Takes One to Know One won top 1 placement; What is everyone's top 2 underrated episode?

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JackofAllStrays@reddit

There are other episodes I’d vote for first but throwing out “if the shoe fits” because I just really enjoy episodes that look like the cast had a blast filming and this one fits that bill. The small child doesn’t do it for me but I do love the twists on the Cinderella story and how each character influenced the story and the acting. Just good fun all around.

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IseQween@reddit

Yes, like FISHSTICKS, SHOE has its own fantasy world within a fantasy. Another twist on a comedy ep that I enjoy, which also has a family theme. I like PUNCH LINES too. Neither is on my underrated list, but they don't deserve the outright dismissal I often see.

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EBJ1990@reddit

Punch Lines is my favorite episode!

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IseQween@reddit

"Tough crowd." 😂

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EBJ1990@reddit

For me the Aphrodite/Gabby is everything! lol

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SakuraTacos@reddit

Key to the Kingdom. I said I was going to try not to name every Autolycus ep, but I didn’t say I was going to try very hard!

This one has my darling Meg! We get to see actual affection between Joxer and Meg and it’s adorable! They get to practice being the loving, supportive, protective parents they eventually become to Virgil (and his maybe siblings idk?) Meg’s also got hilarious chemistry with Mr. Stinky, I wish we could’ve gotten more of those two!

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IseQween@reddit

Admittedly, I'm not a big Meg fan. But as the "star" of this ep, we get to see a lot more sides to her, not overshadowed by Gabs or Xena. I agree with all you say. I got a bit teary-eyed myself at the "one of those tiny lights" could be a home for her and Pumpkin, as well as that last scene getting the pep talk from Xena. I think it's Lucy's best performance "interacting" with a lookalike.

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Pop_Stensbold@reddit

Hoping Fishsticks can nab the number two spot (I personally feel its much better than Takes One which is an episode I have never rated highly) - I will vote for MWF until it gets on there :-)

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IseQween@reddit

MWF for me too again. I must have a thing for sinking ships, as I believe it ranked among the top 10 Worst eps. Many of the other nominees so far may not've made a Best list, but were at least thrown in for contention. Poor MWF typically gets dismissed after one viewing as completely irredeemable. I fear the best we can hope for is that it slips in at #12.

I'm glad I made myself give it a second chance and ended up surprised by how much it deserved more respect for creativity, production values, wacky take on certain XWP themes, and especially Renee's tour de force comedic performance. It's become one of my regulars when I want a fresh take on why so much of what makes me groan about XWP humor also makes me chuckle.

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JackofAllStrays@reddit

It’s the definition of underrated. It’s not my favorite but love your take that what makes you groan also is what makes you chuckle because I feel like the humor and cleverness of this episode is missed because it’s weird and out of place for the rest of the series. But definitely like it more than at least 5 other episodes so I think it’s definitely underrated

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IseQween@reddit

You know, a lot of humor in XWP is "special." Think of the lookalike eps. We're supposed to pretend it's not the same actress -- stoic one moment, klutzy the next as a princess playing the WP, belching and generally acting as an airhead as Meg, lisping and gasping at "petting zoos" as Leah, while other cast mistake them for each other. Weird in it's way, yet part of the fun.

You've got the stars in COMEDY OF EROS lusting after a villain and Joxer (?!). In other eps they're obsessed with themselves and fish, playing cruel pranks, fighting over toilet scrolls, suffering through unpleasant (and apparently odorous) afflictions, discarding guns as useless. At least in MWF nobody's farting or hitting/pushing each other. I shake my head and gnash my teeth at much of it, but accept it as XWP because ... well ... it's in XWP.

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MusicIsLife81@reddit

While I know The Bitter Suite has their major negatives like Domestic Violence between with what Xena does to Gabrielle in the beginning of the episode, it will always be one of my absolute favorites because of the singing and the storyline because we get to hear amazing singing voices of Lucy Lawless, Kevin Smith, and even Ted Raimi, and again other than the beginning first few minutes I absolutely love the storyline. But then again I love musicals being a lover of theater.

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Xyberfaust@reddit

Soul Possession

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SakuraTacos@reddit

I upvote this episode every time you suggest it. I just finished watching it again a little while ago and fell in love all over again. First of all, Xena finally has a pet name to call Gabrielle by after 2000 years.

Joxer and Xena’s scene when he’s giving her something old, new, borrowed, and blue is soooo sweet.

And I love the method Xena used to uncover how Ares saved Hope and Gabrielle. Then their scene afterward when Ares asks if Xena would’ve married him if he’d come to her in earnest.

I also realized this is the only episode based off of a Joxer scroll, not Gabrielle’s. Though I’m not sure how smart it was to hide the marriage contract within a scroll giving all the exact details explaining how secret and hidden this contract must remain 😂

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IseQween@reddit

This is another surprise addition to my list that I could support in another round.

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SakuraTacos@reddit

It really is beautiful and underrated. I guess people see the silly modern day half and immediately discount it with Deja Vu and Send in the Clones (which I also love lol)

But it’s actually got a lot of heart, especially between Joxer and Xena. And Xena looks incredible in a wedding dress, wish Gabby could’ve seen it!

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Scrubla@reddit

The Price, season 2. I don’t really see people talk about it, but it is a great episode, really ambitious and great character moments

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Confident-Club1310@reddit

The Price in the top!

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Scrubla@reddit

Oh lmao my bad, I didn’t see that

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Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)

Thank you, perhaps I'll include all the other list with the next poll to make it easier for everyone.

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Natesangel4800@reddit

A Day in the Life or If the Shoe Fits... both are great for humor and old married couple vibes 😊🤭

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NoReach1699@reddit

Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards

I’m gonna try to make an argument besides “Gabrielle is hella cute” (which is the real one).

We all know Gabrielle is the character in the show who is going through the traditional hero's journey. She had her call to adventure in "Sins of the Past," but the hero has to refuse that calling at some point; this episode is the first time that happens.

It’s also the first time she sees a path for herself that is beyond Xena. Maybe that's an argument against it for some people, but for me, as someone who loves Gabrielle’s journey and thinks she has to find the things within her that are beyond her love for Xena, I think this is really important.

It also gives us a glimpse of how they make money. That's a mystery in the show, right? How the hell do they pay for things if Xena refuses money from the people she helps? Well, Gabs makes a few dinars by telling stories, and that's canon.

This episode also establishes Xena's tradition of making AMAZING clip shows. We all used to hate clip shows, right? This ancient resource of the 90s to catch you up on episodes in a pre-streaming era. Well, Xena solved that by making the most amazing clip shows ever. Basically, all of them are iconic and good on some level. This episode kicks that off.

But the most important thing: Gabrielle realizes that, no, at that moment in time, her path is living adventures, not telling them. So she returns to keep on her hero's journey. She still has a lot to learn before going off on her own.

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IseQween@reddit

OK, this wasn't on my list, but I'll consider it for future round.

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Popular-One-7051@reddit

I'll have to research this. when I do rewatching I kind of just skip a bunch of them, especially all.of S4 cuz I can't stand the India/Eli arcs. Wanna be Jesus drivesa me nuts

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Informal_Border8581@reddit

Locked Up And Tied Down.

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Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)

Locked Up Tied Down gets a vote from me too. Because it would've been a fantastic episodes if they gave it a chance, a two-parter even, maybe even let crab-girl come back for a future episode. Maybe even extend Xena's prison time to add to the burden of her crime. I was so excited to see Xena finally punished by regular civilians of Greece for her crime, and once again Gabrielle coming to her rescue, proving her redemption paid off. Overall it was a very good episode, and could deserve a second-part.

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QueenJeanAndHerCats@reddit

I really like your idea of having it be a two-part episode.

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Confident-Club1310@reddit

"Devi." The moment the Tataka demon possessed Gabrielle, she immediately figured out the deal—what was really going on between Xena and Gabrielle—and tried to manipulate Xena's feelings :) Such a subtext-heavy episode! :) "You're gonna have to kill this sweet little body to do it. I don't think you can." And then that "kiss." Gabrielle-Tataka was magnificent!

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IseQween@reddit

I may support DEVI in the future. I've never understood why it gets so little notice,

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Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)

The entire indian saga felt overhated imo. Perhaps Devi got outshined by episodes like Paradise Lost and Between the Lines.

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NiceRefrigerator4079@reddit

Dreamworker. An episode that isn't mentioned much among fans, but it's important because it shows for the first time how much Xena and Gabrielle mean to each other.

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IseQween@reddit

Oh, I'm on board for that in the next round. It's actually my #1 underrated ep. I've been pushing FISHSTICKS because of my soft spot for championing underdogs.

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matt-89@reddit

Sacrifice two parter.

I'm surprised it didn't make the cut in the top 5 when pretty much many other season finales did. The return of Callisto adds another layer, especially another X/C team up. Renee is so good as Hope. The stakes were high with the ending.

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Latte-Catte@reddit (OP)

I remembered Sacrifice two-parter made it onto the top 12 list, so I don't think it's very underrated. If anything, it's accurately rated. Since the Xena x Callisto scene is a beloved one. Some might even prefer that ending for Callisto than the Seed of Faith/Fallen Angel ones.

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pokonight@reddit

I'll keep voting for In Sickness and In Hell till it gets up there

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Shinobi347@reddit

Hear me out: Married With Fishsticks.

I couldn’t even type that without laughing.

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