Where Are You In Your Rewatch?
Posted by hermit198388@reddit | xena | View on Reddit | 24 comments
I'm about to start Gabrielle's Hope but have it on pause to post this.
Normally I do my rewatches in random order, picking whatever episodes I feel like watching and keeping track so I watch every episode before starting up again. Weird, I know. But this time I'm doing them in order including the Herc crossover episodes, and one thing I'm observing which makes total sense but for whatever reason took me by surprise is how much more of an emotional toll some episodes are taking on me. I don't remember crying at the end of The Deliverer before but this time I did. Watching them in order, Gabrielle's had to deal with a couple of things so far in the series but for the most part Xena's done a good job of protecting her throughout their travels, not to mention she's gotten quite good at defending herself. She's not dealt with a lot of trauma, with some exceptions like the death of Perdicas... until now. And it's so much in one go: >!she's killed someone, been raped, and now she's pregnant.!<As she says herself, everything's changed.
Immaworkinprogress@reddit
It’s easy to get through seasons 1-4…5 and 6 are a bit of a struggle
DanManahattan@reddit
The price (first time seeing the show as a kid in 90s)
Kooky_Professor_7920@reddit
I am always rewatching and right now I am in Season 6. It's always emotional for me, especially seasons 3 and 4. But i am a sucker for drama and I love it. I cry every time, in several episodes. My favorite seasons, in order of preference: 3, 4, 6, 2, 1, 5.
DominaShiko@reddit
I’m rewatching and showing my best friend for his first time watching. The next episode we have to watch is Maternal Instincts ☠️ 😂 so we’ll see how that goes over. While we did skip some filler episodes of season 1 that I don’t care for and have no bearing in future events, otherwise we’re watching it straight through. I’m noticing little things and making connections I’ve never noticed before and I’m loving it.
readyreadyvt@reddit
Watched the original run of the first two seasons and then life got in the way — I saw a few eps here and there from S3-4, but lost track of the fact I’d never finished the series. Did about a dozen rewatches of ADITL, but that was it, until I fell into it this summer.
So now I’m approaching S4 midpoint for the first time (just finished Crusader), watching in order. (Seeing Maternal Instincts, Bitter Suite, and OAAA in a single sitting was a treat, as was Sacrifice 1 through Family Affair.) Have not been sprinkling in the crossovers — didn’t realize there was continuity when I started — but anticipate doing that when I rewatch (even if only once — not a Herc fan). Am listening to Xena: Warrior Podcast as I go.
Not having avoided spoilers, only question for me is whether I’ll scramble the last few eps in S6, or let it flow and fix things with the virtual seasons.
hermit198388@reddit (OP)
You're a little bit ahead of me in the series. My next episode will be The Debt Part 1, looking forward to that. I'll probably try to line things up so that I can watch Sacrifice through Family Affair all in one sitting or close to, as well.
The Herc crossovers are alright but upon rewatch I'm remembering that I feel they didn't have any episodes where they really do justice to their characters. Well, in Stranger they're not really themselves, and then in Armageddon Now they're themselves in an alternate timeline (haven't watched those again yet) and have become different people - if I remember right this is probably the best representation of them nonetheless. In Judgment they're reduced to too much of a supportive role (how many times can Gabrielle run off for water, lol?). I get that it's not their show, but I feel Prometheus did a better job including Herc and Iolaus as equals in the story and action.
I'm also following that podcast as I go, have loved having the chance to listen to other people talk about the show and have time to think through the episodes a bit more before moving on to the next.
Pwaise_Hestia@reddit
Xena is the only show I watch start to finish like a book every time. This show builds on itself and has such subtle but important character growth and continuity that I can’t imagine watching it any other way. It’s truly a powerful story.
hermit198388@reddit (OP)
I think maybe I just for the most part kept up with my way of watching it because it was how I was introduced to the show. I started watching during season 6, then was catching reruns of season 5. So I didn't yet have the option to watch from the beginning. I had my VHS tapes of episodes and I'd watch random ones. Then when I finally bought all the DVDs I for the most part kept up with that habit of just picking randomly.
But this time... I don't know if it's just where I am in my life, having aged and experience and all that, but watching it the way it was intended is impacting me in a way that my previous proper watch-throughs and random watches were not.
Gonzale1978@reddit
I have been rewatching since the anchor bay DVD’s came out and on Amazon prime let say a long time. But this year I’m on season 5 rewatch.
IseQween@reddit
Interesting. I usually do an annual rewatch, sometimes beginning with the trilogy, but mostly starting with SINS all the way through AFIN. I'm currently doing so with the hi-def eps at xenagabrielle.com and am about 3 eps into S5. It's my least favorite season as a whole, but I'm looking forward to ANIMAL ATTRACTION tomorrow. I'll be interested to see if the better visual quality ups my enthusiasm for the ones I felt blah about in the past (except LIFEBLOOD, one of only 2 eps in the entire series I fast forward about 80% through).
OrangeClyde@reddit
Already finished few months back! 🙌
cestlavie_69@reddit
Right now I’m jumping around between seasons and watching arcs. I recently watched the Callisto arc. I started a Caesar arc but got diverted halfway through it. I’ve been listening to Xena Warrior Podcast and their analysis typically inspires me to watch a specific episode. Today I watched Send in the Clones after listening to the podcast. I find that their analyses make me appreciate even the bad episodes. No matter what, though, I still won’t watch AFIN 1 & 2.
hermit198388@reddit (OP)
I've been listening to them, too, having just found out about them recently!
Koeienvanger@reddit
I'm watching Sacrifice part 2 at the moment, the last episode of season 3.
It's been years since I last watched the series, but I remember not liking Hope all that much as a villain.
hermit198388@reddit (OP)
Any particular reason why? I don't dislike her but I don't think I would rank her as my favourite. When asked to think about major XWP villains, I thought of her last for some reason... My mind goes to Callisto, Alti, and Caesar first and foremost. And it's not that I don't think Renee did a great job; she really sells cold and evil in this role.
Koeienvanger@reddit
ROC did a great job portraying Hope, but Hope is just too over the top inhuman evil. Which makes sense because of the whole god thing, but the motivations don't seem fleshed out enough to me and I just don't particularly care about them.
I'm also not that big a fan of the doppelganger thing in this case, despite the acting being good.
DaniDoesnt@reddit
I watched this last one in order and it was very emotional for me, this time im jumping around to take it a little lighter, not ready for the emotional turmoil again as strongly again just yet
hermit198388@reddit (OP)
So I'm not alone in my experience of it!
Sloppy_Tuna@reddit
I do multiple types of rewatches
Sometimes I just go through all 6 seasons and watch the funny ones
Go through my favorite arcs or characters (Callisto,Alti,Eli,Lao Ma, Borias,Cesar, Autolycus,Joxer…etc)
Or a solid run from start to finish🍻
hermit198388@reddit (OP)
I really like the idea of doing arcs. Watching every Amazon episode, every episode associated with a given character, etc. Maybe after this time through!
Bosw8r@reddit
S6 ep. 14 then im going to Herc.
hermit198388@reddit (OP)
Share where you are in your rewatches and thoughts on the show if you want, observations about watching this time around or whatever. I find it interesting.
Sloppy_Tuna@reddit
Not sure why you got a downvote-but I upvoted. I like to gear other people’s views and observations too🍻
hermit198388@reddit (OP)
Thanks!