Does Anyone else wish we got at least 1 more Episode with Xena in Callisto's body?
Posted by ThaWarudo5@reddit | xena | View on Reddit | 57 comments
I feel like it was such a wasted opportunity that in the Episode with Xena in Callisto's body, she basically spent the whole episode with Ares, we didn't get to see much interaction between Xena and Gabrielle, or Xena and Joxer.
I would've loved a light episode were we got to see the dynamic between this Xena and Gabrielle. I feel like there was a missed opportunity here, wasted potential.
Anyway Hudson leick did a good job playing Xena, she was believable, especially with how soft spoken she was when talking to Gabrielle. Though I will say whilst she did a good job, she didn't really replicate Lucy lawless' mannerisms and charisma during her fight scenes. But that's just me nitpicking.
AdventuresBabe@reddit
I wanted more Callisto in general
Designer_Cycle_5083@reddit
I love Lucy lawless as XENA acting as Callisto it was fun to see the body language
Designer_Cycle_5083@reddit
Gaaaaay
SnooSuggestions9830@reddit
Not really.
Wasn't it two EPS back to back without Lucy due to injury? I forget.
But to extend that further would have been a more noticeable absence.
Plus we kind of got the awkward scenes with Gabby already.
To take it further would have just been Gabrielle getting comfortable around here.
PhenomCreations@reddit
This definitely makes the most sense in the context of seeing the show weekly. A whole month without the lead? But when you're binge rewatching it does have that essence of "leaving you wanting more", which in this case is a good thing.
ThaWarudo5@reddit (OP)
No just one episode, Lucy came back at the end of that episode.
Summer_1121@reddit
I do believe that it was two without Lucy. I recall some intervew/commentary that says the face shot at the end was stock Lucy footage (maybe even a shot from the credits), and the walk away shot was a double
ThaWarudo5@reddit (OP)
Even so it's still one Episode without Lucy. Lucy came back the very next episode. Xena was in Callisto's body for a total of one and half Episodes. Lucy only missed one Episode.
Summer_1121@reddit
Sure, no refuting that 🙂 I'm just impressed they didn't make it feel like Lucy was gone for very long
Nuclear_eggo_waffle@reddit
i thought it was a mix of scenes from the credits and body doubles
AuntyEmfromOz@reddit
So what happened is that they had finished filming Intimate Stranger with Xena returning to her own body at the end of it. However, then Lucy had her accident and broke her pelvis and was out of action at least a month. So they were scrambling to figure out what to do. Hudson was approached. The Intimate Stranger ending was re-shot and they wrote Ten Little Warlords with Hudson playing Xena. At the end of that episode the shot of Xena smiling was stock footage and the Xena walking next to Gabrielle (seen only from the back) was a body double.
The Official Guide to the Xenaverse states:
"Lucy Lawless (Actor, Xena): “[The producers] quickly reedited the whole ending [of this episode] so that [Callisto and Xena] do not get [their] own bodies back [as originally written], so that Hudson [could] play Xena in the next episode. Everyone was scrambling to rewrite, reedit, re-rationalize everything… [but] no, I did not reshoot the last scene [myself], because I was flat on my back in the Burbank Hospital [after the fall from the horse]."
There's more quotes from other interviews etc about both Intimate Stranger and Ten LIttle Warlords at the site below:
https://jacksonupperco.com/2014/06/19/the-xena-scrolls-an-opinionated-episode-guide-207-208/
MrKuckMal@reddit
I really liked how even Callisto's appearance changed while Xena was inhabiting her body. From her makeup to her hair, Hudson did an excellent job mimicking Lucy as Xena.
Adept-Echidna9154@reddit
So much so wish we had gotten more Callisto episodes in general. She was the poster girl of every thing Xena struggled with from her past. Surprised me when I found out the actress was on the short list to play 7 of 9 on voyager that Jeri Ryan ultimately won. Jeri was fantastic as 7 and I couldn’t picture anyone else but it’s still fun to imagine Hudson in the role.
Hudson probably dodged a bullet though if she struggled with lack of support I know she would have been miserable on Voyager given what Jeri Ryan went through on set.
ThaWarudo5@reddit (OP)
I didn't know about this, what happened? Why did she have a hard time?
Adept-Echidna9154@reddit
If you mean Hudson on Xena, she has mentioned she didn’t like doing it because Lucy wasn’t there to help her do her job. I’m sure she felt a lot of pressure to act like Lucy but other than Renee and Kevin no one could really help her.
If you meant my Voyager comment. That’s a lot to unpack. Kate Mulgrew hated they brought a young attractive woman on the show to boost ratings. She made Jeri Ryan’s life a living hell to the point she would have panic attacks. To Jeri’s credit though she was way more than her looks she and Robert Picardo were the actors that carried that show with their performances.
ThaWarudo5@reddit (OP)
Wow. I didn't know that about Kate Mulgrew. That's disappointing.
Adept-Echidna9154@reddit
Yeah it’s sad. Mulgrew has since made a half assed apology but it kinda rang hollow. She admits she took it out in the wrong direction but still doesn’t really acknowledge or apologize what she did to Jeri. Combine that stress with the catsuits Jeri wore was screwing with her back and she would go without bathroom breaks because it would hold up production (and get more ire from Mulgrew) she had it rough.
DeedleStone@reddit
Yeah, between stories like this and Kate being so adamantly pro-life, I've decided I'm not really a fan of her.
Interesting to know Hudson made the short list. I've always been baffled that she didn't have more of a career outside of Xena. Like, I'm not saying she deserved to be a huge movie star or anything, but usually if an actor gets notable in a popular genre work, they can book more genre roles for life. But I don't think she did. No cheap horror movies, no guest spots on Star Trek or Stargate or even other Raimi/Tappert productions. Maybe she really didn't like that kind of work and tried to avoid it. But I always thought that after playing Callisto, she should have been set for life.
DeedleStone@reddit
Yes I do. Both because I thought it was really interesting (even if the writers only stumbled on it after Lucy got injured) and because Hudson didn't end up having much of a career outside of Xena, so any chance to see her play something different is much appreciated.
RatherBeAtDisneyland@reddit
Yes! I thought they both did an amazing job. It’s one of my favorite storylines. It felt like they could have made it easily another 1-2 episodes.
Agent8699@reddit
I would have been very happy with more Hudson as Xena.
But, others have noted, Hudson found it difficult imitating Lucy’s performance (especially without Lucy there to provide guidance). So, she may not have been interested in additional appearances as “Xena”.
Perfect-Comfortable4@reddit
I think Hudson did amazing, the pressure to play Xena must been immense. But I was glad to have Lucy back in the role, so no.
ThaWarudo5@reddit (OP)
I'm not saying I wanted her to take over for Lucy or whatever, just that we should have gotten at least 1 more Episode to bring that storyline to a proper conclusion.
Perfect-Comfortable4@reddit
Cool beans. You asked if anyone wanted another ep of it and my answer was no :)
aqueladaniela@reddit
Hudson was really really good into getting Lucy's tics and expressions, the voice tone. She was amazing honestly.
iXenite@reddit
Yes! I would have loved to see more. I was hoping the whole episode we would get that chance, but the ending naturally tells us it’s not going to happen.
hermit198388@reddit
I don't know why exactly, but no. I think they both did a fantastic job playing each other's characters, but I love them so much more as themselves. It was really cool to see, but a relief when everything went back to normal, if that makes any sense?
invisiblebyday@reddit
I didn't need another episode of it. We got the right amount. HL definitively did a great job though.
Jammed-Glock@reddit
I agree. I’d take more Callisto just because she’s such an awesome villain but I thought the episodes we were given were very satisfying.
Latte-Catte@reddit
I disagree. As a fan, I want more Callisto episodes, more HL, but yeah the show did the best they could with that character.
invisiblebyday@reddit
I can agree with the idea of more Callisto episodes. I just didn't need more of Xena's soul in her body.
drdoom90s@reddit
Actually, yes.
I'd love a few more episodes with Xena in Callisto's body.
Hudson was pretty convincible. I could really see the Xena in her. She nailed it.
Maverick616@reddit
So much so I wish Callisto got a spin off
ThaWarudo5@reddit (OP)
Not even a spin off, just more of her in the show. I feel like a spin off would feel too similar to Xena.
A formal evil female warrior who has changed her ways and is now on a part to redemption.
They should have just done the redemption storyline in the show.
FirebirdWriter@reddit
Nah the spin off is the opposite. A truly evil warrior who was always actually a bad thing used her trauma as an excuse to do harm. She might have been a different person but would she actually have been good? That question works as a foil for a reason. I agree no spin off but Callisto actively resists redemption in the same way Xena always carried guilt about her choices.
ThaWarudo5@reddit (OP)
I don't think we would've ever gotten a spin off with a villain main character. Not at that time at least.
FirebirdWriter@reddit
I am okay with that. It's more a reminder the stories would be different. I definitely don't think it's the right timing for it but who knows. 2050 Xena reboot could do it
Spacer-Star-Chaser@reddit
Fun fact, that was the first episode I saw, so my introduction to Xena was in Callisto's body and vice-versa
ThaWarudo5@reddit (OP)
Wow! that would've been such a trip for you.
FirebirdWriter@reddit
Kid me would have bitten you for this she's weevil. ... Autocorrect replaced evil and I am leaving it because it made me laugh
Adult me would be cool with it because I enjoyed the nuance of how she acted differently as did Lucy to encapsulate the switch. It's really well done for both of them. The slightly off things work as a body at war with the foreign soul aspect. The line where Xenisto can't tell what's wrong because she's not used to her body yet was brilliant. Callena striking and confirming that bad feeling is accurate but clearly toying with Xenisto is a favorite part of this sequence
Latte-Catte@reddit
I will use Calleno and Xenisto from now on. I love it.
FirebirdWriter@reddit
Yaaaay! Spread the joy of Calleno and Xenisto
IseQween@reddit
Callena and Xenisto? Bwahahahaha!
FirebirdWriter@reddit
It felt right
Latte-Catte@reddit
Yes. Xena coming back from Tartarus and then fight her way back to Gabrielle. While the Callisto went back to her own body and work hard to follow Gabrielle. Idk, would've been a fantastic way to explore more of Callisto and Gabrielle dynamic too, they don't share enough scenes together. Xena and Callisto still don't share enough scenes together. Every rewatch I still crave more Xena and Calli scenes.
ThaWarudo5@reddit (OP)
Me too. Especially Callisto and Gabrielle.
That's why I felt underwhelmed by this storyline, Callisto killed Gabrielle's first love, having Xena a person she loves in the body of her enemy should've been more interesting.
We really didn't get much from them.
Latte-Catte@reddit
Exactly. I understand Perdicus is unimportant to the grand scheme of the story, but Gabby's husband only got to live one day before Calli murder him in cold blood. I feel like Gabby definitely has some motivation against Callisto now that should've given more exploration. She was all about "don't feed your vengeance, Xena," to Xena, and look where Calli got her. I still think the bodyswap had the potential to go on longer.
Latte-Catte@reddit
They need more fights together 😈
Pop_Stensbold@reddit
I would have loved a few more.
AvocadoPizzaCat@reddit
i think it would be interesting if something similar happened, but it felt like forever and too short at the same time.
Latte-Catte@reddit
10LW treated the body swap like a forever event, when it's only two episodes of body swap for us viewers. We actually don't know how long they bodyswap canonically.
Fun-Reporter8905@reddit
We should have gotten more episodes of CALLISTO
I’m more so envisioned Callisto helping Xena go up against the gods .
RotaVitae@reddit
She got lots of interaction with Gab and Joxer during Intimate Stranger. I think we saw enough of her; Hudson was uncomfortable the whole time and said it was an experience she just didn't want to remember. Regardless of how good a job she did, it's not good to pressure her into a performance.
ThaWarudo5@reddit (OP)
Didn't know about this. That's sad.
Anyway I wasn't talking about this from a real life perspective. Just in the storyline it felt very underwhelming at the end.
Not really, Gabrielle spent most of that episode with Callisto in Xena's body.
Individual-Pay7430@reddit
Hudson was fantastic as Xena. I would have loved one or two more episodes.
ThaWarudo5@reddit (OP)
Yes. I feel like the ending of that storyline was too abrupt. I know that real life factors affected the story, but I just wanted something more satisfying.
oldsmellybastard@reddit
Yes