Episode 76 season 4 #8 "Crusader"
When I was in college, a friend said "Star Trek" was the series most easily adapted to the radio, because of all the distinctive sounds in the show. When we heard the tricorder, transporter, photon torpedoes, we knew exactly what was going on and didn't need anyone to fill in the blanks.
For the first 2 seasons of Voyager, I used to "listen" to Star Trek radio... my reception was so bad it was the sound/story I listened to, until someone was nice enough to hand me off their tapes of the show so I could "see" what I was missing.
"WHAT" does this have to do with "Crusader"???
If you only listened to this show, you'd miss most of the important points.
You have to "see" Xena, and Gabrielle and Najara to get to the real story.
I'll try to paint their reactons.
TPTB have introduced a new character... Najara a Warrior Saint (if not a Princess) who is led into battle by the voices of the Jinn, spirits that represent "the light/the goodness" that infuse Najara with purpose and not a little hubris.
Najara's men have attacked Xena & Gabrielle and are regretting their decision when the teaser opens. Stragglers warn Najara and like a good leader she gallops into the fray, knocking down not only Gabby but Xena herself with her charging steed. Xena recovers first and basically kicks Najara off the horse and the two get into some serious sword play. Gabby, gods love her, tries to help but ends up on the ground at Najara's feet as Najara raises her swordhands high to strike the killing blow...
...and then she stops.
Her face is so strange, so transformed that Xena is momentarily stunned and stays her own killing throw from her mightly chakram. Gabby isn't much better, but comes to first, hopping up from her prostrate position and jumping behind that Warrior Princess she's traveled with these last 3+years.
Both women are confused
and intrigued as Najara "comes to" and begs their forgiveness.
And thus the teaser ends.
When act 1 begins, we realize there's something more to the Jinn than just some warrior induced hallucination on Najara's part. That or she's been listening to the warlords she's captured about a certain WP and her trusty sidekick!
Najara: (To her 2nd in command) "You were wrong. These two are on a journey, a quest. And they're our allies in our fight against darkness. My name is Najara."
Gabrielle: "I'm Gabrielle. This is Xena."
Najara: "You've suffered much, Gabrielle, but you've retained your good heart. (To Xena) And you have chosen to fight the darkness within you. What courage that takes. Please forgive us."
Suddenly, within just a few minutes, she's managed to start the seduction of the most unusual power couple in ancient Greece.
The Warrior in Najara has captured Xena's attention with her skill, her strength, and her ability to STOP herself in the midst of a kill. Amazing control that can only be truly appreciated by another Warrior. The soul that seeks to atone, also can't ignore Najara's mission.
Xena: "What's your mission?"
Najara: "To fight evil wherever we find it."
Xena: "Can you be a little more specific?"
Najara: "We're riding against Marat."
The Saint in Najara has captured the imagination of the battling Bard who has longed to answer certain fundamental questions about herself. Someone who knows how to stop and smell the roses, who communes regularly with her spirits, who dreams of peaceful actions (Hospice) not just fighting.
Najara: "No-- I'm just enjoying the scenery."
Gabrielle: "You do that too."
Najara: "Yes, all the time."
Gabrielle: "Najara? How long have you been hearing the Jinn?"
Najara: "Since I was a little girl. At first, they frightened me. After a while, I began to trust them, and now, they're my best friends. They're so wonderful so full of love and goodness."
Gabrielle: "Where do they come from?"
Najara: "The light. They're sent to me so that I can fight the darkness. It's quite a responsibility. [Sighs] Well, I think we've smelled the flowers enough. Come on. Let's get back to the others."
And like a GOOD Svengali, Najara knows just what buttons to push with both women. At the campfire that night, challenging the obviously doubting Xena to LEAD Najara's army into battle, while advising the skittish Gabrielle to "listen" to Xena's doubts until Najara has a chance to prove herself to both of them. Xena looked so smug when Najara told Gabby, that Xena "was right".
Najara: "Wonderful. I can't tell you how much I love the challenge of winning your confidence. and you should listen to her. Don't trust me too soon. Xena's wiser in that way. Sleep well."
Xena: "Oh, we will."
(Najara goes back to sit with her sleeping men/"army", leaving the two alone.)
Gabrielle: "You're a tough sell."
Xena: "I'm not going into any village with any army unless I'm sure I'm doing the right thing."
Gabrielle: "I understand." (Looks intrigued at Najara, praying next to her men) "I don't know what to make of her."
The next day, Xena sneaks into the village with Najara/Gabby/ and that "army" left on the outskirts. When she discovers the slavetraders are indeed in the village/taking hostages, Xena sends a signal and starts fighting by herself.
Soon, the Warrior Princess is joined by the Warrior Saint, and Najara matches Xena blow for blow, death for death. Before long the battle pours out of the barn where Xena and Najara were and out into the village "streets" where Gabby and the "army" are fighting as well.
Xena sees a slave trader point a crossbow at her friend, she SCREAMS for Gabrielle and begins running to get between her best friend and the threat just as the crossbolt takes flight.
SUDDENLY a hand reaches out and SNATCHES the crossbolt out of the air, like we've seen SO MANY times before... and yet WE AND XENA are shocked to see the hand holding the bolt isn't Xena's... Its Najara's! 
Who's that girl?
And the seduction of Gabrielle continues.
Najara: (To the captured slavetraders) "You fought with great courage. That can be a virtue, but only when it's used on the side of the light against darkness. The capture and selling of people is wrong."
Man's Voice: "Listen up!"
Najara: "It shames both its victims and those who would profit from this evil. Slavery paves the path to darkness. We can offer you initiation into the way of the light. Let us help you."
Gabrielle: "Do you think it got through to them?"
Najara [Sighs]: "I hope so. Turning people away from their dark side is the most important thing I do. Who know? Some of these men, one day, might be great leaders of the light."
Hmmm. Isn't that what Gabrielle has been doing these last 3+ years? Turning Xena away from her darkness, to the light?
And the seduction of Xena continues...
(For those people who think Xena has forgotten Alti's premonition, you know, the one not even referred to since episode 3's Family Affair", we see that XENA hasn't forgotten it. Once again we see the shield, Xena's reflection as she's laid upon the cross, Gabrielle's legs, torso, head as the camera pans up her body, then her face turns towards Xena one last time as she says...
Gabrielle: "I love you, Xena." )
(Back to "present day Greece, and Najara entering the barn where Xena is standing with Argo. She knows something Xena doesn't realize she knows.)
Najara: "It's a great curse to have seen one's own death."
Xena: "The Jinn told you?"
Naj: "Yes, but not everything. Your vision of death, does it... ?"
Xena: (Not looking at her fellow warrior, she answers honestly) "Yes. It includes Gabrielle."
Naj: "Does she know?"
Xena: "No."
Najara: "That's fortunate for her."
Xena: (Face frighteningly open) "Do you think it can be avoided?"
Najara: "Of course. I believe our destiny is in our hearts. But it will take drastic measures to change an event you've foreseen in your soul's eye."
The scene ends with Gabrielle entering the barn, and Najara gives an almost unexpected jump, as if the two were being interrupted doing something they shouldn't have been doing.
Gabrielle: "Xena? There you are."
Najara: "Listen, I don't know what your plans are, but-- Marat controls a village about a day's ride from here. He uses it as a center for his slave trade. That's where I'm headed. Would you like to join me?"
(The looks between Gabrielle and Xena were quite telling, as Gabby first looks for Xena's lead, finds none, then offers her own...)
Gabrielle: "Yes."
(The looks continue, almost as if Gabby wonders if Xena will follow, and as if Xena wonders if she should.)
Xena: "Sure."
Najara: "Wonderful."
Save you:
Xena and Gabrielle are walking with Najara's "army", following Najara on her trusty steed, Bonacar.
Xena: "Gabrielle? You've been awful quiet. You all right?"
Gabrielle: "Yeah, I was just thinking about yesterday, amazing."
Xena: "Yeah, amazing."
Gabrielle: (Looks up when she hears the call of birds in flight) "Swans!"
Najara: "Looks like they're headed for Kuta Lake." (Reaches out her hand to Gabrielle) "Let's go see them up close." (Gabby hops up on the horse behind Najara without a second thought as Najara speaks to her men) "We'll catch up with you at Revo Falls." (Then turns to Xena) "Will you join us?"
Xena: "No, thanks. I'm not one for bird-watching." (Then watches the two ride away, Gabby clutching Najara as Bonacar picks up speed)
Gabrielle and Najara have quite the tete e tete alongside the lake. Its either to Najara's credit as a "saint".. or her discredit as a Svengali that she seems to be encouraging Gabrielle to stay with Xena.
Najara: "You fight for good. What other path is there?"
Gabrielle: "You mentioned opening a hospice."
Najara: "That would be a good way, too. Why don't you do that? I don't mind if you start without me."
Gabrielle: "You see, if I do that-- then Xena and I have to go our separate ways. She's not the hospice type."
Najara: "Yes, I see. She's on a different path. Well perhaps you need to commit totally to your life with Xena. You two do a lot of good."
What's most interesting about this scene, however, is the woman watching from the treeline. One wonders what she can hear from so far away or what she can lip read from so far away. In the end, one realizes all she's reading is the body language from her companion of nearly 3 and a half years.
(At Najara's war council, the night before their next raid)
Xena: "I'll take my chances."
Gabrielle: "Look-- I've learned you should listen to Xena when it comes to this sort of thing."
Najara: "All right. Xena will go after Marat-- while we take the village."
Man's Voice: (Steps aside to speak with Najara) "What is your plan of attack?"
Gabrielle: (Steps aside to speak with Xena) "When do we head out?"
Xena: "I'm heading out before dawn. You stay with Najara."
Gabrielle: "Are you sure?"
Xena: "Sure..."
In the season 1 reviews, I made this comment...
I stand by that comment in season 4.
WHY won't these women LISTEN to me???
Oh, right.
No drama, no angst, no reason to watch the show week after week, much less buy 6 seasons on FREAKING DVD!!!!"
When I was in college, a friend said "Star Trek" was the series most easily adapted to the radio, because of all the distinctive sounds in the show. When we heard the tricorder, transporter, photon torpedoes, we knew exactly what was going on and didn't need anyone to fill in the blanks.
For the first 2 seasons of Voyager, I used to "listen" to Star Trek radio... my reception was so bad it was the sound/story I listened to, until someone was nice enough to hand me off their tapes of the show so I could "see" what I was missing.
"WHAT" does this have to do with "Crusader"???
If you only listened to this show, you'd miss most of the important points.
You have to "see" Xena, and Gabrielle and Najara to get to the real story.
I'll try to paint their reactons.
TPTB have introduced a new character... Najara a Warrior Saint (if not a Princess) who is led into battle by the voices of the Jinn, spirits that represent "the light/the goodness" that infuse Najara with purpose and not a little hubris.
Najara's men have attacked Xena & Gabrielle and are regretting their decision when the teaser opens. Stragglers warn Najara and like a good leader she gallops into the fray, knocking down not only Gabby but Xena herself with her charging steed. Xena recovers first and basically kicks Najara off the horse and the two get into some serious sword play. Gabby, gods love her, tries to help but ends up on the ground at Najara's feet as Najara raises her swordhands high to strike the killing blow...
...and then she stops.
Her face is so strange, so transformed that Xena is momentarily stunned and stays her own killing throw from her mightly chakram. Gabby isn't much better, but comes to first, hopping up from her prostrate position and jumping behind that Warrior Princess she's traveled with these last 3+years.
Both women are confused
and intrigued as Najara "comes to" and begs their forgiveness.And thus the teaser ends.
When act 1 begins, we realize there's something more to the Jinn than just some warrior induced hallucination on Najara's part. That or she's been listening to the warlords she's captured about a certain WP and her trusty sidekick!
Najara: (To her 2nd in command) "You were wrong. These two are on a journey, a quest. And they're our allies in our fight against darkness. My name is Najara."
Gabrielle: "I'm Gabrielle. This is Xena."
Najara: "You've suffered much, Gabrielle, but you've retained your good heart. (To Xena) And you have chosen to fight the darkness within you. What courage that takes. Please forgive us."
Suddenly, within just a few minutes, she's managed to start the seduction of the most unusual power couple in ancient Greece.
The Warrior in Najara has captured Xena's attention with her skill, her strength, and her ability to STOP herself in the midst of a kill. Amazing control that can only be truly appreciated by another Warrior. The soul that seeks to atone, also can't ignore Najara's mission.
Xena: "What's your mission?"
Najara: "To fight evil wherever we find it."
Xena: "Can you be a little more specific?"
Najara: "We're riding against Marat."
The Saint in Najara has captured the imagination of the battling Bard who has longed to answer certain fundamental questions about herself. Someone who knows how to stop and smell the roses, who communes regularly with her spirits, who dreams of peaceful actions (Hospice) not just fighting.
Najara: "No-- I'm just enjoying the scenery."
Gabrielle: "You do that too."
Najara: "Yes, all the time."
Gabrielle: "Najara? How long have you been hearing the Jinn?"
Najara: "Since I was a little girl. At first, they frightened me. After a while, I began to trust them, and now, they're my best friends. They're so wonderful so full of love and goodness."
Gabrielle: "Where do they come from?"
Najara: "The light. They're sent to me so that I can fight the darkness. It's quite a responsibility. [Sighs] Well, I think we've smelled the flowers enough. Come on. Let's get back to the others."
And like a GOOD Svengali, Najara knows just what buttons to push with both women. At the campfire that night, challenging the obviously doubting Xena to LEAD Najara's army into battle, while advising the skittish Gabrielle to "listen" to Xena's doubts until Najara has a chance to prove herself to both of them. Xena looked so smug when Najara told Gabby, that Xena "was right".
Najara: "Wonderful. I can't tell you how much I love the challenge of winning your confidence. and you should listen to her. Don't trust me too soon. Xena's wiser in that way. Sleep well."
Xena: "Oh, we will."
(Najara goes back to sit with her sleeping men/"army", leaving the two alone.)
Gabrielle: "You're a tough sell."
Xena: "I'm not going into any village with any army unless I'm sure I'm doing the right thing."
Gabrielle: "I understand." (Looks intrigued at Najara, praying next to her men) "I don't know what to make of her."
The next day, Xena sneaks into the village with Najara/Gabby/ and that "army" left on the outskirts. When she discovers the slavetraders are indeed in the village/taking hostages, Xena sends a signal and starts fighting by herself.
Soon, the Warrior Princess is joined by the Warrior Saint, and Najara matches Xena blow for blow, death for death. Before long the battle pours out of the barn where Xena and Najara were and out into the village "streets" where Gabby and the "army" are fighting as well.
Xena sees a slave trader point a crossbow at her friend, she SCREAMS for Gabrielle and begins running to get between her best friend and the threat just as the crossbolt takes flight.
SUDDENLY a hand reaches out and SNATCHES the crossbolt out of the air, like we've seen SO MANY times before... and yet WE AND XENA are shocked to see the hand holding the bolt isn't Xena's... Its Najara's! Who's that girl?
And the seduction of Gabrielle continues.
Najara: (To the captured slavetraders) "You fought with great courage. That can be a virtue, but only when it's used on the side of the light against darkness. The capture and selling of people is wrong."
Man's Voice: "Listen up!"
Najara: "It shames both its victims and those who would profit from this evil. Slavery paves the path to darkness. We can offer you initiation into the way of the light. Let us help you."
Gabrielle: "Do you think it got through to them?"
Najara [Sighs]: "I hope so. Turning people away from their dark side is the most important thing I do. Who know? Some of these men, one day, might be great leaders of the light."
Hmmm. Isn't that what Gabrielle has been doing these last 3+ years? Turning Xena away from her darkness, to the light?
And the seduction of Xena continues...
(For those people who think Xena has forgotten Alti's premonition, you know, the one not even referred to since episode 3's Family Affair", we see that XENA hasn't forgotten it. Once again we see the shield, Xena's reflection as she's laid upon the cross, Gabrielle's legs, torso, head as the camera pans up her body, then her face turns towards Xena one last time as she says...
Gabrielle: "I love you, Xena." )
(Back to "present day Greece, and Najara entering the barn where Xena is standing with Argo. She knows something Xena doesn't realize she knows.)
Najara: "It's a great curse to have seen one's own death."
Xena: "The Jinn told you?"
Naj: "Yes, but not everything. Your vision of death, does it... ?"
Xena: (Not looking at her fellow warrior, she answers honestly) "Yes. It includes Gabrielle."
Naj: "Does she know?"
Xena: "No."
Najara: "That's fortunate for her."
Xena: (Face frighteningly open) "Do you think it can be avoided?"
Najara: "Of course. I believe our destiny is in our hearts. But it will take drastic measures to change an event you've foreseen in your soul's eye."
The scene ends with Gabrielle entering the barn, and Najara gives an almost unexpected jump, as if the two were being interrupted doing something they shouldn't have been doing.
Gabrielle: "Xena? There you are."
Najara: "Listen, I don't know what your plans are, but-- Marat controls a village about a day's ride from here. He uses it as a center for his slave trade. That's where I'm headed. Would you like to join me?"
(The looks between Gabrielle and Xena were quite telling, as Gabby first looks for Xena's lead, finds none, then offers her own...)
Gabrielle: "Yes."
(The looks continue, almost as if Gabby wonders if Xena will follow, and as if Xena wonders if she should.)
Xena: "Sure."
Najara: "Wonderful."
Save you:
Xena and Gabrielle are walking with Najara's "army", following Najara on her trusty steed, Bonacar.
Xena: "Gabrielle? You've been awful quiet. You all right?"
Gabrielle: "Yeah, I was just thinking about yesterday, amazing."
Xena: "Yeah, amazing."
Gabrielle: (Looks up when she hears the call of birds in flight) "Swans!"
Najara: "Looks like they're headed for Kuta Lake." (Reaches out her hand to Gabrielle) "Let's go see them up close." (Gabby hops up on the horse behind Najara without a second thought as Najara speaks to her men) "We'll catch up with you at Revo Falls." (Then turns to Xena) "Will you join us?"
Xena: "No, thanks. I'm not one for bird-watching." (Then watches the two ride away, Gabby clutching Najara as Bonacar picks up speed)
Gabrielle and Najara have quite the tete e tete alongside the lake. Its either to Najara's credit as a "saint".. or her discredit as a Svengali that she seems to be encouraging Gabrielle to stay with Xena.
Najara: "You fight for good. What other path is there?"
Gabrielle: "You mentioned opening a hospice."
Najara: "That would be a good way, too. Why don't you do that? I don't mind if you start without me."
Gabrielle: "You see, if I do that-- then Xena and I have to go our separate ways. She's not the hospice type."
Najara: "Yes, I see. She's on a different path. Well perhaps you need to commit totally to your life with Xena. You two do a lot of good."
What's most interesting about this scene, however, is the woman watching from the treeline. One wonders what she can hear from so far away or what she can lip read from so far away. In the end, one realizes all she's reading is the body language from her companion of nearly 3 and a half years.
(At Najara's war council, the night before their next raid)
Xena: "I'll take my chances."
Gabrielle: "Look-- I've learned you should listen to Xena when it comes to this sort of thing."
Najara: "All right. Xena will go after Marat-- while we take the village."
Man's Voice: (Steps aside to speak with Najara) "What is your plan of attack?"
Gabrielle: (Steps aside to speak with Xena) "When do we head out?"
Xena: "I'm heading out before dawn. You stay with Najara."
Gabrielle: "Are you sure?"
Xena: "Sure..."
In the season 1 reviews, I made this comment...
I stand by that comment in season 4.
WHY won't these women LISTEN to me???
Oh, right.
No drama, no angst, no reason to watch the show week after week, much less buy 6 seasons on FREAKING DVD!!!!"
Last edited:
Just a plot point, it's just a plot point. Its going to get better... 
I think we now know WHY Auto DIDN'T kiss Gabby at the end of "Vanishing Act". It was because XENA was watching, and we all remember what happened when a certain someone's hand strayed too far in season 2, right? 
In ToTM's, Auto found himself ALONE with an antsy Gabby, and well lets just say he lets his mind wander as far as his hands. 
)
But will discuss that when it comes. 
