And this is the episode that shows how Xena: Warrior Princess can be a bold, unpredictable and charming experiment in the best sense of the word. Everything about her exudes the spirit of adventure, mythology and sheer joy of storytelling. The idea of ​​moving the action to the 1940s and presenting the story of Xena and Gabrielle as an archaeological discovery was genius. This is not only a fun, but also an extremely witty episode that effortlessly blends past and present and proves how aware the show is of its own myth.

Lucy excels as Mel. Her insecurity, grace, and that moment in which she transforms before us from a curmudgeonly academic heiress into a true warrior is one of those that remain engraved. When Mel grabs the sword for the first time, Xena's soul can be seen pulsing inside her and it gives an incredible adrenaline rush to everything that follows. Her performance is extremely comical and more reminiscent of Meg than Xena, but when she transforms into Xena, Lucy shows her ability to play different roles in different ways.

From the moment she appears as a female Indiana Jones, Janice steals the show. That character possesses curiosity, courage and a sense of humor, but all this is imbued with the combativeness, self-confidence and audacity of a woman who dares to walk in the male world of archaeology, wanting to escape from the shadow of her father. Her every line shines, and the relationship between her and Mel is full of humorous tension reminiscent of the original tandem of Xena and Gabrielle. It's actually interesting that Janice (who is Gabrielle's descendant) looks a lot more like Xena here, while Mel (who is Xena's descendant) is more like Gabrielle. The two of them are really hilarious and it's a shame we never got to see them again.

Jack also brings a lot of comedy and fun, especially during the first half of the episode when he plays the Frenchman. His coolness on the outside and bravery on the inside shows that whatever life and time he finds himself in, Joxer always remains the same.

Ares is perfectly integrated in this story, charming, manipulative, cunning as always. Its appearance in a modern context carries a kind of timeless pleasure. It's as if he enjoys watching people still struggle with the same passions, the same mistakes, and the same powers. His praise of Hitler shows that Ares is actually an allegory of Nazism itself from the beginning. Because when you look at it, his stories about how he wants to bring humanity to eternal peace under him are quite reminiscent of Hitler's speeches.

The ending is genius! I really like the idea that the whole show and the adventures we watch all the time stemmed from Janice and Mel's discovery.

True, in the context of the last two seasons, this episode does not make sense due to the broken pieces of the Chakras that were later put together (perhaps proof that season 4 was supposed to be the last, but they changed their minds?), but that omission certainly does not make the episode any less perfect for me.

What makes this episode such a masterpiece is not only the script, but also the atmosphere. That mix of mystery, adventure and mild humor works flawlessly. From costumes and scenography to music reminiscent of the golden age of movies about lost civilizations, everything is executed with love and a clear idea. You can feel that the authors enjoyed creating it, and that enjoyment transfers directly to the audience. And most important of all, the episode is not just a fun digression. It actually lays the groundwork for the later mythology of the reincarnations of Xena and Gabrielle, of their connection that transcends time and space. That motif of eternal connection is here for the first time honestly and openly hinted at. And that's exactly why the episode has such emotional weight.