User:Dangermouse87

Season Two

Orphan Of War Gabrielle apologizes to Xena for being mean to her, and ends with "I'm here for you." Xena replies: "Always." Gabrielle talks to Solan about Xena: "I find it hard to understand the hatred that she gets sometimes when we travel, from people who just don't know her the way i know her."

Remember Nothing Xena reacts rather negatively when she travels to an alternate life and discovers she has a suitor. "The hardest thing is losing you and Gabrielle," she says at her mother's grave. When Xena returns to her real life, she grabs Gabrielle's shoulder and pulls her close. "What's this for?" asks Gabrielle. "Just for being you." This episode is subtext interesting not because of the presence of subtext, but for its absence. In an alternate life, some things will be different, and Xena may not like some of them. Specially, in this alternate life, Gabrielle is STRAIGHT. Not only that she reacts suspiciously first, and disgusted second when she realizes why Xena is so interested in her. Most important is that you can compare how Gabrielle looks at Xena in this episode and in all others: the lack of flirt and sexual tension is obvious (and Xena's deception too!). And if you didn't notice that, there's a very little moment where you can find it: when Gabrielle and Lycius first meet, there appears the flirt and interest between them that Gabrielle and Xena usually share, making obvious to Xena that Gabrielle is definitely straight in this alternate life. And, of course, the fact that Gabrielle is straight is something Xena doesn't like, and could be a reason - ok, not the only one, but one of them - for returning to the old life." "When Xena's fiance sneaks up on her and then tries to kiss her, Xena is having NOTHING to do with that! The look on her face is Verrry uncomfortable (WE know why, she only kisses Gabrielle!), also, when she says 'Suitor?...No.' the look of 'as if' is priceless!"