Xena: Warrior Princess 4x12 "If the Shoe Fits..." Reaction
Added 2022-06-05 20:08:45 +0000 UTC
Comments
What was the character thinking? - Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship issues. In Gabrielle’s version of the ‘Tyrella’ story she’s telling the little girl, Aleshia, she depicts Xena as the evil stepmother and talks about how she has intimacy issues that she’s masking by way of her mistreatment of her and her belongings. I feel what Gabrielle really meant by that is that Xena cannot set aside her hard feelings towards Gabrielle and trust in her completely anymore because of all that happened with them in Season 3. ‘The Rift’ was what made them lose faith and trust in each other because of all the lies and treachery. Gabrielle seems to interpret that by how Xena would just use her for her own benefit in bringing about the ‘Greater Good’, but not really caring too much about how it would affect her. Often, at times, Gabrielle would disagree with Xena and her plans which made Xena leave her out of them. It made Gabrielle feel untrustworthy and expendable travelling with her and helping her in her good deeds. I feel that’s what really bothered her in this episode, although it is very subtle and you have to really look under the surface to see it. Even though it might not be the truth that Xena is using Gabrielle’s presence around her in any way that is selfish and shady, Gabrielle seems to think that way. In Xena’s head, it could just be that she’s trying to do her best to keep Gabrielle safe and still avoid arguments with her. But it’s obvious to see that there is a lot of trust that’s disappeared between them. ‘If The Shoe Fits…’ is not a dramatic episode that really dealt with Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship, but I feel as if Gabrielle got a little too personal here in telling the children’s story. This is how she views what is happening between her and Xena. You could see it in episodes before this one, such as ‘Past Imperfect’, much more evidently. Gabrielle was having trouble trusting Xena and what she would tell her about the vision of them dying on the cross together. She didn’t believe her and got angry with her. She had good reason to be angry and say what she did. That it makes Xena get distracted from the task at hand constantly thinking about what’s gonna happen in the future and all the anxiety of protecting Gabrielle from it. I feel like this has been something that’s been there since ‘A Family Affair’. Although they reconciled and put aside their differences on all that happened between them in Season 3, just before Xena lost Gabrielle when she fell into that pit of fire in ‘Sacrifice II’, a lot of trust, faith and intimacy was definitely lost between them when they reunited. I know this episode is a pure comedy, but I feel that this is where Gabrielle expressed her frustration over all of this and that the issues between her and Xena were much deeper than something as trivial as using and destroying her favourite shirt or washing the dishes. It’s cleverly written so it is addressed in a lighter and much less controversial way than how it would be in a pure drama. “Tyrella’s” counsellor attitude in the story, Gabrielle is telling Aleshia, gives off undertones that suggest more than what can be seen on the surface in the episode. But what do you guys think? Do you think I’m just pulling this out of my hat and overthinking a situation that really wasn’t all that serious? I think one of my videos does well in showcasing the relationship issues between Xena and Gabrielle, and also how they’re able to solve them.
Girl4Music
2023-11-21 21:42:21 +0000 UTCHey, Princess Alicia doesn’t have either of her parents’ accents. ... I always like Tyrel (Joxer) when he gets disco funky at the royal ball, and I always laugh at the Princess’ (Gabby’s) lip synch song.
Koz
2022-06-07 19:25:12 +0000 UTCIf the discussion point with the final few episodes of season 4 is to watch the final episodes in the order 19 > 22 > 20 > 21, I completely agree that should be the ideal watch order! There were likely some non-narrative considerations during the TV airings that made them order the episodes a certain way that can now be improved upon by watching them in a different order which is more aligned with the storytelling. We've seen some wonky orders in the past too, such as there being a wacky comedy episode in season 2 in between the episode where Xena lets Callisto die and the episode about Xena being wrecked with guilt over letting Callisto die. And in season 3 where Ares oversees the crafting of a new metal and speaks of its powers... one episode after the threat of the new metal had already been explored and defeated. About this episode: Aphrodite is such a natural fit for Xena: Warrior Princess that you can never tell she is a crossover from Hercules.
Judson
2022-06-06 04:28:13 +0000 UTC
