A different view!

Instead of taking up room and making 2 posts, I thought I'd put these 2 together.

First is my thoughts on Bitter Suite, then second, there is a post a friend of mine (thanks CJ) found on the alt.tv.xena newsgroup that I thought was VERY INTERESTING!

Ok, people, if you haven't seen BS yet, then make up your own mind as whether to read this or not. This is what I thought:

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Bitter Suite was amazing! I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! At the beginning I couldn't believe my eyes! This one ep has changed a lot of the way I feel about Joxer! He was truly admirable!
BUT XENA WAS FRIGGING (excuse my lovely language) DRAGGIN' GABRIELLE FOREVER!!! She even pegs a rock and everything. The look on Gabrielle's face once she gets up after kicking Xena was unforgettable. Hatred and misunderstanding...
I couldn't believe all that was REAL, and not in Illusia!!

Then when Xena first "fell" into Illusia and Callisto, the dog, the lion, etc. etc., were all singing to her, I thought, "Oh geez, this is corny." But then it just became really good!!!! I liked the ending especially. Did you realize (I'm sure you did) that they had to reveal all to each other? That's why Gabrielle was able to pass thru the water fall and Xena couldn't...yet. She hadn't told the whole truth (and nothing but the truth so help you...oh oops....off on a tangent there...) regarding Ming T'ien. She had to ask for forgiveness (from Gab and Solan) before being able to leave Illusia. That was a great scene! The songs were wonderful too, especially that last one!

I liked at the end when they were back "home", they tied the music in from Xena's "forgive me" song. Just hit ya with it!

I was just shocked and surprised at the whole ep! It WAS awesome! Before Bitter Suite, I thought that there was NO WAY they could pull off a ONE-EPISODE RIFT-ENDER. I thought they would have to make a "forgiveness arc" storyline. BUT THEY DID IT! BOY DID THEY EVER! I AM TOTALLY SATISFIED WITH THE WHOLE RIFT NOW...well now that it's ended...BUT THEY DID A FABULOUS JOB WITH BITTER SUITE. To paraphrase Rob Tapert, "this was the only way we thought it could be done".

BRAVO TO THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, here's the post from alt.tv.xena. Very different!
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Wow. Let me say first that I had the same fears that everyone else
did before I watched this episode... A musical? Isn't this a bad time
to change genres? Won't it sound silly, or trite? How are they going
to resolve the entire "rift" in an hour, much less in an hour which is
a "singing, dancing extravaganza"?

No worries here. I had my doubts about music being anything but a
distraction to the important matters at hand, but TPTB were right.
They could not have done this episode if it *weren't* a musical.
Music enabled them to bring across ideas "in concentrate", packing so much emotion, so much development into so little time. They pulled it off admirably.

The most fascinating part of this episode, though, was the symbolism.
Rich, and with exquisite attention to detail, the world of Illusia was
Freudian heaven. Most of the main characters were taken directly from the Major Arcana of the Waite-Rider Tarot deck. Others have already posted plot synopses, so mine is going to be structured a little
differently...

*The Fool*

Shortly after Xena arrives in Illusia, she is woken to a kiss from
Callisto, dressed as The Fool (very nice attention to detail here,
even down to the little white dog). The Fool is an unorthodox
teacher; his/her duty is to pass along wisdom with sacrifice-of-self
for both teacher and student. Although the choice of Callisto might
seem odd (she is, after all, quite literally "playing the fool"), she
has one important lesson to pass on to Xena: Vengeance doesn't release a person from pain. Xena must learn this lesson, and let go of her vengeance against Gabrielle, in order to let go of her hatred later
on.

*The High Priestess*

During her opening song, Callisto covers Xena's eyes, and when she can see again, she is dressed as The High Priestess, sitting on a throne. The High Priestess is a holdover from the Mystery Cults; she
represents secrets, silence, and mystery. Her future is uncertain.
Obviously, Xena is a fitting choice.

*The Wheel of Fortune*

Xena presses Callisto for Gabrielle's location, but Callisto refuses
to reveal anything else until Xena spins the Wheel (which Callisto
created from a stylized Chakram). The Wheel (Destiny) appears
throughout the episode, drawing the characters from one scene to
another. "Destiny knows what is to be..."

*The Hanged Man*

Gabrielle is drawn into the land of Illusia, and she is pulled out of
the river by The Hanged Man, Joxer. Joxer is her guide, just as
Callisto is Xena's guide. The Hanged Man is the epitome of Sacrifice,
and the wisdom gained therefrom. As Gabrielle is quite naked, Joxer
creates for her a gown, which makes her...

*The Empress*

The Empress is fruitful, fertile; she is the Earth mother-type, the
down-to-earth woman. She is the woman of honest emotion and public rejoicing. And it is as this woman that Gabrielle returns to her
village of Poteidaia, led by Joxer.

*The Emperor*

Xena is led by Callisto to the castle of Ares, where grim warriors
sing her praises as the Ultimate fighter. Ares himself appears,
seated on a throne as The Emperor. Unlike the honest homespun quality that the Empress possesses, the Emperor is a figure of strength and power. He is the (not always benevolent) protector, and his strength comes from his convictions. Ares begins the seduction of Xena, promising vengeance against Gabrielle; he divests her of her High Priestess robes, and girds her in armor, preparing her for the next
battle.

*The Chariot*

Ares and Xena are taken to the battle in The Chariot, drawn by two
Sphinxes. The Chariot signifies war and triumph...and Vengeance. The seduction of Xena is almost complete now, as Ares and his men take up a chant to goad Xena to violence, as the Poteidaian villagers do the same as they prepare Gabrielle for battle. The chanting reaches its culmination as Xena and Gabrielle attack--and Xena stabs Gabrielle, who has been disarmed and rendered helpless.

*The Hermit*