Xena character biography samples

Fictional character from the TV set attendants "Xena: Warrior Princess"

For the idiot box show, see Xena: Warrior King. For other uses, see Xena (disambiguation).

Not to be confused be level with Xenu, Xeno (disambiguation), or Xenia (disambiguation).

Fictional character

Xena
Lucy Headstrong as Xena, holding her chakram
First appearance	"The Warrior Princess" (1995)
Last appearance	"A Friend in Need, Part 2" (2001)
Created by	Robert Tapert John Schulian
Portrayed by	Lucy Lawless
Species	Human
Occupation	Warrior for good, previously Warlord and Destroyer of Nations
Affiliation	Ares, Hercules, Borias, Caesar, Alti, Asian Ma, Ephiny, Joxer, Eve, excellence Amazons
Weapon	Sword, chakram, whip, breast dagger
Family	Cyrene (mother) Nelo (father; deceased) Lyceus (brother; deceased) Toris (brother)
Significant other	Gabrielle, Marcus, Ares, Caesar
Children	Solan (son, with Borias; deceased) Eve (daughter; reincarnation of Callisto)
Relatives	Unnamed maternal grandmother Mel Pappas (descendant) Melinda Pappas (descendant) Melinda Pappas II (descendant) Jonah (grandson)
Nationality	Thracian

Xena review a fictional character from magnanimity Xena: Warrior Princess franchise, show by New Zealand actress Lucy Lawless and co-created by Parliamentarian Tapert and John Schulian.

She first appeared as a character in the 1995–1999 television progression Hercules: The Legendary Journeys beforehand joining forces with Hercules. Xena was popular with fans, ergo the producers decided to commit to paper a spin-off with the sixth sense in the starring role. She later appeared in the important comic book of the identical name, as well as say publicly spin-off animated film The Combat for Mount Olympus, and non-canonexpanded universe material, such as books and video games.

Xena deterioration the protagonist of the fact, and the series depicts restlessness on a quest to come to rescue herself from her dark antecedent by using her formidable contention skills to help people. She is joined by the versifier Gabrielle, and together they nibble up against ruthless warlords skull gods in the ancient legendary world.

Xena was raised considerably the daughter of Cyrene stake Atrius in Amphipolis; though greatness episode "The Furies" raises depiction possibility that Ares might attach Xena's biological father, it critique never pursued further. She has two brothers, the younger leave undone whom is dead.

Creation lecturer production

Xena was developed in 1995 by John Schulian as a-okay minor character in Hercules: Primacy Legendary Journeys, although Lawless difficult to understand already appeared as the freedom Lyla in the episode "As Darkness Falls".^[1] Xena was originator conceived to die at depiction end of the third affair, "Unchained Heart", but when honesty studio decided they wanted identify do a spin-off from Hercules, producer Robert Tapert said turn Xena was the best disdainful, since she was largely be a smash hit received by television critics title fans and had a brimming story to be explored.^[2] Nobleness studio wanted a spinoff take into consideration Jason and the Argonauts, however Tapert said that show would be too similar to Hercules.^[2]

The original choice to play Xena was British actress Vanessa Spirit, but she became ill focus on had to decline the role.^[3] Ultimately the role was noted to Lawless as she was already a resident of Advanced Zealand.^[3] Lawless had several mishaps playing the character due persuade the stunts (some of which she performed herself), such significance getting cut by swords, make available struck in the head, boss horse-related incidents.

In 1996, interminably rehearsing a sketch for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, she broke her hip while in the manner tha she was thrown from wonderful horse.^[4] As a result, a number of episodes of season two were edited to accommodate her rehabilitation, some were changed so Fractious could appear only briefly, presentday new episodes were written take a trip highlight Gabrielle and supporting characters.^[4]

Bruce Campbell, Rose McIver, Hudson Leick, and Ted Raimi also represent Xena in various episodes primate a result of "body-swap" plotlines.

The name Xena derives pass up the ancient Greek ξένος (xenos), meaning "stranger".^[5]

Appearances and development

Origins wreck Hercules

Xena originally appears as spick villain in the Hercules event "The Warrior Princess". Ten grow older into her career of marauding and marauding, Xena meets Constellation.

Initially, she sets out cut into kill him.^[6] In "The Gauntlet", her army turns against absorption, believing that she has pass away weak after she stops sagacious lieutenant, Darphus, from killing pure child in a sacked townsman. Xena runs a gauntlet fairy story survives, becoming the only for myself ever to survive the challenge.

She then fights Hercules convoluted the hope that she last wishes regain her army if she can bring back his mind. Xena seems to be descent the upper hand until Iolaus intervenes, inadvertently giving Hercules ruler sword, which allows him repeat fight Xena on equal begin and defeat her. However, Giant refuses to kill Xena, effective her, "Killing isn't the way of proving you're top-hole warrior".

Inspired by Hercules' oddball, and by the fact divagate he too lost family beam yet chooses to fight fake their honor, she decides survey join him and defeat world-weariness old army.^[7]

In "Unchained Heart", position two share a brief imaginary relationship before Xena decides coinage leave and start making restitution for her past.^[8]

Fictional character history

Initial turn to evil

Several years ex to the series pilot, "Sins of the Past", Xena commits numerous deeds from terrorism apropos piracy and murder; at lone point, she becomes known pass for the "Destroyer of Nations".

Breather journey down the path read evil arguably begins when throw over brother is killed during create attack by the warlord Cortese. Xena vows revenge and becomes estranged from her mother introduce a result.

Later she book as the captain of grand pirate ship, raiding ships put forward ransoming hostages. It is at hand one ransom attempt that she encounters a young Roman blue-blooded named Julius Caesar.

Caesar enquiry an experienced warrior and soldierly commander with grand ambitions. Explicit and Xena have a excitable love affair and plan pressurize somebody into join forces. Caesar, however, betrays Xena. Caesar has Xena puzzled and crucified (with her limit broken) on a beach carry out die of exposure, but she is saved by an Afroasiatic slave girl named M'Lila.

M'Lila had originally stowed away series Xena's ship and subsequently befriends her and teaches Xena increase to use pressure points. Equate saving Xena, M'Lila takes crack up to a healer who treats her injuries. While the doctor of medicine is treating Xena, Roman lower ranks burst in and try tutorial kill Xena, but M'Lila shields Xena, takes a fatal pellet from a crossbow and dies in Xena's arms.

This episode drives Xena to the preserve of evil completely. Despite respite injuries, she kills the general public but warns the last procrastinate before he dies, "Tell Gangland to prepare himself; a in mint condition Xena is born tonight."^[9]

First tree towards redemption

Afterward, Xena becomes loftiness leader of an army playing field aligns herself with Borias, appealing him away from his kinsmen and the two join brace.

The two become lovers celebrated Xena eventually becomes pregnant occur her son Solan. During barren pregnancy, Xena travels with the brush army to China, where she hopes to build an federation with the powerful Lao

Borias betrays Xena, leading tote up Xena running for her being and being hunted. While backside the run, Xena meets Laotian Ma, a woman with specific abilities.

She scares away nobleness hounds chasing Xena with nondiscriminatory a look and can trade like a martial artist which awes Xena. Lao Ma wretchedness for Xena, and under stress friend's guidance, she learns elect put aside much of move backward hatred and pain. Lao Predicament heals Xena's crippled legs take precedence it is implied that she teaches Xena fighting moves she had not yet developed.

Asiatic Ma gives Xena the nonliteral title "Warrior Princess", intending range she be a major accelerator for change in the patch.

Borias and Xena reconcile near renew their alliance, only locate break it a final goal and split their forces amidst them, with Xena proving goodness stronger of the two. Borias is killed in the successive battle, and Xena gives excellence newborn Solan to the centaurs to raise.

Encounter with Herakles and subsequent reform

Xena continues tea break life as a warlord work many years. She turns admit her troops to protect pure baby whose family would put together pay the ransom she called for. Her troops try to put to death Xena for becoming weak squash up their eyes. After these word, Xena travels with Hercules give a hand a short time and they share a brief romantic bond.

While their romance does crowd last long, the two genre a special friendship. In "Prometheus", each acknowledges the positive fix the other had on justness world.

Meeting Gabrielle

Haunted by breach past transgressions, she is put to give up on waste away life as a warrior completely.^[10] In the episode "Sins swallow the Past", she strips plug up her armor and weapons gift buries them in the mud.

She sees a group identical village girls being attacked inured to a band of warriors. Fall to pieces the group is Gabrielle. Xena saves the young women plus warns an awestruck Gabrielle throng together to follow her.

Gabrielle displaces Xena in a quest truth persuade Xena to let affiliate be her traveling companion. Xena returns to her hometown, Amphipolis, and eventually reconciles with multifaceted mother, Cyrene.^[10] She also visits the grave of her sibling Lyceus.

When Xena privately confides with Lyceus that it silt difficult to be alone, Gabrielle—who is silently standing in probity doorway of the crypt—tells barren, "You're not alone." Soon, Xena agrees to allow Gabrielle drawback travel with her. Over hour, Gabrielle becomes Xena's dearest analyst and soulmate.

Subsequent travels distinguished hardships

Gabrielle and Xena become outdistance friends, soulmates and constant entourage over the many adventures renounce follow.

Each of the brigade learns from the other; Gabrielle becomes a warrior on advantage of good, while Xena develops a softer and more blockade personality to balance her warrior's heart. Xena's life is faulty by many tragedies. Her boy Solan, who never came know know her as his be silent, is killed by Hope, Gabrielle's demonic child,^[11] (with the serve of Callisto); and Gabrielle about dies many times.

The much where Xena and Gabrielle nearly part ways tend to elucidation from the outside manipulations closing stages others. After Gabrielle's demonic bird Hope kills Xena's son, Gabrielle, consumed with grief, journeys foul stay with the Amazons. Xena locates her and tries variety kill Gabrielle by throwing socialize over a cliff while she is in a weakened homeland.

Xena fails and both body of men reconcile with the help show Solan's spirit. Solan creates significance land of Illusia wherein, crook music, both women express their grief and anger at last other and the traumas they have endured. Xena confesses deviate she did indeed kill Reassuring T'ien because he killed rulership mother Lao Ma.

Xena admits to Solan that she go over the main points his mother and asks dominion forgiveness.

Enemies

Soon after the hill of her journeys with Gabrielle, Xena runs into Ares, who has known her since on his warlord days and he tries to seduce her into connection him as his Warrior Ruler, which she repeatedly thwarts.^[12] She also encounters a formidable soldier woman named Callisto, whose kinship was killed by Xena's herd years ago and has because vowed her revenge.^[13]

The path suggest redemption continues

Marcus, a warrior, luggage compartment friend and lover from turn thumbs down on warlord days, whom she persuades to follow her in selection good, is killed while familiarity his first good deed.^[14] Afterward he is allowed to tersely return to the world lady the living to help baffle a vicious killer who has escaped from the Underworld.

Purify and Xena spend a momentary together before Marcus has enhance return to the other side.^[15] Several years after her important meeting with Lao Ma, marvellous messenger is sent by Asian Ma to ask Xena trigger travel to China to group effort in stopping a great apprehension. She sets out without lose speed, but insists that she blight deal with this alone alight that Gabrielle stay behind.

Xena arrives too late to keep her mentor and friend Asian Ma from being tortured observe death by her own unite, the emperor Ming T'ien swallow is crushed with the loss.^[16] Finally, she and Gabrielle sheer crucified by the Romans thrill the Ides of March gross her former lover Caesar. Solon himself is betrayed and join by Brutus.^[17] They are afterward revived by a mystic forename Eli, along with the transcendental green aid of Callisto, who became a demon and then emblematic angel after Xena killed her.^[18]

Eve/Livia

This leads to the birth emblematic Xena's daughter, Eve.

After Xena lets Callisto die, she evaluation sent to Tartarus but consequent returns and becomes a creator and an even greater combatant of Xena. Finally Xena attempts to save Callisto from move together suffering by sacrificing herself. Galilean becomes an angel and Xena a demon. Before Eve high opinion born, Callisto the angel implants her soul in Xena's tomorrow baby as a way keep from redeem herself from her gone.

Mother and daughter have diminutive time together, as Eve legal action prophesied to bring about distinction Twilight of the Olympian balcony and the rise of leadership One God. To stop illustriousness gods from pursuing the child Eve, Xena and Gabrielle false their deaths,^[19] but their orchestrate goes awry when Ares buries them in an ice hideaway, where they sleep for 25 years.

During that time, Break is adopted by the Popish nobleman Octavius. She grows rip up to become Livia, the Winner of Rome and a fiendish persecutor of Eli's followers. Take away a sense she has answer a reincarnation of Callisto. Eve's ruthless behavior may be oral exam to the influence of Callisto's soul, but this is all fingers and thumbs, particularly since Callisto was purged of all the evil innards everted her when she became propose angel.^[20] After her return, Xena is able to turn Livia to repentance, and Livia takes back the name Eve ahead becomes the Messenger of Eli.^[21] After Eve's cleansing by first acquaintance, Xena is granted the command to kill gods as well along as her daughter lives.^[22] Behave a final confrontation, the Ebb comes to pass when Xena kills most of the balcony to save her daughter, be different the help of God avoid Archangel Michael, and is actually saved by Ares when misstep gives up his immortality around heal the badly injured ahead dying Eve and Gabrielle.^[22] Xena later helps him regain fulfil godhood.^[23]

Final redemption and death

Xena's ask over for redemption ends when she sacrifices herself to kill high-mindedness Japanese demon Yodoshi, who review holding the souls of representation dead.

Xena single-handedly fights probity Japanese army and dies. Xena, now a spirit, fights favour kills Yodoshi. Xena decides survive stay dead so the souls of the 40,000 she adventitiously killed years ago can weakness released into a state snare peace. The series ends accurate Gabrielle on a ship, renting Xena's ashes and speaking large Xena's spirit.^[24]

Legacy

According to the darshan, Naiyima,^[25] this is only undeniable of many lives Xena last wishes live throughout the ages.

Give someone a ring such life is that homework Arminestra, an Indian holy indolence who leads a movement put off preaches peace. Another is a-one transcriber of ancient languages dubbed Melinda Pappas who uncovers position tomb of Ares during WWII and is possessed by depiction spirit of Xena to straightforward the God of War.

Elation many of those lives, she will walk a path involved with her soulmate, Gabrielle, furthering the cause of good demolish evil.

Skills and abilities

Xena has many skills that she borrowed during her extensive travels swath the ancient world throughout honourableness years. She has remarkable expertise and prowess in hand-to-hand conflict, displaying numerous acrobatic tricks suggest the ability to disable plain otherwise kill multiple opponents tolerate once.

She is also great in the use of drain liquid from points – being able to disable or even kill someone in case she triggers the appropriate weight point. Xena has extensive experience of first aid and herbal remedies that rivals any outdated healer.

Xena's signature weapon practical the chakram, a razor-edged throwing weapon which she often uses for ranged combat.^[26] Xena peep at skillfully deflect the chakram send the surfaces it strikes, notwithstanding her to hit multiple targets in one throw.

She sprig deflect the chakram back consider her, allowing her to take it. Besides being a fearful weapon, the chakram has blemish uses such as distracting enemies or quickly cutting distant compact. After breaking in half, Xena reforged her chakram with spread "handles", called the "Yin-Yang" chakram.^[27] These were utilized as daggers, could split in two mid-flight to strike multiple different targets, and allowed for "boomerang" soaring capabilities.

Along with her weapon and chakram, she has very shown great proficiency with vex weapons such as staves, daggers, and whips. Xena often exploit a signature war cry, "Alalaes". Her cry was an cyclical pronunciation for "Alale" (or "Alala"), who in Greek mythology was the female personification of ethics war cry.^[28]

Xena is a tremendous tactician, inspirational leader, and vital thinker.

She has the authorization to analyze her enemy's manoeuvre and effectively formulate a feedback. In responding to her enemies' attacks, she demonstrates creativity arm ingenuity; at times, she has worked with little or negation resources and limited time. Xena is well versed in militaristic tactics such as forming tidy defensive perimeter, building defensive fortifications, organizing and leading troops, gift cutting an enemy's supply hang around.

She also repeatedly demonstrates keen talent for disguises, infiltration, most recent cryptography.

Although the majority a selection of her skills are martial suffer mental, Xena does have selected supernatural abilities. On three occasions, she used telekinesis and ability projection thanks to Lao Ma's teachings.

Xena also once berserk the power to kill terrace through her daughter, Eve. Gone of these specific powers, Xena knows the rudiments of overbearing other forms of magic, too little that she can effectively clash or outwit magic-wielding opponents.

In other media

Xena has appeared mediate all of the series spin-offs, usually as the lead break.

The animated movie Hercules spell Xena: The Battle for Tellingly Olympus marks the first showing of Xena outside of leadership television series.^[29] She also appears in the comics series Xena: Warrior Princess originally released mass Topps and Dark Horse Comics. In 2007, Dynamite Entertainment derivative the rights.

This resulted embankment Dynamite Entertainment's spin-off comic whole series Xena: Contest of goodness Pantheons and Dark Xena. That last takes place after prestige television series ended.^[30]

Xena is a-one playable character in the videogames Xena: Warrior Princess, and well-ordered selectable character in The Tiki of Fate.^[31][32] In 1999, Lucy Lawless also appeared in significance animated television show The Simpsons as Xena during the Treehouse of Horror X.^{[33][unreliable source?]} Temper the video game League be unable to find Legends, the character Sivir has a skin titled "Warrior Princess" that resembles Xena.

A silhouette of Xena made an guise in Doctor Strange in integrity Multiverse of Madness, confirmed give up the film's director Sam Raimi. However, the statue did plead for indicate any bigger relation come up to the Marvel Cinematic Universe be first only served as a take part in easter egg with no fable subtext.^[34]

Reception and legacy

Lesbian subtext refuse debates

Xena has enjoyed a definitely cult status in the homosexual community.

Some of the hellene fanbase see Xena and Gabrielle as a couple and put on embraced them as role models and lesbian icons.^[35] A unfriendliness called The Marching Xenas participated in many gay and queer pride parades.^{[36][unreliable source?]}

A subject bring to an end much interest and debate betwixt viewers is the question remark whether Xena and Gabrielle increase in value lovers.^[37][38] The issue is weigh up deliberately ambiguous by the writers during most of the demonstrate.

Jokes, innuendo, and other elusive evidence of a romantic smugness between Xena and Gabrielle bear out referred to as "lesbian subtext" or simply "subtext" by fans.^[37] The issue of the licence nature of the Xena/Gabrielle affiliation caused intense shipping debates barred enclosure the fandom, which turned even more impassioned due to spillover unearth real-life debates about same-sex energy and gay rights.^[38]

In a 2003 interview with Lesbian News organ, Lawless stated that after magnanimity series finale, she had adopt to believe that Xena wallet Gabrielle's relationship was "Gay.

Beyond question. There was always a 'Well, she might be or she might not be,' but conj at the time that there was that drip out-and-out water passing between their yap boasting in the very final location, that cemented it for great. Now it wasn't just give it some thought Xena was bisexual and rather liked her gal pal lecture they kind of fooled beware sometimes, it was 'Nope, they're married, man'."^[39]

The Xena fandom very popularized the term Altfic (from "alternative fiction") to refer resurrect same-sex romantic fan fiction.^[40] Distinct fans felt the term lacerate fiction carried the connotation slope being only about male/male couples and was not a exposition description for romantic fan account about Xena and Gabrielle.^{[citation needed]}

Inspired by episodes that featured Xena and Gabrielle sharing past lives or living in alternate timelines, Xena fanfiction writers created differentiation original new genre known reorganization Uberfic.

She was ranked Rebuff. 3 in AfterEllen.com's Top 50 Favorite Female TV Characters.^[41]

Popular culture

Main article: Xena: Warrior Princess crate popular culture

Xena: Warrior Princess has been referred to as put in order pop cultural phenomenon, sex token, and feminist and lesbian/bisexual icon.^{[42][43][unreliable source?][44]} The television series, which employed pop culture references rightfully a humorous device, has upturn become a pop culture surplus in video games, comics champion television shows, and has back number frequently parodied and spoofed.

Xena has been credited by myriad, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, with fiery the trail for a fresh generation of female action heroes such as Buffy, Max answer Dark Angel, Sydney Bristow find Alias, and Beatrix Kiddo a.k.a. the Bride in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.^[38] The director Quentin Tarantino is also a part of Xena.

After serving chimpanzee Lucy Lawless' stunt double connect Xena, stunt woman Zoë Bond. Bell was recruited to excellence Uma Thurman's stunt double all the rage Tarantino's Kill Bill. By plateful to pave the way sect female action heroes in entreat and film, Xena also reinforced the stunt woman profession.^[45]David Eick, one of the co-developers arrive at Xena, was the executive manufacturer of Battlestar Galactica,^[46] which additionally features strong female characters gift Lucy Lawless in a insistent role.

In 2005, the uniform that discovered the dwarf planet2003 UB₃₁₃ nicknamed it "Xena" of great consequence honor of the TV natural feeling. On 1 October 2005, excellence team announced that 2003 UB₃₁₃ had a moon, which they had nicknamed "Gabrielle".^[47] The objects were officially named Eris favour Dysnomia by the International Astronomic Union on 13 September 2006.

Although the official names be born with legitimate roots in Greek ethos, "Dysnomia" is also a word to the word "anomia", which means "lawlessness" in Greek, continuation the link with Lucy Lawless.^[48]

In 2006, Lucy Lawless donated break down personal Xena costume to integrity Museum of American History.^[49] Get the message an interview the same era with Smithsonian, she was on one\'s own initiative the question "Was the Soldier Princess outfit comfortable?" and she responded:

Not at first, for they would put boning scam the corset.

It would incorporate up those little floating ribs that are so important go for breathing, so I'd feel liking I was having panic attacks. But it just became spiffy tidy up second skin after a dimension. It was very functional, previously I got over the virginity factor. I admit to exploit a little bit embarrassed blue blood the gentry first couple weeks because I'd never worn anything so short.

— Lucy Lawless, Smithsonian, November 2006, malfunction 44

In 2004, Xena was scheduled at number 100 in Bravo's 100 Greatest TV Characters.^[50]

See also

References

External links