Xena: Warrior Podcast

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, things are getting sweaty! Vera, Katie, and Livy are swooning over 3x13 "One Against an Army," the sweetly intimate semi-conclusion to the Rift arc. In this episode, things go from bad to worse as Gabs sprains her ankle and then gets poison-arrowed! The result is a hurt/comfort extravaganza, and we talk all about this trope's history in fanfiction, why it's so appealing, and the important truths it exposes about Xena, Gabrielle, and their relationship (omg Xena is the little spoon!?). This ep has a Significant Theme, movingly depicting the struggle between the characters' personal feels (SO personal, SO MANY feels) and their commitment to the greater good. Plus: the lewks, the faces, the touches, the tears, Xena's Home Alone-style booby traps, Gabrielle the oracle, and did we mention everyone is very, very sweaty?

The power, the passion, the podcast!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast

iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM

Twitter: @xenawarriorpod

Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast

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Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl)

Katie: (@katetocci)

Livy: (@PonderousLivy)

Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, we're not in Kansas anymore. Buckle up, Totos, we're going on a magical mystery tour through the land of Illusia! That's right; Vera, Katie, and Livy have reached the musical masterpiece, 3x12 "The Bitter Suite." Join us as we explore the rich symbolism and dense cinematic referencing of this seminal episode of television. We discuss its hugely influential place in the history of TV musicals (SIT DOWN, Once More with Feeling!), its connection to tarot, Qabalah, and the occult; and its very eccentric use of CGI. Plus, a hot take on where reality ends and dream begins, the pros and cons of Broadway Gabs, Ares' best lewk, and what REALLY caused the rift between Xena and Gabs. So click your heels thrice and repeat after us: "There's no place like Xena's bosom! There's no place like Xena's bosom! There's no place like Xena's bosom!"

The power, the passion, the podcast!

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/xenawarriorpodcast

iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM

Twitter: @xenawarriorpod

Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast

————————————————————————

Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl)

Katie: (@katetocci)

Livy: (@PonderousLivy)

Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, Vera, Katie, and Livy take on a real mother of an episode, 3x11 "Maternal Instincts." The conclusion to the trilogy begun with "The Deliverer" and "Gabrielle's Hope," "Maternal Instincts" picks up the dangling threads of the Rift arc and weaves them into the most devastating tapestry ever. We discuss the catharsis of a good tragedy, the Rift's deconstruction of Xena and Gabrielle's characters, the futility of Callisto's vengeance quest, whether Hope was born bad or just born with bad hair, and finally we debate the ultimate question: what time of day is it during Gabrielle's suicide attempt? #YIKES

The power, the passion, the podcast!

iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM

Twitter: @xenawarriorpod

Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast

————————————————————————

Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl)

Katie: (@katetocci)

Livy: (@PonderousLivy)

Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

Something smells fishy this week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST! Vera, Katie, and Livy discuss the final comedy before the Rift resumes, 3x10 "The Quill Is Mightier…" This episode features some of our favorite XWP all-stars, with Ares, Aphrodite, Joxer, and Minya all cracking wise to distract us from Xena's absence from Greece (cuz she's too busy starring on Broadway...in Grease). The presence of so many secondary characters means that a lot of new ships are launched, our favorites being Aphrodite/Gabs...and, shockingly, Ares/Gabs. We defend those choices, plus we chat about Gabrielle's writing style, Rob Tapert's ultimate fish fantasy, and Go-Go-Gabrielle(s). Go-Go to the caves!

The power, the passion, the podcast!

iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM

Twitter: @xenawarriorpod

Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast

————————————————————————

Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl)

Katie: (@katetocci)

Livy: (@PonderousLivy)

Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

We're seeing double this week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST! Vera, Katie, and Livy catch a doppelgänger double-header of 3x08 "The King of Assassins" and 3x09 "Warrior…Priestess…Tramp." Is it weird to watch a bunch of comedies in the middle of the pitch-dark Rift saga? Yup! Are those comedies funny? ...Yup? Admittedly it's a mixed bag with "Assassins," but at least it features the easy-going bromance of Bruce Campbell and Ted Raimi, plus the utterly magnificent Gina Torres as Cleopatra. But "Priestess" is divine from beginning to end. We discuss its introduction of a new Xena doppel, Leah, who sounds like Church Lady if Church Lady were from Mars, its exploration of womanhood and sexual mores so characteristic of the multi-Xena comedies, and its many, many masturbation jokes. Real talk: if Xena deflowers Leah, does that count as self-love?

The power, the passion, the podcast!

iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM

Twitter: @xenawarriorpod

Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast

————————————————————————

Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl)

Katie: (@katetocci)

Livy: (@PonderousLivy)

Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

Girls just wanna have mail on this week's XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST! Vera, Katie, and Livy dip into our Hermes (Hermès?) mailbag (it's fancy! AND delivered real fast!) to answer your Qs! Topics include: how we would reboot XWP (and, more importantly, would there be bangs??), femslash's place in fandom, Xena's and Gabrielle's definitive Hogwarts House, our thoughts on Wonder Woman, podcasting influences and recommendations, and so much more! Plus, Xena: Warrior Podcast's origin story! How did the three hosts meet? The answer may surprise you!

The power, the passion, the podcast!

iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM

Twitter: @xenawarriorpod

Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast

————————————————————————

Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl)

Katie: (@katetocci)

Livy: (@PonderousLivy)

Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

Pack your bags and don your fashionable winter cloak, we're going on an adventure on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST! This week Vera, Katie, and Livy travel to the kingdom of Chin for 3x06 "The Debt" and 3x07 "The Debt II." This classic two-parter has a winning combination of lush spectacle, swooning romance, and moral ambiguity. We discuss the elaborate production and costume design, and the debt (har har) to wuxia cinema this storyline wears on its elegant sleeve. And there's plenty of character motivation to pick over as The Rift continues to wreck us: in these eps Xena attains new layers of emotional complexity in the past and in the present, and Gabrielle makes a deliciously human mistake. Plus: the introduction of ~THE GREAT BORIAS~, who is and will always be a problem, little bitch Ming T'ien and his love of antiquing, and Lao Ma, who is a gloriously three-dimensional character with a really awkward bathing routine.

The power, the passion, the podcast!

iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM

Twitter: @xenawarriorpod

Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast

————————————————————————

Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl)

Katie: (@katetocci)

Livy: (@PonderousLivy)

Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

Things take a dark turn this week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST. Vera, Katie, and Livy find themselves at a major crossroads with 3x04 "The Deliverer" and 3x05 "Gabrielle's Hope." Together they mark the beginning of one of Xena's most ambitious, dramatic, and polarizing story arcs, one that would ultimately redefine what kinds of stories the show could tell. First we talk about "The Deliverer"'s devious bait-and-switch structure, its epic rematch between Xena and Julius Caesar that takes a backseat in the shocking last act when Chekhov's blood innocence goes off. We discuss awesome warrior queen Boadicea, BFOTW (or IS he?) Khrafstar, and Gabrielle's rape, with its profound repercussions for the characters moving forward. Then it's on to "Gabrielle's Hope," where we discuss the episode's horror film inspirations, its use of problematic mystical pregnancy tropes to tell a story of female agency and choice, and the painful moral dilemma that sets Gabrielle and Xena against each other. *sadly throws coins in jar*

The power, the passion, the podcast!

iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM

Twitter: @xenawarriorpod

Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast

————————————————————————

Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl)

Katie: (@katetocci)

Livy: (@PonderousLivy)

Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

*rooster crows* This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, Vera, Katie, and Livy are experiencing some serious déjà vu (with a side of subtext) in 3x02 "Been There, Done That."

*rooster crows* This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, Vera, Katie, and Livy are experiencing some serious déjà vu (with a side of subtext) in 3x02 "Been There, Done That."

*rooster crows* This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, Vera, Katie, and Livy are experiencing some serious déjà vu (with a side of subtext) in 3x02 "Been There, Done That." Then it's on to 3x03 "The Dirty Half-Dozen," or should that be "The Dirty Six?" Personally we'd rather watch "The Dirty Two." We talk nature vs. nurture, the battle of the sexes, and Gabrielle's fabulous new lewk. *rooster crows*

The power, the passion, the podcast!

iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM

Twitter: @xenawarriorpod

Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast

————————————————————————

Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl)

Katie: (@katetocci)

Livy: (@PonderousLivy)

Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/

This week on XENA: WARRIOR PODCAST, why I oughta…!!! Revenge tragedy meets the Three Stooges in 3x01 "The Furies." Vera, Katie, and Livy discuss this polarizing episode's eccentric depiction of madness through slapstick comedy, heartbreaking callbacks, and too much hairspray. Plus: Xena calls Ares 'Daddy' and it makes us feel weird for so many reasons, but it's really motherhood that takes center stage as Cyrene (LOVE U) continues to be one of the fiercest, most nuanced TV moms around. Why is motherhood so important all of a sudden? Hmm...Put a pin in it!

The power, the passion, the podcast!

iTunes: http://apple.co/2f0NAIM

Twitter: @xenawarriorpod

Tumblr: xenawarriorpodcast.tumblr.com

Facebook: facebook.com/xenawarriorpodcast

————————————————————————

Vera: (@hollywoodgrrl)

Katie: (@katetocci)

Livy: (@PonderousLivy)

Music: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/A_Hawk_and_a_Hacksaw/