The Debt

'Scuse me while I go retrieve my socks; I think they blew off behind the stereo here, somewhere...

Whew. In a nutshell? Fabulous episode. The characters were rich, the acting was excellent all around, and the foray into Xena's past was chilling stuff. I *love* what this episode did with Xena. I *hate* what this episode did with Gabrielle.

Watch for Lao Ma to show up in the present in Part 2. I don't know why I went through most of the episode assuming that Lao Ma was dead and gone, but it finally occurred to me that the message to Xena was from her. Also, anyone care to place bets that Ming T'ien is Lao Ma's son? She served as Ming Tzu's courtesan, she's sewing presents for the kid... it fits the X:WP 'lost child' theme we've developed.

Lao Ma is a great character, and she's going to do nothing but get more fascinating. From what we know of her so far, Xena probably learned her discipline and confidence, some of her swifter fighting skills, maybe even embroidery, from her. However, judging by the fact that Xena returned to Greece an even nastier, more dangerous warlord than when she left, she DIDN'T learn any kind of mercy or that Greater Good stuff from her. Add it all up, and Lao Ma is one marvelously bad momma.

Apparently, though, Xena never quite mastered this trick of making things fly through the air and Mortal Combat-style chi attacks. Next episode: Xena stands on her head and makes rocks pile on top of each other with Lao Ma perched on her feet.

So much for seeing that same ol' tree and cave week after week. The wide, cold plains and close, smoky tents of this episode were gorgeous, and a refreshing breath of scenery fresh air.

To rival the wall of China, Xena creates a wall of her own; the severed heads of Ming enemies. Yee-ipes. Pretty gruesome effect there, guys. And was that last head that she threw down the guy that Borias had made her let go? Looks like she went back and took care of unfinished business. Brrr.

Once again, the Xenaverse proves that there is no place that cannot have a hot tub. 'Nuff said. Jennifer, quit nodding and grinning. :)

My favorite part of Lucy's acting work in this episode is seeing Xena pre-discipline. Our stoic, repressed warrior woman is not to be found here. Instead, Xena is fidgety with energy and rage, frequently unsure of herself, and bursting with every emotion she feels plain across her face. This Xena can't sit still and has her head thrust forward most of the time in her intensity. It's a fascinating performance. It's much easier for an actor to create a whole new character than it is to do a different version of an existing character. You have to keep enough common threads in the character to make her recognizable, and yet show how different she is. I caught a couple of Meg moments during the episode, and her "Xena wins again" line sounded just like her Callisto - gave me a chill. But other than those, Lucy did a stunning job. It's fun to compare things like old Xena's growl (and pre-firebreathing drink-spitting) at Ming T'ien to the reformed Xena's "boo!" at the kids in Chariots of War. Same reaction, same amusement, different intent.

Another fine touch by Lawless: when she's running from Ming's dogs and Lao Ma finds her, watch Xena flinch every time the dogs bark. She's at the end of her rope and reduced to being the hunted animal they've made her.

When Lao Ma calls Xena dangerous, she ain't kidding. This woman gets her kicks by severing heads, scaring little kids, and doing the wild thing on horseback (have mercy!), not to mention throwing daggers at anything that annoys her while enjoying the occasional opium pipe. Xena's more devastating crippled than most people could get near in their top form. (I guess Niklio's bone-setting in Destiny got messed up when she stomped all over those Romans.)

OK, I'm going to ask the obvious question: How on EARTH did Gabrielle get to Ming's castle? The Xena reality editor who sits on my shoulder says this: Gabrielle managed to work out of Xena that she's headed for Ming. Xena had to take a ship close to Chin, then sneak into the country and to Ming's palace. Theoretically, I suppose, Gabrielle could have hopped another ship directly into Chin and marched up to the front door. What a shock when Xena found Gabrielle in the palace - at first, I thought she was having more flashbacks. It wasn't until she spoke that I realized she really was there. Which, I suppose, was exactly the effect they intended.

And speaking of the Xena reality editor, I have to make one nitpick. I have no problems with everyone speaking English across the world. Greeks meet Britons meet Romans meet Chinese, and everyone has a Babel fish in their ear. Not a problem. But then why throw in ONE measly little guy to speak in Chinese? People only revert to their native languages when they're peons about to be skewered? Make a rule and stick to it, guys: either everyone's speaking the same language, or Gabrielle's still sitting at Ming's front door trying to pantomime "assassin warrior princess."

At last we know why Xena was dressed in oriental robes in Dreamworker! Mark off one more mystery of the universe solved.

I have fallen in love with Oley Sassone's directing work. He's the fellow who did The Price and, not as impressively, The Deliverer. He's in top form with this episode. Xena's head rising from the water was very reminiscent of the Horde's appearance in The Price (so nice, had to do it twice). Xena's muddy form skulking through the hallway full of spinning globes and cages was stunning photography work. (I know, I know, it's hard to miss with THAT form skulking anywhere, but still, give the guy credit for good work.)

Nice meetin' ya, Borias. Crafty, vicious fella, and smart as a whip - what an interesting match for Xena. Makes you proud to be a ravaging warlord. I wonder if Debt 2 is going to explain how Borias ended up serving in Xena's army in Greece? His story's not done yet!

Nice Raiders of the Lost Ark moment when Xena chakrams the guy who's showing off with the two swords!

Interesting choice of flashbacks they showed as Xena hesitated outside of Ming T'ien's bedroom. Gabrielle and Callisto's deaths, I suppose, were Xena's most potent reminders of how much difference single lives can make and how precious they can be. She's not able to make her victims faceless and nameless any more. She even considers Gabrielle's old advice about choosing to act with grace instead of reacting with violence, but in the end, she decides that it's asking too much and keeps up with the assassination plan.

OK, let's talk about Gabrielle. What happened? Did the producers decide that everybody has been liking Gabrielle way too much lately? She had come too close to losing that "irritating blonde" label for good? Throughout the first 40 minutes, she pops in occasionally to accuse and express disbelief at Xena, which was tough enough to swallow. Usually, Gabrielle's first reaction to anything from Xena's past is to remind Xena of how different she is now, to support and encourage her. Not this time, maybe because Gabrielle thinks that Xena is intent on returning to finish whatever business was left behind. But ouch, couldn't Gabrielle have at least demanded the rest of the story before she decided what to do?

Speaking of which, of Xena's many skills, explanation is apparently not one of them. She leaves Gabrielle behind at the docks without even finishing her justification for heeding a call to kill? C'mon, Xena, you're usually a lot more succinct; giving the whole story to Gabrielle might have saved you both a lot of grief.

And now we know why The Debt Part 2 is called Betrayal. In the span of two episodes, Gabrielle has deceived Xena, then betrayed her. With malice and forethought. The shock on Xena's face when she found Gabrielle in Ming's palace was painful. I'm REALLY hoping that Debt 2 is going to give us some reasons for what Gabrielle's done. I can't believe she'd decide that turning Xena over to her enemies was preferable to allowing Xena to assassinate someone, but maybe Gabrielle's idealism is running away with her again.

When the episode closed, I remembered Renee O'Connor talking at Valley Forge about the Rift. She said that this season was the first time that she had to do things as Gabrielle that she didn't agree with. She said that Gabrielle's black-and-white ideals about killing were going to cause problems, and she needed to find some balance. When Lucy called during the appearance, she reminded the crowd that rough times were coming for our favorite duo, but things would work out and we weren't allowed to hate anyone in the meantime. Renee explained that Lucy was worried about her. After Gabrielle's Hope, I figured I knew what things they had been referring to. Turns out we hadn't even begun to scratch the surface. Yeee-owch.

Give Gabrielle credit, though: she's not afraid to stand by what she's done. She could have told Ming that Xena was coming and then ran. She could have stayed in the palace, but waited until Xena was captured before approaching her. Instead, she put herself right in front of Xena and told her what she was doing and why. Years of traveling together aside, she was still standing boldly in front of a very dangerous, armed woman while she handed her over. Even in this moment, Gabrielle is strong and brave, and cares enough about Xena to look her in the eyes. I think she's so off-base she's out circling Jupiter somewhere, but she's gutsy and true about it.

Return to the Wool-Gatherings.

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