Modern TV and streaming networks are full of epic fantasy series these days, from the gritty to the absurd, and that means we really are living in the golden age of fantasy television. Just thirty years ago though, there were far fewer options for fantasy fans on TV, and even90s fantasy movie masterpieces often went unwatched. Thankfully, there were a few exceptions, one of which was the phenomenalXena: Warrior Princess.
Released in 1995 as a spinoff ofHercules: The Legendary Journeys,Xena, likeHerculesis set in a historically vague version of ancient Greece. The show begins as Xena (Lucy Lawless), with the help of her stalwart companion and soulmate Gabrielle (Renee O’Connor), seeks redemption for her violent past (as seen in her appearance inHercules) and follows her asshe journeys across the ancient world, acting as a force for righteousness. Along the way, they encounter gods and monsters with the help ofguest star actors and actresses who got their start onXena.
Xena: Warrior Princess' Characters, Story & Tone Have Aged Remarkably Well
The Production Style Is From Another Era Of TV But The Storytelling Is Evergreen
While 90s network TV shows, especially any kind of genre fare, are generally derided for their mediocre writing quality and shallow storytelling, with its unique blend of epic action and heartfelt character work, especially in the context of Xena’s ongoing redemption arc,Xenahas aged extremely well compared to some of its contemporaries, especially its predecessorHercules. The show’s supporting cast draws from not only Greek mythology, but also Norse, British, Chinese, and Egyptian to create a pantheon of legends from all over the world, most of whom Xena gets to fight.
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For all that the show’s mythology seems like it was cobbled together,Xenais full of compelling moments, andthat’s absolutely thanks to the fantastic cast, as well as executive producer Sam Raimi, who at the time was most well-known for directing the first threeEvil Deadfilms. The occasionally silly combination of legends the show builds its world around manages to be immersive thanks to the powerful chemistry among the cast, particularly Lawless and O’Connor.
Xena: Warrior Princess Was Progressive For Its Time
No One Expected A Niche TV Show To Set A High Bar For Representation Yet It Did
It likely was far from the minds of anyone on the production staff, butXena: Warrior Princesswound up being an icon for the lesbian community in the 1990sthanks to Xena and Gabrielle’s relationship. While the show itself never made any open statements about either character’s sexuality, and both have romantic relationships over the course of the show, the show does repeatedly call them soulmates and reveals that throughout history, the two are repeatedly reincarnated to continue their journey side by side. Considering the state of LGBTQ+ representation in other 90s shows, this was genuinely groundbreaking.
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The show’s progressive mindset wasn’t just limited to subtext, either, considering the clearly feminist bent of the entire premise. While Xena’s armor may include a miniskirt (and the first episode had her fighting bandits in her underwear), the themes of gender equality, compassion, and acceptance are constantly at the heart of the show, with a wide enough cast of female characters that there’s enough room for all of them to feel like well-rounded people in their own right without a need for stereotypes.
If You Can Look Past The Special Effects, Xena: Warrior Princess Is More Fun To Watch Now
So Long As You Don’t Take It Too Seriously, There’s So Much Fun To Be Had
There’s no denying that one of the biggest issues with enjoying vintage TV in the modern era is the huge divide in technical quality. As of the writing of this article,Xenais available for streaming, but has never received a high-definition remaster and only exists in the 4:3 aspect ratio that is synonymous with pre-HD televisions, so it isn’t the easiest to watch on a modern 4K screen. Similarly, the camera and effects technology of the 90s were far less advanced than they are now,which heavily informed the show’s cinematography.
Yet when rewatchingXena, none of that really seems to matter, and that’s because the show is so full of heart and fun thatthe aged effects have just become part of the charm. The same goes for Xena’s numerouswuxia-inspired flips and kicks, or that time she learned kung-fu telekinesis, or any time Bruce Campbell showed up to do Bruce Campbell things. There’s an earnestness toXenathat couldn’t be replicated in a modern show, which means it’s probably for the best that the attempts to make aXenareboot have all flopped.
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There are few 90s TV shows still worth revisiting, and most of those haveStarin the title, which makesXenaall the more special. In Xena’s first appearance onHercules, the showrunners had intended to kill her off at the end of her three-episode arc, but reactions to her were so overwhelmingly positive that the writers knew they had something special on their hands and took a risk in giving her a show. Now, with the 30th anniversary ofXena: Warrior Princessless than a year away, it’s all the more obvious just how special she was.
Xena: Warrior Princess
Staring Lucy Lawless and Renne O’Connor, Xena: Warrior Princess follows the titular heroine, a formidable female warrior from Ancient Greece who uses her powers to help protect and defend the innocent. Xena is accompanied by her sidekick, Gabrielle, on all of her missions. The series ran from 1995 to 2001, and maintains cult classic status and a devoted fanbase to this day.
