r/xena

The very first appearances of Lucy as Xena! I love the early stages of her character when they were trying to figure out how they wanted the character to be.

Xena had two different outfits; the red outfit in the third pic and her iconic shoulder pads outfit in the first two.

Her sword and chakram were even different than what we got in the show. She also didn't have Argo with her. One thing I do like that Xena has a softer voice than the hardened warrior we meet in her show.

One of my least favorite parts about the time jump is Argo's passing; she died thinking Xena was gone and never got to reunite with her.

Definitely Xena’s Creation scabbard is one the rarest prop replicas, I’ve never seen more than 10 of these scabbards in my life.

Xena’s scabbard made by the propmasters at Pacific Renaissance Pictures LTD in New Zealand and distributed by Creation Entetainment in a limited edition of 500 units worldwide, however it’s possible the production run never finished since these late editions were made to order.

The scabbard is made over a solid foam structure just like the screen used ones and covered with a genuine dark brown soft leather. It also features the aged gold cast-resin conchos and paua shells inlay from New Zealand. The reverse side does not feature the classic carabiners that the set-used scabbards or Todd’s replicas use to attach to the costume, instead there is a leather strip around the braid and a leather strap so that it is functional and can be attached on the back.

Finally I was able to reunite Xena’s battle sword and scabbard replicas from Creation Entertainment, another level unlocked.

This is one of those episodes where the premise itself doesn't sound particularly spectacular on paper. The enchanted scroll that turns everything Gabrielle writes into reality could very easily have turned out to be a one-off idea that quickly ran out of gas. However, the execution is much better than I expected. The script makes great use of that simple idea and squeezes a ton of fun out of it, so the episode has a great rhythm from start to finish.

Aphrodite is once again an absolute generator of chaos. Whenever she appears, you know in advance that things are going to go wrong, but that's exactly her charm. She is never malevolent in the way that some other gods are. She just creates so much confusion that everyone around her gets into trouble. Her playfulness and completely relaxed attitude towards the consequences always make me laugh, and here it is used perhaps better than usual.

Gabrielle, on the other hand, is the heart of the whole story. It is ironic that the very person who is the best with words suddenly has to watch every written thought. As the episode progresses, every attempt to correct one mistake creates two new ones. You literally get that old rule, be careful what you wish for, it might come true. The more he tries to fix the situation, the more chaotic it becomes. That's why her frustration seems genuine and very entertaining. You see how a person who is used to solving problems by writing is now getting into more and more trouble just because of writing.

Of course, Joxer doesn't miss an opportunity to show how much he loves Gabrielle. His attempts to impress and win her over are so clumsy that you can't help but find them endearing. What is particularly amusing to me is that Gabrielle practically does not even register five percent of his attempts. She is completely occupied with the scroll and the disaster that is unfolding before her eyes, while Joxer persistently tries to be the hero in a story where almost no one notices him and even mostly gets the better of him.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the relationship between Ares and Gabrielle. It's rare that the two of them get so much space together, and here for the first time you can feel some interesting dynamics between them. I don't necessarily mean in a romantic sense (although it would be interesting to see such a development of the story), but simply as two characters who have unexpectedly good chemistry on screen. It's especially interesting that Ares, when he loses his godly powers, is a much more tolerable person. It's as if the arrogance that usually accompanies him disappears from him. As soon as he is no longer the all-powerful god of war, he begins to show much more humanity. Honestly, Ares as a mortal is often more interesting to me than Ares as a god. He seems to be a jerk mostly only when he has godlike powers.

The comedic highlight of the episode for me are the scenes with the three naked Gabrielles. The idea itself is crazy enough, and the way it's executed is even better. Total chaos on screen, and the facial expressions of Gabrielle and especially Joxer whose (perverted lol) mind they came out of was a hit.

And Xena's fish fight... It's pure absurdity in the best possible sense. You can either accept such scenes or roll your eyes, but I found them hilarious precisely because the series is not ashamed of its craziness for a single moment. He completely indulges in comedy and pulls out several scenes that are impossible to watch without smiling.

Still, despite all that, I can't say that this is one of my most memorable comedy episodes. It's fun. I'm happy to look at her. But there are comedies in the show that remain much more deeply in my memory.

What gives this episode added value is its place in the season. Especially now in my second viewing of the show I appreciate it more. When you know what comes right after it, it almost feels like the last moment the show allows itself to be completely lighthearted. It's as if the screenwriters are deliberately giving the audience another forty minutes of pure laughter before the emotional hell follows. And honestly, after everything that comes... We really needed that laugh.

P.S. I would like a some woman to look at me as seductively as Aphrodite to Gabrielle in this picture 😍

Xena: Warrior Princess is hands down my favorite television show of all time. Why? The writing, first off...is expansive, engaging and very rewarding. There are storylines that go through every single season, connecting both episodes and backstory, and each character is handled deftly. Everyone in this show has their arc and every character grows (or succumbs) according to their choices, not what's convenient to the plot. It's simply masterful television work. Throw in some mesmerizing acting from Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor...and you have a show about women and how they affect the ancient world around them, that likewise breaks down every barrier thought possible for both women AND men.

Who am I? I am an original, OG Xena: Warrior Princess fan of the highest order. I own the series in multiple formats. I have, quite literally, seen every episode at least fifty times. And yes, I'm one of the loudest voices clamoring for a pristine 4K release, and when they re-release the show in 4K...I'll be buying that iteration of the show as well. I'm also a Harvard educated Dungeon Master who carried Xena with me on campus every day. Xena is of immense importance to me, and Xena helped me to know myself as a gay kid and to learn that I can do anything that I set my mind to.

No hero is complete without a good villain. And I've created a sister list to this one, chronicling the top 25 Xena villains. There were quite a few, so not all made the list, but I included the ones who made an indefinite impact on Xena & Gabrielle's journey. But like any true masterpiece of television...Xena is not ruled by just the naughty. The show is filled with good-hearted souls who make Xena & Gabrielle's adventures so unforgettable. So in this list, I celebrate the good, the sweet, the kind and the strong...those who made Xena: Warrior Princess unmissable each week.

25). SOLARI: [Seasons 2-4]
Amazons play an important part in the Xenaverse. Xena herself is so amazing that she's often mistaken for an Amazon by nearly everyone she meets. But Solari actually was an Amazon, and she was a tough one at that. Whenever there was a big battle to be had, Solari fought alongside her reigning Amazon Queen with strength and valor. Whether that Queen was Gabrielle herself, or Ephiny...it didn't matter. Solari was there. She held her sword close to her forearms when striking, and her fighting style was close-range and incredibly deadly. Very few could best her. And when someone finally did...(a Roman in vile Brutus' army)...her death was hard to take. Ephiny felt it. Gabrielle felt it. We all...felt it.

24). HADES: [Seasons 1-4]
I know, I know...Hades?!...a GOOD guy? Yep. For the first 4 Seasons of Xena, Hades was a rare ally. On Xena, you got to know the god of the Underworld the good old fashioned way...face to face. And when you did get to know Hades on the show, you saw that he wasn't a bad guy at all. In fact, he honored and respected the dead. He ran his realm quietly and he never crossed swords with Xena even once. His big brothers Poseidon & Zeus were mega-jerks to Xena, but Hades helped Xena several times through the course of the show. Xena's gotta find her lost love Marcus (more on him later) who died and went to Tartarus? Hades helped. Need help to find Gabrielle who may have passed away? Hades helped. Xena also helped him retain his kingdom several times, when he was on the verge of losing it all. What does Hades represent in the Xenaverse? That death is nothing to fear, and oftentimes it can be a blessing. Especially if it comes to you in the form of one very handsome...and helpful, Hades.

23). LILA: [Seasons 1-6]
Gabrielle had a younger sister who loved her most of the time and resented her in others...you know, a typical sister. Lila was not only graceful and beautiful, but she kept Gabrielle's actions in check whenever their hometown was in the picture. Lila did not approve of Gabrielle's decision to leave their hometown of Poteidaia and go embark on a life of an adventurer-warrior with Xena. But through the years, Lila saw her big sister's growth and maturity, and Lila soon came to respect Gabrielle's skills indefinitely. However, tragedy soon struck this lovely family when the evil warlord Gurkhan stole & enslaved Lila's daughter, Sarah. When Lila's husband and parents went to buy her daughter back, Gurkhan beheaded all THREE of them! Later, Gabrielle had to settle this vicious score, and it forever changed the dynamics of their family. But nevertheless, Lila and Gabrielle always had each other's backs in the end. And for being a great sister, she won our hearts and makes the list.

22). PERDICAS: [Seasons 1-2]
The truly beautiful people in the world (those beautiful on the inside) often meet or find someone who falls in love with them pretty quickly. Gabrielle experienced this with Perdicas, her betrothed from her hometown of Poteidaia. Gabrielle broke off their engagement to go out and be a woman of the world (you go girl!) but Perdicas always held a place in her heart...and she in his. They met up again during the Trojan War, and you could tell that Gabrielle kept a torch burning for ole' Perdicas. Well, later that year Gabrielle decided to give life with him a shot, and they married and she became his wife. Then a hurricane of a monster named Callisto showed up, and she ended Perdicas' life before it even really started. This sweetheart (and owner of a mean right-hook) will always hold a place in our hearts for being Gabrielle's truly loving husband, a man who put her life above his own time and time again. And he was cute. Ugh, why do the good have to die so young?

21). MINYA: [Seasons 2-4]
Hero-worship often ends up being a very bad idea. If you meet your hero, they turn out to be jerks and they spoil the perfect image you imagined all along. Such could have been the case with Xena & Minya as Minya practically worshipped the ground Xena walked on, and frankly...who can blame her? But when Minya's boyfriend also showed great delight in the warrior-princess, that green-eyed monster called "Jealousy" reared its ugly head within Minya's mind. Xena can't help that she's gorgeous and thus attracts Minya's boyfriend. Minya eventually understood this and she moved on and ended up being a good friend to Xena & Gabrielle through the years. Aided by her wonderful sense of humor and a huge flair for the dramatic...Minya represented fun whenever she showed up. And if things got too hairy for her, she'd impersonate Xena until the problem flat-out disappeared. And by impersonate, I mean she'd throw unbalanced punches and kicks until someone fell over. And now that I think of it...that's actually a good thing to do in life anyway. When life gets you down, or when a situation gets too sticky...pretend to be Xena. Hero-worship in this case...turned out pretty well. Thanks for making us smile, Minya.

20). VIRGIL: [Seasons 5-6]
Virgil is hot. Okay? Let me just get that out of the way. Okay, moving on. Virgil is hot (had to say it again) and it's somewhat surprising, considering that his father is Joxer. But nevertheless, besides being genetically blessed, he has a kind heart...desiring to become a warrior-poet. He later embarks on a journey with Xena & Gabrielle to find Eve...Xena's long lost daughter. And a terrible price is paid for this journey...as his father Joxer is killed by Xena's evil daughter Livia. Virgil's tears fell with our own, and this young man lost his father at far too young an age. But he did not let this great loss ruin him. He stayed strong. He stayed kind. He stayed good. Virgil was a great son and a great friend, through and through. And at the end of the day...that makes him hotter than anything else ever could. Though, those big, well defined pecs and biceps didn't hurt.

19). KAO'HSIN: [Season 5]
If your mom is the legendary Lao' Ma (more on this angel later)...you have a lot to live up to. Thankfully, Kao' Hsin did not disappoint in the least. The beautiful Kao' Hsin has a twin sister in the evil Pao' Ssu, but the two could not be any more different. Kao' Hsin is very soft-spoken, kind and gracious...possessing all of the qualities that made her mother such an outstanding woman amongst women. It's almost as if all the majesty of the ancient women of Chin were poured into this lovely mother-daughter combo. Kao' Hsin sought her mother's great book of wisdom that contained vast knowledge and the keys to incredible spiritual powers. She wanted to use the book and its knowledge to help people, spreading its message of love and peace. Thankfully, this became a reality. And like her mother before her, Kao' Hsin helped Xena defeat great enemies that threatened all in their world. The great spiritual powers Kao'Hsin summoned to defeat their enemies...she didn't even know she had. But when you think about it, that strength was there all along. It's in the blood, Kao' Hsin. You got it honest...ya got it from your Mama.

18). AMARICE: [Seasons 4-5]
This young Amazon literally flipped onto the scene, trying to protect Amazon Queen Gabrielle from Xena. Yeah, we scratched our heads as well. And though her actions were quite unnecessary, her loyalty never wavered for even a second. This quality alone makes Amarice one of Xena's best good guys. She's annoying sometimes, she's very impatient and frankly she straight up tried Xena once or twice-and oddly didn't lose any teeth over it. But yet and still, she's there for her friends and her Amazon Queen...no matter what. Plus she can kick some serious tail, so like a good girl from around the way, she can more than watch your back. Amarice was a joy the moment she came on the show and she was sorely missed once her story-line ended. Plus, she's down with the swirl like Xena is, as she was seen loving on some handsome black men on the show. Seriously...what's not to love about Amarice?

17). APHRODITE: [Seasons 2-6]
This goddess doesn't have a mean bone in her body. Even when she tries to zap Xena with a spell or two, she more than likely ended up causing somebody to fall in love or she altered reality itself. But no matter how Aphrodite used her powers it was never anything too drastic like...say...morphing people into monsters or splitting them in half like her bro Ares. Oh no, Aphroditeis a lady, honey. And like any good lady, she always looks her best and she generally has everyone's best intentions at heart. And speaking of heart, she is the goddess of Love after all, and she takes her job very seriously. This generally means she is butting her nose in other people's business, or dousing some crazed warlord with an unending crush that can never be cured. What can I say? I love the way she works. Plus homegirl can seriously work some pink lingerie. But beyond her day-job, perhaps her greatest attribute is her love and respect of mortals, especially one mortal in particular: Gabrielle. Oh yes, her friendship with Gabby was always very touching. Other than Xena and Gabrielle's friendship, the friendship between Aphrodite and Gabrielle was one of the show's best relationships, and it grew gradually & beautifully season after season. Ahh, when immortals are this nice, who wouldn't want to have a god as a friend? Especially one who can give you the ultimate love life?

16). MEG: [Seasons 2-6]
Xena has two look-a-likes in the Xenaverse. One is a princess, and the other is...Meg. A woman of the bar-scene who ran the streets for a while--and she's obviously cut a bitch or two in her heyday--Meg delighted me from the moment we met her. There was always a twinkle of mischievousness in her eyes, but you knew deep down that it was grounded in a lovely woman who would ultimately end up doing what was right. My other favorite attribute of Meg's is that she always surprised me, and in often alarming ways. Her street-brawling fighting style always caught me by surprise. Her attraction to Joxer definitely caught me by surprise. And her heart-breaking admission that she feared she couldn't have children, brought tears to my eyes. Yes...Meg, the woman of the world, represented true soul in the Xenaverse. And in a beautiful twist of fate, Meg married Joxer and ended up becoming a mother after all, giving birth to a truly heroic son named Virgil who makes this list on his own heroic merits. Meg was never boring, but she was always a sweetheart. And for looking exactly like the Warrior Princess, that ensured a life that was always...yep...surprising.

15). EPHINY: [Seasons 1-6]
Amazons rarely broke code. They usually followed orders and paid dear consequences for not doing so. Ephiny was a spit-fire from the beginning, and she did not like Xena or Gabrielle...at first. But Ephiny's forbidden love for a Centaur (and later having his baby) showed that there's a soft-underbelly to this tough chick. Over the course of the show, Ephiny served many roles in her life. She was the Amazon Queen in Gabrielle's absence. She was a mother. She was a best friend. She was an incredible warrior who stood toe-to-toe with Brutus and even Xena, once. All of this culminated in her very painful death which happened in the epic episode, Endgame. Ephiny's death hung over the show like a cloud, and at the end of the episode...when Gabrielle's tears finally broke forth...so did ours, and the tears fell like rain. Ephiny's death stays with me more than any other Xena-character's death in the entire show's history. I think it's because her death was handled so masterfully. I think it's because she went down like a warrior. I think it's because sometimes you don't realize how much someone means to you...until they're gone. Ephiny was taken too soon, but my...what a woman. What an Amazon. What a mother. What a presence.

14). EVE: [Seasons 5-6]
Xena's daughter took a while to leave the dark side, and during the journey, I almost thought that she was a lost cause. But thankfully good won out, and it's a good thing...because Eve was a very important part of human beings moving on from the worship of the ancient Greek gods. Humanity couldn't really move forward until Eve did, and that's what she represented to me...the great change that often comes with the unknown future. Eve was far more chill than her alter-ego Livia, but Eve could beat the brakes off of you if she had to. And when it came time for Eve to carry her message forward on her own, she was woman enough to bid mama Xena & auntie Gabrielle adieu without falling apart. That impressed me most of all...that she found her own path, and she didn't shrink from her massive responsibility that she owed to the whole world. Eve almost lost herself to hatred before, sure...but she didn't...she held on. And because of that tenacity that she inherently possessed (being the reincarnated soul of Callisto after all), Eve went on and accomplished great things. Now, if that doesn't sound like the future...I don't know what does.

13). SOLAN: [Seasons 2-5]
I loved this young man from the moment we met him. Tragically, after giving birth to Solan in secret, Xena had to give him away to be raised by Kaleipus the Centaur (once her mortal enemy), and she had to pretend not to be his mother so that her enemies wouldn't know he existed. Oftentimes, Xena's past came back to wreck her present-day life with devastating consequences, and the loss of Solan was perhaps the greatest cost she had to pay in the entire series. The sad truth is that Xena was not there to be Solan's mother, and that was entirely her fault. Xena missed his childhood, she doesn't really know him, and her past mistakes hunted her down and ultimately destroyed her only son. Solan was innocent in all of this of course, as he was a child and he only wanted to be with the people who loved him; and for a brief moment that could have meant living with his mother and Gabrielle. We fans wanted that dream to come true for Solan so badly! But alas, sometimes life doesn't turn out the way we want. Solan proved that Evil-Xena could do something good, after all, look at the beautiful baby boy she birthed. Solan represented Xena's determination to do better. Solan represented her heart. But most of all, Solan represented Xena's yearning for a better life and a better world for herself. Thankfully, this optimistic hope for her future was not lost in Xena when Solan passed, as Gabrielle stepped up to fill the void, and Xena later birthed Eve-who helped her heart to heal further. But Solan, perhaps, represents consequences most of all...and how we will pay up...for good or for naught...sooner or later.

12). SALMONEUS: [Seasons 1-2]
Salmoneus appears in the Hercules show more than any other character besides Herc & Iolaus. Unfortunately he doesn't appear as often in Xena, only starring in 3 episodes...but they are great episodes and Salmoneus is responsible for something even greater: he came up with the Xena theme song! Salmoneus always tried to make a buck, make a bargain or talk himself out of some sticky situation...and it usually worked like a charm. But no matter what, he had Xena & Gabrielle's backs and he will be remembered most for being a great friend and ally to the Battling Bard & the Warrior Princess. Sure, his penchant for fast-talking and humor served the show well. But having a heart of gold is always the more attractive quality. And yes, Salmoneus probably would have sold his own heart of gold for a buck...but hey...at least he had one to begin with. And that's why we love him.

11). CYRENE: [Seasons 1-6]
Xena's mother is one heck of a woman. She killed her wayward husband who came home drunk one night, determined to sacrifice his own daughter Xena to Ares, the god of war. Cyrene runs the most happening tavern in all of Amphipolis, and she's a top-notch business woman. Then to top it all off, she forgave Xena of all her terrible deeds and she was always there when her legendary daughter needed her. Cyrene was an ancient woman with a modern gal's sensibilities and I dug her a lot. But sadly, she left the world in a horrible way and she was tormented in the after-life for some time before Xena could set her free. It looks like she had been carrying a lot of guilt from having to stop her crazed husband, but yet and still she ultimately found grace and peace once again. Cyrene grounded Xena when Gabrielle couldn't and Cyrene proved that it's always nice to have a place to call Home, where a loving mother awaits. Especially if she happens to own the most banging place in town.

10). GOOD XENA: [Seasons 1-6]
I know that it's slightly gauche to include a show's protagonist on its list of good characters, but because Xena's past is so heavily contrasted against her new life as a superhero...the heroic Xena simply cannot be ignored. Evil Xena was a doozy. She was vile, nasty, deadly...and even downright rude. Good Xena however, was--thankfully--present on the show infinitely more than Evil Xena. Good Xena would risk her life time and time again to save you. Good Xena would make deals with gods just to get you out of a bad one. Good Xena fought to save thousands and thousands of lives...in a single day. Good Xena would travel to the underworld just to save her beloved. Good Xena even babysat a few times, and took the time to help people in love (and war). Good Xena is Xena, basically: all that delightful potential wrapped up in one cuddly, punch-loving ball of badassery. Evil Xena may have been a big part of Xena's past, but Good Xena spent the rest of her days making up for all those terrible deeds. And most important of all...no matter what happened, Good Xena never stopped the good fight. Good Xena renewed my faith in the good that's within us all. Being good is a choice. Xena made that choice. Good Xena made the sacrifice to live for others, and it gave us the greatest hero in the history of television. So thanks Good Xena...you made this show legendary.

9). M'LILA: [Season 2]
Who showed Xena how to fight like a Panther? Who taught Xena pressure-points? Who taught Xena her gravity-defying flipping abilities? Who taught Xena how to catch arrows? Who taught Xena how to run up and down stationary objects like Spider-man? M'Lila did, that's who. This Gaulic slave was a baaad mamma-jaama. M'Lila fought like a demon and she could kill you with just a touch. Xena was instantly mesmerized with M'Lila's skills of course, and asked M'Lila point-blank to teach her how to kill someone by merely touching them. This later became known as Xena's infamous "Pinch". M'Lila taught Xena what she knew, and the two made an instantbond. Bad-ass chicks have a way of bonding the likes of which are beyond us mere mortals, let me tell ya. M'Lila's existence however was cut short, and she was killed by raiding Roman soldiers who attacked Xena on Caesar's orders. This death rocked Xena to her core and split her psyche in half. Xena outright became a genocidal psychopath after M'Lila's murder. M'Lila wasn't around long, but we very simply wouldn't have our Xena that we know and love without her. M'Lila is proof of how just one person...can change someone's life forever. We all have a M'Lila in our life, and if you haven't met her yet...perhaps she'll stow-away on your ship, or in your car, or in your Uber ride...and change everything for you after you find her.

8). MARCUS: [Season 1]
You know you're a good man when you have Xena nearly dying to save your soul, because Xena sure ain't trying to save many other ex-boyfriends. Marcus wasn't just a delicious hunk of chocolate goodness (yum-MEE) but he was a man who turned to the good-side after Xena showed him the light. Now, Marcus' turn to the light did come at the wrong time (as an arrow entered his chest) but the brotha tried and that's all that matters. Marcus and Xena left a lot unsaid, and through his few episodic appearances, they tried to make up for the lost words they never got around to saying to each other. It would rightfully take a mighty strong man to satisfy a warrior-princess like Xena, and Marcus showed us just what kind of man could take Xena's heart and own it forever: it would take a man who's brave, knowing, trust-worthy, and good deep within his soul. Marcus is all of these things and more. Sure, he played the bad-boy for a long time...but he entered eternity as a good one. And my...it was romantic.

7). AUTOLYCUS: [Seasons 1-4]
The "King of Thieves" prides himself on stealing for sport...and boy does he steal. He'd steal your blood if it weren't flowing in your veins. He'd steal your fingernails if they weren't encased in your fingers. He'd steal your hair if...oh, you get the picture. Autolycus steals. A lot. But he's also got a true heart of gold. Who does Xena turn to when she needs her body recaptured & reanimated? Autolycus honey. Who does Xena count on to help her save an entire village & their greatest treasure? Autolycus baby. Who does Gabrielle & Xena turn to whenever they need something stolen, (ah-hem) I mean taken back to its rightful owner? Autolycus. Sho-nuff. He's the man and he's always there when our gals need him. Plus he wears green very well, has great gadgets to help him get out of trouble and he's portrayed by Bruce Campbell-who is the epitome of a gentleman. Hey, what's not to love about a good guy with a klepto-habit? Thankfully, at least Autofocus only steals for fun...and ego, of course.

HONORABLE MENTION - BORIAS: [Seasons 3-6]
I know, I know. Xena's baby daddy is on my villain's list. And well, that's because he was a villain. Notice the past-tense there. In the last major decisions of his life, Borias chose good. He forsook his & Xena's evil ways and he fought his way to his woman during a conflict with the Centaurs, desperate to begin a new life with Xena and their child. Then as if tragically fated to never see such happiness, he was killed before he could literally reach them. Borias' story is a cautionary tale...he simply waited too long to change things. Borias was an enabler in every sense of the word, and he helped Xena make one bad decision after another. Eventually, those poor decisions he eagerly participated in came back to destroy him in the end. But yet and still, Borias did try to do the right thing. Heck, he more than tried. He professed his love, he fought for his woman, and in one of the show's most touching moments...he died looking at his newborn son. Fate may have been cruel to him, but thank goodness he saw the light before it the light dimmed within his own eyes.

6). IOLAUS: [Seasons 1-2]
Xena & Iolaus have history, honey, and it ain't good. Xena used Iolaus to betray Hercules, she broke Iolaus' heart, and she beat the ever-living crap out of him. (Told ya Xena used to be bad-ha!) But eventually, Iolaus forgave her and he ended up being a great friend to Xena and Gabrielle. Because he was Hercules' sidekick, Iolaus got to go on many an adventure, the likes of which no one else has ever seen. And because his travels took him across Xena's path once in a while, he got to see the truly incredible side of a woman he once despised. Iolaus' faith in people became stronger after dealing with Xena, not weaker, and if that's not the sign of a great man, then I don't know what is. Iolaus may not have had Hercules' mind-blowing strength, or Xena's fantastic fighting abilities...but he did have just as much heart as they did, and it shined through in every single episode. We all need a little bit of Iolaus in our lives...someone who knows us when we're bad...but who forgives us and welcomes us when we're good. Okay, and just from me typing that, Iolaus just got a whole lot hotter.

5). ELI: [Seasons 4-5]
Eli, Eli, Eli. Oh, Eli. What can I say about Eli? Well, when we first met him, he was nothing more than a charlatan. Then after one of the most seismic personality shifts in television history, Eli became a living vessel for the way of Love and he traveled the world spreading the good news of God's coming kingdom. To say he resembles the Christ legend is obvious, but to say he was good is simply not enough. Eli literally brought some of the most interesting dialogue to the show and he gave INCREDIBLE depth to Xena & Gabrielle's journey, showing that choice and destiny can indeed be one and the same. When Eli showed up, you knew some huge change was going to take place if only because every god on Olympus wanted him dead for saying mortals didn't need to worship them anymore. Likewise, warlords and evil emperors despised him because he...well...preached love and encouraged people to live better lives and not put up with abuse. In the end, Eli was assured by a heavenly messenger of God that he would be the hammer that brought about eternal change to the world...and he accepted his destiny. Eli realized that his choice and his destiny were one and the same, just as he had preached to everyone else for years. I'd never watched a Xena episode with more tears before, than I did when Eli was around. My, what a lovely character Eli was.

4). JOXER: [Seasons 1-6]
"Joxer the mighty..." Joxer had a lovely little ditty of a song that he sang all the time with his mock-operatic voice. That first line says everything though...about how inaccurate the song was, and also about the heart of a lion he always possessed. Joxer wanted to be a great warrior more than anything, to be someone that people feared and respected above all others. Joxer found that Xena had the life he always wanted...in spades. But Joxer's bumbling, clumsy, uncoordinated self couldn't swing a sword with conviction, much less stab someone with it. So, instead of being feared & respected, Joxer grew to be a joy and deeply loved by friends and fans alike. He tried to live by the sword, but instead he lived with his heart front and center...and his constant love of Gabrielle proved to be one of the most endearing characteristics of anyone in the show's history. Later, Joxer would marry our dear Meg, and have a beautiful son named Virgil...passing on the tales of Xena & Gabrielle to a whole new generation. And right up until his untimely death, Joxer proved as loyal and loving as we'd always remembered him to be. Joxer represents the good that Xena & Gabrielle fought to protect. Now that...he had in spades.

3). HERCULES: [Seasons 1-5]
Hercules has been in millions of stories, thousands of comics, and hundreds and hundreds of films & television shows before. So why did THIS rendering of ole' Herc move the world so much? I've got two words why: Kevin. Sorbo. Kevin's searing portrayal of the demi-god lifted Hercules to levels never seen before in popular culture. Never before did a show focus entirely on the half-god's journey through life, and never before have we seen the heart and desire that fueled the dazzling motivations behind the great strong-man of ancient times. Hercules is responsible for saving millions upon millions of lives. But one of those lives belongs to Xena herself as Herc set her on the straight and narrow during an epic story-line on his own show. Xena proved so popular that her spin-off happened immediately after, resulting in the greatest spin-off show in television history. Hercules did that on a regular basis...he sowed incredible seeds that blossomed down the road in other people's lives in huge and impactful ways. To state it very simply...we would have no Xena, without Hercules. We would have no Gabrielle, without Hercules. We would have no Iolaus, without Hercules. It looks like a world without Hercules, wouldn't be such a nice place after all. Especially when it comes to television screens.

2). LAO'MA: [Season 3]
Lao' Ma only had two appearances on Xena: Warrior Princess. But MY GOODNESS...what a woman. She single-handedly had the most impact on Xena's entire life, after Gabrielle. Lao'Ma is so important to Xena's journey, that after Lao' Ma's untimely murder by her own son's hand (the evil Ming-T'ien), Xena was willing to go back to the dark-side, just to avenge Lao' Ma's death and kill Ming-T'ien--now the Emperor of Chin--herself. Lao' Ma had this air of regality that stirred in the very wind around her and she possessed great spiritual powers that were simply unmatched: like when she healed Xena's crippled body in a breath-taking display of compassion. What we saw is that while she was healing Xena's broken legs, she was also healing Xena's heart. She taught and showed Xena compassion, loyalty and forgiveness. She taught Xena to become as hard as steel in the face of true evil, and that no one should rule over Xena...Xena should always rule over herself. Of course, Xena was hard-headed and didn't take to Lao' Ma's teachings right away. In fact, Lao' Ma had to send Xena away after Xena initially tried to kill her son. (It looks like Lao' Ma should have let Xena carry out that mission though, as Ming-T'ien turned out to be such a monster.) But later in life, Lao' Ma's lessons stuck and changed Xena forever. Lao' Ma's powers also later aided Xena in several tight spots, enabling her to become (briefly) the most powerful woman in history. We missed Lao' Ma the moment she left the screen. But like any true legend, her life-force soaked the show for its entire duration. Lao' Ma isn't just one of the best "good" characters on Xena. Lao' Ma is one of the best characters on Xena, ever. Period.

1). GABRIELLE: [Seasons 1-6]
Oh my goodness, what can be said about Gabrielle? Entire dissertations have been written about Gabrielle. No, seriously. There have been. So what can I add to the single most important character on Xena: Warrior Princessother than Xena herself? Gabrielle met Xena after the Warrior Princess saved her life and stopped her from being sold into slavery. Nice start to a friendship, huh? And like those of us watching at home, Gabrielle was immediately taken with this warrior woman who commanded fear and respect like it was true currency. Xena's fighting-style surely dazzled Gabrielle, but there was something else that Gabrielle was drawn to...she wanted Xena's freedom. She wanted Xena's life. She wanted to be just like Xena, and boy did Gabrielle get exactly what she wanted. Gabrielle possessed many gifts...the gift of gab (a funny play on her name by the way), being able to talk her way out of any situation. She possessed the gift of the Bard, able to spin yarns about legends and adventures that kept any and all rapt with attention. Gabrielle possessed heart-breaking loyalty that was crushed time and time again, yet she never gave up on her loyalty, she never swayed for a moment, even if it meant she'd be hurt in the process. Gabrielle possessed a curiosity that took her on a journey throughout the entire known world, and that curiosity emboldened her and gave her strength she never thought she'd have in a million years.

Gabrielle's journey saw her go from a scared village girl, to a battling Bard, to being a crowned Amazon Queen (one of the best plot turns of the show's history), to being a deadly fighter in her own right, to being Xena's true best friend and confidant in a world where Xena really had no one else. Gabrielle changed the most of anyone in the show's history, yes...even more than Xena. Through Gabrielle, we saw the internal changes and struggles within Xena. But don't get me wrong...Gabrielle had her own trials and turmoil as well. Her daughter Hope turned out to be the spawn of the Devil himself, causing her and Xena untold grief after her daughter killed Xena's son Solan. Gabrielle lost her parents to a murdering slave-trader in brutal fashion. Her husband Perdicas was murdered right before her very eyes by Callisto, only a day after they'd gotten married. Gabrielle lost friend after friend in the violent world they lived in, only comforted by the fact that she and Xena would always fight to try and make a difference. Oh yes, Gabrielle's journey was anything but comfortable. But like a true woman, she faced each challenge head-on, and she never lost herself despite everything she had to survive. Whether going through a period of non-violence (brilliantly portrayed & acted by Renee), or hiding her child Hope from Xena's wrath, or hallucinating before her death and recounting how she first met Xena (it makes me cry every time)...Gabrielle was right there...pulling our heart strings, wowing us with her beauty and strength of character, and aiding Xena as they took on the world.

Gabrielle's greatest fan however, was Xena herself. While Gabrielle wanted to be like the Warrior Princess, Xena wanted to be just like Gabrielle. And this lovely paradox of both wanting to be the other, proved fortuitous in their understanding and deep love of one another. While Gabrielle wished she could flip and own the air and master the sword like Xena, Xena wished she had Gabrielle's background, calm, grace and purity. The grass is always greener on the other side, eh? :) Having Xena secretly wish she could be like Gabrielle drove their friendship deeper than any other female relationship I've seen in film or TV history, and we need to see more of this. Ancient-world relationships were free of conventional standards and questions, and the show portrayed their relationship marvelously. Gabrielle loved her best friend, her soulmate...Xena. But my goodness, Xena would move mountains for Gabrielle as well. And of course...we fans would too.

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So here's the list. The Top 25 Good Characters in Xena History! Thanks for reading and be sure to join in on the conversation if know of which you speak. Now...on to the Xenaverse & beyond!!

As an OG, Day One, Millennial mega-fan of the Warrior Princess, I stand by my expertise in Xena Lore, and I feel that I have the experience and the knowledge to come up with a comprehensive list of Xena's Top 25 Villains!

What makes a good Xena villain? Clearly, being a good warrior would be a fantastic trait, as would some sense of psychosis or mental illness. A general lack of hygiene has to be up there, as does a tragic fashion sense, having no sense of humor and thinking that you can take on Xena just because she's a woman. However, I daresay that the greatest thing that makes a Xena villain unforgettable is the impact that they have on our Warrior Princess and Gabrielle...and the seemingly endless repercussions that stem from such a villain help to enrich the show beyond our wildest dreams.

So, with that in mind...here is my official list of the Top 25 Villains who made Xena absolutely unmissable for the entire series.

25). POSEIDON: [Seasons 2-5]
If being stuck at the bottom of the sea is an indication of a poor career choice, Poseidon sure made the most of it in his appearances on Xena: Warrior Princess. Seemingly giddy at the chance to inflict a mortal with a curse or inconvenience Xena to the extreme, Poseidon was an immortal bully who took pride in stepping on "insignificant" mortals just to prove how large and in charge he was. Whether springing out of the sea in his full water-form, booming threats across the seas or sending storms that could reshape continents, Poseidon was a problem not just because of his penchant for making heroes miserable...but he suffered from a severe ego problem that he could not get out of the way of. Why didn't Poseidon just march up to Olympus, stake his claim above his little brother and stop making mortals pay for his lot in life? We'll never know. But thankfully, Xena finally made him pay and destroyed him for his hubris, once and for all.

24). MEZENTIUS: [Season 1]
Mezentius was a greedy, selfish and anti-social braggart who couldn't get enough booze, women and praise to fill the obvious hole that existed where his heart should have been. Gifted with a sharp mind that saw him play both sides against the middle, it took our Warrior Princess to outsmart him on every turn and make sure he paid for the chaos he was sowing in one kingdom after another. Coincidentally, Xena's great love, Marcus, worked for Mezentius and thought he could help Xena to defeat Mezentius by betraying him in the final hour. Marcus paid for his deceit with his life as Mezentius murdered him with a bow and arrow the moment he saw the double-cross; and upon seeing Marcus take an arrow through the heart an exasperated Xena threw her chakram across Mezentius' neck, killing him in turn. Mezentius, like many Xena villains, did not last too long because frankly...Xena kills many of her foes in battle. But Mezentius' impact was immediate and even a newly reformed Xena couldn't hold back from sending this codfish to Tartarus with gasoline draws on.

23). ODIN: [Season 6]
I must admit that I am not a fan of the Norse-arc of Xena: Warrior Princess at all. I felt that it came too late in the series and that the writers were running out of divinely-inspired ideas when there's a whole wealth of material to choose from in all of fantasy literature. That being said, if ever there is a god with the spine of a jellyfish...that would be Odin, and his ineptitude became his most alarming trait alongside his shaggy goatee. For being the King of the Norse gods, Odin sure needed a lot of help. Yes, his pantheon is not as renowned or as powerful as the Greek gods were, but one would think that being immortal would grant him enough time and knowledge to work out the kinks in his power-set, but alas, such was not the case. Indecisive, moody and sullen...Odin's appearance in Xena: Warrior Princess was marked by one bad decision after another and a tendency to blame everyone else for his mistakes. For Odin to be such a larger-than-life figure in Norse mythology, he turned out to be quite the soft opponent for our Warrior Princess.

22). TATAKA [Season 4]
She's gorgeous and she knows it, she loves curves on a female human vessel, and she's got a thing for beautiful white pearls adorning her stunning body. She's Tataka, the vengeful Indian demon who tricked humans into following her with good miracles, only to take their minds and twist them into killing followers of Rama and any other diety of goodness that could oppose her. Though she hides her motivations--and she's especially good at even hiding her presence--quite well, Tataka eventually makes herself known due to her insistence on being adored, fawned over and pedestaled above all others. A true enemy of both Eli and Xena, Tataka nearly cost Gabrielle her life when the demon refused to leave Gabrielle's body and Xena had no way to end Tataka's possession of our Battling Bard. Thankfully, Eli had the power to help end Tataka and Gabrielle was freed once and for all. However, for her snake-like ways, her masterful ability to out-maneuver the Warrior Princess and for nearly causing the death of Gabrielle...Tataka instantly became memorable among the fandom, and of course it pleases Tataka that she'll never be forgotten among the Xenaverse.

21). DRACO: [Seasons 1-5]
The villain that kicked off the show from its very first episode, Draco was a force to be reckoned with in more ways than one. An ex-lover of Xena's who got around to building his own army once things cooled down with the Warrior Princess, Draco longed for the old days when he and Xena rode into combat and fought at each other's side. However, Xena would not go back to her evil ways and Draco, frankly, doesn't take rejection too well. But then again, what homicidal warlord does? When Draco's army attacked Poteidaia, it was his actions that nearly enslaved Gabrielle and caused her to cross paths with Xena who would go on to save her and change her life forever. If ever there was a consequential villain who changed the entire trajectory of Xena & Gabrielle's lives, Draco would be it. Yet and still, the Fates (and even the gods) are not without a sense of humor. And once hit by Bliss' arrow, Draco has fallen deeply in love with Gabrielle and remains so, vowing to do good deeds in her and Xena's honor. Ya know, for a lovesick warlord who turns out to not be half bad (minus the enslavement attempts)...Draco might be the nicest villain on this entire list.

20). BORIAS: [Seasons 3-6]
Yes Marton Csokas plays Borias with an exaggerated "Hungarian" accent that sounds like he lost a bet at a beer drinking contest. Yes, Borias looks like he has the worst body odor of anyone in the entire show. And yes, Borias could use a lesson in table manners...or just manners in general. But hey, the man loves our Xena and he is her baby daddy and for that alone, Borias makes our list for his champion enabling ways. Oh yes, Borias is the top Enabler in Xena history: enabling Xena to commit one atrocity after another, enabling the enslavement of scores of human beings, enabling wars against kingdoms as children were killed and taken for ransom. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. Every bad idea that ever planted itself inside of Xena's brain, Borias helped to water and grow it until it grew into a plague that nearly destroyed them all. Tragically, though he stood for honor in the end (and yes even stood against Xena to do the right thing), Borias' karma caught up to him and he was killed like a dog and left this life without even getting to raise his own son. In the end, Borias is a cautionary tale of all the bad boys that the bad girls love to chase: they're with you when it's "fun", but they can never stick around until the end.

19). BRUTUS: [Season 5]
Gaius Caesar's right hand man proved to be one of history's most notorious betrayers, eventually gutting Gaius with that same right hand that supported the wannabe emperor for decades. Brutus' name implies brutality and that is precisely the way Brutus treated the Amazons in Xena: Warrior Princess. Brutus was cold, calculating and mentally weak to a fault. Yet despite all of these less than admirable qualities, Brutus was loyal to his nation and he managed to stay true to his myopic moral compass no matter what. However, despite what he is most known for in Antiquity, Brutus committed one of the most heartbreaking acts in the show...he killed Ephiny in armed combat. Confessing to Xena what he did, he stood strong that he had done nothing wrong...Brutus and Ephiny were fighting to the death and Ephiny died a warrior's death. The Warrior Code says that Brutus is right, and Xena acknowledged as much, moving on from the subject and never pressing the issue with Brutus again. Yet, we fans know that we can never really forgive Brutus the Betrayer for what he did to Ephiny and the Amazons, even though we should have seen it coming from a snake like him.

18). ZEUS: [Season 5]
The King of the Gods seemed to keep Xena at an arm's distance. Zeus was mentioned hundreds of times throughout the earlier seasons of the show, yet it took Season 5 for the silver-haired legend to show up flashing lightning bolts left and right. At this point in the show, Xena became mysteriously pregnant (similar to Gabrielle in Season 3) and discovered that she would birth the child who would bring about the Twilight of the Gods, the era in which mankind moves on from worshipping the pantheon of ancient deities. Of course Zeus can't have this, as the Twilight means that the gods themselves will die and no longer be in charge of the world or the cosmos itself. Because of this, one by one, the Olympian gods tried to kill Xena, Gabrielle and the infant Eve but they all failed miserably, so miserably in fact that Zeus had to finally come down and try to destroy the child himself. Just as Zeus moved to kill Xena and her infant mid-birth when the Warrior Princess was most vulnerable and unable to protect herself, Hercules showed up and ended his father...continuing the tragic Greek tradition of sons killing their fathers; doing to Zeus what he'd done to his own father before Time was Time. Zeus sought to change the fates of the gods by willfully killing an innocent child, an act that proved how unworthy the Greek gods were of divinity in the first place. Xena: Warrior Princess showed that the gods were not just "petty and cruel" as the Hercules opening titles declared, but the gods were afraid and capable of evil on a scale that humans could never truly compete with. Goodbye Zeus, it was not nice knowing you.

17). NAJARA: [Season 4]
Chris Rock once famously asked, "Whatever happened to just calling crazy people CRAZY?!" during a legendary standup routine that questioned how we walk on eggshells around mentally unstable people. Chris Rock must have watched Xena: Warrior Princess and saw the episodes with Najara. Gifted with incredible fighting abilities nearly on par with Xena herself, Najara proved to be a problem from the moment our heroes set eyes on her. When not hearing the voices of the Djinn who instruct her actions or battling criminals and setting wrongs right, Najara loves preaching to Gabrielle about the Way of Light, a sermon that Gabby could never tire of. Najara knows this and sees a likeminded follower of goodness within Gabrielle with only one obstacle in the way...Xena. After Xena discovers that Najara kills the criminal men she arrests who won't join her private army and convert to the Way of Light, Xena tries to leave with Gabrielle...but Najara won't let Gabrielle go...literally. An epic fight for the ages erupts with Xena beating Najara to a pulp, yet Xena made a costly mistake leaving the fight too soon and Najara came roaring back and beat Xena unconscious (and knocked a good chewing tooth from her head). Ouch! We don't often see Xena get beat up in her own show, that's how tough Najara was. Xena never underestimated Najara again, and after outsmarting the fanatical warrior repeatedly, Xena made sure that Najara could never hurt anyone else...by beating her into a permanent coma. Thanks to Xena, Najara will finally have all the time she needs to talk to those voices in her head.

16). POMPEY: [Seasons 3-4]
Roman ambition never looked so blonde than it did on Pompey in Xena: Warrior Princess. Seemingly cursed to play second fiddle to Caesar's corrosive ego for his entire military career, Pompey was known in real world history as a man who was as vicious as he was short-sighted and these are qualities that Xena's Pompey had in abundance as well. Spoiled, arrogant and not particularly gifted with a sword, Pompey relied on his birthright and class status in Rome to push himself to the forefront of Roman society. In his bid to eventually take over, all for the good of Rome of course, Pompey encountered someone who would ultimately cost him everything...Caesar. Blinded by his hatred for Caesar and the constant double-crossing that he tried to pull on Xena, Pompey was ultimately undone because he wanted to ascend to power as a politician and a renowned military warrior...but unfortunately he was never great at either of those things. Perhaps if Pompey viewed Xena as a true equal, he could have joined forces with her to stop Caesar before it was too late for him. But come on, this is Pompey we're talking about. He's more likely to marry a slave than truly listen to Xena. Which is probably why it was Xena who was the one to collect his head...in the end.

15). SATRINA: [Season 4]
With all of the evil that evil Xena had committed, it was no shock that karma was going to eventually knock on her door in more ways than one. One of those knocks came in the form of Satrina, a slave who came to be owned by Xena (yes, Xena was so evil that she owned slaves) and who plotted to use Xena to elevate herself as a kingdom maker. During nearly all of Xena's pregnancy with Solan, Satrina played nursemaid to Xena and was there every step of the way. Because of Xena's delicate condition Satrina took advantage and was the key figure in separating Borias from Xena and ultimately causing Borias to be killed the night Solan was born. After escaping, Satrina later sought to use everything she'd learned from watching Xena as a slave and take over Actus to build a new nation of her own in her own image. Thankfully, Xena was able to stop her in time and destroy Satrina's warlord ambitions before they ever truly got off the ground. However, oftentimes the true measure of a great Xena villain isn't just how evil they are, but it's measured in the horrific damage that they cause to all the lives around them. For her snake-like and conniving ways that resulted in Borias being killed, Solan being forced to grow up without a father and Xena being tricked by a slave that she was foolish enough to try to own...Satrina easily makes the list as one of Xena's greatest karmic punishments...who became a fearsome villainess in her own right.

14). GURKHAN: [Season 6]
Cowardly, misogynistic and a purveyor in sexual torture, Gurkhan was the type of Xena villain that made you glad that he only had one appearance in the show...and my goodness did he make an impact. Being an enslaver in North Africa was bad enough, however, Gurkhan's most notorious crime in Xena: Warrior Princess is that he killed Gabrielle's parents after taking Gabrielle's niece to be his slave and concubine! My heart nearly stopped the first time I saw Gabrielle receive the news, as it was almost unconscionable that someone could be so evil as to harm Gabrielle's wonderfully kind parents. In a rare turn of events in the show, Gurkhan was not primarily a Xena villain...he was Gabrielle's villain...and he caused Gabrielle more heartache than any other foe that she faced in the show's history. Gurkhan was known for using decoys to protect his identity, as one typically needs to hide their cowardly face when trafficking human beings for their own sick pleasure...as such evil deeds tend to make one a lot of enemies in the world. Ultimately, it was Gurkhan's love of decoys that was his undoing as Gabrielle left him to die after having his own men mistake him for being a common criminal. It was sweet revenge that was delivered in the most delicious way, yet we never saw Gabrielle smile quite the same way ever again after she dealt with Gurkhan. That light in Gabrielle's eye...was a little bit dimmer after this entire debacle. Gurkhan did that. Gurkhan hurt so many. And for that reason alone, he became one of the show's best villains ever.

13). DAHAK: [Season 3]
There were many arguments among the Xena Fandom about the true nature of Dahak. Was Dahak basically Satan...or another form of Satan? Was he Set? Was he Hades? What was he?! For those who paid attention carefully, the show told us exactly who Dahak was: he was Primordial Evil...there long before all the gods came into existence and he'd be there long after they were all gone. Dahak was Evil Itself and Dahak looked down on all gods, yes even the Abrahamic ones, and viewed himself as above them all. For never making an actual appearance in Xena: Warrior Princess, Dahak made a hell of an impression (literally) by impregnating Gabrielle with her daughter Hope and trying to usher in worldwide destruction so that he could remake creation in his vile and hellish image. The most startling thing about Dahak was his ability to turn good, decent citizens of the world into evil-worshipping, back-stabbing sycophants who would do anything he told them to do. Dahak exhibited the greatest level of mind-control ever shown on Xena: Warrior Princess, and with a little more time he could have achieved everything he set out to do. Thankfully, Xena was able to stop Dahak's ascension every time he attempted to come into our world and this led to one of the show's greatest cliffhangers...when Season 3 ended and Gabrielle fell down into a pit of fire and we wondered how she could ever survive. Thank the gods that Gabrielle returned...and Dahak didn't. Because Dahak...was a problem.

12). CORTESE: [Season 1]
Oftentimes, boogeymen are scarier in our memories than they ever truly were in real life. Such is the case with Cortese, whose reputation for being the cause of Xena lifting a sword for the first time made audiences think that this guy must be one tough cookie. Except...that he wasn't. Cortese, while quite handsome, was a sniveling coward who dressed like a peacock and whined like a brat. It was Cortese's army that attacked Xena's hometown of Amphipolis and caused the death of Xena's brother Lyceus when she and the men of her village took up swords to fight back. The death of Lyceus caused a breakdown between Xena and her mother Cyrene that never fully and truly healed in the entire show's history...some wounds just run too deep. Yet and still, it was Cortese at the heart of it all and the Xena showed us all that while Cortese was the catalyst that got her on the Path of the Warrior, she'd long since surpassed Cortese in every way and would be the one to finally stop him in the end. While his actual appearance was not that impressive, Cortese's influence on Xena is legendary and the sole reason why he deserves a spot on this list. Because, quite simply put...without Cortese...there wouldn't ever be a Xena in the first place.

11). PAO'SSU: [Season 5]
As the evil twin sister to Kao'Hsin, Pao'Ssu sought to punish her naive sister (her words) for siding with Xena against her, and for not using their mother's great Book of Wisdom to gain ultimate power in our world. Vain, greedy and gifted with a mean streak that could make Velasca blush, Pao'ssu was trouble from the start as she pretended to be an ally of Xena's so that she could get access to her mother's Book of Wisdom. When the mask came off and revealed Pao'Ssu's true nature, she trued to destroy Xena and as much of Chin as possible so that she could take over and assume ultimate power. Pao'Ssu may seem like a typical greedy warlord at first look, but this is a daughter of Lao'Ma who had the misfortune of being born female in an age when her own brother would have had her destroyed and her own royal family did not want her. With the cards stacked against her in every way, Pao'Ssu ultimately serves as a heartbreaking example of what happens when little girls are abandoned and become broken women who are bent on making the whole world pay for their pain. While Pao'Ssu was defeated by Xena and her twin sister in the end, she would return as a melded spirit with her evil brother Ming'Tien and they would both share the secret of Black Powder with Genghis Khan in order to help him take over the world. Whether alive or dead...Pao'Ssu was hellbent on making her homeland pay for how they treated her in life. Pao'Ssu, for those who pay attention, is one of Xena's saddest villains and a true life lesson for anyone lucky enough to watch her episodes.

10). VELASCA: [Season 2]
Nihilism takes humanoid form when Velasca comes on the scene, and her chilling inhumanity is part of the reason why it makes sense that she so quickly became a goddess in the first place...she never made sense as a human woman to begin with. Velasca was a gifted Amazon warrior who sought to become the Amazon Queen of her tribe and lift her people back to their historic heights of success and renown that they once enjoyed. However, her own voracious ambitions clouded her every step and her never-veiled jealousy of Gabrielle (who was an actual Amazon Queen mind you) was her achilles heel from the beginning. Vicious, arrogant and determined to rise above her fellow Amazons, Velasca shocked the world when she ate Ambrosia in front of Xena, Gabrielle and her entire Amazon village and became an actual god in front of their eyes! How would Xena and Gabrielle battle a new goddess who wasn't looking to flirt with them like Ares did...but who actually wanted to destroy them both...especially Gabrielle? In a shocking moment that the show's viewers never forgot, Xena needed an immortal to fight an immortal and so Xena recruited Callisto to help her and Gabrielle to battle the new self-proclaimed "Goddess of Chaos". Callisto and Velasca never got along for one second and were enemies from the start (Velasca hated everybody, honey) and that ultimately proved to be her undoing as in the end...everyone needs someone to help them at some point. For her amazing appearance in Xena: Warrior Princess, for being Gabrielle's first official villain, and for showing Xena fans that yes...Ambrosia actually does turn you into a god(!!!)...Velasca easily earns a place in the Top 10 of this show's greatest villains.

9). ATHENA: [Season 5]
The Goddess of War and Wisdom (and Weaving as Xena reminded us with a smirk) was technically the toughest opponent that Xena ever faced. Athena's divine wisdom saw her corner Xena several times at the end of Season 5 and she almost pulled off a complete and total defeat of the warrior princess! Showcasing a patience that could watch the stars burn out, Athena never attacked Xena the same way twice. In one moment Athena was tossing tornadoes at Xena with the other gods, and the next she was cutting off food and water supplies to harm everyone around the warrior princess. Athena even went as far as having the Furies attack Gabrielle's mind, which caused Gabrielle to fatally stab Eve and nearly kill her without Athena having to lift a finger. While most of the Olympians exhibited an extreme level of narcissism and arrogance throughout the entire series, Athena was different. Athena was methodical, cold and calculating...the complete opposite of her brother Ares in every way and she nearly defeated Xena because of it. Though her entire Olympian world would come crashing down because of Eve bringing about the Twilight of the Gods, Athena fought Xena like a bulldog until the bitter end to stop it. And for that alone, she earns a spot high on this list.

8). LIVIA: [Season 5]
Livia killed Joxer. The bitch KILLED JOXER! For that reason alone she makes this list. Sorry not sorry. Go argue with your Mama. Livia killed Joxer and no, I am STILL not over it. Damn you, Livia! Born with the spirt of a reincarnated Callisto and child abandonment issues to match, Livia is the Roman-raised daughter of Xena who was corrupted by Ares and the disgusting Roman culture that gave the world one rampaging maniac after another. As Xena's daughter, Livia displayed much of the same battle prowess that our warrior princess does...but with none of the strength to back it up. Pushing hard to claim power by marrying Octavius and claim the Roman throne for herself, Livia was ultimately defeated by her mother Xena and reformed supernaturally with the help of Eli. The whole time she was running around killing Followers of Eli, Livia was supposed to be the Messenger of Eli who spread love and a message of peace through the world. Horrified by the realization that she was a true monster, Livia transformed into Eve and spent the rest of her life making amends for all the evil she'd done...just like her Mom. Yet and still...the bitch killed Joxer. And for that alone...she makes this list with bells on.

7). MING'TIEN: [Seasons 3-5]
True evil never sleeps, and Ming'Tien is a visceral example of that if there ever was one. A recurring problem from the beginning, the one and only son of Lao'Ma grew up to be the horrifyingly evil Emperor of Chin who would kill his own mother, the indescribably beautiful Lao'Ma. How someone could kill their own kind and loving mother is beyond me, but Ming'Tien killed his mother on purpose to prove himself as an Emperor to his sycophants. Truthfully, it was Evil Xena who damaged the psyche of Ming'Tien when she kidnapped him as a child for ransom and treated him cruelly. His treatment at the hands of Xena and Borias stayed with Ming'Tien all of his life and he made Chin pay because of the terrible example that Xena showed him. Careless, homicidal and a true believer in torture, Ming'Tien was such a problem that his own mother foretold that Xena would have to come back and destroy him some day in order to stop him...and that's exactly what ended up happening. However, death alone couldn't keep a good Emperor of Chin down, and Ming'Tien came back from the dead to guide Genghis Khan on a warpath as Khan nearly destroyed and took over all of Chin! For killing Lao'Ma and breaking all of our hearts, Ming'Tien automatically gets a spot on this list. However, for proving that he could learn from and benefit from Xena's evil side more than any of her other victims ever could...Ming'Tien earns a spot as one of the show's greatest villains.

6). CAESAR: [Seasons 2-6]
Heartless. Vile. Psychotic. Narcissistic. Arrogant. Charming. Bold. Dangerous. These are all words that Xena used to describe Caesar, though the sentences with these words usually ended in far harsher terms than I dare type here. Caesar came on the scene feigning capture by Xena in order to loot her ships and put her in her place...under his heel...and he did this by lying to her, betraying her and breaking her legs which caused her to become disabled for years. Of all the evil men and women that Xena faced throughout her entire life as a warrior, I think it's safe to say that she hated Caesar above them ALL. Xena harbored a burning, white-hot hatred for Caesar that could cause her to think irrationally when battling him, something that Xena herself had become aware of and had to remedy as quickly as possible. However, Xena was never on the mind of Caesar that much, or so he would lead you to believe. No...Caesar wanted Rome and he wanted to rule Rome and by proxy...rule the world. Gifted, or cursed, with a fanatic's belief in his fate for achieving greatness, Caesar let nothing and no one stand in his way in his desperate search for power on every level. Whether militarily, politically or economically, Caesar harmed and betrayed everyone he came across all for the chance to rise above them and take what they had. When his evil ambitions had finally caught up with him, it was the Roman Senate who famously vetoed his ascension as Emperor and sent him to the underworld without a second thought. Yet, for his unyielding belief in himself and the great harm he caused our warrior princess, one can't help but give Caesar his props as one of the show's greatest villains. And that's precisely what Caesar would expect us to do.

5). ALTI: [Seasons 4-6]
Magic takes on the form of true evil when Alti is on the scene. In a shocking twist of ingenious exposition, after meeting Alti we find out that she's not just another buffed up warrior with an axe to grind...but Alti's an immensely powerful Shaman who possesses astonishing powers of Necromancy that she uses to fight against the warrior princess and all of her foes. Alti says that she was tossed from her Amazon tribe because her power got too great and they were afraid of her, and that's probably true...but I'm sure she forgot to add that she likely sliced someone open and drained them of their blood and used said blood to enter the Astral Plane and steal everyone else's souls. Yes, Alti is that dark. When she's not battling Xena, Alti spent years coddling up to powerful warlords like Xena whom she could manipulate into eliminating her enemies on her behalf while she promised them great powers and destinies that she never actually delivered. Ironically, Alti became a Xena villain and a Gabrielle villain, as Alti truly hated them both equally and sought multiple times to destroy the very souls of Xena, Gabrielle and even Xena's unborn child! For her amazing uniqueness, that stunning raspy voice that Claire Stansfield utilized when portraying Alti, and for her badass ability to make Xena & Gabrielle relive all of their past physical attacks (ouch!)...Alti makes this list as not only one of the best Xena villains of all time...but one of the most powerful as well.

4). HOPE: [Seasons 3-4]
As the daughter of Dahak, Hope was a telekinetically-empowered nightmare who could move any object with her mind and she nearly caused the destruction of our world. Sadly, when it came to Xena...Hope did destroy her world...when Hope killed Solan, Xena's son. Season 3 was built on the arrival of Hope through Gabrielle's supernatural pregnancy and Hope's ultimate destruction at the hands of her own mother; all while it was Xena who was trying to make the killing blow against Hope the entire time. Hope represented a new future for Gabrielle and a promise that everything she'd been through was ultimately going to be worth it. Unfortunately, Gabrielle had to face facts that Hope was true evil, born of evil and fated to do nothing but bring more evil into the world. A true Gabrielle villain in every way, Hope represents the most heartbreaking kind of villain...a bad guy who has to be put down by their own mother because they're just too dangerous to be allowed to continue existing. Ultimately, at the start of Season 4 it's Hope's own monstrous child who ends her, proving that no matter what her evil plans are...Hope will be stopped by someone she's related to. Eventually. For her stunning acts of cruelty, for her insistence on looking exactly like her mother (girl get some therapy), and for killing Solan and breaking Xena's heart forever...Hope, obviously, is one of Xena: Warrior Princess' greatest villains ever.

3). ARES: [Seasons 1-6]
Charming. Handsome. Dark. Brooding. Dangerous. Aloof. Maniacal. Narcissistic. Divine. And oh...all those muscles. Ahem, excuse me...I flashed back for a second there. No, I'm not describing Caesar...though he'd certainly think I was. Ares, as played by Kevin Smith, was a hunk of an Olympian god who never gave up on trying to win Xena back over to the dark side. Ares nurtured every dark impulse that Xena ever expressed, and Xena so thoroughly impressed Ares during her dark years that his infatuation grew into an obsession with the warrior princess over the decades. No one: not Mavican, not Callisto, not even Hope could scratch the itch that Xena left him with (and no, I'm not talking about anything south of the border). However, it wasn't all flirty, panting and moan-filled games with the handsome god of war. Ares did a lot of incredibly harmful things to Xena that were just absolutely beyond the pale. Who took Xena from her own body in an act of extreme violation of Xena's autonomy? Ares. Who caused Xena to lose her memory and forget herself as she descended into madness? Ares. Who was the coward who sided with Dahak against all of Olympus so that he could impregnate Hope? Ares. Who slept with Xena's daughter and led her into a life of becoming a murdering psychopath? Ares. Get my drift? Ares was baaaad news from the start and it wasn't easy dealing with him just because he was built like a...well...Greek god. No, Ares' manipulative nature was a thorn in Xena's side all the way until the end of the show. I still wish that Xena had called upon Ares in Japan. Ares would have saved her...Ares would have brought her home. But when you have that much bad blood with the god of war, it's best to stay away at all costs. For his brilliance throughout the entire series, for those MUSCLES...and for his undying love and admiration for our warrior princess, Aries without a shadow of a doubt makes the top 3 of this list as one of the show's greatest villains.

2). EVIL XENA: [Seasons 1-6]
It is not a stretch to say that Evil Xena was the most evil woman in the world. Evil Xena was responsible for the deaths of untold hundreds of thousands of people. Evil Xena left innocent people to die. Caused children to die. Caused villages to burn to cinders. Destroyed kingdoms. Committed genocide. Killed off entire Amazon tribes. Fought gods and lived to tell about it. Decapitated innocent men and left their heads and defiled bodies on spikes for her own delight. She broke the legs of her captors the way Caesar broke her legs. And in a sad turn of events, Evil Xena almost defeated Hercules and ruined his relationship with Iolaus forever. Evil Xena was a PROBLEM...a constant problem for the world and Ares loved every second of having his warrior princess at his beck and call; and they made the world tremble through her constant crusading and the vast amount of bloodshed she caused with her armies. However, Evil Xena was not just a figure in Xena's past. Oh no. Evil Xena was always with Xena in the present and would show up in moments when we least expected it. When Xena watched Callisto sink to her (first) death in the quicksand...that was Evil Xena. When Xena killed Ming'Tien and lied about it to Gabrielle...that was Evil Xena popping up again. When Xena dragged Gabrielle behind Argo and nearly killed her?! That was Evil Xena reborn all day. Evil Xena was the dark side of Xena that she constantly fought against and the show, brilliantly, did not just leave Evil Xena in stunning flashback sequences, but the show displayed how Xena battled against her dark side in real time on her path to redemption. As such, it goes without saying...for the sheer stunning amount of evil that she caused in the world, for the body count alone and for the way she left broken souls in her wake for decades...Evil Xena is juuust about the show's greatest villain of all time and would be in the top spot if not for...

1). CALLISTO: [Seasons 1-6]
The allure of Callisto is that she represents the ultimate "What If?" What if your family was killed by a monster and the modern laws did not apply...how would you make them pay? How would you make them suffer? How would you make the world pay for what happened to you? Of all Evil Xena's great mistakes, the single greatest life she ruined was that of a young Callisto whose entire family was killed when Xena's army burnt Callisto's village, named Cirra, to the ground. Evil Xena's act of terrorism twisted Callisto's mind horrifically and she began to suffer from psychotic breaks, sociopathic disorders and even bouts of extreme mental disassociation. With her mind and personality permanently damaged and changed forever, Callisto trained for decades to become a warrior on-par with Xena in every way so that she could destroy each part of Xena's life and finally make her pay. As Callisto went about destroying Xena's reputation, Xena's personal life and even her relationship with Gabrielle, Callisto began to discover that all of her attacks against Xena (and even some of her victories) still left her feeling empty. This is where the show brilliantly began to empower Callisto with more immortality and abilities as her nihilism began to increase. By Season 3 and 4, Callisto had outright succumbed to hatred and knew that there was absolutely nothing left for her to live for. Her only desire from that point was to enter Oblivion and ultimately feel...nothing. Callisto wanted no memories, no pain, no hurt...she wanted Absolute Nothing. Tragically, even in death...even in traversing heaven and hell...Callisto never got Oblivion...Callisto never got peace. Instead, Callisto had to work out her own karmic cycle just like every other life that she took. Decisively, Callisto represents the harm that we human beings do to one another and Callisto also serves as a warning as to why that's a very bad idea: as not everyone can recover or bounce back from tragedy and ultimately hurt people will indeed...hurt people. Callisto's many feats in Xena: Warrior Princess include defeating Xena several times, killing Perdicas the husband of Gabrielle, nearly getting Xena off the Path of the Warrior, defeating Ares, killing Centaurs, killing children, causing the death of Xena's son, killing tens of thousands of innocents, nearly killing Hercules, nearly ushering Dahak into the world, serving the Lord of Hell, paralyzing Xena with her own Chakram, killing her own Lieutenants, killing the elderly and infirm, poisoning Xena, and even deliciously enjoying a snowflake while she watched Xena and Gabrielle get crucified by Roman soldiers. For all these reasons and SOOO many more...Callisto is easily and without a doubt...not only the single greatest villain in Xena: Warrior Princess history...but she's one of the greatest villains in television history. Thank you Hudson Leick for giving us a character who thrilled us for decades and changed our lives forever.

➡️Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ahDwpkmjVRWjqe6W6UWXT?si=ZxoFtI6zTtmw2kfCbjPa8w 

➡️Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interview-17-danielle-cormack-ephiny-queen-of-the-amazons/id1837138724?i=1000772087058 

➡️Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-z8e3k-1ae1801

This is part of a series of interviews with the Kiwis and Aussies who bought XWP to life - their goal is to interview 30 of the cast and crew to celebrate the shows 30th anniversary - it’s a podcast called - Xena: Warrior Nutballs you can follow them on:

Facebook ⚔️ https://m.facebook.com/p/Xena-Warrior-Nutballs-61578930248317/?wtsid=rdr\_042NpIyiO9avlJ3v3&hr=1

Instagram ⚔️ https://www.instagram.com/xenawarriornutballs/

This is one of those episodes that doesn't even try to be serious and that's exactly why it works so well. From the very beginning, it is clear that the goal is to entertain, and it succeeds in that almost without a problem. There are no major life dilemmas, no heart-breaking tragedies, but pure comedy full of confusion, identity swaps and characters who unwittingly complicate each other's lives.

True, the main villain is rather pale. It leaves almost no impression and you never get the feeling that it represents a serious danger. His part of the story feels more like an excuse to get all these characters in the same place than something that really drives the plot. But here it honestly doesn't bother me in the least.

Because the script knows very well where its greatest strengths are. And that's humor and characters. And of course... Meg. I don't even know how to describe how much I love this character. Every time it appears, the episode automatically gets better. She's so endearingly goofy it's impossible not to smile. Meg has a big heart and a genuine desire to help, but almost every time she manages to make a complete mess. And that is exactly her charm. She is never malicious. All her mistakes come from good intentions, which makes it almost impossible to hold anything against her. I love her way of speaking, her clumsy attempts at being serious, and her uncanny ability to get herself in the middle of trouble she didn't mean to cause in the first place. Every appearance of her is a real little pleasure for me and I honestly think she could have appeared much more often than she did.

A big reason why Meg works so well is, of course, Lucy Lawless. I think episodes like these are the best way to see how talented an actress really is. Here he plays as many as three completely different characters. Xena, Meg and Leah. And what fascinates me is that after a few minutes I completely forget that I am looking at the same person. Xena has her security, authority and that signature self-assuredness. Meg is a walking disaster with a huge heart. Leah is withdrawn, gentle, pious and almost the complete opposite of Xena. Everyone walks differently. Everyone speaks differently. Everyone reacts differently to the same situations. It's not just a change of costume or hairstyle. Lucy manages to give each character a completely different energy. That's why identity swaps never seem confusing, on the contrary, they become even more fun.

Leah is a very cute addition to this little doppelgänger family. Her naivety and religious beliefs are a perfect contrast to Meg's chaotic energy and Xena's determination. Although she is a bit judgmental at first, she quickly wins the hearts of viewers. It's fun to watch Gabrielle struggle to find her way in a world where danger lurks around every corner, while Leah looks at everything with the sincerity of a child who believes a deity will come down from the heavens and save everyone.

Of course, the biggest number of smiles comes from identity confusion. The audience knows who is who (and even they don't always), but the characters generally have no idea, so each new replacement brings a new dose of chaos. It's humor that may not be particularly sophisticated, but it's executed so well that it works almost every time.

While this episode certainly isn't among the biggest or most important storylines of the series, it's one of the best examples of how entertaining Xena can be when she wants to. After all the wars, tragedies and dark plots, this kind of adventure comes as a real refreshment. I won't remember her for some spectacular action. I'll remember her for Meg. By her irresistible clumsiness. And by another acting feat of Lucy Lawless, who in the same episode manages to play three completely different women so convincingly that you very quickly forget that they are all played by the same actress. It's a talent you don't see very often, and episodes like this are the best proof of how amazing she really was as Xena and all of her memorable doppelgangers.

borias is probably my favourite xena love interest (beside gabby obviously). wish he was in more episodes!

Full credit to Hudson Locke, because Callisto lines legit are burnt into our memory banks. Not just because of the writing, but that DELIVERY.

I mean, let’s be honest.. many attractive….Blonde Actors could have had her role.. but Hudson Locke made Callisto immortal. Bc she just freaking delivered this sh*t like it was an old school project she forgot about and then turned it in for an A++ and won that scholarship.

Damn.

Tell me you couldn’t stand watching Callisto riff in any of her episodes. Tell me. I’d love to hear about it, I’d have to see it to believe it.

Just epic, Everytime.

Always wanted to ask you , guys. Who would have Barney Stinson rooted for in X-files?

Who would win in a fight between queen Ephiny and queen Melosa?

These three are my all-time favorite XWP villains, but of the three who had the best first episode?

• Callisto
• Hope
• Alti