The Rheingold

The Rheingold

Written by R.J. Stewart
Directed by John Fawcett

Episode synopsis:

Segment one:

35 years in the past, Xena battles a gigantic monster while boasting that he cannot win while she possesses a certain ring (which she is wearing.) She corners him in a cave and chains him in there, but he manages to steal the ring. Vowing that he will never escape to use its powers, she climb onto her horse and rides off into the sky. In the present, a man named Beowolf intorduces himself to Xena, and shows her the lock she had used to chain the monster, now broken open.

Segment two:

Xena becomes moody but is unwilling to talk about it with Gabrielle. When Gabrielle wakes up the next morning, Xena has left a note saying that she is going on a mission from which she does not expect to return. Gabrielle follows her anyway, to Scandinavia. There she encounters a woman who tells her of Xena's past as a Valkyrie. She had ridden to Scandinavia from Chin, and encountered Odin who had crucified himself because he could not stand the endless conflict that is life. Xena teaches him to embrace that conflict. He learns from her lust for life and makes her one of his Valkyrie. She quickly comes into conflict with Odin's former lover, Grinhilda. Xena convinces some men to fight to the death against superior numbers in Odin's name. When they die, she does not escort their souls to rest in Valhalla. Grinhilda chastizes her, but Odin takes Xena's side.

Segment three:

In the present Gabby is attacked by a woman who wants to prove that she can fight alongside Xena. Acknowledging that she and Gabrielle may be equals, she continues the story of Xena's past. Odin teaches Xena magic, but she hungers for more power. She expresses her love for Odin and asks for information on the Rheingold. Grinhilda confronts Odin and explains that Xena now seeks the Rheinmaidens so that she may have the ring. Odin gives command of the Valkyries back to Grinhilda and they hunt down Xena. After an aerial fight, Grinhilda and Xena fall to the earth.

Segment four:

Both Xena and Grinhilda survive the fall. Xena knocks out her opponent and rides off. She finds the Rheinmaidens and befriends them. She convinces one of them to show her the location of the Rheingold. She then knocks out the maiden and swims off. She forges the gold into a ring. In the present, Gabrielle mentions Beowolf and the raven lock to her friend. Her friend instantly realizes why Xena must have returned, and that it is a suicide mission.

Segment five:

In the present, Xena and Beowolf fight Grendel. Gabrielle eventually arrives only to find that Grendel bested them both and dragged away Xena.

Disclaimer: No flying horses were harmed during the making of this motion picture, although several villages were bombarded with aerial manure.

Moments Of Subtext:

• Xena is unwilling to discuss with Gabrielle why she is leaving. "I'm not trying to shut you out. You know our friendship is the most important thing in my life. But in this case--"
• When Gabrielle wakes the next morning, she finds a message that Xena has left, signed with a kiss.
• In the note, Xena says "Whatever happens, know that my love for you is endless."
• Gabrielle follows Xena on her suicide mission, once again stating that "her path is my path."
• Gabrielle reacts to the stories of Xena as a Valkyrie. "Poor Xena."
  "Poor Xena? You haven't been listening very well, have you?"
  "Xena thought that she could live without love. I know that she can't because she's my friend."
• The Rheinmaidens and Xena frolick in the water with tons of subtext. The maidens each profess their love for Xena. One even swims under her and Xena reacts to something done to her underwater, and the maiden comes up giggling.
• As a reward for showing her the Rheingold, Xena tells one of the maidens, "I can play with you all day."
• As they swim towards the Rheingold, Xena grabs one of the maidens in an underwater embrace.
• Gabrielle and her friend discuss Xena. "You love her very much, don't you?"
  "She's my best friend. I know her like I know my own heart."
  "A friendship like that is something to be envied."
  "It has a price, like everything."
  "A price you love paying."
  "Yeah."
• Beowolf and Xena discuss Gabrielle. "You miss your friend, don't you?"
  "Sure."
  "She's very beautiful."
  "Yes, she is."
• Gabrielle's friend is envious of Xena and Gabrielle's relationship. "I wish I had a friend like you."
  "You do," responds Gabrielle, reaching out to her.

Commentary:

The loving in this episode is amazing considering Xena and Gabrielle spend very little time around each other. It is satisfying to see, though, that when they are not together, they are talking about each other.

I don't hate it, but I am a little dissatisfied with this addition to Xena's backstory. Previously, I have loved all of out trips into Xena's past, charting the movement from Evil-Xena to Good-Xena. But being a Valkyrie? Wooing the king of the norse gods? That's just a bit over the top for me. (Which is saying a lot considering I accepted that she went to China and learned magic powers there, only to forget how to use them.) Maybe this means she will go to Valhalla the next time she dies. They seem to have run out of all the other afterlifes (that they have mentioned.)

And what is up with Xena's math skills? She claims that the lock she uses on Grendel will hold him for eternity, but instead it lasts a mere 35 years. Xena, that ain't even close! Not by a long shot! But I do have to congratulate the special effects team on the flying horses. They looked a lot better than I thought they would (if I knew that they were coming.) Grendel himself also looks really nifty, though he doesn't move so good.

Grinhilda seems to know what is going on and has a good head on her shoulders, but when she suggests that some soldiers surrender and ask for mercy from beserkers? Does she even know what the word means? And speaking of people who behave oddly, what is with the blonde girl's attack on Gabrielle? This fight makes absolutely no sense. I get the feeling it was put in solely because someone decided they needed an action scene, and they came up with the fastest excuse for one.

And how do Xena and Grinhilda survive their 1,000+ foot fall from their flying horses?

But you just have to love those Rheinmaidens. I haven't seen this much lesbianism since the movie "Go Fish." Once again, I have to proclaim that this season rocks!

But they still seem to have that same editor on staff. For once again we have a flashback to what happened earlier in the episode. I really cannot believe that they think viewers are this dumb. Maybe they needed to pad out the episode so that it was long enough?