A few years before Buffy the Vampire Slayer Kick your ass, stake in your hand, yeah Xena – the Queen of Warriors he had. The character was the center of an increasingly interesting universe that extended to all sorts of historical and mythological references. Played by Lucy Lawless, who first appeared in one of the episodes of the series. Hercules: Legendary Journeys, became an immediate icon. Not only because she was one of the first influential television heroines who had no male counterpart. Also for embodying in pop culture a kind of version of the woman that is still new.
The series also dared to subtly explore controversial topics that were, by then, bold narrative threads. Even today they are still there. From exploring the sexuality of his characters to their sense of belonging, identity and purpose. Xena – the Queen of Warriors it was a unique yet effective combination of plot experimentation and pure fantasy. All with a context that has gradually grown to encompass mythology, history and its own critical context.
Today, almost thirty years after its premiere, the series still surprises with its freshness, good performance and the best entertainment. But especially for pioneering in at least three elements that modern television and streaming have taken to the next level. Although it may not seem like it, often wacky adventures Xena is a good example of television based on original ideas.. Some of them that managed to surpass the small format of the series and become milestones are still intriguing and worthy of analysis. We tell you three times that Xena – the Queen of Warriors, he was ahead of his time.
It was the first spin-off before the idea became successful on television.
While most fans now only remember Xena’s popularity, the character actually comes from a parallel series. Hercules: Legendary Journeys The premiere took place in 1995 with Kevin Sorbo in the title role. And in fact, the character of Lucy Lawless debuted in the ninth chapter of that first season. The episode, entitled “Warrior Princess”, introduces Xena as a budding villainess.
But the character’s potential was so obvious that his storyline was expanded for another three chapters. And as strange as it may sound, she received a worthy redemption, which opened her way to a much larger television universe. On September 15, 1995, just a few months after his first appearance, Xena Warrior Princess Debuts Her Own Show. The show was an instant hit and even far surpassed the popularity of the show it came from. It was a television experiment of curious proportions, production company directed by Sam Raimi.
Curious data? Over the years, and as the show has become a major milestone in pop culture, Kevin Sorbo has begun to make his discomfort clear. In a curious show of concern and conformity, he even made several statements about it. “I never understood why [ Robert Tapert] made her more powerful than Hercules,” Rob Weisbrot told the author. Interview included in the book Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, A Guide to Ongoing Adventures and published in 2004, it surprises with sincerity. “Hercules should be the strongest man in the world and a demigod… They made him invincible and more. And I found it just weird.” In various interviews, Sorbo expressed his dissatisfaction with Xena’s influence on the public, much more than Hercules’.
Xena’s feminist icon, the War Princess, was almost unintentional.
Decades before the political commentary of characters and stories from popular culture, Xena – the Queen of Warriors she was a feminist icon. Not even wanting it and not planning it. But it was inevitable that the character would. Powerful, self-sufficient and determinedXena traveled through ancient Greece, presented in the series, as the central character and without a male partner.
At first, the leaders were worried about the fact that Xena was not dependent on the hero’s company. And even the opportunity to delve into a possible relationship between Kevin Sorbo’s Hercules and the character was raised. But the series was an immediate success thanks to Lucy Lawless’s ability to lend personality and intelligence to the Warrior Princess. The premise was a resounding triumph among much of an audience of young women who enjoyed a 3D heroine with doubts and imperfections.
By the end of the first season, the character already had a loyal and solid fandom. And by the sixth and last, he had already become a phenomenon in his own right. Also, as inspiration for a series of programs and premise related to autonomous and powerful heroines as the focus of action stories. Nonetheless, Lawless has repeatedly made it clear that she doesn’t like the idea of being a feminist icon.
“The whole role model thing was a fluke,” Lawless said in an interview with the publication. Los Angeles Times. “I’m just trying to write a script. This is reality versus ideal. We are promoting the ideal of a woman, or at least a new ideal.”
This deep and ambiguous relationship between Xena and Gabrielle
Before the broader debate on inclusiveness and representativeness Xena – the Queen of Warriors He has already taken a decisive step in this direction. Throughout her history, the character has had an ambiguous and often emotional relationship with Gabrielle (Renee O’Conner), her partner in combat. Sexual tension that was never resolved, but is still considered a precedent for being shown on television.
Xena and Gabrielle were best friends and obviously had unresolved feelings for each other. There were even gentle and seemingly romantic gestures between them. However, the producers never allowed showrunner Taport to confirm the relationship. because of the scandal that could suggest. There was even talk of a tacit agreement to hide any ideas about it that might affect the show.
But in 2003, the actress confirmed the relationship in an interview with the weekly lesbian news. When asked if Xena and Gabrielle have more than just a relationship, Lawless replied that both characters are practically married.
