Episode 1
Fallen Angel
Story by: Robert Tapert and R.J. Stewart
Teleplay by: R.J. Stewart
Directed by: John Fawcett
Edited by: Jim Prior

Regular Cast
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle

Guest Cast:
Charles Mesure as Michael
Ted Raimi as Joxer
Jennifer Sky as Amarice
Timothy Omundson as Eli
Hudson Leick as Callisto
Tamati Rice as Raphael
David de Lautour as Lief
Angela Gribben as Laura
Lee Jane Foreman as Arleia
Jim McLarty as Pankos

Joxer is searching for Xena and Gabrielle in the snowy mountains. Amarice knocks him to the ground, believing him to be a Roman. Joxer tells her who he is and that he is searching for Xena and Gabrielle. He tells her he has been having nightmares about them being in trouble. Amarice looks sad and points towards a hill. In shock, Joxer sees that Xena and Gabrielle have been crucified. Eli arrives and tells Joxer he is sorry and that he loved them too. Joxer interrupts and tells them that they must recover the bodies and return them to Greece to be buried. Amarice warns him that are too many Romans about and that it is too dangerous but Joxer insists. Eli and Amarice reluctantly agree.

Xena and Gabrielle are stood on a rocky plateau. In the distance they see a group of winged creatures flying towards them. They are dressed in white, with white wings. Gabrielle smiles as they approach, recognising them to be angels and they lift her up and carry her away. Xena reaches out her hand to Gabrielle, unable to follow. Another group of angels arrive and lift Xena up but suddenly a demon arrives and attacks the angels. It is Callisto in her demonic form. She attacks the angels carrying Gabrielle who starts to fall down into Hell. She then grabs hold of Xena, telling her that she promised the master she would deliver Xena to him. Another group of angels arrive and rescue Xena from Callisto. They carry her up to Heaven. The head angel is dressed in black with black wings and tells Xena that he is the Archangel Michael. She is introduced to Raphael and Gabrielle's guardian angel, Lief who wishes to rescue Gabrielle from Hell. Xena also wants to rescue Gabrielle and she pleads with Michael to let her become an Archangel so that she can fetch Gabrielle back. At first, Michael refuses telling Xena that she is not even an angel and that she has been brought to Heaven to be reborn. Xena threatens to throw herself into Hell if he does not help her. Michael relents.

Gabrielle is asleep. She wakes to find Callisto next to her. She is angry that she should have to spend Eternity in Hell with her. Callisto taunts her and tries to persuade her to eat something. Gabrielle realises that this is so she will turn into a demon and be trapped in Hell with Callisto. She refuses to eat but Callisto tells her she will give in eventually.

Amarice attacks and kills the Roman soldiers guarding Xena and Gabrielle's bodies. Amarice, Joxer and Eli then cut down the bodies. Joxer chokes back his tears as he frees Gabrielle's body.

Michael tells Xena she will have to pass a test before becoming an Archangel. He points to a cave. Xena asks him what is in there and he tells her "a decision". Xena enters the cave. She sees a blazing fire on one side of the cave and a cascade of rain on the other. She realises she has to choose which one to embrace.

Joxer gazes at the bodies of Xena and Gabrielle. Amarice cuts some of Xena's hair and vows that she will take up Xena's cause in memory of the warrior princess. Eli tells her that Xena would be pleased about that. Amarice lashes out at Eli, telling him it is his fault that they are dead because Gabrielle was following his way of love and would not fight back. Joxer tries to stop the argument but it is too late: the words had been spoken. Eli wanders off alone.

Michael and Raphael worry that Xena has been in the cave for a long time. Just then, Xena exits the cave, surrounded by fire. Michael tells her she has chosen the fire of purification and that she must enter the water to be completely cleansed. She does so and exits the water as an Archangel. Michael then tells her that Gabrielle can only be rescued if she has not been turned into a full demon and that, if it is too late, the only way Xena could rescue Gabrielle would be to give up her own light. That would mean that Xena would be doomed to spend eternity in Hell as a demon in that person's place. He tells Xena that because she has been purified, she will feel pain and compassion for those who suffer in Hell but that if they can rescue Gabrielle in time, she will not need to sacrifice herself.

Gabrielle is getting hungry but she still resists the temptation to eat. Callisto and a group of demons grab her and force some food into her mouth. She begins to change and attacks the demons around her. She then taunts Callisto about her family and they fight. Suddenly, the angels arrive in Hell and they attack the demons. Michael captures Gabrielle and rises up to take her back to Heaven. Callisto attacks Michael but he manages to get Gabrielle back. Xena and Callisto fight and Callisto rages at Xena once again for killing her family. Xena is filled with compassion and she places a hand on Callisto, giving up her goodness to take her pain away.

Michael, Raphael and the others throw Gabrielle into the water. She comes out, no longer a demon. They have managed to rescue her in time. Gabrielle asks where Xena is. Michael tells her that she has given up her light for another and is now doomed to stay in Hell forever in that person's place. Gabrielle asks who she saved and Michael tells her he will explain later. Meanwhile, back in Hell, Xena is rousing the rabble. She is now a demon and she is planning an attack on Heaven so that she and the others can take over paradise.

Gabrielle is taken to Callisto who is no longer a demon. She looks confused and disorientated. Gabrielle is angry that Xena gave up her goodness to save Callisto. Callisto cannot remember any of her evil deeds. Gabrielle tells her that she murdered her husband and many other innocent people. Callisto denies this, saying that she couldn't have done this. The looks on the faces of the others makes her realise that she is guilty of these crimes. She tells Gabrielle she is sorry but Gabrielle does not want to listen, believing this is a trick.

Joxer and Amarice have taken Xena and Gabrielle's bodies to a cave. Joxer admits that it would be impossible to get their bodies back to Greece. He agrees that they should be buried here instead. Eli has gone and Joxer does not believe he will return.

Gabrielle confronts Callisto, telling her she is evil and that she is incapable of goodness. Callisto tells her she is sorry. She reaches out to Gabrielle who shrinks from her touch and then looks into Callisto's eyes. A tear runs down her face and Callisto wipes it away, touching Gabrielle's face. Gabrielle touches her face in return, silently forgiving her. Michael anoints Gabrielle with water, telling her she has been purified because she forgave Callisto. Gabrielle now becomes an Archangel. All is not well though, because Xena arrives with her demons. She sees Gabrielle and goes to her. She tries to persuade her to come back to Hell with her. She begs her not to let her spend eternity in Hell alone. The other angels swoop down and attack Xena. A fight ensues between the angels and demons. Xena knocks Gabrielle to the ground.

Eli sits alone, asking why he had been given the gift to heal, yet he could not save Xena and Gabrielle. He says that the way of love was not right for Gabrielle and that it was his fault that they died. Callisto looks down and sees Eli. She looks up as if asking for permission to do something. Eli suddenly enters the cave, startling both Amarice and Joxer who stare at him. He walks over to the bodies of Xena and Gabrielle and places a hand on both Xena's and Gabrielle's forehead. In the meantime, the battle rages on. Xena lifts Gabrielle and walks to the edge of the precipice intending to throw her into Hell. Michael stops Xena doing this and Gabrielle breaks free of Xena. They begin to fight an aerial battle and Gabrielle manages to slice one of Xena's wings.

Back on Earth, Eli is mumbling to himself. Callisto appears behind him, as an angel and places her hands on Eli's. Joxer and Amarice look on in wonder as Xena and Gabrielle open their eyes and immediately look at each other and smile. Michael appears beside Callisto and smiles at her. She reaches out and touches Xena who looks up but does not see her. Michael tells Callisto it is time to meet her family. Both her parents appear and Callisto goes to embrace them.

Joxer greets Gabrielle, telling her he can't believe she's back. Amarice returns and puts a blanket round Xena's shoulders. Gabrielle looks at Xena and then Eli, exhausted sits down on the floor of the cave. Everyone sits back as if to contemplate what has just happened, seemingly content.

Review:
Hmm, I have to admit I hated this episode at first viewing. Being someone who was attracted to Xena partly because of the Greek mythology coverage, I was bitterly disappointed that The Powers That Be decided to throw the Christian belief system into the works and see what came out. Of course, this ruins the continuation aspect of the series as, being Greeks, Xena and Gabs should technically have entered the Elysian Fields and been reunited with their loved ones etc. (although perhaps Gabs would have ended up in the Amazon version of Eternity). However, instead they are carried up to Heaven (despite hardly being god-fearing Christians) and then get purified and become Archangels just like that! Yes, I'm ranting but I really did feel let down by this episode. Even the special effects failed to move me. The only thing that did was Joxer's reaction to Xena and Gabrielle's deaths. Nevertheless, as usual, Hudson stole the show with her demonic Callisto although I was less convinced with her goody-goody act (the plotline that is, NOT Hudson's acting ability) and found it a bit too contrived that her story should end so happily. Give me Greek tragedy, anyday! For me this was not an auspicious start to Season 5.

I didn't think I would watch this episode again but I did. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it more the second time around, perhaps because I had resigned myself to the plot. I still found it impressive that Xena and Gabs were so informed about Heaven and Hell (note: tongue firmly in cheek) and still cringed at Callisto's 'transformation'. Overall, I think those of you who haven't seen this ep will either love it or hate it. I know this review is mainly negative and it IS my own personal opinion so go ahead, watch it and judge for yourselves.

It Doesn't Add Up!
* As mentioned, Xena and Gabs get to Heaven even though they are 'non-believers'. Doesn't this suggest that you might as well not believe because you'll get there anyway? Did Hades have a scrap with Michael over where Xena and Gabs would end up? If not, who decides whether a person goes to one place or another?

* Callisto gets reunited with her parents but where is her sister? She's not even mentioned.

* Why does saving someone in Hell require sacrificing one's own goodness?

* Why does Xena plead with Michael to turn her into an Archangel? Although she wants to save Gabrielle, begging for help is out of character for someone who's not used to being beholden to gods or their messengers.

* Why is it so easy to become an Archangel and, if the cave is a test, how come the other angels are around when Xena comes out? Unless the other angels cannot become Archangels, surely they shouldn't be present as they would know the answer to the test. The only explanation I can think of for this is that the test might differ according to who you are and what you have done with your life.

Episode 2
Chakram
Written by: Chris Manheim
Directed by: Doug Lefler
Edited by: Jim Prior

Regular Cast
Lucy Lawless as Xena
Renee O'Connor as Gabrielle

Guest Cast:
Kevin Smith as Ares
Jennifer Sky as Amarice
Ted Raimi as Joxer
Timothy Omundson as Eli
Antonio Te Maioho as Kal
Mark Rounthwaite as Guard
? as Caleb

Synopsis:
Xena cannot recollect her dark past and Gabrielle is worried about her. Realizing Xena's innocence, Kal (the Roman God of War) kidnaps Xena, planning to use her to steal the Chakram of Light (the opposite of Xena's broken Chakram). Ares intervenes and Xena escapes. Joxer, Eli, Amarice, Gabrielle and Xena travel to the house of Eli's mentor, Caleb but he is not there. Xena realises that he is dead and breaks the news to Eli. Eli discovers that it is the Chakram of Light that Kal is after and they all make plans to stop him. Xena is reluctant to recover the Chakram as it will mean restoring her dark side. Meanwhile, Ares and Kal have reached a truce and have decided that they will work together to get the Chakram. However, their plans are foiled and Xena kills Kal. Ares tries to persuade Xena to give the Chakram to him but instead she fuses the Chakram of Light with her broken Chakram. As a result, this becomes one deadly weapon but no longer has the power to kill gods and is, therefore, useless to Ares.

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