How are the XWP Subtext Virtual Season 7 to 10, are they good continuation of the series? Are they worth reading? Has anything in this replaced any headcannon for you?
Posted by Latte-Catte@reddit | xena | View on Reddit | 59 comments
jdpm1991@reddit
There's also another continuation series
https://www.shipperseasons.com/
AuntyEmfromOz@reddit
The site says it focuses on Xena's relationship with Ares, so not my preference. I recently read some fan fiction (can't recall the name of it or the writer) where Gabrielle basically gives permission for Xena to sleep with Ares, as well as sleeping with her, Gabrielle - separately - but I really felt that Gabrielle was mistreated in that fan fiction..........until the end when she offers a solution of a threesome. The best bit about this series, is that in the "epilogue" story, Xena is exhausted sleeping soundly, and Gabrielle who has, naturally, seen Ares as competition for Xena's affection, climbs over Xena and decides to make out with Ares!
Pop_Stensbold@reddit
Could never enjoy any fiction that has Xena in a relationship with Ares, sorry. There was a bit too much of that flirtation in the series itself for my tastes.
AuntyEmfromOz@reddit
I agree. I won't go into which episodes I thought that about, or why, because I don't want to upset others who apparently weren't happy with my previous comment (and must have downvoted it).
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
No, please, spoil them for me. I appreciate the work and efforts in fanfictions but they're often very long reads. I want to know the nooks and cranny of things before I commit into a story!
AuntyEmfromOz@reddit
Yeah, I prefer the short fan fictions too. The novels take way too long and, more often than not, I end up being disappointed by them or, at the very least, thinking that Xena wouldn't do that, and Gabrielle definitely wouldn't do THAT.
So episodes where I thought Gabrielle was treated badly. Well, ANY episode really, where she's left behind, particularly when the episode happens after those other episodes where Xena has said things like I'll never leave you, I'll always be with you, you are the most important person in my life sort of thing..........but she still goes off without her. Classic abandonment. Now we all know Xena did that to protect Gabrielle, but still. Also episodes where she was treated like a kid and decisions made about her, without her input.
Particular episodes where I think Gabrielle could have been treated better are: The Execution, The Deliverer; any episode with Hope where Xena doesn't even try to understand how Gabrielle feels about killing her child; Antony and Cleopatra (bearing in mind I tend to believe they were a couple not just friends); Ulysses; If the Shoe Fits; The Debt 1 and 2; FIN - off the top of my head. Now don't get me wrong I actually liked Antony and Cleopatra, The Debt, and If the Shoe Fits, but I can pick out things in each of them I didn't like with regard to what Gabrielle went through.
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
Oh I was moreso asking about how Gabrielle was abandoned in the Shipper Season fanfictions haha. Thanks for your input though.
AuntyEmfromOz@reddit
Sorry. I misunderstood. Haven't read any of the Shipper or Subtext tales.
cestlavie_69@reddit
I read that story. It was very bleak. Xena was pretty cruel to Gabs in it.
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
I hope they didn't neglect Gabrielle and sideline her. Any pros to how Gabrielle is portrayed in the series? Did the writers value their relationship at all š ?
AuntyEmfromOz@reddit
Not in my eyes. From memory Xena would feel a bit guilty at times, but she'd still sleep with Ares who naturally lorded it over Gabrielle. I think he was mortal at the time, wandering around with them on their adventures.
Pop_Stensbold@reddit
sounds awful to me.
AuntyEmfromOz@reddit
Thank you! I'm glad to know it wasn't just my opinion. The characterisations were just off, IMO. Xena was a bitch. If I'd been Gabrielle, no matter how much I loved Xena, I wouldn't have taken that crap........ Plus it made out that Gabrielle just wasn't enough for Xena, which of course made me think, does the writer believe that women have to have men in their lives to be sexually satisfied? That pissed me off too.
jdpm1991@reddit
Regardless of the X&A shipping, they're still fantastic stories.
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
which one did you like better?
DaniDoesnt@reddit
It says they ship Ares and Xena. I don't think my little gay heart would like that
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
I'm just gonna read around the Ares/Xena moments, the real Xena would reject Ares for Gabrielle for eternity lmao.
AuntyEmfromOz@reddit
And did in the series, though I think Xena would have liked a little bit on the side with him (or Antony!)
DaniDoesnt@reddit
Haha yeah Gabrielle felt the same way
Xena don't forget your meeting with your advisor š
matt-89@reddit
Subtext is great if your a die hard X/G fan. But I'm not a A/X Shipper but find the storylines and adventures in Shipper more interesting than Subtext. The Subtext series although is great with the X/G being openly a couple it lacks direction and feels very Xena S1 in that the stories are standalone. I appreciated the efforts Shipper did more with the supporting characters getting more to do and they did a decent job fixing Eve's character. I find the stories in Shipper goes beyond the stars while Subtext feels 100% X/G centric with a lack of attention to the supporting cast if that makes sense.
AuntyEmfromOz@reddit
So, how did they fix Eve's character?
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
that's so interesting and the first time i've heard of shipper fic, now I've found some good readings to do, thank you guys so much!!
Are you saying shipper ship A/X more over X/G??
matt-89@reddit
So sorry I wasn't clear. I'm not a X/A Shipper just can appreciate the writing, direction and use of the characters more in Shipper.
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
š
readyreadyvt@reddit
Shipper Seasonsā FAQ is clear that itās focused on developing the X/A relationship, and that subtext (the X/G relationship) is hard to find/non-existent.
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
š¢ damn. But I appreciate the work and efforts in those fic anyway. Imma read the shipper seasons and touch a few subtext fic for x/g content then. I'll just have a little bit of both.
jdpm1991@reddit
For me I prefer Shipper Seasons, felt more like the series plus it has it's own fan made opening credits the owners of the site created for the fanfic. But a reminder it was never finished it had made up to season 10 but never finished in 2009.
Plus more Auto!!
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
Now you've won me over!
jdpm1991@reddit
also theres a fantastic episode where Xena gets to rewrite the wrongs she done by going in the past
ie not letting Callisto sink the quicksand
matt-89@reddit
That's one of my favourites. I also liked the Conqueor Xena arc and the second Twilight arc.
jdpm1991@reddit
i forgot season it belonged to but it was a fantastic one
matt-89@reddit
I think S9. But I may be wrong.
jdpm1991@reddit
And this series had a Xena bday ep right?
matt-89@reddit
Correct it did. Called Surprises. Think a S8 episode.
matt-89@reddit
There was a third one that sadly the site was closed last year. I think you can find them via Wayback Machine it ran two seasons with some specials.
It was called XWPVS or something.
jdpm1991@reddit
another one called Tales of the Warrior a Gabby spinoff post s6
Agent8699@reddit
The subtext virtual season 7 story āFallenā by Melissa Good is actually an unproduced episode from season 6. I would at least read that one.Ā
yaoigay@reddit
I just read it, idk why the episode didn't make the cut. It would have been lovely to see Xena and Gabby back where they began.
Agent8699@reddit
I liked seeing Xena held to account by someone other than Callisto for her past crimes? although some elements like Lilaās ābetrayalā seemed out of place.Ā
yaoigay@reddit
Yeah it had me wondering if that is why the episode didn't make the cut in the end because it doesn't make much sense. Lila had already gotten over her jealousy of Xena so it doesn't make sense for her to team up with someone trying to hurt Xena and possibly put Gabby in danger. I did like that they acknowledged the missing characters due to the time skip and Gabby feeling homesick because everyone is gone.
I also kinda felt it is a bit weird that Xena would still be concerned about Gabby killing when that issue was already dealt with in Ides of March when Gabby said her path was the path of friendship.
Although I think they may be trying to build off of that Amazon episode where most of the Amazons die off and Gabby says she loses a part of herself each time she battles.
Overall I think it would have been a great episode right before the final.
Agent8699@reddit
I think with some tweaks, it could have been a strong episode.
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
Yep, I've heard. I was looking for the Fallen script but Melissa Good has wiped it off the net and turn it into a full released fic. I will reach that point in ausxip eventually.
Agent8699@reddit
Iām not sure the āscriptā was ever released. I was only familiar with it as part of the subtext season.
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
How did you like either subtext and shipper's? Which fic did you prefer more?
Agent8699@reddit
Honestly, neither. I find it difficult finding fan fiction which matches the versions of Xena and Gabrielle I have in my head.
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
Hmm, what are they missing?
Agent8699@reddit
Itās hard to say. Iām probably just too fussy : )Ā
flynnigan14@reddit
I enjoy them! It definitely throws the subtext out the window and puts it right out in the open, which I love! There are a few storylines that have definitely made it into my head canon.
I personally like how they did their Sappho episodes more than the, "official," musical episode script. There's also a flashback episode that explains how and when Xena and Gabrielle officially got together (via Gabrielle telling the story to a bunch of Hestian virgins š¤£). The last season felt rushed, but I really enjoy most of seasons 7-9.
AuntyEmfromOz@reddit
Interesting, so when did Gabrielle say they got together? There are so many thoughts on this. And who wrote that particular episode of the Subtext series?
flynnigan14@reddit
It's Susanne Beck and Melissa Good. It was based on a story idea by Rob Tapert. You can read it here:
https://www.ausxip.com/svs/season7/en_s7e11/s7-e11-teaser.htm
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
Alright now I feel very encouraged to start. Thank you so much!
Miisskwa-Namewag@reddit
I enjoyed them a lot when I read them like 10 or so years ago. The fan art is good and I think the writing teams did a good job of making them similar to real episodes. Way better ending to headcanon than the actual ending of Xena
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
what was Xena and Gabby's ending in this version, if you don't mind me asking?
Miisskwa-Namewag@reddit
Tbh all I can remember was that it was a happy ever after kind of ending which I just prefer cuz I hated the series finale personally
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
Me too. I wanted so bad to forget about it, but atlas I could not, so I really need some fic replacement to get rid of FIN ending.
Miisskwa-Namewag@reddit
Yeah way too horrible of an ending for our girls in my opinion. Just a huge bummer. There is definitely a ton of fix it fics out there but itās been so long since I read Xena fan fiction I canāt remember any right now. Iv also heard people head canon many happy returns or when fates collide as the series finalle. But I actually really recommend the virtual seasons now that I am remembering more, they retcon and fix the FIN ending in a way that feels close enough to the series to be believable and continue the story from there
Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)
the worst part is, people celebrate Gabrielle's finally becoming a warrior at the end of that episode but at the same time the series didn't really leave much room for fans to imagine what Gabrielle's journey after Xena is like...? So they've not only made it difficult to get over Xena's death but made it extremely hard to imagine the greater world of Xenaverse/Hercverse without either in it; now we have poor Gabrielle traveling alone to complete Xena's mission. I don't understand how they could've think this is just an extremely depressing end.
Miisskwa-Namewag@reddit
Totally agree. And Xena died for a dumbass reason in my opinion too and showing the headless body of our hero was just too much. I never ever watch it when I rewatch the series
jdpm1991@reddit
If you ship; Xena and Ares you'll love them.