Return of Callisto

Perdicus shows up and proposes to Gabrielle. Xena has a ...disturbed look on her face. She and Gabrielle later discuss it. "So what's your answer?" "No, of course." "Why don't you tell him?" "I'm waiting for the right time." "He's a good man." "He is. He's so sensitive and kind. You know...I've never known anyone that I've been so comfortable around. Besides you." "Look Gabrielle, if it's me your worried about, let me set your mind at rest. Seeing you happy will make me happy." When Peridcus and Gabrielle say their vows,and while they are kissing, Xena once again has that pained expression. Xena says, "I'll be knocking on your door so much you'll be sick of me." "Never," replies Gabrielle. They then lean forward and kiss each other, Xena once again has a tortured expression. When Perdicus is killed, a hint of a smile DOES cross Xena's face as she watches Callisto ride off. Gabrielle is all ready to kill Callisto: "If she dies with me, that'll be fine." "Not with me it won't" replies Xena. Xena prays to the gods, "I was ready to give up once and Gabrielle came into my life. Please don't let that light that shines on her face go out. I couldn't stand the darkness that would follow." As Callisto gets ready to off Gabrielle, she says to Xena, "You're about to watch the friendship of your life go up in smoke." The phrase 'friendship of yourlife' seems to me to be a play on the phrase 'love of your life.'
Radon points out the subtext between Gabrielle and Callisto in this episode: were Callisto kills Gabriells husband Persidus I wounder what motives could she have for doing so, unless she was trying to get rid of the compition or she was jelous of the affection Gabrielle gave him.
Molly points out: Gabrielle and Perdicus are in their room half-undressed and making out when Gabrielle asks him if they can name their daughter Xena. Seems like a strange time to bring Xena up to me...at least from a non-subtexter POV. Is it safe to assume she's thiking of Xena while\after kissing him? (Maybe this is a stretch but hey...it's there and this is my interp ;) ) Also, is there any higher proclamation of love than naming your child after the person you love? (I think this was mentioned in the Cradle of Hope analysis-"Name him Gabriel")
Tetris points out: "More proof that Callisto wants Gabrielle in the part of Return of Callisto besides the fact Callisto kills her Husband is when she catches Gabreille trying to kill her (when she decides she can't and drops the sword waking Callisto up)and after Callisto ties her to a stake and she has Xena their to watch her kill her she's feeling around on Gabrielle's stomach in a very flirty way and smiling at Gabrielle real big and the way she's looking Gabrielle up and down and the way she looks at her when she looks into her eyes seems very flirty. "
From Ignacio: "Return Of Callisto: The first thing Gabrielle does when Perdicas proposes marriage is look - worried - over her shoulder right into Xena's eyes (her disturbed look is already commented). When Gabrielle and Perdicas are just married, Perdicus (who isn't dumb) goes discreetly away leaving Xena and Gabrielle alone, while Joxer (who at least seems dumb) stays with them. Then Pedicas seems to wave Joxer to go with him, but he doesn't understand. But when Xena tells Joxer to go away, a light flashes in his head, smiles, says "oh, yes", and leaves them both alone for their last lover's kiss. And in Perdicas and Gabrielle's wedding night, she tells him she's not been with "a man" before, not that she's a virgin... no commentary needed. In the scene commented by Tetris, Callisto caresses Gabrielle wanting to provoke Xena, but Gabrielle moves her head away from that contact. If that gesture wasn't enough, you can hear meanwhile the lustful laughter of Callisto's men. That scene has been repeatedly shown in lots and lots of movies everytime the baddie has got the hero's lover in his hands, only that the baddie and the hero are usually males. And a last point: in the last Xena vs. Callisto fight, there is a clear hommage to "Ben-Hur", movie which has a well known gay subtext."