This is a non-stand-out episode because it is fairly non-spectacular and non-inventive. But it still stands out because it shows us flashbacks of Xena's past after she became bitter and hateful because Ceasar crippled her. This is the part of her history when she first started to earn her notorious reputation. It is a welcome, if predictable and rather clichéd, portrayal of Xena: impatient, reckless, short-sighted, yet still conveniently quick to learn from her mistakes. The introduction of the Chinese give Xena a foe the like of which is alien to her. Just never mind the baffling ability of the characters to have no language barrier...
Because this is a "Part 1", it only serves to set up the pieces and leaves Part 2 with the burden of providing the pay-off. Also, the twist/cliffhanger is just so predictable that you need to be almost completely new to watching TV in order not to see it coming. Still, the mood (music and lighting) of the flashbacks is completely new to Xena. If they only had done more "foreign lands" episodes like these two than they did over the entire series...
Also, this episode provides some of the most horrifying imagery ever in the series: Xena forms rows of spears stuck into the ground and has a decapitated head of her enemy's soldier stuck on each one. Even if we're only shown the end result, not the act itself, the gore level is surprisingly high for a television show.
Because this is a "Part 1", it only serves to set up the pieces and leaves Part 2 with the burden of providing the pay-off. Also, the twist/cliffhanger is just so predictable that you need to be almost completely new to watching TV in order not to see it coming. Still, the mood (music and lighting) of the flashbacks is completely new to Xena. If they only had done more "foreign lands" episodes like these two than they did over the entire series...
Also, this episode provides some of the most horrifying imagery ever in the series: Xena forms rows of spears stuck into the ground and has a decapitated head of her enemy's soldier stuck on each one. Even if we're only shown the end result, not the act itself, the gore level is surprisingly high for a television show.
