A community for fans of Xena: Warrior Princess.
Season 1, Episode 20 - Ties That Bind

http://whoosh.org/epguide/ties.html
A lot of the episodes in Season 1 are kind of uneven, which makes sense. The show was still trying to figure out what it was, what was important, who these characters even are. But there are some really interesting bits here.
- Very interesting manipulation by Ares. Getting the army together for her and threatening someone to whom she felt a bond seemed to get her back into Dark!Xena mode pretty darn quick. ("Take the village!!!" is so amazing!) The manipulation (and the explanation thereof) will have aspects revisited later in the series. Ares' song in The Bitter Suite is all about this. This feeling. Having that army. Having that power. Conquering.
- I do enjoy Ares' first (?) jab at Gabrielle: pesky little friend. Already feeling threatened, eh?
- I love how Gabrielle challenges Xena. Her standing up to her shows that she is going to do what she thinks it's right. Even despite...
- "Friendship binds us together closer than blood ever will." So we're 20 episodes into this show and, already, Gabrielle is family to Xena and vice-versa? Yeah, I'll take that. ;) Definitely my favourite line of the episode! And despite feeling that way, Gabrielle is ready to stand up to Xena. What an intricate relationship they already have.
What are your thoughts on Ties That Bind?



