in order for things to get back to "normal" but Alti now has other ideas. Gabrielle is exposed to her real existence by the witch's powers on her way back to Greece and Xena is captured by Caesar's troops for trying to save her friend.
Ted Raimi makes his final appearance on the show with a strong showing as Joxer the prison guard, still a bit goo goo eyed for Gabrielle. Renee O'Connor and Lucy Lawless's work in the pre-execution scene where she and a battered Xena say their goodbyes while trying to figure out a plan together to fix what's wrong is the stuff of fandom legend. As the final act unfolds, betrayal and love ultimately do in Caesar's fantasy and Alti's new plan to take over literally goes up in smoke when Gabrielle tracks down the Fates to put things right again.
Some masterful editing by Robert Field and restrained music choices by Joseph LoDuca punctuate things down the stretch and Warrick Waka Attewell's DP work is lush throughout. "Ginger Snaps" director John Fawcett delivers on the visual depth of Katherine Fugate's dreamily nimble script. The number of references from past episodes they throw at you is staggering and flawless, this is a fan's episode in every sense. By drawing on the rich mythos already writ in the Xena Scrolls, When Fates Collide weaves a new course for our heroines in the end, just as every great adventure show should.
The fans online and around the world thought so too, naming it the Xena Argo Awards all-time favorite episode. You have to go through Xena and Gabrielle's journey together though first in order to get the full impact of its emotional conclusion so watch out for spoilers ahead of you haven't watched seasons 1-5 already.
When Karl Urban returns to revive Caesar, Julius Caesar and his fated vendetta against Xena, you know it's going to be good because his chemistry with Lucy Lawless was always full of sparks and it was here again. Caesar uses the Fates to force a do-over with Xena so they can rule the world together. Seems like a good plan but the women in Xena's life will have something to say about it and he'll learn by the end that you can't change your destiny after all.
In this "What If..." alternate reality, Xena is now the empress of Rome as her daughter was, ruling at Caesar's side. This ruthless pair is augmented by Alti, the witchy high priestess of Rome played by Claire Stansfield at her rip roaring best. She dispenses with emissaries from Chin where Xena's previous mentor Lao Ma is seen as a threat to the empire.
Caesar's old pal Brutus (fan favorite David Franklin) thinks this refusal to negotiate with China's most powerful leader will ironically invite assassins into the court but it's all part of Caesar's plan to eliminate history repeating itself. He slips up though when he invites an Athenian playwright to Rome for a command performance of her play "Fallen Angel" and of course it's Gabrielle, no longer the battling bard of Potedeia but the visionary voice of Athens.
Since Xena and Gabrielle are meant to be together, of course they gravitate towards one another and that's when Caesar's plan starts to fall apart. Alti uses her powers on Xena to open up her vault of pain and suffering from her real life and soon she too realizes this reality they're in is all his fault.
Caesar tries to correct this problem by having Alti and Gabrielle put in chains to go on the execution schedule but Xena stops him by reminding him of her many skills. She makes a deal with Caesar to spare Gabrielle's life in order for things to get back to "normal" but Alti now has other ideas. Gabrielle is exposed to her real existence by the witch's powers on her way back to Greece and Xena is captured by Caesar's troops for trying to save her friend.
Ted Raimi makes his final appearance on the show with a strong showing as Joxer the prison guard, still a bit goo goo eyed for Gabrielle. Renee O'Connor and Lucy Lawless's work in the pre-execution scene where she and a battered Xena say their goodbyes while trying to figure out a plan together to fix what's wrong is the stuff of fandom legend. As the final act unfolds, betrayal and love ultimately do in Caesar's fantasy and Alti's new plan to take over literally goes up in smoke when Gabrielle tracks down the Fates to put things right again.
Some masterful editing by Robert Field and restrained music choices by Joseph LoDuca punctuate things down the stretch and Warrick Waka Attewell's DP work is lush throughout. "Ginger Snaps" director John Fawcett delivers on the visual depth of Katherine Fugate's dreamily nimble script. The number of references from past episodes they throw at you is staggering and flawless, this is a fan's episode in every sense. By drawing on the rich mythos already writ in the Xena Scrolls, When Fates Collide weaves a new course for our heroines in the end, just as every great adventure show should.
