The flashback episodes on X:WP are a favorite of mine. I remember when I first saw ‘Destiny’. I have to say, I wouldn’t characterize Xena with no regrets and no remorse even when she was a villain; she is far from one dimensional stoic but at the same time, she sort of is, almost like a front but not really (I can’t really put it into words). She is essentially an anti-hero. Basically, Hercules is to Superman as Xena is to Batman.

My memories of Xena’s first appearance on Hercules threw me off when I revisted it after re-watching the whole X:WP series again in years (I was young when it first aired, by the way. All I remember was that I was fucking SCARED of Xena so bad). As soon as I first heard Lucy Lawless speak, I remember thinking wtf? Her voice was high and soft most of the time [than the tone she would sooner adopt for the deeper Xena voice she used for X:WP] and her few New Zealand accent kept on slipping along the way. (Not that the first season of Xena was perfect, but by the last episode ‘Is there a doctor in the house?’ she had it perfectly. I think it took her some time to figure out who Xena was and how she should play the character). Not to mention her war cry ululating was horrible!! LOL. She admittedly, on and off as an actress. There were great scenes, outstanding scenes, and than downright cringe worthy scenes.

Lucy Lawless was not just ‘made’ for the role, she literally made it herself! I had read someone (and this is the first time, but still pissed me off, lol) that thought Xena was based on a frickin’ comic book character. Not a big deal I know, but like I said, the Xena character was no adaption. The actress had to make it herself, there was nothing to base it on.

If LL didn’t play Xena, I doubt she would of ever gotten her own show. She was just that good. Vanessa Angel? I mean, really. lol Roma Downey who played Hippolyta in ‘Hercules and the Amazon Women’ (who Lucy ironically played the second in command) was the number one choice for the Xena role as well. It must of been fate, because it was said the originally actresses who were to be Xena either became sick (Angel) or they did not feel they could travel all the way to New Zealand, especially for just a few episodes of a television show.

‘The Gauntlet’ was the real character personality that is Xena. Its almost as if the trilogy had 3 different Xenas. In ‘The Warrior Princess’ she was too vixen-ish. Using sex, which is what I hate about female heroes, its too cliche. Than in ‘Unchained Heart’ she is almost like a cheerleader for Hercules, and seemingly became too soft for the warrior princess, and way too damn happy.

Okay, this is getting long. Didn’t mean to write this much, so I’ll stop now before I’m foregone. LOL