So, I just finished the first season of XENA, and I still love it! I think it holds up really well. Any aspect that might feel dated only adds to the campy charm it sold itself on to begin with. A few other scattered thoughts on the season: https://twitter.com/hermandhaliwal/status/1258540967734329345

First off, despite having picked up on it as a kid, and being generally aware of it through its growing reputation over the years, I still somehow underestimated the gay energy that oozes of it. It's pretty wild.

I didn't expect a clip show to happen so early in the show. Only 13 episode in! Then it made me realize how long it's been since I've seen a clip show, which makes sense given the rise of streaming/binge culture. I wonder if folks younger than me even know what a clip show is.

It was really bold of them to end the season on an episode that features no action, little humor, and set in one location where Xena tries to heal people while dealing with two sides of a civil war and a priest who keeps trying to stop her. Had a very STAR TREK: TOS-y vibe.

Anyway, these are my five favorite episodes. First is episode 15 "Warrior...Princess." Xena is hired by a king to protect his daughter from a potential assassination attempt. Turns out, the princess looks just like her, so they switch places. Mismatched shenanigans ensue.

Next is episode 17 "The Royal Couple Of Thieves." Xena teams up with a charming thief played by Bruce Campbell to steal the Ark of the Covenant. And it's exactly as awesome as it sounds.

Next is episode 18 "The Prodigal." The first overt Gabrielle focused episode. The opening is a bit contrived, but it leads to her going back to her own village where she ends up protecting everyone from invaders using slapsticky traps.

Then it's episode 21 "The Greater Good." Stories that involve death fake outs usually don't do much for me, but it's done well enough here, and it gives Gabrielle some really great moments, and in the Xena costume!

And finally, episode 22 "Callisto." The first appearance of both Ted Raimi's Joxer and Hudson Leick's Callisto. Callisto is an amazing villain that somehow manages to strike a rare balance between hammy and menacing. I bet Leick would've made a killer live action Harley Quinn.

That's pretty much all I got for now. I'll continue this thread with my thoughts on further seasons.