Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Spoilers for a show that aired 29 years ago. Ahem.

Never have I ever watched this titan of lesbian adjacent television before. I don’t know that it was a specific avoidance. Xena: Warrior Princess aired 1995-2001, most of which I was in grad school or starting my social work career. That’s probably why – not much time for tv.

Growing up on “gay” tv fare from the 80’s and 90’s, I knew what to expect from lesbian adjacent – smoldering looks, unbreakable bonds, gal pals with sparks, trading off saving one another’s lives. Faux kissing. You watched LA Law and Ally McBeal. You remember Cagney and Lacey, Kate & Allie, and Friends.

I’d venture back to the gay, lesbian, and crossdresser (self-described) episodes of All in the Family, but that goes way off track. Still, watch ‘Cousin Liz’ if you ever get a chance.

So Xena is a traveling warrior trying to offset her horrible past through good works. She stumbles upon turmoil in young Gabrielle’s hometown, saves the day, and gains a sidekick. Hardened world weary warrior princess somehow agrees to let the innocent young girl come along on her travels? Doesn’t make much sense until we get to the episodes where Xena talk about the woman Gabrielle has become.

Did she see the potential or is this a bit of Joss Whedon grooming?

To cope with the utter chaos of this fantasy timeline, you have to suspend all disbelief and just go with the flow. In one episode they are looking for Pandora’s box and in another, celebrating Christmas in a cave filled with orphans and a toymaker. Ares God of War is around a lot. So is a brooding smarmy Julius Ceasar. They pick up a fellow companion, the bumbling Joxer who is one of the most charming characters in part due to his own attempt to offset his poor choices and his unrequited love for Gabrielle.

As for love, both Xena and Gabrielle have lost lovers. Xena’s gave his life to save others. Gabrielle’s husband of one night was killed by Xena’s spiteful sworn enemy. So the framing is there – lost loves, lots of living admirers who get in the way of the work, and a clear preference to be with each other over anyone in the world.

I’m promised more sapphic storyline in future seasons, but right now it is clear that these women have a strong bond. There are no crushes, they openly love one another.

Season One opens with the wild careening of most television shows. Xena is a warrior. The princess part is never fully explained to my satisfaction since she came from a farm. Xena can do anything – she is a master of everything – strategy, martial arts, weapons, leaping on and off her horse, belly dancing, and even tossing a living baby around to keep him safe. Multiple times. She knows the healing arts and loves to fish. She flips around a lot so she might be a master of physics as well, or perhaps a denier of physics?

Of course Gabrielle adores Xena, but she’s no slouch. She’s resourceful, articulate, and smart. Still, Gabrielle makes a lot of newbie mistakes. Xena rarely gets exasperated, giving Gabrielle room to grow on her own terms. In return, Gabrielle has unwavering faith in Xena. Gabrielle finds her own path – she becomes an Amazon Princess, carries a staff like Gandalf, and develops her own moral code of no killing. She’s content to let Xena do the killing. That’s a bullshit theme.

This season seems to move the characters along from hero and sidekick to a team. Sort of like the moment when Willow and Tara joined hands to magically move the vending machine in the ‘other fantasy show.’

This show is so ridiculous that it is difficult to focus on serious things like lesbian tropes. I mean ridiculous in the best possible way. The recurring characters are hilarious. The seemingly infinite number of Xena look-alikes. The endless parade of “real life” male characters who fall in love with Xena, but cannot compete with her devotion to Gabrielle and her own redemption arc. Body switching. Improbable feats of upper body strength. Writing on parchment schools without ink. Sister, would Jo March and Emily Dickinson be jealous.

To my pleasant surprise, I grew more enchanted by the show as I progressed. Xena chose the path of good to undo the harm she caused. Gabrielle chose the path of good without a violent past. The point is that they both made a choice. Gabrielle isn’t inherently more good than Xena. Xena isn’t stronger or more courageous than Gabrielle.

We’ll see what future seasons bring. I’d like a map of all the places they visit and the larger Xenaverse. Maybe with a Joxer voice over.

Maybe highsight is also ridiculous because there’s not much subtlety about this lesbian love.

“I love you” “I love you, too” Let’s share a horse ride to the local town for supper then curl up on our sleeping hides next to a fire.

I mean, come on.