Warning:  The following review contains information about "A Friend in Need", the final episode of Xena.  Do not read this review if you have not seen the show, and you don't want to know what happens at the end. 

I just watched the last episode of Xena this past Saturday.  I've been putting it off because I knew that Xena died (I didn't know how) and the thought of Xena being dead just…well…it just sucked.  I mean, in the last 6 years, she and Gabrielle have fought many ferocious battles and so far, Xena has come away from all of them with nothing more than mere scratches…now she's dead??? 

When I heard the series was ending, I had mixed feelings.  The last two seasons didn't really do a lot for me.  They seemed to lack something the earlier episodes had.  I feel like a lot of this has to do with the fact that everything seemed to be centered on one question, "Are Xena and Gabrielle just friends or is there more to it than that."  The writers seemed to fuel the fire with scenes (in almost every episode) that involved Xena and Gabby naked or kissing.  For me, the beauty of their relationship was lost in what seemed like an ongoing effort to shock everyone.  Why does it matter if they are friends or lovers anyway??  I just don't understand the controversy surrounding this issue. 

Personally, I thought the last episode was one of the best.  The fighting scenes were incredible, especially the scene where (the bad) Xena is fighting for the sacred Katana.  And how about the scene in the beginning when Xena and Gabby are on the ladder and they walk it across the street to the water tower…what an amazing stunt!!  I have to say the two scenes that were the hardest for me to watch were Xena's death scene and the scene where Gabrielle finds her body.  To see Xena go down in battle…wow…it was very disturbing.  Then, to see Gabrielle find Xena’s headless body…just imagine what that would be like.  I think Renee O'Connor did a great job in acting out the scene. 

Like I said before, I knew Xena had died but I wasn’t sure if Gabrielle had been able to bring her back to the land of the living.  Then came the scene where Gabrielle recovers Xena’s ashes and makes her way to the fountain of strength.  The sun is setting so there’s not much time.  All Gabrielle has to do is sprinkle the ashes into the water and Xena will be back, just like new.  Does anyone else think it took Gabrielle long enough to take the lid off the darn jar??  “Come on, Gabrielle.  Throw the damn ashes in the fountain so Xena can live again.”  No such luck.  Even in death, Xena stayed true to her cause.  Xena explains to Gabrielle that if she doesn’t stay dead, thousands of souls will be destroyed forever and Gabrielle’s response to this is, “I don’t care.”  Now that’s love, no matter how you look at it.  

If you have comments on the last episode of Xena or on anything that is “Xena”, please send me an e-mail at xena@wizardskeep.cc.  If you have a favorite “Xena” website, include the link.  I’d love to post some of your comments to the Wizard’s Keep site.  I will not post your name or e-mail address unless you specifically tell me to do so. 

Battle on Xena!!!!

--Tonya, Wizard's Keep staff