The Exchange
[1] I’m just being descriptive; I don’t mean an actual Norse Valkyrie. Those didn’t appear in X:WP until season six.
[2] This was the downside of the episode “Callisto”. The title character, as portrayed by the talented actress Hudson Leick, was a potential “villain of the week” whom Hudson developed into an exceptional, three-dimensional adversary for Xena that the show has never seen the equal of since. Hudson was so popular with the fans that the creators were forced to bring back over and over even through the fifth season. On the other hand, Joxer, also introduced, as comic relief, has been a thorn in the side of fans ever since as well… except that Ted Raimi’s entirely one-dimensional portrayal has been far less successful. Alas.
[3] Yes, what you’ve heard is true… no, not that Xena and Gabby are lesbians! But that there is a huge lesbian following of the show. However, the show’s producers do play to the fans, and so there is a distinct subtext to the series, though it remains a subtext. The producers and cast and all are all of the opinion that what happens between Xena and Gabrielle outside of the episodes we see is none of anyone’s business. And when Callisto is on the show, the level of subtext went way up, because Hudson Leick and Lucy Lawless loved to play it up.
