Episode 15
Warrior, Princess
Written by: Brenda Lilly
Directed by: Michael Levine
Edited by: Jim Prior
Regular Cast
Lucy Lawless as Xena/Princess Diana
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
Guest Cast:
Norman Forsey as King Lias
Iain Rea as Philemon
Lathan Gains as Mineus
Patrick Smith as Glauce
Michelle Huirama as Tesa
Jason Hoyte as Timus
Jonathan Acorn as Mirus
Ian Miller as Lowlife
Chris Bohm as Guard
Mia Koning as Waif
Synopsis:
Xena receives a request for help from King Lias to help protect his daughter, Princess Diana, who is in danger from assassins. As Diana is the double of Xena, they swap places. In the process, Xena finds out that Philemon, brother to Diana's betrothed, is in love with Diana and she helps bring them together whilst foiling the plot to kill the princess.
Episode 16
Mortal Beloved
Written by: R.J. Stewart
Directed by: Garth Maxwell
Edited by: Robert Field
Regular Cast
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle
Guest Cast:
Bobby Hosea as Marcus
Erik Thomson as Hades
Chris Graham as Toxeus
Paul Willis as Atyminius
Michael Hurst as Charon
John Palmer as Traveller
Michelle Armstrong as Young Woman
Geoff Clendon as Bride's Father
Chantelle Brownice as Bride
Whilst in the forest, a young girl is frightened by something she sees and runs into a nearby village tavern where Xena and Gabrielle are having a drink. She tells everyone she saw a ghost but no one takes her seriously apart from Xena who volunteers to investigate. Xena goes into the woods and hears a noise. She sees a figure in front of her which calls her name. The figure starts to take shape and calls her name again. Suddenly, Xena recognises the voice as that of Marcus, her beloved friend who sacrificed his life to save another. She tries to touch him but her hand goes through him. He tells her he is a ghost and that he needs her help. He explains that the Underworld is in disarray and asks for her to travel there via the lake. He pleads with her to hurry, telling her there isn't much time. As he says this, ghostly figures snatch him and start to pull him back into the Underworld. Xena shouts his name but he disappears.
Xena and Gabrielle are stood beside the lake which Marcus spoke of. Xena has removed her armour and is getting ready to dive into the lake. She gives Gabrielle her things to look after. Gabrielle tries to dissuade Xena from travelling to the Underworld, fearing for her friend's life. Xena says that she will reach the Underworld one way or another. Gabrielle says she will wait beside the lake. Xena prepares herself and dives into the water. She swims further and further down and is seen entering a large underground cavern. Charon is sat in his boat singing to himself. Xena tells him she wants to get to the other side of the river. She also mentions that she isn't dead. Charon starts to complain about this but Xena explains that she wishes to help Hades restore the place to normal. Charon laughs but agrees to take Xena to the other side.
At the other side of the lake, Charon tells Xena to bring him a coin next time. Xena enters the Underworld and sees people milling around in confusion. She lifts a young girl out of a pool, telling her not to be afraid. Marcus arrives and he and Xena embrace. Xena tells him how much she has missed him. Marcus explains that the good are in Tartarus whilst the bad are in the Elysian fields. He tells Xena that Atyminius is responsible for this because he has stolen Hades' helmet which renders him invisible. He goes on to explain that, when Atyminius was alive he was a killer of young brides and prided himself on torturing them for pleasure. Xena asks where he can be found and Marcus tells her that he spends a lot of time in the Elysian fields. He agrees to take Xena there.
Xena and Marcus reach the Elysian fields which is in chaos. Everyone is fighting and exhibiting generally bad behaviour. Xena realises that Marcus was put with the bad souls when he died and that, returning the Underworld to normal would mean that he would be put back in Tartarus. Marcus explains that one good deed was not enough to make up for his life of crime.
Toxeus, a bandit whom Xena killed, spots her and asks who had the pleasure of killing her. Xena replied that she was thrown from her horse and broke her neck. Toxeus thanks her for doing him a favour and tells her there are no hard feelings between them. They talk about Atyminius who soon appears, wearing Hades' helmet. Toxeus addresses him but Atyminius brings him to his knees saying that he is in charge and Toxeus will obey him. Atyminius then sniffs the air suspiciously and says he can smell a mortal being. He points at Xena but she dismisses him, saying it is a trick to keep everyone fighting amongst themselves whilst he keeps the helmet. Suddenly, everyone starts fighting for the helmet. Toxeus nearly gets hold of it but Atyminius chops off his head with his sword and it lands far away. Atyminius then grabs the helmet and disappears.
Xena and Marcus head towards Hades' castle. They reach the doors but are attacked by harpies. Xena flames one of them and she and Marcus get the doors open and manage to shut and bar them before the other harpie can get through. They make their way to Hades room. He is sat at a desk, wearing a long robe and looking despondent. Xena asks why he is doing nothing. He says he is virtually powerless without his helmet. Xena tells him that Atyminius is on his way back to earth so he can start killing again. Hades tells her that this is a mistake on Atyminius' part as he will become mortal and can, therefore, be killed again. Xena suggests that Hades makes Marcus mortal again so he can help her. At first Hades refuses but when Xena turns to leave he relents and says he can only grant Marcus forty-eight hours of life.
Gabrielle is sat beside the lake waiting for Xena. Some travellers pass and ask if she is going to the festival. She says she is waiting for someone so they leave. Gabrielle hears a noise behind her and turns. She hears Atyminius' voice and suddenly he appears before her. He tells her how much he is enjoying seeing her fear and asks if she is about to be married. She says no. He is about to attack when Gabrielle grabs her staff and starts to fight back. Atyminius fights Gabrielle who is obviously struggling to match him. At the first opportunity, she runs from him and he chases after her. She hits him in the face but he knocks the staff from her hands and stands over her with his knife.
Xena and Marcus emerge from the lake. Xena sees Gabrielle's things on the bank and spots Atyminius standing over Gabrielle who is unconscious. Xena and Marcus run towards him but he makes himself invisible and strikes at Xena. Xena shouts at Marcus to target Atyminius' footprints. They do so and Atyminius yelps and runs off. Xena kneels by Gabrielle who wakes up and brags about the nosebleed she gave Atyminius. Xena helps her up and then they follow Atyminius' trail of blood. However, Xena decides it is time to rest so they make camp. Gabrielle, despite saying she won't get any sleep that night, snores away under her blankets. Xena covers her and then joins Marcus who is looking at the stars. They talk and Marcus tells her that the only thing that kept him going whilst in Tartarus was the thought of Xena. She says she has thought of him often and he replies that he knows, because the dead can hear your thoughts. She tells him she loves him and they kiss.
The next day, the trio come across the same travellers who had greeted Gabrielle earlier. They have been attacked and are sprawled on the path, looking dazed and confused. Xena asks about the festival and she is told that it is a wedding festival. Xena, Marcus and Gabrielle set off towards where the festival is being held, knowing that is where Atyminius is headed.
Meanwhile, Atyminius reaches the village and causes chaos, upsetting carts, knocking a couple off a swing and striking at a juggler. Xena, Gabrielle and Marcus arrive and go straight to the house of the bride's father. They explain to him that his daughter is in danger. Xena suggests that the bride stay at home rather than undergo the ceremonial bathing ceremony. Just then, the bride arrives and her father tells her the bad news.
Gabrielle leans over the bride and tells her to get some sleep and then leaves. Meanwhile, a veiled figure is seen visiting a pool in the moonlight, whilst Marcus follows behind watching for trouble. Atyminius is seen sneaking into the house and he goes to the bed where the bride is sleeping and pulls the covers back to find...Xena. She leaps up and draws her sword. He fights her and becomes invisible. Xena throws a blanket into the middle of the room so that it covers Atyminius and his shape becomes visible. She then runs him through. Gabrielle arrives to see Xena take back Hades' helmet.
Xena and Marcus travel back to the lake. Marcus tells Xena he could just keep the helmet and remain a mortal. He and Xena could be together again. Xena asks if that is what he wants. He tells her that it's not about what he wants and that others will suffer because of it. Xena embraces him.
Xena and Marcus appear behind Charon. He asks if she is dead this time. She replies no. He refuses to take either of them across the underground river until Xena persuades him otherwise by showing him the helmet. He gives them a tour of the caverns and they make their way towards Hades' castle once again. Suddenly, a harpie grabs Marcus and lifts him skyward. He saws at its leg with his knife and it drops him. He falls but grabs hold of a ledge but slips further down. Looking down he sees a river of lava beneath him. The harpie returns and rakes its talons across his shoulders and he screams in agony. Xena, meanwhile, runs towards the harpie and starts to fight it. She uses her flask to flame it and it becomes a flaming fireball which hits the side of the castle and explodes. Xena then pulls Marcus up and they enter Hades' castle.
Xena approaches Hades alone. He asks where the helmet is. She tells him she has hidden it. She asks that he judge Marcus again. He says that is impossible. She reminds him that Marcus will die again and deserves a second judgement. He refuses so she tells him to have fun searching for the helmet. He agrees and she tells him she wants to speak on Marcus' behalf.
Marcus appears with the helmet and hands it to Hades who snatches it from him. Marcus tells Xena to get it over with. She kisses Marcus, at the same time driving a dagger into his heart and he falls to the floor. Trembling with emotion, Xena tells Hades that Marcus could have kept that helmet and gained his life back but that he chose to return it instead. She also tells him that Marcus said he was carrying the Elysian fields around inside him and that he should be allowed to bring that love to the Elysian fields. Hades is shocked at Xena's actions and agrees.
Hades tells Xena to say her goodbyes to Marcus as he is now in the Elysian fields forever. Xena kisses Marcus and he tells her to think of him often. She leaves.
Gabrielle is again waiting at the lake. Xena appears, gasping for breath. She is shaking and is obviously in pain. She tells Gabrielle that Marcus is in the Elysian fields and that she will never be parted from him again as she is carrying him around inside her heart. Gabrielle puts her arm around Xena comfortingly and they stare out at the still waters of the lake.
Review
This is one of my all-time favourite episodes. The tragedy of Xena's beloved Marcus being brought back to life only to die a second time is played out beautifully. As always, Lucy demonstrates her incredible versatility as an actress as she runs the gamut of emotions in this episode whilst the handsome Bobby Hosea is charismatic and charming as Marcus. Also worth a mention is Paul Willis as Atyminius, Chris Graham as Toxeus and, of course, the superb Michael Hurst as Charon.
Disclaimer: Xena: Warrior Princess and its characters are the property of MCA Universal, Studios USA and Renaissance Pictures and in no way does this site intend to infringe upon their copyright.
