Xena: Warrior Princess 6x08 "The Ring" Reaction
Added 2023-01-17 00:29:21 +0000 UTC
Comments
Okay yeah, the noticing Xena and Gabrielle are an item is significant and valid. But the realization that Xena isn’t the Xena she knew because of that very factor is what really makes this scene stand out for me. And I think that’s what makes her double down in trying to court Gabrielle. Who’s unavailable. But she wants whatever it is Gabrielle has done for Xena as well. Let me put it this way: to begin with. It was just a crush. A beautiful woman smiling at her yata yata yata. Then she meets Xena and observes the dynamic her and Gabrielle have with her very own eyes. And instead of respecting that dynamic - she’s like “I want that too. I want whatever it is Gabrielle does to Xena.” And then that simple crush turns into a complicated infatuation. I’m not saying she’s not attracted to Gabrielle (who wouldn’t be?)… but I think really what it is she really wants is to be loved unconditionally. And basically she’s mistaking that wanting for being head over heels in love with Gabrielle. Even when Gabrielle has absolutely no interest in her back. She immediately thinks Gabrielle is something really valuable based on the way Xena looks at her and regards her as being what changed her for good. And there’s the line from Xena after Brunhilda has gone. She says “I don’t like her.” Then when Gabrielle asks her what she means by that she says “She’s not who she says she is.” She’s clocked on that Brunhilda only follows an ideal, not a reality. Just like Gabrielle. It’s a very interesting interaction because there’s layers to it beyond the surface point which is just that Brunhilda realizes Xena and Gabrielle are in love. But it’s the fact she realizes it which makes her covet Gabrielle even more than she was initially doing because Xena sees Gabrielle as her whole damn world which makes this interaction even more interesting. Brunhilda wants that. She wants someone to be her whole damn world. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Gabrielle but she’s mistaking it for being Gabrielle that provides this coveted valuable because Xena does. And then “The Ring” becomes obsolete because it’s more about the person who wears it. And that’s why she chooses to give The Ring to Gabrielle. Thus, Brunhilda’s whole fucking character development in the entire trilogy peaks right here. In this short but significant interaction. This is the moment she becomes a force for the Greater Good. See what I mean about simple subtext becoming it’s own in-depth thing? It’s own entity finding its own way in the narrative to further deepen and develop it.
Girl4Music
2023-11-28 16:03:09 +0000 UTC“In this episode, Brunhilda and Beowulf fell in love with Gabrielle simultaneously, so they were both pursuing her. And what was strange was there was really no mention or concern given about gender at all. I think by this time with the whole Xena/Gabrielle thing, a woman falling in love with another woman was no big deal. It wasn’t even a part of the discussion. These were two warriors who were falling in love with Gabrielle. They each fell in love for their own separate reasons. I think Beowulf was sort of a love at first sight, as soon as he saw her, he just saw the goodness and the heart and the valor, the purity that she had. And he knew he wanted that. So his arc was, not one note, but right from the get-go, he was in love with her. Brunhilda had a much longer arc. She was sent to betray Gabrielle and Xena and was supposed to kill them. But eventually she fell in love with Gabrielle, actually romantically at first. And towards the end her character had this great arc where she realized that the truth and the purity and the valor that’s in Gabrielle changes her into putting up this big self-sacrifice. So it was a great little arc.” - Joel Metzger (Commentary for ‘The Ring’.)
Girl4Music
2023-11-28 15:50:40 +0000 UTCThe whole Norse trilogy is a joy to watch, but particularly The Ring. Watching Brunhilda and Beowulf have eyes for Gabrielle... while obviously, Gabrielle only has eyes for Xena. And the looks Xena gives in response. Priceless. "I don't like her." Ha. And the way the whole episode is at its core... a series of Gabrielle always running to Xena's side, calling her name... followed by Brunhilda and Beowulf always chasing after her & calling out 'Gabrielle'. Smitten kittens. The difference is Brunhilda's is a possessive love.... but Beowulf respects that Gabrielle is with Xena. I love every moment of it.
Octavia
2023-11-06 06:55:19 +0000 UTC
