Anyone else wish we got more scenes of Callisto stalking Xena like in "The Greater Good"?
Posted by jdpm1991@reddit | xena | View on Reddit | 25 comments
One of the reasons why "The Greater Good" is one of my favorite szn 1 episodes is because we know that Callisto has been stalking Xena and it's implied that it's been for awhile now, but anyone else wish we could have seen more of scenes like a hidden Callisto stalking X&G?
or was that one scene of her poisoning Xena enough to imply she had been doing it for a long time now
NoReach1699@reddit
I just want more Callisto in general
EBJ1990@reddit
True, I wonder how she would have reacted if they went ahead with the idea of bringing in her sister on Hercules.
Hour_Dog_4781@reddit
The show would probably be quite predictable then. Something bad happens? Yeah, Callisto did it. No suspense here. With that said, I love Callisto and probably even prefer her over Xena (don't hate me!), so seeing more of her would've been a treat for me. Maybe a spin-off show with a reformed Callisto as an anti-hero would've been better.
Bill_Machine_4558@reddit
I always imagine that Gabrielle's true gift is redeeming people. I think of Xena and Callisto teaming up in battle, Xena and Draco, Xena and Najara... Gabrielle can assemble a team with the warriors she wants but the ambition in Xena's talents gets in the way. I prefer Gabrielle just being a hero who balances the team than seeing her become a warrior. Imagine a sick Xena and Gabrielle having to take Callisto and her taunts on a trip, or Najara and Draco on a mission.
Hour_Dog_4781@reddit
I really like the interactions between Gabby and Callisto. That fireside chat they have in Necessary Evil was lovely and showed they could get along if Callisto could not be a complete psycho for more than a few minutes.
The idea of Callisto joining them is great, honestly. Obviously she would never be a truly good person like Gabrielle (and they would probably clash constantly, which would make for some fun scenes), but I really like the anti-hero idea for her. Doing bad things for the right reasons, that kinda stuff. And poor frustrated Gabrielle in the background just watching Callisto rampage and going "dear gods, not again". 🤣
cane_v2@reddit
I love that scene in Necessary Evil too! Callisto always knows exactly how to get under Gabrielle’s skin.
It always felt to me that in Fallen Angel when Gabrielle is a demon in hell, she got some payback for that night.
“Callisto… When Xena burned your family, did you see the fire? Did you? Did you smell their flesh sizzling? You know what I think? You wanted them to die so you'd have a reason to be a bitch!“
Gabrielle being the one to taunt Callisto for a change was so satisfying. They have a great dynamic. Her joining the team would’ve been so much fun. Hudson was pretty great opposite everyone, actually.
Hour_Dog_4781@reddit
I like it when Gabby shows her claws once in a while. I always found her to be quite boring, to be honest. I would've loved a fast-talking sarcastic bitch Gabby who can get out of any problem just because she's very persuasive and knows just what to say. We kinda got a glimpse of that in season 1 before they gave her a staff and promptly made her smash people too. Also make her less naive and hopelessly optimistic, and she'd be perfect.
cane_v2@reddit
I never really thought of it until now, but I kind of love it when something happens and Gabrielle is out of character. Like I LOVED it when she was Tataka in Devi and when she’s obsessed with herself in Fins, Femmes, and Gems.
Hour_Dog_4781@reddit
Or Ten Little Warlords when Ares loses his godhood and as a result normally peaceful people go aggro. Gabrielle's scenes with Joxer were gold.
Bill_Machine_4558@reddit
Gabrielle from "Remember Nothing" spitting in her food and looking older than Xena, haha. The only thing missing was a brief appearance of Callisto hugging Xena and saying, "Next month is my birthday, at my family's house, you can't miss it, and don't forget to bring your new blonde friend, we love you."
This type of episode makes me think that Xena and Gabrielle's first meeting in "Sins of the Past" is not their real meeting. Perhaps the answer to a new Xena series lies in the exact moment Hercules asked Zeus to blow out that candle and change destiny in "Hercules and the Amazons". Callisto is the only main villain who has never appeared in future episodes like Ares and Alti, so she is not destined to pursue Xena. Calisto never appeared in comedy episodes like Ares and Alti (Sending the Clones). Callisto's body is a virgin, there is no evidence that Callisto harmed women or children, Callisto stopped targeting Xena and began pursuing the gods in her own way, killed Strife and slept with Ares (she was in Xena's body), which apparently resulted in Eve, the ultimate end of Olympus.
I allow corrections if I'm wrong, but Callisto is truly a misunderstood hero, doing what's necessary.
cane_v2@reddit
Yes, exactly. I even like Hope. The way Renee plays her facial expressions and demeanor vs Gabrielle’s is 🤌🏽
littletcashew@reddit
That's like an old timey Burn Notice really 😆
Hour_Dog_4781@reddit
Never seen the show so had to google it. But yeah, it kinda seems similar, though Callisto wouldn't have to wonder who betrayed her. She knows exactly who burnt her.
Bill_Machine_4558@reddit
Young Callisto promised Iolaus that she would not allow herself to cry in Armageddon Now. This explains a lot about her personality. That cruel question was just to not seem weak. She has lost hope in good but we know that she supports good.
She would definitely be great on the team. Something tells me that she and Joxer would get along well, it would be funny to see her getting stressed out by Gabrielle's naivety and ease in being deceived, getting irritated by the whole love and poetry thing. And the coolest thing is the detail that she is the only warrior that Ares cannot fool.
Hour_Dog_4781@reddit
Good point about Armageddon Now. Callisto acting tough/offensive in order to appear strong would make sense. I wish I had time to write, this is giving me so many ideas for a Xena/Callisto fanfic.
badluckfarmer@reddit
I can hear the sneaking around theme right now. Was it synthesized bassoon?
Ok-Jackfruit-6873@reddit
If I wrote the series (LOL) I think Callisto would be the overarching enemy so she would have been involved in a lot of the drama from the early seasons. Maybe she gave Draco the idea to raid under Xena's banner, etc. I just think she's a great villain for the show!! And an interesting foil to Gabrielle, being a younger woman whose life was ... greatly affected by interacting with Xena.
Bill_Machine_4558@reddit
Callisto was a good villain for the first season but she's not disgusting enough like Alti to be the great villain. Callisto didn't even seem to like being bad. I was rooting for her to be part of Xena's team.
VindozaDm@reddit
I think a little more may have done some good
SakuraTacos@reddit
If/when they remake the show, they 100% gotta show hints Callisto has been following Xena earlier. I love the air of dread in The Greater Good with the knowledge Xena was being stalked. Imagine a glimpse of Callisto blending in as a citizen at Athens when Xena leaves Gabrielle at the bard school or Xena being woken up by a twig snapping a few feet away but there’s no one there when she looks
I think I’m just picturing Michael Myers and Laurie Strode now actually haha but the idea works great for Xena and Callisto too lol
matt-89@reddit
It actually would've been kinda fun to see old S1 episodes with Callisto in the background. Could've made a fun flashback episode if it also fleshed out how Callisto got her training. Like what happened to her after her family died through her first appearance.
jdpm1991@reddit (OP)
like we know she had been stalking her for awhile but was it only when Xena and Gabrielle began traveling together or was it when she was with Borias and Alti
matt-89@reddit
I don't think it was as far back as Alti or Borias. Feels like maybe as far back as when Xena returned to Greece and got an army, so maybe a while before she met Hercules.
jdpm1991@reddit (OP)
it was just so intriguing seeing this hidden antagonist in The Greater Good wish we had more of that
matt-89@reddit
That would've worked. Same with Ares observing Xena over the years from the shadows.