Xena Curriculum

[frayadjacent]

Note: I made some changes to the curricula in June 2018!

It's no secret that I adore Xena, but I also recognize that it isn't super, um, accessible? Especially to audiences used to higher production value and less camp. So I've put together a set of "curricula" -- episodes to watch -- for varying levels of commitment. A number of people on my reading list have remarked in the last year or so that you'd like to watch or re-watch Xena. Well, now you can just watch the best if you want.

First things first: if you really don't like camp, you probably shouldn't watch Xena. You could maybe try my Top 5, but it probably just won't be for you.

On the other hand, if you loooooove camp but don't want to commit to the longest curriculum, feel free to comment and I can write up another list of favorite funny/campy episodes. My orientation is more toward a few of the dramatic plot arcs, Gabrielle's pacifism arc, and Xena/Gabrielle. Obviously this is a YMMV situation.

Also -- some of you probably know Xena better than me! If you see any lapses in good judgement, please let me know and if I agree I'll change it!

I've included content notes of a kind for some of these -- please feel free to ask for more details about specific episodes:

*r: racism of some sort. Included in this is depictions of groups coded as "primitive" or indigenous, generally played by a mix of indigenous, non-indigenous POC, and white actors -- however, this applies to any episode that the Amazons appear in, and I haven't noted it for all of those episodes, only the ones where I find it most egregious. I also note *r for orientalization of Middle Eastern or Asian characters.

However, it is common for Xena to disproportionately cast Maori actors to play "dumb" villains of the week (as opposed to epic antagonists like Caesar or Ares). I haven't noted this as it is very common and I haven't watched all of these episodes recently.

*dv: partner violence

*c: episodes that are particularly campy *and* not essential to an ongoing plot or character arc.

Lowest commitment: Top episodes for non fans

Season 1
    Sins of the Past

Season 2
    A Day in the Life

Season 3
    One Against an Army

Season 4
    The Ides of March (if you can manage six episodes, also watch the one before this, Endgame)
 
Season 6
    When Fates Collide
 
Low commitment: the highlights

Season 1
    Sins of the Past
    Dreamworker
    Hooves and Harlots
    Callisto

Season 2
    Return of Callisto
    Destiny *r (in the teaser)
    A Day in the Life

Season 3
    The Debt I  *r
    The Debt II *r
    Maternal Instincts
   The Bitter Suite
    One Against an Army
    When in Rome
 
Season 4
    A Good Day
    Crusader
    Endgame
    Ides of March
   
Season 6
    Who`s Gurkhan? *r
    The Abyss *r
    The Rheingold
    The Ring
    Return of the Valkyrie
    To Helicon and Back
    When Fates Collide
Maaaaayybe
    A Friend in Need 1 *r
    A Friend in Need 2 *r
 
Higher commitment: most of the important plot and character arcs, as well as the best stand-alone episodes

Season 1
    Sins of the Past
    Dreamworker
    Hooves and Harlots
    Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards (best clip show!)
    The Greater Good
    Callisto
    Is There a Doctor in the House?

Season 2
    Orphan of War
    Remember Nothing
    Girls Just Wanna Have Fun *c
    Return of Callisto
    Destiny *r (in the teaser)
    A Day in the Life
    The Price *r

Season 3
    Been There, Done That
    The Deliverer
    Gabrielle`s Hope
    The Debt I
    The Debt II
    Maternal Instincts
    The Bitter Suite *dv
    One Against an Army
    When in Rome
    Sacrifice I
    Sacrifice II

Season 4
    Adventures in the Sin Trade I  *r
    Adventures in the Sin Trade II *r
    A Family Affair
    A Good Day
    Crusader
    Past Imperfect
    Between the Lines *r
    The Way *r
    The Convert
    Endgame
    Ides of March

Season 5
    Fallen Angel
    Chakram
    Seeds of Faith
    Antony and Cleopatra
   
Season 6
    Coming Home
    Who`s Gurkhan? *r
    Legacy
    The Abyss *r
    The Rheingold
    The Ring
    Return of the Valkyrie
    To Helicon and Back
    When Fates Collide
Maaaaayybe
    A Friend in Need 1 *r
    A Friend in Need 2 *r
 
High commitment: roughly 75% of the show. If you watch these you'll see all the major plotlines and character arcs; I've just removed what I consider the worst episodes. There are a few episodes here that I don't care for much, but haven't removed because they're relevant to an ongoing plot or character arc.

Season 1
    Sins of the Past
    Dreamworker
    The Path Not Taken
    The Reckoning
    Hooves and Harlots
    The Black Wolf
     Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts
     Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards
     A Fistful of Dinars
     Warrior...Princess
     Mortal Beloved
    The Royal Couple of Thieves *c
    The Prodigal
    Ties That Bind
    The Greater Good
    Callisto
    Is There a Doctor in the House...?

Season 2
    Orphan of War
    Remember Nothing
    Girls Just Wanna Have Fun *c
    Return of Callisto
    Warrior..Princess..Tramp *c
    Intimate Stranger
    Ten Little Warlords
    The Xena Scrolls *c
    Here She Comes..Miss Amphipolis *c
    Destiny *r
    The Quest
    A Necessary Evil
    A Day in the Life
    For Him the Bell Tolls *c
    The Execution
    Blind Faith
    The Price *r
    Lost Mariner
    A Comedy of Eros *c

Season 3
    The Furies
    Been There, Done That *c
    The Deliverer
    Gabrielle`s Hope
    The Debt I
    The Debt II
    Warrior..Priestess..Tramp *c
    The Quill is Mightier *c
    Maternal Instincts
    The Bitter Suite *dv
    One Against an Army
    Forgiven
    When in Rome
    Forget Me Not
    Fins, Femmes and Gems *c
    Tsunami
    Vanishing Act *c
    Sacrifice I
    Sacrifice II

Season 4
    Adventures in the Sin Trade I  *r
    Adventures in the Sin Trade II *r
    A Family Affair
    In Sickness and in Hell *c
    A Good Day
    A Tale of Two Muses *c
    Locked Up and Tied Down
    Crusader
    Past Imperfect
    Key to the Kingdom
    If the Shoe Fits *c
    Paradise Found
    Devi *r
    Between the Lines *r
    The Way *r
    The Play`s The Thing *c
    The Convert
    Takes One To Know One
    Endgame
    Ides of March

Season 5
    Fallen Angel
    Chakram
    Succession
    Animal Attraction
    Them Bones, Them Bones *r
    Little Problems *c
    Seeds of Faith
    Lyre Lyre, Hearts on Fire *c
    God Fearing Child
    Eternal Bonds
    Amphipolis Under Siege
    Married with Fishsticks (YES IT'S ON THE LIST)
    Kindred Spirits
    Antony and Cleopatra
    Looking Death in the Eye
    Livia
    Eve
    Motherhood

Season 6
    Coming Home
    The Haunting of Amphipolis
    Heart of Darkness
    Who`s Gurkhan? *r
    Legacy
    The Abyss *r
    The Rheingold
    The Ring
    Return of the Valkyrie
    Old Ares Had a Farm *c
    Dangerous Prey
    The God You Know
    You Are There *c
    Path of Vengeance
    To Helicon and Back
    When Fates Collide
    Many Happy Returns *c
    A Friend in Need 1 *r
    A Friend in Need 2 *r

Comments

[frayadjacent]

Oops, that's always the trouble with abbreviated watching lists! Solan is introduced in the Season 2 premiere episode Orphan of War, which I remember, perhaps unfairly, primarily for the terrible centaurs. I'll get to it in my Xena rewatch fairly soon, maybe I should add it to the list!

Sorry for the slow reply; I had a guest visiting who kinda occupied 100% of my brain space there for a while.

[luzula]

Thanks! There was a lot of stuff in that episode which was confusing, actually: 1) What, Xena has a son? 2) Why does Callisto suddenly have magical powers? 3) Sudden Amazons? But this is my own fault for not watching the high commitment list, I suppose. : )

No problem!

[frayadjacent]

Part of Callisto's story since the last time you saw her doesn't even happen on Xena. She becomes immortal on Hercules, then a goddess on Xena. As for the Amazons, Xena and Gabrielle just pop in on them sometimes. They weren't staying with the Amazons during the episodes leading up to Maternal Instincts.

It's a tough call knowing what to include! Maybe you could do the highest commitment list, and skip the *c episodes if you feel like?