9/28/98
Adventures in the Sin Trade
The BIG Season Four Premiere and what a premiere it was! Xena is determined to get Gabrielle's soul back and must journey to the Amazon land of the dead to do so (wow, my best friend won't even travel to 7-11 with me). In an attempt to see Gabrielle again, Xena must endure dancing around (Solid Gold anyone) and drinking horse blood (ah, I can't make fun of this one) to actually get there. But she sidetracked by her own past...memories of sex with Borias (she always comes back to this), the Amazons she has killed and a mysterious mystical woman named Alti. Now, she must do what Gabrielle wants her to do...battle this ultimate evil to save the dead souls of the Amazons.

10/5/98
Adventures in the Sin Trade II
Now if you like bare bottoms, wild, spiritual dancing, partying with horse blood, a gruesome killing spree or two and some did I mention more Solid Gold dancing, then Sin Trade II is the episode...if you can't tell by the sarcasm in my words, the episode let me down. Alti was not developed into a super villain, Anokin was not even mentioned and Gabrielle was only an afterthought. I forgive this episode however because of the awesome flashforward to Xena and Gabby's deaths. Can you say Christ Figure kiddies! I'm awaiting the Gabster's return!

10/12/98
A Family Affair
Xena, now firm in her convinction that Gabrielle is very much alive, heads back to Potediaia in search of her beloved friend (ah, soulmate). And low and behold, she is there...or is Gabrielle really Gabrielle?! Of course not...TPTB will not make this reunion so simple. It's Hope who also survived the fall into the lava pit (jeez, remind me never to kill someone using this method...just can't be sure). And other sticking point to this happy, little reunion...Hope's given birth to the Destroyer (Destroyer huh! I just wanted to give him a stuffed animal and a hug). But once Xena and the real Gabrielle are reunited (and believe me...it's feels SO GOOD), they must stop Hope and her monster (wow, Ares and Hope sure did make an ugly kid) from carrying out Dahak's evil plan.

10/19/98
In Sickness and in Hell
Who knew lice would make me laugh so hard? I now have faith that TPTB can make anything funny. Xena has to battle the evil band of evil guys while just trying to get her pony back while also trying to off some lice and a bad case of stomach flu given to her by our fave boy blunder Joxer. Hey, but let's not forget Gabrielle's ever-spreading foot fungus and numb mouth (muna hass jus cuta offf the ffloo of bloood to yow bwain..talk....talk). Okay so it may not be intellectual, but who cares!

10/26/98
A Good Day
Caesar, Julius Caesar is back and he is just as arrogant as ever, but he's brought the civil war with Pompey the Magus to Greek soil and as you might well imagine, this has Xena a little more than PO-ed. She wants to send Caesar and Pompey back to where they belong. The plan, what's the plan? Push their forces into one big battle. Okay, but that's not really want its all about...if I stretch my metaphorically fingers for just a second....ah...it's about the civil war Gabrielle is facing within herself. She doesn't know who she is anymore or where she is going!? Is all this killing, violence and death for a reason? To quote Seinfield...War, what is it good for? A great episode that asks the question...you can fight for the greater good, but at what cost? It was a good day for fighting.

11/2/98
A Tale of Two Muses
"Now, your gonna cut loose...footloose..." Oh, sorry! "You should be dancing, yeah!" I'll stop it eventually. Anyway, what do you get when you mix Gabrielle, Xena, Autolycus, and a repressed village that has outlawed dancing...why, line dancing and the funky chicken of course...believe me, I did the math in my head. I enjoyed the dancing, I even enjoyed seeing Tara again and hell, I even enjoyed the cheesy dance numbers. Not a excellent episode, but it's damn good enough.

11/9/98
Locked Up and Tied Down
Locked Down and Tied Up...ah, I mean...never mind. Xena, wanting to atone for a multitude of past sins, willing gives herself over for trial for the murder of a young girl. Sentenced to life in prison...on Shark Island Prison no less...she must fight to survive, carry the guilt and dig graves (huh?). But what if the person you murdered was alive and was the head of the prison! (oh jeez! Can this Warrior Princess ever get cut some slack!). Watch out for rats, hangings, artificial limbs and Gabrielle in disguise attracting the attention of the head of prison.

11/16/98
Crusader
Blinded by the light...Gabrielle's blinded by the light. What is Xena's worst nightmare? Well, we are all about to meet her...everyone meet..the Crusader, Najara (come on say hi). A warrior who preaches of light, peace and love...and Gabrielle falls for her (ah, whatever "fall for her" means to you). This woman is everything Xena is, but more importantly, everything Xena is not...she's senstitve, thoughtful, a good listener and she geniunely cares about Gabrielle. What's a warrior princess to do? Watch as someone else steals her "best friend"...hmmmm. In terms of plot...who cares...well, okay, Xena and the Crusader team up to put a slave trader outta business. Great episode...I loved the Crusader, loved the tension, loved the fights...I loved it.

1/4/99
Past Imperfect
Borias' death, Solon birth, war with the Centaurs, the Battle of Corinth...you would think I would be totally into this episode, but alas...the whole flashback format did not work this time. And don't even get me started on the "villian" because we will be here forever! I was a bit disappointed by this "been there, done that" story. It just did not gel. There was too much going on for me to get involved in any story. Kudos however to the always great Marton Csokos who is always great as Borias. And Borias' death had to be the most painful thing to watch since Xena's time on the cross. But I must say, was it me or did Xena look GREAT after giving birth to Solon??? Okay, it was just me.

1/11/99
The Key to the Kingdom
Meg, Joxer, Autolycus and a baby...hmm...I knew this was trouble just waiting to happen. Talk about a very odd story, but once again Lucy shines as Meg. I love her. She is My FAVE double...and thank god they are adding more complexity to her character. But with the crown of Athena, diaper jokes, a baby in disguise and an old/young queen...sorry folks, this did not do it for me either. Nice try though...I guess.

1/18/99
Daughter of Pomira
The return of the Horde...seems like they have kidnapped one of our own. The daughter of one of Xena's former men. My lord I think Xena has someone in every province in Greece. She always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Gabrielle urges Xena to "rescue" said-girl from the Horde's evil grasp. But little do they realize that this girl is happy where she is. With the girl as a bridge between these two world, there will be peace. So, what have you learned this episode boys and girls...violence bad, understanding good, and Gabrielle should go work for the UN.

1/25/99
If the Shoe Fits
Once upon a time, there was a Warrior Princess, a bard and a would-be hero, and a goddess of love who all wanted to help a real princess solve her problems with her new step-mom and her dad. Xena, a family counselor...who knew?? Anyway, cute episode...cute fantasies...cute girl...cute concept. Too CUTE if you ask me. But hey, who wouldn't get a kick out of Joxer disco dancing, Gabrielle taking a shower and in a sack, and Xena, well, being Xena. Cute episode! Anyway you decide to tell it.

2/1/99
Paradise Found
Paradise Found... or as I like to refer to it...Moving Picture Examination of Renee O'Connor's perfect, beautiful body. I've seen enough of Renee's bare back to last the rest of my life. This is Bliss...or is it? This is the formula that seems to be going on this season...Gabrielle + Spiritual Quest = DISASTER! Xena and Gabrielle fall through a hole (a mighty big HOLE if you ask me) and end up in a magicial, mystical spiritual land ran by a spiritual teacher named Adien, but is he more than what he appears to be...of course! This would be a Xena episode unless spiritual people turn out to be more evil than Dahak! Okay, well, it was a nicely shot, mystical episode.

2/8/99
Devi
From the first shot, we know we're in India. Land of Mystery, of wonder... and a few other stereotypical phrases I can't think of right now. Xena and Gabrielle encounter the forces of evil as a Hindu goddess possesses Gabrielle's body to heal people (that bitch)... to suit her own evil purposes. Hmmm... Xena always being the suspious one. For once, I'd like Xena to be completely and totally wrong about something. Good episode if not great... the last five minutes do it for me.

2/15/98
Between the Lines
Still in India...Xena and Gabrielle immerse themselves in the culture of another land. Xena looking oh-so-sharp in blue Indian garb. But wouldn't you know it...trouble happens upon them. After saving a woman from the traditional Hindu ceremony called Sati, Xena is transported to her future life where she must battle an evil ... enter Alti. Gabrielle is transported to...mystical battle ensues (cue flat earth effects) and Alti is defeat. Again, the last few minutes make-up for what was a pretty average episode.

2/22/99
The Way
The Way...I'll show you a way. Xena and Gabrielle, still in India, encounter their good friend Eli (remember...the Devi guy) who is being hunted by Indrajati (King of the Demons). Of course, Xena and Gabrielle are only TOO happy to get him out of harms way considering...he doesn't want to fight!!! Sure, sure...this episode had everything...a killer fight, great special effects, Gabrielle's new short duo, Krishna, a Hindu Monkey Man...but it still urked me that Gabrielle gave up fighting. Isn't too practicial when you're travelling with a warrior is it!!! I need to go lie down.

3/1/99
The Play's The Thing
I thought Gabrielle was a bard. Than why is she writing crappy plays? Hmmm.... Well, Gabrielle has embraced her new Way and written a play in the process. Too bad everyone else thinks its a totally bore and her producers are trying to con her out of thousands. But hey, who said show biz was easy right?

4/19/99
The Convert
Najara, the best villian to hit the Xenaverse since Callisto, has given up the sword (I'm starting to sense a trend) in order to win Gabrielle's heart. Hey, that's my version and I am sticking to it. Of course, Xena isn't too happy about it. Najara is still a few short of a dozen in Xena's opinion and tries to convince a blind Gabrielle of it. Why was Najara's character butched? Why is she a nut? And why is blood black in the opening shots? And oh, Joxer makes his first kill.

4/26/99
Takes One to Know One
Have you ever fantasized about what it would be like to play Clue with Xena? If so...well, that's one sick fantasy and well, this is the episode for you. One dead body. A host of suspects. And Xena's on the case. So, who did it? I can't reveal such priviledge information on unsecure lines.

5/3/99
Endgame
Ephiny DIES! The horror. The agony! WHY! WHY! At the hands of Brutus, Ephiny is killed to save a young Amazon named Amarice. Xena and Gabrielle vow to avenge Ephiny's death. Meanwhile, Pompey, still trying to recover from the loss of his army, has kidnapped the Amazon population in order to be sold as slaves. Well, what can I say about this episode other than it was crammed with Xena goodness. But must we endure Amarice ever again?? I guess so.

5/10/99
Ides of March
In an EXPLOSIVE season cliffhanger, Caesar, aided by the back from the dead again villian with that wild grin Callisto, puts a price on Xena's head (six million dinars!) to lure the Warrior Princess to Rome. Meanwhile, Gabrielle hooks up with Eli in Athens and runs into Brutus. They are captured. And, things go from bad to worse as Xena is paralyized by Callisto and our duo are nailed to cross. Yes, they die. They are dead. I guess next season it will be Shakti: Warrior Prince with Peace Maker Armanestria. Hmm... that sounds interesting.

4/17/99
Deja Vu All Over Again
....So they finally admit it. Xena and Gabrielle ARE SOULMATES! I would be thrilled, I would be leaping and dancing for joy if it wasn't for the fact that Xena is Harry and Gabrielle is Mattie. Okay. So, these two spirits have a love for each other that's beyond gender so it really shouldn't make a difference if they are men, women, whatever. But. WHY!!!! Couldn't be two women kissing. Sorry. Set in 1999, Annie wakes up and believes she is Xena...well, Xena reincarnated. Her boyfriend, Harry, takes her to professional help. A past life expert named Mattie. But then things dissolve into just plan weird when Annie is revealed to be Joxer and Harry is Xena. Nice directing debut by Renee O'Connor. I guess we'll have to wait and see if this soulmates stuff pans out further next season!