<> cynical episode

I have to say that I'm am not really satisfied with this episode. I think it carries a cynical message.

The only message seems to be is that Gabrielle is complete idiot and that whenever she makes her own decisions, independently of Xena, that she is bound to screw things up. It seems that, if she had simply obeyed Xena by getting rid of Hope the first time around she would have been doing the right thing. Of course, only Gabrielle gets put in these ridiculous dilemmas in the first place but she gets no sympathy for acting as any normal mother would do by helping her daughter escape. As for her motives for saving her by seeing the best in Hope, it's great fun to see Gabrielle's naive ideals being shattered once again.

This time though, by letting Hope escape, she has screwed things up so much that she is forced to poison her own daughter, who Gabrielle has acknowledged as her daugher. Ordinarily a parent would never have to make such a decision, but in this case it is apparently not only justified but courageous since Hope is the personification of evil - Stupid. In fact we should commend Gabrielle for having the bravery to hug Hope while at the same time plotting her demise.

Not only did Gabrielle kill her but she did it in the most cowardly and deceitful means possible. Why didn't she just use a sword or something. Or better yet why didn't Xena just get to do the dirty work instead.

So now Xena hates Gabrielle for not following her instructions and Gabrielle is put back in her place as subservient and stupid. Even after doing away with Hope, she has still managed to botch things up, since the only honorable thing after all of this would have to have done herself in also, but she doesn't even have the guts to to that. Maybe Xena would have forgiven her then.

I'm still a Gabrielle fan, and I really didn't want her to kill herself. I'm hoping that there's a way to straigten things out. In fact, if Gabrielle actually did something different than appears, I'll apologize for doubting her, but I don't like the way she is being portrayed lately and being manipulated in these episodes with the only purpose seeming to be to show that Xena is still in charge and the only one who can do anything right.

noe'easter