What’s everyone thoughts on Heart of Darkness? I can see the writing was really good for this episode but at same time I didn’t really like this episode that much not sure why
Posted by stardust102@reddit | xena | View on Reddit | 25 comments
Bulky-Summer86@reddit
I did not like this episode. Of course, the Gabby and Xena scenes were awesome, but I hated the morally gray-to-black way it portrayed Xena...intentionally tricking/manipulating an archangel into evil. It felt out of character for the Xena we knew at this point in time - even under duress. The beginning of season 6 was touch and go for me bc of this. I just remember feeling wtf-vibes during the whole episode. Also hate the way Archangel Michael (I think) started to feel like a "bad guy" when he wasn't portrayed that way in Season 5. This was a weird one for me, but definitely loved the Xena and Gabby dance scene just wish it could have been under different circumstances.
RiversSecondWife@reddit
She didn’t trick him into it. It was the way he was and all she did was reveal it. She says as much in the episode.
Bulky-Summer86@reddit
Yea, that felt like a cop-out. However, I'll watch again and consider these dissenting opinions. Lol
StyraxCarillon@reddit
I just watched that episode. Xena said she thought Michael intentionally sent Lucifer down to Xena, because he knew what would happen.
As Xena said to Luci after he said 'You tricked me!', 'You tried to kill me! What did you expect?'
I think Xena outsmarting her enemies is on-brand for her.
stardust102@reddit (OP)
still makes me chuckle when xena asks if she can call him luci lol
StyraxCarillon@reddit
I'm also a big fan of the show Lucifer, and his archangel brother calls him Luci all the time.
FirebirdWriter@reddit
I always wonder if it's a reference to this episode when they do
FirebirdWriter@reddit
So I disagree with it being out of character for Xena to do this but also I don't believe she made Lucifer fall. He fell the moment he put his pride into things and tried to manipulate the situation. That's the point. Xena? She's surviving. Lucifer is going out of his way to engage and ignores a warning to not mess with her and just make sure no one outside interferes. Its not my favorite episode because it doesn't feel like the writing was given a second draft but it's also got the ick with Virgil
stardust102@reddit (OP)
I agree I don’t the season 6 got better till who’s Ghurkan
Bulky-Summer86@reddit
So true!
MusicIsLife81@reddit
Yes, I definitely wish their dance had been under different circumstances. It would have been cool to see it as some kind of Amazon ritual or something. Like a bonding ritual dance or something. Maybe they could have had Ephiny being some kind of officiate over it before later in the series. That would have been cool, but sadly it never happened. But at least we got what we got. It's better than nothing I suppose.
Cruise1313@reddit
Loved the Xena and Gabrielle dance and disliked everything else especially the Gabrielle and Virgil pairing. 🤮
stardust102@reddit (OP)
yup and even then Virgil had to come in an interupt Xena and gabby dancing lol
Overall_Sandwich_671@reddit
This episode made Ulysses look oscar worthy.
vampyre_fan@reddit
I enjoy it for the cinematography. What can I say? The colors were very pleasing to the eye. There were a few one-liners that made me chuckle. It's not the most well-written episode, but one that entertains.
stardust102@reddit (OP)
Were the writers trying to do something different this season.
vampyre_fan@reddit
Some possible reasons:
Many fans were frustrated by the inclusion of Christianity, so the showrunners wanted to start walking that back. I wanted to see Michael again, but I didn't like how his character went from potential ally to full blown villain.
They also wanted to do a sexier season, which is why episodes like HoD and *The God You Know* rely on Xena acting as seductress. Furthermore, the majority of Season 6's writers were newcomers. Liz Friedman cowrote some episodes, but RJ Stewart was the only fulltime writer who stayed for the entire series.
BlueSonic85@reddit
Not a huge fan of it. The God of Eli was meant to be better than the Olympians, hence the need for the Twilight. Here his angels are as bad as the Olympians ever were.
I can just about accept Xena being a bit out of character here as she had been tainted by Mephistopheles and I suppose it's not that different to how she behaved in Anthony and Cleopatra. Still, it all feels very unpleasant.
This is however my favourite episode for Eve - she's really funny with how appalled she is with all the debauchery going on around her.
stardust102@reddit (OP)
Yer this is why I’m bit like this all seem spit of place and I don’t really like Anthony and Cleo ep either
BlueSonic85@reddit
Yeah, I don't like Anthony and Cleopatra much either. Mostly because I just find it very boring!
MusicIsLife81@reddit
Other than the dance shared between Xena and Gabrielle I was not a fan of it at all. Any little moment we get between the two of them is always a moment to celebrate in my book, but other than that, yeah, it was a weird episode. And Gabrielle and Virgil together... 🤮 What a slap in the face to Joxer.
stardust102@reddit (OP)
Yes I thought this to
Ok-Jackfruit-6873@reddit
to me it's like a cotton candy episode, I don't pay much attention to the plot except it gives them a chance to act out of character/ unrestrained and I love evil!Xena flirting with a badboy while she really only has eyes for Gabrielle, and that weird long dance scene lol it is like a fanfic episode haha
Technical_Activity78@reddit
One of my faves. Great writing. Great action. Some saucy dancing.
Nike-316@reddit
I thought it was weird and not in a good way.