What do you think of Alti's role in "When Fates Collide"?

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ZephyrPaige@reddit

Honestly, I enjoyed the whole black widow vibe she had in this one. Her character does well outside of what we normally see of her (the dark shamaness) in this episode and in 'Send in the Clones' where she's a brilliant scientist.

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jdpm1991@reddit (OP)

Do you think those roles were better for Claire than the cliche hag?

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ZephyrPaige@reddit

I think so. My favorite was the scientist role; it made her character relatable to the 21st century, and it was cool seeing her as a powerful genius rocking a pant suit 😎

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Latte-Catte@reddit

Same. It wasn't until season 6 did I appreciate Alti more. Before that she was constantly portrayed as this dirty wild woman who won't leave Xena alone even when she's dead. To make her immortal and still come after Xena is the level of petty villain I want to see more of on campy TV. Just the thought of her hating Xena in every lifetime just made her hilarious.

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AuntyEmfromOz@reddit

I don't think she was immortal. Remember Between the Lines, when Naiyima said the three of them (Xena, Gabrielle and Alti) would continually be in each other's reincarnated lives. I think the scientist is just one of her reincarnated lives. The clones, however, are not - they're clones, so in theory they are the original Xena and Gabrielle we've seen, just recreated, which of course makes the whole 'future' very weird.

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Latte-Catte@reddit

Damn, Alti is really gonna stick around like a parasite in their lives lol.

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AuntyEmfromOz@reddit

Yeah, it's a bit ironic isn't it? I mean the whole premise of Between the Lines was for 'current' Xena and Gabrielle to bring the reincarnated Alti back to their 'present' to take her power away from her, but then Alti turns up again in Send in the Clones.

If she hadn't been the scientist who made the clones, then you could almost argue that SHE was also a clone, but who made her? That would get around that whole reincarnated thing and destroying Alti in Between the LInes.

Her presence in When Fates Collide would be because of the altered timeline Caesar created which meant all of the 'present' tv series didn't happen............

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jdpm1991@reddit (OP)

Was the scientist really Alti's future life or just Alti posing as a scientist

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Latte-Catte@reddit

It's Claire Stansfield posing as Alti posing as scientist!

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ZephyrPaige@reddit

I honestly always wondered that myself; both are possible with her character

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Pedals17@reddit

Alti perfectly played off her endless rivalry with Xena, as well as Caesar’s hubris.

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mermaidangel1@reddit

Iconic ❤️

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Latte-Catte@reddit

Im so glad Xena got to wear proper armors with pants on this episode.

I love how Katherine Fugate encourage Alti to just speak with her naturally pretty Claire Stansfield voice. I'm glad Fugate see that Alti could be more than just a crazy shamaness in the Amazon wild, and definitely willing to expand her power through other means - be it manipulate evil Xena, Borias, the siberian Amazon elders, and even Caesar of Rome.

The way this episode, When Fates Collide, framed Alti was very interesting; theoretically, Alti would be sucking up to Xena rather than Caesar, but turns out Caesar is a much easier target in comparison to evil Xena. I'm guessing this Xena has acheived everything she wanted, and can, and even better being the empress of Rome; Caesar is an easier target because that man could still be convinced to want more!

I love how Alti clock the Xena/Gabrielle romance immediately, even though they've never met in this lifetime lol.

Fun question though, Alti touched Caesar during their sex scene, does that mean she got to see Caesar's alternative lifeline too? Does she really have no regret seeing that Caesar has changed all their fate? Questions for the philosophers.

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jdpm1991@reddit (OP)

Also Alti predicted Xena's fate in "A Friend in Need"

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AuntyEmfromOz@reddit

Really? I don't remember that. Another episode to add to my re-watch list.

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jdpm1991@reddit (OP)

Script

X:  "Alti-i-i-i-i!  Yah-h-h-h!  Gabrielle-- come on, get up.X:  "Alti-i-i-i-i!  Yah-h-h-h!  Gabrielle-- come on, get up.
Gabrielle-- what has she done to you?  Alti-i-i-i-i-i!"

Alti:  "My powers have evolved, Xena.  That glimpse into your
soul-- showed me the other world."

X:  "Alti-- "

Alti:  "I saw just how strong I've become-- and, thanks to you,
I'm just hitting my stride."

X:  "This isn't about you, Alti!"

Alti:  "Oh, yes it is!  It's all about me-- and what _I_ know!
Your story will end with your playwright unable to save her
`Fallen Angel'."  [Laughs]

Gabrielle-- what has she done to you?  Alti-i-i-i-i-i!"

Alti:  "My powers have evolved, Xena.  That glimpse into your
soul-- showed me the other world."

X:  "Alti-- "

Alti:  "I saw just how strong I've become-- and, thanks to you,
I'm just hitting my stride."

X:  "This isn't about you, Alti!"

Alti:  "Oh, yes it is!  It's all about me-- and what _I_ know!
Your story will end with your playwright unable to save her
`Fallen Angel'."  [Laughs]

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IseQween@reddit

Huh, I always thought that referred to Xena's crucifixion in FATES, but I suppose that could (intentionally or note) refer to AFIN too.

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Latte-Catte@reddit

So she alludes to Fallen Angel?

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Agent8699@reddit

She’s referring to the events of When Fates Collide. Playwright Gabrielle was unable to save Empress Xena from being crucified / killed.

It could also refer to FIN if Alti’s powers muddled things up with Gabrielle “unable” to save Xena (although that was more Xena being unwilling to be saved because of her own guilt).

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jdpm1991@reddit (OP)

Gabrielle's play was based on Fallen Angel

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Latte-Catte@reddit

Oh man, somehow I never notice that's her meaning. I thought Alti was talking about the end of that episode where Xena was crucified anyway, seeing how she could see into the future; was there a flash of clips alluding to FIN death though? That'd be awesome if the writers easter egg'd the FIN death before filming lol.

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jdpm1991@reddit (OP)

it's left ambiguous but you could head cannon as both. Xena died in When Fates Collide and A Friend in Need

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AuntyEmfromOz@reddit

Thanks. I'm going to watch the episode again anyway, because I like it! :-)

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AuntyEmfromOz@reddit

Well, going by Between the Lines, Alti is part of their universal reincarnations past and present so she probably made the connection between Gabrielle and Xena that way.

Re touching Caesar - I expect she would have realised it was an alternate timeline.

I liked the last season for bringing back so many of the characters of the series as a sort of farewell - even if I didn't particularly like some of the episodes themselves!

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AuntyEmfromOz@reddit

Yes. And I'm sure Claire Stansfield appreciated the change. You can be evil, without looking like you're evil or an old hag.

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ClassofherOwn@reddit

I missed this episode when it aired and just watched it for the first time this year. I loved seeing this version of Alti. Under the smokers voice, the too much eye makeup and heavy clothing, dang Alti was hot.

Seeing the character in this context gave her more depth than just “crazy evil shamaness who has it out for xena.”