Death in Chains

• Gabrielle is feeling a little under-appreciated.
  • "Looks like they're having fun," she says, referring to a couple kissing. "Not that I envy them or anything. I mean, what does she have that I don't have?" Who exactly is she jealous of?
• Gabrielle says to Xena, "I've been thinking...if Sisyphus gets his way, and nobody ever dies, people are going to have to watch how they word things. I mean, if you tell someone that you'll love then forever, it means forever."*
  • Xena spurs Argo up the hill they are walking as if suddenly energized to do her mission, as if inspired by Gabrielle's monologue on love.
• Xena and Gabrielle discuss Talus. Xena doesn't seem overjoyed.
  • "So what do you think of Talus?" asks Gabrielle.
    "He's nice."
    "Nice?! You're kidding, right? You didn't hear the story he told. It was warm and sensitive, and it cheered up that poor man. He's perfect, Xena. He's funny; he's smart; he's--"
    "Alright, alright, he's more than nice."
• Gabrielle starts to regret her flirtatious behavior.
  • "...stay out of trouble." says Xena, rolling her eyes and riding off on Argo.
    "She'll be alright," says Talus.
    "I hope so," responds Gabrielle.
• Meanwhile, something seems to be brewing between Celesta (death) and Karis, King Sisyphus' wife, for they seem to spend a significant amount of time together, just staring at each other.
• Gabrielle shirks her duties at the hospital over her concern for Xena's well being.
  • "Xena's in trouble; I have to go to her, Talus."
    "Sisyphus has guards posted at every gate."
    "It doesn't matter."
• Talus shows Gabrielle how to get into the castle. Now that she has what she wants from him, she tries to dismiss him.
  • "You should go back."
    "And leave you alone?"
    "There's no need for both of us to risk our lives. Look, Xena's my friend. It's got nothing to do with you."
• Talus explains to Xena why he and Gabrielle are in the castle.
  • "Where is she? I told her to stay out of trouble," remarks Xena.
    "She was concerned about you."
• Xena proves that Gabrielle is the aggressor in relationships.
  • "When Gabrielle has her mind set on something, nothing can change it. You'll learn that soon enough," she tells Talus.
• Xena really warms to Talus when she finds out that he is dying.
  • "This makes my job a lot tougher," she says, smiling.
• The episode ends with a crying Gabrielle hugging Xena.

Notes:
To me, it seems obvious that because of their experiences in "Prometheus," Xena and Gabrielle are giving their relationship a little break. A little cooling off period. Perhaps Gabrielle is bitter about this? It would explain why she seems adamant about rubbing her barely-a-relationship with Talus in Xena's face. And Xena acts as any ex-lover would do in this situation, she is cooly distant, taking pleasure when the relationship doesn't seem to be blossoming. Acting very magnanimous.
Also, why is it that everyone in the world who is mortally wounded but not dying are still suffering from their wounds except for Toxeus and his men?
This also marks the first death of one of Gabrielle's suitors. Also, this is the introduction of Gabrielle’s outfit #2.
Finally, if you've seen the bloopers from the fan club kit #1, then the castle scenes in this episode are great. Renee O'Connor is just the cutest, most adorable person in the world!
* observation made by Kresco.