God Fearing Child
Teleplay by Roberto Gaston Orci & Alex KurtzmanStory by Chris Manheim
Directed by Philip Sgriccia
Segment one: Zeus confers with the Fates over dark visions he has seen. They reveal that his rule is coming to an end. Meanwhile, Gabrielle is telling Xena about her dream when Hercules arrives, bearing a gift for Xena's child. However, their reunion is interrupted by the arrival of many blue-robed warriors. After defeating them, Xena finds out that they have been ordered by Zeus to kill Xena's unborn child.
Segement two: Xena kills one of the Proxidicae (the blue guys) and Hercules reveals that the others get stronger when one is killed. They wisely decide to run. Xena reveals that she will hide and possibly try to kill Zeus by gaining Hades' Helmet Of invisibility. Hercules decides to talk to his father, and if that doesn't work, go get the Rib Of Chronos which will kill a god. Xena and Gabrielle have a heart to heart swearing to protect Xena's child. Hercules confronts Zeus, but Zeus is not interested in listening. Hercules disowns his father. Xena and Gabrielle swim to Tartarus, only to find that the Proxidicae are there looking for them. Zeus summons Ares to distract Hercules while he hunts down Xena. Ares gets permission to kill Hercules. As he is about to do so, Hera arrives.
Segment three: Hera saves Hercules from Ares. In Tartarus, Xena finds Solan. It turns out, he chose against the Elysian Fields to avoid the blissful forgetfulness. In Tartarus, he gets to see Xena, though as a reminder of the life he is no longer a part of. Xena decides to rescue him. Hera reveals to Hercules that she is helping him behind Zeus' back. She is on his side. Xena and Solan have a heart to heart, because Solan is jealous of Xena's baby. Xena reminds Solan of how much she loves and owes him. However, she Gabrielle and Solan fall into a trap set by Hades.
Segment four: Xena and Gabrielle fight the Proxidicae. Gabrielle grabs and uses the Helmet and Xena and Solan escape during the confusion. Hera reveals to Hercules where the corpse of Chronos is. Zeus finds out from Ares that Hera has turned against him. Ares appears to Xena and reveals that he loves her and will protect her if she wants to live out a mortal life with him, which she, of course, refuses. Xena, Gabrielle, and Solan find a doorway to the Elysian Fields. Hades finds them there and orders his guards to attack. Xena fights them while having contractions. Solan makes it to the Elysian Fields.
Segment five: Gabrielle and Xena exit Tartarus through some door. Zeus confronts Hera and Hercules as Hercules gets Chronos' rib. Hera protects Hercules by zapping Zeus. Hercules takes off to help Xena and Gabrielle, who are battling the Proxidicae. They manage to vanquish them with the rib. Xena has had enough of her contractions and decides to get down and dirty with the actual birth. Zeus kills Hera and drops in on the birth. Xena pleads with Gabrielle to leave so that she will not get caught between Xena and Zeus. Gabrielle ignores her. Hercules battles Zeus. Just as Xena gives birth, Hercules manages to impale Zeus with the rib. Xena gives birth to a baby girl, which she names "Eve" (Solan's idea.)
Disclaimer: Zeus Cashed in his Chips during the production of this motion picture.
Moments Of Subtext:
Gabrielle's dream: "Xena, wait. I had a dream last night; you and I were both giving birth to your baby. It was like it was coming from both of us."
"That's very nice."
Xena and Gabrielle's chat by the pond to Tartarus. "You and I will dedicate our lives to protect your baby. Come on, you can't fail," says Gabrielle.
"We won't fail," agrees Xena.
Hades knows how to tempt Xena: "If you surrender now, I'll spare your friend."
When Gabrielle returns with the Helmet, Xena greets her with "It's good to see you."
When Xena falls to her knees with the contractions, she calls out for Gabrielle.
Xena begs Gabrielle to help her take off her clothes while she is doing the whole birthing thing.
Gabrielle delivers the baby.
Commentary:
This episode returns us to the more traditional, i.e. less stupid, storytelling for Xena. This makes me slightly optimistic for the future episodes. By more traditional storytelling I am referring to the plot which is not as stupid as it could be, and they keep stopping to make the "human connection:" Xena and Solan, Hercules and Hera, Hercules and Zeus. This sadly leaves out Gabrielle, and gives a hell of a lot of screen time to Hercules, but hey, it's a small step in the right direction.
Why, every time they show the fates, they have some NEW way of organizing the threads of life? These women are fickle! Also, If one were to count their threads, there must never be more than about a thousand people in the world. Do they only keep track of the important people? I don't get it. Oh wait a sec, I DO! The people who make this show don't care about continuity!
Now if we are to assume that the people making this show do NOT care about continuity, then one great thing to change would be this stupid way of travelling to Tartarus. I mean, swimming in a pond?! Whatever.
What happened to the original actor who played Solan? This new one not only doesn't look like him at all, but also doesn't sound like him. The original had a very distinct accent. Now, my advice is this: if you are going to replace a character with a different actor, do NOT show a clip of the original actor! But that is exactly what they do in this episode, in the scene in which they introduce the new actor. It is as if they are trying to reinforce the difference between the two.
Loved the visual effect with Gabrielle putting on the Helmet Of Invisibility.
Xena has two different fights WHILE she is having contractions. Uh huh. Yeah, right. I mean, we all know that Xena is one messed-up-powerful woman, but if she can do this, she may as well lay down on the ground and shoot the baby out of her as a weapon. (Ha! How's THAT for a mental picture?)
Zeus says to Hercules, as he lays dying, "Hercules, you've never disappointed me. Especially today." Wow, that guy is forgiving. Why do I have the feeling that my father would not feel the same way if I disowned him, and then stabbed him in the chest, thereby killing him.
Did anybody doubt that the baby would be a girl? But "Eve?" Memo to self: Do not let the dead name babies.
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